in Flanders, founded the abbey of Boxley for monks of the Cistercian order, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary, as all houses of that order were. In 1189 king Richard I. gave the manor to the abbey, which was aggrandized and variously privileged by successive monarchs. Edward I. summoned the abbot of Boxley to parliament. At the dissolution, Boxley shared the common fate of church lands, and Henry VIII. reserved it to the crown, but by indenture exchanged the abbey and manor, excepting the parsonage and advowson, with Sir Thomas Wyatt, of Allyngton, Knt., for other premises. Two years afterwards Boxley was again vested in the crown. Queen Mary granted the manor to the lady Jane Wyatt, widow of Sir Thomas, and her heirs male in capite, by knight's service. It again reverted to the crown, by attainder of blood, which was restored by act of parliament to George Wyatt, Esq., who, by a grant from the crown, possessed this estate in fee; and his descendant, Richard Wyatt, Esq., who died in 1753, bequeathed it, with other estates, to Lord Romney. The abbey passed through the families of Silyard and Austen, to John Amhurst, of Rochester, Esq., afterwards of Bensted.* A little tract, "Summer Wanderings in Kent, 1830," which may be considered as almost privately published-for it is printed and sold at Camberwell-mentions the remains of this ancient edifice, and the title page is frontispieced with a view of the old oak growing from the ruined wall, as it is here represented The engraving is referred to in the annexed extracts from the "Wanderings:" "Over the fields to Boxley Abbey, once notorious as the scene of a pious fraud-the notorious 'Rood of Grace,' burnt afterwards at Paul's Cross, which, according to Lambard, could 'bow itself, lift up itself, shake and stir the hands and feete, nod the head, roll the eyes, wag the chaps, and bend the browes,' to admiration. The principal remains [of the abbey] consist of a long barn, a brick gateway and lodge, and the boundary wall thickly overgrown with ivy, in which I observed an oak of considerable magnitude and apparently in a flourishing state, notwithstanding the rigid soil in which it grows, the roots in several places, where they had displaced parts of the wall, being as thick as a man's le leg. The Indian Peepul-tree seems to delight in similar situations, where it attains such a size as frequently to throw down, not only walls, but whole buildings. "Passed a spinney, cheered by the fall of unseen waters; and forcing a passage through the hedge which guarded it, arrived at a beautiful cascade, remarkable for encrusting with a pearly coat any substance immersed in it. Towards the hills, where I saw a pair of ravens swinging on a strong breeze over a thick cover, into which they soon dropped, and a hawk breasting the pure air far above them. Gained the summit, and gazed awhile on the varied prospect before me. Saw a stone with this inscription : The Here I was set great, Judg as for your ease. (1409-1609.) purpose for which it was erected cannot be determined with any certainty. It has the appearance of a stepping block for enabling horsemen to mount; or perhaps some worthy friar of the neighbouring abbey of Boxele,' willing to do a service to kindred minds, caused it to be planted here for the ease of such as might repair to the delightful eminence which it is set, 'to meditate at eventide.' on "Shaped my course eastward, and obtained a charming view of Boxley church, with its green church-yard finely relieved against a cluster of towering trees, and reposing in a quiet valley, surrounded by scenery the most luxuriant and extensive. "After forcing a passage through thickets and brakes, I came suddenly upon the new pathway cut by Lord Romney in a zig-zag direction down the hill, at a point where the branches of two venerable yew trees meet across it, a pillared shade Upon whose grassless floor of red-brown hue Of boughs, as if for festal purpose decked "About this walk, the greater part of which is open to the charming landscape below, are planted numerous firs, from whose dusky recesses the new foliage shot forth, like spent stars from a jet of fire dropping through the still twilight. Heard the tinkling of a sheep-bell, and the shrill whistle of a lazy urchin stretched in the shadow of a neighbouring thicket, and soon caught a glimpse of the flock hurrying down from the skirts of a coppice to the more open pasture below. A short walk brought us to Boxley. In the church-yard, I noticed a plain memorial for 'Rose Bush,' aged 21-a fine theme for the punster and the poet.". SPEECH FROM A TREE. A prodigal, who was left by his father in possession of a large estate, well-conditioned, impaired it by extravagance. He wanted money, and ordered a number of timber trees, near the mansion, to be felied for sale. He stood by, to direct the laborers, when suddenly a hollow murmuring was heard within the trunk of a venerable oak, and, after several groans, a voice from the tree distinctly said : "My young master, "Your great grandfather planted me when he was much about your age, for the use of his posterity. I am the most ancient tree in your forest, and have largely contributed by my products to people it. There is, therefore, some respect due to my services, if none to my years. I cannot well remember your great grandfather, but I recollect the favor of your grandfather; and your father was not neglectful of me. My shade assisted his rest when he was fatigued by the sultry heat, and these arms have sheltered him from sudden showers. You were his darling, and, if the wrinkles of age have not obliterated them, you may see your name traced in several places by his own hand on my trunk. "I could perish without regret, if my fall would do you any real service. Were I destined to repair your mansion, or your tenants' ploughs and carts, and the like, I should fulfil the end for whici. I exist to be useful to my owner. But to be trucked away for vile gold, to satisfy the demand of honorable cheats, and be rendered subservient to profligate luxury, is more than a tree of any spirit can bear. "Your ancestors never thought you would make havoc and waste of the woods they planted. While they lived it was a pleasure to be a tree; the old ones amongst us were honored, and the young ones were encouraged around us. Now, we must all fall without distinction, and in a short time the birds will not find a branch to build or roost upon. Yet, why should we complain? Almost all your farms have followed you to London, and, of course, we must take the same journey. "An old tree loves to prate, and you will excuse me if I have been too free with my tongue. I hope that advice from an oak may make more impression upon you than the representations of your steward. My ancestors of Dodona were often consulted, and why should a British tree be denied liberty of speech ? "But you are tired, you wish me to remain dumb. I will not detain you, though you will have too much reason to remember me when I am gone. I only beg, if I must fall, that you will send me to one of his majesty's dock-yards, where my firmness and integrity may be employed in the service of my country, while you, who are a slave to your wants, only live to enslave it." The prodigal could bear no more: he ordered the oak to be dispatched, and the venerable tree fell without a groan February 24. ST. MATTHIAS. The name of this apostle in the church calendar denotes this to be a holiday.* 1655. Feb. 24. Mr. Eve.yn notes his having seen a curious mechanical contrivance. " I was shewed a table clock, whose balance was only a chrystal ball sliding on parallel irons without being at all fixed, but rolling from stage to stage till falling on a spring concealed from sight, it was thrown up to the utmost channel again, made with an imperceptible declivity; in this continual vicissitude of motion prettily entertaining the eye every half minute, and the next half giving progress to the hand that showed the hour, and giving notice by a small bell, so as in 120 half minutes, or periods of the bullets falling on the ejaculatory spring, the clock-part struck. This very extraordinary piece (richly adorned) had been presented by some German prince to our * For St. Matthias, see Every Day Book, ii. 254. St. Magnus, London Bridge 9579 19 10 White willow flowers. Particolor crocus flowers. February 25. 1725. Feb. 25. Sir Christopher Wren died in the ninety-first year of his age. He was born at Knoyle near Hindon, in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Besides being the architect and builder of St. Paul's Cathedral, he erected Greenwich Hospital, Chelsea Hospital, the Theatre at Oxford, Trinity College Library, Emanuel College, Cambridge, the Monument in London, and Queen Anne's fifty churches. The recent addition of churches to London may render a list of the expences of Sir Christopher Wren's edifices useful. COST OF THE LONDON CHURCHES, built by Sir Christopher Wren, including the Monument. £. St. Mildred, Bread-street St. Mildred, Poultry St. Nicholas Cole Abbey. St. Olave, Jewry St. Peter, Cornhill St. Swithin, Canon-street. 3705 13 61 4654 9 7월 5042 6 11 5580 4 10 5647 8 2 4687 4 6 7652 13 8 St. Stephen, Walbrook St. Vedast, Foster-lane 1853 15 6 8856 8 0* Beetle willow flowers, and is quickly succeeded by most of the tribe. The willow affords the "palm," which is still fetched into town on Palm Sunday. February 26. 1723. Feb. 26. Died, "Tom D'Urfey," or, as Noble calls him, Thomas D'Urfey, Esq. He was bred to the bar. With too much wit, and too little diligence, for the law, and too little means to live upon " as a gentleman," he experienced the varied fortunes of men with sparkling talents, who trust to their pens for their support. Little more is known_of D' Urfey, than that he was born in Devonshire. His plays, which are numerous, have not been acted for many years, and his poems are seldom read. He was an accepted wit at court, after the restoration. Charles II. would often lean on his shoulder, and hum a tune with him; and he frequently entertained queen Anne, by * Gents. Mag. 1784. singing catches and glees. He was called "Honest Tom," and, being a tory, was beloved by the tories; yet his manners were equally liked by the whigs. The author of the prologue to D'Urfey's last play, says, Though Tom the poet writ with ease and pleasure, The comic Tom abounds in other treasure. D'Urfey's "Pills to purge Melancholy" are usually among the "facetiæ" of private libraries. Addison was a friend to him, and often pleaded with the public in his behalf.-"He has made the world merry," says Addison, " and I hope they will, make him easy, as long as he stays among us. This I will take upon me to say, they cannot do a kindness to a more diverting companion, or a more cheerful, honest, good-natured man." D'Urfey died aged, and was buried in the cemetery of St. James's Church, Westminster. D'Urfey, and Bello, a musician, had high words once at Epsom, and swords were resorted to, but with great caution. A brother wit maliciously compared this rencontre with that mentioned in Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia, between Clinias and Dametas. " I sing of a duel in Epsom befel, plate, and Dryden made him a handsome Sun rises sets h. m. 4 48 6 41 5 19 Twilight ends 7 12 Early whitlow grass flowers. "Tom Brown" was another of the wits, as they were called in a licentious age. His father was a Shropshire farmer, and Tom was educated at Newport school, and Christ Church College, Oxford. Taking advantage of a remittance from an indulgent parent, and thinking he had a sufficiency of learning and wit, he left Oxford, for London. He soon saw his last "golden Carolus Secundus" reduced to " fractions," and exchanged the gay metropolis for Kingston-upon-Thames, February 26. Day breaks where he became a schoolmaster; for which situation he was admirably qualified by a competent knowledge of the Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish languages. But he lacked diligence, became disgusted with keeping a school, returned to London, and the wits laughed. His "Conversion of Mr. Bays," related in dialogue, raised his character with the public, for sense and humor. This was followed by other dialogues, odes, satires, letters, epigrams, and numerous translations. But Tom's tavern bills were long, and he lived solely by a pen, which, as well as his tongue, made him more enemies than friends. In company he was a railing buffoon, and he liberally scattered low abuse, especially against the clergy. He became indigent: lord Dorset, pitying his misfortunes, invited him to a Christmas dinner, and put a £50 note under his February 27. . Hare hunting ends to day, and this termination is usually celebrated by sportsmen with convivial dinners, and toasts of " success to the next merry meet-.: ing." 1734-5, Died Dr. John Arbuthnot, a physician, and a deservedly eminent wit, and man of letters, among the choice spirits of the reign of queen Anne. He was of an ancient and honorable family * Noble. in Scotland, one branch of which is ennobled. His father was an episcopal clergyman, and he was born at Arbuthnot, in Kincardineshire. After receiving an education at Aberdeen, he came to England with the degree of doctor, but without money or friends; for his father being a nonjuror, and living upon a small patrimony, was incapable of providing for his children. The doctor went to practice physic at Dorchester, but the salubrity of the air was unfriendly to his success, and he took horse for London. A neighbour, meeting him on full gallop, asked him where he was going? "To leave your confounded place, where I can neither live nor die." Mr. William Pate, "the learned woollen draper," gave him an asylum at his house in the metropolis, where he taught mathematics, without venturing on medicine. Objections which he urged, without his name, against Dr. Woodward's Account of the Deluge, raised him into esteem, and he resumed his profession, in which he soon obtained celebrity. His wit and plea h. m. and in some cases superseded the neces santry some time assisted his prescriptions, February 27. Day breaks 4 47 Sun rises 6 39 sity of prescribing. Queen Anne and her consort appointed him their physician; the Royal Society elected him a member, and the college of Physicians followed. He gained the admiration of Swift, Pope, and Gay, and with them he wrote and laughed. No man had more friends, or fewer enemies; yet he did not want energy of character; he diverged from the laughter-loving mood to tear away the mask from the infamous "Charitable Corporation." He could do all things well but walk. His health declined, while his mind remained sound to the last. He long wished for death to release him from a complication of disorders, and declared himself tired with "keeping so much bad company." A few weeks before his decease he wrote, "I am as well as a man can be who is gasping for breath, and has a house full of men and women unprovided for." Leaving Hampstead, he breathed his last at his residence in Cork street, Burlington Gardens. Dr. Arbuthnot was a man of great humanity and benevolence. Swift said to Pope," O that the world had but a dozen Arbuthnots in it, I would burn my travels." Pope no less passionately lamented him, said of "He was a man of humor, whose mind seemed to be always pregnant with comic ideas."Arbuthnot was, indeed, seldom seri February 28. In the February of 1798 died at Carlisle, aged sixty-six, Mr. J. Strong, who, though blind from his infancy, distinguished himself by a wonderful proficiency in mechanics. At an early age he constructed an organ, his only knowledge of such an instrument having been previously obtained by once secreting himself in the cathedral after the evening service, and thereby getting an opportunity of examining the instrument. Having disposed of his first organ, he made another, upon which he was accustomed to play during his life. At twenty years of age he could make himself almost every article of dress, and was often heard to say that the first pair of shoes which he made were for the purpose of walking to London, to "visit the celebrated Mr. Stanley, organist of the Temple church." This visit he actually paid, and was much gratified with the journey. He indulged his fancy in making a great variety of minia * Noble, &c. |