fcene prefents here pleafing profpects on all fides, fields crowned with fruitful crops, meadows coveted with fumerous herds, neat and cummodious farm-houfes fet firgly of in groupes, cheerful and crowded villages embowered among trees, and divided from each other by finall intervals. Between fuch fair landscapes wind the rivers or extend the clear canals of Flanders and Brabant. The bounty of the land is diffufed in decent competence through all the multitude that inhabits it; and the looks of the labourer, his wholefome fare and neat dwelling, exprefs that he has his share of that plenty with which his industry rowns the fields. In this country the peafant no lefs than the lord poffeffes rights that may not be invaded with impunity. Confcioits of his privileges, the Flemish peafant refumes his toils, nor repines whilft the laws fecure 10 him his property in that field which fie cultivates." For fome time paft the most valuable manufacture of Flanders has been derived from its flax, which is allowed to be fuperior to that of any other country in Europe, and furnishes the materials for their fine linen and their beautiful lace. Let me now call the attention of your readers to the city of Ghent. This large and populous place ftands at the difiance of four leagues from the fea. It is washed by the Scheld, which, in conjunction with other inferior rivers and canals, dividos the town into a number of islands,, that give it a picturefque appearance; and the eye of a Stranger is immediately attracted by the bleaching fields which lie within the walls, and furnish employment and fubfiftence to great numbers of the inhabitants. There were alfo many fine and fpacious gardens within the walls, and not fewer, I was told, than 300 bridges. The population of Ghent was laid to be 70,000, which bore no proportion to its circumference. Many traces of the former grandeur of this city were confpicuous in its noble fquares, fpacious fireets, and magnifi 'cent edifices. Ghent was erected into a bishoprick, in 1559, by Pope Paul the Fourth, at the inftance of Philip the Second, king of Spain, and is fuffragan to the archi epifcopal fee of Mechlin. The firft bishop of Client was Cornelius Janfehius; and I shall close this letter with the following particulars of the Pre late by the pen of the learned and can- CLERICUS LEICESTRIENSIS, Intereft the publick not a little, in thewing myfelf as the pattern of "folly, ill-humour, and ill-manners,' and my enlightened friend as the "emblem of wildom, affability, and complaifance." How gentle, how patient, how difpaffionate is H. A. U. in his last letter, p. 1091! It is me, filly oaf, cavious fogue, that am all violence, all abufe, and all fpleen, becaufe förfooth I am difappointed in not being competent to make good my feveral charges for lack of materials to work on, my memoranda being all drawn from the regions of Fancy, under the dominion of Morpheus. H. A. U. then is determined not to pull off the "vizard" that he has put on with fo much fecurity as he vainly imagines; and yet there are moments when he appears uncovered, moments when I catch the mafcles of his countenance; and, I think, I have not tried my art in vain. H. A. U is wife to plead ignorance about "Popish bishops, gold rings, fil ver chalices, altar-fcreens, mock abbeys, and thatched cottages." It would be a hazardous experiment to fet about their expofition after what he has done in this line, and he might chance again to burn his fingers. ST. DAVID'S concluded. Over the river running between the Weft front of the Cathedral and the Palace, in former times, was a large ftone thrown across to answer the purpofe of a bridge, and known by the iame of the " fpeaking ftone," which was used to cry out with a warning and prognofticating voice when certain people were to walk over it. It is a pity fuch an admonither does not exift at this day, as perhaps I, in venturing to pafs, might have been favoured with a few fecret truths in my own way about Antiquity lovers, Antiquity haters, their friends and their foes; whether I fhould fucceed in my plan of opening the eyes of the generality of my readers to admire the works of paft times, or whether all my labours would prove idle, and ufelefs grow. How many curious circumftances might have been unfolded, as I fhould have been in no hurry to have quitted the proftrate oracle! Although the fpeaking-ftone is no more, the "St. Nun's, or wifhing well," remains, and in full poffeffion of all its wonted flock of faith, that is, in modern explanation, fuperftition. Who is not a fervent votary to wifhes? Let them be foft, firong, good, bad, kind, malign, charitable, unfeeling. : citizens 3 citizens; understanding at the fame time that all thele monumental memorials be executed in ftrict conformity with the mode of the structure, and fo fet up that they inake not a diftinct fpecies of embellishment, but one entire whole of the general mafs of Atchitecture. brought forward to ferve for the purpofes of religious worship. In fhort, as withing is the bufinefs of our lives, I had remained on my knees until this time, had not a body of "Jumpers," male and female, and inhabitants of St. David's, drove me from my pofition, that they might have the well to themfelves, each withing (as I was afterwards informed), previous to their fpiritual caperings, that they might have the beft in Pembrokethire aPreacher ! Having completed the purposes of my furvey, paid every vow, and taken leave of the reverend guardians of the church, I turned my back on St. Da vid's, never once looking behind me, and made the utmoft fpeed poffible; home was before me, though far diftant. Had H. A. U. beheld my march, he might have diverted himself at my expence with more propriety than ever, and have found fresh matter to exercife his wit and pleafantry on; for I conceived myfelf as one who was making his efcape from fome calamity, or like one who had forgot to take leave of the governor of his hoftlery. I avoided with fpecial care, as I came near the environs of Roche caftle, not to caft a glance that way, left the "wizard" might catch me within his circle again. At last, in happy hour, I gained the town of Haverfordweft. Here I was well lodged and well accommodated; things were reverfed in this refpect from what I had experienced in my late quarters. Notwithstanding this bodily comfort, my mind was not at eafe, the fufpicious behaviour of thofe I encountered was fill the fame as heretofore, fo much so that I had not courage fufficient to make drawings of the caftle. My obfervations are thefe This building is one vaft pile, defigned in the nobleft ftyle, and placed on an eminence commanding the town, which lies, as it were, grovelling at the bafements of its walls. Indeed, I never law a caftellated ftructure more commanding, or better conftructed to in is ufed as a prifon; and for its interna ftate read Mr. Neild's account of prifons in Wales, detailed in this Mifcel lany. There are fome monaftic ruins in the town. My continual tremor for dreaded ills, or more likely imaginary ones, prevented me from vifiting thefe remains. Molt certain, I kept clofe in my hoftlery, except when I fallied forth to vifit thofe places in the vicinity of Haverfordwest fet down in my long lift of items, which compelled me fo to do. Neceflity has no law; and the first outlet was to PICTON CASTLE. My reception was as flattering to the "withes" of an Artift as could be defired. The noble owner, who here refides in much dignity, gave that attention (maugre my poor Pilgrim's demeanour), which made me forget for the time all troubles paft; and I let about my furvey with that content of foul fo neceffary to those who profess the delineatory art. This caftle at prefent fhews no more than one oblong mass of building, which may either be the original walls, or fome additional work; fuch making out, as I conceive, the principal part of the pile, that is, the Keep. But this may be conjecture, as all the windows are modern, with common fath frames; fuch are the door-ways, &c. The principal antient features are circular towers at the angles of the walls, and others of a larger fweep projecting from the fide walls; the whole work finishing with battlements. The interior has totally fubmitted to modern alterations; fo that little thought is railed, while partaking of the hofpitality of Picton, of the romantic caftle of old times; but the elegant villa with all its fafhionable conve niences alone charm the fenfes. There are no traces of any outworks, fuch as foffes, gateways, &c.; an extensive lawn is on the South tide, and a plantation on the North fide of the building; the Weft end looks between both, and at the Eaft is the entrance from a balluftraded terrace. At a reafonable diftance are the offices, fuch as ftables, &c. The general face of the ground is level; and to the South a beautiful view is had of the fea. Mr. URBAN, AN ARCHITECT. Jun. 2. INCLOSE a copy of a letter from fpire the thought that it muft have I Dr. Ducarel to Dr. Gifford, con been once impregnable. This fabrick GENT. MAG. January, 1805. cerning Cerning fome very remarkable drawings of English Coins in the Cotton Library, The MS. in which Dr. Ducarel found thefe drawings is defcribed in his letter. I know not if any of your correfpondents have met with fuch a book, (which it is to be hoped is carefully preferved in the British Mufenm) or whether any account has ever been published, either of the MS, or the Coins reprefented in it. I am in poffeffion of a MS book, and various curious papers, both of Dr. Gifford's, and of his numifmatic contemporaries; among whom are Browne Willis, Martin Folkes, Mr. Jacob of Faversham, and Dr. Ducarel; and in one of the original letters of the latter gentleman, which I pof fefs, is the exact defeription which I fend you. Refpecting the authority of the coin of Edward V. therein mentioned, great doubts must be enter tained. Folkes fays: "There was a mafter and worker of the Mint, appointed in the name of King Edward V. but it is not probable that any new money was coined in his time." Snelling is filent on the fubject; and Leake's account is fimilar to that of Martin Folkes. It feems a great negligence in thefe writers not to have made fome attempt to afcertain whether or not money was coined in that King's time, fince at prefent nothing but bare probability confutės the authority of the Cotton MS. On the contrary, however, it is well known, that many authors have engraved coins which actually never exifted; fo that it is particularly likely that a Frenchman would conclude what was or would have been the weight, defign, or value of the young king's coin, judging from that of his predeceffor. 3 The fubject, undoubtedly, is extremely curious, and to fuch of your Antiquarian readers as have not feen the MS, I Atter myfelf this account will not be unacceptable. Yours, &c. E. S. S. TO THE REV, DR. GIFFORD. Doctors Commons, DEAR SIR, Dec. 11, 1754. I went this day to the Cotton Library, and met there with a curiofity, which I dare fay will give you very great pleasure, and therefore fend you this imperfect account of it. I enquired of the Rev. Mr. Widmore for a MS. in folio, called by Bi fhop Nicolfon, in his English Hiftorioal Library," Livre de Monnoyes;" which he fhewed me. It is marked Tiberius D. II. (the Bishop has called it Tiberius D. 11. . but improperly.) It has fuffered by the fire which hap pened there fome years ago; but is rebound, and not much hurt. There is neither date nor title to it. It is written in old French, but in a very good hand; and contains 306 leaves, two thirds of which are blank. This va luable MS. appears to me to have been defigned to have given an account of all the current moneys of every kingdom, flate, or republick in Europe at the time it was written; when that was, I cannot pretend to fay at prefent, Over each coin is the defcription, value, and weight of the coin, which is drawn with great judgment, delicacy, and truth; at leaft it appeared fo to me in fuch of the coins as I was acquainted with, and it is mnch better done than any placart I have ever feen, In it I alfo difcovered two coins, there faid to be coins of our King Edward the Fifth, and one of King Henry the Sixth, fruck at Rouen, of which be pleafed to accept of the following fhort defeription, The firft, at page 50, looks like a groat of Edward III: legend, EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL FRANCIE. Reverfe: CIVITAS LONDON. "Groat of Edward V. du poids de 3 den, ayant un Roy couronné, et d'autre refie une Croix qui palle outre l'efcripture et dict la lettre CIVITAS LONDON, et fonta xi deniers VI grains de Lay," The defeription of the other at page 68 is this; Douzains forcges a Rouen par Henry VIme du nom Roi d'Angleterke et de France, Duc de Norman die, du poids de 2 den. 8 grains, ayant un efcu aux arines de France et un aux armes d'Angleterre. Sont a 4 den, 20 grains de Lay," I fhould be glad if you would confi der this inatter more fully at your lei fure; who am, fir, your mofi obedient humble fervant, AND. DUCAREL. (Endorsed by Dr. Gifford.) Concerning fome curious English Coins, drawn in a MS. in the Cot ton Library." he Society of Antiquaries three pictures of ineftimable value. The firft picture reprefen's Henry VIII. and his family; the fecond fhews the embarkation of Henry at Dover; and the third difplays his meeting with Francis 1. King of France, in the Vale of Ardres, called upon the occafion, the "Drap ₫ Or." Thefe two latter paintings have been engraved and published by the Society and of courfe are well known; the other fubject is in a manner new to the world, yet not lels worthy to be made public. As thele pictures, which of late fo properly adorned a Palace, are now made fixtures, in point of decoration, on the bare walls of the Society's meeting-room, it will become very natural for the generality of people to conclude in this way: That in fuch an affembly each eye will be charmed and delighted with the Royal gifts; that not a breath of criticifim will be heard, or a fentiment break forth, but that of grati-tude for what is thus poffeffed; that interefting converfations, beth before and after the readings of the evening, be entered upon, relative to the extraordinary lights made manifeft in thefe performances, refpecting our antient coftume; and if any thing like difference of opinion arife, it must tend to the more immediate explanation and illuftration of particular objects in the paintings, hitherto left in doubt, or their references mifconceived. In this manner, I again repeat, muft thofe with out the doors of the Society reafon upon the refult of the learned body having under continual obfervation fuch precious aids to hiftory and old cuftoms. But it will be found, upon due examination, that fuch a numerous affociation are divided in a thoufand ways about Tafte, Beauty, Curiofity, Ronian and Grecian Antiques, British Antiques, Coftume, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and Hindoo Choultrees. The mafs of the Fellows are made up of the higher orders of the nobility, ecclefiaftics, gentlemenof the long-robe, medical men, various defcription of ariifts, and other profeffionalis. Hence it is more probable to hear among them, that thefe pictures "Want effect," "No keeping," Perspective not true," "Out of drawing," "Light and thaile not under flood," " How abfurd to introduce different occurrences, and the portraits of the principal perfonages, in three or more fituations on one and the fame canvas! "No proportion kept up with the figures and buildings," "How unnatural to give a bird's-eye view of a fubject!" "Holbein had no fhare in the penciling," "Thefe hands are miferable." "Obferve the feveral parts;' they have been repaired, touched upon; the original head of Henry in the Drap d'Or cut out, and a new one fubliitted: the joining in the cloth how vifible!"-As in the lift of thele Antiquaries many can be pointed out who are enthufiafts in the ftudy of antient English Art; of course, the converfations may take a different turh, Well, thefe pictures are worthy our utmoft admiration; our delight henceforward will fill increafe at each fucceffive meeting; ever will fome fresh matter engage our attention. Figures fo infinite, drefles fo varied, the warlike preparations both by fea and land fo uninutely made out. To behold the proceffional pomp, heraldic display, the make of the armours and weapons of every kind." "True, to witness the manner in which the meeting of thofe Sons of glory,' as Shakspeare has it*, our Henry and the King of France, furrounded by the fubjects of each Crown took place: the heroic exercises that enfued, in which our countrymen bore away the prize." "Right, and now let us take under notice the ftyle of the buildings, fo fufficiently demonfirable in what manner the antient Pointed arch-manner of defign became mixed with the Italian method of conftruction, which latter art, we know, foon afterwards fo completely got the afcendant, and became the univerfal mode of Architecture among us." "Such Princely honours as are here beftowed must be ever gazed on with that rapture, fuch as the auguft Donor conceived would be the confequence, when, in his Royal favour, he determined to fend among us thefe fplendid pictures." "I am utterly at a lofs to imagine how we, as dutiful and loyal fubjects, can, adequately to the occafion, return our most humble and grateful thanks for gifts fo tranfcendant, and fo unlooked-for! 7 A defcription of the painting of Henry and his family, it is presumed, will be acceptable. The feene appears to give the end of fome chamber of flate, on a ground floor, where is a colonnade of the Ionic order; but of that fpurious fort * Play of Henry VIII. |