occafioned the most remarkable attention of the brilliant ladies who filled the front feat, and who, from a favourable accident, rapidly advanced feveral paces thereto, by my Invitation, "Like Heroines in a column, truly magnificent, guarded fuperbly, at each end, by two gentlemen of great diftinction."-The aforefaid Mr. Pope relates, That domeftic felicity in the marriage-ftate, is, (viz.) "That drop which Heaven in our cup has thrown,-To make the naufeous draught of life go down." "Sir John returns his public thanks to the Honourable Bailey Anderson and Captain Gilfillan, for their distinguished bursts of timely applause, during the whole performance, before a crouded audience.--Sir John intends to offer any lady, fit dressed at the lecture, to stand up to affist him in the very short Friendly speech of Pulcheria, that may fhew the lady to great advantage, and cure her of undue refervednefs, which may lofe a very rich life of felicity.-The part of Athenais requires only fmiles of innocence.-Ladies may have a fufficient leffon before the lecture-A captivating lady in face and fong, will meet with due encourage ment. "Admittance to the Front Seat, Is. and to the other Seats, 6d. each Perfon. "To begin at Seven o'Clock in the Evening." Besides many wonderful verses, this gentleman has written an Account of a Wonderful Ghoft, alfo, "THE "CHARMING METHODS, a new fong, without one Error "in Meafure, containing a rich Prefent for the Ladies from "the Poet, by a NEW METHOD he invented in the Month of " August 1797, to draw a Captivating Lady's Picture, with "her moft amiable features, (placed exactly true by measure) "in one Grand View of the Mall, never before attempted, to "charm the Hearts of Men. This elegant Work may be "had at the CAPITAL BOOKSELLERS in Bond-ftreet and "Oxford THE SINGULAR WINDSOR KNIGHT. 427 "Oxford-road, Price only Three-pence."--As our readers may wish for a specimen of this eccentric production, we shall give the author's enumeration of "The Feelings of "the Mind by virtue of this Index : "In Face, No. 1. "In her black liquid, and enchanting eyes, "Languishing love was plainly printed there. "Smiling acceptance and great friendly care. "Help foothing defires there quivered plain. "Compaffion like arriv'd from heaven came. "Eager and exceffive fondness is seen, "No. 7. "Humility and benevolence add, "If in her face fuch features can be had. "No. 8. "Fidelity in creeping blushes trace, "This I've feen in Mifs Wingott's oval face. "No. 9. "Wisdom, love, and fincerity combine "To make this whole face perfectly divine. "This mafter-piece of profitable poetry is entered at "Stationers Hall: counterfeits of this work will be profe"cuted by a perfon of high rank. "The Poet advifes the Ladies to act their parts of "Speeches of Captivation, taken from the Index and alpha"betical Volumes of the Beauties of the English Stage, "and to get them perfectly by heart, that their feelings "might 312 might not be interrupted: then their ufe may be further "extended, to charm their lovers into Matrimony." We shall now conclude with an Account of the Origin, &c. of the Knights of Windfor. This foundation was first established by king Edward III. out of the great respect he bore to the military profeffion, and was intended by the royal founder for the reception of only fuch, who having behaved themselves bravely in his wars, were reduced to poverty, or were in a weak infirm ftate. On their admiffion they received the name of Milites pauperes, Poor Knights. At first their number was 24, as were the Cuftos and Canons, but shortly after, upon his inftituting the princely fociety of knights of the most noble order of the garter, confifting of 26, there were added two more to the former number, and the number 26 we after find fettled at the ordination of the college, by the bishop of Winchefter, the pope's delegate. Their prefentation, when firft admitted, was by the fame hands that prefented the first canons, viz. each knightcompanion of the order prefented his Alms-Knight; nevertheless, it was then alfo ordered, that from thenceforward every election should remain at the difpofal of the fovereign of this moft noble order. To each of these Alms-Knights was appointed for their habit, a red mantle with a fcutcheon of St. George, but without any garter to surround it. Their allowance at this time was 12 d. each for every day they were at fervice in the chapel, or abode in the college, and 40s. per annum for other neceffaries, it being the fame which was appointed to each of the canon-residents; which fhows the high refpect which was entertained for thefe Poor Knights. Their prefence at chapel was every day expected; and for every day's abfence (except illness prevented) they forfeited their 12d. which forfeitures were appropriated to the ufe THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS FOUNDATION. 429 ufe of the reft of the Poor Knights then refiding in the Caftle. About the beginning of the reign of Henry VI. it seems thefe quotidian diftributions, and the annual 40s. were, on account of fome diffenfions between the dean, canons, and Poor Knights, not regularly discharged. Thefe non-payments occasioned complaints on all fides; the Poor Knights petitioned for their money, and the dean and canons to be utterly discharged from any care of them. The latter had obtained an act of parliament in their favour, for a repeal of which the Poor Knights endeavoured in vain; but Henry VIII. having fettled lands upon them for their maintenance, not only freed the college from their incumbrance, but preferved this laudable inftitution. In the interval between the difunion of the college and the Poor Knights, to their establishment by queen Elizabeth, their habit and badge continued the fame, and was fo confirmed by the statutes of Henry VIII. At this time feveral perfons who had been of confiderable property and worth, were admitted, fome of whom were notwithftanding great objects of charity; among these was Sir Robert Champlain, Knt. a valiant foldier, and one whose martial fervices abroad rendered him an honour to our nation. He was admitted through the favour of Henry VII. Some alfo fought and obtained admiffion more out of devotion than through the calls of poverty. It appears by the will of Henry VIII. that he intended a re-establishment of half the ancient number of Poor Knights; and in performance of this will, Edward VI. in the first year of his reign, gave several lands, the produce of which was to be employed in building of houses for the Poor Knights. This work, however, was not begun till the 3d and 4th year of Philip and Mary, and finished in the 5th and 6th year of that reign, the charge whereof came to 2,7471. 7 s. 6d. These houses are fituate at the fouth fouth fide of the lower ward of the Caftle, and contain 13 rooms, befides a hall, kitchen, and pantry. The stone for building was brought from Reading, the timber from seve ral places in the Foreft, and the lead, &c. for chimnies, from Suffolk-Place, in Southwark. On the completion of the building, the queen had nominated nine of the then intended thirteen Poor Knights; but her death, which took place foon after, put a stop to the bufinefs. When queen Elizabeth came to the throne, fhe confirmed her fifter's grants to these nine Poor Knights, and appointed herself three others to make up the number. Br the establishment of this queen, one of the thirteen Knights of Windfor was to be governor, or mafter of the reft; they were all to be chofen of men unmarried, not prohibiting them to marry afterwards, but in fuch cafe to lofe their place; and if any Poor Knight, after his admiffion, fhould obtain lands or revenues to the yearly value of 201. or upwards, he fhould be removed, and another admitted in his place. The annual allowance upon this establishment is 181. 5s. befides 31. 6s. 8 d. to each for a gown or furcost of red cloth, and a mantle of blue or purple cloth on the Jcft fleeve, whereof is embroidered the arms of St. George in a plain fcutcheon. James I. doubled their penfion, viz. 361. 10s. and made it payable out of the exchequer, by quarterly payments. The governor has moreover an additional falary of 31. 6d. 8d. with many other perquifites. To these thirteen Alms-Knights there were added in the reign of Charles I. five more, viz. two of the foundation of St. Peter la Maire, Knt. and three of Sir Francis Clare, fometime chancellor of this most noble order; these are fituate at the weft end of the court. Befides their annual payment, about 401. each, 501. per annum is allowed to these five Alms-Knights, agreeable to the will of Sir Richard Crane, for which they are obliged to repair their refpective dwellings; but the houses of the other thirteen Poor |