THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE : LONDON GAZETTE AUGUST, Meteorological Diaries forJune and Aug.98;190- Cornw. Covent. 2 Durham Essex Norfolk, Norwich Taunton-Tyne Wakefi.-Warw. Worc. 2-YORK 3 IRELAND 37 SCOTLAND 24 Jersey 2. Guern. 2. 152 Review of New Publications, viz. Embellished with a beautiful Perspective View of SELBY ABBEY, Yorkshire; By SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. 12 12 Printed by NICHOLS, SON, and BENTLEY, at CICERO'S HEAD, Red Lion Passage: Fleet-str. London; where all Letters to the Editor are particularly desired to be addressed, POST-PAID THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, Mr. URBAN, Shrewsbury, Aug. 5. The Rustic quits his Tully's page, Tthe rural retreat of John F. M. From luxury and state-affairs Dovaston, esq. "THE NURSERY," West-Felton, near Oswestry, in the county of Salop. The late John Dovaston, esq. (see your Vol. LXXVIII. pp. 563, 564), by whom this Villa was erected and embellished, was the intimate friend of the Poet Shenstone, and from him he probably first imbibed a fondness for rural elegance, he has certainly evinced much Shenstonian taste in ornamenting his grounds, and some scenes are truly Leasowish. Yours, &c. D. PARKES. Over the entrance of PAN's Temple. Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos? I avoid the tempting snare. Waking, dread his bosom rends: Exil'd from the guilty town, In the same Temple. West. Sagacious be retires; Each tranquil bliss serene he shares In quest of TRUTH we only tread In the same Temple. East. Fundit humo facilem victum justissima eat, or Winter's storm. Within and the lonely hour my little boxen bow'r. my little. boxen bower. With friends I fill the social hour; Or, wanting them, the feats unfold. That Bards of Greece and Rome have told; Or prove no meaner magic reigns Mr. URBAN, THE HORACE. August 9. HE following Letter, which, after seeing and admiring it, as the I had ever met with, was lost to me best production against Duelling that for several years, at length was found in, a book which has become scarce. I therefore transcribe it for you, that others may enjoy an ad vantage for which I long wished in vain; that of possessing so powerful a performance. It is said to be written by Alexander Robinson, Esq. a man who had been much distin guished for courage in military ser vice, to a friend of his, whose name was Walter Smyth, in consequence of a challenge received from him. Yours, &c. (Copy.) A. N. "Sir, I must absolutely decline the Challenge you sent me yesterday by Robin, and frankly acknowledge I dare not fight you. I am very sensible the world in general will call this cowardice, and that the odious appellation of Scoundrel will be given me in every Coffee, Coffee-house. But I hope you'll not judge with the multitude, because you have been an eye-witness to my behaviour, in no less than seven engage ments with the common Enemy. I had then the reputation of being a brave man, and am conscious that I am so still, even when I once more tell you, I dare not fight you. "The reasons of my conduct in this affair, Sir, are very valid, though but very few. To be brief, Sir, I had rather endure the contempt of Man than the anger of my Maker; a temporal evil, rather than an eternal one. In one of the wisest States of the world, there was no Law against Parricide, because they thought it a crime which the worst of villains would be incapable of. Perhaps the silence of our Legislature, with regard to Duelling, is owing to some such reason. What can be more enormous than for men, not to say Christians and friends, to thirst for the blood of each other: nay more to aim the blow, with a true Italian vengeance, at once both at the body and soul. "I hope, in the coolness of reflection, you'll think as I do. If otherwise, I am determined to give you up to the tyranny of your passion, as I am to remain master of my own. Yours, &c. A. R." Aug. 9. VERY fine Portrait of Sir William Domville, Bart. in the Robe which he wore last year when he had the honour of riding before the Prince Regent and the Allied. Sovereigns on their dining at Guildball (vol. LXXXIV. I. p. 685), is placed in the Court-room of Stationers Hall. It was painted by William Owen, Esq. a Royal Academician, by the unanimous vote of the Court of Assistants of that respectable Company, in testimony of their estimation of the meritorious services to them performed by the worthy Baronet for half a Century. And it is to be hoped that copies of the Portrait will be multiplied by an Engraving, which, Mr. Joseph Collyer, one of the oldest Associate Engravers of the Royal Academy, and who is at present Master of the Stationers Company, would perform with fidelity, and con amore. Yours, &c. A LIVERYMAN. Guide"-My motive for the inquiry arises out of the following " Opinion"" of an eminent Civilian, given in that year, and which probably stifled the publication, or at least occasioned its appearing under some other tille. Yours, &c.CAUSIDICUS. "Opinion for Mr. BROWN, Attorney in Chancery Lane. "Doctors Commons, Oct. 26, 1763. "Q. 1. The Book of Common Prayer is established in the Church of England by the successive Acts of Uniformity 5, 6 Edw. VI. c. 1; 1 Eliz. c. 2; 13, 14 Car. Il. c. 4. In this latter Act, s. 25, the Parliament was so cautious of any the least alterations in the Common Prayer Book, that they allowed not even the names of the King or Queen to be altered but by lawful authority. In the same Act, s. 28, the Book of Common Prayer is considered as a Record. By the Act 4, 5 Annæ, c, 8. entitled, An Act for the better security of her Majesties Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of England in the Protestant Line, it is enacted that the Succession, shall not give assent to any Lords Justices, appointed by the Act of Bill for altering the Act of Uniformity, upon pain of High Treason. By the 5, 6 Annæ, c. 5, the Act of Uniformity shall be unalterable under the Union of England and Scotland. "The Churchman's Guide, now before me, is a Common Prayer Book, under a new title, and contains a transposition of several Prayers, which, in my opinion, will be considered in Law as alterations of the Common Prayer Book; and A. B. will be punishable by Law, if he publishes it, because, by so doing, he will infringe the Privileges of the two Universities, and the Patent of the King's Printer. What risque he runs by so doing, is best known to the Gentlemen of the Com mou Law. Upon the whole, I am of opinion this book cannot be legally published." Q. 2. "No answer can be given." 2. 3. "If any application is to be made to his Grace the Abp. of Canter bury, it should be by Divines of the greatest eminence, rank, and learning." "AND. COLTEE DUCAREL." |