opinions, cannot, in the nature of 66 Dr. Marsh's notes on Michaëlis's Intros duction to the New Testament, vol. II. p. 551, ed. 1802. "It is a matter of fact, though fre quently denied, that in the early ages of Christianity, as well as in the later timés of the Roman Hierarchy, not all the books of the New Testament were permitted to be read indiscriminately by the Laity in general." It appears by the context, that by the early ages of Christianity Dr. Marsh means the two first centuries. I am surprized that Dr. Marsh has made no use of the authority of the Primitive Church in the able pamphlets which he has written against the Bible Society. PHILALETHES. Mr. URBAN, Pentonville, Oct. 26. Nor is it certain that these novel laws of truth are not more nearly in teresting. For if Mr. Belsham's "expectations in life” depend at all upon his harangues in Essex-street, then,PON turning to p. 212, I perupon his own principles, "he cunnot, in the nature of things, be an un biassed inquirer" after his beloved Unitarianism. But as I am not sure that it is a profitable business to disseminate Unitarianism, I only say and subscribe myself PERHAPS. ceived an article signed J. BRIT TON, containing an enumeration of many excellencies which are to be combined in his work entitled "Ca thedral Antiquities." Without examining whether or not the same su periority was promised at the com P.S. If I am right in supposing mencement of his " Architectural AnMr. Belsham to assert, that the ques tiquities," which he now acknow tion respecting the Divinity of Christ ledges is only of secondary quality; I is a question concerning a matter of shall proceed to notice the improfact (P. i. p. 541.), in this I agree with priety of his asserting, that his work him. It is a question of fact: he either is intended "to supersede the neces is God, or he is not. St. John main sity of other publications on the same. tains the affirmative, declaring that subject." Every man has a right to he is God, even the true God, and speak of his own performances as warning us at the same time not to b highly as he thinks proper; but no give divine honours to those that are man has a right to attempt to injure no gods. "He (or this person, &ros, others by assuming exclusive excelnamely Jesus Christ,) is the true God, lence; especially he who has volunand eternal life. Little children, keep tarily offered himself to advocate the yourselves from idols. Amen." cause of Authors in general. You, 1 John, v. 20, 21. Sir, and the Publick, well know, that I have employed myself for a considerable time in publishing "Graphical and Historical Descriptions of the Cathedrals of Great Britain." Several other persons are likewise engaged in similar works; and with respect to the particular Cathedral with which Mr. Britton's unexampled work is to com mence, Mr. Dodsworth, of Salisbury, has been many years collecting mate rials for a History of that Cathedral, which is now about to issue from the press in a large volume, to be illustrated by plates engraved by some of our most able Artists, from drawings by Mr. F. Nash, whose superior abilities are well known. I am happy Admitting for a moment what Mr. Belsham calls (p. 128) a "plain interpretation" of Matth. xxii. 44, 45, it still remains to be shewn how David, a king and a prophet, calls the Mes siab his lord, if he was merely "his great descendant," or son, and as such his inferior. Mr. URBAN, Oct. 20. PERMIT me to make use of the Gentleman's Magazine for the purpose of recommending the following passage to the attention of Mr. Butler and Mr. Blair. It occurs in * P. ii, p. 128. here here to acknowledge that Mr. Dodsworth, instead of evincing any narrow selfishness, generously communicated to me much valuable information respecting Salisbury Cathedral, which proved him to be a genuine friend to the Arts, and the diffusion of useful knowledge. But, to say no more of Mr. Britton's contemporaries, whose exertions my own experience warrants me in saying, have been approved and liberally rewarded by the Publick, though he, by a dash of his pen, has endeavoured to consign them to oblivion-Does Mr. Britton mean to prohibit the Society of Antiquaries from publishing any more of our Cathedrals? He must know, from his own experience, that Literature and the Arts are still likely to be progressive in their improvement. So far am I from a desire to confine excellence to the present day, that I most heartily wish Mr. B. a continuation of health and abilities, for more than thirty years to come, that he may finish his great undertaking of the Cathedral Antiquities; and that, instead of a decline in the Arts, which he seems to apprehend, he. may find Artists at the conclusion of his work more able than those who assist at its commencement. +++ We have received two other Letters on this subject; from "A Friend at Home," dated Winchester'; and from Mr. T. Green, of Pimlico; both condemning Mr. Britton's boast of his work superseding all others;" and noticing, "that Mr. Wild has been several years engaged in publishing, and has already completed large views of three or four of our Cathedrals, accompanied with very able historical descriptions, written by a gentleman (Mr. Dallaway) of talents, learning, and extensive knowledge," that Mr. Storer was also employed in "Graphic and Historical Descriptions of the Cathedrals of Great Britain," eight or ten Numbers of which are published (and have frequently been noticed in our Miscellany); and that "Mr. Buckler has published general Views of all our Cathedrals upon an extensive scale." EDIT. Shipston-on-Stour, Mr. URBAN, Aug. 5. SHOULD have considered "R. B. W.'s" animadversions (p. 120.) on my communication of July 27, p. 8. not as unanswerable-but deserving of no answer at all-had he not passed over, with remarkable silence, the principal occasion of my troubling you with that note; namely, the loud report that one of my "respectable" Subscribers, resident at Shakspeare's native Town, had done me the honour of praising my work, and sold it at a reduced price-by private contract at a place of public resort. But of that honourable transaction your Correspondent has taken no notice. What then is the natural conclusion, but that his cautious silence on the chief and most material part of my record is a tacit admission of the Truth of the report? I shall, therefore, repeat, that the ignominious sale of my little Book by a Subscriber, previous to the payment of his subscription, was an unlicensed traffick! And to divert himself and his witty companions at the expence of the humble but honest Author, was also an" unjustifiable"and unmanly amusement-to say no worse of it. The Title of my little Book affects no ostentatious splendour;-but it punctually fulfils all the promises contained in its Title, and performs all its engagements. No candid Rea der of it has just cause to complain of being taken in by an alluring Advertisement or Title. But it is now before the Publick-and there I must leave it! In allusion to my having made no application either directly or indirectly, &c. for their subscriptions, I beg to observe, that the receipt of the Book was a sufficient application. In respect to Mr. James Ward's offer of receiving and remitting the money, I decline giving him any direction for. that purpose. If the subscriptions which remain unpaid are not remitted through some private channel, I can, when I chuse, commission my own Bookseller to call for the amount. But I assure Mr. R. B. W. and Mr. Ward the stationer (who by the bye have no concern in this matter), that 1 feel no impatience for the remaining subscriptions; for I have already paid all the expences of the Work, and expended a small sum for Advertise ments, partly by the assistance of my truly respectable Subscribers, and partly out of my own little private. purse. ANNE CLARKE. Mr. B WEST Front of PETERBOROUGH Cathedral; Restored according to GURTON. ENEDICTUS Abbot of Peterbo rough, 1177. "It seems the nave or body of the Church did not please him; therefore he built it after a better manner from the lantern to the porch, as now it is."-Gunton's History of Peterborough. * Thus what becomes of the prior dates of Clugny 1131, aud Arezzo (the first, according to Mr. H's having not the least particle to warrant that Peterborough, in the course of 46 years, could possibly become a copy from it) so necessary with our author and his continental friends to establish with them the origin of Gothic (Pointed) Architecture?" Could such an extensive, regular, complete, and magnificent design, as the West front of Peterborough, as singular in form, as it exhibits a pre-eminence in splen. dour surpassing all others, either here or abroad, have been brought bit by bit from foreign insignificant piles, gleanings of o our arts, which might have been created at any period? Correct your anti-national habits, I pray you, good Mr. H.; and learn, henceforward, to pay more attention and due reverence to your Country's works; and hide your unaccountable predilections, and your forced "History," in dark oblivion, "forgetting and forgot!" Remarks on the annexed Plate. The building (song school) raised within the center arch (which arch is less in the opening than those on each side) is a later construction; probably of the 14th century, done, it is imagined, to act (how beautiful in form!) as a sustainment to some visible injury the arch itself might have undergone. The three grand arches, the receding walls, with their enrichments of door-ways, windows, groins, columns, pediments, compartments, niches, statues, ornaments, attending towers, pinnacles, and spires, const tute a gigantic and gorgeous West porch: the tower on the right restored according to Gunton. In the distance, centrically, is the transept tower, on which, to give an assimilating effect to the whole contour, I bave introduced a spire. Whether * Transept tower. GENT. MAG: October, 1814. Q the tower originally was so adorned," is not certain; but it is not beyond a reasonable supposition to conclude, that it once had such a glorious termination. At present, the tower, it is understood, shews some late inap propriate fanciful modern decorations, set up upon the destruction of the old embellishments thereon. Be this as it may, the great porch, our instructive lesson, stands yet unaltered. Chapter IX. Account of Cæsar Cæsarinus (born 1481), a commentator on Vitruvius. Mr. Hawkins, notwithstanding he has introduced this character to the Reader, appears highly dissatisfied with the man in almost every action of his life (as he has given it to us); so much so, that some will be inclined to inquire, why is he noticed at all? Chapter X. Mr. Hawkins gravely tells us, that foreign artists worked by rule; and that Cæsarinus had contrived, in his Commentary, to explain the principles of Gothic architecture; various geometric principles are laid down by Cæsarinus: the Cathedral of 1) Milan cited; its dimensions given by cubits; names of various architects employed on it. "Few persons," Mr. H. supposes, "will be inclined to take the trouble of examining by actual measurements any building, on what proportions and principles it is founded; therefore refers us to Browne Willis, and Bentham's Ely and notices on this head, particularly from the latter work, a long string of proofs about the relative lengths and widths, heights,&c.of ourConventual churches and cathedrals; nearly all of which proofs are incorrect and futile, as I have taken the pains to follow, and ascertain said proofs, from Bentham's plates themselves. Churches of Salis bury |