1829.] A Walk to Beresford. has not been withheld from old Izaak. "To the admirers and visitors of the romantic and beautiful scenery of Dovedale and Ilam. "T. Atkins begs to inform the visitors to this most picturesque of all English scenery, that he has, at a considerable expense, fitted up the ISAAC WALTON HOTEL, for their accommodation; and trusts that the refreshments and apartments, as well as the attention paid them, will be such as to merit their patronage. "The situation of the ISAAC WALTON HOTEL is peculiarly advantageous, being the only hotel contiguous to the Dale, from the entrance to which it is only a quarter of a mile, and the same distance from Ilam Hall, the gardens of which are allowed to be visited twice in each week, viz. Mondays aud Thursdays. "To the admirers of Congreve, Darwin, Rousseau, Walton, and Dr. Johnson,* it will be unnecesary to add any thing in the way of description or inducement; to them it will be classic ground. Ilam, near Ashbourn, Oct. 1, 1827." Most of Walton's readers must be aware that he bequeathed to the Corporation of Stafford the rent of a farm near that place, then amounting to 214. 10s. per annum, to be by them appropriated to certain charitable purposes; but in the event of proceeds being fraudulently applied, the bequest was to be transferred to the neighbouring town of Eccleshall. The estate has not hitherto been forfeited, although, as appears from the Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into Public Charities (wherein it is particularly described), complaints have occasionally been made that the money was not distributed with perfect impartiality. The subjoined accounts of the manner in which the receipts have been expended in one or two recent instances, are from the Stafford News paper: * Congreve is said (I know not upon what authority) to have composed his "Old Bachelor" in Mr. Port's garden at Ilam; and Rousseau, during his visit to England, in 1766, resided for some time at Wotton in the neighbourhood. Mine host's reason for adding the names of Darwin and Johnson to the list, is not so obvious; possibly because the one was a native of the county, and the other passed the latter part of his life at Derby, no great distance from Dovedale! 111 "This week has been dispensed to the poor of the Borough of Stafford the bounty of the celebrated and ingenious Izaak Walton, a native of the place, who bequeathed a portion of the rents and profits of a farme' for the purchase of coals for some poor people,' to be delivered in January or February. I say then,' run the words of the humane testator, because I take that time to be the hardest and most pinching times with poor people.' The farm in question is now of considerable value, bringing in, we believe, about 80l. a year; and after deducting a moiety of the profits directed to be applied to the apprenticing of two boys, and in a gift to a maid-servant, or some honest poor man's daughter, a sufficient sum has this year remained for the purchase of a small allowance of coal to almost every poor family, which has this week been distributed."-Staffordshire Advertiser, 27 January, 1827. "On Monday last (Sunday being St. Thomas's Day,) the Corporation of this borough, in pursuance of the will of good old Izaak Walton,' gave 51. each with the son of Charles Smith's widow, and the son of William Pilsbury, on their being bound apprentices; also 51. to Martha Smith, for long servitude in one place and general good conduct, and 40s. each to ten burgesses of this borough."-(Ibid. 27 Dec. 1828.) * Respecting the song of Old Rose, which in The Complete Angler," the hunter proposes to sing, and about which inquiry is made, I regret that I can offer the new editor no satisfactory information; but he may console himself in some measure under his ill success upon this point, by the knowledge that the origin and meaning of the phrase, "Sing Old Rose, and burn the bellows," was as much a mystery a century or more ago, as at the present time. In 1708-9 there was published a periodical paper called "The British Apollo," purporting to convey "An It has, however, been recovered, and communicated, from "The Flowers of Harmony, a collection of Glees, Catches, &c." OLD ROSE. Now we are met, like jovial fellows, Sing, &c. &c. When the jowl with claret glows, 112 A Walk to Beresford.-The Influence of Comets. swers to Curious Questions in Arts and Sciences," but which in reality was nothing better than a collection of childish dissertations upon trivial subjects. In this delectable work I find the following silly query of Response respecting Old Rose, which I transcribe, not because they throw the smallest light upon the subject, but to show for how long a time the saying must have been obsolete: "Question. "We sent y' a letter t'other day, Of singing old Rose and burning the bellows. Answer. Your ditty, merry fellows, know, any While on the subject of old song, it may be remarked that the text of the one commencing "Like Hermit Poor," as engraved with the music in Major's edition (as I believe it is the same in all others), seems to be given very incorrectly. The editor of the forth [Aug. coming reprint will do well to consult a copy of the poem in question, given at p. 115 of Clifford's "Tixall-Poetry," 1813, from which I think he may adopt various emendations. One word more about Walton's book. In turning to the passage which mentions Old Rose, the following quotation caught my eye: "Many a one Owes to his country his religion; May I ask from whose works Izaak took this passage, which is evidently the original of the following, by Dryden : "By education most have been misled, So they believe, because they so were bred; The priest continues what the nurse began, And thus the child imposes on the man.' JAMES BROUGHTON. Mr. URBAN, Aug. 10. AM glad to perceive that a Correspondent, in pt. i. p. 409, takes the same view that I do of the influence of Comets on our system. I know not whether or no he has seen my late publication "On the Atmospherical Origin of the exciting Cause of Diseases, but if not, he will find therein abundant proof of what he has hinted at respecting the manner in which Comets disturb our system; and by rousing volcanos, producing earthquakes, and deranging in some unknown manner the atmospherical electricity, not only give a peculiar character to the seasons, but produce various forms of pestilence and famine. I was led to a knowledge of this fact, as it were, by accident, while I was examining a long historical Catalogue of pestilences and plagues which I had made, with a view of illustrating the atmospherical nature of such disorders of health. I perceive, to my surprise, that the years of general pestilence were years in which there were Comets. And this, indeed, was the almost universal belief of the ancient physicians and astronomers. The notions entertained by Kepler the astronomer, on this subject, are well known; and however much some astronomers may affect to laugh at them, a long and patient examination of facts has convinced me that they will be found T. FORSTER. correct. 1829.] Bardon Hill.-Bp. Hooper's Homily, 1553. Mr. URBAN, rest of Charnwood in Leicestershire. Mr. Marshall, in his Agricultural Survey of Leicestershire, thus notices the Hills of Charnwood: "Like the Malvern Hills," he says, "their style is singular; but the style of one is very different from that of the other. The Malvern Hills, seen from a distance, bear a most striking resemblance to the Atlantic Islands; towering up high and ragged; and, on a bear view, appear as one large mountain fragment. The Charnwood hills, on the contrary, seen obscurely, appear as an extensive range of mountains, much larger, and of course much more distant, than they really are. When approached, the mountain style is still preserved; the prominences are distinct, sharp, and most of them pointed with ragged rock. One of these prominences, Bardon Hill, rises above the rest; and, though far from an elevated situation, comparatively with the more northern mountains, commands, in much probability, a greater extent of surface than any other point of view in the island. It is entirely insulated, standing every way at a considerable distance froin lands equally high. The horizon appears to rise almost equally on every side: it is quite an ocean view, from a ship out of sight of land; at least more so than any other land view I have seen. The midland district is almost every acre of it seen lying at its feet. Lincoln Cathedral, at the distance of near sixty miles, makes a prominent object from it. With a good glass, the Dunstable hills, at little less than eighty miles, may, it is said, be distinctly seen. The Malvern hills, May hill, and the Sugar Loaf in South Wales, are distinctly in view. Enville, the Wrekin, and other mountains in Shropshire and North Wales, are equally distinguishable. And the Derbyshire hills, to the highest peak, appear at hand. An outline described from the extremities of the views would include near one fourth of England and Wales. It may be deemed without risk, I apprehend, one of the most extraordinary points of view in nature." In the same plate is represented the antient mansion, for many generations the residence of the family of Hood. It is situated at the foot of the hill, 10 GEST. MAG. August, 1829. 113 miles from Leicester, and seven from Ashby de la Zouch. Bardon Park was formerly the inheritance of the Lords Beaumont. It afterwards, on the attainder of its possessor Francis Lord Lovell, came to King Henry VIII. who in 1528 granted it to Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset. On the attainder of Henry Duke of Suffolk, in 1552, it again became the property of the Crown. In 1569, Bardon Park was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Henry Hastings, knt. and Henry Cutler, gent.; from whom it was alienated to the family of Hood; who were originally settled at Wilford near Nottingham; but became resident at Bardon in the time of Henry VIII. though not seised thereof till the reign of Elizabeth. The estate is now the property of William Hood, esq. a barrister-at-law, and one of the senior benchers of the Inner Temple. As Mr. Hood resides chiefly in the Metropolis, Bardon Park is inhabited by his brother Edmund Hood, esq. The lordship of Bardon is extraparochial; and contains about 1300 acres, divided into eight farms and twelve houses, and contains about 80 inhabitants. N. R. S. I Mr. URBAN, Exeter, July 27. written on the occasion of a tempo- ter. "* might discover what they sought afThis Homily could not have been seen either by Granger or Bromley, from the portrait being unnoticed by them; for we find only two printed portraits of Edward VI. heretofore re *Burnet, vol. ii. coll. 32. |