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thread, in antient Roman characters, the words "In te, Domine, speravi;" and on the other side, worked in like manner, the words" Ne me confunde in æternum." The head and foot of the Pali have embroidered on them the Arms of the Company, and four Angels surrounding the letters I. H. S.; and there is a broad gold fringe hanging from it. They have also now in use at their Hall, on Gala days, the old funeral sconces, now lacquered.

Many of your Readers, as well as myself, remember the burying of corpses by torch-light, now seldom or ever practised. While on the subject of Funerals, if you will allow me, I will conclude by sending you an Epitaph engraved on a stone in the East wall of St. Michael's Churchyard, Crooked-fane, which, I believe, has not before appeared in print. "Here_lyeth the body of Robert Preston, late Drawer of the Boar'sHead Tavern, in Great East-Cheap, who departed this life March 16, Anno Dom. 1730, aged 27 years. "Bacchus, to give the toping world surprize, [lyes; Produc'd one sober son, and here he Tho' nurs'd among full hogsheads, he defy'd

[deny'd. The charms of Wine, and ev'ry vice O Reader! if to Justice thou 'rt inclin'd, Keep honest Preston daily in thy mind. He drew good Wine, took care to fill [faults.

his pots; Had sundry virtues that outweigh'd his You that on Bacchus have the like dependancé, [ance." Pray copy Bob in measure and attendYours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

IN

T. A.

Jan. 6.

N vol. LXXXII. Part ii. p. 444, and 445, you have inserted a letter dated from Cambridge, and signed J. H. M. The same initials are subscribed to the Review of Mr. Barker's edition of Cicero's two tracts, inserted in Part i. page 441, and referred to in the letter in question. It is evidently the intention of the writer of these papers to pass for the Rev. James Henry Monk, the present Greek Professor in the University of Cambridge. Allow me, therefore, to inform your Readers, that Mr. Monk has assured several of his friends who have spoken to him on this subject, that he is not GENT. MAG, Junuary, 1813.

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Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 8.

MUST again remind an "An Abla

Writer," otherwise "An Old Correspondent," that, in controversies, the party who comes forward in a fair and open manner, generally engages the greatest share of credit. Now, as I am neither ashamed of my name, or" tired" of the cause I have undertaken to defend, the Welfare of our Antiquities, a cause of the most public nature, I will never, while my sight and experience remains in force, give up my observations on the proceedings of Henry's Chapel ; and, as I observed, p. 437, when the Eastern aspects are completed (the first story of the North-east howwindow still remaining to be rebuilt), I shall submit to Mr. Urban's Readers the result of my survey thereon.

For the present, let me hint to the Master Workman one glaring innovation that he has made in his ornamental detail.

Over the points of the windows of the second story of the Chapel, is a

*We have Professor Monk's own authority for stating that they were not written by him. EDIT.

+ We have no reason to suppose to be the case. EDIT.

this

frize,

frize, with detached square-formed ornaments; one of the spaces between the said ornaments is directly over the above points: whereas, in the new work, one of the square ornaments (to say nothing at this time relative to the incorrectness of the foliage) is stuck in the centre, or immediately over the point, instead of retaining the space in its centrical situation. The character of the centrical space is still to be observed over the points of the upper windows on the North and South fronts (five windows to each front), they not having yet yielded to the workmen's

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IN

J. CARTER.

Lambeth-Marsh,
Jan. 19.

N answer to T. F. D. (vol. LXXXII. Part ii. p. 511), the curious print which he inquires after was, at the sale of Mr. R. Graves's portraits, in 4803, sold for 6. 10s. Those of John Lord Finch and Abp. Laud are two small oval wood-cuts, more fully described in the forthcoming work which he has inquired for, The Amateur's Pocket Companion;" only a small number of which are printing, and will probably be offered to the publick by the end of the following

month.

J. M. FLINDALL.

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was

I was glad to hear any improvement was intended, which indeed is highly necessary in very many parishes, and which, nevertheless, I know greatly neglected in this kingdom; and it is scarcely possible to trace up any family to the Oliverian times, when, in most Family Pedigrees there is a fault or deficiency, now not easily remedied, owing to the custom in those days of Marriages being Records held in little estimation, and made before a Magistrate, and the very many being destroyed in those times of tumult and disorder. This loss has been very much regretted by researches into private and family the Herald and Antiquary, in their history; and examples of this are not wanting, even in our extinct Peerages and Baronetages.

By this Bill, as amended by the Lords, and ordered to be published July 22, 1812, I am sorry to see that the Column which was introduced by the House of Commons, and which was meant to have given" when alledged time the Child had been born, the Day of the Month, and the Year of our Lord," has been struck out: for I conceive that it is more necessary for the heir of a great estate to know the very day he comes of age than to know the day when he was baptized; as in many instances we have known that baptism has been deferred for six months, even years, and to very extended periods indeed. The day of birth is certainty essentially necessary to many people to be known; and what assurance can

they

they give, if the evidence of the day of birth be withheld? How shall a young man apply for Priest's or even Deacon's orders, without a testimonial of his age? How many young men, at the late elections, would have been deprived of their franchises, and will hereafter be so, if this circumstance is not attended to? There are a vast many other reasons why the Births should be noticed more than the day of Gossip. It concerns the Army, it concerns the Navy, it concerns the entrance of Peers on their Parliamentary introduction, as well as Commoners.

I shall not dwell longer upon the benefits of stating it; but I will beg leave to say, for the honour of the Clergy, and those concerned in Liverpool in keeping those records,

No. | When Born.

1.

that, if they must positively follow (and I do not see how they can do otherwise than follow) the express orders of the Act, then the improvement will be retrogrude; unless the Diocesan will permit them to continue the present form, which is in all points like that prescribed by Parliament, except, indeed, in introducing the day of birth, so desirable, for reasons before-mentioned, to be given.-The Parish Church of Livers pool has lately had a new Book of vellum or parchment made, which cost 40%. and will hold 2000 names: the manner and form is as follows and of such a dimension as to admit the whole in one line, say 16 inches long, and progressively numberedfor example:

When Bapt. | Child's | Parent's | Surnames. Place of
Name. Names.
Abode.

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When Married.-Would this be desirable? It is not done.

At the Church of St. John's, Liverpool, the Register is kept by the offi ciating Minister in a respectable way, and the form is thus, in one line, on vellum or parchinent, proceeding by a running number, viz.

No. 450.

1812.

When Born. Child's Name. | Christian Name. | Surname,
April 4. Catherine,dau John and Jane

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Vernon.

Abode. St. John's-str.

Rolls, a poor Widow applied for a Certificate of her Son's age, to get him admission into a Charity-School. Her Husband, it soems, was at sea when the boy was born, and she deferred the Baptism six months, till his return. Had not the day of his birth been inserted at the time of his Baptism, the Boy would have lost the opportunity, for six months, of

getting

getting into the school; which Register of Birth at the moment of his Baptism seemed to be of little consequence, as the poor boy's father was in a flourishing way, and had great hopes of preferment; but his mother is now distressed, with a large fatherless family,-Some of our learned and well informed Heralds, hope, will give us their reasons why the insertion of Births was ordered to be struck out, and their opinion for the more effectually carrying on the design in the Preamble of the Act, and whether it would be of further service to revise the Schedules of the said Acts A. B. C. more particularly the latter, in respect of the disorder the person died Baptized.

When Born.

No. 1467. Oct. 24, 1812. | Nov. 29, 1812. 1468. June 25, 1806. Ditto. 1469. April 9, 1804. Ditto,

ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION.
No. CLXX.

Progress of Architecture in England.
Reign of CHARLES II. continued.

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AMONG a few old engraved prints and flowers, c. carvings of that

published by Faulder, is a view of the Entrance to Mercers'-hall (described in the last Number), in which there are seen two houses on each side, as continuing the design of the Entrance, though of inferior work. The first story of these houses have shops unsashed, a general custom at the time, and wherein are discernible the shops of a goldsmith, a mercer, and a bookseller. The custom is not wholly done away at the present hour. In the pediment to the centre windows of the story over the shops are the Mercers' crest. From our recent survey but few traces of the fronts exist, and they are to be seen on the house to the right, Passing through the entrance, ascent is had to the Hall by a large staircase; the finishings to both these arrangements give a variety of oak pannel work, entablatures, and other decorations of a rich turn; but the most interesting particular in this respect is the chamber over the entrance; it is certainly a most choice example of the interior finishings of this reign (reflecting how few of the like performances are in being), and in their most elaborate and exquisite shew. The four sides

and refined execution,

that it may be said it is one of the best efforts of Gibbon's school of wood-carving; perhaps a chef d'œuvre by his own hand. The cieling is of stucco, in well-displayed compartments, containing much ornament, and of a superior cast. From these observations it will scarcely be credited when it is told, that this chamber is in such a state of seeming insecurity (whether from real decay or some inattention we cannot presume to determine), that perpendicular props. have been resorted to, to give a momentary respite before its long-purposed demolition takes place.

Bethlem Hospital, Moorfields, date 1675.--The front and wings extend 540 fect, and make a magnificent appearance. It was built on the plan (meaning the elevations towards Moorfields) of the Palace of the Thuilleries at Paris. Louis XIV. was so incensed that his Palace should be made the model for a Lunatic Hospital, that it was said he ordered a plan (meaning elevations) of the Palace of our Monarch at St. James's to be taken for offices of the vilest nature." (Pennunt's London.)-Being desirous to

know

3

know upon what grounds, this tale of Tit for Tat" holds place in the belief of many, several views by Silvester of the French Palace have been consulted, and not the least resemblance in point of elevations is found between them and our Bethlem Hospital: the former has nine divisions of most superb decorations, in three stories, of pilasters, windows, arcades, &c. while the latter presents no more than five divisions, in two stories, with a very partial disposure of decorations. In fact, they no otherwise accord with each other, than in a style of Architecture which was common to both countries. That the design of Bethlem Hospital conveys an air of grandeur is most certain, as its plan takes a centre projecting division, divisions right and left, and ends or terminating divisions for the general line. This arrangement is on the palace or noble mansion idea; and from such an assemblage of the great parts, the above inconsiderate story certainly owes its fabrication. The centre division side, continuation of ditto on the right, and end ditto, only, are found standing; the left portions having been demolished, preparatory to a general overthrow of the whole pile; which is to take place as soon as the New Bethlem Hospital in St. George's-fields is completed.

Centre division: three stories.First story, or basement: windows with architraves. Second story: doorway centrically, with side compartments and scrolls highly enriched; architrave and entabiature. Over the opening of the door-way, au horizontal oval window of great elegance, being surrounded with a wreath of laurel leaves, and a bold festoon of drapery, fruit, and flowers; two windows on each side the doorway with architrave and strings; grounds rusticated, the chamfers plain. Between the second and third story, a string with mouldings. Third story: four Corinthian pilasters, having between them three spaces for windows. Before the centre window, a balcony of plain iron work formed on the cornice of the doorway; a window on each side the outermost pilasters. At the extremities of this story, rustic quoins; likewise over the several windows, small square ditto; and between them, small ornamental festoons; the centre ditto having stuck

against it a guideron shield with arms. A general entablature takes place, to which rise the aforesaid pilasters. From a break in this entablature springs a circular pediment, inclosing in the tympanum a noble ornamented shield, with supporters (lion and unicorn) of the Royal arms (Charles II.) A kind of pediment roof then commences, stopped by a large square balustrade gallery; in the centre of which is a clock turret with an octagon perforated termination, and a vane composed of a globe surmounted by a dragon. Material of this division, stone.

Division in continuation; it is in three parts, and has three stories running in a line with those of the centre division: these stories have each fif teen windows, and in the centre to them is a pediment; the tympanum has a shield, with festoons of fruits and flowers. Eight dormer windows with pointed and circular pediments alternately. Strings between the stories; and in the general cornice ornamented blockings. Materials, stone for the dressings, and brick for the grounds or wall. The end division is a repetition of the centre ditto, exclusive of the doorway, balcony, and dial to the turret. Material,

stone.

Entrance to the court before the centre division. A considerable degree of art marks the sculpture of the two reclining statues on the prin cipal piers; they have long been the admiration both of natives and foreigners, and when the hour arrives decreeing the wreck of these buildIngs, much dread will be felt, and more directly in the loss of this entrance, than for any other part thereof. The principal piers, between which is high-wrought iron-work both architectural and ornamental, are made out by Ionic columns (volutes with festoons of fruit and flowers) standing on pedestals; in the dies of which, a sort of rock-work, giving birth, I am inclined to believe, to that species of masonry termed

66

Rough Rustics." Ground to the columns, plain rustics. From the entablature springs what may be conceived a commencement of a sweeping pediment with reclining statues (a mode of introducing statues familiar in 1. Jones's Whiten Il, as already noticed), one melancholy, the other

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