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tens the safety of the congregation: if this is a true report, is it not a reflection on him whose immediate province it is to prevent it?

The tower of the parish church of St. Andrew in this town has been reported as dangerous for these forty years; but it has become very lately so extremely bad, that the bell-ringers have refused to do their duty. Yet this parish is one of the richest in England.

I hope that the very exemplary Bi shop of the Diocese will direct the church to be properly examined; which may save the lives of hundreds.

As a proof of the increase of Sectaries, a gentleman of the parish was offered 15001. for a piece of ground close by the church, to build a dis senting meeting-house there. Yours, &c. A PARISHIONER. Mr. URBAN,

THE

July 8. HE following remarks, as they have an evident moral tendency, may serve to assist your Readers in forming useful reflections from some of the little-noticed occurrences in life.

Bocking; so that this probably is a parish endowed with tithes.

Middleham Deanery, co. York, is said to have a peculiar jurisdiction of its own; and this, probably, co-extensive with the parish only; and its income perhaps arises likewise from the tithes of the parish.

In Cornwall there is the Deanery of Borian distinct from the Rectory of Borian, but both are in the patronage of the Crown.

It was of these Deaneries (and it is supposed, though not recollected, that there are others of the same sort in the kingdom) that information was requested; and any communication through the medium of your valuable Miscellany will be thankfully received.

What is the nature of the Collegiate Church of Wolverhampton, as connected with the Deanery of Windsor ?

A Correspondent of yours, last year, by complaining of some clerical innovations, led to these enquiries. It is a pity that he had not pointed out a legal one which wauts correction. The Police Magistrates, of the Metropolis in the public prints are constantly called Mr. Justice N. and Mr. Justice R.; when it is well known that this distinction is a title given only to His Majesty's Justices of the Courts of Westminster Hall.

Mr. URBAN,

FULLY

A. B.

Newcastle on Tyne,
July 6.
agree with E. W. P. (vol.

FXXX art

accident which occurred at Liverpool is well calculated to call forth, and, imperiously demands the immediate attention of all those whose peculiar province it is to take care of and inspect our churches; and to see that they are not only safe, but wholesome. This duty, I believe, falls more especially to the Archdeacon, who ought to make a report to the Bishop; and, if he sees any church in an improper state, to report that church : but 1 fear that there are not many who pay that attention to the churches of this land which ought to be paid; and hence arises those innumerable Dissenting meeting-houses that threaten the downfall of the Established Church.

E. W. P. reports that the state of the tower of a parish church in a market-town is dangerous, and threa

It has often been a matter of inquiry with men of curious and philosophical minds, whether the works of Nature are carried on by a plastic or sort of mechanical principle of agency, or whether they immediately proceed without any interposition from the finger of God. The great regularity and wonderful sameness which is disand animal em coverable in the operations of the ve

to favour the former opinion, and the occasional departure from this uniformity, and the extraordinary changes that are frequently noticed, may serve to countenance the latter. Perhaps the former sentiment may have taken its rise from the weakness and impotency of man, which renders him unable to execute projects of any magni. tude without plans, or to accomplish works of singular difficulty without a

rge and correct scale. But this consideration cannot extend to His allcomprehensive agency, who sees and observes all things at one glance, to whom the whole process of Nature is naked and open, and whose knowledge and power are unlimited and infinite. Besides, if the order and regularity in which the operations of the universe are conducted are admirable, the variations or departures from them are

often

shall we account for the defect of nutriment at this time only in the mother, and the consequent loss of all her offspring? Surely these are singular variations from the expected course of things as they happened before, and, as I would also observe, after this large increase: for the same sow has within these few weeks produced a litter of the usual number, about twelve; and all are mostly black, and likely to live, being supported by the milk of their dam.

often striking and unaccountable, and whilst we are delighted with the former, we are astonished at the latter. In whatever mode indeed the opera·tions are performed, it is confessed on all sides, that it is the Divine Almighty Agent that works in all; and the inquiry may appear to be a matter of curiosity rather than of use, which mode this invisible Being, may choose to adopt in the works of his own hands. Still however as the works of the Lord are sought out, or carefully inquired into, of all those that have pleasure therein, it may not be an unprofitable amusement, whilst we are contemplating the beautiful order that is manifested in the universe, to notice some of the variations from it; which may serve to recall to our minds an immediate superintendency, and to awaken our thoughts to the more particular exercise of a divine interposition in all things.

These and such like suggestions will occasionally occur to the mind that will accustom itself to take notice of the ordinary operations of Nature, and especially in the animal world: and I have myself been led to them from observations in my farm-yard, from a cursory attention to what are considered as the most ignoble race of animals, the very swine.

I have for some years kept a little Chinese sow, mostly of a black colour, but not without some spots of white. The male companion of this animal has been usually an English boar; and the result has been large litters from twelve to fourteen or even sixteen pigs, all invariably black, with scarcely, any white marks except in the feet, legs, or tail. And she has generally reared or brought up the far greater number of her young, and acted the part of a good mother towards them.

These facts are curious; and however from their humble and familiar nature they might escape the notice of common observers, yet they can scarce fail to make an impression on the minds of men who are accustomed to thought and reflection. They may perhaps be deemed unworthy of attention, and even excite the ridicule of careless and superficial observers. But to those who are in the habit of contemplating the works of Providence, they will assist in demonstrating that superior Ageney, which can continue, or arrest and controul the ordinary courses of things, whenever his infinite wisdom and sovereign power shall think fit and expedient. Sure it is, that the Lord worketh in all; and as there is not a sparrow that falleth to the ground without his notice, so he may introduce occasional varieties from the general order of things, for this or such-like excellent purpose, to awaken men to a due "sense of his Agency, and to excite them to a proper attention to his divine power, which otherwise from its uniform tenour might too often escape from their minds.

A COUNTRY PARISH PRIEST.

Mr. URBAN,

July 10.
N the Tables of Precedence in our

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according to ordinary expectation. But in the last autumn this same black sow produced a large litter of twenty pigs, of which the far greater part were all white, and with scarcely any black spots about them. At this time the mother was deprived of her usual supply of milk for her numerous progeny; and notwithstanding all possible care, within two or three days the whole litter died. Now what should occasion this extraordinary change in the colour of the young, and this great increase in their number? Or how

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Flag Officers" are placed between Knights of the Bath and Knights Bachelors.

In the Table given in Debrett's Peerage, Field and Flag Officers are entirely omitted,

Blackstone places " Colonels,” as your Correspondent Scrutator observes, after the younger children of Knights; but omits other Field Offi cers altogether.

With due submission to the Heralds' Office, which ought to be, and I make no doubt is, capable of assigning a

proper

proper station for all degrees in Society, I beg to propound that Naval and Military Officers, from Admirals of the Fleet and Field Marshals down to Navy Lieutenants and Army Captains, should precede Serjeants at Law, and Doctors of every description. There is a manifest impropriety, at least, in placing any Officer below 20 Esquire who stands higher in the army than a subaltern; because, although Cornets, Ensigns, and Lieutenants, are only denominated "Gentlemen" in their commissions, Captains and Majors are always termed "Esquires," and have, from thence, the double claim to that rank arising from creation and from office.

It appears therefore, that the Subalterns in our Army and Navy ought to come after Esquires by birth or fortune; and those other Officers which I have before described, immediately after Knights Bachelors. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

SELIM.

Penzance, July 6. ·

THE following information, copied

from the Public Prints in March 1807, will, I think, sufficiently answer the Queries of your Correspondent G. L. D. in Vol. LXXX. p. 517. "The cost of 300 copies, bound, of each of the two Treatises, is to be dedacted from the Premium of £400 bequeathed to the person whose Treatise shall be judged the second in point of merit.

:

"In order to prevent partiality, the Authors are desired not to send their Treatises with their name, or in their own hand-writing, but with a Motto, which Motto is to be also written on the outside of a sealed paper, containing the name and address of the Author. Only the Prize ones to be opened; the others destroyed and the Treatises will be returned to whoever claims by the Motto, on application to the Treasurer, Alexander Galen, Esq. Merchant, Aberdeen. All the Treatises to be with him before the 1st January 1814, and the Premiums to be paid in Whitsuntide Term next after the decision of the Judges. Intermediate inquiries between this and the 1st January 1814, will be answered by Letters addressed, post-paid, to the said Alexander Galen, Esq. Merchant,

Aberdeen, the Treasurer under the Testator's Will* "

The further particulars desired by G. L. D. or others of your Readers, may be known by application to Mr. Galen, as above. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

H. B.

February 9. GIVE every credit which is due to Glotianus for his good intentions, and consider him as a Student or Freshman, as we term it, anxious for the honour of his College; but from the time he has taken to answer me, I think he might have been more accurate; which leads me to form an opinion, that whatever studies are pursued at Glasgow, that of close reasoning (which is so much attended to at one of our Universities in particular) is there neglected. If he will take the trouble of referring to my Letter, he will find that I did not assert that the Scotch Universities had not produced great men; far from it; on the contrary, I well know we are indebted to them for many celebrated characters; and he might well have added to those names he has quoted, a Robertson and a Beattie, who do honour to the places of their educa tion; but I only asserted, Mr. Urban, that the title of A. M. by custom, which in this Kingdon generally operates as a law, belongs to them who have taken that degree at Oxford or Cambridge, and to take it, when educated elsewhere, appears to me to arrogate an improper distinction, and puts me in mind of what I read when a

school-boy,sic vos non vobis,' &c.

I did not mention the names of a Newton, Addison, Locke, Bentley, &c.; for the question is not which Colleges have produced the greatest men, but merely whether a Scotch A. M. is al

* We are informed, that the munificent Testator was a Clergyman of the Scotch Church, of the name of Burnet (a relative of the celebrated Bishop) and having been himself deeply infected with Infidel prin solved on this method of perpetual counciples, when recovered from them, he reteraction of these principles: for we un

derstand the sums now offered as Premiums are not the principal, but an accumulation of the Interest of that sum; and that the Premiums will be repeated so often as the Interest shall amount to the like sum of £1600. EDIT. lowable

lowable in England. Glotianus' list of names puts me in mind of Homer's Catalogue, and also of a story I have heard, of anOxford and Cambridgeman disputing which University had produced the greatest men; when, after a long contest, one mentioned a number of high-sounding names in a breath, which decided it, and silenced the other. I now take my leave of Glotianus, advising him to have a Letter before him when he is answering it; and not to take the title of A. M. unless he can have an honorary one at one of our Universities, or be admitted ad eundem; for the Poet's rule is as applicable to agendi as loquendi. Yours, &c. NORMALIS.

I

Mr. URBAN,

:

Newcastle, May 4. HAVE great pleasure, in reading the discussions of Science when properly contested, without the dirk of wrath and animosity. I must confess I am exceedingly sorry to see the controversy between an Amateur and an Architect carried on in such a manner by the former as to wound my feelings; it reflects not only discredit on him as a gentleman, but as a literary character. Amateur has said in a former Letter that Architect's language is coarse, ungrammatical, and muddy but nothing, Sir, can justify either a Cantab or Oxonian in giving the lie direct. I expect more politeness from them, from their education: it is an affront to the Publick; it is a disgrace to any literary man in this enlightened age that we live in; and it further seems strongly to shew, that Amateur must either feel himself at a loss for words to express his sentiments as he should do, or he is afraid he has the negative side of the argument. Nothing shews weakness so strongly, as when a gentleman of superior education condescends to have recourse to gross abuse.

I do not mean to enter into the defence of Architect's opinions on our Antiquities, because he is very well able to take his own part; neither do I wish to enter into any controversy with Amateur, who may have in many respects good reasons for siding with his friend Mr. Whittington in his opinions; but I should like to see that respectable style preserved that is due to Society.

It would be highly gratifying to

many Antiquaries, could we persuade the Keeper of the Records of the Dissolved Abbeys, to enter the list of controversy on the subject of our Saxon Buildings and the Pointed Arch. In my humble opinion, he would be more likely to decide these two questions, than all the Champions who have undertaken the subject. Yours, &c. A. G.

TH

Mr. URBAN, Colchester, March 4. THE Ghost of Avon's Bard invites my opinion. I have no other claim to your indulgence than an enthusiastic admiration of all the emanations of that genius which his Ghostship professes once to have animated; but I rely on your known impartiality. I shall endeavour to avoid prolixity for two reasons; first, that I may not trespass too much on your pages; secondly, lest my sentiments should appear as insignificant to your Readers as they do to myself.

I cannot perceive obscurity in the passage quoted by the Ghost; but (to a reader who does not wish to create obscurities, that he may indulge his genius in the illustration of them) I think it must be evident Brutus speaks of himself.

The slightest dereliction of principle lays the foundation of numerous errors: thus it is with Cassius- he undertakes to be the advocate of corruption

Brutus's virtue remains unshaken, though placed in opposition to the solicitations of friendship Cassius, instigated by the mingled feelings of disappointment, mortification, and regret, at finding his unworthy suit rejected, reproaches Brutus with a breach of friendship; this commences the quarrel, in the course of which, urged by the injustice of Cassius, Brutus suffers himself for a moment to give way to the influence of anger his conduct throughout is marked with the features of conscious rectitude Cassius, with grief and shanie, half acknowledges his error; and Brutus, from whose bosom the remembrance of their former friendship is not erased, spares him a further humiliation by telling him, that he (Brutus)

"carries anger as the flint bears fire; Which, much enforced, shews a hasty spark, And straight is cold again." Yours, &c.,

J. FITCH.

Mr.

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