its most opprobrious stigma, by the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Pitt's Monument, which is of colossal magnitude, stands upon a stone arch supported by piers, immediately over the great west entrance. This, also, is the work of Westmacott; the composition includes a group of three figures, in statuary marble, the principal of which represents the deceased in his Parliamentary robes, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is standing in an energetical attitude, as though engaged in debate, and the likeness is well preserved. History, in a reclining posture, recording his words, is on the base to the left, and on the opposite side is Anarchy, seated, in chains. The principal figure is nine feet high, and the accessory ones are of similar proportions. This Monument was erected in 1813, by Parliament, which had likewise honoured his memory by a public funeral.

The transcendent talents and persuasive oratory of Mr. Pitt, combined with the peculiar situation of national affairs, occasioned his advancement to power at a very early age; and such was the confidence placed in his abilities and principles, that for upwards of twenty years, all the resources and influence of the British Empire were subjected to his controul. His success, however, in opposing the overwhelming torrent of French aggrandizement, was not commensurate with his efforts to stem its progress; and the issue of the disastrous battle of Austerlitz, in the autumn of 1805, is known to have had a fatal influence on his declining health. He died on the 23d of January,

1806; in the 47th year of his age. The inscription states that his Monument was raised "in testimony of Gratitude for his eminent Public Services, and of Regret for his irreparable Loss."

CIVIC HARE AND FOX HUNTING.-LORD MAYOR'S BANQUETTING HOUSE.

To those who are but little studied in our civic antiquities, it will, doubtless, appear strange to learn that so recently as Queen Elizabeth's time, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have recreated themselves by Háre and Fox-hunting, in the immediate vicinity of London; yet Strype, Stow's best editor, thus acquaints us with the fact, from manuscripts in his own. possession.

"On the 18th of September, 1562, the Lord Maior (Harper), Aldermen, and many worshipful persons; and divers of the Masters and Wardens of the twelve Companies, rid to the Conduit Heads to see them after the old fashion: and afore dinner they hunted the Hare, and killed her, and thence to dinner at the Head of the Conduit. There was a good number entertained with good cheer by the Chamberlain; and after dinner they went to hunting the Fox. There was a great cry for a mile, and at length the hounds killed him at the end of St. Giles's. Great hallooing at his death, and blowing of horns: and thence the Lord Maior, with all his company, rode through London to his place in Lombard-street."

The principal of the Conduit Heads from which the citizens derived water, at that period, werè at Conduit Mead, where New Bond Street, Conduit Street, &c. now stand; Tyburn, Paddington, White Con

dait Fields, Highbury Barn, and Hackney. But the place where the hunting party dined, on the above. occasion, was the Lord Mayor's Banquetting House, which occupied some part of the site of the present Stratford Place, in Oxford Road; and near which, according to Maitland, the ancient church and village of Tyborne, (now St. Mary-le-bone,) was situated Across the rivulet of Tyborne, which then flowed openly towards Tothill Fields, was a small bridge taking name from the Banquetting House, which stood near it, on the north-east side. In the neighbourhood of the bridge, were 66 nine fountains or Conduits, first erected about the year 1238, for supplying the City with salubrious water," and "under the Banquetting House, were two cisterns for the reception of the water." This "handsome building,whither his Lordship with his brethren the Aldermen, occasionally repaired, on horseback, accompanied by their ladies, in waggons, to view the City Conduits, after which they were sumptuously entertained in the said mansion-house,-having been for many years neglected by the citizens, was taken down in the year 1737, and the cisterns were arched over.' The bridge, which was only fifteen feet wide, was enlarged about the same time, the City giving 1001. towards the expense. It formed a part of the highway, now Oxford Street, but the road here having been much heightened, and the whole stream covered over, not the least remains of the bridge are now visible. Pen

Maitland's "History of London,” p. 779. edit. 1739.

nant states, that the late Carew Mildmay, Esq. who, after a very long life, died a few years ago, used to say, that he remembered killing a Woodcock on the site of Conduit-street, at that time an open country.*

Stratford Place was built about the year 1775, by Edward Stratford and others, to whom a groundlease, renewable for ever under certain conditions, had been granted by the Corporation of London. The houses, twenty-two in number, are handsome and convenient dwellings, principally of brick, but ornamented with Ionic pilasters, and other dressings, of stone. In the superb mansion that terminates this Place, and fronts the entrance from Oxford Street, the late Earl of Aldborough resided many years.

PRYNNE'S " RETRACTATION," A FORGERY.

Shortly before the decapitation of Charles the First, there was published a small quarto tract, of eight pages, purporting to be a " Retractation," by Prynne, of the arguments which he had previously advanced against the Stage, in his Histrio-mastix. The tract is so extremely scarce, that it must afford considerble gratification to many, to see a literal reprint of the same, which is here given from a copy preserved among the king's pamphlets in the British Museum.

* "London," p. 126: 3d edit. Mildmay and General Oglethorpe, continues Pennant, were great intimates, and nearly of the same age, and often brought proofs to each other of the strength of their recollection." The preface to Pennant's work is dated March 1, 1790: we may infer, therefore, that Mildmay died between 1780, and 1785.

Mr. William Prynn. His Defence of STAGE PLAYS, in a Retractation of a former Book of his called Histrio-Mastix. London, printed in the year 1649. "Whereas this Tyranicall, abominable, lewd, schismaticall, hæriticall Army, are bent in a wilfull and forcible way to destroy all Lawful Government; and to compasse those ends, have lately infringed the Priviledges of Parliament, being a thing contrary to all Customes, Laws, Statutes, Examples, Precedents, and precepts, as I have at large discoursed in my last book, and brought a whole army of proofs against them, (Origen, Philo Jud. Turtullean, Lanctantius, Eusebius, Ambrose, Gregory, Augustin, Cyprian, Hieronimus, Baselius, Nazianzan, Athanasius, Chrysostomus, Barnard, Tho. Aquinas, Hook. Eccl. Calvin) for it is easie to be proved by the Fathers and all Christian writers, That Authority Lawfull is to be obeyed; I cannot yet be silent in a thing of so great moment, but must make known to the People of England, and to all the world, to all sorts of men, nay, to men and Angels, those exorbitant courses in which they persist still. It is not long ago, and therefore too lately to be so soone forgotten, how Colonel Pride and diverse of the Army did stop the Members of Parliament from doing of their duty in a most forcible, unlawfull, seditious, mutinous, unexampled, and unparrallel'd way. Among the multitude of faithfull Patriots and Parliament men, they seized also upon me, conveyed me away by force, and restrained me of my liberty, for no offence, but onely endeavouring to discharge my conscience, which is a thing I shall allwayes do, without fearing any man, any arm of flesh, any Potentacie, Prelacy, superintendency, or power terrestial or internall; and have done, witnesse my often sufferings from the Court, from the Lords, and from the Prelates, when I