TO SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. ON COMPLETING HIS NINETY-FIRST VOLUME. As choicest flowers of variegated die, Around the air their fragrant sweets supply, But now what Plates superb attract the sight! Where the wide "world of waters" fiercely roars, That memorable hard-contested field, Which BUONAPARTE was constrain'd to yield, And when arriv'd in HANOVER's domain, PREFACE. THE most important feature of the present Volume is the Account of the Coronation of his Majesty George IV. This may be considered an interesting record to the future Historian. Every particular relative to that memorable occasion is circumstantially detailed. To render this document still more valuable, for future reference, several illustrative Embellishments have been introduced. This Volume will, therefore, we flatter ourselves, retain its value, when the Publication has passed the centenary of its existence. Our object has not been to promote temporary gratification alone-a system generally pursued by many ephemerals of the day—but to give perpetuity to the memorable annals of that grand and National Ceremony. It is a singular coincidence that we should also record, in the same Volume, and even in the same Month, the final dissolution of an Individual who was once the most powerful Ruler in Europe. This is a subject worthy of reflection. It introduces to the consideration of the Historian the conduct and the actions of two of the most potent and determined Rivals that ever appeared on the face of Europe. From the few historical facts we may adduce, some opinion may be formed. The most prejudiced minds cannot but admit the energy of those Councils, which, under the auspices of our present most gracious Sovereign, brought the desolating struggle of twenty-two years to so glorious a termination. If we only revert to the distance of ten years, what a contrast is presented. Napoleon then stood on the towering summit of his greatness. With the exception of England all Europe crouched at his feet ;Thrones and Empires trembled at his nod. The Russians and Prussians had been degraded by the treaty of Tilsit; the Portuguese Court had emigrated to the Brazils; the Spanish Throne had been abdicated, and the Royal Family being enveigled into France, by the treachery of her Ruler, Joseph Buonaparte usurped the Sovereignty of the Realm. The Trade and Commerce of Great Britain with the Continent, at this period, were almost annihilated, owing to the odious decrees of Berlin and Milan. The The Attila of France, and the Scourge of Europe, was in the plenitude of his power. At this alarming crisis, 1811, his present most gracious Majesty was appointed Regent of the United Kingdom. The National hopes revived. The energy of his Councils afforded the most sanguine expectations. From this era may be dated the subversion of the Tyrant's throne. The French were shortly after defeated at Talavera, Albuera, and Barrossa. The victory of Salamanca soon followed. In 1812 the French were expelled from Moscow, and signally routed at Borodino, Bautzen, and Lutzen. The distinguished victories of Vittoria, Saragossa, St. Sebastian, Pampeluna, &c. under the illustrious Wellington, are within the recollection of all. After the important affairs of Leipsic and Dresden the fall of Napoleon was rapid indeed. He became a Captive; effected his escape, and was again subdued by British valour on the ever memorable field of Waterloo. Exiled from Europe, his days were terminated in solitude, with scarcely an individual to regret his miserable dissolution; whilst his powerful and persevering Rival ascended the Throne of his illustrious Ancestors, surrounded by the blessings of universal Peace, and the admiration of the whole World. We express our grateful acknowledgments for the liberal support we continue to receive; and return our sincerest thanks to the numerous Contributors who honour us with their kind assistance; and by whose talents our pages continue to be enriched. MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. We feel obliged to FRANCISCUS, for the drawing of Axminster Church; but it has already appeared in vol. LXII. 881. We subjoin however his account of the edifice : Some part of Axminster Church was built in the fourteenth century; the West end and tower are of more recent date. There is a very fine specimen of Norman Architecture in a door at the East end, and a window in the chancel contains something of Norman, probably at the decline. The altar window is very large, and the glass has lately been stained to very great perfection. There are three doors to this Church, North, East, and West. The North appears to have been built in the seventeenth century. The West, which is the principal entrance, and has a very insignificant appearance, was probably built at the same time as the whole of the West end. The tower is particularly low, and contains three but very indifferent bells. The battlements are very antient. The Church is 70 feet long and 35 broad at the widest part. The pulpit is very antient carved work. The aisles are composed of four plain arches of Norman, which support a slanting roof; the roof of the chancel is flat, and the parapet véry high which sur rounds it. There have been many recent improvements in this Church, viz. the organ and gallery, the pews and seats for charity children; the pulpit is seated at the West end and in the middle of the Church. There are a variety of monuments." E. informs QUESTOR (Pt. I. 482.) that the Unicorn superseded the Dragon, as sinister supporter of the Royal Arms, in 1603, when James the First came to the throne, who, being King of Scotland as well as England, changed the Dragon to the Unicorn (two Unicorns being the supporters of Scotland.) W. H. T. states, in reference to the account of St. Donat's Castle (Pt. I. 489) that' "Sir Thomas Stradling (the last of the family) who died in 1738, left his property by will to an ancestor of T. Drake Tyrwhit, Esq. M. P. and the castle and domain around still belongs to Mr. Tyrwhit. Some years after the death of Sir T. Stradling a part of the St. Donat's Estate went to the family of the Mansels of Margam, by compromise, owing to the will of the deceased Baronet being disputed." "A CONSTANT READER" is apprehensive that in his paper relative to the Gardiner Family (see p. 395), he ought to have stated the lady, whose monumental inscription X. has recorded, to have been the niece, and not the sister, to the heiress of the Smythe family, whom Dr. Bernard Gardiner married. He omitted also to mention that the arms borne by the first Baronets, Gardiner (and still continued under the new creation) are, Or, on a chevron Gules, between three griffins heads erased Azure, two lions counterpassant, of the field. Crest, a Saracen'a Head, couped at the shoulders, proper." We are obliged to N. Y. W. G. for his information relative to the Gardiner Family; but it is superseded by Kimber's and other Baronetages. PHILIP says, "If the Commissioners for building additional Churches should be at a loss for a name to designate a holy edifice, I beg permission to suggest the propriety of mentioning a martyr much more worthy of notice than the greater part of those who are in the Calendar; I mean ST. ANTIPAS, the only person whom our Lord Jesus Christ mentions by name as having suffered death for his sake. "Antipas," (says he, in the Epistle to the Church at Pergamos), " my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth." Rev. ii. 13. specting this Martyr," says Dean Wodehouse, no account whatever has been preserved to these times." Re B. desires information on the following passage: March 17, 1747, (no date of place,) Mr. Th. Kemp writes to Mr. Wyatt at Cheam, "a new very High Church Book is lately come hither from the good town of Manchester, said to be written by Dr. Deacon of that place, Physician of Soul and Body; it is called, A View of Christianity, without regard to any party,' as the book says; but rather with intent of approaching nearer Popery, and reconciling us all the sooner thereto, and consequently to reconcile us to somewhat else, as bad or worse; so you must expect to hear of wars by pen and ink, which, though mixed with gall, as there will be no gunpowder used, will not produce bloodshed. What a restless crew they are!" -Query. Who was Dr. Deacon, and what was his Book? A BIOGRAPHER requests the name of the author of "A Dissertation on the Egyptian Language." He was living in 1779, as in that year he appears to have patronized the (future) learned Professor WHITE. LATHBURIENSIS wishes for some particulars concerning the Lucy Family; In the Sketch Book (he says), is an interesting account of the author's visit to Charlecot, but containing no real information; little is now known of this family, and for that they are indebted to the malice of Shakspeare."Query, Did he introduce the honourable character of Sir William Lucy into the First Part of Henry VI. by way of conciliating them? During the Civil Wars it appears that they embraced the royal cause; as Spencer Lucy, Esq. of Charlecot, compounded for his estate with the Usurping Powers at 3513l. |