38 St. Dunstan's in the East.-Thomas Baron Chandos. [Jan. companiment of the Commandments, &c. and which omission I should hope would not have been objected to; and in the place of the arm chairs, as seats for the officiating clergymen, carved stalls had adorned the side walls of the Chancel, as was the practice of old; the beauty of the building would have been increased, and the admiring Antiquary would receive a greater share of gratification. The pulpit and reading-desk are ornamented with niches, and mouldings, of different ages, indiscriminately mixed, and, with the addition of their stairs, occupy more room than necessary; they are placed on each side of the Church, interrupting the view of the altar, which should always be clear. This would not occur if the pulpit was formed on the antient model, and placed close to a pillar, and the reading desk beneath it, according to the usual Church arrangements. The pews, and seats for the poor, have appropriate mouldings; and the dif. ferent pannelling is adorned with trefoil heads, and together with the organ case, and the minor furniture of the Church, harmonize with the grand design, though bronze ornaments are not appropriately introduced in a building in this style. Owing to the disproportionate breadth of the ailes, instead of being groined, the roof is coloured in imitation of timber, and divided by ribs, and other beams into pannels; and which, as groined work was impracticable, was perhaps the best expedient the architect could adopt. The great width of the piers between the windows, a fault I noticed in the exterior, is here a very glaring defect, which might have been avoided had the windows been larger. The entrance from the porch is through a pointed arch, filled with a door of open carved work, glazed, as is the screen at the West end, with plate glass. The roof is groined more elaborately than the body of the Church, the groins springing from columns in the angles. The font, of a very mean design, and unworthy the Church, stands in a pew in the South aile; and to the credit of the parish, the monuments from the old Church have been repaired, and set up in their respective situations in the present. Upon the whole, this Church presents a more correct specimen of our antient national style of architecture, than we are usually indulged with. It does great honour to its ingenious Architect (D. Laing, Esq.), and to the Parish, for their liberality; it evinces the attention paid to this style in the present day, and of the improvement professional men have made since the last century; and it encourages a hope, that we may one day have the pleasure of witnessing a building, in as pure a style as that which prevailed iu the reign of the Third Edward. E. I. C. H sanguinity of the Wyndham family to the noble House of Chandos may appear at the present era, they seem to have attached no small importance to it in their day, and to have taken every opportunity of pub lishing the fact to the world.-The following Inscription from a monument in St. James's Church, Taunton, co. Somerset, has recently been com municated to me by a friend; and as it bears so intimate a relation to the Epitaphs at Winchester and Hursley *, I again beg the favour of Mr. Ur ban's pages to give it perpetuity. [OWEVER doubtful the con Arms-in a lozenge-Azure, a chevron between three lions' heads erased Or. "In memory of Maria Wyndham, the daughter of Sir Charles Wyndham, and Dame James his wife, who departed this life the 19th of January 1759. Her father. was the son of Sir Edmund Wyndham, Knight, Marshal of England. Her mother was the daughter of Major General Young, and grand-daughter of the Lord Chandus. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 16. R. RICARDO's plan is known, Min substance, to be simply this a forced loan of very large amount, by which several millions of stock shall be purchased. There are two objections to this plan one, that it is a sacrifice of capital; and another, that the money requisite for the purpose could not be procured. That some measure, and that a strong one, will soon be requisite, in relation to our finances, is manifest; for the Revenue is upon the decline. The system of forcing prices is illusive; and the relief to the people most advantageous, and to the Ministers most gratifying,is the reduction of Taxation. Now, Sir, though I am fully aware of the force of the term Project, I beg to propose a commutation, which will be absolutely beneficial, and attack no capital whatever. It is the method similar to that, by which estates are recovered from mortages during minority of the heir; and, in principle, though not in form, daily practised by prudent persons. The object of the plan is to esta blish a powerful sinking fund, which implies no additional taxation; and, only once during life, a forced loan, not out of capital, but income. That it would be efficient, I know, from the following instance. About thirtyfive years since, a Gentleman left an estate (about three or five hundred a year, I do not recollect which), to a College, because it was so mortgaged that to his heirs it would be worth nothing. The Society immediately applied a thousand pounds from the College funds to commence the redemption of the estate; and by judicious management ever since, without any further advance, have not only cleared the estate, but with the proceeds have bought some valuable livings at least, if not made other accessions to their income. I propose, thep, that every heir, upon acceding to the property of a father, or other relative (whether such property be in lands, funds, or mortgages, or other real securities), shall give up to the State one half of a year's income, payable either at once or by instalments within three years; and that every placeman and beneficed Clergyman shall also give, if the income be a thousand a year, a fourth; if nine hundred, a fifth; if eight bundred, a sixth; and so on, in scale, of one year's income. All sums so accruing to the State to be absolutely applied to the purchase of four and five per cent. stock, in preference, if the market proves purchase in such stocks to be equally advantageous to the State. My next proposition is equally simple. Gentlemen of landed property do not commonly receive more than two and a half per cent. from their estates. I therefore propose, that they shall, for a certain number of years, pay one half of their annual income to Government; and receive for every 1007. sterling, 1007. 3 per cent. consols.; by which exchange they would gain a bonus of 10s. per cent. those who refused such commutation to be subject to a propertytax of ten per cent. upon their whole income ; a measure absolutely necesrary, because a lawyer would suggest, if you are obliged to spare one half of a year's income, I will get you security on mortgage at five per cent. If, however, one half be thought too much, it might be mitigated, but the reduction of taxation would be slower, and also the rise of rents in consequence. Of this subject further on. Government having a power of paying off the four or five per cents. at par, it is evident, that for every 1007. sterling, they must, at least, save 17. interest per annum; but, as the four or fives would, in the event of this or a similar measure, advance to this 100%. by an unnatural aid of the market, absolutely factitious, it would be but fair that one half of such gain should be contributed to Government; e. g. when the three per cents. are at 69, the proper market price of the fours is 92. If, therefore, the price is forcibly elevated to 100, it is evident that the eight pounds are created by artificial circumstances; and that, if 47. of it be contributed to Government, the other four is an absolute bonus to the stockholder, which, in the present state of things, he could not obtain at all. As, upon reduction of the stock, the remainder would, according to the common course of things, rise in value; an estimate might be taken of the price of every 100%. 3 per cents. on the first of January every year; and, 40 Ricardo on National Debt improved. and, if such stock had risen in value, on the same day, in the following year, a contribution might fairly be demanded by Government, which contribution, as to amount, might be formed on a scale adapted to the quantum of the rise during the year. It has been said, that the stockholder ought also to contribute; but the mode of doing this, without embracing the ineligible form of a property-tax, or reducing the interest, is not easily to be discovered. The principle of the present essay is commutation with a bonus, except in one instance during life of a contribution from income. Much might be done by a proper consideration of what are, and what are not, the consequences of fixing a legal standard of interest, or leaving it to take its free course. When stocks are at 42, the interest paid for every 1007. is 77. 2s. 10d.; when at 69, only 47. 6s. 11d.; if at 81, only 37. 14s. The latter never ensues but under excess of capital. As a measure of security to Government, the standard of legal interest, in regard to mortgages and private securities, should be the quantum of interest paid by the funds for every 1007. at the time of signing such mortgage deed or security; and so follow the progress of the funds, as the interest rises or falls; for nothing can be more plain than that, when the three per cents. are at 81, and the annual interest only 37. 14s. the mort. gagee, who offers five per cent. bids against Government, 26s. per cent; and it is equally clear, that when the three per cents. are at 42, and interest for every 1007. 77. 2s. 10d. the mortgagee loses 21. 2s. 10d. per cent. These facts are plain, and show that a permanent standard of interest, in reference to an article of variable value, mutually injures both parties. In time of War, more can be made of capital than in time of Peace; and a man who lends 1007. in the former [Jan. of Peace. The high price of the funds, when interest is therefore low, acts in favour of the mortgagee; and Government, whose interest it is to raise the funds as high as possible, by fixing a legal standard of interest at 51. per cent., actually presents the mortgagee with a bounty of 26s. per cent. against itself, when the funds are at 81, and pay only 37. 14s. per cent annual interest. If, therefore, the standard interest should continue at 5 per cent, Government might in future equitably demand, as a property-tax, at least one half of all such sums as, in virtue of the enactment of 5 per cent. exceed the interest paid for 100%. sterling in the funds; that is to say, stocks pay 5 per cent. at 60 in the 3 per cent. consols; but when they exceed that sum, the interest falls, and the mortgagee becomes a double gainer. When these stocks are at 60, the value of land is only 20 years purchase; but when they are at 81, then the value is 27 years purchase. Thus the security is improved considerably, and the interest forced up to 57. from 31. 14s. in times of peace, when money is absolutely of less value, because less can be made of it. Thus a premium, inviting capitalists to vest their money in mortgage is unwisely held out by Government, in abatement of their own securities. These ideas are only to be considered as hints, improvable, it is trusted, in the hands of skilful financiers. They are intended, if possible, to suggest a mode more palatable and practicable than that of Mr. Ricardo, to whose high talents in political economy the Author owes the base of his ideas. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, ACTUARIUS. Jan. 18. CCIDENTALLY into state of things for 11. 28. 10d. interest, A Mr. Boura's Gazetteer, I saw loses more interest than he does by lending the same 1007. for 37. 14s. in time of Peace; because, in the War period, he can acquire an indefinite profit, by contracts and commerce in other articles of sure demand, in such quantities as to baffle competition; but he has no such advantage in time that Farinelli, for the first ten years of his residence in Spain, used to sing every night to Philip the Vth, the same four airs. Can you, Mr. Urban, or any of your intelligent Readers inform me what these airs were? Yours, &c. A CONSTANT READER. 1. Narrative of the Operations and recent Discoveries within the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Excavations, in Egypt and Nubia, and of a Journey to the Coast of the Red Sea, in search of the Antient Berenice; and another to the Vasis of Jupiter Ammon. By G. Belzoni. 4to. pp. 483. Murray. N our former Numbers we have IN frequently mentioned the enter prising Discoveries of this indefatigable Traveller; and we now undertake, with considerable pleasure, to introduce this valuable and most interesting Publication to the notice of our Readers. The name of Belzoni is well known to the whole world; Europe was perhaps never more indebted to any one individual, for skill and persevering research in Egyptian Antiquities, than to the celebrated Author of the present Work, and we sincerely hope that his labours will not pass unrewarded. Previous to entering upon the merits of the Volume before us, it may be gratifying briefly to notice the principal incidents of Belzoni's early life, which are not so generally known. Signor Belzoni is a native of the Roman States, but he is not a stranger to this country, or its language. Having early imbibed a wandering spirit, he visited England, Ireland, and Scotland, about nine or ten years ago. He was then about 28 years of age, of very handsome and colossal appearance, his stature being upwards of 6 feet in height, remarkably straight and well formed; his head and upper part of his body not exceeding the ordinary size, but from his hips downwards his figure was truly colossal. He had early imbibed some of the elementary parts of science, but be more particularly devoted himself to the study of Hydraulics. Shortly after he came to this kingdom, at the period we have mentioned, his circumstances became straitened, and with the independence and ardour which have ever characterised him, instead of resorting to his friends abroad, or to foreigners at home for assistance, he determined to draw upon his own reGENT. Mag. January, 1821. sources, and become a candidate for public favour. With this view he went to Edinburgh, and commenced an exhibition of Hydraulics, in which he was a perfect adept. He shewed the various fantastic forms into which water might be drawn by the power of machinery. From Scotland he repaired to Ireland, and recommenced his hydraulic exhibitions at the theatres of some of the populous cities of that country. Finding the resources of the mind not sufficient to feed the curiosity of his visitors, he determined to call to their aid the prodigious strength of his body, and between the acts of the hydraulic experiments, Mr. Belzoni was doomed, like some, of the noble animals of lower nature, to bear upon his colossal frame not fewer, if we mistake not, than 20 or 22 persons. Thus he has been seen at the Cork and Cove theatres lifting up this human weight of individuals strapped around his hips, shoulders, and neck, and moving across the stage as stately as the elephant with the Persian warriors. After being for some months in Ireland exposed to the vicissitudes of this wayward life, Mr. Belzoni set sail for Lisbon, where he again exhibited hydraulics; but after a short stay, not meeting, we presume, with suitable encouragement, he bent his way to the place of his nativity, and a year or two after the period to which we have referred, he again commenced traveller, and went to Egypt upon the speculation of some employment from the Pacha at Alexandria, in preparing hydraulic engines for the gardens of the Seraglio. Disappointed in this speculation, he embarked in those researches among the stupendous ruins of antient Egypt, which will immortalize his fame. These researches took place between the years 1815 and 1819. The works which by his means, and mostly by the persevering efforts of his own herculean strength, were dug from the sands, and which are now on their way to the British Museum, are unique 42 REVIEW.-Belzoni's Travels in Egypt, &c. [Jan. unique and invaluable. A remarkable instance of his strength is recorded in his book just published, which contains a fund of valuable information, simply but expressively told. He had been employed for several days with a party of Arabs in uplifting out of its sandy bed the statue of "Young Memnon," (as the antiquaries term it,) and having laid open in the work several massive fragments of pillars, he haudled them about with such ease in the presence of the astonished and comparatively feeble Arabs, that they fled from him in dismay, and said, "the Devil" had got among them. We will now introduce a few extracts from the work itself. When our traveller was conducted to the place where the sarcophagus was to be found, the account is very curious and romantic. He entered with two Arabs and an Interpreter, whilst a Janissary remained without. He thus relates his subterranean adventure: "Previous to our entering the cave, we took off the greater part of our clothes, and, each having a candle, advanced through a cavity in the rock, which extended a considerable length in the mountain, sometimes pretty high, sometimes very narrow, and without any regularity. In some passages we were obliged to creep on the ground, like crocodiles. I perceived, that we were at a great distance from the entrance, and the way was so intricate, that I depended entirely on the two Arabs, to conduct us out again. At length we arrived at a large space, into which many other holes or cavities opened; and after some consideration and examination by the two Arabs, we entered one of these, which was very narrow, and continued downward for a long way, through a craggy passage, till we came where two other apertures led to the interior in a horizontal direction. One of the Arabs then said, 'this is the place.' I could not conceive how so large a sarcophagus, as had been described to me, could have been taken through the aperture which the Arab now pointed out. I had no doubt but these recesses were burial places, as we continually walked over skulls and other bones; but the sarcophagus could never have entered this recess; for it was so narrow, that, on my attempt to penetrate it, I could not pass. One of the Arabs, however, succeeded, as did my interpreter; and it was agreed, that I and the other Arab should wait till they returned. They proceeded evidently to a great distance, for the light disap went on. peared, and only a murmuring sound from "On the second attempt, when passing before a small aperture, I thought I heard the sound of something like the roaring of the sea at a distance. In consequence I entered this cavity; and, as we advanced, the noise increased, till I could distinctly hear a number of voices all at one time. At last, thank God, we walked out; and, to my no small surprize, the first person I saw was my interpreter. How he came to be there I could not conjecture. He told me, that in proceeding with the Arab along the passage below, they came to a pit, which they did not see; that the Arab fell |