LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS.

[Those marked thus * are Vignettes printed with the letter-press.]

Representations of various objects of antiquity; viz. a case of instruments found near Furness Abbey; small leaden shields found in Peak-castle, co. Derby; a girdle-hook found at Blakehurst, Sussex; two small seals found near Cork and at Seathorne, co. York; and the pulpit at Holne, co. Devon.......... .........401 *Plan of the Druidical Temple at Stanton Drew, Somerset View of an ancient Mansion at Shrewsbury ....

*Ground-plan of Peterchurch Church, Herefordshire.

Dore Abbey, Herefordshire....

...............

*Representations of Gravestones at Whaplode, co. Lincoln

.435

....489

......496

....497

.......590

PREFACE.

WE are about to enter on our Hundredth Year-an announcement requiring no prefatory remark:-the fact is "worth a thousand homilies." Dare we hope, or rather may we not thankfully exclaim, "Length of days is in our right hand, and in our left there is honour?" We do, indeed, trust that the "viridis senectus" is ours, and that, as we have grown in years, we have increased in wisdom. And have we not

"that which should accompany old age,

As honour, love, obedience, TROOPS OF FRIENDS?"

Bear ye witness, our present emotions, we have;-and we acknowledge these blessings with feelings of gratitude and thankfulness to Him from whom they spring, and to those who are the agents of his goodness.

Severe was our training-if we may use a word of jocularity, we would say our cradle was a CAVE, and we were nursed by a JOHNSON. Seriously, we claim integrity as our birth-right, and may we not hope that we retain that uncompromising love of truth which we learnt at the lips of our Foster Parent? This is an honourable distinction; we have made our boast of it before, and we glory in it

now.

It has been our lot to witness many a storm which has gathered over our country—we have seen the elements of civil society endangered-we have witnessed the "madness of the people,"--political infidelity has sounded in our ears the alarm-"Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us." ." In In every hour of Britain's agony we were found at the post of loyalty always to us the place of affection and of duty. We have seen much of parties. Crowds of contemporaries have "strutted their hour" of popularity, and disappeared, leaving neither name nor reputation behind. Yet here we are- and, like the British oak which requires a century to mature its strength and beauty, we stand rooted in the integrity of our principles, and firm in the soundness of our faith; looking forward with hope and confidence, that the same hand which has enabled us to weather the tempests that have beat upon our heads, will still refresh us with the dews of grace and favour.

If we are egotistical, let it be remembered that the occasion on which we speak is without precedent in the history of periodical Literature; the event is a proud one, and even the cynic may leave us to our triumph.

A Periodical Work, formed on the plan of the Gentleman's Magazine, and continued for the unprecedented period of a Century, if executed with due accuracy and attention, must prove of inestimable value. Scarcely a subject can be started, but, in the course of so long a time, has been discussed in its pages; nor is there an invention, or a discovery of importance to the improvement of science, or the advantage of mankind, during the last century, which has not increased the value of our work, by being recorded among its stores.

To the Antiquary our Volumes cannot but be peculiarly acceptable, as he will find therein materials sufficient to gratify the most ample curiosity. The memorials of families, the history and antiquities of parishes, and the laws and customs peculiar to particular districts, which he will find interspersed in our Volumes, are innumerable, and form the most legitimate materials for the Topographer.

Our Obituary continues to engage much of our attention; and the best proof of its merit is, that it is copied, with due acknowledgements, by the most standard biographical collections.

We turn to the world before us; and as "our wont is," we offer a few words on what is passing there.

We cannot conceal that there are symptoms of national distress, which may afflict the timid, and render the serious more thoughtful; but it is our sincere opinion that there is in the State-vessel a principle of buoyancy which, by divine aid, will enable her to bear onward in her course of glory; and we would apply in a general sense, what an eloquent modern writer has said of our country in a limited one:

:

"It is no preposterous exaggeration to affirm that the hope of the nations is now in the keeping of the English, whose eminence in whatever is most noble and useful,-whose extensive political power,-whose expansive commerce and colonization, whose spreading language and brilliant literature,-whose high and commanding spirit, conspire to fix upon them the gaze of mankind.”

In speaking, indeed, of our beloved country, it is impossible to overlook her imposing attitude, both as it respects her domestic economy and her foreign relations. We see the mass of the population of England partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge; we hope that the fruit is ripe, and that the signs of the time, evinced in the spirit of universal education, are auguries of good, and not portents of evil. In the mean time, with a vigilance which becomes a free press, and with a jealousy instinctively attaching to old institutions, we will mark the progress of events. Our prayer

is that, as our knowledge advances, we may increase in virtue, and that the formidable weapon of power now fabricating, may ever be wielded by the energies of loyalty and true wisdom.

Dec. 31, 1829.

MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL.

It is a matter of no small gratification to the lovers of ancient ecclesiastical Architecture, and to the antiquary, to find that the conservators of this interesting Church have at length directed their attention to the preservation and beautifying of their edifice. Let us hope, however, that they will not disfigure, by making it too beautiful, and that their zeal may be tempered and directed by good taste. Few of the Cathedrals in England have been more deplorably neglected and injured than that of Chichester; not only were its columus, arches, and fiuer ornaments choked up and smothered by repeated eoats of lime washing, but these were made white, yellow, black, &c. Stalls, partitions, galleries, &c. were in several situations to deform or obscure the finer parts of the building. It is reported that the officers of the Church have commenced the laudable task of removing all these extraneous objects, of clearing off and cleaning all the architectural members, and rendering the Church worthy of its destined purpose and of the present age. Mr. Britton intends shortly to elucidate the History and Architecture of this Edifice amongst.hts Series of the Ca thedral Antiquities of England,

W. remarks,In your vol, XLII. p. 271, in an account of. Bruno Ryyes Mercurius Rusticus, Richard Royston, the Bookseller, is said to have followed the editions which came out in 1646 in the, saliequent inpression, so that is third Edition; in 1685, has less in it than that of 1647. Having never seen any other edition than that printed in London, for Richard Green, Bookseller, at Cambridge, pray allow me to inquire if the edition above-mentioned is a distinct work. Green's volume contains a Catalogue of Cathedrals, a brief Martyrology, with Querela Cantabrigiensis, Mercurius Belgicus, or Memorable Occurrences in 1642-3, 4, and 5; a Catalogue of Knights, &c. and tables of Contents, with a frontispiece, having the Rustic Mercury in the centre, surrounded by nine compartments, containing representations of battles and events in the Civil War. I wish, therefore, to ascertain if this be a transcript of the edition of 1647, or of the defective one of 1646, and to be informed of any additional articles inserted in Royston's Work. My volume has at the end of it a good head of Bruno Ryves, probably added by the Rev. Henry White of Lichfield, in whose collection it formerly was."

P. says, "Any information respecting the purchase of the manor of Byfield, in Northamptonshire, and of Archester, in the same county, with the manor of Sharnebroke, in Bedfordshire, aud lands at Coblecote, or Gublecote, in Hertfordshire, will be esteemed a favour. These lands, with other

considerable estates, were conveyed to Jane Tyrrell, widow and relict of Humphrey Tyrrell, Esq. third son of Sir William Tyrrell, Knt. of South Okingdou, in Essex, and George Tyrrell, Esq. their son, in or about the year 1550.'

The same correspondent also submits the following queries to our readers :

"What living in the diocese of Sarum given to Dean Humphreys by the Bishop of Winchester, was it to which Bishop Jewel, circ. 1580, refused to institute hira?Where may be found any biographical account of Mr. Coare, of Newgate-street, the beneficent founder of an almshouse and charity-school?-What portraits of the celebrated Dr. Radcliffe, accredited as originals, (besides that in the Gallery at Oxford) are extant?"

Mr. W. WADD observes, "In the biographical accounts of Bonnel Thornton, it is stated that he published an additional canto to Garth's Dispensary, the Battle of the Whigs.' Can any of your learned correspondents tell me where I can find this canto? I should feel greatly obliged to auy one to give me this information; and moreover, if they can further inform me, whether they know of a poetic answer to it, by the learned translator of Morgagne, Dr. Alexander."

W. B. would feel obliged by any information respecting the ancestors of the Irwins of Devonshire. About the year 1700, or perhaps a little earlier, three brothers, John, William, and Christopher Irwin, came into England from Scotland. John, it is thought, soon after returned unmarried. Christopher married, settled, and had a family in Devonshire, as was also the case with William, whose wife, Margaret, died Dec. 18, 1740, aged 61 years. Where William died is not known, but he is said to have died in Scotland, while on a visit to his friends. From what part of Scotland did these three brothers come, and to what family did they belong? A few years since, an advertisement appeared concerning the Irwins, either in a provincial, London, or Scots paper. If W. B. could be referred to the newspaper in which it appeared it would be esteemed a favour.

Since the Memoir of Sir Humphry Davy, in the present number, was printed, we have ascertained from Penzance that the late President was born in that town, Dec. 17, 1778, not 1779 and that he was christened in Penzance Chapel his father being Robert Davy, and his mother Grace Millett.

Lieut.-Gen. Montgomerie (p. 82 of the present number) died April 13.

E. L. is informed that the drawing of the pulpit be sent is engraved. He is requested to favour us with a description of it, his letter having been mislaid.