pence an acre; that the same was held on lease from her Majesty, but had in times past been commons and erruble, but was then divided, hedged, and ditched, for meadow and pasture, and ought to be common at Lammas. It was proved at the same time, that the annual rent of the whole Crown land in this neighbourhood, reaching beyond Knightsbridge and Chelsea Westward, and comprehending Tothillfields and the ground unbuilt on Southwards, as far as to the Thames, did not amount to fifty pounds. Much of this land was then occupied in farms, as Eubery Farm, St. James's farin, and others, but in the reign of Henry VIII. had been fields. Among them at that reign are mentioned, the "North Felde," or site of St. James'ssquare, containing 96 acres of arable, meadow, and pasture land; and beyond the gate called Knights'-bridge, Thames Mead, Chelsea Mead, and a meadow at Fulham of two acres. It was a few years after this contention, that the ground abutting on St. Martin's-lane began to be built on. This we may infer from the letters patent of Charles I. which gave to St. Martin's parish, for a burial ground, "one acre of land on the West side of St. Martin's-lane," nearly opposite the church, with the rents of the houses standing thereon; and which latter were to be applied to the use of the poor. Other parts of the site were covered soon after, and both sides of St. Martin's-lane built for a considerable way Northward towards St. Giles's. The first houses mentioned had decayed by the year 1701, and it was found necessary to take them down. Hemmings-row was at this time so narrow, that carriages could not pass each other, upon which Parliament was applied to for leave to take part of the land granted for widening the passage, and for the confirmation of the Free School and Library at its back, which had then recently been founded by Archbishop Tennison. The first traces of the history of St. Martin's Church are to be found in a dispute which occurred in the year 1222, concerning an exemption claimed by Westminster Abbey from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London, when it was decreed that the Abbey and St. Margaret's parish were exempted, which parish of St. Margaret's probably then included the church, cha pel, or oratory of St. Martin, built, perhaps, by the Abbot and Convent for particular religious service, when they visited their garden, now corruptly called Covent-garden. The old church of St. Martin was in a state of ruin in the reign of Henry VIII. and remained so till James I. when he rebuilt it. Prince Henry and the nobility added a church in 1607, but the building and tower, according to Vertue's print of them, were in his time wretched and ruinous. Divine service was performed in it, for the last time, June 11, 1721, when the morning sermon was preached by the celebrated Bishop Gibson. The present fabric of St. Martin, so justly admired for its beauty (and to the magnificent portico of which a road has just been opened from Pall Mall East), was begun March 19, 1722, when the first stone was laid by the Bishop of Salisbury, the King's Almoner, on the behalf of his Majesty. It cost nearly 37,000l. exclusively of some of its internal decorations. The funds and contributions for its building were so abundant, that the newspapers of the year 1724 mention the refusal of 500l. from a lady, who would have given that sum towards enriching the altar-piece. The Prince of Wales, they observe, intended to give a peal of bells. It was finished in little better than two years, the last stone of the steeple being placed in Dec. 1724. The architect was James Gibbs, and it is not only the finest of his works, but without doubt the most perfect Grecian church in England, excepting St. Paul's. The whole of the ground Eastward of St. Martin's Church, or behind the buildings on the South side of the Strand from that to Drury-lane end, appears in the beginning of Elizabeth's reign to have formed gardens to the respective houses to which it was attached, which reached as far back as to the wall of Covent-garden, and were divided from each other by hedges. The site of St. Martin's Churchyard is also shown in old plans, laid out as a garden, but extends further back Northward than the others, as though occupying a part of the Covent-garden. This circumstance seems to justify the conjecture that the church was originally only an oratory for the Abbots of Westminster when visiting the latter, as just observed. Covent-garden itself 1826.] Strand, and its Neighbourhood.-Dandies of Antiquity. appears, in the same plan, merely a large enclosed field, not confined to its present small limits, but occupying the entire site from the back of the Strand to Long-acre on the North, and from St. Martin's-lane to Drury-lane on the West and East. The first building on this site began towards the latter end of the reign of Elizabeth. About or soon after this period the Earls of Bedford, to whom the Covent-garden and Long-acre were given by Edward VI. on the execution of the Protector Somerset, erected on that part of it next Tavistock-street the town mansion, afterwards called, Bedford House, and whose existence is still commemorated, together with the family name and titles, in the several streets standing near the spot, as Bedford-street, Tavistock-street, Russell-street, &c. By this noble family, which yet owns all the ground hereabouts, was caused the first division of St. Martin's parish, which had before extended from St. Mary-le-Strand, opposite Somerset House to Hyde Park, aud from St. James's Park to Saint Giles in the Fields. In a lease from Francis Earl of Bedford, to John Powell and others, of part of the site of Henrietta-street to build on, it is described as being then part of the said Earl's pasture, called Covent Garden and Long Acre. Exeter House, to the Eastward of Bedford House, had previously been built by the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, from whom it was at first called Burleigh House, and from his successor, afterwards created Earl of Exeter, Exeter House. The more Western part of the Strand, on this side, some years after the period alluded to, acquired celebrity from a foundation which stood nearly opposite Durham-yard, and which was afterwards known by the name of the New Exchange. It was built under the auspices of James I. in 1608, out of the rubbish (as we are told by Wilson) of the stables of Durham House, and its opening was honoured by the King, Queen, and Royal Family, by the former of whom it was christened" Britain's Bourse *." Pennant describes it as built somewhat on the model of the Royal Exchange, with cellars beneath, a walk above, and rows of shops over that, filled chiefly with milliners, sempstresses, &c. See the Progresses of James I. vol. 11. Pp. 200, 248, 336. 31 It was near this time, that the Strand beginning to be esteemed an elegant situation, all the ground on this, as well as on the Thames side, came to be built on, and to grow more and more valuable. Hence Ben Jonson, in his comedy of "Epicene; or, the Silent Woman," Act 1, Scene 4, introduces Sir Amorous la Foole as commending Clerimont's lodging, by telling him it would be as delicate a lodging as his own, if it were but in the Strand. And Wilson, before mentioned, in his Life of James I. speaking of Gondamar, the Spanish Ambassador, tells us, that Drury-lane and the Strand were the places where most of the gentry lived, the Covent-garden being then an enclosed field. The whole was completely built on in the reign of Charles II. Mr. URBAN, July 10. To many of your readers, I doubt not, the antiquity of Saving Banks and Benefit Societies was unknown, until your Correspondent favoured us with his quotations from Suetonius and Vegetius. It is not my intention to confirm the truth of the old saying, that there is nothing new under the Sun, by any such interesting examples, but I shall add something to the argument, by proving that the Exquisite Dandy of our day is not an original, in spite of the adoration paid to one, who, labouring under the effects of a cold, has immortalized himself by saying, "I caught it yesterday at dinner; I sat next to a damp man ;" and of whom we have heard, that he sometimes eats a pea, and always leaves London when the porters feed upon asparagus. One of the suitors of Agarista, according to Herodotus, had gone to the extreme of daintiness and luxury, of whom Seneca reports, that when he saw a man digging, and raising his spade or pick-axe to a considerable height, he complained that the sight fatigued him, and bade the labourer to work no more in his presence; also, that he very often murmured at his bed of roses, because the leaves were doubled! But I give the passage from the original, that I may not mislead any one by an inadequate translation. "Mindyridem aiunt fuisse ex Sybaritarum civitate, qui cum vidisset fodientem, et altius rastrum allevantem, lassum se fieri questus, vetuit illum opus in conspectu suo faccre. Idem sæpius questus est, quod foliis rose duplicatis incubuisset." Irâ, lib. 2, c. 25. Senec. de Mr. URBAN, June 25. Athenæus, on the authority of Ti-LADY Mary Shelton, enquired your Correspondent, mæus, tells the first anecdote of the Sybarite in a more forcible and ridi culous manner: Ανης Συβαριτης εἰς ἀγρον ποτε πορευομενος ἔφη ἴδων της έργατας σκαπτοντας αὐτος ῥηγμα λαβειν· προς ὃν ἀποκρινασ θαι τινα των ἀκεσαντων, αὐτος δε σε διηγέμενε άκείων πεπονηκέναι την πλευραν. By this it appears, that one of his countrymen, a rival in affectation, had a pain in his side from hearing the sad effects of watching indefatigable labourers. Elian, in his chapter upon the luxury of the same Smindyrides, directs us how to apply the complaint respecting the rose-leaves. Σμινδυρίδης Φυλλοις ῥοδων γουν ἐπαναπεσων και κοιμηθεις ἐπ ̓ αὐτων, ἐξανεστη λεγων, Φλυκταινας ἐκ της εύνης έχειν. -Elian. Var. Hist. lib. ix. c. 24. Classical Conjecture. Mr. URBAN, West-square, July 18. N Albinovanus's "Verba suprema Mecenatis, we find the following passage (vv. 33, 34): Cùm deus in terris, divis insignis avitis, Te Venus in patrio collocet alma sinuin which I recollect to have once heard a critic propose, as an amendment, divos insignis avitos, meaning that Augustus was an honor to the Gods, instead of the Gods reflecting honor upon him; which amended reading he maintained to be by far the more exquisite." Unfortunately, however, for his emendation, I observed that the prosodial quantity presented an insuperable bar to its admission; the final syllable of insignis being long in the verb, though short in the adjective. But, independently of that circumstance, the passage is otherwise imperfect, and wants at least two verses, omitted by some careless copyist, and probably expressing something to the following effect Cùm deus in terris, divis insignis avitis, Mundi sceptra diu rexeris arte Jovis, Calicolum repetas cœtus, astrisque receplum Te Venus in patrio collocet alma sinu. Yours, &c. JOHN CAREY. "T. H. L." p. 386, of your last Volume, was daughter of Sir William Woodhouse, of Waxham, co. Norfolk, knt. a family to be distinguished from that of Kimberly in the same county, with which it is by some confounded; but the Waxhain family always bear different arms from those of Kimberley, namely, quarterly Ermine and Azure; in the second and third quarters, a leopard's face Or. She married, in 1551, Sir Ralph Shelton, of Shelton, in the county of Norfolk, knt. who was High Sheriff for that county in 1571, and died before 1585. She was his first wife; his second wife was Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Barrow, of Barningham, in Sufolk, knt. from which marriage descended the Sheltons of that place: after Sir Ralph's death she married Sir Chas. Cornwallis, knt. and died in 1603. Sir Ralph Shelton, by his first wife, Mary Wodehouse, had four sons, and two daughters: in 1. Thomas S. of Shelton, esq. born in 1558, married 1. Anne, daughter 155 Appleyard, by whom he had no issue; 2. Elizabeth, daughter to Baron Flowerden, by whom (who afterwards married Sir Henry Clere, of Stanfield, knt. and died in 1608) he had one son, Ralph, who died s. p. 2. Sir John Shelton, who married a daughter of the Lord Cromwell, but died s. p. He was most probably the eldest son. 3. Ralph Shelton, died s. p. well, 2d son of Richard Southwell, of 1. Margaret, married Anthony SouthHorsham St. Faith's, co. Norfolk, and had issue. 2. Audry, married....Walsingham, of Kent. Yours, &c. D. A. Y. A. Z. is informed that the best accounts of Leith Hill will be found in Manning and Bray's Surrey, vol. II. p. 145 et seq. and Timb's Promenade round Dorking, 2d edition. We shall thank any of our Correspondents for a more perfect account of the place, with the derivation of its name Leith Hill. REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 1. The History and Antiquities of the County of Northampton. By George Baker. Part II. Fawsley Hundred, and Wardon Hundred. Folio, pp. 267-540. Nine Plates, eight Vignettes, and numerous Wood-cuts. Nichols and Son. THE HE reputation which Mr. Baker so justly acquired, as an able Antiquary, and a correct and perspicuous writer, by Part I. of his Northamptonshire History, is fully sustained in the Portion now before us: and it is gratifying to observe not only an encreasing list of Subscribers, but that the chief persons of the County are vying with each other in their patronage of the Work, by presenting Engravings to embellish it. The Author's accomplished sister, his "second self," also continues to employ her etching-needle to his advantage; and, especially in the department of Natural History, we can still trace her "due feet" accompanying his progress through the fields of scientific investigation. The district described in Part II. viz. the Hundreds of Fawsley and Wardon, is very rich in objects of interest to the Antiquary and Naturalist: the latter may feast to satiety on almost a complete series of rocks at Braunston, with an endless variety of organic remains, there and at other places; whilst the former may revel in the enjoyment of two Roman Stations, two Priories, and an abundance of inferior articles suited to his taste. We shall take a bird's-eye view of what is contained in the present portion, and leave our readers to say whether we have at all over-rated its value in these introductory observations. It is hardly necessary to remark that the particulars of every Parish and Manor are treated, seriatim, in the same convenient arrangement which distiuguished the previous part of the Work, or that the numerous Pedigrees exhibit the same features of laborious mi stated in a concise but satisfactory manner. A roll of the receipts and expenditure of the Prioress, for a year ending Michaelmas, 3 Hen. V, A. D. 1415, communicated by Mr. Caley, from the stores of the Augmentation Office, is very interesting, and alınost re-animates the venerable superiour and her devout sisters, seated round their Hall-table, for which a new cloth was bought at the expense of xxijd.* Catesby House, belonging to J. G. Parkhurst, esq. occupies the site, but retains little of the characteristic features of the former Priory. We regret to find that the family portraits and other pictures remaining in the house are suffering from damp and neglect, in consequence of the owner's non-residence. Mr. Baker describes a fine portrait of the Duchess of Feria, æt. 35, A.D. 1572, a Lady who was daughter of Sir William Dormer, became Maid of Honour to Queen Mary, and married the Count of Feria, a Spanish nobleman, who came over with King Philip, and was afterwards advanced to a Dukedom. Wickliff, A.D. 1384, Bucer A.D. 1551, and other "shadows of the past, adorn the staircase. The lock of one of the rooms, called the nun's lock, is so curious as to deserve a beautiful etching by Blore, from a drawing by Miss Baker: a figure of St. John the Apostle, standing under a tabernacle of pointed work, conceals the key-hole; and, though it escaped the notice of the author, the flowered finial on each of the side compartments is formed into the resemblance of a Gothic M, the initial of the Virgin-mother, to whom the Priory was dedicated. The borough-town of Daventry is treated of very copiously, p. 304. The feudal obligation of the tenants to grind at the lord's mill, and bake at his common oven, still continues here. The Priory, an establishment of the Cluniac order, was a place of consequence in former days. A few reliques of its buildings, preserved by a wood-cut, We suspect some error in the translation, where it is said that certain Hides were applied "to make Collars and Pipes, and other necessary Cart Gear." remained till last year; when being deemed useless and incapable of repair, though probably more likely to have stood than many of their junior neighbours, they were devoted to destruction. Ample justice is, however, done to the History of the Monastery; and the labours of the press may defy axes and hammers. Passing over the charter of incorporation, and lists of municipal officers, we come to the annals of this ancient town, p. 323, which may reasonably date its origin from the decline of a neighbouring British or Roman station, or both, at BoroughHill. It had risen to a considerable degree of local importance in the fourteenth century. An anecdote of Richard the Second is told with almost dramatic spirit, from Thomas Walsingham, as follows: "Henry Spencer, the warlike bishop of Norwich, having been appointed by pope Urban the 6th to the command of a crusade against the antipope Clement the 7th, landed in Flanders in 7 Ric. 2 (1383), and overrun the country; till, being opposed by the whole force of the king of France, he retreated to Gravelines, concluded a truce for a month, and dispatched a letter to the king, representing his perilous situation, and urging instant succour. Never were Richard's characteristic hastiness, irresolution, and procrastination, more strikingly displayed. The messenger found him at supper at Daventry, probably in the priory, as he was then making a progress to various religious houses. He spurned the table from him in a rage, started up, and, breathing vengeance against the French king, called for his horse, and rode furiously towards London. It was midnight when he reached St. Alban's, and finding no change of horse there, he borrowed a palfry of the abbot to relieve his jaded steed. Fatigued with his journey, he retired to rest on his arrival in town; but when he rose, his ardour had cooled, he hesitated, and eventually shrunk from the exertion or danger of a personal enterprize. The duke of Lancaster was then delegated to the service, but so tardy were the preparations, that the truce had expired before he set sail, and the bishop was compelled to submit to the terms of the enemy, and embark for England with the wreck of his army." In the Oliverian times, Daventry had its full share of trouble amongst the contending parties, and "it is not a little remarkable that the battle which decided the fate of the first Charles, and the last struggle of the interreg. num, which terminated in the resto ration of the second Charles, both took place in this county, and within a few miles of Daventry." Borough-Hill, the BENAVENTA of the Britons, and ISANNAVARIA of the Romans, is about half a mile south-east from the town, and its military intrenchments are the largest perhaps in the kingdom, the outer circumference of the ramparts being rather more than two miles and a quarter. Mr. Baker enters fully into its history, and scrutinizes the accounts of former writers with great judgment; adding the result of his own personal investigations in 1823, when, with a troop of labourers at command, he laid bare the site of the Prætorium, and discovered the ground-plan of an extensive building, delineated p. 345, besides opening a range of sepulchral tumuli, which disclosed some urns and other remains of the British and Romanized-British æra. These, with a plan of the encampment, are represented in the embellishments. Quite at home in "untwisting all the chains that tie" the involved subject of ancient legal proceedings, Mr. Baker gives us, at p. 352, a specimen of tact in detailing a very curious litigation, concerning the manor of Dodford, which we may confidently recommend to our professional readers as a bonne bouche. This recommendation may be also applied to the masterly deductions of the manors of Stowe, p. 441, Boddington, p. 474, Byfield, p. 484, Gretworth, p. 507, and Sulgrave, p. 513, where the circumstances of a disputed purchase are recorded in a very singular and interesting manner; nor should the descent of the Barony of Wardon, p. 521, be less an object of attention to the lovers of jurisprudence. These difficult subjects are treated with precision and clearness; and even the general reader may excuse the author's dilating upon them, as they are free from unnecessary prolixity, and do not encroach on the other branches of his undertaking. Fawsley, p. 377, rather fancifully derived from the Saxon Falewe, the colour of the fallow deer, though agreeing with the colour of the soil, belongs to Sir Charles Knightley, bart. and has been the residence of his family since the time of Henry the Fifth. The well-known liberality of its worthy owner, has contributed an exquisite |