294 Proceedings in Parliament, 1774 Mr.Alderman Onver reported, from the committee appointed to take into confideration the exportation of corn to his Majefty's colonies in the Woft Indies, and the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, the two re- : folutions, which being agreed to, a bill was ordered to be brought in accordingly. Lord North moved. That three fil lings in the pound; land tax, be laid on all lands, hereditaments, places, and perfonal eftates, in that put of Great Britain called England, Wales, and town of Berwick upon Twerd, and a proportionable cefs on that part of Great Britain called Scotland, according to the gah article of the treaty. of Union, which was agreed to. committee to hear and determine the matter of petition, complaining of an undue election and return for the city of Worcester; for a farther account of which, fee p. 9o. February 10. This day as foon as the Speaker returned from the House of Lords, and had acquainted the House of his Majelly's having given the royal affent to the land-tax, mutiny, and malt bills, fee p. 91. Sir Edward Aftley prefented a bill for the fift reading, fer enclofing the wife lands, &c. in the parish of Tettingtor, in the county of Norfolk, on which Mr. Sawbridge prefented a counter petition from WilLam Tooke, Efq; an owner of lands within the faid parith, ftating, with fome general aflertions, that he had no public notice of the faid bill: Mr. Sawbridge. The bill now pro-, Pef d to be read has beer, in a very unprecedented manner, brought into the Houf; a prblic notice by advertisement, ufual on fuch occations, being omitted. This, with the rights of feveral intitled to common on the lands intended to be inclofed, as well as thefe Alderman Crefy ought in a petition from the inhabitants of Worcester, which was to the following purport: "That, on the death of Henty Crabb Rositon, Efq; Thomas Bates Rous, Efq; declared himself as a candidate, and had caufed great fums of money to ie fpent in that city, and feveral pub lic houfes to be opened for the reception: of the freemen, that the whole city,ghts be ng now in a courfe of legal by that means, was in a continual confalion, from the death of Henry Crabb ́ Boulton, Efq; to the end of the election, to the giet detriment of trade; that, by fuch illegal methods, in open violation of the laws of the land, Mr." Rons had gained a majority of votes, and corrupted the morals of the people; and praying that that honourable affembly would take their petition into confideration, and make the election #rofl and void." Mr. Whitworth defired to look at the petition, to see who had figned it, when it appeared, that only two had part their names, and one his mark, which occationed a general laugh. Wednesday, Feb: a.' "The House of Commons (there Treing 140 members prefent), in purfrance of the a&t for determining controverted elections (commonly called Mr. Grenville's a&), proceeded to draw by lot the names of 49 members;' out of 6x urns, or glaffes, provided for that purpote. As foon as the rames fo drawn were declared, the unf, agents, &c. of the fitting men.ber, Mr. Rous, and the petitoner, Sir Watkin Lewes, retired to the committee-room, and, after striking off eighteen names on each fide, teen gentlemen were appointed a ifue, make it, in my opinion, extremely impr por for the House to inte fere. 1 fail therefore move, that the word “now” be left out, and fix months be put in its head. Mr. De Grey. The gentleman whe has caufed this counter petition to be prefented, was informed by me, before be purchated the eft ue on which t he funds his prefent claim, that the Jauds in question were meant to be inclofed. His proper y does not amount to more than 40 acres, nor that of all the reft to above as much more; whereas nine tenths of the whole parish belong to me. I am charged with encroaching on other people's property, for which I can fafely affim there is not the least foundation. If there be a fyllable of truth in it, I am willing to forego every advantage I might de . rive from the bill. It is an attack upon my honour and reputation, which, if the facts stared be tive, must indred, be tripped to the very fump.. Proceedings in Parliament, 1774. to legal decifion, that either party fuffered in their characters, whatever they might when tob frequently engaged in litigations and disputes. Mr. Sawbridge's motion was rejected, and the bill went on, which is one ly of importance to the public to know, as it was productive of yery, ferious confequences. For the very next dayw February 1 The Houfe being very full, and the Speaker abfept; when he came to take the chair, he made a short apology for naking the Houle wait, an i crived the indulgence of the Houle to he heard a few moments. Sir Fletcher, Norton.] I am very loth to take up the time of the oute with any matter that relates only to myfelf; but I have been charged with a crime, which, if nue, I should be unworthy of the honourable feat I now cccupy, or, indeed, of fitting within thefe walls. If it was only perfonal Lurrility, or even general charges, [ fhould not trouble this House; I should look on them equally unworthy your notice and mine; but it relates to a matter which is supposed to have paff ed here, and that too in the very honourable itation I now fill. War makes it till more ferious is, that it refers to a series of facts, which, as connected, with my prefent fituation, could not have happened without my knowledge, and which, I can affin folemnly, I am totally a franger to, further than the general tranfient knowledge I may have of matters of fimilar nature, It is a letter in a pub lic paper of this day, figned Strike, --but Hear," publified by H. S.. Woodfall. Without entering imothe, fubitance of the whole of its contents, it. charges me with a piedilection for Mr, De Grey, in the progrels of the Tyttington incling bill; than which, nothing could be more remote from my intention. I do not fo much as: know the gentleman alluded to, further than feeing him in this Houfe;) and for his brother the Chief Justice, who is one of the parties to the bill, I am fure I have not the leaft perfonal intercourfe with him. I can with juftice fay, that as well on this, as every other occafion of the fame kind, I have ever acted with the fricteft impartiality; nor does any thing reft on my mind relative to the matter, but that f thought yelterday, as it was litigated, counsel thould be permitted to be heard at the fecond reading. As to the relt, 295 Mr. Sazubridge.] The only know➜ ledge I had of this business was on the day when the honourable gentleman who spoke latt prefented Mr. De Grey's petition, who was at the fame time olicited to prefent that from Mr. Tooke. I then thought it forewhat extraordinary, that the fame perion fhould prefent hoth, as one prayed for the bringing in a bill which the other prayed fhould not be brought in. As to the part I took yeftrday in this buneis, it was merely on an applica tion made, to me the preceding day, on account of the Member's ablence in the country who was to have spoke to it. On neither day did I perceive any foundation for the charge now made. If I had imagined that the honourable member against whom the letter alluded to is directed, had been guilty of any partiality, I should not in the least have helitated to have com plained to the Houfe against 'him şi but I never have had the left founda-r tion for any fuch complaint, as he has always acted with all: the candour I could pollibly define Col. Jennings, and Sir John Turner, spoke after Mr. Sawbridge, and be-t Howed on Sir Fletcher's impartiality the highest encomiums. . Sic Fletcher Norton.] The only mo ive which induced me to give the Houle this trouble being now fully anfwered, I have no with that any further notice fhould be taken of it; the evidence of iny innocence, and the approbation of my conduct, being all I had in view when I took up this bu finefs; that being fully attained, I am perfectly eafy as to the fcurrility and faifehoods contained in this fcandalous libel. The Houfe was now filent for the fpace of two minutes, and the Order of the day was going to be read, when Sir Harbord Harbord rofe, and faid, That an attack of fuch an atrocious nature upon the character of their Speaker 298 Miftakes in Johnfon's Dictionary pointed out. God." If God fhould command us by his Prophet to wash feven times in Jordan, there can be no great hurt in wafhing; and in obedience there is no little virtue. And fince God now does not directly inte: pofe himself, but Jeaves fuch indifferent things to the wisdom of the church, obedience to her decifions appears to be the chriftian's duty obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves, for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account t. If any thing be wrong, they mutt anfwer for it; the private chriftian is fafe in his fubmiffion; while he, that is contentious and will not cbey, may poffibly have fome reafon to fear, that his zeal for his own opinions and fancies will not atone for the disturbance he raises in the church, or the feparation he makes from it.-It may perhaps be fuggefted, that fuch doctrine as this will prevent all reformation in the church, and would have prevented our own from the church of Rome about two centuries ago: all which I deny. When corruptions in the church become grofs and grievous, they will speak for themselves. The people will feel them, and be willing to fhake them off. All eftates and degrees of men will be fenfible of the want of reformation; and all good men, who have wisdom and refolution equal to the work, will endeavour to promote it. When the Reformation was begun here in England, the corruptions of the church of Rome were too grofs either to be concealed or defended. The errors in her doctrine, the superstition and idolatry in her worship, and the ufurpations and tyranny of her priefs, al cried fo loud for reformation, that all heard who did not wilfully flop their ears : and the foulneffes and deformities on the face of religion were become fo confpicuous, that all faw who did not wilfully fut their eyes. The council of Trent gathered up, as it were, all the loofe ticks of popery, and bundled them together in one huge unmerciful faggot, which thus became a burden, which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear. Points, before of doubtful difputation, and fcholaftical doctrines, which fome believed, and others believed not, were now defined and decreed into articles of faith; and impofed and forced upon men with all the pains and punishments of this world, and with all the threats and terrors of damnation in the next. Here was an abfolute neceflity of refor mation in the church, and as that could not be obtained, feparation from her was unavoidable. They, who cannot tay in without fin, are compelled to go out. But to introduce innovations in religion without any fufficient reason, to make alterations in our prayers without improving them, and to obtrude amendments which will bear a juft and reafonable difpute whether they be real amendments or not, is as little confiftent with piety as it is with prudence; and as good policy does not permit, fo pure religion does not require it." Mr. URBAN, AMID the privacy of rural folitude, I devote fome of my vacant hours to the perufal of a few favourite voJumes; and cannot but differ from thofe who think the ancients excel the moderns in elegance of ftile, or fuperiority of knowledge. The prudent age can boat its writers, who merit every grateful acknowledgment for employing their rens in diffufing real fcience, and promoting rational reliligion. Among its chief ornaments may be ranked Dr. Johnfon: his excellent effys are a proof of his ingenuity and learning, and his elaborate Dictionary an inftance of remarkable affiduity and labour. But it must be confeffed, that, notwithstanding his arduous attention to a work which will remain a lafting memorial of his crudition, a few errors either through hafte or negligence have efcaped his notice; perhaps he is miftaken in fome of his derivatives. SelfHeal (Lat. Brunella), he informs us, is a plant, the fame with fanicle, to which we are referred. Even the pupil in botany must be furprized to find fo egregious a blunder in fuch a valuable compilation: there is no fuch genus of plants as Brunella. Prunella, or felf-heal, differs effentially from fanicle, the latter of which produces its flowers in umbels. In the doctor's definition of the dragon fly he has alfo committed a great erior. He informs his readers, that the libellula is a large finging fly; a mistake which its formidable appearance perhaps gave rife to; but no infect is known to be more innoxious; it is armed with no fuch weapon as a large dreadful ting. I shall be glad to fee thefe errors corrected in a future edition. It has given me A Tour in the Midland Counties of England. me real concern to fee the book re- RUSTICUS. A TOUR in the Midland Counties of that place, I entered Sleaford, a confiderable town, with fome good buildings, and a neat, but very fmall, market place. The church fronts it; a curious piece of Gothic work, rich in ornaments, and well enough executed. The chief fault in this building that ftruck me was the base of the fpire, which, being of an unpleafing breadth, gives it rather a heaviness. A very clear and rapid ftream runs through the town, and contributes not a little to the health and cleanliness of it. Proceeding northerly, the country is cultivated for about four miles, but you then come to Lincoln Heath, and foon pafs near Temple Bruer, anciently a commandery of the Knights Templars; the remains of it are a fquare tower, built of stone, but of no great height, nor any ways fingular; a few years fince there were feveral handtome pillars and arches ftanding, but these are now demolished. In the houfe adjoining to this tower, lives a Mr. Raynes, whom his neighbours allow to be the most spirited and judicious farmer in the county; but they fay there are few of his profefon, who have a fufficient capital to follow his example. Among his experiments are, manuring with pigeons dung, and with oil cakes ground finall, and - ftrewed over the land like feed: he has a mill for reducing the latter into powder. Six miles further, upon a hill, is a light-houfe, built about 20 years ago, by Lord le Defpenfer; it is an exceed ing lofty fquare tower, with a faircafe to the top, which terminates in a flat roof, upon which is erected a kind of large glais-cafe, in which is (every night) contained the light: round the base of the tower is a neat fquare court, with a little dwelling-house at each corner; thefe were evidently built for the fake of uniformity, as only one of the 299 houses are inhabited; there is a gate into the court on one fide, and on the other a large plantation of firs. This building is a pleafing ornament to the country, and was intended as a fignal to travellers to direct their courie; however, this ufe is now rendered less neceffary by the new turnpike. Great part of this extenfive heath is lately inclofed, and, by the excellent crops (of barley in particular) which I faw upon it, I conclude much of the reft, if treated in the fame manner, and a little spirit exerted in the culture, would become equally fertile. At present it ferves for patturage to a few theep. Five miles beyond the light-houfe is the city of Lincoln, confifting principally of one street,above z miles long, well paved; there are, befides, feveral crofs and parallel Rreets, well peopled. Here are fome handsome modern buildings, but more antique ones: the whole has an air of ancient greatnefs, arifing, perhaps, from the number of monaftic remains, (most of which are now converted into tables, out-houfes, &c.) — from the view of the houfes erected in the last century, upon the plan of those grotesque modeis,-and from the loftinefs of the hill, and the cathedral on it foaring above the city. Here are fourteen parish churches, but of thefe, three or four are in ruins, the rotten walls of which are left standing, on account, as it is faid, of the revenues: of thofe preferved entire, and in which divine ervice is performed, there are few that have any thing remarkable: St. Peter's is a handfome modern structure. The miniter has been fo often described, that little remains for me to fay concerning it; it has lately been repaired and ornamented, particularly by feveral new painted windows, one of which, efpecially, is very large and beautiful. When I was here before, in (I think) 1766, they were erecting a large anar-piece, of mafonry, but I forgot to inspect it in my late journey. The famous great bell has a dull heavy found; it is never tolled but when the Judge enters the town to hold the affizes. Not far from the cathedral is the caftie; its walts are almost entire, and very fubftantial; the keep, or principal tower is fituated on a high and very fteep mount, which yet continues in its original state, but the remains of the tower upon it are only five or fix yards high; the outer walls of the cattle are of a very confiderable height, which appear ftill higher than in reality they are, from their lofty fituation, 300 A Tour in the Midland Counties of England. tuation, and the moat below them. the great gateway is entire, or nearly fo; on one angle of the walls a pleafant fummer-houfe is erected, and, in the area inclofed by them, a commodious building for holding the affizes, and likewife the county prifon.-Upon the bill are the ruins of the Bishop's palace, and other remnants of ancient magnificence. Though the Witham is again rendered navigable to Lincoln, it is nevertheless of little ufe to the city on that account; but there is a confiderable trade carried on, by means of the Fols-dyke, (which communicates with the Trent at Torkfey,) in coals from the Welt-riding of Yorkshire, &c. &c. The merchants fupply many diftant parts of the county with thefe inland coals, which the purchafers diftin. guifh by the name of Lincoln coals; but the fea fkirting fo much of this county, and thereby rendering Newcastle coals plentiful and cheap, the confumption of the inland coals is very inconfiderable, when compared with the confumption of the latter. The city is fupplied with water by feveral conduits, among which a modern one, fomewhat in the pyramidical ftile, enriched with fculpture, is very pretty. Here is a large market-house, but fo dark as to be quite difagreeable. The place having but little trade in proportion to its fize, and no other manufacture than a fmall one of camblets, established by Meffrs. Thorp and Croft, it cannot be fuppofed to be very populous. Many of the inhabitants are clergy, and dependants on the cathedral. Leaving Lincoln, and proceeding towards Torkfey, I found the country a flat, barren, difagreeable moor, in fome places covered with furze, in others boggy, and interfperfed with tagnated pools. The foil is certainly bad, but far from being incapable of improvement: the first attempt to amend it, however, fhould be a public undertaking, by draining the whole, which many good judges believe to be not only practicable but eafy; and, if fo, it is a scandal to this en'e prizing age, to Jet fo much land lie in a condition rather baneful than beneficial to the community, About Six miles from Lincoln, on the banks of the Fofs-dyke, lay the greatest quantity of fine fhip-timber that I ever faw in one place, probably brought down the Trent, or fome of the rivers of the Weft-riding of York shire. Three or four miles before I arrived at Torkley, I obferved fome new inclosures, covered with extremely coarse grafs, and not appropriated to any ufe at prefent; they appeared to me very hungry, poor land, which, had it met with more enlightened occupiers, inight have been much altered by the plough. Torkfey is a village fituated by the Trent, upon the edge of which, near the ferty, are the remains of a convent of nuns, a large building, founded by King John; but by the ruins, which confift of one of the fide-walls, built of brick, and pretty lofty, it feenis never to have had any pretenfion to magnificence. Along the banks of the river on this fide is a border of rich land. At Torkfey ferry I croffed the Trent, here a very fine river; the country, for two or three miles, was a rich meadow, much fubject to floods from that ftream; but on proceeding through the next village*, there was a change into open arable land: upon rifing a hill at the top of a field beyond this town (and on which is placed a common bench) you have an extenfive prospect over the country towards the east, terminated by the hills near Lincoln, among which, that in the city appearing almoft perpendicular, and crowned with the minfter, is a noble object. The whole fcene is agreeably decorated with fome neighbouring woods and corn-fields, and enlivened by feveal villages upon the banks of the Trent, as well as by the vessels paffing along it. In a village apparently about four or five miles North or N. N. E. of this spot, is a new house, of white ftone, which appeared to me (at that dillance) to be a large noble building, and feemed, by its lofty fituation, to command a fine view over the vale of Trent; but I met with no opportunity of enquiring who is the owner. Leaving the hill, I continued my tour through a cultivated country, fcattered with hop-grounds, to Retford; it confifts of two parishes, called Eaft and Weft, though adjoining. There is a church in each; the town is pretty large, tolerably well built, and is much benefited by the paffengers on the great north road, which My memory is not fo tenacious as to retain its name. |