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622 REVIEW.-Robinson's History of Enfield.-Neele's Poems. [XCIII.

out of the fish's belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me: out of the belly of Hell cried I," &c. Jonah, chap. ii. v. 42.

We have ascribed the date of this painting to the æra in question, because the form of the windows in the picture is that in the Illuminations of Robert the Devil, presumed by Herbert to be of the age mentioned, and the present low tower and long body of the Church assimilates that of Finchley, engraved in Mr. Lysons's Environs. From the elegant Monument of Joice Tiptoft, who died in 1446 (see p. 13), and the arms remaining of Thos. Earl of Rutland, with the date of 1530 (see p. 25), we conceive, that enlargement of the Church was commenced, chiefly by means of these noble families, between 1446 and 1530, because it was in ancient custom among descendants to adorn and beautify Churches, where the remains of their ancestors were deposit ed; and the coincidence of the plastered date of 1531, with that in the glass of 1530, speaks, as we think, in the strongest presumptive form of the the plausibility of our conjecture.

We are next presented with a series of valuable wood-cuts of ancient Monuments. We are astonished that families do not have drawings made of the Sepulchral Memorials of their progenitors, and have them entered in their bibles, with copies of the Inscriptions. We also think that vellum registers might be kept by officiating Ministers, and Epitaphs be copied for a suitable fee.

In p. 30 we have a wood-cut of women kneeling. They appear to us to mean the eleven thousand virgins, for they were so represented.

In p. 33 is an effigy of a Lord Mayor of London in armour. The date is 1646. Perhaps as Colonel of the Trained Bands, he had been on service during the Civil War: at all events, such a costume is rare, with regard to a Municipal Officer of this kind.

Among the interesting matters of curiosity are (1) an ample account of Squires the gypsey, and Elizabeth Canning (a most mysterious scene of perjury), accompanied with interesting wood-cuts, of Canning, the House, interior and exterior, and of Squires the gypsey. (2) The extraordinary

large child, born Feb. 1779, Thomas Hills Everitt, most accurately depicted in p. 152. We saw him when he was publicly exhibited in London. That a child of only eleven months old should be of the extraordinary dimensions described, and three feet three inches high, is certainly an extra-natural phenomenon; and his whole form was perfectly infantine, in swelling muscle and rotundity of contour. About the same time Sir Joshua Reynolds exhibited an Infant Hercules strangling the Serpents, apparently taken from this child.

It

Dr. Robinson says, p. 154, “that neither the father nor mother were remarkable for size or stature." Though we were in boy-hood when we saw the child, we perfectly recollect that the mother was a large woman. appears that she had before borne a child of uncommon proportions. We attribute these phenomena to peculiar and extraordinary properties in certain organs which we cannot with delicacy explain.

We must now take leave of Dr. Robinson and his useful work, and commend him for the wise construction of it. The exemplary patience with which he has copied details of property is of real use to posterity, and with every succeeding year the value of his book will increase. It is a mass of records concerning the parish, and includes plans and maps of the public estates. In short, it is a book for reading now, and of reference for ever. How many heart-aches and pounds sterling such works may save, by preventing law-suits, no inan can tell.

128. Poems, Dramatic and Miscellaneous. By Henry Neele. 12mo. pp. 168.

MR. NEELE is well-known to the Publick as a successful writer of Poetry (no inconsiderable achievement), and a preceding volume passed rapidly through the first edition, with a reputation which of course has raised expectation. That, we venture to say, will not be disappointed in the present collection. Mr. Neele's Poetry is marble, full of rich veins of imagination, but of simple classical purity. Lord Byron's is a gorgeous ore, splendid as a fairy grotto, but it is a heap, a rudis indigestaque moles, and a very bad exemplar; for though it may be

made

PART 1.]

REVIEW: Cure performed by Prince Hohenlohe.

made a very fine thing in the hands of an Enchanter, every man is not a Conjuror, and an attempt to imitate him has often produced only a heap of rubbish, not fine things drawn out of a diamond mine of Genius, but mere earth from a gravel-pit, of a humble, every man's understanding; not wheeled in the car of a deity, a chariot of the sun; but in a homely barrow, the lowliest of the vehicle tribe. Mr. Neele avoids this, by giving us a versification, properly so called, founded on correct taste. We shall exhibit the justice of our remarks by examples, in which Genius is properly attired in chaste Grecian costume.

There is a certain insanity, to which at one period of our lives we have all been subject; and the asylum into which we are received, in consequence of the disease, is the pleasantest sort of Bedlam with which we are acquainted. The disease to which we allude, is Love. Young Poets are excellent nosologists on the subject, and Mr. Neele is one of the best of them. Witness the lines below. We knew a literary wit, who, when he was at dinner, was asked how he liked the pork. Exceedingly, was his reply; it was an angel of a pig? Of course, it is absolutely necessary to make believe, (as the children say) that the favourites of all Poets are angels of girls, without which preliminary of faith the reader cannot sympathize with the author; for ugly girls may be beautified by fortune, but never by the Muses.

"Love, like the grave, levels earth's vain

distinctions,

colours

Hearts blend beneath his influence, as the
[hue
Blend in the rainbow, where each separate
Grows faint and fainter, till its varied tints
Fade upon our wandering eyes, and we behold
Nothing but heaven." p. 56.

Again,

"Inferior joys live but by utterance But rapture is born dumb." p. 97.

The following lines are very brilli

ant.

623

Prints on her lovely cheek a kiss so warm,
That the deep blush is long seen mantling

there

After his flight is ta'en: all, all of these
Sink into insignificance, compared
With this this gathering of the worlds,
Ripe with immortal light, in lines of gold,
this harvest
Waving through heaven's wide field." p.112.

129. An authentic Narrative of the extraordinary Cure performed by Prince Alexander Hohenlohe, on Miss Barbara O'Connor, a Nun in the Convent of New Hall, near Chelmsford; with a full refutation of the numerous false reports and misrepresentations. By John Badeley, M.D. &c. 8vo. pp. 38,

GOD may employ miracles to exhibit and vindicate his own interference in human affairs for his own purposes; but there is a manifest absurdity in supposing that he would suspend his laws, for any purpose, not his own. In the present case, the pretended miracle is construed into a divine approbation of the Roman Catholic religion, in preference to any other; and that this distinction of divine favour has been got up for the very object alluded to, long before Miss O'Connor's case, is evident from a passage in a work published in 1818, p. 85, (an excellent compendium_of pious frauds) entitled "Popery the Religion of Heathenism," &c. It there appears, that a Priest of Birmingham published a Tract in 1816, in which he gave a circumstantial account of Casting out a Devil at King's Norton, in Worcestershire. We mean nothing illiberal. We mean only to say, that there is nothing in Protestantism which rejects any thing in the Bible, or in Popery which favours it, to render such an interposition necessary in behalf of the pretensions of the latter. If, for instance, we denied the Divinity of Christ, or omitted positive injunctions, perhaps Providence might interfere. As to the case before us, Mr. Lewis, in his monstrous novel of the "Monk," has well exposed the remarkable childish simplicity of Nuns, who believed that in Denmark (we think) were men with green noses and scarlet eyes, or some such strange

Beautiful! beautiful! Morn's orient hues, (The dewy morn, which, like a new-born babe, [pomp, Visits our world in tears)-Noon's purple When the day-god rides highest, and his [effable; thing. Shake from their bright manes light inAnd Evening, so adorn'd with loveliness, That Phoebus yields to her; yet, ere he parts,

steeds

Miss O'Connor, it seems, thought (nun-like) that Prince Hohenlohe could cure her of a bad arm, (for which medical efforts had been vain), and the good Prince promised

her

624

REVIEW.-Gymnastic Exercises.-Horæ Romanæ. [XCIII.

her his prayers. The power of confidence and imagination had the effect desired; and Mr. Badeley takes the opportunity of showing thereby the extraordinary effect of mind upon disease, and illustrates it by some capital cases, particularly two, pp. 28-35, where the patients were evidently cured by nothing else than faith and confidence.

130. An Elementary Course of Gymnastic Exercises; intended to develope and improve the Physical Powers of Man. By Peter Henry Clias, Esq. Professor of Gymnastics in the University of Burne. 8vo. pp. 111.

BEFORE the invention of Gunpowder, Gymnastics were most essential to the preservation of the life of the Soldier, and to his sufficiency of discharging his duty in battle. To walk, to dance, and to swim, are now the only qualities deemed necessary, nor is it essential that a Gentleman should have the agility of a tumbler. But though we think that Mr. Clias overdoes the subject, we are sensible that he is in principle correct, and that his system, on a more limited scale, might be of great benefit to children in a medical and prudent view. Nevertheless, in boys of certain constitution and frame, the more extraordinary of the practices of Mr. Clias may be further advantageous, as tending to correct incipient defor mity, and Nature vindicates the exertion of physical power in infancy, by exhibiting sportiveness in the young of all animals. The health of the children under the tuition of Mr. Clias, has, it seems, been greatly inproved through his Gymnastic Exercises. That we sincerely believe; and the benefit is momentous.

131. Horæ Romanæ ; or, an Attempt to elucidate St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, by an Original Translation, explanatory Notes, and new divisions. 8vo. pp. 88. Baldwyn.

THE principal defect of the Bible by Mant and D'Oyley is, that in endeavouring to familiarize erudite annotations to the unlearned reader, the selection becomes such, that much valuable illustration is lost. There are but two descriptions of Biblical Students, the scholar and the uninformed: for the latter a plain commentary is

required, but the former may reasonably look for something of greater extent. In this modest Attempt' (by the Biographer of The Fathers') we meet with that desideratum of editorship, a judicious and copious appendage of critical and doctrinal notes. The original and classical form, unbroken into verses, is retained, and the whole possesses an elegant appearance. Satisfied as we are with the established far different from those of welcome, translation, and viewing with feelings all innovations upon it, we consider a paraphrase of a single portion of Scripture in a different point of view: while it continues to be read in churches, and is in the mouth of the people, to use an expression of the late King's, the student whose labours have led him to a scientific examination of his subject may be allowed to make his deductions public. After having properly condensed our religious notions, it is instructive and interesting to peruse the Tarsic Eloquence' on Aristotelian principles, although to discuss it as such before a congregation would be absurd.-We have only to complain, in behalf of young Hebraists, that the translator does not use points when he employs that language in his

notes.

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132. Heraldic Anomalies, or rank Con- | fusion in our Orders of Precedence, with Disquisitions, Moral, Philosophical, and Historical, on all the existing Orders of Society. By it matters not who. 2 vols.

cr. 8vo.

AN attempt to revive Heraldry upon the ancient footing, would be just as nugatory, as to propose the re-introduction of the feudal system, or sumptuary laws. Some person has, however, attacked us, as being inimical to the ancient symbols of gentility, merely because we have wished to see such changes effected on Heraldick subjects, as may suit them to existing_times. We have wished to see the College made an office of record; and as to Armorial bearings, we think that some very simple expedients might be adopted to render them once more matters of high estimation. His Majesty is often pleased to allow the names of places, where a victorious regiment has been in action, to be inscribed on the colours; and, if in the same manner, gallant officers, not deemed high enough in rank for the Order of the Bath,

were

PART 1.]

REVIEW.-Heraldic Anomalies.

were permitted to bear under symbolick crests the words "Honoris ergo," or "Pro Meritis," which honours were to be granted by the Crown, and gazetted, and more especially if such arms were to be augmented with a picture of the exploit, for which the honour was conferred, upon a chief; then, we think, that Heraldry would be subservient to the promotion of many useful virtues. We are sensible that such an anomaly, as a picture (like Welch arms) in a chief, would be deemed a deadly Heraldick sin; but for all that, it would be the thing that ought to be. The figures, which form the Ördinaries, are of such universal application, as to present no distinction whatever. Were lions li

mited to one particular descent, eagles to a second, chevrons to a third, and so forth, a short printed key would render them as intelligible and significant, as coronets and supporters. We wish well, therefore, to the College, and have always done so; nor is it our fault, if his Majesty has a Rebel in his dominions, whom he is obliged to humour, and whom all the officers of honour, from the Earl Marshal to the Pursuivant, most heartily welcome. The Rebel we mean is Money. He has totally subverted all the ancient rules; and by his means it is, that treason against the Kings of Arms is daily committed with impunity. The following extract will show his successful aggressions :

Under the feudal system, yeomen, merchants, burgesses, &c. were not only accounted in their own persons, unnoble, ungentle, and incapable of bearing arms,' but if any gentleman holding by the noble service of knighthood, married the daughter of any of the above, though she was formed (says Ferne) of a most excellent proportion of body, her years tender, her portion rich, yet for all this it would be a disparagement. But the reason he gives, is quite abominable. For, says he, it is the unequal coupling

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the clean ox with the unchaste ass.'-How much better are things managed now: the Merchant's or Burgess's daughter may marry as high as she pleases, nay with only one third part of the endowments Ferne mentions; for if her portion be but rich, her body may be, I will venture to suggest, of any proportion, aud her years any thing but tender. According to the liberality of modern Heraldry, she may wed, if she choose, a Knight, Baronet, Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, or Duke; any of their sons, son's sons, nephews, or remote relatives, not only without let or impediGENT. MAG. Suppl. XCIII. PART I.

G

625

ment, but with no small coaxing and encouragement on the part of our condescending nobles." Vol, ii. p. 190.

Tempora mutantur, et nos, &c. is the principle on which this pleasant work treats the subject. For our parts, we would further recommend Garter King of Arms to issue an invitation to the gentry, not for the purpose of altering their hereditary coats, but of receiving sundry augmentations, which would designate their rank; e. g. gentlemen with seats and landed property might have one addition, but the same in all; large fundholders another, so that the publick would understand the rank, as easily as they do that of Peers, by a coronet. Thus a castle Or, in chief, or in the nombril point, might show an ancient manerial family; three bezants, a monied one; a book, open, one derived from a learned profession; two swords in saltire, a military origin; a coronet, mitre, or knightly helmet in a canton, a descendant of a Peer, Bishop, Baronet, or Knight, and so de cæteris. At present, an untitled man, let his wealth or deserts be what they may, has no means of distinction through his armorial bearings, and therefore feels little concern about them; whereas the annexation of a simple, but one and the same augmentation, indicative of the rank, granted by the courtesy of society, would, in our opinion, render arms no longer riddles, but intelligible badges of honour, and preserve one at least of the ancient intentions of these distinctions. The profits to the Office would also be most ample, besides increase of the revenue from the tax.

Such are the reflections which the work before us has suggested. The book is a facetious tissue of light anecdotes, exhibiting the monstrous absurdity of supposing that arbitrary ined and perverted by changes of time may not be utterly confoundand circumstances. We shall end with the following extract concerning the Heraldic institutions (vol. ii. p. 25).

stitutions

"It affords an admirable proof of the advancement of liberty in this country, to observe, that at such Visitations, many of mean origin, but possessed of considerable property, were brought into notice, and procured entries of themselves to be made (not as the mere shreds of some antiquated coat) but as the founders of modern families. This was quite right, supposing their wealth to have been honestly and creditably

acquired

626

REVIEW.-Parliamentary Reform.

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WE are adherents to the old doctrines of Hume and Paley, that the Constitution of the House of Commons is best as it is, because that Constitution is, in our opinions, the only one which can be permanent, nor do we see any thing in the reasoning for Parliamentary Reform, which is not derived from pure Theory. The fact appears to be this. In the Counties, Cities, or Towns, where the property lies in one or two or very few rich persons, the members returned are commonly Ministerial; but in places where the property is much divided, the representatives are mostly in Opposition. Property will command influence, and the augmentation of voters, where the wealth of the place is in few hands, would probably have no other than the present result; and elsewhere, surely no advantage would be gained by the other party, if the electors for Westminster were doubled or tripled. As the influence of property cannot be destroyed but by military despotism, we do not see what important change would ensue, unless there were also changes in the state of the property. Men will vote according to their interests; and the Proprietor of Old Sarum, whether the burgesses were ten, or a hundred, or a thousand, if he owned the whole or a majority of them, would return the member. By means of such large proprietors, the Crown is alone enabled to maintain its proper weight in the constitution, and as one ostensible pretence of Parliamentary Reform is to ease the people of taxation by diminishing the National Debt, every advance in that project would more and more throw the great capitalists upon landed property, and augment the very inHuence, which it is the professed object of Parliamentary Reform to reduce. In short, we consider it (purely in an impartial abstract view) as a bubble,

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and one which must ever be so, unless property be previously subdivided. Our limits do not permit us to give other very cogent proofs, that the idea is and must be of no other result; and so far from Ministers having advanced the inAluence of the Crown, by extravagance, as has been pretended, the more the National Debt is increased, the more their influence in Parliament dimi

nishes, because the landed property is not absorbed and monopolized by the Capitalists.

Mr. Bicknell, a moderate, respectable, and gentlemanly writer, wishes to prevent bribery in any possible form; but can he suppress expectancy and indirect modes of conferring favours? The anonymous gentleman considers Reform to be indispensable, but only safe when gradual (see pp. 9, 74), and his pamphlet is an eloquent lecture upon Parliamentary Reform, the Liberty of the Press, and the state of our Críminal Jurisprudence.

135. Narrative of an Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc, August 18th, 1822, with an Appendix upon the Sensations experienced at great Elevations. By Frederick Clissold, Esq. The profits of the Sale to be applied to the Benefit of the Guides of Chamouni. 8vo, pp. 56.

WE cordially respect Mr. Clissold for the spirit with which he attempted this arduous undertaking, and the philosophical and wise considerations with which he connected it. We also hope, that, as the narrative is a record of things, which must be of rare occurrence, it will be purchased partly on account of the Guides, partly on account of its useful lessons; viz. that little or no accession of science is

gained by incurring such dangers. Mr. Clissold was not a likely man to let any thing escape him, witness the following, p. 33.

"Near this place we found a bird which lay upon the snows; but one of the guides keeping it for some time in his hand, it revived and flew away.”

From p. 49, Mr. Clissold shows, that effects upon the lungs, at considerable elevations, are not those which general opinion supposes. The whole pamphlet, therefore, and especially the Appendix, is worthy the attention of medical men.

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