can inform me whether there is any other remains of the kind in this country so perfect, and I shall be much obliged by a probable guess at the age of this building, and for any other information which may lead me to revisit the spot with increased motives of admiration.

MR. URBAN,

SIMPLEX.

Winchester, July 24. THE Winchester Cathedral, take HE reparations that are making

them in general, are not of the best taste. The roof of that part where the transept is united, is in imitation of Henry VII. and the colours too gaudy in my opinion; light blue prevails, that is offensive to the eye; the roof of the choir is of the same description. The Chapel of La Vierge, where they now perform service during the repairs, is, I believe, finished with a glaring red curtain, to keep them warm; this might do in Winter, but in Summer it put me in a fever: and instead of painting, that which ought to be so is done with a nasty glazy varnish, and the pavement in the same disfigured state as before.

The Choir, I am afraid, will not correspond with the expectations of many Antiquaries; the four angles of the four arches of the great tower are four kings, with each a sceptre. I took them to be four Highlanders from their dress, with a Scotch bonnet on their heads, and playing on the bagpipes; for the manner of their arms, and the position of their ceptres, is more that of the chanter; so that I took them to be literally Scotchmen playing the bagpipes, with a red jacket faced with blue, and a Highland bonnet on their heads. The organs are still to be left, to stop up the grand effect of the North transept, and the opposite grand arch is also stopt up, they say to confine the sound of the organs, and correspond with the former; this, in my humble opinion, destroys one of the finest, one of the grandest points of view in the Cathedral, and obscures every thing that is fine in the whole building. It perhaps may be a want of taste in me, but when they were to make a grand and general repair, they ought to have made the Choir like most other Cathedrals, on the East of the grand transept. In no French Church have I ever seen the

grand effect of the transept ever destroyed. Those who have ever seen the Abbey of St. Alban's, will see the bad effect of this; and lastly, there seems an inclination to lose the effect of the two Jubilee galleries, the only ones of the kind in the kingdom, which correspond so exactly with the Abbey of St. George de Rockerville, in Normandy, that they seem to be about the same period of time, and points. much resemble each other in many

I mean not, Sir, these observations on the improvement of the Cathedral as any reflection on the taste of the worthy and Rev. Dean, but when gentlemen are not conversant in these matters, they ought to allow those whose profession it is, to submit to the plans, &c. and then to form a correct judgment, and act accordingly. Yours, &c. A MEMBER OF THE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY.

Mr. URBAN,

IT

Aug. 9. T certainly must be acknowledged, that there is a great appearance manifested at the present time by the English, to promote Religion and Morality, and generally to increase the comforts, and lessen the sufferings of our fellow-creatures. The establishment of the numerous Bible Societies, Missionary Societies, and other Institutions for the same good purposes, which are now spreadmg throughout the kingdom, the erection of new Churches, and Meeting-houses, which we observe of late, certainly appears as if there was a sincere wish to reform mankind.But all these endeavours are but of little worth if crimes of the worst kind are countenanced and sanctioned by persons, who, independently of such encouragement to vice, bear a respectable character. That such persons exist, on mature consideration, must readily be confessed-example. is better than precept. Building Churches and forming Bible Societies, will not accomplish the desired end, whilst bad examples are set by the promoters of such undertakings. I do not mean to charge any individual with the glaring inconsistency of encouraging the building of Churches or forming Bible Societies, and at the same time countenancing and sanctioning MURDER: but that this crime is countenanced at the present time

by

by many individuals there can be no doubt, when we observe the sanction given to the wicked practice of settling quarrels by DUELLING (as it is commonly called), a practice which all truly religious people must condemn.

I was much pleased by observing in your Magazine for July, that the Academy of Dijon have offered a premium for a prize essay on the best means of putting an end to that horrid crime. What are the members of the Society for putting in force the Proclamation against Vice and Immorality, and the Society for the Suppression of Vice about, that they suffer in the metropolis of a country generally acknowledged, I imagine, to be a Christian and civilized one, the following inscription to remain (if known to them) at a shop-window of a silversmith in one of the great streets leading to the West end of the town? "DUELLING PISTOLS."

I shall not detain your Readers any longer, than by desiring a particular account of the proceedings in France respecting the above-mentioned Prize Essay, and expressing a wish that some of the most respectable and virtuous of the members who support the various Religious Societies would unite their efforts to put an end to Duelling, which I have no doubt, with very little trouble, they might soon in a great measure do, if earnest in their endeavours.

Yours, &c.

WE

AN OBSERVER.

FOREST OF DEAN.

E have received a request from the Rev. H. BERKIN, once more to introduce to the notice of our benevolent Readers his appeal to the Publick, on the subject of the New Church in the Forest of Dean. To this we are the rather induced to comply, as the Rev. H. Berkin has incurred a personal risk of between four and five thousand pounds in his arduous attempt for the public good, and a deficiency still existing of nearly 1000l. for which he is responsible.

The Royal Forest of Dean, in the County of Gloucester, a waste tract of upwards of 20,000 acres, has hitherto had no Church in it, nor (with the exception hereafter mentioned) any means of religious instruction expressly provided for the use of its in

habitants. These, consisting chiefly of Miners and Colliers, have hitherto been too generally living in the neglect of moral and religious duties.

The following facts are in addition to the minute particulars already recorded in our former volumes *, to which our readers are referred. EDIT.

"With the concurrence of the Honourable and Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, a memorial and plan were laid before Government, with an offer, on my part, that if the needful fund for building a Church and Parsonagehouse could be provided, I would give up my Curacy, and serve the new Church without any farther emolument than the endowment necessary for its consecration. The measure met the full approbation of Government, who granted five acres of land in the Forest for this purpose, being all that is allowed by Act of Parliament; and have also given most liberal aid in money. An accurate survey was made, and from 250 to 300 cottages, containing from 1200 to 1500 souls, found on extraparochial ground, all within a reasonable made public in the Spring of the year distance of the Church. The plan was 1816; and, encouraged by the many friends who appeared on its behalf, I laid the first stone on the 4th of June. In eight months, a large Church was built, a Church-yard enclosed, and a Schoolroom erected capable of containing 400 children. The Church was opened on the 5th of February 1817, by the Episcopal licence; and was consecrated in June following. It is duly served by myself, and regularly attended by a large congregation, with every promise of its proving a blessing to the country. The parsonage-house is finished; and I am now in residence there, to devote myself to this important work.-I have thus the happiness to see both the present and the rising generation, on this side of the Forest, furnished with the means of Religious Worship and Education; but I have, by these means, taken a heavy responsibility on myself, as the funds are still far short of the needful amount. I feel, however, no anxiety for the event; being confident that the continued benevolence of the public will not be solicited in vain, when the circumstances of the case are known. These poor people have rendered what assistance was in their power; and one man, owner of a quarry, has given the stone. I trust, that by means of this work, true Religion and pure Morality may be the ornaments of the surrounding country: nor does any plan appear more

*See vol. LXXXVI. ii. 23.-LXXXVII. i. 402. ii. 77.

likely to add strength to our excellent Establishment, both in Church and State, by making good Christians and peaceable subjects.

"A Society having lately been formed in aid of building Churches, by which it may be supposed my present deficiency will be supplied, it becomes necessary to observe, that I can derive no assistance from that source; the Society can make no retrospect, and is obliged to confine its attention and services to those places where Churches are now to be built.

HENRY BERKIN, A.M. March 1, 1819."

Mr. URBAN,

EVER

VER since I read the curious and interesting account of the book worm, which follows the above quotation, I have been diligent in my search for one of those far-famed, and it would seem, rarely-discovered foes to the annals of "olden time." Many ponderous volumes, whose pages presented prima facie evidence of the ravages of these destructive insects, have undergone the most scrutinising investigation, and often, after having followed the scent, and traced the prowler through his mazy windings in thick wood and scattered leaves, I have been obliged to give up the pursuit, on finding that the wily elf had left his cover. Nevertheless, fortune frequently smiles upon us when we least expect it, and throws things in our way which we have repeatedly sought in vain; and so it happened to me on Saturday the 7th inst. for I was destined on that day to experience the felicity of being able to apply to myself the admirable exclamation which I have adopted as the motto of this communication.

burgher will probably guess that he was feasting on a morsel of Caxton, or other Black Letter delicacy.-Not so, good Sir, and I am mighty glad thereof. The grave and learned Clerk may conjecture that he had crossed the seas from Holland, Germany, or France, and was regaling on the solid repast which the massy tomes of Leusden, Bochart, Hoffman, and Stephens, so amply afford, or perhaps was minutely investigating the subtle niceties, and picking holes in the tedious sophistry of the German critics.-In verity thou art mistaken. Perchance, affirms the Lawyer, you attacked him whilst nibbling at the folios of old "PRYNNE'S RECORDS."-No, honest Sir, and against this judgment I must enter a writ of error. The Bibliopolist will naturally surmise that he was caught on the shelves of the University or College Library.-Nay, in good truth, all these suppositions, however reasonable, are equally distant from the real circumstances of the case, which will excite surprise in most persons, and very likely fear in some; for this said boke-loving childe was snugly concealed where, of all places in the whole range of paper and print, one would least expect, for I espied him taking a nap in a halfbound copy of "Wall's Ceremonies of the University," Svo. 1798. I do not think he had been long there, but had, perhaps, under the influence of innate principle, (Locke, I believe, does not deny its existence in bookworms of this species), or sympathetic affinity, had migrated from some rotten black-letter sheet to the ancient and time-worn forms of ALMA MATER. -You, Mr. Urban, may conceive the triumph with which I captured this Literary foe, and can participate in the joy which filled my heart when I cautiously enclosed hini, not in a deal*, but in a beechen box, where he was quickly provided with a dinner, consisting of a few choicely culled and well-wormed scraps. He seemed satisfied with his situation, and on the next morning, as I was looking over the rest of my tattered volumes, for the purpose of supplying the lit the creature with a change for his Sunday's meal, I chanced to meet with a

small

small Greek book*, which bore selfevident/testimony of the labours of some of these belligerents, who had not only penetrated through the philosophy of Pythagoras, but had even ventured to take off the powerful arguments of Demosthenes. Directed by this index, I traced their insinuations ad finem, and there, to my great gratification, I discovered not only another live worm, but also a dead fly or moth, which probably was his parent. My other books were afterwards examined over and over again, but in vain; and I think I have already no small cause to be satisfied. I yesterday examined both these curiosities by a microscope, and though I am not acquainted with entomology, I will endeavour to give you as good an account as I am able. This worm, which looks much like a filbert maggot, is of a pearly-white colour. The body, which seems to be formed of scaly rings, which are capable of being contracted or extended at pleasure, is of a round appearance at the back, and flattish beneath, and is covered with white downy hairs; its thickness increases towards the head, which juts out of the body, and is of a darker hue, approaching to drab, and the mouth and eyes are of a brownish mahogany cast; it appears to be furnished with two tusks, of a saw-like form, with which it pierces the wood, leather, and paper, which form its food; and I am led to make this conclusion, from observing the dust in which it was embedded when I found it, which through the microscope clearly resembles saw- -filings. It moves rather slowly, although provided with three pair of thin wiry legs, and when touched it curls up its body into a globular form. Both these worms are nearly alike, only the last I found appears to be younger than the other. They are both in the same box, which I have divided by a partition of card. The little one seems anxious to get to the other, and just to gratify my curiosity, I put them together for a minute, and the younger approached his senior and saluted him with great af

fection, as if claiming some relationship with him. This the elder would not brook, and seemingly conscious of the superiority which a residence in the University had conferred upon him, he cooly avoided the Grecian tyro, and behaved to him much in the same way as a Senior Soph would to a young and uninitiated freshman.

Now, good Mr. Urban, after having so long trespassed upon your patience, I merely add that I will take great care of both of them, for the purpose of watching their supposed metamorphosis from the creeping worm to the flying moth; and in case they should, whilst in my possession, follow the example of other Literary characters, and keep a journal, I may perhaps hereafter send you an extract or two from it. I would premise that it will probably contain, like those of the rest of the species, whether bipedical or polypedical, a relation of their proceedings in poring over and crumming up the literature of all ages and countries. I conclude by stating that the worms are now quite well and hearty, and I shall be most happy to gratify the curiosity of the Bibliographer or Naturalist by an inspection of them. JOHN SMITH (3tius)

of St. John's College.

Mr. URBAN, London, Aug. 17.
N reply to the Letter of S. T. B. in

your Magazine for July (p. 6), I beg to inform him, that early in the Episcopacy of Bishop Keen at Ely, I, being then a Student at Cambridge, went to see the Episcopal Palace; and I well remember every bed which I saw had one of the nets to it, of which he makes mention.

The embroidery on both sides, some observations on which make the latter part of S. T. B.'s letter, is not so uncommon as he seems to suppose. The Writer of this reply is now in possession of a short silk apron, carefully preserved among some of the family relics, worked in this manner. It belonged to his great-grandmother, who lived in the beginning of the last century. W. D.

REVIEW

11. Two Letters to a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, on the subject of Gothic Architecture, containing a Rafutation of Dr. Milner's Objections to Mr. Whittington's Historical Survey of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of France: and an Inquiry into the Eastern Origin of the Gothic or Pointed Style. By the Rev. John Haggitt, Rector of Ditton, Cambridgeshire, 8vo, pp. 122. Cadell and Davis.

HEN the classifications of Go

Wthic Architecture by Mr. Gray

and Mr. Bentham obtained a tolerable

degree of publicity, the attention of Antiquaries was strongly directed to the interesting style now under discussion. Of the various species of the genus, accurate characters were easily drawn; but, to pursue the figure here used, the different sorts were deemed to arise from the simple process of crossing the breed. Thus the intersection of the round arch was thought to generate the pointed Gothic, though the outlines of each style are fully as distinct as those of the Bull-dog and the Grey-hound. These mistakes originated in the novelty of the subject, premature hypothesis being usual in such states of science; but, as it provokes enquiry, data are collected, and such hypotheses remain or are blown down, according to the solidity of their respective foundations. It is an antient proverb, that l'ennui du beau amene le gout de singulier; and the process has always been by overcharging or altering simple elegance. The fine arts are supposed to have lost their classical character in the days of Constantine; and it is most certain, that the trinketry and gingerbread of the consular costume in that æra is a good analogous characteristick of that sad decay of taste, which destroyed the fine proportions of the Grecian column, and altered its elegant Capital to the whimsical carving of a South-Sea idol or weapon. If this corruption did not originate with the union of the Eastern and Western Empires, and the incorporation of the Barbarians; at least it reported progress, during and since that æra. That the Anglo-Saxon arch and column is in nudity simply Grecian, such as occurs in the cheapest GENT. MAG. August, 1819.

gaol-building manner, is evident from the authority below quoted *.

Conceiving, therefore, as we do, that the Anglo-Saxon and Gothic styles are of distinct origin, because in point of fact they have no assimilation, we believe that they are contemporary. The sharp Lancet arch Occurs in the Cyclopean Gallery at Tyrius t, long antecedent to the days arch of the fifteenth century may be of Homer, and the obtuse Pointed

seen at Pompeii .

+.

We have been more minute in ex

hibiting these particular instances, because they prove the penetration and of whose work is, to demonstrate the judgment of Mr. Haggitt; the object Oriental origin of the Pointed style. The literary world is under the greatest of obligations to gentlemen who establish positions, before deemed questionable, by a regular chain of satisfactory evidence. The work is exceedingly luminous; and the style, where it is controversial, much in the Socratic manner of diction, acute and pungent, and yet strictly gentlemanly.

"In a question," says Mr. Haggitt, "of mere curiosity, very judiciously, contemptuous personal reflections are not only peculiarly out of place; but they of the writer who gives way to them, unavoidably tend to warp the judgment hurrying him into assertions without foundation, and to the use of arguments which will not stand the test of sober enquiry."

The Work is elegantly printed, and accompanied with instructive plates. Deeply do we regret that our confined limits will not allow us to do it full justice; but, as it is a work without which every good library would be incomplete, our feelings may thus be sootbed.

12. An Essay on Government, revised

and enlarged. The fourth Edition. By Philopatria, the only Daughter of the late Francis Baron Le Despenser. 4to. pp. 329. Ridgway.

WE remember many years ago to * See the Vignette of ch. vii. in vol. VI. of Dr. Clarke's Travels.

+ Gell's Argolis, pl. 16.

Id. Pompeiana.-Plate Inside of the Gate of Herculaneum. See too a niche in pl. 20.

have