PREFACE. WE have, in the first place, to return our thanks to the Public for the favours with which they continue to receive our endeavours to contribute to their instruction and entertainment." State super vias antiquas "-may be said to the motto of our book; and certainly, we lose no opportunity afforded us of searching for, and bringing forward whatever memorials of antiquity may have escaped the devastations of time, which can reflect light on the history of the past, or lead to any useful comparison with the usages and institutions of the present. While some of our pages are thus devoted to subjects "antiquos exquirere mores," in others, we endeavour to accompany and observe the progress and tendency of modern literature; to point out whatever is most eminent in merit, or to show where the rules of good taste have been neglected, and errors in fact or in reasoning substituted for truth. If a larger share of our pages should by some be considered to be employed in the latter division of the work, they should recollect that there is this difference between the subject-matter in which the researches of the Antiquary are employed, and those which occupy the attention of the literary inquirer—that the former are rigidly bounded by a definite quantity of materials which cannot be increased; and all that labour can effect, is to clear away the valuable substance from the soils of antiquity, repair what is imperfect, and illuminate what is obscure. But literature is a body possessing a perpetual vitality, an inexhaustible power of increase in itself; so that it is constantly presenting a fresh supply of intellectual food, in such abundant measure as to require a rigid discrimination and forbearance in the method of making use of it. In fact, in the same proportion that one study becomes gradually exhausted or diminished, the other is acquiring fresh strength and dimensions. In the investigation of both, we have now to return our thanks to those kind and intelligent friends who by their assistance both cheer and lighten our labours. The old Roman adage says, "One cluster of grapes ripens best beside another." So we find our labours most pleasant and successful, when they are participated by our friends. And, first, are we in all duty bound to return our thanks to the author of those most acute, learned, and valuable papers on the Record Commission, the reasoning and information of which we know to have made a strong impression on the public mind: and to the same person we are indebted for that Review of a Life of Coke, in which the indolence, carelesness, ignorance, and presumption of the author met a most severe and merited castigation. We have a correspondent at Cork, J. R., who will receive our acknowledgments for past favours, and our hopes of their continuation; and, lastly, the gentleman who occasionally favours us on the subject of Old Poetry and German and Saxon Literature, will know that his communications are highly valued by us. And thus we for the present bid farewell, saying of the subject of which we treat"Cognitio studiosis si non magnam utilitatem afferet, at certe quod petimus, bonum voluntatem." Dec. 1837. SYLVANUS URBAN. E PLURIBUS UNUM. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. BY SYLVANUS URBAN, Gent. CONTENTS. PAGE MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.-Alvarado's Spanish Translation of the English Goldsmith's Intercourse with Voltaire-Fontenelle-Diderot Blue Boar Inn, Leicester, and last days of King Richard III. (with a Plate) On the Early Constitution of the Cinque Ports ...... Biographical Notices of William le Mareschal, and Anselm le Mareschal Bickersteth's Practical Guide to the Prophecies; Brooks's Elements of Pro- phetical Interpretation, 41.-Collins's Peranzabuloe, 49.-Joplin on Joint Stock Banks, 50.-Moultrie's Poems, 51.-Anster's Poems, 53.-Walker's Great Chalfield Manor House, 54.-Rogers's Life of John Howe, M.A. 56. New Publications, 64.-Learned Societies, Literary Institutions, &c. ...... 65 ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.-Society of Antiquaries, 70.-Royal Society HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.Proceedings in Parliament, 73.- Foreign News, 76.-Domestic Occurrences, 79.-Promotions, Preferments, &c. 81. OBITUARY; with Memoirs of Lord Lyttelton; Gen. Sir W. Maxwell, Bart. ; Sir D. W. Smith, Bart.; Gen. Sir R. Blair; Cardinal Weld; George Baker, Esq.; Colonel Barnston; Rear-Adm. D'Urban; Capt. Spear, R.N.; Capt. P. B. Greene, R.N.; Capt. Stopford, R.N.; Comm. Waring, R.N.; Charles Bowles, Esq.; Dr. Tiarks; John Latham, M.D.; R. J. Thornton, M.D.; W. Cummin, M.D.; E. T. Bennett, Esq.; E. Donovan, Esq.; Bill of Mortality-Markets-Prices of Shares, 103.-Meteorological Diary-Stocks 104 2 MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. IN NICHOLS'S Literary Anecdotes, vol. i. p. 19, is given the title of Alvarado's Spanish translation of the English Liturgy, printed by William Bowyer in 1707. J. G. N. has lately seen a copy of a second edition, not mentioned in the Literary Anecdotes, and bearing the following title: "La Liturgia Ynglesa, &c. Hispanizado por D. Felix de Alvarado, Ministro de la Yglesia Anglicana, con las Alteraciones hechas en el Nombre de Nuestro Muy Augusto Soverano, el Rey Don Jorge, Su Alteza Real Don Jorge, Principe de Gales, la Princessa, y su Porteridad. Edicion Sugunda, corregida y augmentada. Londres Impresso por William Bowyer, Impressor de Libros. Anno Domini MDCCXV." The copy from which this was taken was the companion of the Duke of Wellington during his campaign in Spain, and was of material assistance in teaching him that language. His Grace has since given it to a lady. In reference to the vignettes in "La Hogue Bie de Hambie" (noticed in June, p. 626,) A. B. C. remarks that the views of the ruins of Normandy are neither more nor less than unacknowledged reductions (improved by the engraver's skill), from the miserable lithographs introduced in the Atlas of the "Memoires des Antiquaires de Normandie." Notwithstanding the existence of such surnames as Farthing, Halfpenny, Penny, Twopeny, Grote, &c. H. S. is not likely to be right in placing in the same class the surnames of Shackell, Bigod and Bagot, and Skeet and Keats, as derived from the Jewish shekel, the Roman biyati, and the Saxon sceata; at least, the last only appears to us to have any probable connection with the coin. Bigod and Bagot are Norman local names; and every one knows what shcekles are, without travelling to the land of Israel. We have not room for H. S.'s letter; but should mention that he has traced the name of Skeet in Surrey from the 13th to the last century. J. R. writes: "In your note subscribed to my letter on the timber of Westminster Hall (N. S. Vol. VII. p.582.), you very properly require my authority for stating, that the original roof had been consumed by fire under Richard II.' My chief authority was the article in Rees's Cyclopædia, to which I then referred; but a stricter inspection shews me that my construction of the words was not quite accurate, which are: Having suffered much from accidental fires, as well as from the lapse of time, the Hall was completely restored by Richard II. who added a new roof,' &c. The fact of general decay and re-construction is confirmed by all writers on the subject." A correspondent who signs 'PHILOGENEALOGIE' is answered, that the family of Langhorne of Bedfordshire, whose grant of arms 1610, he has transcribed, is not likely to be the same as that of Dr. Langhorne, the translator of Plutarch, as he was of Cumberland extraction but we can give him no positive information. Sir William Langhorne, of the Inner Temple, created a Baronet in 1668, is the only person of the name who has borne that title. A history of the Northern Rebellion of 1569, is now in the press, and the Editor would feel much obliged if any of your correspondents would inform him if there is any authentic portrait of the attainted Earl of Westmoreland. Mr. J. STUART remarks:-"In answer to an inquiry of your correspondent Mr. GREGORY, relative to the place of burial of Sir John Robinson, Bart. Alderman of London, referred to in your Vol. VI. N. S. p. 226, I beg to forward you an extract from the Oxford Journal of April last: As some men were employed in digging a grave last week in the churchyard of Nuneham Courtney, their spades came in contact with a hard substance, which proved to be a vault. It was found to contain seven or eight coffins, the depositories of the mortal remains of the family of Sir John Robinson, Bart. who lived on the Nuneham estates in the reign of Charles II. Although diligent search has been from time to time made for their place of sepulture, it has remained a perfect mystery up to the present period.'" Will the writer of the memoir on the Carews of Ireland permit us to transfer it to the "Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica"?-We shall feel obliged by the communication of his name and address. |