indeed, to prevail among the low people an uncommon sharpness and keenness of behaviour, being very urgent-such as the porters and boatmen-to serve you upon your arrival, and carry your baggage to the inn; and, after you had paid largely those what they sought for serving you, others appeared making claims upon you for their being ready to serve you, if you had had occasion. At the time we were at Genoa they were sending daily troops, and many in their galleys, to prosecute the war they then had against King Theodore in Corsica. It was our fortune to meet here at Genoa with an English clergyman, one Mr. Smith of Postwitham, a nephew of the great Sir Isaac Newton, who had been some time at Genoa before we As he was desirous to be of our company, to proceed through Italy by the way of Leghorn, to this we agreed, and hired betwixt us a felouche. came. September 25.-Monday morning set out coastwise for Leghorn, and came to Sestri, where, as the wind was not fair, we stayed two nights with a Spanish family. Here, for want of attention, I lost my wig I lately purchased. September 28.-Set out at three in the morning; dined at Porto Fino, which was so full of Spaniards and Genoese that there was not the least room for us to be accommodated; so that we were obliged to set sail in the evening, which had then a very pleasing aspect. We resolved to continue out all night, and, crossing that long bay, expecting to make Leghorn in the morning. As it happened, there were several Spanish men-of-war and transports that night in the bay, who had returned from the conquest of Naples, under the conduct of the Conde de Montemar, the commander-in-chief, who at that time was residing in Pisa. At our setting out we passed six Spanish men-of-war, the sea then quite calm and agreeable; but, about ten o'clock at night, opposite to Massa, we were overtaken by a dreadful storm; the sea in a moment had a most furious aspect, continually increasing, with immense billows, the wind varying often from different quarters. In this dreadful manner we were tossed till about three next morning, having our rudder broken, our compass useless, our men dispirited, the sea and the winds rising, the moon not up, and at length there appeared no hope, nor the least chance to remain for our safety. Our Genoese sailors at the oars invoked all their saints: an English sailor, who hap pened to be in the crew, and an old man, the master of the felouche, who was at the rudder, were the only two who showed spirit, though the moving complaints of the old man's little son, in the most plaintive Italian, would have melted a heart of stone, particularly of his remembrance of his cara madre, his dear mother, and his care sorelle, his two dear sisters. Our reverend clergyman Mr. Smith, and his man Tom, who were both stripped in order to swim, had many grievous moanings betwixt them, fearing a sudden separation for ever, having been long acquainted. Mr. Smith, though Sir Isaac Newton's nephew, happened to be a very bad astronomer, insisting that he saw the light of Leghorn, and contended we should steer towards that, but we were soon undeceived by observing that the light came from one of the low stars. Ramsay, who was a good swimmer, stripped likewise; but for myself, who could not swim, I reckoned on certain death; but before I gave all up, I thought it best to examine what wine we had yet remaining, and having got several flasks full, I instantly distributed them amongst our sailors, making them a short speech in Italian, repeating the word animo! animo! which is courage, courage, mei fratelli! my brethren; and particularly addressing myself to the padrone at the helm, and the English sailor, who I conjured not to lose his heart, which he promised not to do as long as he could keep hold of it. I last addressed myself to Mr. Mr. The Rev. Benjamin Smith, B.D. son of the Rev. Barnabas Smith, Rector of North Witham, and himself subsequently Rector of Linton in Yorkshire, where he died in 1776. He was an improvident and singular character, and several anecdotes of him, communicated by the Rev. William Sheepshanks, Prebendary of Carlisle, are printed in Whitaker's History of Craven, and in Nichols's Literary Illustrations, vol. iv. p. 32. Smith and his man Tom, desiring them not to lose hopes of meeting one another in a better place; and lastly, I said what occurred to me in the most moving manner to my friend and dear travelling companion, Mr. Allan Ramsay; and I took out my gold watch and rings, to see if he could fasten them any way to his arms, and if he should escape anyhow by swimming, and reach Britain again, that he would deliver the watch and rings to my much beloved young wife I had just married before I set out, with my prayers and imprecations for his safety, hoping, if he survived, he would always remember me, and that I had the strongest impressions upon my mind that, if the worst should happen, we should certainly meet in a better place: that, as I could not swim, I could make no effort for my safety, and instantly covered myself up with an old sail as a winding-sheet, and bidding them all farewell, and calling out animo! animo! to the sailors, most devoutly resigned myself over to my fate. All this while the sea ran mountains high, all over white with froth, easily discernible by the fiery vapour which rises always in a storm. At length, by the perseverance of our men, and mercy of Divine Providence, the wind chopped about to blow from the sea towards land with the greatest impetuosity; and, on the 29th, in the morning, our felouche was violently cast upon a shore at the bottom of a large wood, where there was neither rocks nor high banks, not far distant from the city of Pisa. Here every one scrambled ashore, in spite of the great surf and crazy condition of our felouche. A sailor carried me out on his back, almost up to his neck in the sea; our trunks and baggage, though very wet, we saved and got ashore, and, by good fortune, got into a fisher's hut, where were assembled some of the Spanish troops who had that night been shipwrecked on the coast. They presented us with wine and refreshments, which were very comfortable; and our mutual misfortunes so cemented us by the reflection of our mutual delivery by an uncommon interposition of Divine Providence, that we seemed all as one nation; and our reverend clergyman, Mr. Smith, who felt uncommon joy in recovering his man Tom, gave us all his benediction in the warmest manner. We lighted a large fire of sticks at a little distance from the hut, and made another agreeable libation of the Spaniards' wine, which they very joyfully and plentifully supplied us with. As day approached we began to think of sending for chaises from Pisa, and accordingly, one of the sailors was despatched upon that errand, and brought us a couple of good chaises for Mr. Smith and his man Tom, and Mr. Ramsay and me. We took leave of our friends the Spaniards with great cordiality, and hoped to meet them again at Pisa; and having paid amply for our felouche, and rewarded well the sailors who had helped to save us, we got into our chaises, and, as we were going up the heights, it was even terrible then to look upon the sea, being one volume of froth even after the storm was now subsided. The woods through which we passed were very pleasing, and all the fields of the country about PISA, in our road to it, are most verdant meadows and gardens, with canals of fresh water. It is inconceivable the joy of the refreshing sleep we had for many hours after our arrival. We visited this fine city in the forenoon and afternoon, and in the evening went to the opera, where we saw the Duke de Montemar, who was an old venerable Spanish soldier, with black whiskers, sitting dangling in his box among six pretty women. city of Pisa was full then of Spanish soldiers, and scarce allowed any room for strangers. It was famous of old for the first revival of painting by Cimabue and Giotto, long before Raphael. The September 30.-Sunday, set out in chaises for Leghorn, and came there before dinner, through a fine wood. Here, for want of my peculiar attention, while Mr. Ramsay and I frequently chose to leave the chaises to come after us, to walk on some miles, I then had my boots stolen from me on the road, which makes me give this caution to everybody who travels to have all their eyes about them. October 1.-We found the city of LEGHORN a very thriving place for trade. Many English reside here. Five thousand Spanish troops were there at that time, who had come after the conquest of Naples to reside there; and they were in the utmost good order, well clothed in blue, and well paid. very glad to see us, as were Mr. Aikman and many other gentlemen. Mr. Ramsay had written from Leghorn a long letter to his father, the poet, at Edinburgh, which I did not see till I came home, wherein he said that I had saved our lives by my keeping up the spirits of the sailors of the felouche, and by the animation I had given them by the presence of mind I was possessed of at that time; and said that, when things came to the worst, I seemed to die like Socrates in his last moments. My friend, old Allan the poet, was very fond to show me this letter, and told me, at the same time, a very singular circumstance, that he dreamed that very night, the 29th of September, the night of our storm, that we were cast away upon the coast of Italy, but were providentially saved. The letter I wrote to my dear young wife, then at Clerminston (my farm near Edinburgh), was written in the mildest manner I could conceive it, and she and old Allan Ramsay compared notes, to the joy of all our friends. CORRESPONDENCE OF SYLVANUS URBAN. The Rise and Progress of the Dowlais Ironworks-Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest-English Etymologies: Maze and Amaze. Amate and Mate. Mate, Make, Match, and Meet-Monumental Inscriptions recently recovered at Cholderton, Wilts-The Prince of Orange's March in 1688-The Posterity of Ralph Thoresby the Antiquary-Family Register of the Widdringtons. RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE DOWLAIS IRON WORKS. MR. URBAN, The Obituary of your January Magazine contained a brief but just and accurate tribute to the memory of the late Sir Josiah John Guest, Bart. of Dowlais and your readers, after perusing that memoir, will probably take some interest in the following particulars of the steps by which his vast concerns were raised to the magnitude in which he left them. The mineral lease of Dowlais was granted about 1748 by Lord Windsor, and under it was erected the first furnace in South Wales for the reduction of iron ore by means of pit-coal. By degrees the Guest family became possessed of a part of the interest in this lease, and, finally, on the death of his father Mr. Thomas Guest, and of his uncle, by marriage, Mr. Taitt, in 1815, Mr. John Guest succeeded to nine sixteenths, and his brother Mr. Thomas Revell Guest, to one sixteenth of the whole. Mr. Thomas Guest, who was his only brother, died, childless, on the 30th Jan. 1837. After having spent a few years at school at Bridgenorth, and afterwards at Monmouth, Mr. John Guest passed through the different departments of the works, mastered the details of each, and the language of the people, and finally acted, under his uncle, as general manager. The concern was then in its infancy. Its produce, which in 1806 had been about 7,000 tons of pig iron, was even then only 20,000 tons, from four blast furnaces. The finances also were so embarrassed, that it is said to have been a serious consideration with Sir John whether he should engage in the works, or push his fortune in some other direction. Having decided upon the former course, he speedily raised the number of furnaces to eight, and the annual production to 30 or 40,000 tons; and about 1824 there were eleven furnaces, and, by the introduction of new blowing machinery and improved arrangements for the raising and transport of the raw material, the annual production was raised to about from 45 to 50,000 tons. About 1826 Dowlais boasted twelve furnaces, and the largest blowing engine then known. In 1831 Sir John patented a plan for running the melted metal at once from the blast furnace into the refinery, by which means he effected a considerable saving in fuel and in the waste of metal, and rendered his works equal to the annual production of 60,000 tons, thus taking in the trade the lead which he ever afterwards maintained. In 1835 there were fourteen furnaces, and to meet the rising demand for railway bars; and, notwithstanding the ap. proaching termination of his lease, he had the spirit, in August, 1840, to augment the furnaces to eighteen, and by the introduction of various improvements (patented) in the manufacture, he raised the power of production to 100,000 tons annually, and actually produced that quantity of raw iron in 1849, when he sent into the market 75,000 tons in the form of bars and rails. Among the principal improvements in the manufacture should be mentioned the substitution of coal for coke, first in the blast furnaces and finally in the refineries, so that coke is not now employed in the Dowlais Works. This enormous increase in production was attended by a corresponding increase in the branches of mining operations and finance, and in the number of the workpeople, involving a multitude of subordinate arrangements. Thus, the steam power, which in 1815 was inconsiderable, at this time amounts to 4,989 horse power, of which the blowing engines employ 2,063, the forges and rolling mills 1,380, the coal and ore works 967, brickmaking 17, stabling 9, and locomotion 554.* In 1849 there were 500 horses employed. The Dowlais Works freight, on an average, a ship a day in the port of Cardiff. Of ore, coal, and limestone, about 740,000 tons are annually raised, besides about 1,171,000 tons of shale and useless matter, raised to be thrown aside. In 1815 Dowlais contained from about 1,000 to 1,200 workpeople, residing in 100 cottages. At this time there are probably 3,000 cottages and 15,000 inhabit ants, of which about 7,000 draw pay direct from the works. The money payments in labour rose in 1845-6-7 to 30,000l. per month, or 360,000. per annum-a sum, the mere providing of which in coin to meet the weekly demand, was a somewhat weighty financial operation. At one time Sir John Guest possessed a bank at Cardiff. He was also an original promoter of, and a very large shareholder in, the Taff Vale Railway, of which he was for many years the chairman, and always its principal freighter. Sir John died, as he had ever wished to die, at Dowlais, amidst his own people, and is there buried. His funeral was attended by an immense concourse of about 20,000 persons, most of whom were more or less connected with his works. By common consent all business and work were suspended, and the shops closed in the district. Notwithstanding his great wealth and his position at the head of a principal branch of British industry, Sir John Guest preserved habits of great simplicity, was humble in his estimate of himself, and singularly unobtrusive in his deportment, so that few were aware of the real extent of his information. Few great manufacturers have been better acquainted with the details of their business, or with the persons, circumstances, and peculiarities of their workpeople; with them he at all times preserved a friendly personal intercourse, and to their complaints he was always accessible, and numberless are the instances of ability, skill, and good conduct which he detected and brought forward among them. His foresight and sagacity in business were remarkable, and his first impression was usually correct. Most of the extensions in the Dowlais Works were projected and executed during the depressions of the trade, so that he found himself in a condition to profit largely by the improvements, usually sudden, in the markets. Though not himself a man of deep science, he was very well informed in chemistry, mineralogy, and such subjects that bore upon his business, and his custom was always to consult the highest authorities on those subjects, and to obtain sound opinions he spared no expense. He was a man of remarkably calm temperament, seldom acting, even in trifles, without deliberation, and not easily induced to relinquish an opinion once formed. He possessed a remarkably fine *As recently as 1814 the ore was carried to the furnaces in sacks and panniers on the backs of mules. temper, and although the accidents of an active life had, of course, often brought him into collision with others, he was himself the enemy of no one, and when he could speak no good of a man he was silent. During the Merthyr riots of 1831 he shewed, under very trying circumstances, great personal courage. After all negociations had failed, he interposed between the soldiers, just about to fire, and the people, whom he addressed in their own language, and solely by his personal influence prevented a very serious effusion of blood. The iron-masters of Merthyr, as a body, have not been remarkable for attention to the interests of their workpeople; but as early as 1824 Sir John Guest and his partners built and endowed a church at Dowlais, and founded schools, which now number about 1,000 children daily. A medical fund, and also a sick fund, supported and managed by the workpeople, have long been established. As early as 1831 the blast-furnaces at Dowlais were stopped during Sunday, and the works are now so completely closed that probably not above a dozen men are to be found upon them on that day. These examples have been but little followed in the neighbourhood. To the truck system in its various forms Sir John Guest was steadily opposed. The long uncertainty as to the Dowlais lease materially checked Sir John's projects for the improvement of his people; but, upon its renewal in 1848, he set to work in earnest, and, notwithstanding the depressed state of the trade and the large demands upon his purse in buying out his two partners, and in the heavy outlay required upon the works, he approved of ROBIN HOOD AND MR. URBAN,-I send for the perusal of those of your readers who do not believe that " Merry Sherwood" was the Hartz forest or a Teutonic myth (for those who assume Robin Hood to be the creature of a Teutonic myth or fable must dispose of the Forest of Sherwood by the same process of imagination)—a document of the highest authenticity and truth, viz. the appointment of additional Commissioners to a Commission of Inquiry into the offences committed against the vert and venison of Sherwood Forest in the year 1315. In my opinion this record is not only corroborative of the view Mr. Hunter has plans for schools, for the site of which he proposed to give up the gardens attached to his residence. The very last act of his life was the establishment upon his own responsibility of a savings bank, for the encouragement of provident habits among his workpeople and the inhabitants of Dowlais. Those who knew him best, and were consulted by him during the negociation respecting the renewal of the lease, were well aware that his principal reason for re-entering, under very unfavourable circumstances and with declining health, upon so stupendous an undertaking, was his strong apprehension of the misery which the stoppage of the works would occasion in the district he loved so well. Sir John Guest contributed more than any other individual to raise the iron manufacture of Great Britain to its present flourishing condition. From small beginnings, by the exercise of industry, mechanical skill, and a rare combination of prudence and boldness, he created the largest manufacturing establishment ever known, built up for himself a colossal fortune, and has left behind him a name ever to be mentioned as an authority in the annals of the trade, with affection in the principal seat of the manufacture, and with respect by the world. He died full of years, in the midst of his children and people, successful in all his undertakings, having had ample time and inclination to prepare for his latter end, and leaving behind him a wife of tried affection and experience, in whom, living, he had unbounded confidence, and to whom, on his death, he trusted the uncontrolled management of the whole of his enormous and complicated concerns. Yours, &c. SHERWOOD FOREST. taken respecting the exploits ascribed to Robin Hood and his companions, in No. IV. of his "Critical and Historical Tracts," but also illustrates what he therein observes, that many of the popular songs transmitted to us from ancient times are worthy of acceptation-a faith warranted by the example of Selden and of Hearne, who both believed that there was some historic truth in many of these compositions. I hope your readers will absolve me from the imputation that herein I profess to assist Mr. Hunter, who has done quite enough already to disperse the notion of the outlaws of Sherwood Forest being mere creatures of the imagination His *The Great Hero of the Ancient Minstrelsy of England, "Robin Hood." Period, Real Character, &c. investigated, and perhaps ascertained. By Joseph Hunter. 1852. 12mo. |