Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

girls prefer babies, dresses, &c. This organ is very conspicuous in negroes, who are greatly attached to their children. The Third propensity is a discovery of Dr. S. which he calls the organ of Inhabitiveness, or a propensity to live in certain places; it appears chiefly in animals: the chamois goat, eagle, lark, &c. delight to roam in high regions far be yond the sphere of their food; there are also two varieties of rats, one inhabits cellars, the other garrets; the garreteer has an elevated ridge on the back of the skull which does not appear in the cellarer. Gall confounded this organ with self-love, and supposed that physical propensities in brutes might become moral ones in man. But the faculties never change; and there is a peculiar propensity for certain situations, which is indicated by this organ. Fourth, or an of Adhesiveness, or attachment. Of animals that live in society some are married, as canary birds, and others are not; this is not owing to the activity of any faculty, but to a peculiar propensity, adhesiveness. Frienship is a modification of, this faculty, which is more extensive, and includes patriotism, national and local attachment, &c. Nostalgia is an abuse of this feeling, a caricature of patriotism. Fifth. Organ of Combativeness. Some children are quarrelsome, others pacific; even deli

cate women sometimes fight with great obstinacy; rabbits fight with and defeat hares, which are generally larger animals; little dogs often chase large ones. These facts evince a peculiar and distinct propensity to combat, the organ of which is situated in the posterior angle of the parietal bone, nearly parallel with the ear; it is generally large in proportion to the backward space between the ears, and in those with thick necks and broad heads behind, it is very conspicuous. Animals having the ears wide are quarrelsome; if narrow or short, they are timid. The ancients knew these distinctions, as they are marked on the heads of their gladitors. Dr. S. opposes the notion of Gall, that a positive sentiment or feeling can result from the want or absence of another; fear, he contends, is not the want of courage, but a real sentiment. Sixth. Organ of Destructiveness: this propensity is

evinced in various manners; some robbers always murder as well as rob; some soldiers in the field put all to death indiscriminately, others preserve the lives of all they can. This disposition, therefore, is not owing to the particular aliment, as men eat both animal and vegetable food. Nor is it to be ascribed to the having hands or claws, as these serve only as instruments to the destructive propensity. Instances of an apothecary who became an executioner merely to gratify his desire of destroying animal life; merchants who paid butchers for permission to kill cattle. Tygers do not, like men, prey on each other; yet they and all other animals know to attack their prey at the neck, where life is easiest to be extinguished. Men evince this propensity in the pleasure which they derive from torturing animals, breaking lamps, tables, chairs, &c. Hence it is very happily designated the organ of destructiveness, and is situ ated above the ear in a line with the temples and occiput. Dr. S. exhibited busts or casts of Mitchell and Hollings, the murderers of their sweethearts; of M. Ampere, a Frenchwoman, who murdered her mother and two sisters, and of Bellingham the murderer of Perceval.

(To be continued.)

Mr. URBAN, Manchester, Nov. 19:

Ment edition of " More's Uto

R. Dibdin, in his very excel

pia," professes to give a list of all the previous ones; and, in such account, mentions two as having appeared in the French language. From a passage, however, in "Memoires pour la Vie de Messieurs Samuel Sorbiere, et Jean Baptiste Cotelier," prefixed to "Sorberiana," à Paris, 1694, 12mo. it is evident there are two other translations into French of this "most pleasant, fruitful, and witty work". a circumstance which Mr. Dibdin could not have been aware of.

[ocr errors]

The following is the passage alluded to:

François peu de tems après l'Utopie de "Il (Sorbiere) traduisit aussi en Thomas Morus, à la priere de Monsieur le Comte de Rhingrave, Gouver neur de la Ville de l'Ecluse, qui ne pou voit sans cela la lire en cette langue que dans des traductions surannées, faites bien avant dans l'autre siecle par Barthelemi

[graphic][graphic]
[blocks in formation]

A.Great Hall. B. State appartments. C. Avenue cut through Great Hall, suppose in 17th century. Parts tinted dark, original stone walls. D lighter tint, modern brich-work warehouses.

[graphic]

North-west view of the ruins.

Centre

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

it is stated that his translation of the Utopia appeared in 1643, in 12mo; and the fact of his having made such a translation is mentioned in vol. I. of Melanges d'Histoire et de Litterature par Marville, pa. 276 (4 ed. 1725), ), in the enumerations of celebrated Physicians; but of the edition by Aneau I can find no o account. The translation by Seigneur de Brianville is the same mentioned by Mr. Dibdin as being translated by Jean le Bland, by which name he is designated in Nouv. Dict. Hist. A. R. F.

[blocks in formation]

S neither Tradition nor History

A afford any ald towards giving a

within the wall o

satisfactory or positive illustration of the remains in the annexed Plate, with regard the arrangements little more need be added to what has already been advanced in p. 320, than to observe, that the View of the Ruins presents what is presumed to have been the Great Hall, where are seen the three conjoined entrances at the Eastern end, and the circular window in the gable, terminating the wall at that point, curious and uncommon from its very scientific commixture of triangular compartments, centered by hexangular ditto. As the triangles themselves are formed of three sides, so doth each c contain three turus: the mystic three is further seen in the tracery on the sides of the hexangular compartiment. On the left, North, and bearing towards the Thames, are remnants of the front on that aspect in a window, dado, &c. On the right is nearly the whole elevation on that side, containing capacious windows; the avenue cut through the wall is likewise noticeable. In the distance, part of the tower of St. Mary Overy's church.

The geometrical delineation of the circular window, its centre, and mouldings in profile, ascertain the principle on which it is constructed. The general plan shews the distribu

GENT. MAG. December, 1814.

the noble works of our Ancestors, that, of the numerous religious and other foundations with which London and its environs have from the earliest periods abounded, but the scattered fragments of a few now exist, and of many the name alone remains. Of the desolated walls that existed after the general destruction of former buildings, they were either constructed into manufactories or warehouses, or totally demolished by succeeding innovators for the value of the materials; thus either hiding the little interesting fragments they might contain, from the observation of the curious, or at once razing the last memorial to the ground to occupy its site by the busy works of mercantile speculations. Among the most curious and interesting that have been discovered of late, are the long-hidden vestiges of Winchester Palace, near the Monastery of St. Mary Overy in Southwark

ruins which, it is certain, no circumstance under the present could have thrown so much light upon, or afforded so many opportunities for discovering the original extent, and magnificence, of this grand residence of the Bishops of that See; being for many years closely surrounded by high warehouses, and narrow streets and lanes, defying the utmost diligence of antiquarian investigation. But the dreadful calamity which has happened to the buildings occupying this spot, offers to the curious ample room both for the pencil and the pen; and we cannot but remark how the elegant fragment now proudly towers over every other object near, while the rotten walls of moderu work lie prostrate beneath it. Having before and since the fire devoted considerable attention to this place, and collected various information relative thereto, I am induced to send a few particulars in addition to those already inserted by your able Correspondent Mr. Carter;-and here permit me to say, for it is a tribule that is due, and will be paid

by

by every man of impartial judgment that the indefatigable exertions of that excellent Antiquary are such, as must ever excite in all those who are capable of estimating the true value of our Ancient Architecture, the utmost admiration and applause. Though it will be impossible to compress within the narrow limits now allotted every particular date connected with the history of this building from the first foundation to its dissolution (nor perhaps will it be deemed necessary); yet I shall endeavour to glance at the most prominent occurrences, to convey a general idea of its antiquity, magnificence, and present state.

The original founder and builder was Wm. Gifford, Bishop of Winches ter, by whose munificence the stupendous pile was erected about 1107 (on a piece of ground belonging to the Prior of Bermondsey, to whom was paid a yearly acknowledgement) as a residence for himself and successors, who chiefly occupied it during the sitting, of Parliament; and it seems to have been habitable so late as the Civil-wars, when it lost its consequence, and was never after used by a Diguitary of the Church, but converted into a Prison for the Royalists, several of distinction being lodged in it during the dreadful commotions of those times.

In its pristine state it chiefly consisted of ten courts, bounded on the South by a fine park, and beautiful gardens, which were decorated with statues, fountains, and a variety of superb decorations; on the North by the noble River Thames, to which was a spacious terrace, part of the bank wall still remaining; on the East by the Priory; and on the West by a large plot of ground called Paris Gardens. Such was the state when sold to Sir Thomas Walker, anno 1649, who did not long possess it before the buildings were demolished, with the park, &c. and the ground let on lease. A great entertainment was given here in the time of Bishop Beaufort, who, being made Cardinal of St. Eusebius in France, was, on his approach to London, met by the Mayor, Aldermen, and some of the principal citizens, on horseback, who conducted him with great pomp to his magnificent palace. Many acts of succeeding Prelates were dated

at this place, it being their chief residence; but it was finally deserted for the Episcopal Palace at Chelsea.

From a splendid perfect mansion, surrounded by every useful and ornamental work of art, and by its situation eminently conspicuous and beautiful, we now turn our eyes to a few solitary fragments, which alone denote the existence of former grandeur; and cannot but regret to observe the ravages of less than two centuries have been so far extended as almost entirely to obliterate the appearance of having been one of the most extensive on the banks of the Thames. The whole length of antient wall now remaining from East to West is nearly 200 feet, measuring from the cross wall which contains the circular window Westward, about 115 feet, and Eastward of it about 80 feet. There is little doubt but that the former space was the Hall; and it may be remarked as uncommon, that the chief entrance was at the East end; but the distribution of the different parts of the whole edifice, and its relative situation with the adjoining abbey, were probably the reasons for this deviation from a rule which with former builders seems to be established. The circular window in the gable may be noticed as highly curious; and though there are examples of this kind in the roofs of halls, they are by no means common; and, not excepting that in the ruins of the fine episcopal Palace at St. David's, South Wales, I am inclined to think this, the bandsomest in the United Kingdom. The design of tracery is altogether novel and intricate, and the centre of the circle peculiarly beautiful; its diameter 12 feet. It is probably as old as the reign of Edward the First. At the N. E. angle of the wall in which it is contained is a pier and part of a connecting arch, which led to the court before the triple doors of the hall. The range of windows in the South wall are nearly entire through the extreme length; but of the North a small fragment, and the intervening foundations, only remain. The arches are mostly of a flat character, and but few mouldings, though two doors in the lower story are very elegant and of high antiquity; but the accumulation of rubbish is so great, that they are with difficulty to be seen.

« AnteriorContinuar »