GAIN the Year has run the seasons round, fruits, the ground; Now snows and tempests desolate the scenes, But now thy leaves Historic give delight, They ne'er could reach the fam'd Tombuctoo's Wali, What thoughts exalted through thy Essays shine! Now view thy Page to Royalty consign'd, Oh! could the souls that once thy Page illum'd WILLIAM RAWLINS. PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH VOLUME. DURING URING the long period of Eighty-seven revolving Years we have felt it our incumbent duty, to return our annual thanks to the Publick for past favours, and to solicit their renewal: And never did we fulfil the former part of our duty with more real cause for gratitude than we do at present, for the patronage so long bestowed upon us. In soliciting its continuance, we flatter ourselves that professions for the future are unnecessary. The line of political conduct we have persevered in throughout the last Thirty eventful years (if we may take as a criterion of our success the increased circulation of our Magazine) has met with decided approbation. Inflexibly steady to the true principles of the British Constitution, our Loyalty has been unshaken, our Patriotism undiminished; yet have our pages been ever fairly open to ingenuous disquisition. In support also of our Ecclesiastical Establishment we have not, we trust, failed to shew that, whenever occasion required, our sentiments ever have been, and we trust ever will be, strictly orthodox. The events of the last year have been such as to excite in us not only additional vigilance, but firm and decided conduct; vigilance that our pages are not disgraced by intemperance, calumny, or falsehood; firmness and decision in pursuing the right, the old, and the trodden path, which since the Reformation (with one exception) has, and we hope ever will, lead to the furtherance and support of all that Britons hold dear in this land of civil and religious liberty and toleration. Most happy are we to congratulate our Countrymen on the improved Prospects which Providence graciously offers to us at the opening of a New Year-improved indeed, if we carry back our view to the gloomy auspices under which the Year which has just passed away was ushered in ; if we think of the mad and desperate Riots which had but just before disgraced the Metropolis; - of the distress and discontent which pervaded the country; of the anxiety and alarm which filled every good and virtuous breast!-Let us gratefully enter on the course now before us with purer minds, as well as with more refreshed spirits! From every corner of an extensive Empire, we receive the most gratifying intelligence of the improvement of trade and manufactures of all descriptions. Manchester, Liverpool, Stockport, Bristol, Leicester, Nottingham, Hinckley, the whole of Staffordshire, are striking proofs of the assertion. And on this head we gladly extract from The Inverness Courier the following just and sensible remarks, which, with the 20644 altera alteration local circumstances demand, may be applied to many other parts of the Kingdom: "The state of this Country, at the present moment, when placed in comparison with its situation at the corresponding period of last year, exhibits an exhilarating contrast. At that time the sum of actual distress was perhaps unparalleled, and it was deepened by still darker anticipation. Our Crops had failed, Manufactures were at a stand, and Commerce seemed to have deserted us the rich were embarrassed, and the poor were starving. Government was in perplexity, and some classes of the people, goaded by despair, vainly sought for relief in tumult and innovation. But a change has since gleamed upon us equally rapid, unexpected, and decisive: the cheerful voice of Industry has again awoke, and drowned the murmurs of Sedition. In the former gloomy season the chief occupation of public spirit was to render more effective existing Establishments, and to plan new Institutions for relief of the poor: now that field of useful action, though still ample, is happily narrowed, for both the necessaries of life, and the means of their acquisition, are comparatively abundant and accessible. Though the circumstances of this district render it less susceptible of those sudden fluctuations which agitate quarters more fully peopled, and more dependent upon the changing aspects of Commerce; yet we too have had a portion of the common distress, and participate in the general renovation. On the state of the woollen manufacture depends the demand for what may be called the staple export of the Highlands, and we rest on the general prosperity of the country for the sale of our cattle. In the close of 1816, and indeed during the whole of that year, we could find no market for our produce, except on terms which were ruinously low. But the state of things is now considerably improved, and promises fair for progressive melioration." A Welsh Paper, The Cambrian, contains another striking illustration : "Such is the flourishing state of the iron trade, that Mr. Crawshay, the Proprietor of the great iron-works of Cyfarthfa in Merthyr Tydvil, has spontaneously increased the wages of all his workmen and from this increase alone 7000l. yearly is added to the circulation of that neigh bourhood." : If we look to the centre of wealth and business, the Metropolis, we shall find the scene quite as cheering. Sedition is melting away. The state of Public Credit is fresh and vigorous. The utility of Saving Banks begins to be most sensibly experienced. The comforts of the Poor, and the Education of their Children, are the incessant objects of the Benevolent. Sickness and distress, whatever may be their description, are promptly alleviated. Dec. 31, 1817. THE Miscellaneous Correspondence, &c. Index Indicatorius-Minor Correspondence 2 Inscription on Monument of Sir Jonas Moore 3 Rev. Thomas Ridge.-Westminster Plays.. 4 The Marquis of Bute's Mansion at Luton Hoo 5 Croakers characterized-St. Nicholas, Bristol 8 Garsington, co. Oxf.-Richborough Castle. 91 COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY-Hereford10 The Free Church at Bradford in Yorkshire 13 Hints to remedy our present Necessities... 15 Suffocation from the Fumes of burning Coal 16 Remarks on Variations in the Spots on the Sun 17 Calendar of Regiomontanus, 1476, described 19 Narrative of Sufferings among the Kandians 22 The Holy Bible, edited by D'Oyly and Mant 41 Pott's Charge to Clergy of his Archdeaconry ib. Yates's Basis of National Welfare Prendergast's Sermon on Christian Charity 44 L. Byron's "Manfred, a Dramatic Poem" 45 The Beauties of Massinger 47-The Craniad 49 Annual Biography, &c.-Pascal's Letters... 50 Letters of Yorick in favour of the Church. 52 Dyer's Letters on the English Constitution 53 Bingley's Practical Introduction to Botany 54 Letters to a Mother-School Correspondence 55 Dr. Carey on Composition-Osman, a Tale ib. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE-Universities, &c. 58 SELECT POETRY, for July 1817. 42 Proceedings in the late Session of Parliament 65 Abstract of principal Foreign Occurrences... 73 Country News 77.-Domestic Occurrences 79 Promotions &c.; Births, and Marriages... 81 Obituary, with Anecd.of remarkable Persons. 83 Mr. Ponsonby; Duke of Northumberland 83 Madame de Stael-Holstein; Capt. Tuckey 85 Memoir of the late Rev. William D'Oyly... 93 Inquiries for a Topographer while travelling 26 Public-houses among the Classical Antients 27 "The Reign of Charles the First" in Annals? 28 Letter about Convocation in Ireland, 1678 30 Picture of a Tomb in Interior of St. Denys' 32 Monumental Dilapidations at Westminster 33 Climbing Boys-Timber resisting Dry Rot. 35 Herculaneum Rolls 37.-On Hydrophobia 40 Embellished with Perspective Views of an Antient CROSS and MANSION at GARSINGTON, Oxon; a Wood-Engraving of the FREE CHURCH at BRADFORD, Yorkshire; and a Plate Mr. CAPEL LOFFT's kind communication shall be thankfully attended to in the proper place. A FRIENDLY READER wishes to be informed where there exists an "accurate" plan of St. James's Palace; and whether there be any plans of its antient as well as present state—that is, since it first became the residence of our Sovereigns. U. L. suggests the inquiry, if it be not probable that Clerical Residence would be promoted, if there were greater facilities attending an Exchange of Livings. Health, and sometimes family connexions, are inducements with many to place Curates on their benefices, who otherwise would not withdraw from the duties attending on personal residence. Would it be deemed too great an incroachment made by the Legislature on the right of patronage, if Bishops, by a summary process, might effect Exchanges of Livings, between Incumbents not differing, as to age, more than a limited number of years, and without the expences of new presentations, &c.? Many would be induced to forego some pecuniary advantages, arising from superior emoluments of their benefices, for the sake of local convenience. A LAYMAN observes, that " under the existing Laws respecting the Residence of the Clergy, he understands that there is no exemption in favour of Canons and Prebendaries (with the exception of the Dean) so as to allow them to appear in their Collegiate Churches beyond the portion of time enjoined by the Statutes of such Churches; and this in general is for a single month in the year. The consequence is, that the Cathedral Stalls seldom present more than the Dean (and him not always) and one Prebendary; the remaining Dignitaries must be at their respective Cures. Surely this is carrying the rule of Parochial Residence too far: it is sacrificing the dignified appearance of Cathedrals, and of course lessens the veneration for those noble Establishments. It creates leveling notions, that every Stall is a sinecure; and excites contempt in the minds of many, who would otherwise form very different ideas. An appointment unexecuted always creates disgust and aversion; and this is not a time to encourage such sentiments." He trusts that Canons and Prebendaries will be allowed the option of appropriating some larger specific portion of the year to the duties of their Cathedrals, where their appearance will always give pleasure, as tending to usefulness, proper decorum, and the real advantage and interests of the Ecclesiastical Body in general. A benevolent Friend has communi cated an extract from a letter of an American Gentleman, containing a Recipe for the cure of the Stone, which having used for two months, he is in a fair way of being perfectly cured. "The Stone comes from me in small particles, and without much pain; so that it seems probable that in a few weeks I shall be able to attend to my business, which I have been incapable of doing for a considerable time." The remedy is stated to have been discovered by the following circumstance. A Physician who for 20 years had been afflicted with this disor der, came two years ago to the Medical Springs at Bedford in Pensylvania, to make use of the Waters. After being there for some time to no purpose, an African Negro proposed to cure him for a few pounds. Despising the offer, he rejected it; till at length, finding his dissolution drawing on, he sent for the Negro, and was perfectly cured in four weeks. The secret was disclosed for the purchase of his freedom; and the following is the remedy: "Take a quarter of a pint of the expressed juice of horsemint, and a quarter of a pint of red onion juice, evening and morning, till the cure is perfected. White onions will not have the same effect as red. To get the juice of them, they may be cut in thin slices, and well salted, and bruised between two pewter plates. It is, however, the juice of the horse-mint which possesses the most virtue in this disorder; and a strong decoction of this will generally, in time, effect a cure.” If used in this way, the dose of course should be considerably larger. SAPCOTIENSIS having observed, in the report of a late trial, some remarks on Tessera, as a material for roofing, suggests a much cheaper and more durable method. It is formed by dipping sheets of coarse paper (such as button-makers use) in boiling tar, and nailing them on boards or laths, exactly in the same manner as slates. Afterwards the whole is painted over with a mixture of pitch and powdered coal, chalk, or brickdust. This forms a texture, which completely resists every description of weather for an unknown length of time. He has been told that extensive warehouses at Deal, Dover, and Canterbury, and churches and farm-houses in the North, have been so roofed for more than 50 years, without requiring any repairs. As the roof is not made to rise more than two inches in a foot, the timber required is trifling, when compared with any other mode of roofing as now practised. |