he had been in Evesham about three weeks, I met with him in company; and, on enquiry of him, I found he, had not at that time explored either the field of battle where the barons of England, under Simon Montfort, encountered the royal army in the year 1265, or feen the curious remains of the abbey of Evesham, neither of which places were diftant half-a-mile from his inn. He ufually lay in bed, as I am informed, till one or two in the afternoon; and foon after, with fuch company as a public kitchen afforded, fpent the remainder of the day, doubtless employed in collecting fubject-matter for his intended publications. In a few weeks after the time I met with him, he fuddenly decamped, and, unfortunately for his landlord, totally forgot to pay the charge for his board and lodging, as well as to mention where he might be applied to in cafe fresh fubfcribers fhould offer. It is, but juftice to add, that he was an entertaining and agreeable companion. Yours, &c. J. C--, "There cannot be eafily produced a stronger proof of the neceffity there is for imparting GREAT ENERGY to the executive power of a Government, and of the variations there are in the fame man's fpeculative opinions under different circumftances, than that which the conduct of fome perfons in this kingdom lately afforded. For, the very moment their own peace and comforts were barbaroufly invaded, their property deftroy ed, and their lives endangered, though the great end of their political writings had been to inspire their readers with a total irreve rence and difrefpect for the grand fource of the Executive Power in this kingdom,-though they had even viewed with approbation and exultation fimilar proceedings to a much greater extent, and of much greater magni tude, in a neighbouring kingdom; and had even indulged themselves in rapturous vifions of that time, when perfons, enlightened and * See our Review, p. 831. EDIT. inflamed by their works, should pull down the whole Conftitution of this country, both civil and ecclefiaftical:-yet, as foon as they themselves were in danger, they loudly and repeatedly complained of the INEFFICACY of the EXECUTIVE POWER, both civil and mi litary, to their defence and protection.” Mr. UREAN, You Aug. 10. OUR correfpondents, to whose kindness many others as well as myself are obliged, may have it in their power to contribute their endeavours in refeuing from oblivion, by any biographical anecdotes, that ingenious mechanick Joshua Naylor, to whom the architectural world are indebted for his plan and elevation of the King of Portugal's palace, Mafforo, and who was patronised by the illustrious William Auguftus, Duke of Cumberland. From the obfervations of a friend, I was particularly induced, at a late vifit to Cranburn lodge (the feat of his Royal Highness of Gloucester), to enquire after a variety of mechanical works of the fame J. N. I confulted my Note-book; and as, in a fetch hereafter, I was fhewn the articles I wished, and natu rally, from my dire&ions, expected them as defcribed, I was minute in my queries, but could gain no farther than general anfwers. I have fince confulted the Tour through Great Britain, and other fimilar works; but, whether from want of curiofity, or other caufe, they are totally filent. I am fince informed that Paul Sandby, efq. might be able to throw fome light on the character of the perfon I enquire after, or, at all events, might contribute his affiftance towards a perfect catalogue of the mechanical works, which are extant, of the fame, and conducted under his patron. If my enquiries fhould in any respect be gratified, it is my intention to graft them among the fketches (already in my poffeffion) of one of his pupils, and attempt a fmall biographic tract to his memory, acknowledging thofe favours, with the request that the communicators will accept a prefentation copy of the fame. In conclufion, I have only to fubjoin my promifed sketch. I. in a cabinet, a very curious collection of gold figures, called "Golden Miners," divided into three partitions, which were made (or rather mended), and upon mechanical principles, to move by fingle partitions, or collectively. My My informant added, that they were a prefent from the Queen of Hungary, and, when they came to England, were broke into thousands of pieces; that the "great" Lord Albemarle recommended J. N. to his Royal Highnefs, who put them in motion; but, from the death of J. N. they had been totally unferviceable." II. The model of a fhip, complete, entirely constructed of the spice-clove. My companion and myself were ftruck with aftonishment at the incredible labour which must have been exerted on this performance. III. A reprefentation of the galley. flaves as chained to their oars, with their diftin&t actions in their horrid flavery. This, though equally ingenious, together with a variety of other articles which did not command our frict attention, finifhed (for want of time) the complete pleasure we moft probably fhould have received in our way through the other parts of the houfe. I learnt, in converfation from our informant, that there was a "moft surprising clock" made by him, which was raffled for at Leicefter-house in the life-time of our gracious king's father; and alfo a bridge, which he called the Belvidere. If information can be added in favour of these two articles, it may probably fill up a chafm in my narrative. May it not be in the power of George Naylor, efq. of the Heralds College, to grant us fome little affiftance? And, if this meets your approbation, Sylvanus Urban's kindneís will, 1 am fure, gain the urbanity of his heraldic friend. Yours, &c. M. R. Mr. URBAN, Aug. 12. face to his Lyric Poems. One of his hymns is little more than a translation from Cafimir*; and there are others where particular turns of thought, as well as expreffions, are evidently borrowed from him, befides very many unacknowledged parts of his Hora Lyra. The late pious Mr. Hervey, who certainly was no poet, attempted part of an ode from Cafimir with confiderable fuccefs +. I am fenfible that Dr. Watts by no means ranks high in the poetical world. The foft smoothness of his numbers, in my opinion, borders on effeminacy; and, if his works were published, with references at the foot of the page to authors from whom he has borrowed, no vaft bare of originality would fall to his lot. But yet there is one peculiarity of his religious pieces which renders them valuable-they are level to the capacities of the lowest orders of mankind. You will excufe me, Mr. Urban, if I fay, that I have heard very poor people, on a dying bed, repeat fome of his verfes with an emphafis that would have ftopped the mouth of an Infidel. In this view, I efteem them very highly. But when I exercife the judgement of a fcholar, or a critick, they appear in a very different light. Nevertheless, whatever they are as to metit, Cafimir was certainly his exemplar. From him he has borrowed and copied more than any one will fuppofe till he takes the trouble of comparing them together. U. U. Aug. 8. WHENEVER any literary doubt to whom can we with more propriety apply, for its removal, than to you? The advantages arifing THE HE gentleman who enquires after to literary knowledge from the opporCafimir, the poet, p. 610, will re-tunities, of this kind, which your work ceive much information from one of affords, are too obvious to point out, Dr. Knox's Ellays, which is written and too many to enumerate. It is fufexpreffly on the subject. I believe the ficient to obferve, that on every occafion whole of his works were never attempt we fly to you to difcover our ignorance, ed in English. Nor do I think any per- and with the beft intention (a neverfon is likely to undertake fuch a tranf- difappointed intention) that it may be lation, unless he be a Roman Catholick, inftructed. as many of his pieces turn expreffly upon the peculiarities of the Romith church. Dr. Watts feems to have been the most familiar with him of any of our English poets. In fome places he tran(lates, or imitates, and refers to Cafimir. But, almoft in innumerable others, in various parts of his works, he borrows and makes no acknowledgement, except a kind of general one, in the Pre It has long then been a fubje&t of difpute by whom the "Hiftory of England (in a Series of Letters from a No. bleman to his Son," (in 2 vols. 12mo.) was written. Whilft lome name Lytteltom as the writer, others afcribe it re *Compare Hymn IV. book II. with Cafim. Epod. V. Reflexions on a Flower Garden. Cafumir, lab. IV. od. AVIH. Chesterfield, Chefterfield, and a third part to Orrery*. Now, to ascertain the fact, all that feems neceffary is, that, through the medium of your publication, we may be in formed who the noble ancestor" is, from whofe works the following quotation (Letters ad finem) is taken. 66 "When all is done, human life is, at the beft, but like a froward child, that must be played with and humoured a little to keep it quiet till it falls afleep, and then the care is over." It should appear to me that Lord Orrery is the author; fince I believe no one is acqainted with a noble literary anceffor either of Lyttelton or of Chefterfield; but it is a matter of notoriety that the ancestors of Orrery are enrolled amongst the citizens of the republic of letters. Be this, however, as it may, do you inform us, Mr. Urban, by whom the paffage quoted was written, and in which of his writings it is to be found. The anonymous editor, in his preface, afferts that he has fome claim to the work in queftion. He does not, however mention whence his claim arifes. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, J. H. Aug, 14. WILL you permit me, through the channel of your valuable Miscellany, to afk Dr. Woodville why the following plants were omitted in his Medical Botany lately finished? viz. Piper Cubeba-Hordeum diftichon.Triticum hybernum.—Avena Sativa. Santalum album-Amyris Flimifera.Myroxylon perniferum. Saxifraga granulata.-Ptero carpus fantalimus.—Stalagmitis Cambogioides.-Boletus ignia rius, and Cocos butyracea. They are inferted, together with thofe which he has figured and defcribed, in the fyftematic catalogues prefixed to the rft and 2d volumes; and certainly have as much claim to a place in the work as any of the others. We thank Dr. Woodville for what he has done that it is fo well done is one reafon for wishing that the above named plants had not been omitted; they cannot with fo much propriety form a part of any future work as of the prefent. The greater number of the Agures of this elegant work are undoubtedly taken * Our correfpondent has omitted the FOURTH (and most probable) perion to whom it is confidently afcribed, the late Dr. Goldfmith EDIT. from nature, but fome are avowedly copies; it were to be wished that Dr. Woodville had always mentioned the fources whence his plates are de rived, whether from living or dried fpecimens, or, where thefe could not be procured, from what work he had thought proper to copy ; that the degree of credit due to the figure might always be afcertained, as it is not to be fuppofed that all his readers can have accefs to the expensive works he quotes. Yours, &c. A. Z. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 5. KNOW not what could have induced your correfpondent T. O. p. 715, to have troubled yourself with printing, or your readers with reading, fuch a mafs of inattentive abfurdities as his letter on the fubject of planting trees by the fide of canals. I remember well the circumstance being propofed; but cannot conceive what could have induced T. O. to fuppofe that the trees could not be planted any where but immediately on the edge of the bank: a child, who had ever feen a boat towed, muft be convinced of its abfurdity. But why, may I ask T. O, may not trees be planted on the fide, or on the bank, of a canal, without being planted on the edge of the towing-bank? May they not be planted clofe to the edge on one fide, and in the hedge beyond the towing-path on the other. Every end would thus be answered of fhading the water from evaporation, of raifing a nursery of timber (which would hardly be the cafe if planted on the edge of the water, a fituation not favourable to timber-trees, though the diftance of a towing-path would be a very favourable one), of adding much to the beauty of the country without injuring the navigation; and this I think fo clear, that, without leaving his ftudy, which (however he would infinuate) could not have been the cafe when T. Ó. wrote his letter, he may be convinced that trees may be planted by the fide of a canal with fo falutary an effect for the proprietors, with fo pleafing an appearance for the neighbourhood, and fo advantageous a profpect for the nation at large, that none but the moft captious cavillers can advance any thing against it. Yours, &c. I O. T. O. tured to throw out, refpecting the planting of trees by the fides of canals, among fine-fpun theories, which it would be abfurd to fuppofe practicable, and this upon his bare ipfe dixit, and with all the dignity of fuperior intelligence. I return him, however, my Ib. p. 78; Tongue-molles. Ib. p. 88; and the two lines here inclofed *. By explaining the above, you will greatly oblige a conftant reader, and A YOUNG STUDENT IN HERALDRY. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 7. PERFECTLY agree with your va thanks for the epithet "learned," which Iluable correfpondent R. G, that Dr. my important lucubrations have obtained for me from that correfpondent; but will, at the fame time, let him fo far into my character, as to affure him that I do not poffefs any extraordinary degree of learning; that I live but little in my ftudy; and that I have feen (and been concerned in) feveral canals. I fhould indeed have employed my time to but little purpose in my study, had I been blockhead enough to talk of plant ing trees on the edges of canals without leaving room for a towing path. If T. O. thinks it worth his while to turn to my former letters, he will find that I have not been guilty of broaching fo absurd an idea. It fignifies very little to my argument to whom the bank of the canal oppofite the towing-path may belong, as my views were rather directed to what I conceived might be an improvement in future canals than to any alterations in those already fubfift. ing; except inafmuch as the proprietors of canals might think it conducive to their intereft to adopt them. In future projects of inland navigation, it would add but little to the expence, were the proprietors to purchase just enough land on the fide oppofite the towing-path for the planting a row of trees. Having faid thus much upon a fubje& now become trite, I will here take my leave of it, affuring my readers, that it is not my intention that they should have any farther trouble from Yours, &c. DENDROPHILUS. QUERIES TO OUR HERALDIC Mavor's account of the river-gods belonging to the fountain in Blenheim gardens is incorrect. Indeed, the author himself appears fo diffident in his appropriation, that it is evident he had not been able to obtain authentic information at the time he first published his defcription. Perhaps it is the only mif take he has committed; and, when it is confidered that many fituations in the country leave a literary man "without a fecond, and without a judge," or, more properly fpeaking, without an opportunity of obtaining information, or affiftance in minute circumstances, there is more reason to admire what genius has accomplished than to be furprized wherein it has failed. The New Defcription of Blenheim is certainly not an ordinary work; it difplays tafte and force of delineation feldom feen in fuch kind of performances. It does honour to the author of Univerfal Stenography. But the charms of Blenheim demanded, and they have obtained, an Hiftorian who, I believe, has been allowed by the best judges to have done them fome degree of juftice. I do not mean to write a panegyrick; but, where in general I have had reafon to be much pleafed, I feel this honeft teftimony due. J. B. Mr. URBAN, Aug. 30. A FRIEND of mine, who attends to the practical part of opticks, having requested me to conftru&t him table for fhewing the different fpherical furfaces of lenfes contained in the double achromatic object-glafs for tele N the Pewterers arms, Guillim fays, fcopes, the following, at his request, I them, three antique limbecks. In the Founders arms, Guillim fays, two pillars; Edmondfon terms them, two taper candieflicks. In the arms of Fennor, the term Ventred. What is ventred? In Gerard Leigh's Accidence of Armory, p. 79, lentally. What is lentally? Queens de Ermine's "Accidence of Armory," p. 37; Geratting, Ib.; Diacles and Scopperelles, 16.; Melles, GENT. MAG. September, 1793. be of fervice to your correfpondent, vol. LXI. p. 214, who requests fome information relative to achromatic glaffes, and alfo may be useful to other gentlemen, who amufe themselves with the practical part of opticks, I have fent it for infertion in your Mifcellany. It may not be amifs, perhaps, to inform thofe who may require the ufe of See Plate III. fig. 6. fuch fuch a table, that the proportions of the fpheres are fuch as I am informed Mr. Dollond's excellent telescopes are confructed on, being what your correfpondent, vol. LXI. p. 417, gives an account of. I have, every time your Magazine has come into my hands for. thefe twenty-two months paft, expected to have feen a farther account of thofe excellent inftruments, agreeably to that obliging gentleman's promife made in the abovementioned volume. If I may not be thought trouble fome, I should efteem myself greatly favoured by fomething being faid upon the theory of the achromatic object-glafs, and alfo what aperture, in proportion to its focal length, it will admit of; as, after a laborious application to the grinding, &c. of reflectors, I have been confiderably disappointed in not finding them what I expected, and now intend turning my attention to the grinding, &c. of achromatic object-glaffes. A Table for Achromatic Obje-Glaffes. which they are ground. Com nound for sin inches. 15 25 Concave. 2 five inches. inches. inches. inche 164 12.8 21.2 35 25.6 28.8 dinefs to infert in your valuable Repofitory whatever is ufeful. The author of it furvived, contrary to all expectation, and is about to publish an expedition of five years to Surinam. AN OLD CORRESPONDENT. "MY DEAR JOHN, Jan 14, 1787. As the laft good I can do for you in th's world, I join, to the trifles I leave to you, thefe few directions, which I beg of you to read for my fake, who always loved you. Above all things, fear God, as the fuprems author of all good; love him with all your heart, and be religious. but deteft every tincture of bypocrify. Regard your neighbour, that is, all mankind, of whatever nation, profeflion, or faith, while they are honeft; and be ever fo yourself; it is the heft policy in the end, depend upon it. Guard against indolence, it is the root of every evil; to which bad company gives the finishing ftroke. Love economy without avarice, and be ever thyfelf thy best friend. Fly from intemperance and debauchery, they will rot thy body while they will be a canker to thy mind: to keep both found, allow thyfelf never to be behind-hand with thy corre fpondents, with thy creditors, with thy daily occupation, and thy foul thall enjoy peace. By ufing moderate diet, exercife, and recreation, thy body shall poffefs health and vigour. Dear John, fhould Fortune frown, which, depend upon it, the fometimes will, do then look round on thousands more wretched than thyself, and who, perhaps,did lefs deferve to be fo, and be contentcontentment is better than gold. With not for death, because it is a fin; but fcorn to fear it be prepared for it each hour, fince come it muft; while the good mind fmiles at its fting, and defies, through Chrift, its point. Beware of paffion and cruelty; the braveft men are always the most humane. Rejoice in good-nature, not only to man, but to the meanest infeét, yea, to the whole creation; fcoin to hurt any living being but for thy food or thy defence. To be cruel is the portion of the coward; while to be brave and humane, goes hand in-hand, and pleases God. Obey as your duty thofe who are fet over you; fince, without knowing how to be obedient, none never knew how to command. 46 Now, dear boy, love Mrs. Stedman and her little children from your heart, if ever you had a love for your dead father, who made this request. She has most tenderly proved a help in thy infant state; whilft thou art a brother to her helpless little ones, prove alfo a parent and guardian by your kindness and conduct. Let your good fenfe keep peace and harmony in my dear family; then fhall the bleffing of Almighty God overspreid you and them, and we, together with your beloved mother, my dear Johanna, have a chance once more to meet; when, |