1.823.] Shenstonian Fly Leaf-Ancient Anècdotes. Mr. URBAN, Shrewsbury, May 3. N-addition to the Shenstonian FLY LEAF, given p. 226, I enclose you another from "Prior's Poems," formerly belonging to the Bard of the "Leasowes." On the first blank leaf, vol. i. *November ye 26th, 1739. Read over all Prior's Works a second time, marking the pieces I most admired with a proportionate number of crosses. X Approved. XX Admired. XXX Much Admired." “An additional stanza to ye Nut Brown In love, kinde, meeke and stable, And call them variable. But rather prey to God, that they But all men wolde, yt women sholde Yet rather I had God obey, Δ. Π. Ancient Anecdotes, &c. from VALERIUS MAXIMUS, by Dr. CAREY, West Square. (Continued from p. 40.) Mr. URBAN, June 5. HAVE to apologise for the long delay of my promised continuation of the Ancient Anecdotes-a delay fairly excusable in a man labouring under the weight of three heavy works in the press at the same time, viz. Ainsworth's Afterwards Bishop of Dromore. + Thank, qu.? Obscure. § This last seemingly indicates it to have been written by a lady. W. S. 503 little Dictionary, the Gradus ad Parnassum, and the Regent's Pocket Classics. These, with the necessary attention to private pupils, left me, of course, leisure to attend to Valerius'es Anecdotes.-At length, however, I steal from those occupations a short respite, to redeem my promise; and am, &c. J. C. While the Sicilian tyrant, Dionysius the younger, was, for his cruelties, deservedly hated and execrated by all classes of his oppressed subjects, a woman, far advanced in years, was daily observed to repair to the temple, and pray aloud to the Gods, that they would graciously prolong his days, and grant him to survive her. Being informed of her unaccountable conduct, and conscious how little he merited her good-will, the tyrant summoned her into his presence, and interrogated her respecting the motive and intent of her extraordinary supplication.Unawed by his frown, the old lady, with undisguised naïveté, replied, "I act not without good reason. When merciless tyrant, from whom I earI was a girl, we were oppressed by a nestly wished to see my country delivered. After his death, your father, more cruel than he, seised on the government: and of his tyranny also I longed to see an end. But, when he too was killed, you succeeded, who are much worse than either of the two former. Wherefore, dreading lest your place should be filled by some tyrant still worse than yourself, I daily devote my life for your safety."-However inwardly stung by this poignant reproof, Dionysius was ashamed to resent it, and suffered his bold monitress to escape with impunity.-Lib. 6, 2, 2 Extern. The celebrated Roman general, Fabius Maximus, had been five times honoured with the consulship; which dignity had likewise been repeatedly enjoyed by his father, grand-father, great grand-father, and other more remote progenitors. His son, too, was on the point of being elected to the same high office; when the father interposed, and requested of the assem bled electors that they would at length 66 grant to the Fabian family an exemption from the consulate:" - not that he harboured any doubt of his son's fitness to occupy that exalted station; but because he deemed it improper that the supreme power should too 504 Queen Anne's Statue at St. Paul's Cathedral. too long continue in the possession of one family.-Lib. 4, 1, 5. A laudable instance of candor and moderation was displayed by Marcus Marcellus, the conqueror of Syracuse, subsequently elected consul, at a time when a number of Sicilians were come to Rome, to prefer complaints against him to the Senate. Upon his entrance into office, he convened that assembly, and declared that he would transact no public business with them until the return of his colleague Lævinus, who was then abroad at the head of an army. On Lævinus'es arrival, Marcellus was himself the first to propose in the Senate that the Sicilians should be introduced, and admitted to an audience. He patiently listened to their accusations: and, when they were about to retire at the command of Lævinus, he desired that they should remain, and hear his defence. After both parties had been heard, he withdrew together with his accusers, that the House might, with the greater freedom, discuss the merits of the case. -The Senate having finally decided in Marcellus'es favor, the complainants humbly entreated that their state might be taken under his patronage: and with that request he cheerfully complied. Nor was this all: for, in the allotment of provinces to the two consuls, the government of Sicily having fallen to Marcellus, he exchanged it with his colleague for that of Italy, the more effectually to tranquillise the minds of the Sicilians, who might otherwise have lived in a state of constant alarm under the rule of a man whose character and conduct they had openly impeached.—Lib. 4, 1, 7. (To be continued.) A Mr. URBAN, June 10. HE monument erected to the THE memory of Queen Anne in the area before the Western front of St. Paul's, is about to be repaired. weekly paper, the Museum, after having been very witty (not to say rude) on the poor Queen's nose, has taken to itself the credit of having induced the Dean and Chapter to make this restitution, and “makes no doubt that the aforesaid nose was knocked off by the stone of some demagogue during the commotions attending Dr. Sacheverell's trial." This assumption is summarily overthrown, by proving an alibi: the Queen's statue did not at [June, tain its present station till two years after Dr. Sacheverell's trial in the year 1710. There are at present, I should imagine, few who do not suppose the mutilations it has suffered to be the effect of all-corroding Time. In your own pages*, however, Mr. Urban, may be found the real causes of its ruinous state. It has been twice attacked by lunatics, first in January 1743, when the man "6 broke off the sceptre, and otherwise damaged the statue;" again in September 1769, by a Lascar, who, when apprehended, attempted to stab the watchmen. In both cases it appeared, on examination before a Magistrate, that the men were out of their senses. The continuator of Maitland thus describes the damage done on the latter occasion: "Both the arms, with the globe and sceptre, were broken off from the Queen's statue, and every other figure had some da mage done to them. The Lascar had the globe in his hand when he was coming over the iron rails!" The sceptre appears to have gone at the first attack; it might have been replaced before 1769. It is not recorded on which occasion the nose (the stumbling block of the Museum) disappeared. The following history of the monument may at the present time prove not uninteresting to your readers. It is an extract from Malcolm's London, the account of the sums expended on the work being gleaned from the books preserved in the Cathedral: "In 1712, Francis Bird had 2501. for the Queen's statue and enrichments. The best part of this figure is the regal mantle. It is hot so easy to say which is the worst. The four statues seated on the pedestal, of England, France, Ireland, and America, were 2201. each, and the white marble shield of arms 50l. This ill-contrived and tasteless groupe cost in all 1180l. The wits of the day were very severe upon it, and on the manner in which the Queen is placed, with her back to the Church, and face to the brandy-shop." Mr. Malcolm, in his vol. III. p. 102, describes and criticizes the numerous other works of Bird in adorning the Cathedral. In your vol. LXXVIII. i. P. 595, his monumental labours are also criticized; but an error appears there in making the Queen's handmaidens cost as much as her Majesty herself. NEPOS. * Vols. XIII. p. 49, xxxix. p. 461. Mr. 1823.] I Materials for a History of Lancashire. Mr. URBAN, March 5. REGRET with your Correspondent, T. R. Weeton, p. 320, that the county of Lancaster, which presents to the Antiquary an interesting field for his exertions, should still remain destitute of a regular History. That few would have the courage to encounter so laborious an undertaking as the investigation of its history, is obvious. In the words of Sir Richard Colt Hoare, vol. LXXXVIII. i. p. 110, “though the description of an entire County might be deemed too laborious for one individual, yet I flatter myself that the History of a single Hundred is within the compass of many; and should even these labours be thought too irksome, they might be divided amongst a society of resident gentlemen, each taking his own parish. Such an occupation, I trust, would be particularly gratifying to many a Clergyman who has both leisure to investigate, and ability to describe. An annual meeting might be convened to compare the collected notes, and confer upon the general subject." If some able advocate would call the attention of those interested in the history of Lancashire, and concentrate their exertions on the above plan, it would infallibly ensure the attainment of this most desirable object. The principal works published on its general history are those of Mr. Houseman, Mr. Britton, and the "Fragments" of Mr. Gregson, which your Correspondent alludes to; the work of the latter gentleman is a storehouse of interesting and recondite materials, principally published from MSS. which will be highly valuable to the future historian. The well-digested History of Whalley, and the learned one of Manchester, will furnish a valuable portion,-works, whilst they fully develope the genius and erudition of their authors, are lasting memorials of regret, that those splendid talents which were peculiarly fitted to the task, were not devoted to supply the wished-for desideratum. To the above may be added, the more feeble aids of Leigh's Lancashire; Rauthmell's Overborough; West's Furness; Enfield, Wallace, Moss, Corry, and Kay's Liverpool; Aikin, Aston, Falkner, and Leigh's Manchester Clarke's Lancaster; Hutton's BlackGENT, MAG. June, 1823. 505 pool; Glazebrook's Southport; Wilcockson's Preston; Ashcroft, Sefton, and Butterworth's Parish of Oldham with numerous tracts. Among other works, not immediately connected with its history, are Pennant's Tour from Downing to Alston Moor; Nichols's valuable History of Leicestershire, which work might be consulted by your Correspondent "The Rajah of Vaneplysia," p. 2, for information of the Earls of this County. For the history of the more early Earls and the distribution of property, I have no doubt he might consult with success Ordericus Vitalis History, published by Du Chesne. The scat tered manuscript collections relative to the County are numerous. In answer to your Correspondent, T. R. Weeton, there is a MS History of the Hundred of Amounderness extant, not in a library in the county, but deposited in the College of Arms, in which library is part of Dr. Cuenden's collections, consisting of seven folio volumes; the remainder (two volumes) are in the Cheetham Library, Manchester, where also is preserved Holinsworth's Mancuniensis, or History of Manchester, in MS. In the Library at Townley Hall are deposited the Townley MSS. consisting of twenty-two volumes, mostly large folio. Lucas's MS. Dr. Whitaker made enquiries after, and could not learn their fate. Holt's Collections for Liverpool (see your Mag. for 1795, pp. 967, 981) are in the possession of Matthew Greg son, esq. F.A.S. of Liverpool. This gentleman's own collections consist of several large folio volumes, to which he has lately added a beautiful MS folio volume, which he purchased at the sale of the late Rev. Rogers Ruding; it consists of 382 pages, neatly writ ten, entitled "Ducatus Comitatusque Palatini Lancastriæ, necnon possessionum privilegiorumque ab antiquo pertinentium, illustratio. Ex Archivis Regis in Turre Lond' repositis petita et deprompta," with genealogical Tables of the Dukes of Lancaster, &c. &c. Several MSS. relative to the genealogical department are deposited in the Cheetham Library, the trustees of which purchased the late Mr. Thomas Barrit's collections. The Percival collection of Pedigrees is -506 Collections for Lancashire.-Heraldry.. is in the library of the late Sir Joseph Radcliff, of Milne's Bridge, co. York. Hopkinson's MSS. are now in the possession of the Richardsons of Gladstone. Among the Harleian MSS. British Museum, are several Visitations and collections of Pedigrees relative to the County, Nos. 16, 891, 1152, 1437, 1468, 1549, 2076, 2086, and 6159. Copies of Nos. 2076, 2086, and 1437, with several volumes of Pedigrees, are in the library of George Ormerod, esq. F.S.A. of Chorlton, co. Cest.; and Holland Watson, esq. of Congleton, has made great collections, which he has been free to lend to every enquirer, --not so every possessor of information; though we know but of one solitary instance to the contrary. A copy of No. 2036 is in the Cheetham Library. In the library of Matthew Gregson, esq. are several ordinaries of Lancashire Arms. Several are among the Harl. MSS. Nos. 893, 1234, 1367, 1382, 1452, 1457, 1940, 2017, and 2053, by various hands. The most complete collection of the illustrations of the County that has come under my notice, is that made by Mr. Thos. Binns of Mount Vernon, at a great expence; among them are to be found copies of the Blundell collection of Statuary, with the original drawings made for that work. Winstanley's etchings of the pictures at Knowsley; the beautiful engravings of old halls, castles, &c. by N. G. Philips, esq.*; James's lithographic views of old halls, &c. in Manchester and its vicinity; Bridgen's etchings of Sefton Church, and copies of the embellishments of every work extant relative to the County, with numerous original drawings; the whole arranged in twelve large folio volumes, a catalogue of which the above gentleman has it in contemplation ere long to print. This concise notice of the facilities for pursuing the investigations for the History of the County, evinces that it is not the want of materials, but a few persevering characters animated with zeal and industry to carry the project into execution. I Yours, &c. W. I. ROBERTS. Mr. URBAN, Leigh, May 19. HAVE for a few years past amused myself with the study of Heraldry, Both now in the course of publication. (June, not merely with reference to its symbols and art of blazon, but as it is connected with Genealogy and History; and it has been the source of very high gratification during many solitary winter evenings. One whom I may not presume to name, lately quoted in a letter, "How pleasant wears the wintry night, Spent with the old illustrious dead—” A feeling I have often experienced, and hope still to enjoy. To those who may think Heraldry and Genealogy mere idle vanities, as some I have known to do, who are accounted by themselves to possess rather superior understandings, and who despise or affect to scorn at all claims to antiquity of family, or to any thing which has descended from our ancestors, or which has not been acquired by our own personal merit and exertions, and who quote with satisfaction, "Genus et proavos, et quæ non fecimus ipsi, Vix ea nostra voco—' I might sufficiently answer, that what has received for ages the general approbation and sanction of the civilized world, may safely be relied upon as not absolutely useless or contemptible, notwithstanding all people may not appreciate its value alike. Besides this I have remarked, that I have never yet heard any person who was of good family, had a respectable pedigree, and possessed legal claim to an antient coat of arms, that disdained the first, scoffed at the second, or threw away the third. As you admit not only of quotations, but also of extracts, I send you some from my memorandum book; if you think fit to insert them. They are in favour of the study of Heraldry, and its antient use. From the Preface to "The English Compendium, or Rudiments of Honour, 11th edition, anno 1761:" "Heraldry is a science so valuable, that worth their study and application; and if the greatest men in all ages have thought it duly considered, will be found both useful and curious. Its original design was to distinguish persons and families, and to illustrate the histories of them, and that of the deeds of our ancestors, to perpetuate their nation in general; to represent the martial memory, to trace the origin of noble and antient families, and the various steps by which they arrived at greatness." Carter, 1823.] Extracts in favour of the Study of Heraldry. Carter, in his "Honor Redivivus, or Analysis of Honour and Armory," ed. 1673, observes, ་་ Certainly the honour achieved by an ancestor, lives in his family as his, and to the memory of his virtues and example of theirs, which ought doubly to oblige them to care, first, in keeping that tenderly which their ancestors purchased so difficultly; and to show themselves the true heirs of such noble spirits in their due imitations of those renowned virtues. Therefore it is the best patrimony a father can leave his son, to bequeath him the glory of his merits with the state of gentility, and the best honour the son can do to the deceased parent is to continue his name in that estate which his an cestors left him, and by imitating the virtues that obtained it, to preserve it without a stain. Which consideration hath been the occasion to stir up many generous spirits to a noble contention and commendable emulation, to exalt the worthiness of their families' name." He then refers to Sir John Ferne's "Blazon of Gentrie, or Glorie of Generositie," printed 1586; extracts from which would be too long here, and then adds, "to obtain estate of gentility by Learning, is very honourable certainly, but to achieve it by service in his Sovereign's wars, the defence of the Church, King, and Country, is of all most excellent and worthy.' Collins, in the Preface to the Peerage, observes, "He who looks back on the fortunes of his country, and sees what glorious things his ancestors have done for it; how far they have ventured, and how much they have suffered for the sake of it, and what honour they have gained by their achievements,-if any thing can stir up such a one to act worthily, this certainly is what will be most likely so to do. And we may conclude that person to be past all sense of honour, all impressions of virtue, who is not wrought on by such motives to a desire of imi tating their laudable examples.” Banks, in the Preface to his "Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England," says, "If dignities to descend in blood are conferred as a reward for meritorious services, it is that the succeeding representatives of the person ennobled may convey to posterity a proof of their Country's gratitude, their Sovereign's favour, their forefathers' worth, and the duty incumbent on themselves not to debase themselves by their own degeneracy. Memoirs of eminent men may be considered as materials essential to the compo 507 sition of history, affording not only a pleasing amusement, but the most instructive lessons. No study can be perhaps better adapted to impress on the minds of youth an early love of virtue, and a desire of being useful to mankind in general, or devoting themselves particularly to the service of their country." This is the genuine purpose of Heraldry, and its honours." I could add several quotations from Nisbet, Clark, and others, but will conclude this part of my subject with one from Guillin's "Display," and a reference to your own pages. 6, In Guillim, 6th edit. ann. 1724, p. of the Introduction, it is stated that "Those that were in command in the Holy Wars, and did use insignia or arms on their banners, shields, or surcoats, did upon their return from that service, either assume and take those devices as their due, or else had indulgence from their Sovereign or his Chieftains to bear them. Thus, as Religion at stake is the greatest spur to true courage, so those arms which had been displayed in its defence, became of most esteem, inso much that not only their assumers did continue the use of them during their lives, but their issues did the same, glorying in nothing so much as those open and plain demonstrations of their parents' piety and virtue. Neither did the respect cease here; for all, even those of no kin, paid them a reverence, as the ensigns under which their religion and liberties had been preserved, and valued their owners as the preservers. This time and use has improved into a customary, legal, and rightful appropriation to their issues, and to their descendants, and to none other in that nation without the deserved censure of usurpation. Yet, though we might receive the hereditary use of arins just after the Holy War, was not established or made general until the time of King Henry III." See also Ferne, Camden's Remaines, and Gent. Mag. 1804, April, p. 343. What virtues are necessary to enuoble arms, what generations should pass after a grant, before any one should be ranked as a gentleman of from Sir John Ferne, who calls a perblood, I refer your readers to learn son to whom a grant is first made, only "gentleman of paper and waxe.' a Whatever considerations may arise from the different circumstances of society at this day, compared with what it was in the feudal times; and which, if the practice were as strict as |