grout work, with free-stone coigns, is there expressly pointed out as one manner. He will see how difficult it is to discriminate between Roman and Saxon work; how likely on either hand the antiquary is to be deceived. The period of the first foundation of St. Martin's Church is involved in much obscurity; if not Roman, it might be the work of the Britons, which is much the same thing, for who can pretend, in all cases, to distinguish between that of the teachers and of those whom they taught. We may learn from Tacitus the politic care which the Romans took to instruct the Britons in their arts: "Namque ut homines dispersi ac rudes, eoque bello faciles, quieti et otio per voluptates assuescerent: hortari privatim adjuvare publicè ut templa, fora, domus, exstruerent," &c. Tacit. in. Vit. Agric. edit. Elzivir. p. 731. The authority of the old Chronicles is in favour of the opinion that St. Martin's Church was founded by the Britons. I shall cite one of them. "Ann. Dom. 677, Britones in occidentali parte London fundaverunt ecclesiam Sancti Martini* in memoriam regis illorum Cadwallonis qui viriliter Anglos debelleverat, ut in eadem pro eo obsequia eternaliter celebrarent divina." Scala. Chron. Immediately after follows a notice of the foundation of St. Martin's Dover, by Wythred King of Kent. A note in the margin of a Lieger book, on a Register of the College of St. Martin's-le-Grand, London, formerly in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, attributes its origin to the same King: this is cited by Tanner, and has been implicitly copied by modern transcribing topographers. The book itself was written, I believe, in the time of Henry VI.; all the more antient authorities I have met with, making no mention of Wythred's endowment, I am induced to believe that this College has been confounded with St. Martin's priory at Dover, founded by him, and which, from its pre-eminent privileges over the other Churches in that town, also obtained the epithet of Le Grand. From any of your Correspondents I should be happy to receive information on these

*This has been taken by some for St. Martin's at Ludgate; but I read of

no monastic establishment there.

points. Also to learn from J. C. B. whether he speaks from his personal knowledge, of a coin of Constantine having been found among the ruins. I have seen many pieces which were very similar in size and appearance to the smaller brass of the lower empire; but which, when divested of their super-abundant rust, turned out to be tradesmen's tokens of the time of the second Charles-relics of the fire of London. I have not had the good fortune to meet with any coins from the site of St. Martin's older than the reign of Henry VIII. A piece of that period, in my possession, represents on one side a figure sitting at a sort of table, divided or marked by various compartments, with nine counters before him; the other contains the letters of the alphabet then in use, without the J. and U. The whole encircled with an ornamental Gothic border. This I take to be one of the pieces formerly used for calculation, and the man represented, as Shakespeare terms it, a counter-caster *."

Pardon me, Mr. Urban, for having thus long trespassed on your attention. I have preferred laying before your Readers matter which may possess some little interest, to a dry and profitless discussion on the rules of perspective, which seldom or ever so affect an object as to pervert the conception of its actual form, more especially when that object is not viewed in a side long direction. Yours, &c.

YOUR

A. J. K.

June 21.

Mr. URBAN, YOUR Correspondents, who have expressed their disapprobation of depasturing in Church-yards (pp. 293, 405), seem to have overlooked one material consequence of its omission, namely, the coarse, rugged, and unsightly appearance which must inevitably follow the neglect of this custom. The grass growing between the graves, as well as upon them, would become long and matted, and as it withers change to a brown hue, and nettles and weeds would necessarily abound. The scythe could not be introduced where the graves are thick; if it could, the bay would be of no value; and the clippings with shears would be tedious and expensive. A neat appearance can be obtained by no other means than the

* See Othello, Act I. Scene 1. depasturing

depasturing of sheep. As to cows and horses, these would produce a contrary effect; and, therefore, I never wish to see them in a Church-yard.

The sight of so innocent and useful an animal as a sheep, instead of disgusting, must create pleasure; for surely it would be the height of superstition and fastidiousness, to raise an objection to the productive cause of that propriety of appearance which every one would wish to see in a cemetery, and this too because so harmless a creature may walk over the same ground which is at all times open to the feet of man.

Upon the whole, I consider the depasturing of sheep in a Church-yard as a positive desideratum for the preservation of beauty and neatness; and surely, whatever may conduce to this end, must be considered a mark of respect to the memory of the dead, and grateful to the view of the living. Yours, &c. M. B.

Mr. URBAN,

June 16.

AS I am now preparing for the Press a Catalogue Raisonée of Books on British Heraldry and Genealogy, under the title of "Bibliotheca Heraldica," I should feel much obliged by answers, through the medium of the Gentleman's Magazine, to the following queries, which I have no doubt will be in the power of some of your Bibliographical Correspondents, who so frequently indulge in discussions that lead to elucidate the history of ancient literature.

Is not the "Honor Military and Civil," by W. Segar, Norroy, derived from a prior work in quarto? I have certainly seen an assertion to that effect in one of your volumes, but cannot find the passage.

The "Display of Heraldrie," by J. Guillim, has been generally assigned to Jo. Barkham, D. D. a learned divine, as the proper author, on the authority, I believe, of Anthony à Wood. Surely Segar, who was Garter King of Arms, St. George, who was also a member of the College, and the other panegyrists whose commendatory verses are prefixed to the book, would not have sanctioned such a fraud, and Guillim could not have published praises which were justly due to another, if this had really been the case. Any opinion on this subject will particularly oblige.

In Ames's Typographical Antiquities, p. 426, is mentioned

"A true report of the most tryumphant and ryall accomplisment of the baptisme of the most excellent right high and mighty Prince Henry Frederick, by the Grace of God, Prince of Wales; as it was solemnized August 30, 1594; 4to, printed by Thos. Creed, for John Brown, 1594."

Now Henry was not created Prince of Wales until the year 1610. How is this anachronism to be accounted for? T. M.

Mr. URBAN,

IN

June 21.

IN Warton's Observations on the "Faerie Queene" of Spenser *, is a short but very judicious dissertation on the antient architecture of this kingdom, in which the learned annotator states that most of the churches in Somersetshire, which are remarkably elegant, are built in the style which he calls Florid Gothic. He assigns, for the reason, that Somersetshire, in the civil wars between York and Lancaster, was strongly and entirely attached to the Lancastrian party; and that, in reward for this service, Henry VII. when he came to the Crown, rebuilt their churches. The facts mentioned by Warton are, I believe, correct. Edmund, Duke of Somerset, who espoused the cause of King Henry VI. and was his greatest supporter, fell in the first battle at St. Alban's, 1455. Henry, the Duke's son, who succeeded him in the title, was taken prisoner in the battle at Hexham, 1463, and afterwards beheaded by King Edward IV. in cold blood. Edmund, the brother of Henry, and the last of this family, was the chief commander at the battle of Tewkesbury; and after the defeat of his army, took sanctuary in the Abbey there, from which he was violently taken out, and arraigned before the Duke of Gloucester, and immediately suffered upon a scaffold erected in the Tower. Margaret, Countess of Richmond, the mother of King Henry VII. was the niece of Edmund Duke of Somerset; and as that family bad suffered so much in support of the Lancastrian cause, it was very natural for the King, on his accession to the Crown, to show his gratitude to the

* Vol. II. pp. 184-198.

As

inhabitants

inhabitants of Somersetshire, by rcbuilding their churches. There are evident indications that Warton was correct in his statement, though he cites no authority. The roses are profusely scattered on the cornices and fascia of the towers and porches. In the very beautiful West front of the church of Crewkerne, there is a figure of the King holding a scroll on the right or North side of the door way, and a figure of the Prior of Caen, who held the impropriate rectory in right of his convent, on the left or South side. Between the figures are two magnificent roses. These also are conspicuous in other parts of the church; and as there is a very striking resemblance in the style of building of the greater part of the Somersetshire churches, I have no doubt that they were erected at the same period. The tower of Beminster, on the confines of Somerset,

of which you have given a View in your Magazine for January last, p. 9, was certainly built in the reign of Henry VII. as in 1503, a legacy was given towards its building. Besides, it exhibits the roses in great profusion in the bands or fascia, which go round it. I shall feel myself obliged to any one of your Correspondents who can point out any record, or other authority, which authenticates the fact of the King's erection of these buildings. It will tend to do honour to the King's character, who has been generally stigmatized for his parsimony, and will probably lead to some entertaining, if not useful discoveries. Many of the Somersetshire churches are engraved in Collinson's History of that county, and a few have occasionally adorned the pages of your Magazine. I wish some spirited artist would make drawings and engravings of the whole. They exhibit the finest specimens of the florid gothic architecture, and in this age of embellishment, which displays so much taste, and regard for the fine arts, the sale could not fail of remunerating the author. And as a stimulus to the enterprize, I sincerely hope that the Copyright Act, which, in its present regulations, is an injury rather than an encouragement to literary genius, will very shortly be repealed. What benefit can it be to learning, and especially to the beautiful art of engraving, that eleven copies of every pub

lication should be deposited gratis in so many public libraries. Yours, &c. J.B.R.

P. S. I would observe, by way of postscript, that, perhaps, no county in England possesses such fine stone quarries, as the county of Somerset, and they are found in various parts thereof, viz. in the neighbourhood of Bath; at Doulting near Shepton Mallett, which supplied the greater part of the stone for Wells Cathedral and the Monastery of Glastonbury; and on Hambdon Hill, near Yeovil. The latter stone is remarkable for its durability. The numerous statues which adorn the West front of Wells Cathedral, the richest of the kind in England, seem to be of the Bath stone; but I am sorry to observe that the frost has done more injury than the rude hand of man.

Mr. URBAN,

May 10. OBSERVED in your Magazine for

January last (p. 3) an account of the formation of a Society at Carmarthen, instituted for the purpose of preserving and encouraging Welsh Literature in the Principality. At the head of this Society I perceived the Bishop of St. David's, together with various other distinguished characters.

I beg leave, through the medium of your Magazine, to offer a few observations on that subject, which, perhaps, may attract the notice of the patrons of it.

The objects of the Society I apprehend to be the preservation of the antient Literature of value and of consequence, and the encouragement of the Inhabitants to study and learn the language in its native purity. As far as this goes, its objects are truly laudable, for the language is generally considered to be copious and expressive, and capable of conveying ideas in a perspicuous and pathetic manner, equally calculated to inform the understanding, and affect the heart. Perhaps there is no language in the world so capable of moving the pas sions, of creating a noble and generous ardour, of inspiring with the love of military glory, of kindling into rage, or softening into pity. Besides, in the same language are books written, conveying many original and useful sentiments; and these, surely, are reasons sufficient for any liberal-minded man to wish the pre

servation

But is the Bishop of St. David's, whom I consider as the founder of this Society, aware of the evils that will inevitably attend the encouragement of the Welsh language in the Principality? His Lordship's zeal for the encouragement of Literature of every description is well known; the interest which he takes in the welfare of the Establishment, and the improvement of the Clergy within his diocese, cannot be too highly commended. But both himself and the patrons of this Society seem to me no way aware of the evils connected with the institution. Indeed, regarding it in merely a political point of view, I do not apprehend myself that any mischief will arise; nor will I advert to history to prove the methods adopted in the barbarous reign of Edward, to quell the spirit of insurrection among the Welsh, excited, as we are informed, by their Bards singing and reciting the exploits of their ancestors. The Welsh are well known to be loyal, and attached to the Government; therefore, on this score, nothing is to be dreaded; though, perhaps, the formation of this Society will tend rather to increase than diminish the envy and jealousy which still, I am sorry to say, it subsists in a small degree between them and the English.

But viewing the subject in a religious and moral light, it will undoubtedly be productive of more evil than good. To prove this assertion, it will be necessary to give a brief description of the present state of the Welsh language in Wales.-Full one half of the South of Wales are English, they speak no other language but the English. In those Counties where the Welsh prevails, the natives are capable of talking a little English, and there are amongst them at least three or four English families in every parish. This being the case, the Clergy, out of regard to the welfare of their flocks, divide the service of the Church into partly Welsh and partly English. In some places the prayers are in one language, and the sermon

in the other, and so vice versa. Without entering further into particulars, I presume thus much will be sufficient to establish my point. This being the present state of the two languages in the Principality, and the English evidently on the progressive, the inhabitants, as it were, defraud one another of the benefit of that religion which we are taught to consider as the greatest blessing vouchsafed to man in this his state of pilgrimage.

The exertions of that Society, offering rewards for the best Welsh compositions, &c. will not only tend to create disaffection between the Welsh and the English, by reviving the an tient spirit of the natives, for which that language is so remarkable, but will conduce more than any other thing to promote the use of it in their daily business, and exchange of sentiments. The language of the country is now losing ground fast, and the inhabitants are much disposed to learn and speak the English. Let the patrons of that Society then, while they are encouraging the antient Literature of the country, establish Sundayschools, in order to encourage and promote, at the same time, the language of that Government to which they were compelled to submit, and to which they now feel so well affected. This, in my humble opinion, is the only way to counteract the evils which will inevitably attend the revival of the antient Literature of Wales.

It has ever been the policy of every Government to carry their language along with their arms to the countries they conquered. By the means which I have suggested, the invidious distinction between the two nations (if I may so express myself) will be entirely done away; and they will not only become one people, under one government, but they will also become properly one fold under one shepherd. For surely every well-disposed mind must deplore the keeping one part of the congregation in darkness, while the other is edified, occasioned by this division of the Church service. On this account, I would, as far as I am competent to judge upon the subject, recommend the use of the vulgar tongue to the common transactions of life, to the entire exclusion of the English; or else the disuse of it, by encouraging the latter as far as matters will conveniently

admit. And, considering the present state and circumstances of the Principality, as connected with England, I think it advisable to give every encouragement to the English language, which, perhaps, cannot be done more effectually than by establishing Sunday and Daily schools for that purpose. CLERICUS BRITANNICUS.

Mr. URBAN,

Bath, June 24. IN N the Monthly Magazine for June (p. 451) there is a statement of facts relative to the suppression of Mr. Lawrence's "Lectures on Physiology,' upon which I would beg leave to offer a few observations. It appears, that Mr. Lawrence, who is an eminent surgeon in the Metropolis, the demonstrator at St. Bartholomew's, and professor at the Royal College of Surgeons, has drawn upon himself the attention of the publick, by blending with his lectures some severe remarks on the government and religion of his country. In consequence of this behaviour, Mr. Rennell, the Christian Advocate of Cambridge, adverted to his doctrines concerning life as the result of organization, in an able publication, intituled, "Remarks on Scepticism," &c. About the time of this publication, Mr. Lawrence sent forth his system at large in his "Lectures on Physiology," in which the same doc trine is more plainly avowed, and is embellished with many sneers at the inspired writings of the Old Testament, and the most virulent abuse of the existing institutions of Church and State.

It was not to be supposed that conduct like this would be passed over in silence; and, accordingly, it soon attracted the notice and indignation of the publick. At a meeting of the Governors of Bethlem, Mr. Lawrence was suspended from his situation as surgeon to that Hospital; and at Bartholomew's it was also intimated to him, that his office was not compatible with the avowal of such principles. The prudence of Mr. Lawrence on this occasion was, at least, as conspicuous as his bravery. To retain his situation, he was content to withdraw his Lectures from circulation; to make an apology to his colleague Mr. Abernethy; and to promise that he would not hereafter introduce such obnoxious matter into his professional instructions. Now, as all

this was done with a plain avowal that his sentiments continued unaltered, it remains for him to reconcile this conduct with his high and unbending love of independence.

Such I take to be a plain statement of the facts relative to the suppres sion of these Lectures; but a writer in the Monthly Magazine is desirous of representing it in another light. He commences his account with a reference to the persecutions of Galileo, to whom he would fain compare the Demonstrator at St. Bartholomew's. He thus proceeds to represent the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, as depending exclusively on the authority of the Christian Revelation. He says, it is an article of faith, not of reason; of theology, not of philosophic investigation. We can easily understand why this distinction is attempted between Reason and Revelation. It is a very stale trick of Infidelity, to represent our faith as opposed to our reason. These gentlemen are well aware of the consequences of such opinions. If they can bring the publick to believe that the doctrines of Christianity are admitted only by priests and old women, they are quite sure of obtaining their object.

I must confess to you, Sir, that my knowledge of Mr. Lawrence's Lectures is chiefly derived through an anony mous pamphlet, intituled, "Cursory Observations," by "One of the People called Christians." It is a pamphlet printed for Cadell, which is chiefly made up of quotations from Mr. Lawrence's suppressed work; and, if the quotations are correct, there is quite enough in it to satisfy any ordinary understanding concerning the aim and tendency of this gentleman's reasonings. He calls our English Constitution" one of the worn-out despotisms of the old world." He longs for the abolition of "all Creeds and Articles of faith." He asserts, that "the mind of man is annihilated at death;" and he speaks of death as "the termination of existence." In addition to these sentiments, he condescends to amuse his hearers with allusions of the most obscene and licentious description. He derides Moses and the ark, and the supposition that we are all descended from a single pair of human beings; and represents the attempts of Christian