IJ 2 . ^ / ^^fT ( 10^^^ I V^«> Z tcw^4efi ■''i iSBig r i T THE PORT-FOLIO; A COLLECTION OF ENGRAVINGS FROM Antiquarian, ARCHITECTURAL, & TOPOGRAPHICAL SUBJECTS, CURIOUS WORKS OF AR^^ SfC. &;c. WITH DESCRIPTIONS. VOLUME lonDon; PUBLISHED BY NORNAVILLE & FELL, NEW BOND STREETj AND SHERWOOD, JONES, & CO. PATERNOSTER ROW. 1823. rOE, PRINTER, doctors’ COMMONS, INDEX AND LIST OF PLATES. Page Berkshire. Shaw House.81 B VCKINGHAMSHIRE. Wycombe House, East Front. 17 ' South Front From the Temple of Daphne Interior of the Hall Wycombe Church, North-west View.24 Interior do. Cornwall. Cemetery at Pentilly.75 Cumberland. Carlisle Castle.71 Devonshire. Buckland Church ...55 Interior of do. Buckland Abbey, North View.59 South do. Essex. Wanstead House. 77 Herefordshire. Ancient Knife Handle. 37 Hertfordshire, East India College... 33 Interior of the Chapel, do. Kent. , * Ancient Chair, Penshurst. 79 Middlesex. Handle of Queen Mary’s Coffin. 15 ' INDEX AND LIST OF PLATES. Page Statue, Gerard’s Hall.31 Manor House, Stoke Newington.45 Interior View ' Ancient Gate, do. Sicilian Bronzes . 51 Mythologic Earthenware Utensils.63 Ditto Burlington Arcade. 73 Northamptonshire. Ancient Celt, &c. . 1;.29 Nottinghamshire. * ' Newark Church, West View*. ..85 East do. North Porch , ^ ^ Interior of South Transept Interior of Chancel Font t Dedication Piece (Vignette Tail-piece) Somersetshire. Pulteney Bridge.. .43 Bristol Rocks. 53 Cluniac Priory. 67 Staffordshire. Dr. Johnson’s Birth-place at Lichheld. 69 , Wiltshire. Fonthill, West Door of the Abbey (Title to Vol. I.) 1 Part of the Hall and Octagon ’ South-west View South End of the Gallery The Oratory Fonthill as it appeared in 1566 Ditto in 1755 • , Ditto after the Fire in 1755 Yorkshire. St. Mary’s Abbey, South-east View . West do. 39 PREFACE. THIS undertaking is intended ta form a graphi¬ cal and literary Cabinet, comprising engravings and descriptions of rare works of art, &c, which are deposited in private museums, and generally secluded from the public view. The present volume contains several subjects of this character j and the Proprietors take great pleasure in observing, that many very curious articles are now in their possession which have been furnished by Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others; and they gladly embrace this opportunity L iV ^ PREFACE. of returning their grateful acknowledgments to their numerous friends who have taken such a decided interest in the work^ and contributed so liberally towards its future progress. It is pre¬ sumed that a publication of this nature is peculiarly calculated to gratify the connoisseur and antiquary, the travelled man of taste, and the student of British history and topography, and to throw lights of intelligence on the science of antiquities, and the history of general manners. Besides the subjects already named, views of seats distinguished by architectural beauty, or otherwise calculated to excite public curiosity, will be interspersed in the series of plates, together with a variety of objects of marked topographical interest. PREFACE, V The beautiful relics of antiquity, and the pic¬ turesque and splendid ruins which are scattered throughout the United Kingdoms, will be espe¬ cially attended to 5 and although some foreign subjects of historical celebrity may be admitted, a repetition of what has already been engraved will in both instances be carefully avoided A work of this character upon a plan so economical was never attempted until the appearance of the Antiquarian and Topographical Cabinet, of which highly-esteemed collection the Port-Folio may be considered a second Series. If ■ ^ V ■ ' ' '■ * , ' • ■ - , . ., . -■;■<; ■: M :-ru •' ; ifr—^v».' • , . s^'X.lv/' -t.i, ^ V V. „ 'itf ;ifv»' u J ^.i ' j . '■//slifeLi. ^ 1. ■' ' /i - r ’ v / l .; ■>» ,-■; * •» tV -: €S^ ^ [/ 4 ^'‘T“‘'‘';''V-; f" j;M «•' w>' • -Ctr^ * ‘ '-vii •,» r i1 .'XkAtki' ^ .O'',»:••-'■■ " r"0'v': ^ . ^aii:’-r': .'•• A. j; • j'i-.'•»•• » • ;■ '^ •“'/"'" i’ i ?| v:^’ ft. 'h'" . . *1;- ' . ‘ -..-r-')-: "»«»■ . - , ■' ' ' ' 4 p I / / ■zzf --jyQ iO fig ^ qrtj _ ffq ,; fuj ; d « CH TI TE MJLiica).® 4 lul • ^POKTIETiriLIL ABJBIEY, (z^ Orazory , or iVT erid of the- OaUer^T^ , JR- • ( jFornriEiiiL.lL f South' end. of the- Sallery.J V % m. h i"' ’ ■P- o FOWTMUILIL ABIBJEY,, Hall &■ pa/-l of the Ociapon.J FONTHH.!., WILTSHIRE. FONTHILL, in ancient times, constituted the lordship of the family of the GilFards, and is still denominated Fonthill GilFard, to distinguish it from a contiguous parish called Fonthill Bishop. It is situated about two miles south-west of Hindon, in the county of Wilts, and is remarkable for the splendid mansions which have been erected there at ditferent periods of time. The first of which we have any representation was standing in the time of Sir John Mervin, who died in 1566; it was a spacious, but rather irregular, building, having parapets, similar to those of Jesus College, Oxford. A noble gateway, with four towers, stood at some distance; through which a path, crossing a narrow stream, conducted to the mansion. There was a small lake on the left, in the middle of which was an island,^^ adorned witli trees; behind the house was a range of ofiices; the whole was enclosed by a dwarf wall. In the year 1753, very extensive buildings were standing at Fonthill, which were greatly improved by the late Alderman Beckford; but shortly^ afterwards destroyed by fire; the loss, on this occasion, was •■estimated at more than J’30,000. This house presented FONTHILL. a handsome front, overlooking a broad lake, across which, at several points, were thrown ornamental bridges; the principal one was taken down about forty years since. In 1755, the erection of a new mansion was com¬ menced here. Of this building, only a small fragment now remains; it having been demolished by order of Mr. Beckford, who was then about erecting the present extraordinary structure. This princely mansion stands within an enclosure, seven miles in circumference, and is defended by a stone wall and chevaux de frise. The building was designed by Wyatt, aided by the acknowledged taste of Mr Beck- ford, and consists of four grand and leading features, conjoined by the galleries and the cloister. In the centre are the great hall and principal tower. Towards the north are two large square towers, balanced at the other ex¬ tremity, or southern end, by a group of varied edifices, with embattled parapets. The fourth is the chapel. The Hall, or western entrance, presents a door thirty- five feet high, adorned with crockets, and a highly- wrought finial. On the top of the pediment is a niche, containing a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, surmounted by a cross-flory, the arms of William the first Lord La¬ timer, from whom Mr. Beckford is lineally descended. The great tower, which is two hundred and seventy-six feet in height, is seen rising between four pediments, whose projections form the two stories of apartments 2 FOTSTHILL. around the octagon, the upper ones having a catherine- wheel window upon a level with openings of the same description seen within the octagon. Directly under the tower, appears the western cloister, behind which is a square paved court, having in its centre a fountain that plays into a large marble basin. Between two octan¬ gular towers, south of the cloister, is an oriel of two stories. On the south side of the Abbey is a richly-ornamented cloister of five pointed arches, their outer mouldings terminated by heads beautifully wrought: answ ering to each of the arches, are the parlour windows, their upper compartments filled with delicate tracery and painted glass. On the eastern side of the Abbey is an oriel richly carved, containing shields with armorials bearings, and other devices; the window is ornamented with the figures of St. Columbia, St. Etheldreda, Venerable Bede, and Roger Bacon, in stained glass, by Eginton. The principal features of the east side are three large square towers, and a superb chapel directly opposite to the great hall. Having taken a general survey of this extensive mansion, we proceed to describe its interior. The Brown Parlour.— This spacious apartment, fifty-six feet in length, receives its appellation from the dark-coloured oak with which it is wainscotted. It is lighted by eight pointed windows, three of which com- B 2 3 FONTHILL. pose the lower story of the western oriel, the other five range within the southern cloister, and command the prospect over a deep woody vale, intersected by the lake and by pleasant lawns. The room is fitted up with splendid simplicity ; two large pieces of tapestry adorn its northern side. Be¬ tween them, over the chimney, is a whole-length portrait of Peter Beckford, Esq. Mr. Beckford’s great grand¬ father. He married Bathshua, daughter and coheir of Julines Hering, Esq. and was the father of William Beckford, Esq. the late celebrated senator. The windows of the parlour are hung with two suits of curtains; the inner one is of blue damask, bordered with the tressure of Scotland; the other suit is scarlet, which gives the light a rich and sumptuous etfect. The ceiling, tesselated by a neat moulding, has at each intersection four oak-leaves entwined. Attached to this parlour is a small drawing room with a groined roof; this room leads from the parlour, through the cloister, to the great hall. Opposite to this, a winding staircase conducts to the apartments above, and to a small gallery, at the entrance of which is a bust of Lord Nelson. We now proceed to the gallery, which is above the yellow room; opposite to which, in the small octagon tower, is an apartment furnished with several curiosi¬ ties worthy of attention. Adjoining this is an apartment devoted to the use of such artists as were employed in directing the works 4 > FONTHILL. carried on at Fonthill; it contains a collection of the rarest books and prints, illustrative of ancient costume. Connected with this noble apartment is a small lobby and dressing room, ornamented with several pictures and drawings. Here are pictures of Fonthill as it ap¬ peared in 1556, and before the fire in 1775; from these the accompanying plates are engraved. A passage now leads to Mr. Beckford’s bedchamber ; this room has two closets filled with curious specimens of carvings in ivory, and other rarities. On one side of the apartment is a large glazed cabinet, in which are most exquisite pieces of japan. This being the south-east extremity of the building, we return northward through the dressing room to the upper library, or gallery, which is vaulted by an obtuse arch. At the north end of this gallery is a square room that looks through a tribune into the great octa¬ gon; there are two of these beautiful openings opposite to each other: the room of the south tribune contains precious cabinets and valuable pictures. The view from these tribunes is peculiarly enchanting and impres¬ sive. All further progress this way being interrupted by the octagon, we return again through the lobby of the dressing room, whence a staircase conducts to the central eastern tow er; here is a bed-chamber hung with the finest Brussels tapestry, an apartment over which terminates this part of the building. Descending, we enter a passage, in which stand six japan Jars of' 5 FONTHILL. uncommon size; rising again, by a few steps, we come into the south-east tower, directly over Mr. Beckford’s bed-chamber; here is a spacious apartment, and above it another, that forms the summit of this tower. Having viewed all the principal apartments in the south wing of the building, it is necessary to return to the room directly over the parlour; the Yellow Damask Room, so called on account of its splendid yellow hangings. In this room are some of the finest cabi¬ nets of japan and buhl work in Europe: one of the latter formerly adorned the apartments of Fontain- bleau, and is remarkable for a beautiful medallion of Lewis XIV. Near the collateral windows of the oriel stand two immense china jars, not more valuable for their size than quality, presented to Mr. Beckford by the Prince of Brazil. On the north-west side of the damask room, in the small octagon tower, is an apartment called the green cabinet room; with alto-relievos in ivory, of the time of Edward I. The roof of this apartment is composed of fan-work, with rich and elaborate tracery. From the yellow room by large folding doors we enter the Japan Room, which contains Mr. Beckford’s most choice and rare books. The roof is ornamented with circles, filled with quatre-foil. Passing again through a lofty screen, composed of the most exquisite tra¬ cery, we come to the south end of the Gallery: this is a point peculiarly impressive—the Oratory faintly 6 FONTHILL. appears through a long perspective of vaulted roofs, at the distance of three hundred and thirty feet. Near the south oriel, which forms this end of the gallery, stands a large amber cabinet, in which is seen all the various hues of that precious material; in some parts the palest yellow is suddenly succeeded by the richest orange; in others the tint increases to a garnet red, and again declines to a purity almost white; its sides are adorned with medallions likewise in amber. This rare curiosity, which is without a blemish, was once in the possession of the Queen of Bohemia, daughter of James the First; her portrait, with that of her husband, appears in cameo upon one of the drawers. The cabinet stands upon a table of ebony, with torsel feet, which formerly belonged to Cardinal Wolsey. The east side of the gallery is lighted by an oriel, and two pointed windows; immediately under the oriel is placed a large japan chest, inlaid with curious devices in pearl and silver; the bordering is uncommonly rich. Under each of the pointed windows is a superb Gothic fire-place of marble with tracery in the spandrils of the arches. The windows on the west side have their upper compartments of stained glass: this gallery, with that of King Edward III. form the great library. The ceiling is of the richest fan-work. The carpeting, woven for the express purpose, is crimson, strewed with the Ha¬ milton cinquefoils, which Mr. Beckford quarters in right of his mother;-who was heiress of that illustrious family. 1 FONTHILL. From the west side of the gallery we enter the purple bed-room; it contains a painted frieze by Cagli¬ ari, representing the Woman taken in Adultery; and other rare pictures. Proceeding in the gallery northward, we enter the Octagon, and have a direct view of the northern tri¬ bune, which is over King Edward III.’s gallery. Be¬ tween the piers of the octagon, which are composed of clustered columns, bearing eight lofty arches, are four pointed windows of beautifully stained glass, copied from those of the celebrated monastery of Batalha, in Portugal; the other four arches that support the tower are the openings of the galleries, the entrance to the great hall, and the entrance to the chapel. The arches that have no place of egress, four in number, are hung with curtains, at least fifty feet high, which concealing the termination of the building, give an idea of con¬ tinued space: the’ light emitted through the painted windows of the octagon, presents a most enchanting play of colours, and the effect produced by the sombre hue of twilight, contrasted with the vivid appearance at different hours of the day, is indiscribably pleasing and grand. Above the eight arches is an open gallery, that communicates with the higher suit of apartments; from this springs a beautiful groining of fan-work, supporting a lanthorn, lighted by eight windows, richly painted; the whole is finished by a vaulted roof, the height of which is one hundred and thirty-two feet from the 8 t'ONTHILL. ground. Descending by a flight of twenty-eight steps, eighteen feet in Width, from the octagon we enter the great hall; this is a magnificent building, in the ancient baronial style; the roof, which is of oak, is decorated with thirty-eight shields, emblazoned with Mr. Beck- ford’s principal family quarterings. On the left side are three windows of painted glass, the borders in imitation of a very ancient specimen in Canterbury Cathedral. On the right, directly opposite to the win¬ dows, are three lofty arches; the middle one has a deep recess, in which stands a statue of the late Mr. Beckford, habited in his official robes, as Mayor of London, with Magna Charta in his left hand. The great western doors are of oak, and, as before observed, thirty-five feet high; the hinges alone, by which they are suspended, weigh more than a ton: notwithstanding this, they are so exactly poised that the valves may be put in motion by the slightest effort. Over the doorway is a spacious music gallery; the access is by a small staircase, curiously contrived within the thickness of the wall; its front is of Gothic screen- work with a cushion of crimson extending the whole breadth of the hall. Above this, in the pediment, is a small window, of ancient stained glass, representing the Virgin and Child. Ascending again from the hall, and crossing the octagon, is a large staircase leading to the Lancaster apartments; the northern tribune room first presents itself. This is adorned with ebony and ivory cabinets. 9 FONTHILL. The Lancaster gallery has a vaulted roof, and is decorated with a number of scarce prints. The carpet¬ ing is purple, powdered with flower-de-luces. This leads to the dressing room, which, through large folding- doors, opens into the state bed-chamber. The bed, which is of crimson damask richly fringed, belonged to Mr. Beckford’s great grandfather, when Governor of Ja¬ maica. This room is furnished in a splendid manner, and contains several valuable pictures. The ceiling is in the purest style of the sixteenth century; round the cornice is a richly carved and painted frieze, composed of portcullisses and the united roses of York and Lan¬ caster. We now ascend the staircase that leads to the en¬ trance of the great tower, and come to the suit of rooms that surrounds the octagon. There are tw o bed-rooms and two dressing rooms; the dressing room towards the w est contains many curious pictures; one by Andrea Mantegna, of Christ on the Mount, his three Disciples asleep ; a very ancient performance, but in excellent preservation. Under this is a Pieta by West. On the opposite side is the Madonna, surrounded by cherubs, presenting her with baskets of flowers ; the figures by Van-Balen, the landscape by Brueghel. Under this is the vision of St. Anthony of Padua, receiving into his arms the infant Christ. The opposite dressing room is hung w ith a cu¬ rious grotesque device, worked with velvet, in crimson and green, upon a yellow ground of satin. The two 10 FONTHILL. bed-chambers are furnished in a stately baronial style. Above is another suit of handsome apartments for at¬ tendants, each lighted by a catherine-wheel window. A staircase winds up to the leads of the circular tower, whence we enter the upper part of the great octagon; ascending by an inclined plane, in a circular direction, we reach the top of this lofty structure, which is two hundred and seventy-six feet in height. The view is here of vast extent, including many counties in its circumference. It would be almost endless to enume¬ rate the interesting objects that are visible from this elevation: some conception, however, may be formed when it is known that the tower has its base upon an eminence considerably above the level of the top of Salisbury Spire ; and there is no hill in the immediate neighbourhood of sufficient consequence to bound the commanding height of its summit. Descending through the octagon on the north-east side of the Abbey, we observe a tower, containing se¬ veral apartments. The upper one is a bed-chamber, lined with hangings of blue, strew ed with white mullets, the original arms of the house of Douglas, and drawn together in the form of a tent. Under this is a dressing room and bed room. Re-entering the octagon. King Edward III.’s gallery presents itself; this contains seven lofty windows. Facing the centre window is a fire-place of alabaster, composed of an arch resting upon columns, with vine leaf capitals. Above is a whole length per¬ il FONTHILL. trait of Edward III. copied by Mr. Matthew Wyatt, from a picture in the vestry of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The windows of this gallery are hung with curtains of purple and scarlet. Upon a sculptured frieze are the achievements of seventy-eight knights of the most noble order of the Garter, all persons of eminence in English and foreign history, and from whom Mr. Beckford isjineally descended. In continuation of this stately apartment is a vaulted gallery wainscotted with oak and ribbed with deep mouldings, partly gilt and partly coloured; the floor is entirely covered with a Persian carpet of the most extraordinary size and beau¬ tiful texture. This gallery receives a glimmering light through six perforated bronze doors, modelled after those of Henry V.’s chantry in the Abbey of Westminster. These doors are hung with crimson curtains, which in¬ creasing the solemn gloom, aid the effect of the Oratory, which we are now approaching. The Oratory is part of an octagon ; the roof, which is entirely gilt, terminates at each angle with delicate fan-work,resting upon a slender column. Fromthecentre of the ceiling is suspended a golden lamp, elaborately chased. The altar is adorned with a statue of St. Anthony, admirably executed in alabaster by Rossi. On each side are lofty stands, upon which are placed candelabra of massive silver richly gilt.—The effect of this solemn re¬ cess must be seen to be conceived ; nor can any descrip¬ tion convey an idea of the awful sensations it inspires. 12 V / r ( FONTHILL. We now proceed to give some account of the grounds within the enclosure. Upon entering the gate, the road ascends through a dark wood of firs, to a path leading eastward of the mansion; this path is skirted with laurel. At intervals the Abbey Tower appears among the trees. After traversing about half a mile, the forest lawn crosses the way; and turning to the left, the nut lawn presents itself, so called on account of the variety and abundance of hazels. Directly in front of this walk, at some distance, is the Beacon ; the way, continued about a quarter of a mile, leads to the Clerk’‘s Walk, which passes the western front of the Abbey. A narrow alley,on the right, conducts to a path bordered with the scarlet thorn, and extending more than a mile, presents a beautiful display of luxuriant shrubs and variegated hollies. To the north-west is the Nine-miles-walk; being part of a journey of twenty-two miles, which may be made within the grounds, without retracing our steps. Enclosed by large forest trees the way may be pursued to the summit of the great avenue. Here the Abbey bursts upon the view in solemn and imposing majesty. This point is the north-western extremity of the grounds, whence a folding gate opens into the public road; crossing which, another gate leads to the terrace, a woody ridge, that extends about five miles from west to east. Ascending the new terrace, southward, the ground upon the right is an abrupt steep, crowned with large 13 FONTHILL. trees; on the left is a deep bottom, called Bitham Wood. Turning out of this path to the left, through a narrow passage in the wood, we arrive at the Beacon, one of the loftiest points in the whole sweep of hills for which this part of the country is remarkable. Towards the south-east appears the Abbey, forming a grand mass of embattled towers, surmounted by the lofty octagon which composes the centre. We now descend to the lake, and passing through a sheltered walk, bordered with the hardiest English and Mediter¬ ranean heaths, come to the American Plantation: here is a pleasing view of the Abbey. In a direction south¬ east there is a romantic hollow, made still more in¬ teresting by the works that are here erected for supply¬ ing the Abbey with water. Approaching from this dell to the southern side of the Abbey, we arrive at the Chinese Garden, particularly appropriated to the cul¬ ture of the rarest flowers. Eastward is the kitchen garden containing eight or nine acres, screened on the northern side by a wood of lofty pines. From the garden we arrive nearly at the point from which we set out, and taking a short winding walk between the trees, come directly upon the lawn in front of the Abbey. The foregoing description was written and the draw¬ ings made by permission of Mr. Beckford, during his residence at the Abbey; whilst the building and all its internal arrangements were in pristine splendour. 14 4 handle: of queen marv’s coffin. THIS elegant relic, one of the eight handles that was attached to the splendid coffin which received the re-' mains of the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots, when con¬ veyed to Westminster, was formerly in the possession of Dr. Richard Mead, physician to King George II. and of great antiquarian reputation, at whose death it was sold, and passed through various hands, till at length it became the property of Samuel Tyson, of Narborough Hall, Norfolk, Esq. It was afterwards purchased at the sale of Mr. Wilson by Mr. Joseph Miller, the well- known antiquary, of Barnard’s Inn, who very obli¬ gingly allowed it to be copied. The handle and device are of copper, and were originally double gilt. The extreme length is fourteen inches and a half; the width one foot. Excepting the handle, the whole is flat and partially engraved. The initials M. R. appear above the handle. “ It is a circumstance well known, that the unfortunate Mary was interred in the cathedral church of Peter¬ borough, previously to her removal to Westminster Abbey. The ceremony at Peterborough was performed with great pomp, on the 1st of August 158T, the Countess of Bedford being the chief mourner; a sermon was preached on the occasion by the Bishop of Lincoln, 15 HANDLE OF QUEEN MARV’s COFFIN. from Psa. xxxix. v. 5, 6, & 7 : “ Lord, let me know my end,” &c. In the prayer, when he gave thanks for such as were translated out of this vale of misery, he used these remarkable words; “ Let us give thanks for the happy dissolution of the high and mighty Princess Mary, late Queen of Scotland, of w hose life and death at this time I have not much to say; because I was not ac¬ quainted with the one, neither was I present at the other.” Some years after the accession of her son. King James I. to the throne of England, he directed her body to be removed to Westminster; the warrant for this purpose is recorded by Gunton in his History of Peter¬ borough Cathedral; it is dated from Hampton Court, the 28th day of September 1612, and is addressed “ to the Right Reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well-beloved servant, the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield,” requiring that the body shall be taken up “ in as decent and respectful manner as fitting,” stating likewise “ that there is a pall now upon the hearse over her grave which will be requisite to be used to cover her said body, which may perhaps be deemed a fee that should belong to the church,” in which case the bishop is directed to pay a reasonable redemption for the same. In obedience to this letter, the body of the Queen of Scots was taken up the 11th of October following, and conveyed to Westminster. 16 ■ •> i T'^^nrcoMBiE lerousiE, / i / WXCOMBIE inrOTUSB > ’ "i -A ■ .i- yj ^WYCOMBIE mOlCrSlE BUCKS . WEST WYCOMBE, BUCKS. THIS pleasant village is at the distance of thirty-two miles from London, on the high road to the city of Ox¬ ford. It is chiefly remarkable for the stately mansion and park of Sir John Dashwood King, Bart., which are situated in its immediate neighbourhood. These delightful grounds are the frequent resort of small parties, who, through the liberality of the pro¬ prietor, are allowed to view the house and all its inte¬ resting appendages. Immediately on passing through the village of West Wycombe, a lodge presents itself on the left, and a gravelled way leads through a thick plantation towards the western portico of the house; this was called the temple of Bacchus; within it is placed a gigantic statue of that deity mounted upon a pedestal. When this figure was first executed, which circumstance might probably be considered as the dedication of the temple, a Bacchanalian fete was given, and wine distributed in great abundance. This event must be in the recollection of many persons still living at Wycombe. At each ex¬ tremity of the steps, which conduct to the portico, is a beautiful sphinx cast in lead, and painted white. The 17 c WEST WYCOMBE. portico consists of six noble columns of the Ionic order, with an appropriate pediment: upon the ceiling is a painting emblematical of the Evening. Entering the mansion by a handsome glass door, and crossing a vesti¬ bule, towards the east, another door opens immediately into the southern colonnade: the effect is pleasing and magnificent. This colonnade is 112 feet in length; its in¬ ner side is adorned with a range of busts, extending from east to west; some are from the antique, others represent distinguished personages who lived in the last century; among the latter is a fine likeness of Lord Le Despenser. The ceiling of the colonnade is richly painted; among other subjects, is Bacchus presenting to his favorite, Ariadne, a crown of seven stars: at the east end, painted upon the wall, is a figure of Diana, pouring out water, allegorical of the moon’s influence upon the tides. At this end of the colonnade is likewise placed an antique Hermaphrodite statue, finely executed. As it is our design to give some account of the apart¬ ments in the order by which they are most readily approached, it will be necessary first to notice the buttery, which is on the left side of the vestibule. Here is nothing worthy of particular remark, excepting a large iron closet for the security of the plate, and over the fire-place a picture of St. Crispin, which formerly adorned the door of a small Gothic building dedicated to that saint, at the eastern extremity of the Park; ano¬ ther door from the vestibule conducts to the billiard ■ 18 WEST WYCOMBE. room, where is placed a large table properly fitted for that recreation. At the lower end of this apartment, which is thirty-four feet in length, are two statues of Grecian Pugilists; on the left side is a large picture, illustrative of the fabulous history of Medusa, whose snaky locks had the power of transforming every living creature into stone. On the right side are portraits of Luther and Melancthon, and two others unknown. Pass¬ ing through the billiard room we enter the great hall; the roof of this apartment is finely painted, and is supported by four elegant columns, crusted in imitation of marble; its length is fifty-two feet six inches, breadth twenty-two feet. Here are several pictures and some elegant pieces of furniture. On the right hand side of the entrance is the grand staircase, which is richly decorated; the steps and bannisters are of the hardest mahogany, and are worthy of attention on account of their beautiful polish. At the lower end of the hall, on the left, a door opens into a large dressing room, com¬ pletely covered with the richest tapestry; the subjects are copied from Teniers, and represent a Harvest Home, a Fish Market, and Boors at the game of Four Corners. This is called the tapestry room: adjoining is the state bed room, which is hung with blue satin ; over the fire¬ place is an excellent picture of a Madona and Child; the ceiling of both these rooms is covered with leather, and admirably painted. In the middle of the hall a door opens on the left to c2 19 WEST WYCOMBE. the dining room, from which is seen a fine view of the lake, and the beautiful scenery of the gardens; it is lighted by three large windows, each of which is adorned with a circular painting; the subjects are Bacchanalian. Here are many fine pictures; the most conspicuous are Lazarus Raised from the Dead, by Paul Veronese ; Dead Game and Figures, by Rubens, esteemed a most valuable performance; and the First Sacrifice of Noah after the Flood. At the upper end of this apartment is a marble slab of uncommon dimensions, upon which stands two elegant vessels of the finest porphyry ; each corner of the room is adorned with a beautiful group of figures in statuary marble, copied from antiques brought from Nocton, in Lincolnshire. The ceiling is painted with a representation of the Gods in Council; the chimney-piece is most exquisitely wrought in the purest marble; the centre subject is Androcles and the Lion, a masterly performance in bold relief; over the chimney-piece is a whole-length portrait, said to be Peter the Great. The cornice iS finely carved and gilt, and the door-case is of variegated marble; this stately apartment is thirty-six feet by twenty-four. Beyond this is a small drawing room, in which is a superb cabinet and many pictures; on the ceiling is the fragment of a picture brought from Rome, and presented in 1739 to Sir Francis Dashwood by Dr. Richard Mead. . We now enter the breakfast room, or blue parlour. In this apartment, within a dark recess, is placed a 20 WEST WYCOMBE. statue of the Venus de Medici, in white marble, which is seen with admirable effect through the light and ele¬ gant perspective of the hall and the billiard room. The ceiling of this parlour is richly painted ; the subject is the Wedding of Bacchus. Over the entrance is a por¬ trait of the celebrated Handel. A great variety of pic¬ tures adorn the sides of the blue parlour : it is, however, to be regretted, that no accurate description can be obtained of the numerous paintings which are dispersed through the various apartments of this splendid mansion. Under the eastern portico is the great drawing room ; the ceiling is decorated with a painting representing the Feast of the Gods. The chimney-piece is a most beau¬ tiful specimen of workmanship, in the purest marble; a .Venus reclining and attended by Zephyrs forms the centre piece. The furniture of this room is magnificent, audits sides are covered with costly pictures. Returning to the hall and ascending the grand staircase, we reach the gallery. This spacious room is adorned with two splendid Ionic columns; between them stands a statue of Venus. In this gallery are several portraits and other pictures; there is likewise a richly wrought chest, which conveyed to Lord Le Despenser an ele¬ gant piece of plate, a present from Government. As¬ cending on the left by a few steps, we enter the library, which is thirty-six feet in length, and in breadth twenty-four feet; here are long ranges of cases but very few books, the greater part having been removed 21 WEST WYCOMBE. to another residence belonging to Sir John Dashwood. The library contains a few pictures, among them are portraits of Sir Francis Dashwood and his three wives. From the windows of this apartment is an enchant¬ ing view of the grounds and the surrounding country, with the woody hill, on which stand the Mausoleum and the Church of West Wycomhe. At the end of the gallery there are several minor apartments, and another staircase leads to the servants’ rooms. On the left of the gallery is a dressing-room and bed-room ; the former contains several costly cabinets. The north-east corner of the house is occupied by sleeping rooms; the total number of apartments is sixty-eight. This splendid man¬ sion was repaired and beautified about eighteen years ago by Sir John Dashwood, at the expense of a0’lO,OOO; at this time were introduced the columns which decorate the hall. The south colonnade was added by Lord Le Despenser, at a period when the house was generally enlarged. The grand entrance to the gardens is from the great drawing room, the door of which opens into the eastern portico, which is of the Doric order, and finely enriched with painting; on the sides of the door are medallions of Carracci and Corregio. The tympanum of the pedi¬ ment is adorned with figures, the principal of which is Britannia surrounded M'ith warlike trophies: on the ceiling is painted Aurora preceding Phcebus, who is at¬ tended by the Hours, finely grouped. At the extremi- 22 WEST WYCOMBE. ties of the portico mounted on basements, are two noble figures, a lion and lioness, recumbent. Descending by a flight of steps to the lawn, a gravelled walk, seen on the right, conducts through the gardens; this path is pursued at times through the dark umbrageous shade of forest trees; opening again to the extensive and delight¬ ful prospect of distant wood, and water-arriving at the Lake, and pursuing the way a few paces on its banks, a fall of water presents itself, which is adorned on each side with a sleeping nymph, exquisitely carved in wood, and painted white. Immediately opposite to this interesting point (across the lake) appears the music room; this clas¬ sical building claims particular attention, both on ac¬ count of the elegance of the design and its appropriate situation ; it is erected upon an island, and being almost embosomed in lofty trees, the effect of light and shade is most strikingly contrasted—the stream, in winding round this picturesque spot, is crossed by a rustic bridge, which leads again to the house, and completes the tour through these delightful gardens. The whole of this charming scene is repeated in tremulous reflection from the surface of the water. Leaving the music room on the left, the path con¬ ducts to the temple of Daphne, which is at the eastern ex¬ tremity of the grounds—a fine view of the lake and the north front of the house presents itself from this place. The gardens were at first designed by Lord Le Despen- ser, with a similar profusion of ornaments to that which pervades the house ; temples, urns, and statues by turns - 23 WEST WYCOMBE, attracted, and wearied the attention : these superfluous baubles were removed under the superintendence of Mr. Repton, who has the credit of having restored this ad¬ mired residence to its original simplicity. The Church and Mausoleum of West Wycombe are so conspicuous from the grounds that they may be con¬ sidered as part of the garden scenery. ^ The park, though not extensive, partakes of the beauty of the gardens, with the addition of an enlarged prospect of the vale. The surrounding hills, and the Town and Church of High Wycombe are seen from several points to great advantage. The Church of West Wycombe stands upon a fine commanding eminence, the ascent to which is, however, so unpleasantly steep, as to excite surprise and regret that a structure of this kind should ever have found a place here, the situation being so difficult of access, as to preclude the feebleness of age or disease from ap¬ proaching it. The choir of the present structure was built by Lord Le Despenser, about the year 1763, and the style of decoration is such, that after having recently seen the neighbouring family residence, the spectator is apt to conceive that he is still within the mansion. The church is dedicated to St. Lawrence. ■ The choir is sixty feet by forty ; along the sides are sixteen large Corinthian pillars, and between them ele¬ gant festoons of flowers; the cornice is uncommonly rich; among the other ornaments,’ a sun-flower in full 24 WJEST WirCOmJBE CMUmCM 1 , T 'I ' ^ .1 CMIUMCM f ^om, ihiyOijncel.J .. f-a-- ''If' WEST WYCOMBE. relief demands particular attention. The pulpit, which is of mahogany, is moveable, and is ascended to by only one step, which draws out from its side. The desks for the reader and clerk are handsome arm chairs, likewise mahogany, with velvet seats; hassocks of the same co¬ vering are laid below. The choir has no aisles, and on each side are ranged live rows of forms for seating the congregation, there being no pews. The font stands in the middle of the choir ; it is modern, and composed of a stand for the basin,supported by a slender shaft; around the former are placed four doves; upon the latter a ser¬ pent is entwining in pursuit of another dove, who appears to be fluttering for refuge to the basin above. Some doctrine might probably be deduced from this represent¬ ation, which it is not our' province to examine. The chancel is ancient, and about fifteen feet long, and much narrower than the choir: it is lighted by two small win¬ dows on each side, and another at the east end, which is finely painted. On the ceiling is a picture of the Last Supper. The altar is of carved oak ; the communion table is painted in mosaic work, and the pavement is of marble. The scanty light admitted into this sanctuary produces a solemn and not unpleasing gloom. Here are several mural monuments of the Dashwoods. The tower, which is part of the ancient pile, is about 100 feet in height, and has six bells; it is surmounted by a ball, seven feet in diameter, which may be entered by the assistance of a flight of steps, and is large enough to 25 •WEST WYCOMBE. contain several persons. On the north side of the exte¬ rior of the church may be seen this inscription—“ Hanc ffidem condidit Francisco Baro Le Despenser, Anno Christi, 1763.” Likewise a medallion representing the martyrdom of St. Lawrence ; and a text from Holy Writ, as follows: “ Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” On the opposite, or south side of the Church, is a sun-dial, and an inscription, now illegible. Several acres of ground about the Church are enclosed, having been consecrated, but only a portion on the south-east is used as a cemetery. Near the declivity of the hill, on the east, stands the Mausoleum. This singular structure was built in conse¬ quence of a legacy bequeathed to Lord Le Despenser, by George Doddington, Baron of Melcombe Regis, for the purpose of erecting a monument to his memory. Its form is hexagonal, having no roof; in the sides are re¬ cesses and niches for urns and monuments. In the south¬ west angle stands an urn, which contains the heart of Paul Whitehead, Esq. which was left by the poet as a legacy to his patron. Lord Le Despenser, by whom it was deposited here with great ceremony. On a tablet beneath is this inscription : Unhallow’d hands, this urn forbear, No gems nor orient spoil Lie here conceal’d—but what’s more rare, A Heart that knew no guile.” 26 WEST WYCOMBE. There are several pieces of ancient sculpture in this Mausoleum worthy of attention In the centre is a beau¬ tiful altar monument, under a canopy supported by pil¬ lars, inscribed thus: “ May this Cenotaph, sacred to the virtues and graces that constitute female excellence, perpetuate the me¬ mory of Sarah, Baroness Le Despenser, who hnished a most exemplary life, January 19, 1769.” The Mausoleum is built principally of flint, having a freize of copper on the east side. It is entered on this quarter by large iron gates; the area within is very spa¬ cious, and is covered with a fine moss. No visitor should leave this elevated spot without walking round the hill, the prospect from which is beau¬ tiful in every direction. According to the Doomsday Survey, the manor of West Wycombe was at an early period bestowed upon the see of Winchester, and in the reign of Edward I. appears to have been allotted to the monks for their support. The Bishops of Winchester continued Lords of West Wycombe till the 5th of Edward VI. when John Poynet surrendered it to that monarch, who granted it to the Duke of Somerset; this grant being revoked by Queen Mary, the manor was restored to the see of Win¬ chester. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth it again reverted to the crown, and was bestowed upon Sir Robert Dor¬ mer, Knt. who was afterwards made a baron. On the death of Lord Dormer in 1616, Robert succeeded to the 27 WEST WYCOMBE. estate at West Wycombe, and was created Viscount Ascot and Earl of Caernarvon by Charles I. The civil wars having affected the property of the family, the manor and estate of West Wycombe were sold in 1670 to Thomas Lewes, Esq. Alderman of Lon¬ don, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Dash- wood, Esq. a Turkey merchant: he however did not long possess it, as he granted it to his brothers-in-law. Sir Samuel, and Francis Dashwood, it soon after¬ wards became vested in the latter; he was created a baronet in 1707, and was four times married. Sir Fran¬ cis died in 1762, and was succeeded by his eldest son Francis, who served in two Parliaments for New Rom¬ ney. On the death of John, Earl of Westmorland, in 1762, he succeeded in right of his mother to the Ba¬ rony of Le Despenser: be had no issue, and died in 1781; his sister. Lady Austin, succeeded him in the Barony, on whose demise, in 1788, Sir John Stapleton, descended from Ca'therine, third daughter of Vere, Earl of Westmorland, became 'Baron Le Despenser, and the baronetage and manor of West Wycombe descended to his half-brother, Sir John Dashwood King, who dying in 1793, the estate came to Sir John Dashwood King, Bart, the present possessor. / 28 ANCIENT CEX.T AND ROMAN URN. “ To the Editor of the Port-Folio. “ Sir, “ The drawing which I sent you is from a brass Celt, most obligingly presented to.me by John Gibbard, of Shambrooke, in the county of Bedford, Esq. It was found a few years since in the parish of Rushden, -in Northamptonshire, and about a quarter of a mile from the parish of Knotting, Bedfordshire. I imagine that Celts are of remoter antiquity than the Christian era, but how long before I am not able to trace. They are con¬ sidered to be of British, Gaulish, or Norman.invention and fabric, and afterwards used by the provincial-Ro¬ mans, as well as Britons. Leland tells us, that a few years before his being in Cornwall, there were found spear-heads, battle-axes, and swords made of copper, near the mount in the parish of St. Hillary, where by the spear heads he certainly means those which we from Bergius, &c. now call Celts. Camden says, they were found not long before in Wales, and in Germany. Mr* Thoresby mentions some found in Yorkshire, near Bar¬ ham Moor, in 1709. In May 1735 were found above 100 on Easterby Moor, twelve miles from York, toge¬ ther with several lumps of metal, and a quantity of cin¬ ders, which proves there having been a forge at that place for making them. Some have been found near the 29 ANCIENT CELT AND ROMAN URN. place where the Romans made their attack upon the Britons in the Isle of Anglesea under Suetonius. At Danby, in Essex, some of the same kind were found, and at Fifield, in the same county, in the year 1749, with a large quantity of metal for casting them. Several Celts have been found in other parts of England. Celts have been considered by most antiquaries as instruments of war, and seem to have been used for the heads of spears and darts, being fixed in long wooden hafts, or handles, for that purpose. The Rushden Celts have grooves on each side, evidently designed for such fixture. For rea¬ sons why Celts are thought to be instruments of war, see Eorlace’s Antiquities of Cornwall, from which some of my observations are taken. “ The Urn is of red Roman pottery, about the coarse¬ ness of garden pots, found in the parish of Odell, Bed¬ fordshire, about four feet in mould, in the year 1821, on digging for gravel, and not far from the bridge of Harold, which parish joins to Odell. This Urn contained, when found, small bones, as did most of the other broken urns that w ere found with it. There were teeth and bones near all the urns, and one sound jaw-bone. A whole vessel, about three inches over at the mouth, was found also in the same gravel-pit, which contains three pints. “.Yours, &c. “ T. O. MARSH.” “ Felmersham, near Bedford, “ lOthOct. 1822. 30 I ' Vf Jl ' 1 i 7k SJSze 7^ Ska^scd. i a27sr2JiS%2^ s tatt7:e C‘^ard^ S^aR IcndjrL.J STATUE^ GERARD'S HALD^ LONDON. THIS ancient effigy was, till lately, placed over the gateway of the Inn called Gerard’s Hall, in Basing Lane; but on account of some recent reparations of the tenement has been removed: it is now fixed upon a bracket on the side of the tap, having had the legs sawed off just below the knee, probably for the judicious pur¬ pose of qualifying it for the place of its destination. The figure appears bearing a staff of office, and is said to represent a mighty giant, named Giraldus, who in former times haunted this place. A mansion, which occupied the site of the present Inn was, according to Stow, erected by Sir John Gisors, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1311; from him it passed in regular descent till 1326, at which time by feoffment, the estate was alienated. Stow mentions a pole of 40 feet in length, which was reported to have belonged to the giant; but he more rationally considered it to be a maypole, as there w as formerly scarcely a house of any note that did not exhibit one. These poles were also erected on festive days, particularly at Christmas, when they w ere decorated with holly and placed before the doors. Remains of the ancient Hall, erected by 31 STATUE, Gerard’s hall. Sir John Gisors, may be discovered by descending a staircase about twenty feet below the level of Basing Lane. Here are the original vaultings of the founda¬ tion, supported by sixteen pillars; the apartment ap¬ pears like an ancient crypt and forms part of the cellar¬ ing of the Inn The removal of the Giant some time in April, 1822; excited a suspicion that he was about to disappear al¬ together ; a writer in the Literary Chronicle says, “ Acci¬ dentally passing Gerard’s Hall Inn, I observed prepai rations were making for the removal of that very ancient effigy, Gerard the Giant, and as probably the majority of your readers are no strangers to the history of the above house, this information may be serviceable, and it will give those who may feel interested, an opportunity of paying the Giant a farewell visit.” Basing Lane was originally called the Bake House, on account of the number of bakers that lived there, and supplied Bread Street Market with bread. 32 'i-i TME (r iHTAT PETT. {SorfortL CoCLe.^eJ ■ ■ ' - ^■,- “■ %w / ^EDEIR-T’jFOIilD) COILILIEGIE HERTFORD COEEEGE, HERTFORD. THIS establishment is situated about three miles from Hertford, and nineteen from London, at a place called Haileybury, formerly the seat of William Walker, Esq., but now consisting only of a single line of cottages, which are dependant upon the College. The original foundation of this seminary took place in the year 1805, at the Castle of Hertford, from which town it derived, and still retains its name. The Castle not affording the conveniences required, the present erection was com¬ menced, from a design by the Rev. William Wilkins, A.M. and first opened in September, 1809. The build¬ ing is a spacious quadrangle of about 300 feet, consist¬ ing of only one story; the apartments are small, each student having a study appropriated to his single use, which also serves as his bed-chamber. The principal entrance is from the west; the area of the quadrangle is occupied by a grass plot, divided by gravel walks, for the exercise of the students; there is likewise a tennis-court, and a cricket-ground for the same purpose, on the eastern side of the building. On the south side of the quadrangle, as seen in the accompanying engraving, is a fine broad gravelled ter- 33 D HERTFORD COLLEGE race, extending the whole length of the front; the view from it, however, is not very striking. This side of the quadrangle comprises the chapel, the library, the council room, the hall, and the kitchen : it is adorned with three porticos; the middle one is attached to the library, the other two are entrances from the interior of the quad¬ rangle to the terrace. There are houses for the different professors in other parts of the quadrangle, and the principal has his lodge in the south-west angle: the porter’s lodge is on the left side of the great entrance. The Chapel, of which we have given a view, is of simple, but elegant construction. It is opened every day for divine service. The great principle on which the foundation was projected, was to qualify a sufficient number of persons to discharge the high and important offices in the admi¬ nistration of the civil government of the Company’s territories in India, the vast increase of which having made this an object of the utmost consequence. The College and its attached School are intended to afford a great variety of instruction, the necessity of which will appear from the following considerations. It has been observed, that the education of persons destined to fill the offices of magistrates, ambassadors, and pro¬ vincial governors in India, should certainly be founded on the firm basis of learning and science, on a knowledge of the principles of ethics and civil jurisprudence, of general history and the law of nations; to this should be 34 I HERTFORD COLLEGE. added, a more particular acquaintance with the language, history, and manners of those nations among whom they are to exercise their respective functions. The culti¬ vation and improvement of their intellectual powers should be accompanied with such a course of moral discipline as may tend to excite, and confirm in them habits of application, prudence, integrity, and justice; and to render this system of education fully efficient, it is essential that it should be inculcated and enforced under the sanction and influence of the Christian religion. It may reasonably be expected, under the favour of Divine Providence, that an education upon these prin¬ ciples, will dispose the civil authorities of India to exert a benign and enlightened policy towards its native subjects, and qualify them as the means of diffusing the happy influences of Christianity throughout the eastern world. / • No candidate is to be admitted under the age of six¬ teen ; and he must possess a competent knowledge of at least two of the Latin classics, the easier parts of the Greek Testament, and the principles of grammar, like¬ wise the common rules of arithmetic, with vulgar and decimal fractions. Each student is to pay 100 guineas per annum, besides the expenses of books and stationery; payments to be made half-yearly. He must also be supplied with proper academical habits, tea equipage, and other necessaries. On leaving the Collejfe, each D 2 35 HERTFORD COLLEGE. Student is required to pay ten guineas for the use of the philosophical apparatus and library. The College year is divided into two terms; the first commences on the 19th of January, and ends on the 31st of May; the second begins on the 27th of July, and terminates on the 6th of December. At the close of every term, a general examination is made into the ac¬ quirements of the students, before a deputation of the Court of Directors of the East India Company; at which time prizes are distributed, and the best qualified among tbe students are appointed to proceed to the different q>residencies in India. By an act of parliament of the 53rd of George III. no person can be sent to any of the presidencies in the capacity of a writer, unless he has been entered, and resided at this College during four terms. The number of students is now about eighty. The College School, which is intended as a prepara¬ tory for the College education, and is patronized by the Company, is likewise open for the public at large. Each student, above the age of ten years, is to pay seventy guineas per annum, to the head master, and if under that' age, fifty guineas yearly; for which, without any addi¬ tional charge, he is educated in the Greek, Latin, and modern languages, and in writing, arithmetic, mathema¬ tics, drawing, and dancing. A few pupils of a more advanced age, having superior accommodations, pay 100 guineas yearly. ^ 36 ANCIIRKT jRmiPIE MAT^IDILIE ANCIENT ZVORY KNZFE HANDLE. THE original Knife from which this Subject is drawn-, was most obligingly sent to the Editor by Mr. J. Allen, Jun. of Hereford, likewise the description that accom¬ panies it. The art of carving in ivory was long ago brought to considerable perfection in this country, as appears by the numerous and beautiful specimens which yet remain of ancient drinking cups, dagger-handles and sheaths, with other interesting memorials of the taste and ability of our ancestors. The Knife, now under notice, belonged to an ancient Catholic family in the county of Hereford, and is supposed to be one of a set of dessert knives. The handle represents a youthful Bacchus astride upon a cask; the attitude is very indifferently expressed, as may be seen by referring to the back view of the figure. He holds in his right hand a goblet, and in the other a tlagon; and is supported by four naked boys with up¬ lifted arms; the head-dress of this heathen deity is singularly elegant, consisting of grapes and vine leaves confined by a knot behind. The Knife appears to have been long in use, as some projecting parts of the handle are considerably worn. In comparatively modern times, Bacchus has seldom been named but as a promoter of jollity and intem- 3-1 ANCIENT IVORY KNIFE HANDLE. perance; he was, notwithstanding, regarded with different sentiments by the ancients, who worshipped him 'under various names. According to mythology, he was the son of Jupiter and Semele: his mother was so pre¬ sumptuous, as to require of the god that he would descend to her in all the pomp of deity, and she fell a sacrifice to her own desires, being consumed to ashes by the majesty of Jupiter. Bacchus, her son, was mira¬ culously preserved from the flames; he was the inventor of farces and theatres, and the first who established a school for music. Dr. Burney says, there is little doubt that the ceremonies of his mysteries gave rise to the pomp and illusions of the theatre: many of the most splendid exhibitions upon the stage, for the entertain¬ ment of the people of Athens and Rome, being performed upon the festivals of Bacchus, gave occasion to the call¬ ing all those that were employed in them, whether for singing, dancing, or reciting, servants of Bacchus. The Egyptians revered another Bacchus, the son of Ammon; this deity was potent at sea, conquered as far as India, returned in triumph, crossed the Hellespont, and sub¬ duing Thrace, left among that people the arts of music, poetry, and dancing. / 38 •V-' t ¥ . ‘ SV %l 0 (Yorlc) ^&st Vie.w ‘ u »/.'.-/.■ ■ ■ j'/-.. ‘ '• : , '-^k . • ■ ;K:', - ^ »■ y.’.:. ,■■1 h •f :! \ s ■;! "iV : ' IPUlLTriEl^Eir JBmilDGE. PULTENEY BRIDGE, BATH. THIS useful and ornamental structure crosses the Avon near the north-eastern extremity of the ancient city of Bath. It consists of three large arches, and is so com¬ pletely covered with buildings, that it may be crossed without any conception of its real site. From the Bridge is a continuity of elegant houses, called Argyle Build¬ ings, terminated by Argyle Square. Unlike other squares, this has the appearance of a lozenge, and opens at each angle, presenting a pleasing and novel appearance. Crossing the square, the street is continued under the name of Pulteney Street, and finishes in two rows of noble mansions, called Sidney Place—Sidney hotel and gardens form a boundary to this most superb range of buildings. Pulteney Bridge was erected by the late Sir William Pulteney, who possessing the true spirit of emulation and rivalry, prosecuted his exertions to such a degree, that almost a new town was erected under his auspices. His daughter, the late Countess of Bath, with laudable zeal, furthered the designs of her father ; and the Earl of Darlington, to whom the family estates devolved, 43 PULTENEY BRIDGE. continued to exert the same enterprising spirit of im¬ provement. The view which we have represented of Pulteney Bridge, is taken from the city end. In the distance is seen ^Paragon Buildings ; rising above them is Camden Place ; and on the right appears Walcot Church. The view is bounded by part of the amphitheatre of hills which surrounds the city ; and is adorned at almost every point by handsome villas. The singular situation of Bath gives a delightfully picturesque effect to the views around it—the progres¬ sive elevations of the houses rising above each other in admirable succession ; the gaiety of its inhabitants, and the modern elegance of its numerous public buildings, entitle it to the appellation of one of the finest cities in Europe. The bridge which formerly crossed the Avon at Bath was destroyed by a flood ; and subsequently by another flood the greater part of Little Bedford Street was like¬ wise washed away, and several lives were lost. On this occasion it is related, that an infant belonging to a laun¬ dress, whose house was demolished, being carried out in its cradle, round which some of the clothes she had to prepare had wound themselves, the cradle and infant borne up by them on the water, were floated down a long way into the fields, and there picked up in safety. 44 \ .r’. I^ntnmce- &at& to ^ &tu-derv ma:^o:r telofse, (jtoh&TSTeM'mfftoTh) . r. »r. - \ '. m- n * MOlUSIEo Sco^ N'&'n/in^ ton (T?ie,7IalL ict^ / €> n .^3" O m MO HJ S ]E . ! SCokcN’ei^Ln^icrvJ idau^.o/' J.WTrtsh/ieieL, EsqT MANOR HOUSE, STOKE NEWINGTON, MIDDLESEX. THE residences of persons who have been eminent for genius and worth, are long after their departure regarded with respect and veneration. The celebrated Dr. Isaac Watts, for the last thirty years of his life, was an inmate of the mansion here represented, as chaplain to the Abney family, and from this place first emanated most of the numerous and versatile productions of his pen. Dr. Johnson, speaking of this divine, says, “ Few men have left behind such purity of character, or such monuments of laborious piety. He has provided instruction for all ages, from those who are lisping their first lessons, to the enlightened readers of Malbranche and Locke; he has left neither corporeal nor spiritual nature unexamined ; he has taught the art of reasoning, and the science of the stars.” The erection of this stately fabric was commenced by Thomas Gunston, Esq., who died in the year 1700, a short time before the building was completed. The house and manor then became the property of his sister, who was married to Sir Thomas Abney, an alderman, and afterwards lord mayor of London. On the death of the last surviving child of this lady, who died unmarried 45 MANOR HOUSE. in 1782, the lease of the Manor was sold to Jonathan Bade, Esq.; it afterwards, by purchase, became the property of J. W. Freshfield, Esq., whose residence it now is. The mansion is situated at a short distance from the church, at Newington, and is built in a plain and durable style. The interior is elegant, and comprises several spacious apartments, which we intend briefly to describe. Upon entering the Hall a fine vase presents itself, modelled from the celebrated one at Warwick Castle. On the left is a library, formerly Dr. Watts’s study: here is preserved a portrait of the Doctor, esteemed an excellent likeness; this picture was in the possession of his grand niece, and was purchased by Mr. Freshfield as an appropriate ornament for the study. The principal apartments on the ground floor are the dining room, which contains some choice pictures, the breakfast parlour, and the drawing room; the arrangements of the latter are extremely pleasing and tasty. Ascending the great staircase, in the gallery on the left, is a bed-chamber, in which Dr. Watts always slept, and finally “ put on immortality.” On the same side of the staircase is the Grecian room, which is handsomely pannelled and paint¬ ed; the decorations for the most part consist of pictu¬ resque scenery. In one of these paintings over the fire¬ place is represented a piece of water ; on this is a small swan, which it is understood Dr. Watts painted whilst the artist employed in ornamenting the room was gone 46 / MANOR HOUSE. to dinner. On the right hand extremity of the'gallery is the painted room, adorned with richly coloured paint¬ ings from the Metamorphoses of Ovid. It is said that at the time of Mr. Gunston’s death, the window shutters in this room had not been finished, and that Dr. Watts, amidst the general distress of the family (for he was the friend of Mr. Gunston, and visited Lady Abney, Gun¬ ston’s sister, before he became part of the establish¬ ment), painted the shutters with various emblematical representations, viz. of Death; Time; Strength destroy¬ ed ; Life poured out; the Gunston Arms in mourning; and the City Arms hung with crape, Lady Abney’s husband being lord mayor of London. These paintings are pre¬ served with commendable care and veneration. Besides the stately rooms Mready mentioned, there are a number of minor apartments, and aback staircase which ascends to the upper rooms and to the turret. The offices are very extensive and convenient. The grounds are judi¬ ciously laid out, affording shady walks, arbours, and other pleasing accompaniments. The mournful event of Mr. Gunston’s death before the completion of this noble Manor House, drew from the pen of Dr. Watts a funeral poem, which abounds with pious sentiment, and expressions of the most ar¬ dent friendship: it was addressed to the Right Honour¬ able the Lady Abney, Lady Mayoress of London, and in prefacing it the Doctor observes, “ I had resolved, in¬ deed, to lament in sighs and silence, and frequently 47 MANOR HOUSE. checked the too forward muse, but the importunity was not to be resisted; long lines of sorrow flowed in upon me ere I was aware, whilst I took many a solitary walk in the gardens adjoining to his seat at Newington; nor could I free myself from the crowd of melancholy ideas. Your Ladyship will find throughout the poem, that the fair and unfinished building which he had just raised for himself gave almost all the turns of mourning to my thoughts.” . . . “ The poem roves, as my eyes and grief did, from one part of the fabric to the other; it rises from the foundation, salutes the walls, the doors, and the windows, drops a tear upon the roof, and climbs the turret, that pleasant retreat, where I promised myself many sweet hours of his conversation ; there my song wanders amongst the delightful subjects, divine and moral, which used to entertain our happy leisure, and thence descends to the fields and the shady walks, where I so often enjoyed his pleasing discourse ; my sorrows diffuse there without a limit. I had quite forgotten all scheme and method of writing till I correct myself, and rise to the turret again to lament that desolate seat.” “ Muse, view the turret, just beneath the skies. Lonesome it stands, and fixes my sad eyes As it would ask a tear. O sacred seat! Sacred to friendship! O divine retreat! Here did 1 hope my happy hours t’employ. And fed before hand on the promised joy: 48 MANOR HOUSE. When weary of the noisy town, my friend From mortal cares retiring, should ascend And lead me thither.” Dr. Watts was invited to reside in this mansion by his friend Sir Thomas Abney ; this kind patron died how¬ ever in the year 1722; but his relict and family continued to manifest the same benevolent spirit towards their inte¬ resting inmate, and he continued with them until his death, which happened in 1748, in the 75th year of his age. In addition to several foregoing particulars relative to the Manor House, Mr. Freshfield, the proprietor, has favoured us with these observations : “ It is generally remarked, that property in the neigh¬ bourhood of London changes hands once in seven years ; and the late Alderman Skinner, an eminent auctioneer, said, that a gentleman had only to look round for the house he wished to occupy, and within that period he would certainly have an opportunity of purchasing it: but the house in which I now reside, is only in the pos¬ session of the third family since it was built Mr. Gun- ston purchased the land in 1690, and soon afterwards began this building. In June 1700 he died, having by his will given it to his sister, Mary Gunston, who married Sir Thomas Abney, and survived her husband. The house was occupied by her, and afterwards by her single daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Abney, from 1700 to 17S2. It stood empty until 1784, when Mr. Jonatlian Eade, E 49 MANOR HODSE. purchased it. He lived there till 1.811, when he died; and it remained empty till December 1813, when it was purchased by me from his devisees. “ It would be well if modern builders were obliged to take the stability of this house for their model; it has stood 120 years without the slightest appearance of set¬ tlement in any part, and the offices under ground are as dry as the floors above. “ Formerly the Manor House stood about 200 yards more to the west, and the gardens ran eastward. Mr. Gunston took down that house, and let a great part of the garden for the erection of the present street, leaving the Entrance Gate to the Garden, which is still standing; and from that time the new house built by him was called the Manor House.” John Aikin, M. D. son of the late Dr. Aikin, of Warrington, and his amiable sister, Mrs. Barbauld, for many years resided at Stoke Newington, near the Ma¬ nor House.: he was the author of many essays in the Monthly Magazine, the Athenaeum, the Classical Jour¬ nal, and the Reflector. Of the first he was editor for many years, and also of the second from its commence¬ ment to its close. He died at Newington, on Saturday, December 7th, 1822, at the age of seventy-six. 50 / ' - '• 'f- ■ • ‘ / ; m:.' '■ ’. ,T\ ' .‘y. I ■ >• / <> . 1 .' >■' I t 'i-- . tv.- \ • ■ ■/ ■• . '■v. ^ ^ A ^ .^'f,' • .* ■diiL •vv . • - ■ i-, ■■ ■ .rn-t r '+A 4-,. N ' ■ .£ i'. SICILIAN BRONZES. “ To the Editor of the Port-Folio. “ Sir, “ Having become possessed of the two first num¬ bers of your Port-Folio, I think its plan so useful, that I shall certainly from time to time communicate whatever may appear suited to the purpose, for the in¬ sertion or rejection of which you must of course use your own discrimination. I have herewith sent you two little bronze Sicilian’Figures, that appear to me highly curious and interesting: but before I enter into a de¬ scription of them, I beg leave to make a remark or two on the Ancient Celt, the use of which you have omitted to describe. Celts were called by the ancient Britons Bwyellt-arv, i. e. battle axes, and by the ancient Irish, for they are frequently found in great numbers in Ire¬ land, Tuagh-catha, i. e. axes of war ; and on the propor¬ tions of their component parts, copper and tin, a very good paper will be found in the volume for 1796, of the Philosophical Transactions, by Dr. Pearson, p. 395. With respect to the Statue from Gerard’s Hall, the cos¬ tume is so evidently of the time of James I. that the slight¬ est comparison with figures of that date, will prove its having been carved at that period, probably to illustrate the tradition you mention. E 2 51 SICILIAN BRONZES. “ The Sicilian Bronzes represent naked warriors, armed with shields of the same kite shape, though of different sizes, which are what the ancients termed the Pelta, as, according to Xenophon, that was in the form of the ivy leaf. See fig. 1. & 2. on the plate, which are engraved the size of the originals. Fig. 3. is taken from another in Monfaucon’s Antiq. expl. tom. iv. pi. XV. and has a shield, which though not precisely of the kite shape, has great affinity to it, and is charged with the figure of a Griffon. Now the curiosity in these bronzes is, that the two first, which are in my son’s possession, have the shield precisely of the form borne by the Normans in the Bayeux tapestry, and the other, the fabulous animal with which their shields are also charged. The constant intercourse between the Normans in France and those in Italy and Sicily, will account for the adoption of this protection: for according to Gibbon, fifty years before the conquest of England, Melo, the chief of Bari, furnished them with arms, and twelve years after they conquered Apulia. “ Wishing every success to your undertaking; “ I remain, yours, &c. “ S. R. MEYRICK.” “ 20, Upper Cadogan Place, “ 18th Nov. 1822. “ P. S. There are no similar bronzes in the British Museum.” 52 f CTLIFTO:^ IROCIKS near Jjruital CLIFTON ROCKS, NEAR BRISTOL. The drawing and following description of Clifton Rocks, were presented by Mrs. C. Rees, of Bath. AMONGST the various places of resort for the invalid and the lounger, with which our island abounds, Clifton, alike from its beauty and salubrity, is deserving of a large portion of the public notice. It is situated on the south and west of a hill, one mile from Bristol, in the hundred of King’s Barton. The purity of the air has long obtained for it the name of the English Montpelier, Nothing can be more beautiful of its kind than the scenery on the river below the Hot-Well; whether it is viewed from the summit, or the foot of the rocks, the eye is equally delighted. On each side of the river rise magnificent rocks, now towering in all the rude grandeur of sterile nature, and now clothed with the most beau¬ tiful woods and trees. Those Rocks immediately below the Hot-Well, on the Clifton side, are called Saint Vin¬ cent’s; from a chapel, which tradition says was erected on the highest of them, and dedicated to that Saint. This Rock is mostly of a brownish marble, very hard and close grained; when sawed into slabs it shews beau¬ tiful veins of white, yellow, grey, and sometimes red; and is capable of receiving a polish equal to that of any 53 CLIFTON ROCKS. foreign marble : it has occasionally b.een employed for chimney-pieces, tables, &c. but is chiefly used for making lime; for which purpose it is the best stone in England, both for strength and whiteness; this occasions a great demand from all quarters; and the proximity of the river aflTords every facility for its removal, which takes place every year in great quantities; a number of quarry-men being constantly employed in blowing up the Rocks with gun-powder. Of late this business has been carried on to a still greater extent;-as they have been employed in widening and improving the towing path (on the Clifton side of the river) into a road as far as tlie new Hot-Well Spring. Between the different strata of these Rocks it is that the once so famous “ Bristol Stones” are found. They are hexagonal crystals, of sufficient hardness to cut glass, and are mostly pellucid and colourless; some however are to be met with of a yellow, and others of purplish hue; but these are rare ; indeed, there are much fewer of them all to be met with now, than formerly; the shops, how¬ ever, endeavour to supply the deficiency by exhibiting for sale pieces of stone crusted over with the shining substance resembling chrystals, which they call “ Bris¬ tol Stones;” but these are nothing but spar; and of a perfectly different nature from the others; as may be easily proved by putting them into a fire, which soon converts them into lime, whereas the real Bristol Stone” suffers no alteration thereby. 54 JBTTTCKILAI^JD) CM, Devons7zu& ■ ' I r’ v;^- ’ Fit) ■ ■ / BUCKLAND MONACHORUM CHURCH DEVONSHIRE, THE Church of Buckland Monachorum is a large hand¬ some structure, consisting of a nave with its aisles, a small transept, and a .chancel^ to which is attached on either side, an aisle or a chapel. The tower is of mo¬ derate height, and is strengthened at the angles by em¬ battled turrets ; these are adorned with bold crocheted pinnacles, which are surmounted with a cross. There is a large porch on the southern side of the Church, which is likewise decorated with pinnacles. The tracery of the windows is rich and diversified, and the whole exte¬ rior of the building, in consequence of the variety of its parts, is of a character peculiarly pleasing. The stone of which it is built is the colour of a remarkably dark red ochre, a circumstance calculated to excite particular attention. The interior of the Church is no less interesting than its exterior. The roof of the choir is of unusual con¬ struction, being composed of a pointed arch, supported by the segment of a smaller one, which unites it with an elegant corbel to the side walls. It is handsomely ribbed, having at each intersection a rose, or a shield, charged with armorial bearings. The roof is likewise ornamented 55 BUCKLAND MONACHORUM CHURCH. with two rows of minstrels ; these being painted in a tawdry manner, have rather a disgusting appearance. The aisles are separated from the body of the Church by lofty arches, resting on a cluster of columns. The pews are for the most part new ; some of the ancient seating however remains, which is curiously carved with Gothic tracery. In the south aisle is a fine monument to the memory of Lord Heatbfield, executed by Bacon in 1795. It is composed of a figure of Britannia, holding a model of the gate of a fortress, inscribed plus ultra, and a boy holding a key, a palm branch, and a shield. On the mo¬ nument are four bas-reliefs, representing, first a piece of ordnance, with a lighted match; second, cannons, culverins, &c. and a furnace for heating shot red hot; third. Lord Heathfield directing military operations; fourth, floating batteries on fire, and the drowning sailors rescued from the waves—the whole surmounted with a medallion of the noble general. The inscription is as follows: Sacred to the Memory of GEORGE AUGUSTUS ELLIOTT, BARON HEATHFIELD OF GIBRALTAR, Knight of the Bath, General of his Majesty’s Forces, and Governor of Gibraltar. He was the Seventh Son of Sir Gilbert Elliott, Bart, of Stobs, in the County of Roxburgh, in Scotland. The University of Leyden enriched his Mind with Science, and formed his Taste for Literature and the Arts. The bias of his Genius soon inclined him to the Profession of Arms, in which He rose by regular Gradation to the highest Eminence, 56 BUCKLAND MONACHOUUM CHURCH. and at length dosed a brilliant Career with immortal Glory. Germany beheld him in the War of Seven Years discharging all the Duties of a gallant Officer. The British Cavalry owed to him a System of Discipline that made him the Pride of their Country. The Havannah, the Metropolis of the Island of Cuba, Saw him among the Officers who levelled her boasted Fortifications, and conquered by their Valour. Gibraltar was reserved to crown him with unfading Laurels : Though closely pressed during a Siege that lasted Three Years without Intermission, He remained invincible. The spectacle which He there exhibited to the Eyes of France and Spain, and to the Amphitheatre of Princes who beheld the glorious Scene, Will be an eternal Memorial of British Courage and British Humanity. General Elliott derived no hereditary Honours from his Ancestors. His Titles were earned by Services to his Country. He married ANN POLEXON DRAKE, Daughter of SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, Bart. Who lies interred near this Spot. And by her left a Daughter, who was married to John Trayton Fuller, Esq. And an only Son, now LORD HEATHFIELD, who has raised this Monument to the Virtues which he admired. History will tell the rest. He died July 6th, 1790, aged 72 Years. Near Lord Heathfield’s monument is a smaller one to the memory of Sir Francis Henry Drake, and another to the memory of the late Lord Heathfield. The former is inscribed as follows : 57 BUCKLAND iMONA<},HOIWJM CHURCH. “ In a vault beneath are interred the-remains of Sir Francis Henry Drake, Bart., of Buckland Abbey, in the county of Devon; he died on the 9th of February, 1794, aged seventy years. His descent was illustrious, being lineally descended from the great naval warrior of the 16th century. His natural and acquired endow¬ ments were such, that had the strength of his constitution been equal to the powers of his mind, he might justly have aspired to the first offices of state. He w as clerk comptroller of the board of green cloth in the reigns of their majesties King George the Second, and King George the Third, and for more than twenty years preceding his death, was master of the king’s household, the duties of which station he discharged with fidelity to the king, and honour to himself. In testimony of the respect due to his memory, his nephew, the Right Hon. Francis Au¬ gustus, Lord Heathfield, Ba^pn of >Gibraltar., caused this monument to be erected.” Buckland Church having been the resort of the monks of Buckland Abbey, in order to perform their devotions, is sometimes called the monkish church : it is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The present patroness is Mrs. —— Crymes. The village of Buckland Monachorum is nine miles and a quarter north by east from Plymouth, and four and a quarter south by east from Tavistock. South. View of TFR TTT (T. TK ¥ ^ A ~!^ TTD A. IB IB IE D evonsii ire f.',, / BUCKXiAND ABBEY, DEVONSHIRE. BUCKLAND ABBEY is situated about one mile south¬ west from the village of Buckland Monachorum, on the eastern banks of the river Tavy. This Abbey was founded by Amicia, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloster, and wife of Baldwin de Rivers, Earl of Devon ; great benefactions were also bestowed upon it by their daugh¬ ter Isabella de Fortibus. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Benedict, and filled with Cistercian monks from the Isle of Wight, A. D. 1278. According to Dug- dale, its annual revenues amounted at the dissolution to £2A\. \ls.9d. The site was granted by Henry VIII. to Sir Richard Greenville. In the reign of Elizabeth it came into the possession of Sir Francis Drake, the cele¬ brated admiral, in whose honourable family it continued till 1794, when the late Sir Francis Henry Drake, dying unmarried, the property descended to Francis Augustus Elliot, Baron Heathfield, son of the renowned General Elliott. During the time that the Abbey was in his pos¬ session he directed it to be thoroughly repaired, which was done under the superintendance of Mr. Cockerell. Baron Heathfield died in the year 1813, and was suc¬ ceeded by his nephew. Major T. Trayton Fuller, who upon taking possession of the estate, received the Prince 59 BLCKLAND ABBEY. Regent’s licence to add the surnames of Elliott and Drake after that of Fuller, and who has been created a Baronet, which title has been in the family from the first creation in the reign of James I. Some parts of the building still retain the original monastic appearance, but modern alterations have obli¬ terated much of the ancient feature. The principal en¬ trance is on the north ; over the porch are three tablets with armorial bearings. The centre one contains the two stars and foss wavy, the Drake arms given by Queen Elizabeth after the first circumnavigation of the globe ; the Baronet’s hand is on one of the side tablets The crest given by the Queen with the arms, was, on a wreath of three colours, on a terrestrial globe, a ship proper, trained about the said globe with hawsers by a hand issuing out of clouds on the dexter, all proper, and on an escroll this motto, “ Auxilio Divino.’’ Within the hall is preserved a model of a ship; here is likewise a sword, which was presented to the admiral after the destruction of the Spanish armada off Ply¬ mouth, which is remarkable for nothing but its enormous size. In the house is a portrait of Sir Francis, and a framed copy of his patent of arms from Queen Eliza¬ beth, dated 1581; here is also his full-length portrait with the sword, and an old drum which he took with him in his voyage round the world. The structure upon the whole presents nothing par¬ ticularly interestingto theantiquary,exceptingthe tower, 60 BUCKLAND ABBEY. the battlements of which are certainly of a very peculiar form. The Abbey stands at the head of a fertile valley; the grounds and woods belonging to it are of considera¬ ble extent and contain a great number of fine timber trees; between the woods meanders the river Tavy, on which is a fine salmon wier ; but the mines at Tavistock have lately contributed towards injuring the fishery. On the east side of the house is a barn, at least 170 feet in length; this is part of the ancient conventual building. It is said that the first apple orchard in this county, now so celebrated for its cider, was that of the Abbey. The arms of Buckland Abbey are quarterly argent and gules, a crozier in bend, or. We conclude this descriptive sketch by some brief memorials of the life of the valiant Sir Francis Drake, in whose family the estate at Buckland so long continued. He was born at Tavistock in Devonshire, in 1545, and went early to sea with his relative. Sir John Hawkins. In 1570, he went to the West Indies with two ships, and two years afterwards commanded another expedition, which proved very successful. He next served under Walter, Earl of Essex, in Ireland, where he distin¬ guished himself so much by his bravery, that Sir Chris¬ topher Hatton introduced him to Queen Elizabeth, who ever afterwards honoured him with her marked attention. In 1577, he made another voyage to the Spanish settle¬ ments in America, and sailed as far as to 48 degrees of north latitude, calling the country which he discovered 61 BUCKLATVD ABBEY. New AJbion. He then went to the East Indies, and having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, returned to Plymouth, November 3, 1580, so that this voyage round the world took up two years and nearly ten months : his fame was now so great, that the Queen condescended to dine on board his ship, and after dinner conferred on him the honour of knighthood*^ In 1587, he commanded a fleet of thirty sail, with which he entered the port of Cadiz, and destroyed above 10,000 tons of shipping: this exploit he jocosely called “ burning the King of Spain’s beard.” The following year he commanded as vice-admiral, under Lord Howard, of Effingham, against the fleet of Spain, vainly called the Invincible Armada, and was greatly instrumental in the destruction of that formidable armament, which, however, was completed by a storm, that scattered the ships along the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, where many of them were wrecked. On this occasion a medal was struck with this motto, yijjiavit Deus est Dissipanter. Sir Francis diedS on board his ship, oflf Nombre de Dios, in 1596. Several of the foregoing particulars relative to Buck- land Abbey, have been obligingly communicated by Sir Thomas Trayton Fuller Elliott Drake, Bart. We are indebted to the liberality of Mr. Richard Brown, Architect, for the drawings of the Abbey and Church, and for the principal descriptive materials. 62 / -A MYTH 01.061 C BARTHBNWARB UTBNSXIiS. THE vessels which are designated by this title are of so unusual a shape and curious contrivance^ that it is no easy matter to decide on their original intent. The first is of ancient Etruscan w^are, in the possession of Llewelyn Meyrick, Esq. and engraved from a drawing by Robert Shipster, Esq. a gentleman who laudably applies his pencil to the preservation of objects of curi¬ osity or antiquity. It represents the body of a bird, with a third leg for it’s even support, attached to the head of a horse hog-maned, in the usual manner of Greek and Etruscan steeds. This combination evidently points out it’s mythologic character, and it is somewhat curious that it should be directly the inverse of the British deity stamped, according to Mr. Davies, on those pieces of gold which have been termed coins, where we see the body of a horse with the head of a hen. The greatest height of this earthen vessel is about eight inches; and the length, from the tip of the tail to the end of the nose, eleven inches. That it was not a lamp is clear: although it might be , supposed that the orifice on the back, which is nearly an inch in diameter, was for the purpose of pouring in the 63 mythological earthenvyare utensils. oil, and on each side of which may be observed perfora¬ tions for a cord, by which it might be suspended; for the hole which is made at the termination of the tail so far from admitting a wick, is scarce large enough for the insertion of a good sized pin. This, and the circumstance of it’s standing on legs, would make one hesitate in de¬ nominating it a vessel from which was poured out the holy oil; and yet the consideration, that the ampulla which holds that used in the consecration of our kings is in the form of a bird, and that the Roman Catholics adopted many of their symbols as well as rites and ceremonies from tbe pagans, goes far towards an inclination to this opinion. But there is yet another purpose for which it may have been manufactured, and that is, for what in a more philosophic age has been denominated aeolipile. For though strictly speaking, the aeolipile, or pila ^Eoli, was a hollow globe, into which was screwed a pipe with a small orifice, and was used only to demonstrate an experiment in pneumatics and hydraulics; the principle on which some pagan idols were constructed was the same. These were generally representations of the Ger¬ man god Piista, and of bronze; but if the subject of these remarks was for the same purpose, it will show that this piece of heathen priestcraft did not originate, or at least was not confined, to the pagan temples of Irminsul. The mode was to fill the vessel with water at the large aperture, then to close it up and put it over 64 MYTHOLOGIC EARTHENWARE UTENSILS. a fire to boil, or having heated the vessel red hot to pour in the water. This was done in some recess of the temple, so as not to be observed by the people; whose astonishment was excited on perceiving the steam pass out of the small orifice, accompanied with an internal rumbling noise, while untouched by any one. The bronze figure called Jack of Hilton, described by Dr. Platt in his History of Staffordshire, was of this de¬ scription, as is likewise that of which an engraving has been given in the xiiith vol. of the Archaeologia. On the German idols of this character there have been writ¬ ten some learned treatises, but should the earthenware represented in the annexed engraving be of the same character, the subject receives additional illustration. The other vessel, of which two different views are given on the same plate, belongs to Thomas Adderley, Esq., and was brought from Mexico. The intention appears to have been of the same kind, a bird here representing the pagan divinity. This contrivance, however, has been carried still further, for, by an additional aperture opposite that through which the gaseous vapour would pass, a whistling sound is pro¬ duced, intended to imitate the notes of the bird. Some birds w ere held in veneration by the inhabitants of the new world as well as by the Northern Scalds of Scandi¬ navia ; and the Eatooa of the South Sea islanders will immediately occur to the minds of such as have read the journals of Cook and other navigators. Being, how- 65 F MYTIIOLOGIC EARTHENWARE UTENSILS. ever, without feet, there is less probability of its having been used as an ceolipile than the Etruscan one, and its diminutive size would allow for its being made to whistle merely by the breath of the priest. A reference to the plate will shew the manner in which the whistling is performed. By applying the mouth to the tube the air is propelled through the large bulbs, and ascends through the aperture on the back of the bird, producing a sound by acting upon the orifice immediately above. Its height is five inches, and the extreme width about five inches and a half. Of Mexican antiquities, manners, and customs, we are as yet but little informed, the jealousy of the Spa¬ niards having induced them to withhold from the rest of the world such investigations as were made by the cu¬ rious and learned among them, from the time of the conquest by Hernan Cortez to the present day. The noble work of Humboldt contains almost the sum total of our acquired knowledge, but its great expense has put it beyond the reach of all whose means of purchase are within the ordinary limits, and an abridgment is by no means calculated to supply the deficiency. How far the revolutions in South America may tend to lay open to Europe the hidden antiquarian treasures remains to be proved, but there is much reason to suppose, that the first effects will be visible in this metropolis. To Samuel Rush Meyrick, Esq. EL. D. and F. S. A. we are indebted for the foregoing communication. 66 < r •'/ \ ■ r . ' ' , / ■KT”: i* / I CJLUM.A(C Jtd^ontCLCUZe. Som^rsetsTizrc. CliUNIAC PRIORY, SOMERSETSHIRE. THE interesting remains of the Cluniac Priory, at Mon- tacute, are pleasantly situated under the shelter of a hill, which commands extensive prospects of the adja¬ cent country. The buildings are now converted into a farm-house ; considerable portions of the ancient edifice are, however, still apparent, especially a bay or oriel window, which has been very richly ornamented; the original embattlements, likewise, in many places re¬ main. The village of Montacute derives its name from Robert, Earl of Morton or Montaigne, who followed William the Conqueror into England, and fixed his castle and residence on this spot. His confidential friend and companion in all his enterprizes was Drogu de Mon¬ tagu, whose name was obtained from the place of resi¬ dence which was occupied by his ancestors in France* This circumstance, and the acuteness of the hill, deter¬ mined Robert, Earl of Morton, to apply the name of Montacute to his newly-acquired possession. Robert was succeeded in the earldoms of Morton, in Normandy, and of Cornwall, in England, by his son William, in 1091, who, at the foot of the hill on which his castle was built, erected a religious house, or priory, for F 2 67 rHJNlAC PRIORY^ Black Cluniac Monks, which he dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul; and for the good estate of his own soul and the souls of his father and mother, gave to the priory the borough and market of Montacute, and other very extensive endowments. The names of the successive presidents of this house were preserved in the priory records. The first was Walter, in whose time the monks lost most of their endowments, in consequence of the rebellion of the founder, but they were afterwards re¬ stored. William, Earl of Morton, was succeeded by Reginald, chancellor to King Henry I.; this nobleman enlarged the monastery buildings, and converted the castle on the mount into a beautiful chapel, roofed very curiously with stone, and vaulted within. It was en¬ tered by a flight of steps reaching from the foot of the hill to the top; this chapel was dedicated to St. Michael. The last prior was Robert Whitelocke, who surren¬ dered to Henry VIII. in March, 1539, and had a yearly pension assigned to him of £ 80 , with a gratuity of ^20, and the capital messuage of East Chennock for his residence. 6 S I I ! MOIUSIE IN !T.irCIHrFJEILB fui w>ucA D'- Johnson. w,u<. born .) HOUSE IN EICHFIEED, Itf WHICH DR. JOHmON WAS BORN. THE city of Lichfield claims the honour of giving birth to many persons of literary celebrity, especially the learned lexicographer Dr. Sam. Johnson, who was born in the house here represented, on the 7th of September, 1709, old style. Of Johnson’s ancestors very little is certainly known, and he himself took no delight in talking of them, for he observed to Mrs. Piozzi, “ there is little pleasure in relating the anecdotes of beggary.” The Doctor’s uncle was a celebrated pugilist and wrest¬ ler, and kept the ring at Smithfield for some years, and was never thrown or conquered. The father of Samuel Johnson was the first who emerged from the obscure occupation of the family, which resided at Cubley, in Derbyshire, as day-labourers; he became a bookseller at Lichfield, and was a man of large athletic constitu¬ tion and violent passion, and of a melancholy cast, nearly approaching to madness. He was so attached to the Stuart family, that when Dr. Sacheverell, in his memorable tour through England, came to Lichfield, he carried his son Samuel, then not three years old, to the cathedral, and placed him upon his shoulders that he might see as w ell as hear the far-famed preacher. 69 HOUSE IN LICHFIELD. Dr. Johnson received the rudiments of his education at the free school at Lichfield, and on the 31st of Octo¬ ber, 1728, was entered of Pembroke College, Oxford; he remained a short time at college, and returned to Lichfield ; his father died soon after, and the whole re¬ ceipt out of his effects was no more than £ 20 . It would require a volume to follow this great man through all the vicissitudes of his eventful life ; his memoirs have long been before the public. He died on the 13th of Decem¬ ber, 1784, and was buried in the Poets’ Corner, West¬ minster Abbey. The house in which he was born is situated opposite the market-house, at the corner of Sadler Street; it is a square stuccoed building, the upper part projecting in the ancient fashion, and resting upon pillars at the angles. The praises of Lichfield have often been poetically celebrated ; we extract the follow¬ ing example ; — “ Here Johnson fashion’d his elaborate style. And truth well pleas’d, the moral work survey’d; * Here o’er her darling’s cradle wont to smile, Thalia with her Garrick fondly play’d ; And here the flower of England’s virgin train. Boast of our isle, Lichfield’s peculiar pride ; Here Seward caught the dew-drops of her strain From grief and fancy’s magic-mingled tide: — Exult fair city ! and indulge the praise A grateful stranger to thy glory pays.” 70 / CA3&ILISILIE CASTTILIE CARXilSIiE CASTEE, CUMBERLAND, THE city of Carlisle is supposed by some to have had existence previously to the time of the Roman invasion, though others have contended that it first appeared as a fortress on that celebrated rampart the Wall of Severus. Camden relates, that it was a place of importance in the time of the Romans, and confirms his remarks by refer¬ ring to the various antiquities which have been occa¬ sionally dug up, and from the frequent mention of the city by writers of an early date; even after the ravages of the Piets and Scots, Carlisle is said to have preserved something of its ancient splendor. The castle stands upon the north-east angle of the city, and consists of an outward and inward ward; the walls of the former are nine feet in thickness, and about eighteen in height; those of the inner ward are twelve feet in thickness ; within this ward is the great tower or citadel of the castle, this is of a squqre form and very lofty. The walls are of extraordinary thickness, and constructed according to the mode of defence that was used before the invention of cannon. It has subse¬ quently been strengthened according to the modern sys¬ tem of war, and is defended by a half-moon battery, 71 CARLISLE CASTLE. and a very large platform mounted with cannon under cover of the outward wall. The upper part is embra¬ sured, and being seated on the brow of an eminence, commands an extensive view of the adjacent country. Within the great tower is a well of uncommon depth, which, according to tradition, is of Roman construc¬ tion. The outer ward contains the governor’s house and in one of the gates of the castle the ancient port¬ cullis is yet remaining. Carlisle Castle was made the prison of the unfortunate Queen Mary for some time after her landing at Workington, and the apartments used as her lodgings are still shewn to visitors. A curious discovery was made within the castle about the end of October, 1819, which excited consi¬ derable attention. The workmen employed in the altera¬ tions then proceeding, while cutting loop-holes in a wall several feet in thickness, which separates the area of the castle from the magazine and the principal defences, found a quantity of bones, and the remains of a very superb female dress. Among these relics of mortality was the spine and a rib of an infant; the other bones were supposed to be those of an adult female. The dress was composed of French silk intermixed with sil¬ ver, and appeared to be of the age of Queen Elizabeth. 72 AM(CA]I1)JE BURI.1NGTON ARCADE PICCADILLY, LONDON. THIS elegant and commodious range of building was erected by Lord George Henry Cavendish, at the expense of nearly 66’40,000; and occupies part of the ground w hich was attached to the family mansion known by the name of Burlington gardens. It was commenced and completed in 1818, from a design by Samuel Ware, Esq. and is a chaste and pleasing example of his taste and architectural skill. The peculiarity of the erection, the order by which it is regulated, and the spirited display of merchandize made by the proprietors of the various shops, have made the Burlington Arcade one of the most genteel and fashionable promenades of West London. The entrance at each end is by three circular headed openings, which form part of a handsome screen of the Ionic order facing the public street. The extreme length of the Arcade is bOO feet; the width 36 feet; it contains seventy-two distinct dwellings, each comprising a shop, two rooms above, and an underground apart¬ ment. In some cases two shops are occupied by the same person. They are let on lease by the noble pro¬ prietor, who has endeavoured to render every accom¬ modation to his tenants, by the establishment of an 73 BURLINGTON ARCADE. appropriate and vigilant police. There are six arcade keepers, who are likewise constables and watchmen. These relieve each other during the day to prevent per¬ sons of disreputable appearance, or cari*ying loads, from entering the premises ; and at night their business is to patrol and to admit the tenants who have their sleeping apartments within the Arcade ; many of them, however, have their lodgings in other places. Lamps are suspended across the building for the purpose of lighting it at night. The windows in the roof, of which there is an ample number, by an ingenious contrivance are prevented from wholly closing, thus the air is kept in constant circulation. The descriptions of business carried on are limited; and the shopkeepers are bound by their leases to observe the regulations which may be made from time to time for the general good order of the Arcade. A narrow passage on the west side of the Arcade leads to an extensive bazaar, called the Western Ex¬ change, which may be entered likewise from the lower end of Old Bond Street. CEMETERY AT PENTILEY, CORNWALL. “ To the Editor of the Port-Folio. “ Sir, “ The Cemetery at Pentilly, in the parish of Pil- laton, Cornwall, of which I sent you a drawing, is si¬ tuated on a very considerable eminence, named Mount Araret, overlooking the river Tamer, (which divides Cornwall from Devonshire,) and affording a prospect of great part of the border of the latter county. This building was erected agreeably to the will of Sir James Tillie, of Pentilly Castle, who died in the year 1712, and directed that his body should be deposited here, placed in a chair, in a sitting posture; which many people of the neighbourhood affirm they have seen from the window. Although Mr. Lysons, in his Magna Brit- tannia, says, that the direction in his will was not punc¬ tually complied with; for on opening a vault beneath the pavement, not long ago, he observes, his remains were found deposited in a coffin, in the usual way. “ I have frequently heard my father say (and he was likely to know, as he held a farm near the spot), that he had seen the coffin in the chair ; and I am in¬ clined to believe that the body has very lately been 75 CEMETRY AT PENTILLY. deposited in a vault beneath, as the window shutters were formerly left open to the view of every visitor, but within these few years have been closed up. “ I am, yours, &c. “ RICHARD BROWN.” “ Wells Street, Oxford Street.” In the Beauties of England and Wales by Messrs. Britton and Brayley, it is observed relative to the Ce- metry, that “ in general the witty atheist is satisfied with entertaining his contemporaries, but Mr. Tilly wished to have his sprightliness known to posterity. With this view, in ridicule of the resurrection, he obliged his executors to place his dead body in his usual garb, and in his elbow chair, upon the top of a hill, and to arrange on a table before him, bottles, glasses, pipes, and tobacco. In this situation, he ordered himself to be immured in a tower of such dimensions as he pre¬ scribed, where he proposed, he said, patiently to wait the event. All this was done, and the tower still en> closing its tenant, remains as a monument of his impiety and prophaneness.” “ The fear-struck hind with superstitious gaze ; Trembling and pale th’ unhallowed tomb surveys. And half expects, while horror chills his breast. To see the spectre of its impious guest.” f WAI^STTIEAB MOUSE (Essex.) WANSTEAD HOUSE, ESSEX. WANSTEAD HOUSE is situated upon the western part of Epping Forest, about six miles north-east of London. The mansion extends 260 feet by 75 ; and consists of a rustic basement and principal story, with an attic in the centre. The whole is of stone. The grand front towards the forest is adorned with a noble portico of the Corinthian order, and may with propriety be considered one of the finest elevations in the kingdom. It was designed by Colin Campbell, author of the Vitru¬ vius Brittannicus, and has furnished hints to succeeding architects; but has, perhaps, never been rivalled by the many imitations of it. The garden front is plain but in good style ; in the centre is a pediment, which contains a bas relief, supported by six three-quarter columns. The grand hall is o3 by 45 ; the gallery or ball-room is 75 by 25 feet, extending the whole depth of the house. The other apartments are of proportionate dimensions, and the decorations were of the most sumptuous order that can be imagined; but all the magnificent furniture. Gobelin tapestry, and valuable paintings of Wanstead House, are now scattered by the hammer of the auction¬ eer. The princely fortune of Miss Tyiney Long, the 77 WANSTEAD HOUSE. accumulated riches of ages, has been dissipated by her husband, a son of Lord Maryborough, and, as observed by the Literary Chronicle, they have both sunk into comparative poverty without pity. The ancient manor of Wanstead was granted by Henry VII. to Robert Long Rich, who sold it to the Earl of Leicester. The manor reverting to the crown. King James gave it to Sir Henry Mildmay, who having been one of the judges of Charles I. it became forfeited. Charles II. gave it to his brother the Duke of York, who sold it to Sir Robert Brooke, and it was shortly afterwards pur¬ chased by Sir Joshua Child. His son Richard, first Earl of Tylney, laid out some extensive grounds in gardens; and in 1715 commenced the erection of the present man¬ sion. The original design for the house included wings, which have never been erected. Mr. Young, in his “ Six Weeks’ Tour,” observes, “ In respect to elegance of architecture, Wanstead is second to Hoikham. What a building would it be were the wings added according to the first design.” The park though handsome and well planted, is not proportionally magnificent with the house ; but as the Earl of Tylney was hereditary ranger of Epping Forest, the whole of that extensive tract may be considered as his park, 78 r tJSeSS Starer. ANCIEIN'T CMAIM, fPerishurst. Kent J S?iepy>^oad yones. Sc Cf ^eSf.i 3Szi. Width I. lO. ANCIENT CHAIR, FENSllURST, KENT. THE Chair from which this drawling- w as made is in the possession of James Sedgwick, Esq. of Somerset Place, who has favoured us with the subjoined description. This curious piece of furniture came originally from Penshurst Place, the ancient seat of the Sidneys, and was the favourite chair of Sir Philip Sidney, though of a date long anterior to the period in which he was born. It w as purchased by its present owner from Mr. John Hooper, of Sevenoaks, into whose hands it came by pur¬ chase, from a cottager nearly ninety years of age, who valued it as having been in his father’s possession long before his memory; he bought it originally at a sale, of some old articles of furniture at Penshurst Place, and always held it in great veneration on account of its extreme age. This mansion was in the possession of Stephen de Pencester, in the time of Edward III. who was con¬ stable of Dover Castle, and four times lord mayor of London. Licence to embattle the house, was given to Sir John Devereux by Richard II. , The estate became the property of the crown through forfeiture upon the attainder of Sir Ralph Vane, in 15.51 ; 79 ANCIENT CHAIR,. King Edward VI. gave it to Sir William Sydney, whose son. Sir Henry, enjoyed the most intimate friendship of that amiable monarch, and supported him in his arms while dying. Few mansions are approached with more interest than Penshurst. The learned and gallant Sir Philip, and the patriot, Algernon Sydney, received their birth at this place. The following anecdote of the latter is curious and interesting. A Mr. Perry having by mar¬ riage with a descendant of the Earls of Leicester, ob¬ tained possession of this mansion, made it his residence : upon the death of one of his children the family vault in the adjoining church was opened for the purpose of its interment; when upon entering the vault, several coffins, formerly piled upon each other,had fallen down ; it appeared that the Zoioesthad given way ; upon opening it, the corpse of Algernon Sydney was found in a per¬ fect state; the ribband that was fastened round the neck for the purpose of binding the head to the trunk, still retained its colour. The body is said to have been put afterwards into a sarcophagus, brought with other an¬ tiquities by Mr. Perry from Italy : this gentleman died in 175T. Robert Sydney, Viscount Lisle, was created by James I. Earl of Leicester, and Baron Sydney of Pens¬ hurst, August 2, 1618. The present possessor of Pens¬ hurst Place, Sir F. Shelley, Bart, has taken the name of Sydney. SO 4f SHAW HOUSE, NEAR NEWRERr, BERKSHIRE, THIS mansion is celebrated as being the head-quartets of the unfortunate Charles I. after the memorable battle of Newbery, which was fought in the year 1644. The king having detached three regiments of horse to the re¬ lief of Banbury Castle, which was then besieged, was on his way to Oxford, when he was met near Newbery by the forces of the Parliament, and compelled to fight with his army weakened as before mentioned. The king fortified himself as well as he could at Newbery, and placed his foot in the entrenchments, whilst the horse were posted in two adjoining fields, and for some days there were frequent skirmishes between the two armies. At length on Sunday, the 27 th of October, the parlia¬ ment generals having divided their forces into two bodies, attacked the king’s entrenchments at two several places. The fight, - .vhich began at three or four o’clock in the ''afternoon,held till night, and was extremely sharp,each party repulsing the other by turns—on the approach of night the assailants forced part of the entrenchment, and took several pieces of ordnance. A variety of evidences yet remain at Shaw House of the execution done by the conflicting parties. In an 81 G .’V Jib / SHAW HOUSE. old oak wainscot of a bow window in the library is a hole about the height of a man’s head. This aperture, according to tradition, was made by a bullet fired at the king as he was dressing at the window, by a musketeer of the parliament army. The shot narrowly missed him, and the wainscot is carefully preserved in memory of the transaction ; a basket of ball is likewise shown which was gathered about the premises. Shaw House w as built by an eminent clothier, named Dolman, about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign ; it is a large edifice, built principally of brick. Mr. Dol¬ man being sufficiently enriched by his business, erected this mansion, intending to pass his remaining days here in ease and retirement; having withdrawn his capital from mercantile pursuits, those who had been benefited by his former speculations, followed him into his retire¬ ment with many sarcasms; and it has been observed, that the various Latin and Greek sentences inscribed upon different parts of the House show that he was well acquainted with the opinions of his neighbours ; the re¬ membrance of whose illiberality has been preserved to this day by the following grotesque distich : Lord have mercy upon us, miserable sinners, Thomas Dolman has built a new house and turn’d away all his spinners. 82 / , ’ ., ' V . ■' ^^ V.' f MOmJMIEIW OK ]LAK]DSJD)0'WH lETICLlL f near ^ath J MONUMENT ON EANDSDOWN HILL, NEAR BATH. IN the immediate neighbourhood of Widcombe, a few miles from Bath, is Landsdown Hill, rendered famous by the great battle fought there in 1643, between the royalists under the command of the Marquis of Hertford, and the parliament forces headed by Sir William Waller. In this memorable and sanguinary conflict, the number of gentlemen killed far exceeded that of the private sol¬ diers ; among them was Sir Bevil Granville, a person of great repute with his party, and likewise universally respected. The superb Monument here represented was erected upon the spot where he fell, on the north side of Landsdown Hill. It stands within a square of twenty- one feet, and is composed of freestone : its eastern side is adorned with the royal arms and those of Granville ; the west front is enriched with w arlike trophies. On the south is a tablet, containing an eulogium on the character of Sir Bevil, written by Lord Clarendon, and inserted in his history of the rebellion ; and on the north side are inscribed the following lines ; “ When now the incens’d rebels proudly came Down like a torrent, without bank or dam ; G 2 83 MONUMENT ON LANDSDOWN HILL. When undeserv’d success urg’d on their force, That thunder must come down to stop their course, Or Granville must step in; then Granville stood, - And with himself oppos’d, and check’d the flood. Conquest, or death !, was all his thought, so fire Either o’ercomes, or does itself expire. His courage work’d like flames, cast heat about. Here, there, on this, on that side, none gave out. Not any pike in that renowned stand, ^ But took new force from his inspiring hand ; Soldier encourag’d soldier, man urg’d man. And he urg’d all 5 so far example can. Hurt upon hurt, wound upon wound did fall. He was the butt, the mark, the aim of all. His soul this while retirM from cell to cell. At last flew up from all, and then he fell j But the devoted stand, enrag’d the more From that his fate, plied hotter than before ; And proud to fall with him, swore not to yield— Each sought an honour’d grave, and gain’d the field. Thus, he being fallen, his actions fought anew,' And the dead conquer’d while the living flew.” 84 piii J.D6^7zzJ. RrcJ^phiy kSnff^b^ J.kS'SSiarer T^TE WATR M rJETTIJMCIEI. (Netting ?iams hire-^ .tri- -v'- » I, ' 't- • /• I I % 'V i: ■ / ' J r^lEWAIRM CMTUMCM o £ast end. m SJ4_LJ- I’a jj I^IEWAIRM CJHTUMCH fJaza^,^ transept.) KEWAMK CMFlRrm, N Torch' — \ ' i ■ 1 •V ' V ■{ NEWARK CHURCH, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. THIS superb structure, which is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, was erected in the time of Henry VI. on the site of an ancient Church. It was founded by Alan Fleming, who is supposed to have been a principal, or prior, of one of the large religious houses which form¬ erly existed in this town. The Church of St. Mary Magdalen is justly esteemed the largest and one of the finest parochial edifices in the kingdom; it discovers in many parts very singular examples of architectural skill, and presents as a whole an admirable specimen of the latter Gothic, or as some now term it, the old En¬ glish style. The exterior is of most elaborate work¬ manship. The windows are composed of mullions and tracery in great variety of design ; many parts of the building are adorned with niches, statues, and other decorations, and there is, perhaps, no other ecclesi¬ astical edifice that displays so many and such a diver¬ sity of ludicrous busts, forming spout heads and breaks upon the mouldings, excepting Magdalen College, Ox¬ ford. It is much to be regretted that the buildings which surround the south and part of the west side of the Church, 85 NEWARK CHURCH. ' detract considerably from the effect which an uninter¬ rupted view of such an edifice is calculated to produce. The noble west front cannot fail to attract the atten¬ tion of the most superficial observer. It is no unrea¬ sonable conjecture that part of this front was a portion of the anterior building. The ornaments of the great door, if not the door-way itself, as well as the great west window, and the two windows of the aisles, are obviously of more recent date than the walls in which they are in¬ serted. To discover this does not require the accurate eye of the architect or antiquary ; for though these addi¬ tions, which are of the very last fashion which prevailed before the extinction of the Gothic style in England, ren¬ ders the interpolation of them manifest to a critical exa¬ miner, the want of correspondence in the contiguous joints of the stone, the variation of colours in the cement, and many other minute circumstances, make the discordance of the old and new parts sufficiently obvious to the most cursory observer. The west door is composed of re¬ ceding arches, richly ornamented; above is the great west window, the lower part of which gives light to the body of the Church, and the upper part to the belfry. Above this window rises the Tower in majestic symmetry and beauty, to the height of 144 feet; this is surmounted by an elegant spire. 111 feet in height, making the total elevation 255 feet. The second story of the tower is adorned with four pointed arches, resting on columns, having richly- 86 NEWARK CHURCH. wrought capitals; over them is placed the clock; the room above, containing eight bells, is lighted by a beau¬ tiful window in each face of the tower; this window is divided into two compartments by delicate pointed arches, the space above them, as well as that on each side of the window, is adorned with a niche, containing a figure, three on each side of the tower, which represent the Twelve Apostles, ^ The tower has an ornamented parapet with crock- etted pinnacles, and handsome abutments at each an¬ gle ; it is ascended by 190 stone steps. The spire is octangular, strengthened at four corners by cants, or bold projections, and has delicately-wrought windows,, or apertures, at intervals to the top. In 1643, during the siege of Newark, a cannon ball perforated the north¬ east side of the spire, a little below the bottom window; the breach is still visible; but the opposite side resisting its force, it fell within the steeple. In the summer of 1818, the upper part of the spire, for the space of six yards, was taken down, it being very unsafe, and in danger of. falling: it was rebuilt to the same height as before—this reparation is very apparent, but a few years more will probably blend it into exact uniformity with the original, work. The north side of the Church contains many lofty and beautiful windows; on the upper part of the north porch is a large shield, bearing a cross crosslet Botone: the window of the north transept is peculiarly grand. A little beyond is the door of the choir; this is an an- 87 NEWARK CHURCH. cient piece of workmanship; the arch is adorned with crockets and a finial, and on each side is a pinnacle and some curious tracery—the upper parts are now in a ruinous state, having suffered much wanton dilapida¬ tion. The east end of the Church contains three noble windows; the centre one is uncommonly fine, and of very superior dimensions: immediately above this, upon a battlement composed of quatrefoils, rises an elegant shrine, which contains an interesting figure of the peni¬ tent Mary—she is represented with her hair hanging in ringlets down to her loins, and the box of ointment in her hand; this is called the dedication piece—it was anciently surmounted hy a large stone cross, now broken off. Turning to the south side of the Church the vestry first projects itself to view, and occupies a short space ; a little beyond is the south transept, which is similar to that on the north. Between this and the south porch are three fine windows, exhibiting admirable specimens of Gothic tracery. Above the porch is the library, which contains a valuable collection of books bequeathed by Bishop White; beyond the porch are three windows similar to those just mentioned. We now regain the west front of the Church. , The great west door opens into a spacious and lofty compartment, called the anti-choir. The first object which attracts attention here is the venerable font. It is said in some accounts to be of grey marble ; but, in fact, it is composed principally of free stone; the shaft 88 NEWARK CHURCH. bears distinct marks of very remote antiquity, and is ornamented around with figures in pairs, representing the Twelve Apostles—the sculpture is remarkably bold; but the accumulation of oil and colour which have been at different times injudiciously applied,- has given it altogether a coarse appearance : the basin is decorated with heads of cherubs, and round its base is inscribed— 5®ia«. 19®®. On a pillar adjoining the font is affixed the following inscription, on a small brass tablet': “ This font was demolished by the rebels, May 9th, 1646, and rebuilt by the charity of Nicholas Ridley in 1660. The ascent to the font is by two broad and easy steps; it has a cover of wood, which is quite modern. The pillars within the anti-choir are uncommonly fine; besides the west en¬ trance, there is a door on the north and another on the south—at the eastern side three glass ddors open into the body and aisles of the Church. Upon entering the mid¬ dle door, the interior of this magnificent structure bursts upon the view with im-posing and solemn effecC The beautiful vista formed by the arches and columns of the na- is terminated by a handsome organ, resting upon a screen, of most elaborate workmanship, beyond which may be obtained some glimpses of the choir, the chancel, and its superb altar-piece. The aisles are lofty and expansive, and the form of the arches is peculiarly 89 NEWARK CHURCH. elegant; the shafts of the columns are not clustered, but consist of the ovolo and cavetto, with the separating fillet alternately introduced. Many parts of the ancient oaken ceiling still remain, which consist of lozenge compartments, with a flower in the centre of each; those parts which had decayed, have been replaced by stucco-work, still however adhering to the original design. IIow reverend is the face of this tall pile. Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads To bear aloft its arch’d and pondrous roof. By its own weight made stedfast and immovable. *»»»*** It strikes an awe And terror to my aching sight. The tombs And monumental cases of the dead look cold. And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart. The mural monuments are very numerous, and many of them reflect great credit upon the different artists under whose care they have been executed. The pave¬ ment is covered with sepulchral memorials, besides which there is a great number of brasses in good preser¬ vation. These mementos of mortality are calculated to impress the mind with the most solemn emotions, and the spectator, who is conversant with the language of poetry, will call to remembrance the celebrated lines of Blair. 90 NEWARK CHURCH. -Here friends and foes Lie close, unmindful of their former feuds. Here is the large limb’d peasant; here the child Of a span long, that never saw the sun. Nor press’d the nipple, strangled in life’s porch : Here is the mother with her sons and daughters ; The barren wife ; the long demurring maid. Here are the prude severe, and gay coquette. The sober widow, and young green virgin. -Strange medley here ! The organ is one of the largest in great Britain, and was built by England; its tones are peculiarly fine, and are often elicited with great effect by W. Bridges, Esq. the present organist—the screen before it is of cast iron of the Gothic style, and is esteemed an appropriate orna¬ ment. The windows in the north aisle were formerly filled with painted glass, representing the history of our Saviour; in different parts were coats of arms of several families; most of these have long since disappeared. In the south transept there is a large marble slab, with brasses curiously wrought; this is the tomb of Alan Fleming, the founder of the Church. The brass represents an ecclesias¬ tic in his sacerdotal habit under a rich canopy of three arches, with double rows of saints round it. From his con- joined hands falls a scroll, inscribed “ Miserere mei do- mine deus mens.” The whole figure is much worn by being trampled on. In the south aisle there are many 91 NEWARK CHURCH. mural monuments, particularly one to the memory of Her¬ cules Clay, the miraculous dreamer, and his lady, This person was a tradesman of considerable eminence, and an alderman of the corporation of Newark; during the siege in 1644, his (dwelling being on the west side of the market-place, he' dreamed three times in the same night that his house was in flames—on the third warning he arose much terrified, alarmed the whole family, and caused them to quit the premises, though at that time all ap¬ peared to be in perfect safety; soon afterwards a bomb from a battery on Beacon Hill fell upon the roof of the house and penetrated all the floors, but happily did little other execution. In commemoration of this extra¬ ordinary deliverance, Mr. Clay, by his will, gave <^*200 to the corporation in trust to pay the interest of ^100 to the vicar of Newark for a sermon to be preached on the 11th of March, the day'on which this singular event happened, and the interest of the other ^£’100 to be given in bread to the poor, which customs are continued to this day. The inscription on his monument relates to the above-named benefaction. The monuments in this aisle in general contain Latin inscriptions—nothing can be more absurd and inconsistent than the practice of enve¬ loping these communications, which ought to be for the information of the many, in a language understood by few. The well-known commodore Trunnion’s dying re¬ quest is an excellent satire on the affectation of cloth¬ ing epitaphs in execrable modern Latin, although it may 92 .NEWARK CHURCH. savour somewhat of impiety, unless the genius of the speaker’s language is considered. “ 1 do desire that it may not be engraved in the Greek or Latin lingos, and much less in the French, which I abominate; but in plain English, that when the 'angel comes to pipe all hands at the great day,’ he may know that I am a British man, and speak to me in my mother tongue,” ' In this aisle, near the west corner of the south tran¬ sept, there is a most curious stone corbel, about one foot square ; this viewed in every direction at a short distance appears as one human.face, but upon a closer inspection it presents three distinct faces, intended, as some sup¬ pose, to represent the triune deity. It is in an obscure situation, and very generally overlooked. ’ , ' The choir is spacious and elegant; the stalls and an¬ cient seats are still existing, and in good preservation. The altar-piece is a masterly performance, by William Hilton, R. A.; it was placed here in T821—the subject is Christ raising Lazarus from the Dead; it has a most superb and massive gilt frame, tastefully bung with beau¬ tiful drapery. On each side of the frame is a tablet; these contain the ten commandments. The communion table is separated from the chancel by handsome rails of cast iron; each side of the chancel is bounded by a chantry, in both of which were formerly altar-tombs. In that on the south side were interred the remains of Sir Robert Markham, the other was the burial-place of his son. Sir John. These chantries, or chapels, are 93 NEWARK CHUncn. profusely embellished with the arms of Markham, and other families from whom they were descended, or with whom they were connected by marriage; they are both executed in the most florid style of Gothic architecture ; the tomb of the south chapel was removed many years since; that of the north remained till 1821. The east aisle is light and airy; here is seen the back of the altar-piece, which exhibits an excellent specimen of the mason’s skill. In the centre against the wall is a monument to the memory of John Joyce, Esq. who was in the suit of succeeding Dukes of Rutland ; he died in 1608 : a few years ago there was a small effigy of him within a ca¬ nopy, above the incription, which being much mutilated was at length removed. Near this place an opening in the pavement leads to the vault—here are two skeletons enclosed in lead and soldered up, without any outer shell or inner coffin, which is evident from the appearance of the rib bones, which may easily be discerned through the fractures in the lead. A Baron Done is recorded to have been slain near Newark in the civil wars, and buried in this vault; and it is supposed that one of these coffins contain his remains. In the south-west corner of the east aisle, a little elevated, is a bishop’s shrine; it had been concealed many years by plaister and white wash, and was discovered in 1821 ; the shield bearing the crozier is exquisitely coloured, the name of the bishop is un¬ known. The vestry, which is on the south side of the Church, is conveniently large. The Vignette that appears 94 / NEWARK CHURCH. on this page is the dedication piece (see p. 88), It is probable that this Church was originally intended for a cathedral church, not only on account of its large dimen¬ sions, its transept, &c.; but there are evidences at the junction of the nave and middle aisle of a design to erect a central tower. Although the Church is so very capa¬ cious, the internal arrangements are so inj udicious that one third of the parishioners are excluded from the be- 95 NEWARK CHURCH. nefit of sittings. Permission for the erection of pews is lodged solely with the vicar, and when built, they become bis freehold property; in some instances a pew has been sold for d670. The draw^^s of Newark Church were obligingly lent by Mr. H. Hage, and are part of a series made to accom¬ pany a MS. history of Newark in his possession, from which the foregoing account is extracted. 96 (^I’cussa^c to &:cj THE PORT- FOLIO; _ COLLECTION OF ENGRAVINGS FROM Antiquarian, ARCHITECTURAL, and TOPOGRAPHICAL SUBJECTS, CURIOUS WORKS OF ART^ SfC. &ic. WITH DESCRIPTIONS. VO L U ME 11. ILontlon: PUBLISHED BY NORNAVILLE & FELL, NEW BOND STREET; & SHERWOOD, JONES, k CO. PATERNOSTER ROW. 1823. COE, PRINTER, DOCTORS COMMONS INDEX AND LIST OF PLATES. Page BEDFORDSIIinE. > Felmersham Church.... .19 Interior of do. Berkshire. Reading Abbey. 81 Buckinghamshire. Clifton Church . 35 Interior of do, Cambridgeshire. Grantchester Church.23 CORNIVALL. Stained Glass in St. Neot’s Church.47 Ditto Cumberland. Lanercost Priory.87 Devonshire. Saltram, the Seat of the Earl of Morley .11 The Guildhall, Exeter.29 Bishop’s Palace, do.45 Exeter, from the Topsham Canal. 67 Berry Pomeroy Castle .91 Dorsetshire. Gateway of Cerne Abbey_1.89 Glo ucestershire. Roman Amphitheatre.15 Sanctuary at Acton Turville .95 Steeple of Church, do. (Vignette Tail-piece).96 Herefordshire. Ancient Equestrian Figure.31 Ancient Candlestick.33 Hertfordshire. Hertford. 51 Blue Coat School, do. All Saints’ Church, do. INDEX AND LIST OF PLATES. Page Lancashire. Knowsley, Seat of the Earl of Derby, East Front.. .. I South View, do. The Colonnade, do. The Stand Hill, do. Gold Cup, do. Middlesex. Ancient Powder Flask.13 St. Paul’s Cathedral, from Aldersgate Street.. .39 ' Ditto from Sermon Lane Christ’s Hospital, Cloisters and Part of the Hall.53 Ward No. 4 Grammar and Writing Schools. Interior of Writing School. Passage to the Hall (Title to Vol. II.) Ivory Chess Box.73 Ditto Strawberry Hill.85 Branca’s Steam Engine.93 Northamptonshire. Castle Ashby, Seat of the Marquis of Northampton ..25 Castle Ashby Church Nottinghamshire. Newark Castle, West Front .61 South Side of the Portal Oxfordshire. Effigy of Queen Elizabeth .65 Perthshire. Gowry House, looking East.69 South View Wiltshire. Kingswood Abbey.83 Yorkshire. Door in South Aisle of York Cathedral.43 Monument of Abelard and Hcloise (Paris) . .17 / I ©(DILI]) CTCTIP in the. possession of the. Earl of Merby. TETTITH (OTMVJLS ariHIX O a It ■’fi M ■ ^ f 'ii\' A,-/ " ■• ■- / l’ C- % 1 ^ ' ;:r^’ i:- • ■ < A - Il, ; I 1 ■- ‘,,>V- « \ / & o MOWSILEY ILAIfCASinriM. Seal of the- Earl of Eerhj^ KNOWSliE Y, , LANCASHIRE, THE SEAT OF THE EARL OF DERBY. KNOWSLEY, the principal seat of the Earl of Derby, is situated in the county of Lancaster, in the parish of Huyton, seven miles from Liverpool, and two from Prescot. Close to the end of the last-named town stand two stone lodges, between which a handsome iron gate¬ way opens into the park, which is not only the largest in the county, being between nine and ten miles round, but of considerable antiquity, and abounds in beautiful scenery. From the entrance lodge the road ascends gently for the distance of about three quarters of a mile, till it reaches the top of the Stand Hill; so named from a square tower of considerable height, and surmounted by a dome, which is erected on this eminence. This is used as an observatory, and commands a most extensive view over the surrounding country. There is nothing remarkable in the building itself; but from the fine sw ell of the hill on which it stands, and the noble trees that surround and conceal its base, it has a most imposing effect from almost every point in which it is seen. The stand is also one of the principal land marks to the port of Liverpool, the hill being (excepting B 1 ( KNOWSLEY. one) the highest point of ground in the park. The pro¬ spects on every side, from this hill, are strikingly beau¬ tiful ; particularly one from a rustic seat on the north¬ west side, which commands a magnificent view of that noble sheet of water called the White Man’s Dam, so called from a statue on the hill just above it, and close to the rustic seat above named. On the stand hill the road divides; one part leading down the west side towards the House, and the other branching oflfin a northern direction, to the Trap Wood Lodge, which opens to the road through St. 'Helen’s to Wigan. Descending the stand hill, towards the Trap- wood Lodge, the road passes straight through the Stand and Glade Woods—the last so named from the conveni¬ ences it affords for the catching of woodcocks. In these woods are some of the largest trees about the place, one of which is worthy of notice, from its being twisted in the stem, as though by some “ giant hand,” from top to bottom. Among the various prospects which the park affords, the elegant little spire of Prescot church is well worth notice ; it is esteemed one of the lightest and most pic¬ turesque in this, part of the kingdom,* and seen thus, with the fine fore-ground of Knowsley Park, is, in truth, an interesting object. Dispersed over this side of the park are a number-of fine old thorns, whose fragrant flowers in spring, and whose red berries in autumn, are equally ornamental. 2 / KNOWSUEY. Leaving the stand and glade woods, we proceed - along a turf drive flanked with tall fern, (which in many places of the park grow from five to six feet high) till we reach “ The Spaa cold chalybeate spring, which in common w jth all other mineral waters in Lancashire, is styled by that general name. Here was a bath, and conveniences for drinking the water, which twenty or thirty years ago was in great repute, numbers of the country people resorting to it; but since that time it has fallen into disuse ; indeed, the mischief frequently done to the park and plantations, occa¬ sioned the road leading to it to be closed, and it is now in ruins; and the spring (though still remaining) is much impeded and choked up,—From this point, the drive leads with a gentle bend past the keeper’s lodge, and sweeping down the shoulder of a hill covered with beau¬ tiful green sward, and sprinkled over with herds of red and fallow deer, stretches on to the brink of the great lake, or white-man’s dam: this magnificent sheet of water covers an extent of eighty acres. The dam is raised to a great height; but is well concealed by a thick plantation, which forms a sort of belt to the pleasure grounds. About thirty or five and thirty years ago, (owing to a storm, which produced a violent land flood), this vast dam gave way, and the whole body of the lake rushed dow n in a torrent, carrying away trees, soil, and every thing before it, breaking down the dam heads of two other smaller ponds in the pleasure grounds which b2 .3 KNOWSLEY. lay in its course, and devastating all around, when nar¬ rowly avoiding the south end of the House, it at length found a level in the meadows below towards Huyton, We cannot quit the banks of the great water, with¬ out remarking the beautiful effect that the stand wood and hill have, when viewed from the opposite bank—the light and shadow on the wood ; the swell of the hill; the break of green sward and rich fern between the stand and glade woods, and the lovely mirror below, presents indeed a most enchanting and picturesque prospect. There is a boat-house on the lake, and several boats for the purposes of fishing or sailing. From the banks of the white man’s dam, a short drive conducts to the gate of the immediate approach to the House ; passing which, a gentle sweep through a plantation leads to the principal entrance, or west front. The House here presents the form of an L, consisting of the entrance front, and a wing, called the king’s chambers, presently to be noticed. Crossing a terrace, which extends along the west front, we enter the hall, now fitted up as a billiard-room. On the right there are two drawing rooms, en suite, of similar dimensions, each having four windows; from the last of these rooms, we enter the stucco gallery, where is a fine organ, and which, as well as the two drawing-rooms just named, is thickly hung with the finest pictures by the best masters. The gallery terminates in a staircase, which being entirely of mahogany, as well as the wainscotting of the chambers 4 KNOWSLEY. to which it leads, has gained that apartment the name of the mahogany chambers. The House here ends in a handsome stone colonnade, of two stories high, into which a door opens from the staircase. The colonnade is supported in each story by a row of pillars, two to¬ gether resting on one base, with a rail-work breast high between each two on the upper story. In the lower, these spaces are left open to the gravel walk, from which the floor of the colonnade is raised two steps. The top is finished with a similar rail-Avork; over the centre of which are the arms of the family with supporters, &c. in stone. On a tablet beneath these, is the follow ing inscription ; “ James Earl of Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, Grandson of James Earl of Derby, and of Charlotte, daughter of ' Claude Duke de la Tremouille; whose Husband James was^ beheaded at Bolton, xv Oct. mdclii, for strenuously adhering to Charles the Second, who refused a Bill, past unanimously by both Houses of ■ Parliament for restoring to the family the Estate lost by his Loyalty to Him. MDCCXXXII.” The loyalty and attachment of this Earl of Derby to the Stuart family, is well known; and in erecting this o KNOWSLEY, colonnade, James, (the tenth Earl) took this mode of commemorating the sufferings of his ancestor: and of at the same time evincing his sentiments upon the manner in which they were rewarded by the monarch in whose cause they were incurred. The Charlotte de la Tre- mouille spoken of in the inscription, is the same Count¬ ess of Derby, who, during the absence of her lord, then occupied in defending his Island of Man, stood the cele¬ brated siege of Lathom in 1644; defending the House against the Parliamentary forces for three months, until Colonel Rigby (who was then in command) was com¬ pelled to raise the siege; which he did on the 27th of May in that year, without having been able to make any im¬ pression on the House, or in the least to bend the spirit of its noble mistress. Crossing the gallery, turning to the right, we enter the stucco-room; so called from its walls being finished with that material; the heads of the twelve Caesars, in basso-relievo, surround the walls. The ceiling is also adorned with various devices, and the whole painted in shades of a warm buff. This room was built by James, the tenth Earl of Derby, and intended for a ball room; (having a small and deep bow window in one side, origi¬ nally meant for the musical performers), but now used in common with the others, as a drawing-room. From the stucco-room we enter the wing of the king’s chambers ; this suite takes its name from having been built by the first Earl of Derby for the reception of King Henry the 6 KNOWSLEY. Seventh, then become his son-in-law; the earl having married the Countess of Richmond, mother to that king. These rooms as they were originally built, were detached from the rest of the house, and consisted of a drawing¬ room, eating-room, staircase, bed-chamber, dressing- room, page’s-room, a bed-chamber for the lord chamber- lain, and a smaller eating-room for the principal officers of his majesty’s household. This wing is built of a red stone, being embattled, and having turrets to support the entrance. The stucco-room, built by James Earl of Derby, now connects this wing with the rest of the House, and a few years ago, these rooms were elegantly fitted up with crimson velvet, for the reception of his present Majesty, then Prince of Wales.—During the course of the year 1821, great alterations and improvements were made in this wing; by which a most magnificent eating- room, and a great accession of bed-chambers have been obtained, and the exterior of the south front of the building is now a most splendid erection. Since the drawing was taken which represents this new front, a farther alter¬ ation has been made, by raising still more the roof of the new eating-room, and lighting it with a sky-light; in addition to the fine window at the south end of the room. The east front exhibits a longer fa 9 ade than any other; but it is like all the rest of the building (except the new front), very irregular, having more the appear¬ ance of one side of a street than of a single building. 7 KN OWSLEY, The shape of the whole House as it now stands is an irregular T—of which the king’s chambers form the stem, and the west front and stucco-gallery end, the transept. Returning once more to the entrance hall, on the left is the library ; where, besides a large collection of books, is a most extensive and curious one of old prints and drawings, by some of the best ancient masters. Here also is a large suite of apartments occupied by the family. Behind the two drawing-rooms is a neat chapel, and behind the entrance hall a staircase com¬ municating with a corridor, which runs nearly the whole length of the House, lighted by sky-lights, and with a range of doors on each side, opening to the sleeping apartments. - The pleasure grounds are tastefully laid out in the modern style, and extend upwards of two miles. The kitchen garden occupies nearly ten statute acres; in this is a large aviary of curious birds, and also a pheasantry belonging to Lord Stanley.—His lordship has also a very extensive museum of natural curiosities. The florist will find a great treat in viewing the collection of car¬ nations; which is both choice and numerous; and for the lover of the fine arts, there is most ample employment and gratification in examining the superb collection of pictures that decorate almost every room in the House. Our limits Avill not allow an enumeration of half the collection, but amongst those most worthy of 8 KNOWSLEY. notice are. Belshazzar’s Feast, with the Hand-writing on the Wall, by Rembrandt, universally allowed to be the finest picture ever painted by that artist. Augurs, prophesying from the Flight of Birds, by Salvator Rosa. Glaucus and Scylla, beautifully finished, by do. Dead Christ, Vandyke. Hercules and Anteus, Rubens, Story of Calisto, copy from Titian, Rubens. Christ and the Woman of Samaria, exquisitely finished, Vanderwerf. Procession to the Temple of Apollo at Delphos, Claude. An Angel’s Head, Guido. Boar Hunt, by Rubens and Sneyders. Madona and Child, Corregio. Feast of Levi, Paul Veronese, &c. In this magnificent residence, the present Earl passes every year a considerable portion of his time in the true style of old English hospitality, surrounded by his family, respected by his tenants, and justly beloved by the sur¬ rounding poor. The truly elegant CUP, which we have represented, was found at Knowsley, upon cleaning out an old fish¬ pond, near the House. From the workmanship and general appearance of both Cup and Salver they must be of considerable antiquity. At the time they were found, there was an old temple in the Chinese style, which hung over the fish pond; but upon the pleasure grounds being modernized both were done away, and whether this Cup was formerly used as a wassail bowl in that temple, and so by accident was cast into the pond below, or whether, KNOWSLEY. it was along with other valuables concealed there at the time of the civil wars, in which the then Lord Derby took so distinguished a part, can never now be eluci¬ dated. It is certainly of much greater antiquity than the temple in which it was probably used. The Salver fits at pleasure on the top of the Cup, as a cover, and is richly engraved, as well as the Cup itself, with Chinese ornaments and figures : the supporters of the Salver, three in number, are helmets, beautifully chased. The Cup is represented with the Salver placed on it as a cover; in order to shew with greater advantage the ornaments engraved upon it. The dimensions of each are as follows. The Cup. —Height, 4| inches—interior of the circum-’ ference at top, 11 inches—mean circumference, — circumference at bottom, 4| The Salver. —Diameter, 4§ inches—circumference, do. The whole is of the purest gold; and the weight of Cup and Salver is 15oz. avoirdupoise. The drawings and description of Knowsley were presented by Mrs. C. Rees, of Bath, daughter of the late Sir Watts Horton, Bart. 10 SeaM t^u £art o/' SAIiTRAM, DEVONSHIRE, THE SEAT OF THE EARL OP MORLEY. PART of this edifice is extremely ancient, and there is no certain account of the period at which it was erected. The mansion took its present form at the beginning of the last century ; antecedently to that time the family of Parker, ancestors of the Earl of Morley, inhabited their seat at Boringdon, to which they repaired about the middle of the sixteenth century, from their still more ancient residence Northmolten, in the same county. Saltram is situated upon the estuary of Tamer and Tavy, which is united by Catwater to Plymouth Sound. The distance from Plymouth by the flying bridge is less than three miles, and by the public road not above four miles. The mansion, which is the largest in the west of Eng¬ land, is fitted up with the greatest splendour and taste: tbe gallery of pictures, casts, &c. which is liberally ex¬ posed to the public, is of great interest, containing nearly three hundred works of art. It is in this collec¬ tion that the greatest number of the works of Sir Joshua Reynolds is seen. That great artist was born at Plympton, situated two miles from this residence, and a 11 SALTRAM. large part of the collection itself was purchased at Rome in 1750 and 1751, for the grandfather of the Earl of Morley, by Sir Joshua, who was then prosecutihg his studies in that capital. The grounds at Saltram possess many singular attrac¬ tions ; for exclusive of a great diversity of landscape and mossy woods, the prospects of Mount Edgecombe, Plymouth Sound, with the town and citadel, and an end¬ less variety of effects peculiar to the sea and harbour, are extremely interesting. Among the great improvements lately made by the noble proprietor of Saltram, may be noticed a new approach, which after passing through a thick wood leads to a most enchanting prospect of the sea, and its promontories, bays, and harbours; this is highly ornamental, but is exceeded in usefulness by a dry dock constructed in Catwater Bay for the repairing of merchantmen and other vessels; it has been effected at great expense, and is sufficiently capacious for ships of seventy-four guns. The mild temperature of this part of Devonshire, appears by the flourishing condition of myrtles in the open air, and by the matured state of orange and lemon trees which produce ripe and perfect fruit. Many of the particulars relative to Saltram were obligingly communicated by the Earl of Morley. \2 Sh^^d.ic .OppiZ.ijSTl ANCIENT POWDER FliASK. “ To the Editor of the Port^Folio, Sir, “ The Drawing accompanying this is taken from a Powder Flask in my collection, of the time of Elizabeth. It is of ivory, in high relief, tipped with bronzed steel, and measures nine inches and a half in length. The silken cord by which it was slung over the shoulder, passed through, and was attached by means of tassels, to the two rings on the side. There is also at the back a hasp, for occasionally inserting it in a girdle. “ Gunpowder was at first carried in horns, the shape of which seems to have at once suggested the propriety of applying them to this purpose; but the Germans soon invented a flattish circular bottle of leather, as the word Jlaske in their language implies, which was adopted, together with its name, by the other nations of Europe. The form however of that sent herewith, was evidently copied from such as were made of stags’ horn, of which, and indeed of the other kind I have mentioned, there are varieties in my cabinet of arms. The costume of the equestrian figure with his trunk hose, greatly resembles that of Queen Elizabeth’s mounted Yeomen of the Guard, as engraved in Diversarum Gentium Armatura Equestris, 13 ANCIENT POVTDER FLASK. and consequently fixes the date of this curious Powder Flask. “ Small arms, or, as they were called, hand-cannons, or hand-guns, one of which I also possess, were invented in Italy, in the year 1430, and were absolutely fired with a match in the same manner as larger pieces. The contrivance to hold this match, called the match-lock, appears to have been discovered in the latter part of the fifteenth century, and that of the wheel lock in the time of Henry VIII. Although we meet with the word ‘ cartowche’ in the inventories' of warlike munitions during this reign, cartridges, except for pistols, were not known anterior to that of Charles II. It is indeed difficult to assign a reason why that which was found so useful for pistols should not have been adopted for muskets, and yet while patrons holding five cartridges were used in Elizabeth’s reign, of which I have two specimens, and which appear in some of the engravings of the above cited work, the powder flask gave way only to Bandoliers. “ I am. Sir, “ Respectfully your’s, “ LLEWELYN MEYRICK.” “ 20, Upper Cadogan Place, “ 27ilr Feb. 1823. 14 ■ 1 ROMAIT AMFMETIIIIEATM.IE Cirenc^’^ter ROMAN AMPHITHEATRR, CIRENCESTER, OF the many Roman remains of antiquity discovered in and about the city of Cirencester, the Amphitheatre, here represented, claims a distinguished notice; it is now called the Bull-ring, and was probably in former times appropriated to the inhuman purposes of bull-baiting. The area is of an elliptical form, inclosed with a mound or wall of earth about twenty feet high, very regularly sloped on the inside. The diameter of the area is sixty- three yards by forty-six; it has an entrance on the east side, and another on the west, and there is also a straight approach to it under ground on the south, between two stone walls, about two feet and a half asunder, pointing to the centre of the area. Cirencester appears to have been a city of some importance from the remotest period of our annals, but particularly during the dominion of the Romans: the eligibility of this spot for a Roman station is evinced by the circumstance of the Foss-way, the Irmin-street, and the Icknield-way all meeting here. In the twelfth Iter of Antonius, Cirencester is named Duro Cornovium. The City was originally enclosed by a wall and a ditch, the circumference of which as demonstrated from the remains, was two miles. The fortifications are 15 ROMAN AMPHITHKATRF.. supposed to have been razed soon after the time of Henry IV. but some portions of the Roman wall are yet standing. Numerous vestiges of Roman industry have been discovered here at different times, such as baths, coins, urns, and tessellated pavements; one of the latter was discovered in 1777, beneath a warehouse in Dyer Street, but it was nearly half destroyed by the workmen before it was observed; it measured about eighteen feet square, and had a chequered border of fourteen inches in breadth, composed of blue and white tesserae three quarters’ of an inch square; the pavement was divided into four equal compartments by lines of Hearts, inter¬ laced or linked together. The central pieces consisted of an octagon wreathed border, inclosing a star with wavy rays, directed to the angles of the octagon. The remains of this pavement were gradually destroyed by being exposed to the atmosphere. It lay about six feet beneath the surface of the street, and was accompanied by fragments of painted walls belonging to the room which it had ornamented. Another, and more beautiful fragment, found in the same street, is still preserved; it is composed of white, blue, and red bricks, and repre¬ sents sea monsters, shell, and sea fish, and parts of other figures, one of which is mounted upon the back of a whale. The drawing and description of this interesting sub¬ ject were presented by P. Crocker, Esq. of Stourhead, Wilts. 16 M^omunenJ:, of ABIEJLA3S.ID & lEILOttSA $ TOMB OF ABELARD AND HELOXSE IN THE BURYING-GROUND OF PERE LA CHAISE, MONT LOUIS. “ To the Editor of the Port-Folio. “ Sir, “ The story of Abelard and Heloise being so well known, while at Paris in 1822, I was induced to make a drawing of this Tomb, which actually contains the ashes of the two unfortunate lovers. Supposing it not to be a digression from the plan of your work, I cannot but imagine it will be highly interesting to all who may have read their letters. “ Abelard died at the Priory of St. Mariel de Chalons sur Saone, on the 21st of April, 1142, and was buried there. In the month of November following, Pierre de Cluni caused his body to be clandestinely removed, and sent to Heloise, at the Paraclete, a convent which he had himself founded. She placed the coffin ^f her lover ■'in a chapel, which he had constructed in it. “ Heloise expired on Sunday, the 17th of May, 1163, and her body was deposited in the coffin of her husband, agreeably to her own directions. In 1497, this coffin was removed from the chapel, and transferred into the great church of the monastery ; but the bones of the two bodies were separated, and two tombs were erected, one 17 c I TOMB OF ABELARD AND HELOISE. on each side the choir. In 1630, Marie de la Rochefou- cault directed them to be placed in the part called the Chapel of the Trinity ; and, in 1766, Madame Roze de la Rochefoucault projected a new Monument in honour of the two lovers, but it was not erected till after her death, in 1779. “ Yours, &c. R. BROWN.” Lady Blessington, in her Journal of a Tour through the Netherlands to Paris, in 1821, thus remarks upon the cemetery of Pere la Chaise, in which this Monument stands. “ Will it be believed, that, even to the ‘ Narrow House,’ fashion carries its influence—but so it is; and all the persons of a certain rank, that is to say, those who can afford to pay for it, who may enter the dull pre¬ cincts of death at Paris, are consigned to Pere la Chaise, which is certainly the most cheerful (if I can apply this term to such a place) churchyard that ever was seen. “ Here the ruling passion is strikingly evident; and I confess Aiave so much of the natural John Bull feeling about me, that I would prefer having my grave in the most secluded sombre spot that could be found, to leaving my bones in the'fashionable sentimental Pere La Chaise. The beautiful Monument of the unfortunate lovers Heloise and Abelard is removed to this cemetery, and wretchedly placed in a corner, near the wall that incloses the ground,” 18 , ■%M ]F]EI.MJEIR SM.AM CMWIRCm, The Road ZoTt /ram the C/uxneii. < ■ # ■ 'V •' I ‘jy FELMERSHAM CHURCH, BEDFORDSHIRE. THE following account of this Church was obligingly communicated by the Rev. Thomas Orlebar Marsh, vicar of Stevington, and F. L. S. ^ “ Felmersham Church is seven miles from Bedford, and situated on an eminence, very near the river Ouse, which runs on the north side of it. The Church is rather large and cruciform, and consists of a nave, two side aisles, a cross aisle, and a chancel. The west end of the Church exhibits a variety of pointed arches, slender columns with plain capitals and bases, and long lancet shaped windows. The other parts of the Church are very plain, but of fine symmetry, and appear by the windows to be of the same age with the ^est end. There are no monuments, or ancient inscriptions in the Church or chancel, excepting a small mural one in the latter. Between the nave of the Church and the chancel is a curious Gothic screen painted, the central arch of which, on the west side, is ornamented with figures of angels; over it is a Rood-loft entire. Very few of these vestiges of popish times now remain in our churches, owing to the zeal of the reformers c 2 19 felmersham church. in the reign of Elizabeth, who levelled their resent¬ ment particularly against them, as the scenes where the chicanery and lying wonders” of the clergy were generally practised. The use of rood-lofts is thus described by Dr. Milner, (with a particular reference to that of Winchester Cathedral Church); ‘At the top of the steps, leading to the choir, is the spot which was formerly covered by the pulpitum; this answers to the ambo, in the basilica of the primitive church, and was used for reading or chanting the lessons of the divine office, as likewise for containing the organ, and the minstrelsy in general, which accompanied the choir below; from the circum¬ stance of the lessons being here read, it is in some countries called the jubt^ in consequence of beginning with the words “ Jube Domine;’’ and because the great crucifix was always placed in the front of it, towards the people: it has also obtained the name rood-loft. The rood, or crucifix, with the attendant figures of the blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist, which for¬ merly stooll here, were very precious, as well for their antiquity as their value, being composed of the precious metals. Beneath the crucifix, on the parapet of this loft and the spandrils of the arches supporting it, the histories of the Old and New Testaments were curiously carved, and beautified with colours; these being placed directly before the body of the people assembled in the church, formed a series of instructive lessons which were legible to the most illiterate.’ ^ 20 FELMERSHAM CHURCH. “ Notwithstanding this last remark of the Reverend Doctor’s, it has been observed, that these wretched attempts at representation were often too illegible to be deciphered by the most literate of the popish clergy. “ On each side of the chancel, united at one end to the screen, are seats (now modern deal) with ancient oak desks before them, which are about thirteen feet long; these have occasioned an opinion that here was once a rural deanery. We remember several garlands suspended from the centre of the arches, between the pillars which support the Church, which were said to be made for young women who died unmarried ; they were formed on slight wooden hoops, and consisted chiefly of black and white paper, cut out in various shapes, some like roses and gloves, some in long strips, which had been afterwards crimped, and these last, together with rich black ribands, hung down like streamers, waving with the slightest wind, and exhibiting, in their whole appearance, no mean specimens of rustic ingenuity. These garlands have dropped down many years since; the last was made for Elizabeth Hayes, who died suddenly in the street, in August, 1761 ; they are said to have been carried before - the corpse at the time of interment. “ It was the custom formerly, to strew the Church floor with grass on the Saturday before Whitsunday, and with straw at Christmas, and likewise to put some straw in the seats. The first custom has been discontinued 21 / FELMERSHAM CHURCH. about five or six years, and four shillings and sixpence now paid instead of it; the other has been discontinued many years, but within our memory, and probably will never be revived. ' “ The living is a vicarage, united with Pavenham, (but in early times was a rectory, as appears by a copy of the endowment in our possession), and is in the gift of Trinity College, Cambridge; the College too have the rectory. The present incumbent is the Rev. Thomas Watson Ward, A. M. who succeeded the Rev. John Hutchinson. “ Five citizens of London have been buried in this Church, who had estates here, or at Pavenham ; one in the chancel, the others in the nave. “ There are chimes in the tower of the Church, which are the only ones in a village in the county, and a set of five very tunable bells, the tenor of which weighs 300 cwt.” A neat bridge, of five arches, has lately been con¬ structed over the river Ouse, at Felmersham, which is highly beneficial to this little village, and to the adjacent country. 22 ^;t / I (LV { if ‘JHL 3 irillHI 3) M aiJL § 3IM3) GRANTCHESTER, CAMB RIDGESHJR E. “ To the Editor of the Port^Folio* “ Sir, “ The little village of Grantchester, of which I send you a drawing, is beautifully situated about two miles south-west of Cambridge, and on the west bank of the river Cam, or Grant, from which it derives its name. It is supposed to be the Grantaceaster mentioned by Bede, and is a place of great antiquity, though but few vestiges of its ancient importance are now discernible. It originally formed a part of the ancient Roman Granta, on the site of which the town of Cambridge now stands. The church, though small, is a venerable structure; and the large chancel window dis¬ plays much architectural beauty, though it is now con¬ siderably mutilated by the destructive hand of time. “ The sequestered situation of this village has caused it to be much frequented by the Students from the Uni¬ versity, in their morning walks: and the silence and ru¬ ral simplicity which pervade it, mark it out as a place well suited to the primitive intention of * The churchyard’s lonely mound, Where melancholy and still silence reign.’ “ About a mile east of Grantchester, and separated 23 GRANTCHE8TER. from it by a pleasant little valley, through which the Cam pursues its course, is the village of Trumpington, the birth-place, and for some time the residence, of Anstye, the celebrated author of the New Bath Guide. Proceed¬ ing up the river, about a mile from each of these villages, we discover some obscure traces of a building on its banks, where it is supposed a mill formerly stood ; and tradition strengthens the authority of Chaucer, who as¬ signs this place as the scene of one of his Canterbury Tales. ‘ At Trompington, not fer fro Cantebrigge, Ther goth a brook, and over that a brigge, Upon the whiche brook ther stont a melle; And this is veray sothe, that I you telle.’ The Reves Tale^ v. 3919. “ The parish of Grantchester is a vicarage, in the gift of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge ; the population is small, consisting almost exclusively of persons em¬ ployed in agriculture. “ From a passage in the Reves TaZe critics have infer¬ red that Chaucer was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. ' ‘ Ther was a gret College, Then clepe the Soler Hall at Cantebrege.’ “ This inference, however, seems to be somewhat too finely drawn to carry with it much authority. “ Your’s, &c. R. R.” Hertford, March 1823 . 24 o t- / Sntr'ori^e to CASTILE CMmE&CM TJortAttmfttonshire. f 9 CASTliE ASHBY, If OR THAMPTONS HIR E, THE SEAT OF THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON. THE picturesque and beautiful demesne of Castle Ash¬ by 'is seated adjacent to the northern extremity of Yardley Chace, through which is a broad riding of more than three miles in length, which terminates with an agreeable view of the mansion. Crossing the road that separates the Chace from the private grounds, a‘wide avenue leads directly to the south front of the house. It stands on the brow of a gentle eminence, and occupies a very extensive site, commanding to the north, east, and west, an ample space of inclosed country, which is prin¬ cipally appropriated to grazing. The house is supposed to have been erected upon the situation of a more ancient structure, but no part of the present building appears to be of an earlier date than the time of Elizabeth. It is said to have been began by Henry, Lord Compton, who was created a baron in the 14th year of that Queen’s reign. Very considerable additions were afterwards made, and the house has been altogether renovated, and adapted to modern views of comfort and convenience by the present noble proprietor. This princely mansion surrounds a large quadrangular court, having a screen 25 CASTLE ASHBY. of two stories on the southern side, erected from a design by Inigo Jones. This consists of a piazza at bottom, and a long gallery over it, the exterior ornaments of which are exactly in the style of Jones, consisting of rusticated columns, decorated freize, pilasters, &c. The northern front is broken up with a similar profusion of ornament, which forms a striking contrast to the simpli¬ city that is now generally adopted in structures of this description. At the south-east and south-west angles of the court are two lofty octangular towers, the parapets of which, as well as the whole parapet of the court elevation, are formed by stones, disposed in the shape of letters, and ranged to repeat the following Latin version of Psalm cxxvii. v. 1.NISI DOMINUS AIDIFICA- VERIT DOMUM IN VANUM LABORAVERUNT QUI A:DIFICANT EAM. In the ballustrades.of the turrets are the dates (composed likewise in stone) 1625 and 1635, marking the time when the screen was built, and the upper parts of the house completed. On the side of the court opposite to the entrance screen is the great hall, a lofty and spacious apartment, which contains a number of family portraits, &c., and has a gallery at each end. Among the pictures are portraits of Bishop Compton, who died in 1713, aged 88; Sir Stephen Fox; a family piece by West, of the late Earl of Northampton, his Lady, and two children. Here is also a portrait of Edward Lye, who began the Saxon 26 CASTLE ASHBY. Dictionary, afterwards finished and published by Man¬ ning. He was rector of Yardley Hastings, where he died in 1767. Here is a portrait of Spencer, second Earl of Northampton, in armour, who distinguished himself by his zeal fur royalty in the perilous times of Charles 1. Relinquishing a life of ease, at a very advanced age, he raised a regiment of foot and a troop of horse at his own expense, and with these encountered dangers and hardships in the cause of that monarch, till at length he was slain in the battle of Hopton>heath, March 19th, 1642-3. Numerous other portraits are dispersed throughout the various apart¬ ments of the mansion ; among which is a much-esteemed head of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who was stabbed by Felton, in the time of James I. In the long gallery are paintings of John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and Margaret, his Countess. These are executed on board, and are worthy of notice, as specimens of the art of painting, and the dresses, &c. of the time of Henry VI. Earl Talbot was a distin¬ guished hero in the wars of France; and it is related of him that he was victorious in no less than forty battles and skirmishes. It is generally admitted that he was killed at the battle of Chastillon, after he had taken Bourdeaux; although his epitaph states that he was slain in battle at the latter place. He was more than eighty years of age at the time of his death. Walpole states these two pictures to be among the most ancient 27 / t CASTLE ASHBY. examples of oil painting in England. The libraries con¬ tain many choice and curious books; and, in a drawing¬ room, is an uncommonly large chimney-piece, composed of marble, the product of the county. The cellars are very spacious, and commodiously arranged for contain¬ ing a vast stock of wines, ales, &c.; they are formed like the crypts under some of our ancient churches, having the roofs supported by columns and strong groin- ings. In the park is a large lake, formed by Brown, who likewise laid out the plantations; the gardens and green¬ houses are very generally admired. Nearly adjoining the house, in a romantic and se¬ cluded situation, is the Church ; the North Porch, which we have represented, is of considerable antiquity, having a door-way of most exquisite workmanship. The church contains several objects worthy of notice, especially a statue of a-cross-legged knight, in chain armour. 28 i- \ y <& m I X JE) X JSji>eter THE GUIIiDHAIX, EXETER. TilE original town hall of Exeter is said to have stood in Waterbeare Street, an ancient building, whose remains were removed as lately as 1803, having been so considered. At what time a Guildhall was first erected on the present site is uncertain ; we are informed, however, that it con¬ tained a chapel, dedicated to St. George, and that it was rebuilt in 1330. This edifice, after having stood about 130 years, became ruinous, and was consequently taken down, and another erected on the same spot. In 1576 a justice room commodiously fitted up was added; and in 1578 the building was repaired, but without any material change in its architectural appearance. In 1593 the present Guildhall was erected and modelled with an exuberance of decoration consistent with the style of that age ; and in 1720 additions were made to these superfluities, in which state the Guildhall now appears. Within the Hall is a fine picture of the Duchess of Orleans, by Vandyke. There are portraits also of General Monk, by the same artist, of Earl Camden, J. Tuckfield, Esq. M. P.; Benjamin Heath, Esq. father of the late J udge Heath ; and a portrait of King George II. Here is likewise a large picture of Daniel in the 29 THE GUILDHALL. Lion’s Den, painted by Brockadon, who was born at Totness, in Devon. Exeter, the capital of Devon, is one of the most an¬ cient cities in the kingdom ; it has five gates, and in¬ cluding the suburbs, is about three miles in circumfe¬ rence. Its cathedral church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a most magnificent example of ancient English archi¬ tecture, and displays on its west front an elaborate fa- j^ade, unequalled by any in England. The city has four principal streets, the chief of which is called Fore Street, in which stands the Guildhall: at a short distance from this building, attached to a dwell¬ ing, is a large effigy of St. Peter, holding in his hand a model of the cathedral church. 30 i Hi ■i i I ;■ m •* • t ^ererord.. jOra^hy KShxpsieJ:Es:iT yh^^t£Pa7tJolickE^^i^tXkSjS.St3rer Pui by Shw^od.l:'‘‘June l^SH- W‘ w ^ ■ ' .. ■ J; ¥ . •’< \ . \ i BRASS EQUESTRIAN FIGURE^ AND CANDIiESTZCK. THE singular relic of feudal times here engraved, has long been in the possession of the custos and vicars of the college at Hereford, and in the absurd condition of a stand for that in the next plate, which is still used as an ornamental Candlestick at their festive board. It is altogether of fine brass, about 19 inches in height, a foot in length, and weighs upwards of 11 lbs. The horse and its rider are hollow, and although some injury has been sustained by its long service and frequent scour¬ ing, enough is discernible to fix its date; although not with precision, its original intention. By a comparison with the seals of our magnates, it will be found to be of the time of Henry III., representing an armed knight of that period, having probably had a kite-shaped shield on his left arm. He is clad in a hauberk and chausses of mail, the rings of which are not interlaced : and over this armour wears a surcoat. On his head is the cylindrical helmet of the period with the ocularium, or sight, in the transverse part of an ornamental cross. The blade of his sword is made so broad near the hilt as to render unnecessary a cross-bar, resembling in that respect those of the combatants in the painted glass for- 31 BRASS EQUESTRIAN FIGURE, AND CANDLESTICK. merly at St. Denis, but now only preserved in Montfau- con’s Monarchic Fran^oise, representing the Crusades, executed in the time of Philippe Auguste. The horse has very slight trappings, being without the housing, often, but not always worn at this period, and has on its shoulder a mark, the object of which it is not now easy to discover. The breast-plate, or band, which passes from the saddle round the chest, seems to have once had attached to it pendant ornaments, probably little bells, an Asiatic fashion, which at a later period was much more generally adopted. But it is necessary to inquire into the original purpose for which it was fabricated. The flat top of the helmet is wanting, but it was made to open with a hinge, and perhaps had attached to it a cork, in order to make it fit tightly into the aperture. On the forehead of the horse is a short projecting tube, the diameter of which is not wide enough to admit within it a black-lead pencil, and this is placed at right angles, or nearly so, to the face of the animal. The position of this last aperture shews that it could not have been intended as a lamp. Although the antiquity of this figure is between five and six hundred years, during the whole of which time it has in all probability belonged to the College, yet no notice is taken of it in the records before the year 1670; when in an inventory of furniture it is entered as an ewer for hot water. The reader, who has fresh in his mind our remarks on the curious earthenware figures, 32 BRASS EQUESTRIAN FIGURE, AND CANDLESTICK. will perhaps be inclined to think that this hot water might have been designed to shew the powers of the ma-' chine as an oeolipile; and if so, that ancient piece of priestcraft will appear to have existed in the 13th cen¬ tury as an amusement. As however we cannot decide> positively on this point, we must be content to regard it merely as an ewer for hot water, ■ The top of the helmet having been long lost, in the cavity has been placed one of the legs of the figure which forms the subject of the next plate, and which from the commencement has been formed for holding lights. This is also of brass, though it made no part of the original design, and, indeed, is of the time of Edward III., as is clearly demonstrated by the shape of the beard, and the military belt worn equally without as with armour du¬ ring this and the two subsequent reigns; in proof of which we need only instance the monument of William * of Hatfield, in York Cathedral. But a tradition exists in the College, of this Figure having been many years ago found in the river Wye in a mutilated state, and not till long after placed in the situation it now holds. It is indeed the thigh “part which has been inserted into the helmet, one of the legs having been lost, but it is not fixed there, being moveable at pleasure. The arms of this figure are elevated so as to hold two candles ; and another very closely resembling it in this as well as every other respect, brought from Germany, was sold last spring in London. D 33 BRASS EQUESTRIAN FIGURE, AND CANDLESTICK. But whoever will take the trouble to compare it with what Mr. Hope has had engraved in pi. 44 of his Cos¬ tume of the Ancients, as an Etruscan figure, though that was for one light only, cannot fail to observe that they are of one and the same character and period. The adaptation of figures to hold candles was certainly as old, if not older, than the 14th century, and specimens of subsequent periods are not wanting in the cabinets of the curious. The following lines were written by the Rev. Thomas Kidley, for many years senior vicar of the College, and were published in 1819 as a glee, by C. J. Dare, Esq., formerly organist of the cathedral church of Hereford. Coeval with these ancient walls, Our secret friend and constant light. Still mayst thou shine when Bacchus calls, Brazen meridian of our night. May Discord ne'er fix here her seat. Nor factious broils thy peace annoy. But still be thou companion meet Of harmless wit and sober jdy. The engravings have been made from the accurate drawings of Robert Shipster, Esq. a gentleman whose skill in delineation has been before acknowledged by us. The description was presented by Mr. J. Allen, jun. of Hereford. 34 r IL I F T (D)I^ FMinR(rjHL £2./c7cs. m sy 7 1 Q CliIFTON REYNES CHURCH, BUCKS. THE Rev. William Talbot, rector of Clifton Reynes,has kindly permited us to extract the following account from a MS. volume presented to him by the Rev. Ed. Cooke, with a note, a copy of w hich is subjoined. “ Dear Sir, “ I have at length sent you the long promised account of the parish over which you preside. The descents of the two manors in Clifton you may rely on as correct. [ have personally consulted the public records of the realm as far as they throw' any light on the history of Clifton, to the end of the 13th century, and from that period MSS. deemed authentic have been chiefly relied on. I could have added more particulars of the owners of these estates, but should then have exceeded the limits of this little volume. If I might presume to request of you a favour for the book, I would ask, that instead of considering it a private chattel, you w ould permit it to go down to future rectors of Clifton Reynes with the register of the parish. But that this period may be far distant, is among the nearest wishes of your obliged friend and servant, “ Ed. COOKE,” “ Haversham Rectory, 23rd Nov. 1821. D 2 35 CLIFTON REYNES CHURCH. Clifton Reynes is situated in the northern part of the county of Buckingham. It derives its name of Clif¬ ton from the hill, or cliff, on the south bank of the Ouse, on which it stands, (and had the distinctive appellation of Reynes from a family of that name, who held the principal manor from the time of Edward I. to that of Henry VIII). The parish consists partly of old inclo¬ sures, which now, 1821, chiefly belong to Richard Hurd Lucas, Esq. In the reign of Edward the Confessor, Osulf, a thane of that king, held a manor in Clifton, which at that time, as well as the Conqueror’s survey, included j^ewton Blossomville. Alii, another thane of the same king, held also a manor here, and smaller portions of land were held by Alric Fitz-Goding, and the tenants of the Bishop of Dorchester. The principal manor of Clifton was that held by Osulf, which was given by William the Conqueror to Robert de Todeni, one of the companions of his expedition into England; it was afterwards called Reynes manor. De Todeni held this with other manors by the Conqueror’s gift; among them was Belvoir, on the borders of Lincolnshire, where he built a castle, over¬ looking the beautiful valley adjacent, thence called Bel¬ voir Castle; this he made the head of his barony. It is now the chief seat of the Duke of Rutland, who is de¬ scended from Robert de Todeni, through a female heir. In consequence of the chief lord having fixed his residence at Belvoir, he left this manor of Clifton in 36 CLIFTON REYNES CHURCH. the holding of feudatory tenants. Upon the death of De Todeni Clifton Reynes became the inheritance of his eldest son, William De Albini; from him it descended regularly to the third of that name, who was sheriff of the county of Rutland in the eighth, ninth, and tenth years of Richard I.; but in the wars of King John he was made by the barons governor of Rochester castle, where he endured a very close siege, and sur¬ rendered at last for fear of famine ; by this act of rebel¬ lion all his estates became forfeited to the crown, and though they were mostly restored, he does not appear to have recovered the lordship of Clifton. Richard Reynes died in 1556 and left no male heir; his eldest daughter Alice, married Thomas Lowe, Esq. who ob¬ tained Clifton in her right. It continued in this family till 1672, when it was sold by James Lowe, who was a man of large family and expensive habits ; and nothing more is heard of his family, than that his wife and two of his children were buried in the vault of the north chan¬ cel of Clifton Church in 1683. Sir John Maynard, ser¬ geant-at-law, was the purchaser of the manor; he was one of the commissioners of the great seal. In the reign of William III. it descended to his son, who had no male heirs; and at his death it was conveyed by his daughter to Sir Robert Hobart, Bart, of Blickling, in the county of Norfolk, whom she had married; he died from wounds in a duel with Oliver le Neave, Esq. in 1697; his widow died in 1701, leaving Clifton to her son 37 CLIFTON RENNES CHURCH. John Hobart, afterwards Baron Hobart, and Earl of Buckinghamshire; he sold the estate and manor of Clifton about 1752 to Alexander Small, surgeon of Chelsea, who died in 1752, a few months after he had completed his purchase, and was buried in the north chancel of Clifton Church, over the entrance to which is his bust in marble, surmounting a tablet that records the time of his death. His son, Alexander Small, was only four years of age at the death of his father; he married before the age of sixteen to a lady of rather advanced years, by whom he had a son, likewise named Alexander, and a daughter. On the death of his first wife he again married, and had another family. His eldest son Alexander coming of age in 1793, joined in levying a fine for cutting olf the entail of the estate at Clifton, and it was thereupon vested in the absolute disposal of his father ; the son died in 1794, and was buried without any memorial, in the north chancel of the Church ; the father died in 1816, and was buried in the same vault. The estate at Clifton was bequeathed to his eldest daughter, Martha Elizabeth Ann Small, w ho conveyed it by marriage to the present lord of Reynes manor, Richard Hurd Lucas, Esq. in 1819. The Church was probably built about the reign of Edw. II.; it consists of a nave and two side aisles, which are leaded, and a chancel and north chancel, which are enclosed from the Church, and separated from each other by two pointed arches, under which are the altar tombs seen in the plate. 38 '4 ■ffW: ‘“'ft* i -.T ■ \ ? ■ ■7 /i > i / > y*; ^;:r,. '-■ ' '.V 1 1 ' ■f- ' ! i 4' ,' 1 1 .'4' '■ ■■ >■ . j .r T^: >- ' '■ * / A • • ■ \ k '■ 'j. «• ; ^'■ ■ >; '■f.- »> S}ia-v,ood. i C‘ Je73. S'? IPATU TL S . from ^Tder^efote Street. ST. PAUIi'S CATHEDRA!. CHURCH^ LONDON. THE history of the Metropolitan Cathedral Church is so well known, that it will hardly be necessary in a work like this, and with limits so confined, to enter into many particulars respecting it. We shall, therefore, endeavour to describe it very generally, and notice its appearance from the stations chosen for the Views. The first is taken from Sermon Lane, Doctors’ Com¬ mons, where the majestic dome, and part of the south transept of this noble building are seen, finely contrasted with the adjacent tenements. In the pedi¬ ment of the transept appears the Phoenix, the introduc¬ tion of which was occasioned by the following circum¬ stance. Whilst Sir Christopher Wren was setting out the dimensions of the dome, he directed a common labourer to bring him a flat stone to be laid as a direction for the masons; the man accordingly brought a fragment of a gravestone, on which was the word Resurgam. This hint, it is said, was not lost upon the architect, who im¬ mediately caught the idea of the Phoenix over the south porch. John King, Bishop of London, was buried in the south aisle of the old church, having only a plain marble gravestone, with the word Resurgam sculptured on it by 39 ST. Paul’s cathedral church. the directions of his will, and there is no doubt but this was the identical stone ; and the circumstance is rendered more curious by Bishop King’s being appointed by James I. to preach a sermon before him and the court, the express object of which was the repairing of the Cathedral. On the left side of the street is the Free-school, be¬ longing to the Ward of Castle Baynard. The affairs of this charity school are principally conducted under the superintendance of a committee. The treasurer is J. J. Smith, Esq. Alderman; and the sub-treasurer, Mr. William Pulley.—Twenty-four boys and fifteen girls are clothed and educated here, by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants of the Ward, the state of the funds not admitting the number originally intend¬ ed. The school-house has just undergone considerable repairs. We are informed by an inscription on the front of the house, that “ To the GLORY of GOD, And for the Benefit of Fifty Poor Children of the Ward of Castle Baynard, this House was pur¬ chased at the sole Charge of John Barber, Esq. ‘ Alderman of this Ward, in the year of our Lord, 1722 .” The second i view is from the gateway of the .Castle and Falcon Inn, in Aldersgate Street. This shews the great opening which has lately been made for the erec- 40 ST. Paul’s cathedral church. tion of a New Post Office; vast sums of money have been expended to accomplish this preparatory work, a great number of houses having been removed. The space which now presents itself so close to the north side of the Cathedral Church, produces the happiest effect. The stranger who arrives for the first time from the northern parts of the country, is surprised at the sudden view and near approximation of this magnificent and Rome-like structure. Critics have determined that a degree of obscurity is an essential ingredient in the true sublime, and the appearance of St. Paul’s Cathe¬ dral in a warm summer’s afternoon, completely illus¬ trates the observation ; at such times scarcely any thing is to be discerned of the structure excepting its bold and gigantic outline, which the imagination is at liberty to fill up with every correspondent feature of stateliness and grace. The length of the whole structure, including the por¬ tico, is 510 feet, the breadth 282, the height to the top of the cross is 404 feet; the exterior diameter of the dome 145, and the entire circumference of the building 2292 feet. A dwarf stone wall supporting a most beau¬ tiful ballustrade of cast iron surrounds the church, and separates a large area (which is properly the church¬ yard), from a spacious carriage road and a broad foot¬ way which are continued round the building ; a bar is, however, fixed on the north side, so that carriages can only pass on the south. The whole expense of erecting 41 ST. Paul’s cathedral church. the Cathedral was ^1,576,876, which was chiefly raised by a duty on coals. On digging for the foundations, Sir Christopher Wren discovered a vast cemetery, in which the Saxons, Britons, and Romans successively had been buried ; first lay the Saxons, in graves lined with chalk stones, or in coffins of hollow stones; beneath them had been the bodies of the Britons placed in rows ; abundance of ivory and boxen pins marked their place ; these were supposed to have fastened the shrouds in which the bodies were wrapped. In the same order, but deeper, were found Roman urns, lamps and fragments of sacrificial vessels. Beneath these graves the foundation of the old church rested on a layer of hard and close pot earth : curiosity led the architect to search further, and he found that on the north side it was six feet thick, that it grew thinner towards the south, and on the decline of the hill was scarcely four. On advancing further, he met with no¬ thing but loose sand ; at length he came to water and sand mixed with periwinkles and other sea shells, and by boring reached at last to the beach, and under that the natural hard clay, which evinces (hat the sea had once occupied the space on which St. Paul’s now stands. 42 cC^TTMlE]!]) JRAIL fjDoor m. thti Soiah^ule-.J VIEW IN YORK CATHEDRAL. THE pleasing and interesting view here given is taken from the south aisle of the choir, and shews the interior of the outer vestry, in which is a pump for the service of the Cathedral. Strangers, however, are advised not to make too free with the water, as like most other waters of the city, it is strongly saturated with selenites. Here is preserved a large chest of a triangular shape, strongly bound with iron bars, and supposed to have been formerly used for keeping the priest’s vestments and copes. In the inner vestry or council-room, his grace the archbishop robes himself when he comes to the Cathedral. This room is rendered warm and commodious, and is visited by the clergy when they wish to consult the registers of the church. Several curiosities are shewn here; among them three silver chalices, found in the graves of three arch¬ bishops, a wooden head taken from the grave of Arch¬ bishop Rotherham, who died of the plague in 1500, said to have been part of an effigy that represented him at his funeral: here are likewise two coronets of silver gilt given by the city in honour of James I. on his pro¬ gress from Scotland to London, and a pastoral staff of silver, about seven feet in length, with the figure of the Virgin and the child Jesus in her arms: this staff was 43 VIEW IN YORK CATHEDRAL. given by Catherine of Portugal, queen dowager of Eng- land, to her confessor, when nominated to be catholic archbishop of York by James II. in 1687, and was wrested from him by the Earl of Danby when he was going in solemn procession to the Cathedral, and afterwards deposited in the hands of the dean and chapter. A very antique chair is also preserved, in which' several of the Kings of England have been crowned: when the Archbishop is at York it is placed for his uso within the rails of the altar. But the most ancient curi¬ osity is the famous horn made of an elephant’s tooth} by this horn the church holds several lands of great value called Terra Ulphi. Before the reformation it was handsomely adorned with gold, and hung by a chain of the same metal. These ornaments were the occasion of its being taken away at that time; it was aterfwards re¬ turned by Lord Fairfax though stripped of its golden appendages: in 1675 the dean and chapter thought proper to decorate it again,and bestow upon it a Latin inscrip¬ tion, thus translated: “ This Horn, Ulphus, prince of the western parts of Deira, originally gave to the Church of St. Peter, York, together with all his lands and revenues. Henry Lord Fairfax at last replaced it when it had been lost or taken away. The dean and chapter decorated it anew, A. D. 1675.” 44 ^rvcUrct -Doorway j:xeter. ANCIENT DOORWAY, bishop’s palace, EXETER. THE Episcopal Palace of Exeter, situated on the south¬ east corner of the Cathedral, is a large irregular build¬ ing, and some parts of it display marks of considerable antiquity ; but the southern front, in which are some of the principal apartments, has been recently modernized. At the eastern extremity of this front is the beautiful Ancient Gateway which we have represented; it con¬ sists of a Norman arch, richly ornamented with chevrons, above which rises a pointed Gothic arch, with plain mouldings; both are supported by a single column on each side, with carved capitals. Over the doorway is an ancient square window, hav¬ ing on either side a shield, surmounted by a mitre, pro¬ tected by lancet mouldings; the bearings of the shields are quite obliterated. The Gateway is picturesquely overgrown with vir- gine creepers, presenting a very romantic appearance. The garden is extensive and finely laid out. On the north and east side is a fine terrace, which affords agreeable prospects from the garden. Directly south from the 45 ANCIENT DOORWAY. palace a path conducts to a grotto, which is neatly fitted up with benches, and decorated with skulls, spars, &c. from the Devon and Cornish mines. The diocess of Exeter has been governed at various times by Bishops of eminent worth. Bishop Alley, who lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth, was so distinguished by that princess, that she is recorded to have sent him annually a silver cup as a new year’s gift. Dr. Black- all, who obtained a great and lasting credit by eight dis¬ courses delivered in St. Paul’s Cathedral, as lecturer on Mr. Boyle’s foundation, was promoted to the see of Exeter by Queen Anne, with marks of particular appro¬ bation, and without even the knowledge of her ministers. It was thence familiarly said at the time (in allusion to the game of chess), that Dr. Blackall was the Queen’s Bishop. He had indeed little inclination to seek promo¬ tion through an interference in politics, and was often heard to say, with equal good sense and simplicity, that he “ thought it a chief duty in bishops to reside as much as possible in their diocess, where they could do so much good, and not be so fond of attending parliament where they could do so little, or none.” The Hon. George Pelham was presented to this bishopric in 1807, and has since been translated to Lincoln. Dr. W. Carey is the present Bishop. 46 -Piat» Z. Zri^'‘- ty SkSSSturef. iir tfie JirrtTtilut. JTienfMdtic C?July miSA ^ruzent- Staizied Glass, ST TTIECDT’S €]H[lIT]R€JHr, 6oz-?twaZZ. ■M- i; % V' W o • ♦ > : > / j- Stcu7ze/Z G^Lass ST I^JE(D)T’S (TMUmCM, Cornwall. ANCIENT STAINED GLASS, IN ST. NEOT’s church, CORNWALL. ST. NEOT’S is situated on a small stream called St. Neot’s River, (a branch of the Fowey), about eight miles from Bodmin. Its elegant Church was erected in 1480; the sixteen windows were originally filled with beautifully stained glass; of which a considerable por¬ tion remains, although in a mutilated state. Many of the legends of these richly “ storied windows” have perished, for want of having been collected earlier. Nearly ninety of the subjects and inscriptions have been described by the Rev. G. C. Gorham, to whom we are indebted for the two curious drawings from which the engravings which accompany this account have been made. The first of our engravings represents the first win¬ dow from the west, in the north aisle, as it existed in 1786. It was glazed at the expense of the young men of the parish, about 1528. It details the legend of Saint Neot, the story being painted in twelve compartments, as follows: 1. St. Neot placing a crown on the head of Prince Ethelbald: The monkish chroniclers assert, that Neot was a‘son of King Ethelwolf; a position which it is difficult, if pos- 47 ANCIENT STAINED GLASS. sible, to reconcile with historical facts. The author of this legend further maintains, that he resigned the crown of Kent to his younger brother. The whole, probably, is fabulous, the simple truth being, that Neot was de¬ scended from a collateral branch of the royal house of West Saxony, in the early part of the 9th century. 2. St. Neot kneeling between an abbot and a monk. He assumed the habit of a'monkin Glastonbury Abbey, about 850; there he was made sacristan. The fame of his learning attracted multitudes to Glaston¬ bury, whence he resolved to retire, as an anchoret, to some secluded spot. He selected a valley in Cornwall, surrounded by woods, and well supplied with springs. The neighbouring village was called Ham-Stoke (now St. Neot’s). Two pools near to the hermit’s cell (which are still shewn), one his fish pond, and the other his bath, have afforded materials for some singular legen¬ dary tales; to which we are introduced in the third compartment. 3. St. Neot reading in a pool, a doe at his feet, and a huntsman delivering up his horn. He is said to have repeated the Psalter once a day, standing in a fountain. While engaged in this holy exercise, a trembling doe, flying from her pursuers, fell at the feet of the hermit; and the dogs retreated to the wood, afraid to approach. The huntsman, astonished at the event, relinquished the world, and became a monk at the neighbouring convent of St. Petroe, at Bodmin. 48 ANTIENT STAINED GLASS. 4. St. Neot, receiving instructions from an angel respecting three fishes in his pool. j The hermit (it is said) had a Divine permission to take one, and only one, fish from his pool every day ; and he was assured that three should always be found there. The Saint being ill,.his servant Barius took out two fishes, broiling one, and boiling the other, in accommo¬ dation to his master’s fastidious appetite. The .Saint was displeased at the violation of the Divine command. The fishes were returned to the pool, and (in answer to the hermit’s prayer) were restored to life. These in¬ cidents form the subjects of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth compartments. 5. St. Neot desiring Barius to bring him a fish from the pool [nearly defaced]. 6. Barius broiling a fish for his master. 7. Barius bringing two fishes to Neot. 8. Barius restoring the two fishes to the pool. 9. A thief driving away the oxen from the monastery. After residing in his hermitage seven years, St. Neot went to Rome; and, on his return, founded a monastery at Ham-Stoke, over, which he was made abbot. Some thieves came by night and stole the oxen belonging to the abbey-farm. 10. A monk ploughing with stags. The fable states that some stags from the neighbour¬ ing woodlands tamely otfered their necks to the yoke, the brethren being destitute of oxen. E 49 ANTIENT STAINED OLASS. 11. The thieves restoring the oxen ; The report of this wonderful event made such an impression on the thieves, that they restored the oxen, and assumed the vows and habit of the convent. 12. Neot kneeling to receive the pope’s blessing. Our second engraving represents the fifth window from the east, in the south aisle, as it existed in 1786. It exhibits the legend of St. George; the in¬ cidents of which are too well known to render any de¬ tailed description necessary. The subjects are arranged in the following manner. 1. St. George fighting against the Gauls. 2. St. George slain; St. Christopher in one corner. 3. The Virgin raising him from the grave. 4. The Virgin arming St. George for battle. 5. St'. George mounted and killing the Dragon. 6. St. George led into the king’s presence. 7. St. George put to torture. 8. The beheading of St. George. 9. The design has been completely destroyed. 10. St. George in a furnace of melted lead. 11. St. George drawn by a horse. * 12. The son of the Emperor riding over St. George. In the upper compartments are three figures. 1. (St. Mary ?) a female holding a chalice. 2. In the centre, the Saviour rising from the tomb. 3. A Saint (John ?) with a crozier and a book. 50 I 1 . } ( 1 I - I I i 1 I ( I ] 1 I ■L . ■ , f t- I IBXTIJIE (C(D>^T J3ert/ord^. HERTFOKD. HERTFORD is situated in a fertile valley, watered by the river Lee, which passes through the town dividing it into two parts, which are connected by a wooden bridge- The adjoining country is remarkable for its picturesque beauty; on the south is Balls’ Park, the seat of Lord John Townshend; on the opposite side of the valley is Ware Park; once the residence of Sir Richard Fanshaw, the poet, translator of Guarini’s Pastor Fido, &c.; proceeding a little further westward we approach Pans- hanger, the elegant mansion of Earl Cowper. The origin of the name of Hertford has given ample space for the conjectures of antiquaries; though their labours appear to have tended only to involve the ques¬ tion in still greater obscurity. Perhaps the simplest, if not the most probable conjecture is, that which derives it from Hartford, or the ford of Harts; and accordingly, in the reign of James 1., arms were granted to the corpo¬ ration, corresponding with this derivation ; viz. argent, a hart couchant in a ford, both proper. ' The town is governed by a mayor and nine aldermen; returns two members to parliament; and is possessed of other privileges granted by various sovereigns. Amongst the public buildings which may be thought worthy of notice is the Shire House, or Town Hall; which E 2 51 HERTFORD. is built from a design of the late Mr. Adams, the architect of the Adelphi. It was completed in the year 1T71, and contains two courts, where the assizes for the county are held; over which is a spacious'and elegant ball room. There is also a council chamber, where the corporation occasionally transact their business^ and.which is adorned with some large portraits of the>royal family of George II., presented to the corporation by the Earl Cowper, in 176S. There is also a Free Grammar School, which formerly was in considerable repute. The celebrated Wilkes is said to have been educated here ; belonging to this school there are some exhibitions at St. Peter’s College, Cam¬ bridge. This town had formerly five churches, four parochial and one belonging to the priory, but only two are now standing, these are respectively dedicated to All Saints’ and St. Andrew. Hertford is a very respectable and improving town ;' the Session and Market House and Town Hall were re¬ built between fifty and sixty years ago, and are hand¬ some and substantial brick buildings. 52 / 2oo^s- ^ ”nr^^]LM§0]3r s.JLsraMJ) -f! ■/ ■ TEVLEiIcarSOM S6tQLSICM]Hr3 \ (CMMIST’S JETOSPITAX . Ward- -d. laiSTS IHU® SIPIT^IL f Cl^ist£r's k part oftheSaJiJ CHRIST’S HOSPITAL, LONDON. CHRIST’S HOSPITAL, one of the most munificent establishments of this kingdom, owes its origin to'Henry VIII., who devoted the buildings of the Grey Friars monastery, which he had recently dissolved, to its use; but so late was his resolution taken, that his son Edward VI. may with more propriety be considered the founder. In the month of September, 1552, the Grey Friars having been previously prepared for their-reception, nearly 400 orphans were admitted, and on the succeeding Christmas Day in the afternoon, while the Lord Mayor and Alder- 'men rode to St. Paul’s, 340 of them stood in a line, reach¬ ing from the end of Lawrence Lane in Cheapside, nearly to that Cathedral; they were all clothed on this occasion in a uniform dress of russet cotton, but on the Easter following, that colour and material was changed for blue cloth, which has ever since been continued, and has oc¬ casioned them to receive the denomination of the Blue Coat School. This dress, which still retains its original fashion, consists of a blue cloth coat quilted close to the .body having loose skirts of the same, yellow under coat, yellow worsted stockings, black low -heeled shoes, a flat round thrum cap, and a leathern girdle to buckle round the'waist. - : ' - 53 Christ’s hospital. In addition to the founder’s endowments, Christ’s Hospital is supported by voluntary subscriptions; the present list of subscribers comprehends some of the most illustrious of the nobility and gentry, with a large pro¬ portion of the higher rank in the mercantile interest. Among the early benefactors, Stowe notices a case which is somewhat curious: “ There was one Richard Castellor, a shoemaker, dwelling in Westminster, a man who was very assiduous in his faculty with his own hands, and such an one as was named The Cock of Westminster, because, both winter and summer he was at work before four o’clock in the morning. This man thus truly and painfully labouring for his living God blessed, and in¬ creased his labours so abundantly, that he purchased lands and tenements to the yearly,value of £ 44 , and having no child, with the consent of his wife who survived him, gave the same lands to Christ’s Hospital.” The whole establishment at present is calculated to accommodate 1156 children, including eighty girls; the latter are provided for at Hertford. There are in London twelve wards besides the infirmary, each of the wards contain from fifty to seventy boys; the officers on the London establishment, are four classical masters, one writing master, with two assistant masters, two mathe¬ matical masters, (one of them upon King Charles II. foundation,) drawing and singing master, steward and matron, four clerks, a surveyor and architect, land surveyor, solicitor, a physician, surgeon, and resident 54 Christ’s hospital. apothecary ; there are likewise six beadles, three street- keepers, (who act under the Lord Mayor in keeping the peace),.besides thirteen nurses and a cook. Having men¬ tioned the masters, it will be unnecessary to say-more upon the education which may be received in this cele¬ brated school. , There are admitted annually nearly 150. children : when a governor gives a presentation it is necessary for the parents to produce a certificate of their marriage, and a copy of the register of the birth of the child, which must be taken to the counting-house between the hours of nine and three, when the presentation is filled up, the parents giving an account of the number of children they have, their income, &c., information may then be obtained on what day the child will be admitted; every child is strip¬ ped and examined by the medical establishment, and upon the report of those gentlemen the admission depends. The steward annually calls out those boys whose time expires within the year, and directs them to apprize their friends of the circumstance, who apply at the counting- house, where a written discharge is made out, and the boy is at liberty to depart. When a boy is bound apprentice, on leaving the school his master is entitled to the sum of £ 5 , which is paid upon his producing the indenture; and at the expiration of the apprenticeship the young man may petition for a gift towards setting him up in business ; to obtain this, he must apply at the counting-house for a blank petition, which is granted upon his producing a 55 / Christ’s hospital. copy of his freedom; this must be signed by himself, his late master, and any governor who is not on the com¬ mittee. As there is a specific sum left for the purpose, the amount of the gift is in proportion to the number of applicants, in some cases £20 has been received, but in general it does not exceed £ 5 ^ and never less; so that if the number of applicants is too great to allow £5 to each, they are taken alphabetically, and those who are unsuc¬ cessful take precedence the next year. The original buildings belonging to the Grey Friars disappear time after time, and it is the intention of the governors to' re-edify the whole as soon as their finances will allow of such an expenditure. The ancient cloisters still remain, but have undergone various alte¬ rations } one of the subjoined views exhibits some of the original monastic windows, which are, however, mostly filled up. The hall, externally, appears considerably dilapidated; a design for rebuilding it is now in the surveyor’s office. A new infirmary has recently been erected, possessing all the advantages of modern im¬ provement, To this place the boys are sent upon the first appearance of indisposition, where every attention is paid to their case. The deaths occur so seldom, that few comparatively have had an opportunity of paying the last tribute of respect to a departed school-fellow; but when the melancholy occasion does occur, a more solemn and imposing ceremony can scarcely be witnessed: a procession is formed consisting of the beadles, the stew- 56 Christ’s hospital; ard,- the whole of the boys of the same ward with the deceased, the choristers, the minister and clerk, then the corpse, followed by his own relations or friends as mourn¬ ers ; as soon as the boys enter the cloisters they begin the Burial Anthem, which they continue to sing all round, and until they reach the burial place, when the minister reads the funeral service. The cloisters upon these occasions are cleared of all but those who assist in the ceremony, which adds greatly to the solemnity of the scene. The Grammar School, capable of containing500 chil¬ dren, is a new erection, and has a very noble appear¬ ance from what is called the town ditch. The view which we have taken shews this building in perspective on the right; near which appears the house occupied by the steward; in the centre of the view is the east front of the writing school, adorned with a statue of Sir John Moore, over which is a clock—to the left are the two turrets be¬ longing to the hall—in the distance is the new infirmary, immediately over which appear the pinnacles of St. Sepul¬ chre’s Church. The interior of the ward No. 4, of which we have given a plate, is the only one on the ground- floor, and here was longest continued the ancient mode of placing the beds, which was within square compart¬ ments, open in front, of sufficient depth to contain a bed for two boys: these are now entirely removed, and the boys sleep separately, upon bedsteads of iron, which are ranged on each side of the wards—there are, besides, two or three double beds in the middle, occupied by the big- 57 Christ’s hospital. ger boys—the bedding is of very excellent materials, and is kept in a state of the greatest cleanliness—the wards are often visited by persons deputed from other esta¬ blishments, for the purpose of inspecting and adopting the conveniences which they afford. The writing school is at the north end of the hall, and looks into the town ditch—it will accommodate more than 500 boys: it was built at the charge of Sir John Moore, in 1681. His sta¬ tue, now on the east front, was originally placed in a niche at the upper end of the school. Under the writing school is the north-west gate, leading to St. Bartholo¬ mew’s Hospital, a thoroughfare which has lately been closed, in consequence of projected improvements : part of this cloister has been taken off, and a convenient building, called the Lavatory, erected, which may be used by nearly 150 boys at one time. The hall is over the western cloister, and, having been nearly destroyed in the great fire, in 1666, was rebuilt, at the sole expense of Sir John Frederick, then president. It is 130 feet in length, and 34 wide. This spacious apartment contains several curious paintings, which are noticed in Malcolm’s Londi- num Redivivum. On the west side of the hall near the north end, is Holbien’s picture of the Mayor and Corporation receiving the royal grant for the hospital. At the upper end of the room on the same side is a large whole-length picture of Charles II. descending from his throne; the king holds his robe with his right hand, and points with his left to a 58 Christ’s hospital. globe and mathematical instruments. An addition was made to the hail some years ago, by taking into it part of-the ward over the south cloister: in this are several good portraits, among them Queen Anne, who is repre¬ sented crowned, with the orb in her left hand; her mantle is blue laced with gold, her hair black and curled, and without ornament. A fine picture representing a shark in close pursuit of Sir Brook Watson, was bequeathed by him to the Hospital, and is now placed at the upper end of the hall; the seamen appear in the act of rescuing him from the bite of the voracious monster, by which, how¬ ever, he unfortunately lost his leg. Over the entrance to the hall is a fine-toned organ, which is used during the public suppers, and on other special occasions. On the west side is a pulpit, in which one of the scholars intended for the university reads the prayers; and on each side of the hall is a small choir, capable of holding six boys, who are under the tuition of the music master. In a room be¬ tween the upper end of the hall and mathematical school were formerly correct models of the various sized vessels now composing the wooden walls of Old England, with the names of the donors; these have been given for the purpose of assisting the mathematical masters. Public suppers are taken in the hall every Sunday evening, from the first Sunday in March, to the last Sunday in May ; which, to strangers, is a very interesting sight. The cere¬ mony commences by the steward giving three loud knocks upon his table, the first of which isa signal for the boys to 59 ' Christ’s hospital. take their places, the second for silence, and the third for the Grecian to begin reading one of the lessons appointed ■for the evening i service of that day ; this is followed by appropriate prayers, the response of Amen at the end of each, pronounced by nearly 800»voices, has an almost electrical effect on those who never witnessed it before. After supper an anthem is sung, and the boys, headed by tbeir respective nurses, make their obeisance to the company, and retire to their wards. A library has been established within the hospital, and each ward is allotted a portion of the books, which are changed for the books in some other ward as often as the classical master thinks proper; the privilege of reading these books is confined to the three first reading classes, and the boys are allowed during the long evenings of the win¬ ter season to sit up two hours later than the other boys, for the purpose of reading them. No book which does not belong to the library is permitted to be read till it has been inspected and approved by one of the Grecians. . At the bottom-of the hall stairs is the buttery, the care of which is entrusted to three boys, skilful in-accounts, appointed by the steward, to whom they render an ac¬ count of every thing received and delivered. The senior buttery-boy takes charge of the bread, the second of the butter and.cheese, and the third of the beer. Our limits preclude entering upon a more particular account of this noble institution ; a volume would scarcely be sufficient to discuss its various merits. Mr. J. lliff Wilson, has 60 Christ’s hospital. given the public an interesting “ History of Christ’s Hospital from its foundation by Edward VI.,” to which he has subjoined Mr. Charles Lamb’s Essay on Christ’s Hospital, and the Character of the Boys, a treatise which will be read with the liveliest interest by every Blue, and from which we shall give a few extracts:— “ A great deal has been said of the governors of this hospital abusing their right of presentation, by present¬ ing the children of opulent parents to the institution. This may have been the case in an instance or two ; but 1 believe there is no danger of an abuse of this sort be¬ coming very general. There is an old quality in human nature which w ill perpetually present an adequate pre¬ ventative to this evil. While the coarse blue coat and yellow hose shall continue to be the costume of the school, the sons of the aristocracy will not often be ob¬ truded upon this seminary. Since the days of Edward VI. opportunities of instruction have multiplied beyond what the prophetic spirit of the first suggester of this charity could have predicted, or the w ishes of that holy man even aspired to. There are parochial schools, and Bells and Lancasters, with their arms open to receive every son of ignorance, and disperse the last fog of uninstructed dark¬ ness which dwells upon the land. What harm, then, if in the heart of this noble city there should be left one re¬ ceptacle where parents of rather more liberal views, but whose time-straitened circumstances do not admit of af¬ fording their children that better sort of education which 61 CHRIST’S HOSPITAL. they themselves, not without cost to their parents, have / received, may, without cost, send their sons? For such Christ’s Hospital unfolds her bounty. Here, neither on the one hand, are the youth lifted up above their family, which we have supposed liberal, though reduced; nor, on the other hand, are they liable to be depressed below its level by the mean habits and sentiments which a common charity-school generates; it is, in a word, an institution to keep those who have yet held up their heads in the world from sinking, to keep alive the spirit of a decent household, when poverty was in danger of crushing it. This is Christ’s Hospital; and whether its character would be improved by confining its advantages to the very lowest of the people, let those judge who have witnessed the looks, the gestures, the behaviour and manner, of their play with one another, their deportment towards strangers, the whole aspect and physiognomy of the vast assemblage of boys on the London foundation, who freshen and make alive w ith their sports the otherwise mouldering cloisters of the old Grey Friars; let those judge, I say, who have compared this scene with the abject countenances, squal- lid mirth,broken-down spirit, and crouching, or else fierce and brutal deportment to strangers, of the very different sets of little beings, who range round the precincts of common orphan schools, and places of charity. The Christ’s Hospital boy feels that he is no charity boy—he feels it in the antiquity and the regality of the foun¬ dation to which he belongs, in the usage which he meets 62 Christ’s hospital. with at school, and the treatment he is accustomed to out of its bounds, in the respect, and even kindness, which his well-known garb never fails to procure him in the streets of the metropolis—he feels it in his education, in that measure of classical attainments which every indi¬ vidual at that school, though not destined to a learned profession, has it in his power to procure, attainments which it would be worse than folly to put it in the reach of the labouring classes to acquire.” In 1683, the resources of the hospital enabled the governors to erect a handsome building in the town of Hertford, which consists of three sides of a quadrangle, the entrance front making the fourth. There is likewise a square building, which was erected in 1800, containing a hall, 100 feet long and 40 wide ; besides a lofty and airy infirmary. In the annexed view is seen the school (at the end of the avenue) w hich is ornamented with a small turret and clock, beyond this appears part of the hall, on the right is the house of the master ; the lodgings for the children occupy two sides of the quadrangle. The Hertford establishment consists of a classical master, and writing master, who also teaches the boys to read upon the system of Dr. Bell; a steward, matron, and surgeon and apothecary, besides beadles and porter. The boys on the London establishment attend divine service in the adjoining parochial church, where a gal¬ lery at the west end is appropriated to their use; such a numerous assemblage of children uniform in their 63 CHRIST S HOSPITAL. dress, and almost equally so in their healthy appearance, is a sight peculiarly interesting and pleasing. The chil¬ dren at Hertford attend at All Saints, the principal church in the town. All Saints is a large edifice, standing at the south-east part of the town, and consists of a nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a tower and spire; at the west-end is a gallery for the use of the children belonging to the Blue Coat School. The monuments are numerous; one of the most ancient is a slab at the east end of the south aisle, on which has been a male figure inlaid of brass, but only the feet are now left: beneath is this inscription in old French, “ Here lies John Hunger, Esq. formerly master cook to Queen Catherine, who died on the lOth of October, in the year of grace 1435, whose soul may God receive.” Our thanks are due to Mr. J. Reddall, for the judicious hints and useful information with which he has favoured us. G4 p r. ■-•'■ V f ..V*?-: v’j< ; VI , ■<-• ■ > friea^ Cionn^ ^xfordshwe. / EFPiaV OP QUEEN ELIZABETH, near cumner, OXFORDSHIRE, THIS Statue is supposed originally to have ornamented the mansion called Cumner Palace, persons yet living remember it in that situation more than forty years ago was a terwards removed to the manor house of Dean t^ourt, and at present stands in the garden belonging to a farm near Ferry Hinksey. The figure is executed with great delicacy and prel CIS, on and was probably sculptured by order of Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who left nothing undone to ingratiate himself with Elizabeth. The Queen is represented with a globe in her left hand, the right hand is broken off, other parts of the figure have suffered very little,' except¬ ing e face, which has been repeatedly shot at for pas¬ time by mischievous boys. Some clumsy attempts, how¬ ever, have been made to repair it. The garden isseated upon a rising ground, and affords a prospect over a most delightful valley, of the city of Oxford, and the circum- jacent hills. The mansion of Cumner in the days of Elizabeth was occupied by one Anthony Forster, a dependant of the Earl of Leicester's, who in concert with Sir Richard Varney basely undertook to promote the aspiring views 65 EFFIGY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. of that nobleman by the murder of his countess. The murder was perpetrated on the night of Saturday, the 8th of September, 1560. It is supposed that these villains first strangled their victim, and then threw her down a flight of steps in order that her death might ap¬ pear accidental. The tradition of the neighbourhood reports, that she was conveyed from her usual chamber to another where the bed’s head stood close to a private postern door, where they in the night came and stifled her in her bed, bruised her head very much, broke her neck, and at length threw her down stairs. This tragical .event occasioned a ballad, of which we have given the concluding verses. The whole of it appears in Mr. Tighe’s Historical Account of Cumner. The village maids with fearful glance, ) Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall j Nor ever lead the merry dance. Among the groves of Cumner Hall. Full many a traveller oft hath sigh’d. And pensive wept the Countess’ fall As wandering onwards they’ve espied. The haunted towers of Cumner Hall. 66 EXETER, DEVONSHIRE. the City of Exeter was formerly a fortress of very great importance, being strongly walled, and every way calcnlated for defence in cases of siege, which it has freqnently been exposed to: one of the last which it sustained was in the reign of Edward VI. when the proposed changes in religious worship occasioned an insurrection of the inhabitants of Devon and Cornwall. he City was encompassed by the insurgents five and thwty days, and during the latter days of the siege the inhabitants were compelled to feed upon horse flesh, and Other unwholesome food. In the highest part of the City, on the north side, are the remains of Rougemont Castle, formerly the seat of the West Saxon Kings, and afterwards of the Dukes of Exeter. The ramparts of the Castle command a most delightful view of the adjacent country. In the year 1588, at the Lent assizes held at Exeter an Infectious distemper, brought by some Portuguese’ prisonjs of war confined in the castle, was fatal to Sir John Chichester, the judge, eight Justices, eleven out of the twelve impannelled jurors, and divers other persons assembled in the court on that occasion. 67 EXETER. At Exeter, John Penvudduck and Hugh Grove, two zealous royalists, who had attempted to restore Charles II. during the Protectorate of Cromwell, were by his order beheaded. The Castle was made a ruin during the civil wars, when 4he city withstood a blockade against Fairfax, one of whose forts was stationed in a field to the north. A session house has been erected within the area on the north-west side; this is of Portland stone. The ancient sally-port on this side was'destroyed to make room for the new edifice, and the ditch that surrounded the fortress was completely filled up. Of the cathedral which adorns this celebrated city, we can only observe, that it has received the highest encomiums from the architect and the antiquary on ac¬ count of the unity of the design ; for though the building was pursued through the period of fifty years, in which the taste in architecture was continually changing, so scrupulous was the adherence to the original design, that the church seems rather to have been created at once in its present state, than to have slowly grown to its consummate beauty. The city of Exeter was made a county of itself by Henry VIII.; it thus became independent of Devon, and was invested with corresponding privileges. 68 1 « 1 ‘ t . i \ .'i / :(D)IT§]E &OWJRX JHEOUSIE, 1PTR TRT W.^~ COWRY HOUSE, PERTHSHIRE. THE once splendid palace of the Ruthvens, Earls Gowry, is now annihilated; its last possessor was William, Duke of Cumberland, to whom it was presented by the magistrates of Perth, in 1746. The duke soon afterwards disposed of it to Government; it was then used as bar¬ racks for a company of artillery, but being found incom¬ modious, the whole was demolished, with a view to the erection of more convenient military quarters on its site. It was situated on the west bank of the river Tay, in a line with the streets called the Water Street and Spey Street, the first being towards the north and the other towards the south. From the wide gate in the front the whole length of the south street was in view. The east and south ranges of the building were of a date immemorial. They were the property of Elizabeth Gray, Countess-Dowager of Huntly, at the time of her death, which happened in the year 1526. The walls were uncom¬ monly thick; within one of them, in the east range, were two dark closets, which were discovered in removing the stones in 1807 ; one of them contained an earthern urn full of human bones, in the other was found an urn in which was a quantity of dust, perhaps of papers con- 69 GOWRY HOUSE. sumed by age : on the ground floor of the same range was discovered a pit, one of those places of concealment and destruction so common in ancient castles; most of the buildings on the west and north sides seem to have been added by the Lords of Ruthven. In the reign of James VI. of Scotland, of blessed memory f Gowry House was the scene of one of the most atrocious acts which the history.of the world has ever afforded. The tragedy to which we allude has been pai-ticularly developed by the Reverend J. Scott, in his History of the Life and Death of John Earl Gowry, of which valuable book we regret to state only 150 copies were printed. Mr. Scott observes, the catastrophe in view was, that the Earl Gowry and his brother should be put to death as in a sudden scuffle, in which however they were, to appear as traitors; a specious pretence was to be found for the king’s coming to Perth ; his safety was to be provided for by corrupting, some of the earl’s servants, and by bringing a sufiicient number of armed gentlemen from the country. The king, after dining at the earl’s house, was to pretend a necessity of retiring to a private apartment, and so to manage that the earl’s brother should attend him thither; at this moment the courtiers were to be assembled in the street, and the king was to cry to them from the window that his life was in danger. These preliminaries being settled, the king paid great attention to the earl’s brother, who waited behind him during the time of dinner : when James had 70 GOWRY HOUSE. dined he made ,the pretence before mentioned, and was conducted by the earl’s brother into an apartment agreed upon by the conspirators, where some persons were already posted for the king’s security, and the further¬ ance of the cruel design. James made the proposed outcry, when Sir John Ramsey,* one of the pages, accord¬ ing to his own deposition, rushed into the apartment, and saw the king, and a man standing behind him ; he stated that he did not know who the man was, but that after he (Ramsey) had once stabbed Mr. Alexander Ruthven, the man went suddenly away; Ramsey says he found Mr. Alexander upon his knees with his head under the king’s arm, and endeavouring with his hand to stop the king’s mouth. Ruthven was thrice as strong as the king, who from his infancy was of a weakly constitution; it seems therefore certain that the advantage which the king now had over him was the effect not of superior bodily strength but of the young man’s veneration of his majesty. The king did not accuse Ruthven of any parti¬ cular crime, nor commit him to be afterwards tried, which could havfr been,easily accomplished. The king’s im¬ mediate words were, “ Fy, strike him laigh (low),” be¬ cause he has a pyne doublet (plaited doublet) upon him. The cruel word being given, Ramsey having his dagger drawn struck with it the almost prostrate young man, and wounded him in the head and neck. The king then dragged the unresisting youth to the stair head. The Earl Gowry was soon expected to arrive, and the GOWRY HOUSE. king was secreted in a closet by his party, but before he retired he gave them his cloak, which was thrown ^er the dead body. Upon the earl’s arrival he in¬ quired for the king with great anxiety, and was directed to the body on the floor, which was covered with the cloak; he instantly exclaimed, “ Ah! wo is me, that the king has been killed in my house!” Sir John Ramsey imme¬ diately pierced him to the heart with a sword or dagger. The fruits of this double murder were to be, that the king would get rid of a powerful and popular antagonist to his arbitrary schemes, and his needy courtiers would be more devoted to his service by the distribution among them of Earl Gowry’s forfeited estates. Of all diseases in a public weal No one more dangerous, and hard to heal, (Except a tyrant king) than when great might Is trusted to the hands that take delight To bathe and paddle in the blood of those, Whom jealousies, and not just cause oppose: For when as haughty power is conjoin’d Unto the will of a distemper’d mind, Whate’er it can, it will, and what it will, It in itself hath power to fulfil: What mischief then can linger unattempted ? W’hat base attempts can happen unprevented ? Quarles. / 72 IV ojRir cjHng s § ® ozs:» ■ j / ^ i I : JPlatey 2 IVORY CHESS-BOX THE Chess-Box of Ivory which has afforded subjects for the annexed engravings, was originally the property of Agnes Sorel, the interesting mistress of Charles VII. King of France. It found its way into England during the French revolution, having been procured from M, Barre, who at the time of the republican government was receiver general of the imposts in the district. Before the dispersion of all that marked the noble ancestry, the influence, or the taste of the aristocracy, this pleasing relic was preserved in the Chateau de Dame, in the department of Chez, so denominated from having been the residence of the beautiful Agnes- Here, at a dis¬ tance of scarce three miles from his castle of Meun, the monarch visited his fair mistress ; a whole-length portrait of its beautiful tenant, which no pecuniary temptations have yet removed from the spot, with a curious cabinet, recall those interesting moments to the mind of the in¬ quisitive traveller. The castle of Meun excites other feelings; for here it was that Charles VII. fearing the parricidal act of poison by the instigation of his son, took the resolution of refusing food, and literally died of voluntary starvation in the year 1461. 73 IVORY CHESS-BOX. The .costume which this relic exhibits, affords the most satisfactory corroboration of its history as above detailed. It is all of that Lombard character which dis¬ tinguished the reign of our sixth Harry, and more parti¬ cularly that part of it which is contemporaneous with the close of that of the French monarch. On the lid, which contains the principal subject, is represented the Morris, or Moorish dance, the favourite amusement of the middle ages; and the characters who compose it are the Lady of the May, three, morris-dancers, the fool, and a piper. This costume is a little anterior to that given by Mr. Douce, in his illustrations of Shakespeare, executed in the time of Edward IV. In the reign of Henry VIII. the morris-dancers were dressed in gilt leather and silver paper, and sometimes in coats of white spangled fustian, scarves, ribands and laces hung all over with gold rings, and even precious stones are,mentioned in the time of Elizabeth. The Ivory-Box however simple in its cos¬ tume, in other respects shews the origin of those streamers attached to the sleeves which flatted in the wind, and have continued to very modern times; but tbe bells,; those genuine Moorish appendages, do not appear in this piece of carving. The French lady,of the May, called Marian the Shepherdess, was generally aboy clad in a girl’s habit, and this seems pointed out in the present specimen by the leg being so much ^displayed. This queen of .May was the legitimate representative of the goddess Flora in the Roman festival. Strype, in his Eccl; Memorials, 74 IVORY CHESS-BOX. vol, iii* p. 375, mentions that in the year 1557 there was a May game in Fenchurch Street with a lord and lady of the May, and a morris-dance. So Barnaby'Rich, who wrote “ the honestie of. this age,” printed in 1615, has the expression “ fitter for maid Marion in a morris- dance.” Warner, however, in his