re-publication of “Erdeswicke" has been of inestimable value to Staffordshire. Nor must we forget the Translation of the Saxon Chronicle, by Miss Gurney, although its circulation is but private; and in local Topography, the Histories of Gloucester, Lichfield, Worcester, Boston, Horncastle, St. Neot's, and Woburn; the four latter of wbich, as proceeding from Counties hitherto neglected, have our warmest commendations and wishes for their extension. Several separate Parishes in Middlesex have also been described, by Mr. Robinson and Mr. Faulkner, who are both (it is hoped) in further progress.

It has fallen to our lot to record the lives of several illustrious characters who have paid the debt of Nature within this year: His late Majesty, amabile nomen! the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of York; and to descend into private life (among other honourable names), a Mansel, a Bennet, a Banks, a Dollond, a Tooke, a Hayley, a Wolferstan, and the venerable Sir Hugh Inglis. Yet is the Literary force of this country not impaired; and it must surely redound to the scientific fame of England, if, when inany of her brightest ornaments have passed away, her splendour is not diminished.

Inviolably attached, both by duty and inclination, to the soundest principles of Loyalty to the King, and veneration for the Laws and Constitution of our Country in Church and State ; and abhorring even the tendency to Anarchy and Sedition ; we glory in that temperate Liberty of the Press, which it shall still be, as it always has been, our zealous endeavour to preserve. In the unhappy conflicts which have recently convulsed the public mind, we have kept ourselves free from the disputation; and in a Work destined to instruct and amuse, it would be worse than useless for us to attempt to inflame; nor do our limits admit of it. We may be allowed, however, to express the satisfaction we experience at perceiving that a material re-action in public opinion has happily taken place; and a spirit of Loyalty to our beloved Sovereign has arisen in all parts of the United Kingdom ; with a determination to uphold our venerable and admirable Constitution, as fixed by Magna Charta, and established at the glorious Revolution. This cannot but be highly gratifying to the feelings of SYLVANUS URBAN, who, during the eventful period of the last thirty years, has constantly laboured in his vocation, to support that glorious Constitution, which for so many centuries has been the pride of our own Country, and the admiration of the whole civilized world. Esto perpetua !

Dec, 30, 1820.

>

a

MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

son

who pa

J. L. in answer to X. V. (part i. 414), in society enable them to forward the insays, “ According to Dean Prideaux, 'the terests of Literature by their patronage of derivation of the Persian name Esther learned men. It is too true that the and its meaning are unknown.' In Tay

modest Scholar does not in this country lor's Translatiou of Calmet's Dictionary of always meet with his deserts; for, from the Bible, the following is given as the the disinclination of the body of the peomeaning of the word, according to the ple to classical studies, he is not appreIlebrew etymology: - Esther, 708

ciated as he ought to be. -Secrel; from 9no-Sather, or that de.

PETERSHAM remarks, “ The North-east

window of Christ Church, Surrey, exhibits molishes; from the same, according to the Chaldee ;

a glaring instance of entrusting the posiotherwise proof of Physic. This

tion of stained glass, &c. to the ignorance word is thought to be Persian or Medish.'

of workmen; the Arms of a late Bishop of Certainly the Hebrew signification bears Do allusion to Esther's beauty.”

Winchester are actually turned inside

out! viz. the face or front towards the J. Linden, in reply to CECILL MORT,

charch-yard.” (part i. p. 230), says that “ G. Wilcock

D. S. inquires for particulars respectwas born October 8, 1638. His

ing the noder-mentioned Authors : Sachefather was William, second son of Mr.

verell Stevens, Gent, author of “ MiscelThomas Wilcockson; and his mother's

laneous Remarks made on the Spot in a pame was Maria Tyndall. He was edu

Seven Years Tour through France, Gercated at Emanuel College, Cambridge. In 1660 be published three Sermons, de

many, Holland, and Italy, 8vo, 1756, de

dicated to the Princess Dowager of Wales, dicated to Joseph Watson,

mother of his late Majesty." —Stephen tronized him at College. He died in 1666.”

Robson, author of " The British Flora,” A CORRESPONDENT states, in reference 8vo, York, 1778.Paul Young, B.D. forto the article respecting Thomas Baron merly Lecturer of All Saints, Hertford, Chandos (part i. p. 412), that " Frances and author of some topographica! Works. White, who was one of the daughters

- Also a list of the Friday Evening Lecof Sir Charles Wyndham, died about 50

turers of St. Antholin's, Watling-street; years ago, in the village of Hampreston, and Sunday Evening Lecturers of Si. Dorset, leaving a considerable property to

Mildred's, Poultry, with particulars reher next of kin, and for charitable pur. lative to that Lecture." poses. Who the next of kin was, has never

An ADMIRER OF HUDIBRAS observes, been ascertained, and the property is

Perhaps some one amongst your numelocked up still. The Parish went to law

rous Antiquarian Readers may be able to for their legacy, which they never have inform me in whose possession the manubeen able to get settled. Mrs. Frances scripts of Samuel Butler, the author of White left an old servant who died in the

Hudibras, are now deposited ? They were village of Harprestou about a twelvemonth formerly in the possession of Dr. Farmer, since. She had in her possession two full

and were purchased at his sale by the late length portraits of Sir Charles Wyndham, Mr. Thane, but to whom the latter gentleand one of a Lady Exeter (who was said

man disposed of them I have been unable to be aunt to Mrs. Frances While)

.Mrs.

to ascertain." Frances White was the widow of a Major

A Gloucestrian inquires, " If the White of Fern Hill, in the county of

county, city, or any part of Gloucester, Hants; and a Monument or Inscription to

was at any time considered a part of Wales, his memory was set up in the parish and what were the boundaries?” He also Church of Milton, about five miles from inquires, “ If an illegitimate child can Christ Church in Hampshire, where it is

bear ANY ARM?" now to be seen.". He then adds, “ Per.

T. B. wishes to learn where the body of haps all this may be of no service in pro. Edward the Martyr now reposes as ducing information respecting the Brydges' Abingdon, Wareham, and Shaftesbury family; but, perhaps, the Parisb papers

are said to have been the places where he may afford it; as there was a law-suit to

was buried. recover the property left for charitable

A CONSTANT READER asks, “ Did Ed. purposes to that parish.”

ward Gorges, created Baron Dundalk in J. R. says, that “ the Epitaph (part i. 1620, ever marry, and with whom ! Did p. 407) is taken from ' An Epitaph on an he leave any issue, or who became his Infant,' by Coleridge; and that the lines heirs ? He resided at Longford Castle, on · Long and Short Life,' signed TITANIA, co. Wilts, and died about the year 1644." (p.448) have been quoted as from Waller." SCRIPTOR will see the Work he alludes

VERITAS recommends the admirable to advertised on the cover of our MagaLetter of AMATOR PATRIA (p. 519), to the zines for April and the present Month. consideration of all those whose stations He will also see it noticed in our Review,

[ 3 ] j

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE,

For JULY, 1820.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.

a more

THE CORONATION.

dinary occasion was not practised for

a long time after, even till the time THE THE ceremony of“ Coronatiop” is of Henry V. when some noblemen,

solemo obligation on out of a compliment, did him homage the part of a Prince thao is gene- before his possession of the Crown, rally conceived to be. The people which before that time had not been, of this Realm did not give themselves as Grafton says, quod benevolentiæ and their rights to their Princes in such officium nulli priusquam Rex renunmanner that, notwithstanding any ciutus esset præstitum constat; and thing they may do, they shall not if, after this, the like compliment was be liable to forfeiture. But the title made to his successors till it gave of our Kings is founded on a pro- birth to the maxim objected, yet this per mutual contract between them- could make no real alteration in the selves and their people, obliging Constitution ; for where apy Prince them to govern as according to the succeeds, he must necessarily succeed Laws, and the people to a correspond- only in the rights and upon the terms ence of obedience.

of his predecessors, and his taking This is evident from the Corona- upon bim the Royal authority, is tion Oath taken by all our Kings; ipso facto a virtual obliging himself for, where there are mutual promises to perform all the duties and proand engagements made by any per- mises which were the grounds of it sons relative to each others' advan. being conferred on his predecessors, tage, there is certainly a coinpact: just as subjects, by claiming and en"omnes actus aliis utiles extra mare joying protection, are obliged to pay beneficos contractuum nomine appel- allegiance to their Princes, even belantur," says Grotius.

fore they have engaged themselves It is objected, that our Kings suc- by oath so to do ; whence it is said, ceeding by inheritance, are Kings, aud protectio trahit subjectionen.-Coke's legally exercise the Royal authority Reports, 7, p. 5. And as in the case before their taking the Coronation of an estate which bas certain copdi. Oath. But to this it may be answer- tions and services annexed to it, the ed, that from the beginning it was so; very entrance on the estate is an enfor of old, though a Prince was made gagement to the services, before any choice of, or agreed to succeed the express promise made of them; and deceased Kiog; yet he was not looked if this were not the case of the sucupon as King, nor had right to the cessor, no Kiog could be obliged by subject's allegiance till he was crowned; bis predecessors' laws, acts, or proand that not only before, but also mises, till be had ratified them himsince, the coming in of the Normans, self, aod till such ratification, every the first seven Kings after William successive King would be an absolute the Conqueror never being owned or aod unlimited Monarch. styled Kings till their Coronation ; But though the very assuming of and though upon the death of Heory the Royal authority be a virtual ratithe Third, Edward the First being fication of the original contract, yet then in the Holy Land, the estates of the people are so jealous lest Princes the realm assembled of their own ac- should forget themselves, and esteem cord, and caused an oath of fealty to their power absolute, that it hath albe taken to him near two years be- ways been thought fit that there fore his arrival, and being crowded; should be a formal renewal of the yet what was done upon that extraor- contract by the muiual stipulation of

Prince and People at every Corona. Sword, he is publicly in vested with
tion; the Prince engaging to per. the powers and prerogatives of
form his part, and the people being Royalty.
usked to admit him as their King; at Since the first employment of the
which time he swears to maintain the rites of Religion in the inaugura.
people's rights and privileges before tion of Kings, the principal function
ihe Crown is set on his head, or any of in the performance of this ceremony
the subjects do him homage; which hath devolved upon the dignified Mi-
is as solemn a representation as caa visters of the Church, it being gene-
be expected ; thai he has no right to rally attached, as of right, to the pos-
the Crown, or the homage of the peo- sessors of a particular episcopal see.
ple, but upon pre-supposal of these The right of consecratiog The So-
matters which he then sweurs to per vereigns of England is altached to
form.

the Metropolitan or Patriarchal Chair The Coronation Oath, which is, by of Canterbury, the Archbishops of the Stat. of William and Mary*, to be which See have exercised it from the administered to every King and Queen earliest ages of the Monarchy. lo who shall succeed to the Imperial the reign of William I. this office is Crown of these realms, by one of the ascribed to them by a contemporary Archbishops or Bishops, in the pre- Historian as an acknowledged privi. sence of all the people, is to the fol. lege of autient date; and we are told, lowing effect : “Will you solemnly that in the reign of Henry II. Pope promise and swear to govern the Alexander III. interdicted the Archpeople of this kingdom of England, bishop of York and the Bishops who and the dominions thereto belonging, assisted him, because they had crownaccording to the Statutes in Parlia. ed Prince Henry at the persuasion of ment agreed on, and the laws and the King his father jo the absence customs of the same;" The King or of Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Queen shall answer," I will." “Will Canterbury, and without his licence. you, to the utmost of your power, In later times this privilege of the maintain the laws of God, the true Metropolitan See, though brokeo profession of the Gospel, and the through at the accession of Elizabetb, Protestant Reformed Religion, esta: has on all occasions been fully ad. blished by Law! And will you pre.

initted. serve unto the Bishops and Clergy of The place of Coronation, after the this realm, and to the Churches com- union of the seven Crowus was at mitted to their charge, all such rights first the capital of the prevailing and privileges as by law do or shall State-Winchester in the kingdom of appertain to them, or any of them ?" Wessex. It was not, however, conKing or Queen—"All this I promise fined to that city; Kingston-on. to do.” After this, the King or Thames, Westminster, London, and Queen, laying his or her hand upon the some other towns occasionally parholy Gospels, shall say, “ The things took of this honour; but in the reign which I have here before promised, I of Edward the Confessor (who was will perform and keep-So help me himself crowned at Winchester) it God!” and then shall kiss the Book. was formally transferred to the new

When the Sovereign is thus ac- Mooastery of Westminster, built by
knowledged and admilled to his of. that pious Prince; and here the cere.
fice, as it becomes the interest no less mony has from that time been always
of the people than of the King that performed, except upon some few
his person and character be adorned extraordinary occasions.
with the highest honour that worldly In Germany, according to the
pomp and the solemuilies of Religion golden Bull, the Coronation of the
can afford, the Church receives him Emperor should be performed at Aix-
in ils sanctuary, and ils Ministers la-Chapelle, the city in which Charle-
confirm and strengthen bis authority magne resided. The Archbishop of
with prayers and benedictions, accom. Cologne, as Archchaplain of the Cha-
panied by the most holy and awful pel, erected by that Emperor, main-
rites: while, by the formal delivery tained for a long time ihe exclusive
of the Crown, the Sceptre, and the right of performing the act of conse-

cration ; but the Elector of Meotz,
* i W. and M. cap. 6.
as Primate of Germany, contesting it