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220

Compendium of County History Staffordshire.

[Sept. In NEEDWOOD Forest is an old oak, called the Swilcar Oak, celebrated by poets and botanists as the monarch of the rest of the oak trees in the forest.

At NEWCASTLE, Plot saw a solid block of stone which exhibited the petrified skull of a human being, probably of some malefactor who had been executed here; the spot where it was found being still called gallows tree, in memory of its ancient appropriation.

At NORTON-LE-MOORS, in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Turner, is the original death-warrant of Charles I. with all the signatures of his judges.

At the seat of the Stanleys, at OKELY, Edward IV. was a frequent visitor for the amusement of Hunting; and where the Earl of Richmond slept on his way from Lichfield to Bosworth field.

At OKEOVER Hall is the celebrated painting of the Holy Family, by Urbino,' valued at 1500 guineas.

Henry Gough, esq. nephew of Sir Rich. Gough, kt. of PERRY BARR, was father of RICHARD GOUGH, esq. "the second Camden."

The original endowment of ROLLESTON Free Grammar-school, written in black-letter, and illuminated, is preserved in a small wooden cabinet in the school-room.

In RUSHALL Church are buried several of the family of Leigh, one of whom the author of "Critica Sacra," who died in 1671, is buried in the chancel.

SANDON was the birth-place, residence, and burial-place of the learned antiquary and genealogist, SAMPSON ERDESWICK, who died in 1613.-In the Church is the monument to his memory. The inscription is long and singular. There is also a tomb in honour of Geo. Digby, who in resentment of the insult offered to James I. by Scioppus a German, attacked the offender in the streets of Madrid in 1614, and nearly murdered him.

At STAFFORD was a mint established temp. Wm. I.-The ancient custom of Borough English still prevails here.-In St. Mary's Church are some ancient monuments to the Astons of Tixall, and one to Lady Barbara Compton.-Here St. Bertilline, Scholar of St. Guthlac, led an heremetical life.

In the room at STANTON, in which ARCHBISHOP SHELDON drew his first breath, are the following Iambics, written by Bishop Hacket:

"Sheldonus ille Præsulum primus pater

Hos inter ortus aspicit lucem Lares;
O ter beatam Stantonis villæ casam,
Cui cuncta possunt invidere marmora.'

At STONALL is the shire oak tree, once celebrated by SWIFT.

STONE NUNNERY was erected in memory of Wulfad, who was slain here by his father Wulfere, for embracing Christianity.-In the Church-yard is a spacious cemetery of the Jervis family, Earls of St. Vincent.

In Bishop STONIWELL'S Chapel are monuments of the Arblasters and Ormes. On the floor is an ancient stone to Bishop Stoniwell, the founder, dated 1553. STOWE Church was once remarkable for numerous monuments to the family of Devereux, only one of which, the tomb of Walter, 1st Visc. Hereford, who died in 1558, yet remains.

At TAMWORTH died, in 920, Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred.-In the hall of the CASTLE was formerly an old rude delineation upon the wall, of the last battle of Launcelot of the Lake, a Knight of Arthur's round table, and Sir Turquin. In it was also a richly sculptured chimney-piece. This castle is surrounded by rich and luxuriant meadows, through which the Tame and Ankor flow. Drayton has beautifully described the scenery.

In THOR'S CAVERN, according to tradition, the Druids performed their sanguinary rites, and sacrificed human victims, enclosed in wicker work, on the altar of their idol Thor.

At TIXALL, the seat of Sir T. H. Clifford, bart. is the marriage of Prince Arthur in tapestry; mentioned by Walpole.-The Heath was the scene of a most cruel assassination, marking the vindictive character of the feudal times: it is related in Harwood's "Erdeswick's Staffordshire," p. 60, note.

At TOTMANSLOw lived a Shepherd who was 120 years old when examined by Dr. Morton. He accounted for his longevity to his never having taken tobacco or physic, nor drank between meals, alleviating his thirst by rolling pebbles in his mouth, &c.

At

1823.]

Staffordshire.-Increase of Madhouses.

221

At TRENTHAM in 1805 his present Majesty visited the Marquis of Stafford. TUTBURY Castle was visited by King James in more than one of his progresses through this county. In it was confined Mary Queen of Scots, from Oct. 1568 to Nov. 1569; she was again removed here in March, 1585; and here received the proposals of the intriguing Duke of Norfolk, as the only means of obtaining her liberty.

UTTOXETER is particularly noted for the longevity of its inhabitants. Sir Simon Degge mentions about a dozen instances in this town about his time. In 1702 died two women, one aged 103 and the other 126.

At WALL, in 1690, a gold Otho was dug up; and numerous pieces of antiquity, besides Roman coins.-Near this place a Roman military barricade, composed of entire oak trees, standing on end close to each other, was discovered.

At WALSALL a very remarkable custom still prevails. On the eve of Epiphany, a gift of one penny is regularly distributed to every person resident in the borough and neighbouring villages. The origin is uncertain. Some say á person of the name of Moseley hearing a child cry for bread on that day, was so affected that he vowed the like should never occur again, and so left his ma nor of Bascot as means to prevent it.-The manor was once the property of the Earl of Warwick, the "King Maker," and the Duke of Northumberland, who lost his head in attempting to establish Lady Jane Grey on the throne.-Here was the seat of Henry Stone, esq. a zealous parliamentarian.-In the Free School was educated BISHOP HOUGH, and the first Lord SOMERS.

In WEDNESBURY Church are monuments to the Dudley and Harcourt families.

At WHICHNOR a flitch of bacon was hung up every year, in a manner similar to that custom at Little Dunmow in Essex.

At the WHITE LADIES Charles II. was concealed after the battle of Worcester. WHITMORE was the Curacy of the celebrated John Ball, called the "Presbyterian's Champion," from 1610 till his death, Oct. 20, 1639.

In WOLVERHAMPTON Collegiate Church is a statue of brass to Admiral Rich. Leveson, who served under Sir F. Drake against the Spanish Armada; also to Col. JOHN LANE of Bentley, who concealed Charles II. after the battle of Worcester.-In the Free School was educated Sir WM. CONGREVE, the celebrated engineer, and many other living worthies.

At "Wotton under Weever,-Where God came never," was the seat of the Davenports, which is remarkable for having afforded an asylum to the cele brated J. J. Rousseau.

At YARLET was found the brass head of a Roman Venabulum, or hunting spear.

THE

Mr. URBAN, Aug. 16. HROUGH the medium of your widely-circulated publication, I hope to draw the attention of persons of sense and humanity, to a subject of much importance; and, in the present state of society, one that must be interesting to all. Having lately returned to England, after being absent from its shores for more than twenty years, it is not extraordinary that I find many changes wherever I go; but none that distresses me so much, as the necessity that exists for shutting up from society such numbers of individuals, who formerly enjoyed the liberty so much boasted of by all free-born Englishmen. I had not been landed many days, when I eagerly repaired to my native town; I rambled every where about it, to the extent of two or three miles, to the haunts of my youth, expecting to find the same hilarity and

S. T.

happiness I represented to myself as always prevailing in its vicinity-but the scene appeared changed-in all directions I observed numbers of newbuilt edifices, all strongly grated and barred, which I imagined to be prisons, and lamented that my native county must have lost its wonted character for honesty: but on farther enquiry, I learnt that they were not prisons, but receptacles for Lunatics; that they had of late greatly encreased, that the large edifice, which I recollected being built by subscription (though it was always considered much money had been lavishly expended, on a building, far too large and expensive, for what was required) was also always full, besides another very large one, for a similar purpose; and that there were many other houses, as well as private lodgings, all appropriated to the same sad occupation, and that they

wer

122

Madhouses. Spanish Cause.-The Slave Trade.

were rapidly encreasing there, and in other towns, in different parts of the kingdom.

Perhaps some of your readers may be able to point out the cause of this distressing fact. Is it to be attributed to the encreased luxury that prevails? to the encreased consumption of spirituous and intoxicating liquors? Is it to some defect in the mode of treat, ment, which fails of producing the cure, that medicine so frequently effects in bodily complaints?-or is it (as my informant insinuated, and he seemed well acquainted with the interior of these houses,) to the profit derived by the rough and ignorant persons, to whom the unhappy inmates are trusted entirely, for at least twenty out of every twenty-four hours? May not the mind, when deranged by some irritating circumstance, be of too delicate a texture to be capable of enduring the ungentle attacks of these agents, whose interest so strongly inspires a wish to retain them in their power much longer than necessary? I was at the same time assured, that the eagerness to obtain a fresh patient is so great, that as much jealousy and illwill prevails among the fraternity of applicants, as among the candidates for a lucrative sinecure in any of the departments of the state, and that the inAluence of this feeling, as well as the profit derived, is branched out in so many directions, and all the ramifications from them extended so widely, in a place of no trade, where employment is eagerly sought for-that it would be a vain attempt to endeavour to call the attention of the inhabitants to the evil before them.

If this mode of doing it should be more successful, I shall, in a few months, again quit my native land (perhaps for ever) with the comfortable reflection of having contributed my mite towards the welfare of numbers of worthy, though now wretched beings.

Mr. URBAN,

T. T.

Aug. 26.

PERMIT an old Correspondent to

revert to, and give an opinion upon, some of the subjects of the day: they are, I trust, given with good temper and humility, and not so as to excite controversy or acrimony, but as a matter of calm discussion and conside

ration.

The Spanish Cause. Before the

[Sept.

subscriptions for it are closed in this country, the war will be at an end. Why subscribe for a set of people that have in the present instance shewn no patriotism, no pluck, and are divided among themselves, and a large portion in favour of the old order of things?

The Cortes and the Leaders are equally unworthy of liberty. Where bigotry has so much dominion as in Spain, the progress of liberty must be slow; but still it is gradual and certain of attaining its end.

The Slave Trade. I sincerely wish it may be effectually abolished; but let me ask, is there sound policy or common justice in the means recently adopted? Have not the consequences been attended with tumult and bloodshed? Ought it not to be duly considered, that the sole property of some thousands of English is situated in the islands? Are these our countrymen to be overlooked, and our sable brethren alone to be considered? Had the outrageous declaimers in favour of the negroes their only property situated in the West Indies, I much doubt if they would have been equally strenu ous or violent in their efforts. But if their zeal is so abundant, why not open subscriptions to purchase West Indian property (which is to be got dog-cheap in these days), and thus give the world an example of self-devotion and humanity! Do not imagine that I have any interest, further than a general one, in this question. Neither I nor any of my connections have a shilling in that country, or probably ever shall have. But I know that the sufferings of the slaves are much exaggerated, and that more actual misery is daily experienced by the general mass of peasantry in Ireland, and occasionally in this country; and though instances of cruelty in planters may be produced, still this is not their habits; their interests and personal safety forbid it: but what country is without crime? and in the land where slavery does not exist, is no cruelty or oppression to be found? Let the perpetrators be brought to trial, and punished accordingly. Let those who traffic in human flesh, when caught, be severely punished, hanged if you please. In time slavery must cease; but in common justice, forbear from giving false hopes to the blacks there, which must be productive of murder, and the total ruin of the Colonies.

Tithes. To these the Clergy are as strictly

1823.]

Tithes-Cave at Seaham Dene.-Psalmody.

228

strictly and fully entitled as any land-medy for the "present defective state

lord is to his freehold. In general, the Clergy do not by any means exact their dues; and if these were scrupalously insisted upon, the farmers would find the demand infinitely more onerous. It would be desirable; however, that some project was set on foot to redeem the Tithes; upon the principle of the Land Tax, which I remember to have seen suggested in some of your former Numbers. It is for the benefit of both parties that a Pastor should stand well with his Parishioners, and that the causes for dispute should not SICA.

exist.

of Psalmody in our parish churches;" and I sincerely hope that his observations may meet with the attention which they deserve. Well may he call it "defective!" It is indeed a lamentable fact, that this most delightful and (I think I may add) most exalting branch of our Church Service is now, in many instances, reduced to a mere interlude to amuse the congregation while the Minister is changing his dress; or to give a few persons, self-elected for the purpose, an oppor tunity of displaying how little they understand either of music or religion. Surely this is not to "make melody in the heart;" this will not surely be called to "sing with the spirit and the

Mr. URBAN, Seaham, Aug. 20.
A Tinde yeak to explore a sort understanding also
BOUT the year 1819, two young

of opening or crevice in the rocks on
the North side of Seaham Dene, Dur-
ham, where, after clearing away the
earth to the extent of fifteen feet, they
discovered a considerable quantity of
bones, several human, consisting of
skulls with teeth entire, and the rest
of birds and quadrupeds. Also among
the soil thrown out, were found many
marine shells, such as cockles, mus-
cles, and limpets.

From the circumstance of shells being found in the same recess with the bones, I am lead to conclude that they must have been deposited there at the time of the Deluge. What corroborates this conjecture is, that the opening or chink being at the bottom of the rock, and near the ground, shells, bones, &c. lying loose there, might naturally be driven in by the agitation

of the waters.

There was, likewise, among the
above a stag or deer's horn, of a pale
yellow colour, about eight inches and
a half in circumference at the base,
with the usual hollow, consisting of
two antlers, one broken, and the other
whole, fluted all over, as if by the
corrosion of time. The circumference
of the larger broken one is six inches
and a half. The rock is twenty feet
high or more, and ranges along for a
considerable way, forming one side of
a narrow dell, or dene.
R. W.

Mr. URBAN,
Aug. 23.
T is not without considerable plea-
your

MODULATOR (Part i. p. 397) has been
endeavouring to impress on the minds
of the publick the necessity of some re-

"I cannot but shake my head," says one who well knows the value of this service,-"I cannot but shake my head, when I hear an officer of the Church calling upon the people to sing to the praise and glory of God;" immediately half a dozen merry men, in a high place, shall take up the matter, and most loudly chant it away to the praise and glory of themselves. The tune perhaps shall be too difficult for the greater part of the congregation, who have no leisure to study crotchets and quavers; and so the most delightful of all public worship shall be wrested from them, and the praises of God taken out of their mouths. It is no matter (he concludes) whence this custom arose; in itself it is neither holy, decent, nor useful, and therefore ought to be banished entirely from the Churches of God."

I should myself be much inclined to doubt the possibility of introducing the regular chant into our parish churches (except perhaps in the immediate neighbourhood of the Metropolis, where these things can be better attended to), but I perfectly agree with MODULATOR, that some alteration is necessary.

A great desideratum in this department of the service, in my opinion, is a regular and established set of hymns or psalms, to be used throughout the kingdom. It will be urged, I am aware, that this is already extant in the

of David; but these have of late, in' towns particularly, fallen almost into disuse, and every parish church has a

set

224

Psalmody-Signals.—Decrease of Hirundines.

[Sept.

all numbers in which the same figure
occurs twice or more, must be left out,
as they are in Capt. Marryatt's Code of
Merchants' Signals. I have tried five
numbers (viz. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,) by per-
mutation, and using only four of them
at the same time, I find 205 changes
may be made; with four figures (viz.
1, 2, 3, 4,) sixty-four changes only.
A CONSTANT Reader,

Mr. URBAN,

THE

NEAR THE SEA.

Aug. 10. HE Letter of your Correspondent, signed "An Old Ornithologist,' in July Number, p. 15, stating that the Swallows and Martins have been much fewer of late years than formerly, induces me to send you the following curious facts for insertion in your Magazine, which may prove interesting many of your ornithological readers. dines have been decreasing in numAll the four species of British Hirun

to

set compiled or composed for its own exclusive use. The consequence of this is, that a stranger, even if he have his own prayer book with him, is entirely excluded from joining in the praises of the Church. It cannot be denied that these hymns are generally (except where, as I have heard is sometimes the case, the Clerk favours them with "a hymn of his own composing"') more adapted for the purpose, than the versions of the Psalms; not only because more exactly composed from the writings of the New Dispensation, but also because, being shorter, there is no necessity to sing only the "first four verses," and break off, as is frequently the case, in the middle of one of the Psalmist's sweetest prayers. It is, therefore, I think you will allow, much to be desired that those within whose province falls the regulation of these matters, would provide some established form, different from that now nominally (and nominally only) in use, to be uniformly observed through-bers ever since the year 1809. Last out the kingdom. year their decrease was prodigious in some places, so as to excite the attention of the most indifferent observer of nature. The Chimney Swallow, hirundo rustica, or chilidon provene of the new arrangement*, has been particularly deficient in numbers, more so than any other species, and this not only in England, but nearly all over the Continent, as I ascertained during an extensive tour which I made to the Southern parts of Europe last year. In France, Switzerland, and Germany, this species, as well as the Martlet, hirundo urbica, were particularly scarce. A few Swallows flying over the Rhine at Basle, on the 4th of August, 1823, attracted my attention, not having seen them in any number before all the rived late and in small numbers this as summer. Both the above species ardoubt but that the observation of Mr. well as last year, aud there can be little White of Selborne is true, that these birds in certain blowing and otherwise devastation during their aerial voyages. unfavourable seasons, undergo great

But I have already trespassed too much upon your time, and I am, I hope, fully aware of the imperfections of the above observations; but should their deficiencies induce some more able chanípion to stand forth and defend, from the indiscriminate innovations of modern taste, the forms of our venerable Establishment, I should not have offered them in vain.

Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

HIEROPHILUS.

Aug. 10. N your Magazine for Dec. 1821, p. 560, I find an account of a code of signals subinitted to the Lords of the Admiralty by Lieut. Burton, for the use of different nations. The account states it is by numeral flags, and that seldom more than three are used, or scarcely ever more than four, and with them 999 numbers may be made, and by the addition of a substitute flag 9999 can be produced. I am not a naval man, but have often turned my thoughts to the use of Signals; I am unable to find how the above numbers can be made with four flags only; perhaps some of your readers could be good enough to inform me how Lieut. Burton's code is practicable.

The numeral flags of course answer to the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,0, and the greatest number to be made with four flags only, can be but 9876, and without a substitute being used,

The scarcity of Martins about London has been by some persons attributed to the quantity of gas lights,

which
may have, by their pestiferous
fumes, driven the swarm of flying in-
sects, the food of Hirundines, away
from the neighbourhood of the capi-

tish Birds; and the first part of your pre-
*See my Synoptical Catalogue of Bri-
sent Volume, p. 209.

tal;

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