1 so small, that none were permitted to bring their dead there The next number is of a more classical kind: Observations it may A Description of the Church of Melbourne in Derbyshire is given by William Wilkins, Esq. who, in the course of his dissertation, attempts to correct an error or misconception, concerning the Porticus of antient churches, into which, he thinks, Mr. Bentham has fallen in his learned and ingenious remarks on the Saxon buildings of this kind. As we cannot well explain this subject to our readers, which a view of the plates would accomplish at once, we pass to another topic; only observing that Mr. Bentham is considered as the first author who professedly treats of the origin and progress of church architecture. We wonder not that high veneration for the character and principles of our renowned Alfred should have induced Henry Howard, Esq. when at Winchester in the year 1797, to search attentively for the tomb of this monarch; and we unite with him in lamenting the failure of his researches. Antient history has informed us that, in the year 1112, the remains of Alfred were translated with great pomp to a tomb in the magnificent abbey-church built by Henry the First, and called Hyde, near the walls of the city of Winchester: but few indeed are now the visible memorials of this once capital erection. The spot on which it stood has been purchased by the county, and on it the New Gaol or Bridewell has been built; and we are equally surprised with this writer, when we are told that this occurred so late as the year 1788, and that no one in the neighbourhood, led either by curiosity or veneration, attempted to discover and rescue the remains of Alfred from their ignoble fate. Mr. Howard, a casual visitor of the place, exerted his endeavours, and found in the keeper of the Bridewell a respectable and intelligent man, who afforded him some informa tion, though not of the most pleasing kind. Among other particulars, it is said that a stone coffin was discovered, cased with lead both within and without, containing some bones and remains of garments: this lead, in its decayed state, sold for two guineas; but the bones were thrown about, and the coffin was 1 1 was broken into pieces: other coffins were also found. Was there no inhabitant of Winchester, who could preserve from oblivion the memorials of a prince so deservedly respected, and really illustrious?-Where were the members of Wickham college, or the Dean and Chapter, &c. of that rich cathedral? Mr. Astle communicates the Copy of a curious Record of Pardon in the Tower of London.-Cecilia Rigeway was indicted, at the assizes at Nottingham in 1357, for the murder of her husband; and, as she would not plead, sentence was passed on her, and she was remanded to the prison; where she remained, as the record states, for forty days, without sustenance. Mr. Astle remarks,- What collusion or intercourse might have been between Mrs. Rigeway and the keeper of the prison, must for ever remain a secret. But that she subsisted in prison, for forty days, without meat or drink, was believed to have been by a miraculous interposition in her favour; otherwise this solemn instrument, under the Great Seal of England, would not have passed.' The last tract in this volume, in its regular course (No. xxx.), is a copy of an original manuscript, which bears for its title, "A Breviate touching the Order of Government of a Nobleman's House, with the Officers, theire Places and Chardge, as perticularly appearethe." We have no farther historical account of it, than that it was purchased by Sir Joseph Banks at the sale of the late Marquis of Donegal's library: but it carries us back to no very distant period, being dated A. D. 1605. We find here. great state; although, in the absence of the family, the house and furniture might probably make what would now be deemed a mean appearance, the tapestries, coverings, and other ornaments being withdrawn.-The officers first pass in review, and are instructed in the nature and business of their place;-such as, Stewarde, Comptroller, Surveyor, Receavore, Gentleman Usher, Gentleman of Horsse, Learned Stewarde, Auditor, Clarcke of the Kittchine, Yeoman of the Ewerie,-of the Seller,-of the Greate Chamber,-of the Halle,-of the Pantrie, of the Butterie,-of the Wardrobes,-of the Horsse,-of the Cookes, Yeoman Porter, Bruer, &c.' From this recital, it may be concluded that this breviate was intended for a nobleman high in rank, or of very large fortune.-The office of Gentleman Usher is discussed with peculiar care; especially what relates to the great chamber; for in that place there must bee noe delaye, because it is the place of state, and the ieyes of all the best sorte of stranngers bee there lookers on; that what faulte, beeing there committed, bee never so littell, sheweth more than any place ells wheresoever, and therefore a speciall respecte, care, and diligens, is to bee had therein, for D 2 for that place, before all others, is the cheefe and principal staite in the house; for service there not dewlie and comlie donne, disgraceth all the rest in any place ells, as littell woorth, what chardge of entertaynement soever bee bestowede; wherefore the gentleman usher is to take a special care herein for theire creddite sake and honnor of that place: he is to command and to have at commaundemente all the gentlemen and yeomen wayters, and to see into their behaviors and fashion, that it bee civill, comlie, and well, and if any defects bee, in any of them, they are to instructe them in curteous manner, which is both good for them, and bettereth the lordes service,' &c. ( A monthly Table, with a Diatorie, belonging thereunto, of all such Provisions as bee in seasone through the whole Yeare, is added. We find the word earable here used for arable, and earing-time appears to signify the season of ploughing. In the notes, it is said, 'In the list of birds and fowls here served up at table in a nobleman's house, it is hardly necessary to observe that many, if not most of them, are considered at this time as being rank carrion.' This expression is rather too strong: however, some of them are unknown; and several others, as articles of food, are quite neglected: Craynes' seem to have forsaken these islands. It may excite a smile to hear it said of Stares, or Starlings, Stares flesh is dry and savery, and good against all poyson.'-Some necessarie instructions' follow, relative to agriculture, woods, cattle, &c. for every month of the year. We observe that January and February are pointed out as the properest season for felling all woodes for housholde provision, and likewife timber for durable buildinge:' but if thebarcke' be desired, then this writer adds, I houlde fellinge of such timber to bee best when the sappe putteth forth the buddes with some leaves in the topps of the trees, but I hardlie look ever for good timber to growe of such stovens so felled in that seasone.' He modestly concludes the whole in these terms:-These few notes within written I have thought good to sett doune for the better understanding of such who have not bine acquanted therwith, though to moste good husbands, with many other secrets, they bee better knowne than I ether cann or will take upon me to express. 1606.' The above articles are, as usual, followed by an Appendix, formed of extracts from such communications as the Council have not chosen to publish entire. Among these are,-an account of two antient Snuff-boxes found under a Stair case in the Tower; in one of them the spoon still remains: but their date, and the materials of which they are fabricated, do not appear;Latin Inscription taken from a Stone in Bookham Church, Surry, which commemorates its being built in 1341;-Copy of an origi nal Record in the Reign of Edwarde the Sixte, relative to Armorial Bearings-Farther Extracts from Dr. Leith's original Manuscript, mentioned in our former account of this volume, No.V.: they relate to Bowes, Crosbowes, Bowestaves, Longebow Arrowes, Muskett Arrowes, Bow-stringes, Lyvery Arrowes, Arrowes for Fiervoorkes, Shooting-gloves, &c. stored at many different places, A.D. 1599;-Seal belonging to the Prior of the Friars Austins at Norwich, supposed to be of the time of Edward III. ;- Ditto belonging to the Black Friars in the City of Oxford;-Fac-Simile of a Roman Altar lately found at Lancaster, a votive tablet, which is thought to indicate that this was the situation of the Roman station Longovicum, specified in the itinerary of Antoninus ;Copy of an Original Paper, dated in May 1577, indorsed, Thomas Shakespeares Bill;' he was a messenger for the Queenes Mats. chamber,' and here asketh allowaunce' of six shillings and eight pence for having been sent to the houses of several Bishops' at different places ;-Several Urns, with their mouths, downwards, covering Bones, which appear to have been burnt, found in levelling a barrow on Buxton Common, Norfolk, and probably very antient ;-Pig of Lead; Mr. Pegge's translation of the inscription on which (vol. ix. p. 45.) is, and we, believe justly, pronounced to be erroneous; the true translation seems to be, the Tribute of Tiberius Claudius, paid out of British Money'-Inscription also on the Window of Brereton Church, Cheshire, is said not to have been exactly copied; the mistake is rectified, but the difficulty or uncertainty respecting the person of Thomas Becket does not appear to be removed;Appendix to Inscriptions in the Tower, London, consists of a printed tract, exceedingly rare, intitled, "The Ende of Ladye Jane upon the Scaffolde, printed, it is believed, in the first year of the reign of Queen Mary-An antient Egyptian engraved Copper-plate, is, we apprehend, a very curious relic, but we can notice only one remark concerning it by the Rev. Mr. Coxe; who says, 'I take it to be a numerical talisman of three by seven and three by three;'-The last article is an Oeolipile, or metal instrument, which, being filled with water and exposed to fire, produces a strong blast of wind: this uncouth and frightful figure, found at Basingstoke, is companion to another image described by Dr. Plot, in his History of Staffordshire, under the name of Jack of Hilton, All the articles of this volume are not equally interesting, but, on the whole, it affords considerable information and amusement. Besides a few Vignettes, twenty-seven plates add + Do. vol. ii, N.S. p. 15, * See M. Rev. vol. i. N. S. p. 381. D3 to to the value of the publication; they are executed with great attention, and we believe that the references are generally very exact: the neglect of which, in some works, is a very great deficiency, and causes' much inconvenience. ART. VII. Lectures on Diet and Regimen: being a Systematic Inquiry into the most rational Means of preserving Health and prolonging Life: together with Physiological and Chemical Expla nations; calculated chiefly for the Use of Families, in order to banish the prevailing Abuses and Prejudices in Medicine. By A. F. M. Willich, M. D. Svo. pp. 690. gs. Boards. Longman and Rees. ין T cannot be expected that we should enter into a particular analysis of this large volume; which is intended merely to convey, in a popular form, doctrines and facts that have already met with general assent. We may recommend it to general readers who are fond of dabbling in medical subjects, as a good compilation, delivered in plain and pretty correct language, entirely divested of the tendency to promote quacking, of which some other popular works have justly been accused; and as containing all the knowlege which can be usefully applied by common readers, while that which might be dangerously abused is properly with-holden. We must add, however, that it includes a section which should have been entirely omitted, because no respectable female (and female readers are particularly comprehended in a book professedly calculated for the use of families) can peruse it with propriety and satisfaction: we mean the dissertation on the Sexual Intercourse; a subject of which the physical view should certainly be reserved for medical men. In the third edition of the work, indeed, which we have lately seen, some unnecessary details of this descriptionhave been retrenched: but extirpation would have been the better cure for this complaint. In the first part of the volume, we meet with an amusing account of some modern Empirics, who have contrived to attract a great share of attention, (and of money also,) in this very philosophical and discriminating age. We extract a portion of it, for the reader's entertainment: One of the most dazzling and successful inventors in modern times was MESSMER, who began his career of Medical Knight errantry at Vienna. His house was the mirror of high life; the rendezvous of the gay, the young, the opulent, enlivened and entertained with continual concerts, routs, and illuminations. At a great expence he imported into Germany the first Harmonica from this country; he established cabinets of natural curiosities, and laboured constantly and secretly in his chemical laboratory; so that he acquired Hi. |