English poetry, several of Lydgate's works, Occleve, Hampole, and a metrical Capgrave. There is a second MS. of Euclid, with diagrams; a copy of the Greek Gospels; manuscripts of Eusebius and Theodoret; an old English manuscript of the Rule of the Monastery of Sion; and a very remarkable manuscript of Leonardo da Vinci. A sufficient list has been here enumerated to show the good sense of the President and Council of the Royal Society in offering the collection, in exchange for duplicate books of science, to the trustees of the British Museum. These subjects being totally foreign to the purposes for which the Royal Society was instituted, and the British Museum having become the general depository of manuscripts, Sir Humphry Davy, at the time he was President, suggested the exchange now contemplated. In the course of the present year, the negotiation has been brought to a successful issue; and all the essential conditions of the exchange have been agreed upon, not only with the knowledge, but with the entire consent and approbation of the present Duke of Norfolk, and of his son the Earl of Surrey. Great pains have been taken to obtain a fair aud just valuation of the manuscripts to be exchanged; and all parties have finally agreed, that their value in this exchange shall be estimated at 3,5591. 3s. The British Museum have transinitted catalogues of some of the duplicates at their disposal, out of which the Council of the Royal Society are to select such only as they shall deem proper to be added to their library. These catalogues have been for some time in the hand of a Committee, which has been appointed by the Council to report thereupon, and which, previous to their examination of the catalogues, agreed upon certain general principles for their guidance in making the selection. Sixth Report of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues, dated 5th June, 1826. This Report was presented to the House of Commons, and ordered to be printed. It embraces a period of three years from 1826 to 1829: and is very full and satisfactory. We shall select a few particulars which are generally interesting. St. Mary's Abbey, York.-A grant of three acres of the Manor Shore estate, York, with part of the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey, to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for a Museum and Botanicgarden, at a yearly rent of 20s. If the ground shall cease to be so appropriated, the whole to be resumed by his Majesty. Little Queen-street, Hollorn.-A plot of ground, of the estimated value of 5000/ for a site for a new Church in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-fields. St. Katherine's Hospital.-The Grant of part of the Regent's Park to St. Katherine's Hospital has not yet been perfected. Adult Orphan School. One acre of ground in the Regent's Park, on lease, to the Adult Orphan Institution, at 100%. ayear rent; but 50l. is returned in support of the Institution, as it extends its protection to the Orphan Daughters of the Officers of the Army and Navy. In 1826 a Waste Lands at Hastings.. considerable tract of land, which had been part of the shore, had been taken possession of as waste land, by various persons, without due authority. The claims of the Crown to these lands were established, and the rent will amount to about 1500l. a-year. New Quadrangular Mews near Westminster Abbey-These handsome Mews have been erected for the accommodation of occupiers of the mansions on the Crown estate in Privy-gardens, Whitehall, &c. and have cost the sum of 35,263l. 19s. 11d. Buckingham Palace.-The whole amount paid by the Commissioners on account of the Palace during the last three years, is 534,4811.16s. 9d. leaving still 98,4441.3s.3d. to be paid; besides which, is the cost of the Marble Archway now in progress; to which will be to be added, the commission of the architect, clerks of the works, gatekeepers, &c. the amount of which is estimated at 63,2431. York House, St. James's.-Ou the death of the Duke of York the lease and premises were valued by two referees at 81,913l.; at which price it was purchased by Government. But in Dec. 1827 it was sold to the Marquess of Stafford for 72,000l. who has been let into possession, and the purchase money has been invested in the names of trustees, till the conveyance shall be perfected. Improvements on the site of Carlton House. The ground for fifteen houses fronting the terrace next St. James's Park has been let at four guineas per foot on that frontage, amounting to 26231. 12s. per annum; and ground for seven other houses, at 8281. 9s. making a rental of 3,452l. 1s. per ann. exclusive of the reut of the ground abutting on Pall Mall. When Carlton Stables and Riding-house are removed, there will be ground to let having a frontage of 160 feet towards the park. Improvements in St. James's and Hyde Parks.-These improvements consist of the bridge over the Serpentine river; bringing to the same level, and uniting the two pieces of water on each side of that bridge; new entrance-gates and lodges at Cumberland, Grosvenor, and Stanhope-street gates; new lodges and entrance-gates at Constitutionhill and Hyde Park-corner; a new drive round Buckbine-hill, in front of Kensington-gardens, and along the north side of the Serpentine river; alteration of the roads near Hyde Park-corner, and from thence to Grosvenor-gate; a general improvement of all the drives, rides, and malls in both parks; forming new footpaths on the sides of the rides and drives; substituting iron railing for the old brick walls in Piccadilly, Park-lane, and along the Knightsbridge and Uxbridge roads; also inclosing with iron railing a space for an ornamental garden between Hyde Park-corner and Stanhope-street-gate; an iron post and rail fence along the drive from Cumberlandgate to Hyde Park-corner; a new oak post and rail fence along the other roads; a new iron railing for inclosing the interior of St. James's Park, and laying out the inclosure in gravel walks and ornamental plantations; forming a carriage-drive along the Birdcagewalk; and draining and manuring the grasslands, by which the appearance of the parks has been improved, and the quantity of herbage greatly increased. These improvements have given general satisfaction, as they contribute to the enjoyment and convenience of a great portion of the public, especially those who have it not in their power to seek such benefits at a greater distance from the metropolis. Improvements at Charing Cross, &c.The whole charge of these vast improvements is estimated at 1,147,313l. 12s. 9d. They are rapidly proceeding. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL. as The Phormio of Terence was performed this year by the King's Scholars at Westminster school. During the three nights of its representation, which were the 2d, 9th, and 14th of December, the little theatre was crowded to excess. Several persons of distinction were present, and warmly greeted the exertions of the juvenile performers. The dramatis personæ were follows:-Davus, Mr. Smith; Geta, Mr. Collier; Antipho, Mr. Ellison; Phædria, Mr. Gwilt; Demipho, Mr. Hue; Phormio, Mr. Day; Hegio, Mr. Gresley; Cratinus, Mr. Tattersall; Crito, Mr. Morris; Dorio, Mr. Wrottesley; Chremes, Mr. Barnes; Sophrona, Mr. Cotton; Nausistrata, Mr. Woolcombe. Mr. Collier, as the low intriguing and cunning Geta, was uncommonly successful. Mr. Day was no less eminent as Phormio, and Mr. Hue represented the old man Demipho to the life; Gwilt, who represented Phædria, acted with great ease and grace. Mr. Day delivered a prologue, the chief object of which was to rebut the charges which some of the papers have brought against the preposterous dresses assumed by the pupils on occasions of this kind. The chief grounds for persevering in the system were that there was the utmost difficulty, nay, impossibility, of ascertaining the ancient dresses, particularly those of the Greeks, who figure so much in these plays, and that the young men of the school were more qualified to give a fair representation of the different characters in the dresses to which they were accustomed. The following are corrected copies of the Prologue and Epilogue spoken on the occasion : PROLOGUS IN PHORMIONEM. Hoc primum-constat vix satis doctissimis, Sales leporis, vos favete, et plaudite. EPILOGUS IN PHORMIONEM. (Hegio, Cratinus, Crito, magistrates sitting with papers and police reports lying on the table). Cri. Sectio D, numerus viginti quinque Satelles Dignus, qui partes Centurionis agat. WH. Strenuus iste creat sine fine negotia nobis. (Enter Demipho, dragging in Phormio dress* obsecro comem, Illum atque humanum (D.) vim mihi nemque tulit.- Cri. Vim ille! incredibile est, nam fiunt cuncta "secundum Actum"(H.) et custodi cuique libellus adest. In quo, luce magis clarum, patet omne legenti Descriptum certis finibus officium: E go incredibile est (D) sceleratus is ostia fregit, Ph. Quo melius norim teque, domumque tuam--Nil aliud (D.) secreta domus tu? (H.) te pudet horum? Et qui cognati, quæ nova nupta (D.) tace--Fama bona est,---nil cuiquam debeo, solvo tributa; Ec semper" sit Rex salvus" in ore meo.est.. Quid porio cum cive rei est tibi? (H) cogni tionem Anglus erit? (H) vix tu concipis ista satis--Ne detrimenti quid corpore, sive crumenâ Tu capias, visum est lege cavere novâ-D. Ista omnis pereat nova codificatio---cur non Contenti antiquis? (H.) tutior inde domi, Atque foris vives---(D.) tutum me hæc dextera semper Præstitit (Cra.) ætatem, respice, amice, tuam--Non somno excutiere (D) odi alta silentia noctis; Me turbæ et strepitus et crepitâcla juvant. Cri. Ludis nos--nullo quin tanta parata labore Ista tuo--(D.) et nullis sumptibus, oro, meis. H. Missum te facimus---taceas-age-- Phormio, quænam Acta tuâ fuerint in statione refer? Ph. Distrabor hinc illinc; sed me magis omni Libri (Cri.) a queis cursum quisque Professor init- Ph. Res plana est---istas attentius observabo, Hunc jubeo fumum devoret ipse suum... Ph. Grande illud, credo, seditionis opus-Quin hunc, vulgarit Cereris qui arcana, vetabo Mecum (Cri.) ut vir frugi civibus invigilas--Ph. Nec minus externis...Heus! introduce Chabertum. (Enter Dorio as Chabert, in the charge of a Police Officer). Extraxi furno hunc, vir prope tostus erat--Quin sua inhumanè vertens in viscera virus, Mille venena bibit, mille venena vomit--Cra. Horribile (Ph.) ardens plumbum, oleumque, et phosphorus, intus. D. Chelsciensis aqua his omnibus antidoton. H. Fac mergatur (D.) Eho an non me jugulem aut suspendem, Quæso, aut præcipitem fas nisi pace tuâ? Cri. Desine---Quid jam actum cum furibus, o bone, (Ph.) abactum est, Id genus omne, Niger, Leno, Corinthiacus. Evasere omnes, age Rufi Regis ab aulâ, Templi usque ad claustrum, progrediare, velim-Nemo (ta me Dii conservent) occurret, opinor, Qui tibi non fuerit vir probus atque pius--Cra. Quò fugiunt miseri? (Ph.) Templares inter asylum, Atque suæ Alsatia limina nota petunt, Id curent aldermanni---nos peste caremus. (Enter Chremes, to Phormio). Ch. Obsecro, tu miles civibus affer opem--Collecti fures totâ erupere suburrâ, Prætor et a tergo civicus ipse premit... Clamant, quæstum abreptum, et "compensatio fiat." (To Phormio,) H. Ut potes occurras, præveniasque malo; Instruito turmas---reliqua hic curabo. (D.) ma neptem Laudo-præter eam ne fugitote casam--- Vos paucis moneam, auditis nuntius iste NORTHERN Libraries. Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. Sec. S. A. has issued a circular, stating that he has recently received an interesting letter from Professor Rafn, Sec. of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen, and Hon. Member of the Society of Antiquaries of London, describing the successful foundation of two public libraries in Iceland; of a third in one of the Feroe Islands; and of his intention to establish a fourth in Greenland, to which it is proposed to add a MUSEUM of Natural History, which cannot fail to be of importance in the diffusion of knowledge. Mr. Carlisle justly calls to our recollection the celebrity which the Icelanders acquired many years ago by the splendour of their poetry and their knowledge in history; so that now to supply them with such treasures of science as have been accumulated by successive centuries of improvement in other parts of Europe, seems only to be an honest acknowledgement of a debt of gratitude. Mr. Carlisle therefore requests the benevolence of all lovers of learning in assisting Professor Rafn to carry his laudable efforts into effect; and offers to receive money, as Messrs. Arch do books, for these literary institutions. ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. Dec. 3. Thomas Amyot, esq. Treasurer, in the chair. A letter was read from John Wiatt, esq. giving an account of certain sepulchral remains, presumed to be British, discovered in November 1827, at Wheathamstead in Hertfordshire. They consisted of a round cylinder, one foot ten inches in height, and three feet in diameter, placed upright, between two square stones, having round cavities to fit above and beneath it. Within were a square glass bottle and some pateræ. The cylinder is now used as a cistern in the farrer's yard. The second paper read was a letter from William Hamper, esq. F.S.A. to Mr. Douce, containing Observations on a penny of Offa King of Mercia, which displays the singularity of a Runic inscription. The readings of the evening were concluded by a letter from Frederick Madden, esq. F.S.A., addressed to Mr. Amyot, on a review of those collections in the British Museum (Harl. MSS. 6215 to 6233, which are bound in one volume) from which the latter gentleman extracted the Chronicle of Edward the First, which was printed in the last published volume of the Archæologia. It that these MSS. were in the posappears session of the chronicler Stowe, and afterwards in that of Sir Simonds D'Ewes; but Mr. Madden has reason to suppose that we are indebted for their collection to one R. Stevenson, who wrote titles to several of them. Among them occurs the publication of treason against the Duke of Northumberland, and others, passed by the Privy Council on the accession of Queen Mary. Dec. 10. H. Hallam, esq. V. P. in the chair. E. Lowth Badeley, esq. and Thomas Mc. Garth, M.D. of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, were elected Fellows of the Society. Sir George Thomas Staunton exhibited to the Society a brass key recently found at Havant in Hampshire. It is about 3 inches in length, of solid weight and curious form; and from comparison with other specimens, has been conjectured to be Ro man. Sidney Smirke, esq. F.S.A. communicated a beautiful drawing of a large mural monument of the date 1359, existing in the ancient chapel at the Campo Santo in Piza. It consists of an architectural canopy over a recumbent effigy, and is considered curious by Mr. Smirke, as a specimen of the architecture of the period, and as a remarkable example how the Gothic style, which assimilated in its fashions in most parts of Europe, was always in Italy mixed with the more ancient forms which surrounded the builders. Mr. Smirke took the opportunity of appending some observations on the architecture of the chapel itself, in pursuance of the discusssion by himself and the late Sir Henry Englefield, already printed in the Archæologia. A Petition of Richard Troughton to the Council of Queen Mary, July 11, 1553, was read, extracted by Mr. Madden from the MSS. before described. It contains a familiar picture of the uncertainty in which the question of the succession to the throne was involved for a considerable space of time after the death of King Edward the Sixth; and details the circumstances of a journey of the writer (who describes himself as a warm partizan of Queen Mary, although imprisoned on suspicion of the contrary,) to various towns in Lincolnshire, during that agitated period, and in particular a visit to Sir John Harrington of Exton. Dec. 17. Mr. Amyot in the chair. A paper was read, from Crofton Croker, esq. respecting some subterranean chambers on Mr. Cummins's farm at Garranes in the south of Ireland; and which was concluded by a letter from Mr. O'Callaghan Newenham, describing numerous chambers simi larly constructed in the neighbourhood of Fermoy. Dec. 24. Mr. Hallam in the chair. Ten Fellows were added to the Society, viz. the Ven. Henry Kaye Bonney, D.D. Archdeacon of Bedford; and John James Francis Coindet, esq. " formerly of Geneva, but now of South Lambeth, Officer of Artillery in the armies of the Helvetic Confederation, a gentleman well versed in the architecture and arts of the middle ages, and who by the works published under his direction, has greatly promoted the study on the Continent of such branches of antiquarian knowledge" (certificate of recommendation); Reinhold Thos. Forster, esq. Storekeeper of Deptford Dockyard; James Robinson Planché, the celebrated dramatic writer; Thomas Saunders, esq. the architect, of Great Surrey-strect; the Rev. George Stonestreet Griffin Stonestreet; Robert Allen, esq. M. A. of Worcestershire; Charles Higgins, esq. or Bedfordshire; Thomas Rickman, esq. of Birmingham; and Philip Hurd, esq. of Kentish-town-house and of the Temple. The reading of Richard Troughton's petition was concluded; and was followed by a paper from Thomas Farmer Dukes, esq. being an essay on the Roman history of Uriconium, now Wroxeter, iu Shropshire; part of which, containing remarks on some neighbouring station, was deferred to a future perusal. The Society then adjourned over the Christmas vacation to the 14th of January. HERCULANEUM. The following are some of the results of the researches recently made by the Government of Naples in the ruins of Herculaneum : -They have discovered the most splendid private house of the ancients ever seen by modern eyes. It has a suite of chambers, with a court in the centre. There is a part of the mansion allotted to the females, a garden surrounded by arcades and columns, and a grand saloon, which probably served for a meeting of the family. Another house was very remarkable, from the quantity and nature of provisions found in it, none of which had been disturbed for eighteen centuries. The family was, in all likelihood, laying in provisions for the winter when the city was overwhelmed. The provisions consist of dates, chesnuts, large walnuts, dried figs, almonds, prunes, corn, oil, peas, lentils, pies, and hams. The internal arrangement of the house announced that it had belonged to a rich family, and to admirers of the arts; for there were discovered many pictures, representing Polyphemus and Galatea, Hercules and the three Hesperides, Cupid and a Bacchante, Mercury and Io, Perseus killing Medusa; also vases, and articles in glass, bronze, and terra cotta, as well as medallions in silver, representing, in relief, Apollo and Diana. ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. The remains of ancient Roman buildings are so numerous at Baval, in the department of the north of France, that the inhabitants who want building materials, have only to dig some depth in the fields or gardens to find great quantities of stones ready cut, and fit for immediate use. A letter from M. Visconti, communicated by M. Raoul Rochette to the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, states, that a statue lately discovered at Falleri, and supposed to represent Juno, is decidedly a statue of Fortune or Clemency; the only attribute belonging to it being the horn of plenty, which is common to those divinities. M. Visconti mentions the discovery of a half figure of Bacchante, in baked clay, of exquisite workmanship; and two figures of Silenus, intended for fountains, also of good execution. He states, that by a continuation of the researches, it has been proved that the Via Sacra did not pass under the Arch of Titus, and that all the interpretations of the vases of Martial, Ovid, and Horace, which appeared so conclusive on this subject, are erroneous. the vicinity of the Temple of Peace, a beautiful mosaic pavement has been discovered; and in the ruins of the villa of Cassius, at Tivoli, several mosaic pieces have been found; one of which is of hard stone, and of beautiful execution. In SELECT POETRY. FAREWELL TO TWENTY-NINE. Addressed to the Author's Friend, Don Ma nuel Esparaça y Villondes. FAREWELL to the Year Twenty-nine, And welcome his next younger brother; The sun will, I warrant, as bright on him shine, As ever he shone on another! Some will still in unhappiness pine; Its vices, its crimes, and its madness; Its griefs and its pleasures alike we resign, Its moments of sorrow and gladness; And why should the future annoy, Since Fate may in store have a mine From the banks of the Thames to the And all Britons in Thirty with glee, Farewell to the Year Twenty-nine, May the next that's to come be more pleasant and fine Such auother we want not again! May Instruction pursue its career, And all men to goodness incline Still more in the fast-coming year, Than they did in the Year Twenty-nine. Farewell to the Year Twenty-nine, Nor vainly let's weep for its loss; But let the bright fire of Virtue benign, Be the beacon to point out our course! Then let the bells merrily ring, J. W. On seeing the ruinous condition of the Tomb of JOHN GOWER in St. Mary Overey, Oct. 25, 1829. GOWER! is this thy resting place, Thy country's honour and disgrace? Is this the amaranthine wreath That should encircle thee in death? O gentlest bard of olden time, Who in such soft, melodious chime, Did tell of love and all its lore, In strains as sweet as ever bore Bland Zephyrus o'er Grecian seas, When bright Apollo deign'd to please! Oft as I gaze upon thy tomb, A ruin in congenial gloom, And tremblingly essay to trace The rugged contour of thy face, And peer with aching, tearful eyes To read where "moral Gower" lies; Can I refrain from pious woe? Can I forbid the tear to flow, When thus, thou heaven-gifted bard, I linger o'er thy frail reward? Ah! where is now the holy prayer? Nor pity, mercy, love is there : "Pour la pitie, Jesu, regarde, Et tiens cest ami en sauf garde : Oh, bon Jesu! faise merci Al'aime dont le corps gist ici : En toy qui es Filz de Dieu le Pere Sauve soit qui gist sours cest pierre." Such were the lines above his head, The radiance o'er his ancient bed; Now all is blank, and dull, and drear, As though some demon-imp were near, To wear away his earthly rest, And curse the tomb his corse hath blest. Where are his high posterity, Who wear old Gower's dignity? |