by the experience of numbers who exred the proper activity to cut and carry in the produce of their farmis. Before I conclude this note, a fortunate turn appears in the weather; and the faint, who knows how to fave his reputation by the equivoque of two monofyllables, more or less, has fufpended his rage; and this, the 18th inftant, is a general hay-day. Let thofe who go about the country to buy up grafs or hay, and growing crops of potatoes by wholefale, be well watched. AGRICOLA MINOR,

OBSERVATIONS relative to the "Strictures on the Beauties of England and Wales." By the Editors of that Work.

Mr. URBAN,

July 14.

A the world without poffefling the good quality it implies, we cannot doubt of a readinefs to infert in your scientific Repofitory thofe few particulars which we think it our bounden duty to affirm.

name S we prefume you would not have

D. H. p. 820, has taken upon him to cut us up for fome little errata and prefumed miftakes, which had his candour privately corrected we should then have bowed with fubmiffion, and with pleasure have kifled the rod: but as he has held us and our work up to public cenfure, we are compelled to refift the caftigation by producing exculpatory

evidence.

D. H. Mr. Urban, is ungeneroufly faftidious in fome of his criticifins. If a piece of paper will contain but two fentences, is there not a poffibility that they might be written on different branches of the fame fubject? If the poffibility is admitted, and we really think that not one of Euclid's propofitions can be more worthy of adini fion, furely the ufe of the word particulars, p. 9, in refpect to the burning of the manufcript at the Cotton Library, was not fo unwarrantable as to deferve comment. And what wonderful error was there in writing" mutations," inflead of " changes," (p. 9,) except that the one is derived from the Latin, and the other from the French. The derivation of English words, it is well known, might be traced in more languages than one." Make-weights" we certainly do not admire, whether deduced from the Latin or the French, any

more than D. II. "They smell of the shop."

We ftand up for "memorials" inftead of "inftruments," because they are only to be confidered as the things fignified" in remembrance. Now nothing can be more like a "memorialTM than this.

66

"Is not a road iffuing from Dunftable on the North fide of the church the prefent high turnpike road that paffes through the town?" No; it is only a cross-road. If further authority is requifite, fee Collections for the Hiftory of Dunftable, p. 185. The Walling-firect is confidered as the high turnpike road.

We made ufe of no fuch word as "cow-bahan." In Wilts, Somersetfhire, or Gloucefterfhire, any milk-girl will tell him the meaning of cow

drew's lines on ftraw-bonnets, in poetic allufion to the known manufacture at Dunftable, we are as fully juftified in inferting them as any learned Antiquary who may have inferted in any work the following:

"In Wenlok braid i in this town laid i Here am i now Lady Chriftes moder help me ladi

Under this ftones for a tym shall reste my

bones

For D. II's perfonal fatisfaction, we Chronicle of. Dunflable" published by Hearne, and collected into the beforementioned treafury of topographical knowledge; where (p. 67) he will find that the writer, fpeaking of the privileges enjoyed by the priory, has ufed thefe words " ourselves and our tenants we had dif charge from MURDER (murdrum quietum). The terms we have employed

"for

is a fair deduction from this, and fimilar fentences in the fame work; confequently, the error" is not quite "fo grofs" as D. H. would with it to be believed.

To the charge of "concealing our authorities, as in the appearance of a crofs in the air from Hemingford's Chronicle, p. 519," we must reply that the evidence adduced to fupport it will never be fuffered to pervert the judgment of a court of literature. The words with which we have introduced the account, are thefe; "Several of our antient chroniclers, particularly Knyghton, Brompton, and Heming ford, have mentioned a fingular appearance in the Heavens, feen at Dunftable in the year 1189. We fhall in fert a tranflation of the account given by the latter writer; becaufe, to whatever caufe the effect may be afcribed, the minuteness of the defeription and peculiarity of the fiyle muft prove amufing." (p. 26.) By what means D. II. could overlook this plain acknowledgement, we are at a lofs to conceive. The obfervatious on the appearance of the crofs are original; at least for any thing the faid deponents know to the

contrary.

Juftice to our numerous fubfcribers will not permit us to waste one quarter of every page in ufelefs notes and references. To the prefumption that we have authority for what we advance, our readers have kindly given credit; and till better evidence is produced of our want of veracity than the ftrictures which now form the bafis of our animadverfions, we trust that our teftimony will continue to be thought deferving belief. It is our conftant practice to cite authorities whenever, according to our judgement, the fubjects of our work appear to require it. We wish to prefent the publick with as much information as poffible in a small compafs; to quote the inferiptions of every direction-poft would occupy too many of our pages.

Whatever infinuation is intended by the oblique reference to the religious opinions of the editors, we fhall only obferve that a portion of our creed is "Peace on earth, good will towards men;" and under this perfuafion we again deprecate Bp. Smyth's behaviour in his ecclefiaftical capacity towards the martyr William Tillefworth. Why do good men and lovers, of humanity fhrink with horror at the recital of the

deeds of religious vengeance executed by Bonnor, Gardner, and other learnA ed bishops, at that period in the Pope's intereft in England? Thank God, our Reformed church breathes, no mandates of fuch dreadful feverity. The fact of the martyrdom is admitted by D. H. who alfo obferves, that Fox relates this and a few more intances of fimilar perfecution under Bp. Smyth.” What, Mr. Urban, are we not to exprefs our deteftation of the conduct of that man, by appropriate epithets, who could calmly contign his fellow-creatures to the flames merely for difference of opinion! The "Spirit which dietated the expreflions," was a heartfelt abhorrence of all cruelty, whether committed by a divine or a layman.

"The fentence of the court," fays D. H. "was executed by the Sheriff; and if he exceeded that fentence, or any other mode, the guilt muft attach to him." Is there any authority for fuppofing that the fentence of the court was exceeded by the fheriff? We know of none. As D. H. feems an admirer of correct writing, we would afk him, if there is " any other mode" than feverity, in which a fentence could be exceeded?

Whatever the MS. in the Museum may affert, or D. H. affirm, we think there is fufficient evidence to prove that John le Wenlock, knt. was created Baron Wenlock, in 38 Henry VI.

We hope it will be allowed that grotesques are confidered as ornaments, (p. 36,) or elfe why do they grace fome of the fiatelieft palaces in thefe realms?

:

For the correction Lygeanbung and two or three verbal errors, we return our thanks and now fuppofing that the parties are no more, for, true to the principles of our Creed, we bear no enmity, we would atk D. H. between ourfelves, whether hiftory has not faid that the proceedings against Adm. Byng were infamous?

Having thus gone through the effential parts of the "Strictures," we shall only remark, that we are engaged in a work in which information and entertainment are proposed to be blended. Topographical research alone will not gratify a diverfity of readers; lighter materials muft combine to render the path pleafant and agreŝable; and what

*The opinion of Mr. Churton is only conjecture unwarranted by fact, unless we fuppofe that the Bishop was ignorant of the nature of his own fentences.

ever can engage attention applicable to correct defcription, to picturefque beauty, to folid obfervation, or entertaining arrangement, fhall employ the time and talents of,

JOHN BRITTON, and

EDWARD WEDLAKE BRAYLEY. No. 18, Wilderness-row, Gofwell Street. P.S. Permit us, Mr. Urban, to make ufe of this opportunity to request original information from your correfpondents on either of the fhires of Cambridge, Cheshire, Cornwall, or Cumberland. The loan of any hiftorical documents or obfervations on the prefent ftate of any part of the above counties will be efteemed a particular obligation.

Mr. URBAN,

July 8. I WISH the fubject of the Swedish medal in your last, pl. I. had been explained. To whom is the king delivering his fon, and who is the prelate, &c. behind him?

The monument of Mrs. Allardyce, p. 505, is a copy, with a few variations, from that of Mr. Marwood, in Widworthy church, Devon, vol. LXI, p. 609.

The feal found at Cornhampton, p. 497, which your correfpondent thould have told us was in Hampshire, belonged to John Champnes, who, by the gloved hand fupporting a hawk on it, was a perfon of rank. The confruétion of the feal is nothing uncom mon, and the compofition W. does not attempt to deferibe, whether of metal or terracotta.

The coat of arms communicated by F. Whitmarsh is a patchwork of the arms of Beauchamp, Montacute, Monthermer, Clare, &c.

Who was Mofes du Soul, who completed Bryan's edition of Plutarch's Lives, 1799? P. Q.

tombs are mutilated; and it must be confefled that a warrior, who has once fallen in the fervice of his country, ought not to have his head carried away a fecond time by a foot ball. Yours, &c. C. B-.

Mr. URBAN, Trin, Coll. Camb. June25. p. 410, I fee a remark on the fituation where Downing College is to be built the place is called Doll's Clofe; and your correfpondent conjectures that name is inferted pro forma, like John Doe and Thomas Roe. This however is not the fact, for there is fuch a field, and was always called Doll's Clofe, and was fold by Mr. Thackery to Dr, Annefley the mafter of Downing college, ALPHA.

Mr. URBAN, July 6. DOLL'S CLOSE, where Downing college was at first defigned to be built, is out of the town of Cambridge, on the Barnwell fide, beyond Chrift's pieces.

By an act paffed laft June, it was changed for a fite in Pembroke leys, nearer the entrance into the town from Linton and Colchester.

I will thank any of your correfpondents for information where to procure a map of Cornwall by Joel Gascoyne, engraved by Harris, and dedicated to Bodville Earl of Radnor. TOPOG

Mr. URBAN,

WE

July 7.

E frequently make ufe of a phrafe to exprefs the poffible death of any perfon, as if to prevent the gloomy image which that word might create, by faying, "if any thing fhould happen to him or to you." This, however, is not a mode of expreffion peculiar to the English language, as I find paffages in Greek and Latin writers wherein the contingency of a perfon's death is exprelled by thefe words, ει τι κακόν συμβαίη, and fi aliquid hu mani fors attulerit, or words to that ef fect. I do not recollect any fimilar phrafe in the French, but fhall be obliged to any of your readers to inform me if they have met with it in that or any other language. L. T.

its tendency is to exhibit the church of England in an odious light as an intolerant eftablishment, and the refioration as an evil rather than a bleffing, There were many good and learned men among the Nonconformifts, it is true; but it is equally certain that they obtained their preferments from the hands of rebels who ruined the church and murdered their king.

Why, Mr. Urban, fhould the diffenters complain of perfecution, when the faction which patronized their anceftors were guilty of the moft fhocking outrages upon all the faithful fons of the Church of England?

Would it not be proper then and feafonable to publifh an improved edition of "Walker's Attempt towards recovering an Account of the Numbers and Sufferings of the Clergy of the Church of England," in a form fimilar to that of the Memorial? Perhaps there never was a time when fuch a work was more wanted than the prefent, in which the church and state are furrounded with enemies of all defcriptions.

Some years ago I made collections for a work fomething fimilar to this, and had therein the countenance of tome of the brighteft luminaries this or any church ever was adorned with.

If the defign I have now mentioned is not in the contemplation of any other perfon, I fhall feel myfelf happy in rendering this fervice to our venerable establishment. In what way, therefore, can the propofal be offered to all her friends fo well, as through the medium of your long-tried and excellent Publication? By your means, Mr. Urban, Į beg leave to folicit communications on the fubject from fuch of your readers and correfpondents as are well-wishers to our Religion, and who pray for her peace and profperity. Yours, &c. JOHN WATKINS.

DO

Mr. URBAN, Abbef's Roding, July 23. OWN HALL, once the refidence of Matthew Prior, is fituated in the parish of Hatfield Broad Oak, Effex, on the left-hand fide of the road leading from Matching green to Hatfield heath. It belonged to Robert Harley Earl of Oxford, who gave it to Prior, after whofe death the noble earl fpent feveral years in retirement. It is built of brick; and it must have been either a mistake, or elfe a poetical licence of the poet, to have defcribed its being built of lath and plafter, efpecially as the houfe does not appear to have been lately erected. The fituation of it is remarkably pleafant, commanding a beautiful though not an extenfive profpect. It has a very nice park, and a hanging wood on one fide, watered at the bottom by a river, which, I be lieve, is the Roding. It belongs at prefent to Lady Ibbotfon, who has made fome alterations there for the beft. This account, I hope, will prove fatisfactory to the enquiry of your correfpondent Z.; and by inferting it you will confer an obligation on Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

T. D.

July 8.

lent account of the late univerfal philanthropist Dr. Heberden, that he was an early encourager of the Humane Society; I fend you a copy of a letter which expreffes his acceptance of an honourable office, which he had been unanimoufly requested to fill.

"To Dr. HAWES, Spital-fquare. "SIR, Windfur, Sept. 18, 1787; "I last night received the favour of your letter, acquainting me with the ho

to Twickenhamn for the amufement of angling. My first care, however, was to vifit the facred Willow planted by the hand of Pope; and to my bitter grief only two or three feet of the trunk remain, the upper part having been cut away. I will refrain from invec tive, Mr. Urban, as it is not impoffible that, from fome particular cause, its deftruction was indifpenfable. Yours, &c.

M. BROWNE,

144. Phi