Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

I

Mr. URBAN, Oxton-house, Aug. 5. HAVE juft now been not a little furprized in the feeing a building of mine brought before the public eye by means of your Magazine, and, though I cannot but acknowledge my obligations to your fair correfpondent for the compliments the hath paid me in the having fo hand fomely noticed it, p. 593, yet I must beg leave to obferve, that the engraver and the printer (for I will not impute them to the lady) have been guilty of a few inaccuracies. In the print, the nearer buttress is made diffimilar to the other, which is correct; and the fmaller pillars, which fupport the roof of the staircafe, fhould have been rounded, with a Gothic bafe and capital., "Fort of Haldown" fhould have been' (I prefume) "foot of Haldown;" and, as the lady confeffes that he hath no acquaintance with Horace, we will erafe "incertibus," and reftore the true reading" inertibus." In the comparifon formed between Dawlish and Teignmouth, I must own (however I may accede to the elegance of her taste in the other parts of her description) that my fentiments here differ-Dawlish hath certainly all the beauties afcribed to it; but Teignmouth hath undoubtedly many more than the lady will allow. The fituation of the latter, and its environs in particular, are remarkably picturefque. The following defcription may convey an idea of the place, and will perhaps warrant, in fome meafure, my not coinciding with the (hall I call it) partiality of your correfpondent.

Half-way from Dawlish, at the little village of Holecombe, a lane conducts to the shore. Here the fea hath worn

the cliff into caverns, beating hard against a promontory, and feparating the loofer parts from the more fold rock; this is a diftinguishing point, from the fingularity of a wide opening, like the arch of a rustic bridge, and of an high mafs of rock which stands detached and as a pillar amid the waves, marking the country, and known to it by the vulgar appellation of "The Parfon and Clerk." This latter I have known more than twenty years; and, though it is inceffantly buffeted by the waves, there appears to be no fenfible diminution.

[blocks in formation]

This is diftant a mile and a half from Teignmouth; and the intermediate fands being at low-water hard and even, and fheltered by the mountainous cliffs when the North wind blows, are traverfed on horfeback, or on foot, by the company who refort to the town. Almoft the first object which prefents itfelf, on approaching the town from this quarter, is the church of Eaft Teignmouth; of which, from the evident claims that it hath on antiquity, and the uncommonefs of the building, I give you a sketch. (See plate 11. fig. 1.)

The date of the erection of this church, or rather tower, of Eaft Teignmouth, is unknown. The ftyle of architecture carries it back into the early periods of Chriftianity, and with probability it may be referred to the Nor.. mans. The round tower connectedwith the fquare one, the windows narrow with femicircular arches, and the corbels (heads of men or animals, &c. placed as ornamental fupports to the parapet), are marks of a Saxon or Norman origin. Take away the church from thefe towers, and they would favour more of a military than a religious ftructure; and it may not be chimerical to fuppofe that they may have been appropriated to the purpofe of defence, and that the part of the edifice which is the church (though that alfo is antient) may have been added.

The inhabitants of Eaft Teignmouth in times long paft boasted of the antiquity of their town, afferting that, in this refpect, it could vie with Exeter itfelf. In fupport of this, there are res cords of its having been plundered by the Danes on their first arrival; and (as a collateral testimony) they might pro duce the church.

This curious building ftands in a manner on the beach, being protected only from the washings of the tide by a wall; a circumftance that feems to point out the encroachment of the fea; for, there would be an abfurdity in the fuppofition that an edifice of fuch a nature, raifed in times when a fheltered fituation was confidered as indifpenfable, would have been erected on the trand, expofed to the raging ocean, and liable, by the affaults that might be made on it, to an early and total fubverfion. The scenery of this part is fingularly picturesque; a fine range of thore trends to the Eaft and Weft at least two miles; the perfo rated rock and the Clerk are confpicu

Jous

ous on the one point, and the Ness at Shaldon, with its village, on the other. The church and tower, with a groupe of handsome buildings, and the cliffs (of the reddeft tints), fcooped out by the fpray from the furges that beat again them, rife one above another in a grand and uncommon fucceffion. Camden dates the arrival of the Danes, A. D. 800; but Rifdon protracts it for near two centuries. Their first attempt on this place, where they flew the king's lieutenant, having been fuccefsful, they took it for a favourable omen; and with fuch inhuman barbarities they fo profe cuted their conquests, that the very cliff (here red) feems (fays the Hiftorian) yet to memorize the bloodshed and calamities of the time. Hence there a:ifes a folution to this fingular phænomenon; and naturalifts, who have hitherto been puzzled for a caufe why the earth in thefe parts of Devon, and particularly around Exeter, poffeffed that deep red hue, may thus find it easily accounted for. Nor have the Danes been the only foes to Teignmouth. In later times it hath fuffered to as great an extent from the French. But it was then a poor place; it had not recovered the beauty and the opulence (it was its boast to make) that it held in other days, previous to the devastations made on it by the Danes; and, having few houfes but what were thatched, it had of courfe but little to be deprived of. Like the phœnix, with fuperior beauty it hath rifen from its ahes; its houfes, compared to what they were of yore, are palaces; its inns are good, and its accommodations equal, if not fuperior, to any other place of fummer refort in Devon. From the Den, a vast fand bank expanding before the town, over which a walk hath been lately laid of fuperior beauty, the profpect is enchanting; the river Teign,when the tide is out, is be held making a fweep around the lower part of Weft Teignmouth, and is then not more than a gun-fhot broad; but, at high-water, the narrow ftream is converted into a moft noble expanfe of water; and, what were fand-banks, in the fpace of a few hours, have affumed the appearance of an æftuary. At this fpot the bulle and importance of commerce attract the attention. Here ftands the cuflom-houfe, and here the axe of the hipwright and the mallet of the caulker are feen. Hence alfo is feen, in a very picturesque manner, the more merBantile parts of the town. The hedge

rows and the orchards behind form a fine contraft to the houses, and give them a pleafing relief. But the view up the river is the most bewitching; it is one of thofe which the eye dwells on with delight, and without wearifomenefs. The width, from thore to fhore, is full half a mile; nor is the space contracted for a confiderable wav, the tide flowing as far as the town of Newton Bufhel; and the fcenery on either of its hores is of the most rural and pleafing kind, rich in wood, and intermingled with gentlemen's feats, villages, and hamlets." Such is Teignmouth. The beauties of Dawlish are of a diffe rent nature; they are contrafted with one another, and admit not of comparifon. Yours, &c. J. S.

As

Mr. URBAN, Grange, Aug. 7. S you enter Arundel by the London road, you pass through Mary gate, where, the author of the Antiquities of Arundel informs us, Thomas Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel (who died Oct. 13, 1415), founded a chapel in honour of the Bleffed Virgin What he endowed it with I have not been able to

learn. It appears to have been a gate belonging to the college of the Holy Trinity, in Arundel; and it is reafonable to fuppofe, at the Diffolution, it was confidered as a part of that foundation, and its revenues included therewith. A few years ago, part of the arch of the gateway was ftanding; but, appearing dangerous to paffengers, it was taken down, and left in its prefent ftate (fee plate II. fig. 2). These remains ferve as cottages for poor people. This sketch was taken from the N.W. Yours, &c.

T. S.

Mr. URBAN, Coventry, July 30. SEND you a drawing (plate 11. fig. 3.) of the pot in which the 1800 Roman coins, mentioned in your prefent volume, p. 83, were contained: it was broken by the labourer, but the fragments have been cemented together, and the drawing is a faithful reprefentation of its prefent appearance.

The tecond pot was much broken when difcovered, but appears, from the fragments, to refemble the former, only is fmaller; the coins, though faid to be better preferved, and larger, were precifely the fame forts, &c. as thofe fir difcovered. I examined the coins found in the larger pot minutely, and was furprized to obferve amongst that number

only

only one fcarce reverse, viz. CONSTANTINVS AVG.; reverse, SARMATIA DEVICTA; of which, being rather uncommon, I fend you a drawing, fig. 4 There were three of that type.

The difcovery of thefe coins has fo much frengthened an idea which has lately ftruck me, that I am induced to lay it before your readers.

Warwick and Manceter are generally allowed to have been Roman stations; that there was a communication between them cannot be doubted, and probably fo much that a road was made for that purpose. Agreeably to the Roman method, that road would be nearly in a straight line; and Coventry, Folefhill (especially the farm on which the pots of coin were found), Exhall, and the celebrated Roman camp at Camphill, prefent themselves in that line. In the last fummer, the ftreet in Coventry called Broad-gate was opened to the depth of five or fix feet, when a regular pavement was difcovered, and upon that pavement a coin of Nero in middle brafs (which is in my poffeffion). Now this ftreet is precifely in the direction fuch a road may be fuppofed to have taken; the farm at Foleshill (call

made in Leicester this prefent year, was found amongst some rubbish, or rather ruins of fome old buildings, which, at fome diftant period, had been used to raife that part of the street where it was difcovered. It is in the highest prefervation, excepting in fome places where it is indented, which might have been occafioned by being repeatedly_toffed about during the variety of viciffitudes this antient place has undergone. It weighs 4 dwts. 12 grains. Round the head is IMP. CAES. NER. TRAIANO. OPTIMO. AVG. GER. DAC. On the reverfe, P. M. TR. COS. VI. P.P. SPQR. which is underflood to be Pontifex Maximus tribunicia poteftate conful sext, pater patria fenatus populufque Romanus. The legend round the head is well underftood.

I believe that this is the only gold coin of the Romans ever found in Leicefter. I have heard of no other. Copper coins, &c. have been, and are now, frequently found there; particularly in the antient or Roman part of the town, where this was discovered. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

JOHN THROSEY.

Aug. 17.

ed Bullefter Field farm) a continuation CAN any of your readers give infor

of that direction; and on Bedworth heath are evident traces of an antient road leading on towards Camphill and Manceter. From a consideration of thefe circumftances, I am led to think that fuch a road did actually exift; and I think the following extract from Grofe, article Warwickshire, will add confiderable weight to my opinion: "Two of the Roman military ways lead through this county; one, the Watling-street; the other, the Foffeway. From Warwick there are many branches, as so many radii to different directions in the county." To this opinion, however, Mr. Urban, I am no bigot, and fhall readily retract it on feeing greater arguments for its non-exiftence produced by any of your intelli gent readers than I have brought to 1upport it. EXPLORATOR.

Mr. URBAN, Leicefter, Aug. 16.
SEND a copy of a gold

I coin, found in North-gate fireet, on

Thurfday laft, near the fite of St. Peter's church, in repairing the pavement of that fireet, and now in my poffeffion. (See plate III. fig. 5).

This coin, which adds to the number of the extraordinary Roman difcoveries

mation concerning the author of a poetical life of the well-known Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, ambaffador to France in the reign of Elizabeth? It was written at that time, and has confiderable merit. Sir Nicholas is fuppofed to appear in a dream to his nephew, and relate the principal incidents of his life. As it does not appear to have ever been printed, the concluding ftanza is fubjoined as a specimen; and, at fome future opportunity, a felection of fome curious and interefting particu lars fhall be given if approved of. "Recount my life by yeares, by months, by houres,

Seek out a dram or fcruple of true joy, My fweets laid out; unfold my bitter foures

Will poize each good with ounces of alloy. And this account I give thee now alone, My ftint is paft, and I muft needs be gone.". Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

NOT

S. E.

Aug. 30. [OT being killed in Natural Hil tory, lend you the drawing of fome theils, in hopes your learned correfpondents will give your conftant reader information on the fubject.

* Engraved in July, pl L. p. 601、 EDIT.

The

The place from which the fpecimens were had is called Cocklebury, and has had that name for feveral years. It lies in the parish of Brignol, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The infects in the shells were living when brought to me; and the willocks moved upon my table. They are found in a morafs, or peat-mofs-earth, in confiderable quantities, in the fummer feafon, when the weather makes them afcend towards the furface; in the winter they are feldom found. The morafs is on the fummit of a confiderable eminence, diftant near thirty miles in a direct line from the fea, and at the height of 1500 feet, or thereabouts, above the level of the fea. The drawings are taken in the full size.

thereto; which they doing by their fyndick, nothing was done that day but matters of form, and adjourned to January 15th; when, the archbishop having taken his affeffors, the College entered their protest against the appeal, alleging that the vifitor's power was local, and could not call them to Lambeth, though in great respect to his Grace they had obeyed; that in the cafe of elections he could not interpofe, it being charged upon their confciences, and therefore left to their judgement alone; that the vifitor's power was reftrained to the members of the College; and therefore, the appellant not being of that body, his cafe was not cognizable before him. All which was largely pleaded by Serjeant Cheshire, Mr. Wills, Sir Conftantine Phipps, Dr. Phipps, Dr. Strahan, and Mr. Wilbraham (brother to one of the Fellows elec), for the College; and answered by Dr. Henchman and Dr. Andrew, the appellant not having retained any common lawyers, taking the cafe to be out of their way. But, the arguments on both fides being very long, the farther hearing of the caufe was deferred to January 25th; when, after a long debate that day too (for each day's pleading was not lefs than feven hours), the vifitor declared for his own jurifdiction, pronounced the admillion of two Fellows elect null and void, and, with the concurrence of all parties, appointed February ult. for hearing the merits of the caufe. That day being come, the archbishop had called in to his affiftance, befides his former affeffors, Mr. Baron

The petrified-fnake ftones, or cornu ammonis, found near Whitby fcars, feem to be of the fame kind as the twifted fhells; and Naturalifts have spoken of them as being various in magnitude, from an inch diameter to nine inches.

I fhall hope for fome account whether fimilar fubje&s have been obtained; and I beg to obferve that, in order that the fpecimens may be duly preferved for the infpection of the curious, one portion of the thells is placed in Mr. Allan's Mufeum at Darlington, in the county of Durham; and the other portion has found a place in Mr. Crofthwaite's Mufeum at Kefwick, in Cumberland.

I hope this will fupply the lofs of my former letter; and beg to fubfcribe myfelf your obliged correfpondent,

Mr. URBAN,

SENEX.

Aug. 31.

CORRECTOR, p. 618, will find Lord Mansfield's Directions, for the Study of antient and modern Hif tory, to the Duke of Portland, in the European Magazine for March 1791, Pp. 182, 257. His recommendation of a courfe of ftudy in law, to Mr. Drummond, is in the fame volume, p. 418.

Yours, &c.

D. H.

[blocks in formation]

Gilbert; but the College had not the good manners to appear, but dropped the caufe without the formality of an excufe; and, though the fame counfel as acted for them (except Serjeant Che. fhire) attended, they declared they had no orders to speak for the College, being retained only on behalf of the perfons elect. Upon which the College were pronounced contumacious; and, the fate of the elected depending upon the claim of the appellant, they proceeded to examine into it; and, because fo many of the common lawyers were on the other fide, the appellant's counfel thought proper to take Serjeant Cummins that day in to their affifiance, to answer points that were started in that profeflion. And the bufinefs of this day was to prove, that the confanguinity have a prior right, that their qualifications are pofitive and not comparative, and that they

are

caufe, was prefent. He was, at the requeft of the archbishop, prevailed upon to go with the proctors on both fides (as by confent was agreed) to the office, to infpe&t the books, and make their report; and, waving the point for the prefent, that no time might be loft, the counfel proceeded to prove the appellant's abilities, which, they faid, the archbishop might easily by examination fatisfy himfelf in. And here reflexions were unworthily made in the depofitions of the College upon oath, which were all read, but, by the counter-depofitions of the appellant's fa her and Dr. Harwood, feemed not the fenfe of the College at the time of election, and which appeared evidently faife and fcandalous upon the examination the appellant afterwards underwent by the archbishop's appoint ment. But one thing they objected to, which was very fingular, and that was, feveral falfe conco ds were in his theme; but, when it was called for, they had burnt it, against common practice; and thus they ftifled their own evidence. While these things were in debate, Mr. Auftin and the two proctors returned with the books of the office, which he, with the confent of the other heralds whom he found there, had leave to bring with him, which fo fully answered all objections, and made out the pedi

are not, like common candidates, left to the caprice of a cæteris paribus. They entered into the proof of the appellant's relation, and offered the pedigree which he had exhibited to the College in evidence; but Baron Giluert objected to this as of no validity in Westminsterhall, and that the Heralds books them felves were only allowed; but the difficulty of getting them, in this and the like cafes, where the v fitor has no power to command them, being urged, it was put upon the appellant to prove his defcent Tome other way. It being agreed from the College Regitter, that Nicholas Wood, in that pedigree mentioned, was a founder's kinimin, and admitted as fuch, the whole ifue of the appellant's relation was put upon his proving his defcent from him. Thus the matter was adjourned unanimously to April 27, till the circuits were over, and a fummons directed to the College then peremptorily to appear. During which time, commiffions were given out to take the interrogatories on both fides. That which was fent to Oxford brought the depofitions of the warden, and about ten of the Fellows. And for the appetlant were feverally examined. April 27 being come, the archbishop attended by his three affeffors. For the College appeared the fame countel as at the left hearing; and for the appelant was add-gree to plan in all its parts, that Baron ed to the former Serjeant Pengelly. The appellant's counfel proved his defcent by an old Family Bible, wherein Nicholas Wood had entered the birth of all his children; and by the will of Edward, fon of the faid Nicholas Wood, whereby he made his only fon, Thomas Wood, his executor, and pave legacies to his feveral fitters as named in that Bible. Which Thomas Wood, then living, was father of E. Wood, who is the tather of the appellant. And the pedigree delivered agreeing with this was allowed a corroborating evidence, though not fufficient of itfelf, however, an unlucky objection being started by Dr. Phipps, that he was informed, that in the Heralds books it was remarked, that the deduction of the pedigree from Nicholas Wood was tak ́in ex informatione cjufdem Thomæ fuperftitis, and that the whole credit of the account depended upon his fingle word, it occafioned fome fhock, and the appellant's counsel were under a furprize, not having the books before them; but, as it fortunately happened, Mr. Curtis, King at Arms, whofe curiofity led him to hear the

[ocr errors]

Gilbert declared there was no difpute of it. Nothing more was entered ex informatione, but the derivation of his own children, which, faid they, is always allowed fufficient. There were many other trifling objections made; a fink.ng caufe catching at every twig; and between five and fix the court broke up, the archbishop declaring he would fend his fentence to the College in wiiting. About a fortnight after, the archbithop gave a commiffion to Dr. Carter, his chaplain, and Mr. Chitchly, his fecretary, to examine the appellant, whom they fent for to Lambeth: and, upon trial, returned in answer, that they were well fatished in his performances; and annexed his theme to their report for the archbithop's perufal. Upon which the archbishop ordered a mandate to the College, to admit the appellant upon the terms of his claim within 15 days; at the fame time profefling that he never received more fatisfaction in any caufe in his life; that he was well affured of the young gentleman's abilities; and that the College had done him great injustice. The mandate was ferved upon

the

« ПредишнаНапред »