that we shall meet with the greateft variety of thofe contrivances by which the weak and defencelefs are enabled to efcape the fight and elude the vigilance of the more powerful, of whom they would otherwife be the prey. It is, no doubt, with this view, that this diminutive infect is provided with the power of concealing itfelf in its own froth; which may likewife ferve the purpofe of preferving from the too vivid rays of the Sun its very delicate and tender frame. The Cicada Spumaria in its fly ftate is thus defcribed by Barbut (Gen. Inf. p. 125), or rather by Geoffroi, of whofe work upon Infects the former is little more than an abftra&t. "Amongst the fpecies of this country this is one of the largeft; it is of a brown colour, often inclining to green; the head, thorax, and clyftra, are finely dotted: on thefe laft are seen two white spots, oblong and tranfverfe, arifing from the outer edge of the clytra, the one higher, the other lower, but not quite reaching to the inner edge; fo that the bands by them formed acrofs the clytra are interrupted in the middle. The under part of the infect is of a light brown." J. O. may make himself quite easy with refpect to any mischief to be ap prehended from this infect, which, in all ftages, is believed to be perfectly innocent. Many of the circumstances hinted at in this fhoit account might furnish materials for long and curious investigations refpecting the nature of animals; if they ferve the purpose of exciting the curiofity of fome amongst those who are oppreffed by the weight of time, and rendered unhappy by a leifure which they know not how to employ; if they are the means of drawing any from idleness and inanity to the ftudy of the philofophy of Natural Hi!. tory (a ftudy which must be highly gratifying to all who are endowed with the bleffing of curiofity, and have minds capable of intellectual enjoyment), my purpofe in writing this will be fully anfwered. ENTOMOLOGUS. denomination "cuckoo-fpit:" others, the extravafated juices of plants, or an hardened dew. But all thefe opinions are equally erroneous. The froth proceeds from a small infect, which incloses itself within it, with an oblong obtufe body, a large head, and fmall eyes. The animal emits the fpume from many parts of its body, undergoes its changes within it, then burfts into a winged ftate, and flies abroad in fearch of its mate. It is perfectly innoxious; has four wings; the two external ones of a dufky brown marked with two white pots. A DERBYSHIRE ENTOMOLOGIST. Mr. URBAN, Hartshorn, June 14. YOUR excellent Mifcellany has long and very justly been esteemed a most extenfive vehicle for the fugitive fentiments and remarks of your numerous correfpondents, as well as a great variety of literary, hiftorical, and other articles of real value, which the late learned hiftorian, E. Gibbon, well obferves in your prefent volume, p. 6. And let me add, that it is also an admirable court of literary judicature, where the merits of all writers are weighed in a fair and equitable scale, and the pleadings of all parties are faithfully and liberally recorded. As the truth of thefe obfervations is grounded upon experience, I hope once more to be indulged with a place when convenient, that I may, through this diffufive channel, inform any diftant friends and fubfcribers of my progrefs fince they last heard from me, after the fortunate recovery of the long-loft treafure collected by Dr. Wilkes and the Rev. T. Feilde*. The first occurrence to which I wish to call their attention was the purchase of thirteen volumes, folio, of "Stafford MSS," fo lettered on their handfome old binding. Thefe confift of tranfcripts of all the antient deeds, courtrolls, and other curious evidences, &c. formerly belonging to the great barony of Stafford. The perfon who first took upon him that name, and built his caftle there, was Robert de Tonei, or Todeni, a Norman, a great favourite and relation of William the Conqueror; to whom that king, for his fervices, when he had fubdued this kingdom, gave an immenfe fortune, and made him lord of no less than 131 townships, whereof 81 4. I.D. relyes on what Ento assuls, he may be lesand hos 4 lanis, it a londer Species, coill be coisered, as have very often Observed. This Inte che should be 1794-] Mr. Shaw's Report of Progrefs for Staffordshire. lay in this county, as appears from Domesday Book. His defcendants were created earls of Stafford and dukes of Buckingham; the Jaft of which, named Edward, was attainted of high treafon, and beheaded May 17, 1521, upon Tower-hill, whofe fon Henry was reftored in blood two years after by the title of Lord Stafford. He was a man of great learning, and an Antiquary, being keeper of the re cords in the Tower, according to Stow, in the time of Queen Elizabeth. And I have the fatisfaction to find, from a variety of evidence, that he was the chief collector of the above curious volumes, which, from their bulk and nature, could not have coft lefs than 150l. tranfcribing. But they came to me at a moderate price in Mr. King's auction room, King-street, Covent-garden, April 20, 1793; and, being then too much elated with my accidental purchase to make any cool enquiries, I only now imperfectly recollect that they were in a catalogue of the joint libraries of Dr Speed (I think, of Southampton), and ano. ther gentleman. I fhould, therefore, be glad to receive farther information refpe&ting them, and how they paffed in fuch good prefervation from their noble repofitory, Thornbury cattle, in Gloucestershire, the feat of the dukes of Buckingham; of which honour three of my volumes contains many curious illuftrations from Inquifitions, Court-rolls, &c. at the fervice of Mr. Bigland, if fuitable to his plan, or any other hiftorian of that county. Permit me here to offer my beft thanks to that refpectable fociety, the College of Arms, for the very liberal indulgence of access to the valuable collec. tions of MSS. there depofited; particularly Sir William Dugdale's Vifitation of Staffordshire, whence I copied a great variety of church notes, infcriptions, and drawings of arms and monuments; efpecially thofe beautiful ones which fo richly adorned the cathedral of Lichfield before the fad deftruction made by thofe facrilegious fanaticks in the civil wars. At the fame time, with much forrow and regret, let me add my poor tribute of condolance at the late fhocking fate of the two worthy members, J. C. Brooke and B. Pingo, efq. who were amongst the fixteen unfortunate lufferers at the theatre in the Haymarket (from the former of whom, as an eminent Antiquary*, Herald, and * See the Obituary for February, p. 187. 603 very promifing friend, I had flattered myfelf with the hopes of much affiftance); an event which must ever be remembered with horror while humanity exifts, and will doubtless be a fubjet of future dread till fome plan, like Captain Project's in your laft Magazine, p. 122, be adopted, to render the accefs to public piaces fafe and commodious. But, to return to the main defign of my letter; I must acknowledge my obligations to the right honourable the Earl of Leicester for the ufe of his copy of the antient Regifter of Tutbury priory, likewife for an elegant plate of that curious church. By the right honourable the Earl of Uxbridge I have been honoured with the most flattering patronage, and liberal access to his very noble and curious archives; whence I have procured the original Register of Burton abbey in the highest preservation, together with an abundant variety of antient rolls, Saxon and other charters, &c. illuftrative of the immenfe property which, on the diffolution of that religious house, was granted to William Lord Paget. These are certainly of the utmost consequence to, and will with fidelity and care be incorporated in, the first volume. To the Right Hon. Earl Ferrers I am allo obliged for accels to his curious archives, which greatly illuftrate the antient baronial feat of that family at Chartley, and other manors in the county of Staff rd. By the Right Hon. Lord Dudley I am promifed a plate of his antient and most picturesque caftie, from an excellent drawing in my collection, taken by an eminent artist for Dr. Wilkes. Nor can 1 omit this op portunity of expreffing my grateful obiigations to the honourable and right reverend the bishop, and to the dean and chapter of Lichfield, for their generous contributions to perpetuate that beautiful cathedral, and other diftinguished ma:ks of their wishes to promote the undertaking. And particularly am I obliged to the Rev. Dr. Falconer for having declined a fimilar publication, and liberally given me his collections and interest in the county. Likewife to the Rev. Theophilus Buckeridge, a well-known Antiquary, and correfpondent in your Magazine, I have the fatisfaction to add my beft acknowledgements for a curious engraving, and other favours. From the Muleum of the late Mr. Greene I am indulged by hi; removed, or the Young shoot on which it has fixex self will be, stented in its growth - espesially struma. be near the unther shoot. his fon with the ufe of fome MSS. concerning Lichfield, and a plate of Bishop Hicket's monument, engraved by Hol Jar. My thanks are likewife due to the Rev. Henry White for his friendly aids; and to S. Simpfon, efq. townclerk of Lichfield. To Jof. Loxdale, of Lythwood, near Shrewsbury, efq. I am greatly obliged for all the original MSS. (chiefly relating to the hundreds of Pirchill and Totmanflow) written by his relation the Rev. Thomas Loxdale, vicar of Leek, which preferment he refigned 1735, and was afterwards rector of Tixall, as appears by his own very ufeful and entertaining parochial accounts. To Sir Nigel B. Gefley, bart. I am obliged for the ufe of many curious records, &c. By Richard Gough, efq. author of that fplendid work, "Sepulchral Monuments," the new edition of Camden's Britannia, &c. I have been honoured with peculiar favours. To Thomas Pennant, efq. I am much indebted for many excellent remarks and deferiptions in this county, as well as for the promife of fome valuable drawings in his poffeffion. Mt. Blore and Mr. Nichols, the Hiftorians of Derbyshire and Leicestershire, have my belt acknowledgements for their diftinguished fervices; likewife the Rev. Dr. Nah, the Worcestershire Hiftorian, for a very full account of the parishes of Clent and Arley, written by the learned Bishop Lyttelton. To Edward Croxall, efq. I muft exprefs my warme thanks for the very liberal ufc of his old deeds and court-rolls, illustrative of the manor of Aldridge, &c. Alfo, to Richard Dyott, efq. for a copy of the large and curious furvey of the honour of Tutbury in the time of Queen Elizibeth, and for other effential fervices. Likewife, to Samuel Steele Perkins, eq. for the ufe of an excellent chartu1.ry from the library of W. H. C Floyer, efq. relating to Hints and Wefton under Lizard. To Richard Wilkes Unett, eq. the heir to Dr. Wilkes's MSS. I am under particular obligations. The Rev. Thomas Shaw Helier has very k nd y lent me his excellent copies of Huntbach's incomparable MSS, which fo fully and c early record the manerial hiftory, antient pedigrees, arms, and monumental inferiptions, of every parish in the hundred of Seildon, &c. George Molineux, efq. late sheriff of the thire, alto offered me libe.al accefs to fome curious Collections in his poffethon. 7 To my very good friend P. T. Hinckes, efq. I am indebted for much affiftance in the antient parish of Bishbury, &c.; and to Thomas Fowler, efq. for the infpection of his valuable chartulary at Pendeford: likewife, to Henry Vernon, efq. for several favours. By Richard Whitworth, efq. I am promifed every neceffary information from the principal proprietors. In the agricultural department, F. P. Eliot, efq. will lend me his defirable aid, together with fome other friends well verfed in that mott useful science. And, in the whole economy of Statistical as well as Natural Hiftory, I have been favoured with fome excellent papers by Mr. W. Pitt, and fhall foon receive more fully his ingenious observations in this county through the medium of that fpirited and laudable inftitution, the Board of Agriculture. To Jofeph Scott, efq. I am much obliged for the contribution of feveral plates, and other favours; alfo, to my friends S. Egerton Brydges, efq. and Peter Vere, efq. for fimilar contributions, and to the former for various affiance. To Sir Robert Burdett, bart. I am greatly obliged for the prefent of an engraving; I kewile to Robert Pyort, efq for a plate of Streethay old hall, &c. The Rev. Dr. Booker has politely given me his affiftance in the vicinity of Dudley. From F. Dugdale Aftley, efq. I received an excellent MS. copy of Erdefwick. F. B Finney, efq. has prom. fed me his aid in the parithes of Leek and Chedle ton. And by Mr. J. Gee I have been favoured with a very copious account of Walfall, a plate of which fine old church and town will be engraved at the expence of the corporation. D. B. Curwen, efq. has my thanks for fome records relating to Kinver. To the Rev. W. Grefley I had occafion to exprefs my best acknowledgements in your laft Mgazine, p. 431; and to Charies Toliet, eiq in voi LXIII. p. 210; a!fo to 'C. E. Repington, efq. in my last Propofils. Finally, let me offer this finall tribute of thanks to my excellent friends, S. P. Wolfertan, efq. for his contribution of a plate, and valuable aid; Col. Chadwick, and C. Chadwick, efq. for the ule of their admirable feries of old deeds, &c. illuftrative of the manor of Mavefyn Ridware from the time of Henry I, and for their other great affiftance and contributions; especially to the latter for a very curious tenure roll 1794-] Mr. Shaw's Report of Progrefs for Staffordshire. roll of Offlow hundred (time of Henry III.), tranfcribed for him by the indefatigable Mr. Avfcough from the Harleian MSS. To trouble you with a farther lift of obligations would be intrufive and improper, as I fhall foon, I truft, have an opportunity of expreffing them more fully in my intended Preface. The laft acquifition, and by far the leaft, is a recent purchase of two volumes of MSS. from the library of an opulent Antiquary, and a perfon of reputed benevolence, from whom I had flattered myfelf with the hopes of obtaining affiftance upon more liberal terms. But, what makes them of little value, I had previously copied moft of the Staffordshire articles by favour of J. Meyrick, efq. Westminster, and that ufeful collector, Mr. Simco, Great Queen freet. To thefe were attached two leffer volumes (of much greater value than the former, and plainly written by the fame hand, viz. by Baffano, of Derby, formerly an ingenious heraldic painter and collector), which confift principally of monumental infcriptions in Derbyshire, now at Mr. Blore's fervice; to whom if they afford any thing uteful, it will be fome confolation to me in the unfortunate bargain. Very far, Mr. Urban, has it ever been from my fentiments or intereft to have given the leaft offence to any one in my prefent undertaking, much lefs to-catera defunt. I was proceeding to trouble you with the particulars of fome extraordinary inimical conduct, which I thall now omit. For, the great encouragement I have at length met with, in fpite of all oppofition, prefents to my fight as well as imagination a picture, whofe fore-ground is replete with the moft agreeable features; fo that the few remaining objects, which once caft much gloom upon the fcene, are now thrown with indifference into the back-ground, and almoft obfcured in their own faint and distant shadow. Yet, many are the extraneous difficulties I have had to encounter (as if the care and labour naturally attending fuch works, even under the greatest patronage and moft benign aufpices, were not fufficiently oppreffive!), befides the angry forms of ad verse winds, enough to have furled the fails of a much stronger veffel than mine, and driven it back into its tran. quil port again, but that fome gentler and more profperous gales have occaficnally rifen to keep it fteady on its courfe; and, if I may be allowed to 605 purfue the metaphor, I am now far em- Mr. URBAN, S. SHAW, jun. Richmond, April 10. THE fable ghof" of ninety-feven of my pamphlets were fitting up the chimney" when it occurred to me, that the hiftory of them would not be unentertaining to the generality of your readers, nor unufeful to fuch of them as are under circumstances similar to my own. You must know then, Sir, that I came into the world with the feeds of a diforder the most troublefome and incurable of any; nothing less than the cacoeshes fcribendi; a malady unfortunately far removed from the vortex of thofe panacea which, on other occafions, have to happy an effect. The firft fymptom of this difeafe, if I rightly remember, appeared on the blank-leaf of a Propria quæ maribus; the fecond, on the window of an inn; it afterwards made its appearance on the Poet's Corner of a news-paper; and, finally, broke out in the full fever, the delirious rage, of a political pamphlet. To drop the metaphor: after having been employed all the former part of my life as an unprofitable fcribbler, I at laft took up the employment of an author in a profeffional manner, and as a means of procuring a livelihood. The bud at length burst into a flower; the caterpil lar got wings, and foared in all the ma jelly jefty of a butterfly. The Rambler informs us, that, before a man can write, it is neceffary that he fhould read. This I had done; but, unfortunately, my reading had paffed over like a delightful dream that leaves no lafting impreffion behind it; and, unfortunately again, except the third volume of Tifram Shandy, a Bath Guide, and a tract of Swedenborg's, my library confifted of few bo ks of any value or importance, or that were likely to afford me any confiderable affittance. To this and the peculiar unfavourableness of my fudy, as well as the narrownejs of my circumBances, I attribute the melancholy fuccefs of my labours; for, fo far from being procul a turbá firepituque remotus, I was fituate in the very centre of a crowd of giggling girls; and, fo far from being anxietate carens nec de lodvice paranda follicitus, my levee was daily attended by a host of washerwomen, tailors, and paftrycooks: the former defect, however, I in fome meafure fupplied by conftantly employing my imagination whenever information failed; and I confoled myself under the unfavourableness of fitnation and circumitances by recollecting that Apollo bad fwept the lyre in the midft of the mine filters; that Pliny had written during an eruption of Vefuvius; and that Dryden, Shakspeare, Hooker, Caftalio, and a long hit of other writers, had found never-dying laurels for their brows even in the barien wafte of indi. gence. Overlooking every difadvanage, therefore, I plodded on; at one hour wooing with ardour the Mufe of Shakspeare, at the next, engaged in all the fubtleties of theological controverly; now weaving fonnets and madrigals, then fuddenly "leasing all meaner things" to fem the torrent of rebellion, or to fix the balance of power. No very long time elapfed before three pamphlets were ready for the prefs; they were immediately printed, and 100 cop es of them delivered to my neighbour the book feiler. You, Mr. Urban, who are a brother in the trade, will e fily conceive the folicitude with which I waited for the illue of their fale. I formed a refolution, however, to make Do enquiries till the expiration of fix months; for, I very joftly reafoned, that the larger the fum which I had to receive, the greater would be the flimuJus to my future undertakings. The great and important day," however, length arrived, and I was told by the a. fhop-boy, with a friendly fmile on his countenance, that his mafter had fold no lefs than three of them, and was in great expectations of difpofing of a fourth. Sic tranfit gloria mundi !-Congratulate me, however, Mr. Urban, on having found a confolation under this misfortune, great as it is. The honours of Fame I never defired. To fee my portrait staring from a fhop window, painted by Laurence, and engraved by Bartolozzi; to fee variorum editions of my works; to have my hallowed bones laid with rereverence in Westminster-abbey ; to have my anecdotes, letters, and the fweepings of my study, collected into an elaborate quarto, and fold, like the "filthy excretion of the civet cat," at an extravagant price; this, believe me, Sir, made no part of my expectations, and, confequently, I cannot be said to be disappointed. Befides, a durable reputation always fprings from small beginnings; and it gives me exquifite pleafuse to reflect that, although now, by the independency of my pen, and the partiality of the times, like the bac in the fable, I am received by neither fide, and damned both by Monthly and Critical Reviewers, yet that it is poffible (however improbable) that at fome future period, when the fever of party has in fome meafure fubfided, my writings will emerge from their obfcurity, and afford a comfortable fubfiftence to the children of my great great grandchil dren's children. Such of your readers, however, Sir, who think to reap an immediate harveft by the labours of their pen, let me earnefly advife to lay it down in time, left, like me, they should find themselves most miferably mistaken; and, to appeafe the wrath of their ftationer and printer, fhould be under the neceflity of preparing themfeives for a curacy of 30l. per annum. Mr. URBAN, IN A. B. June 26. N the year 1781, a duel was fought at Avignon between a M. von Erlach and a M. von Haller, in which the latter was killed. He was fon of the famous Haller, and an officer of a Swifs regiment ferving in France. He was a great genius, and, as fuch men fometimes are, a great oddity; in thort, a moft extraordinary man. In him were united the happieft gifts and endowments of nature, which he had cultivated to an uncommon degree. His character was humane and honeft, of a molt cap tivating |