22 On the bad Composition of Paper. letter, which I forwarded by post, fell to pieces by the way, and I have noticed more than once a description of writing-paper, that being bent, snapped like a bit of watch-spring. I have in my possession a large copy of the Bible printed at Oxford, 1816 (never used), and issued by the British and Foreign Bible Society, crumbling literally into dust. I transmitted specimens of this volume to the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, and to Mr. Wilberforce. No doubt it must be difficult to legislate on such a subject, but something must be done and that early. I have watched for some years the progress of the evil, and have no hesitation in saying, that if the same ratio of progression is maintained, a century more will not witness the volumes printed within the last twenty years. MS. Records are in the same fatal condition. 66 Our typography does credit to this our dear, our native land," and the paper is apparently good. The ink, however, betrays the fatal secret; there is the canker worm; the ink of our most brilliant specimens of modern typography, as those of Ballantine, Bulmer, &c. has already become brown. I now see clearly, that "Black letter" books are so called by a just and proper emphasis; for those of modern times are "brown letter" volumes. The causes of destruction are twofold: the materiel, and the mode of bleaching the rags. The use of cotton rags was very happily superseded by those of linen, yet fear some manufacturers are not very scrupulous in the selection. The application of quicklime to the rags, once prevalent in France, but very properly subsequently interdicted, was a serious evil, for it actually decomposed the material. Are we entirely guiltless? Such a process must needs disorganize the fibre. The Chinese dip their paper in alum water; it is thereby rendered brittle. Alum is clearly indicated, even to the taste, in the copy of the sacred volume already referred to. I take it however, that the chief causes of destruction consist in the employment of sulphate of lime, &c. in the pulp, and bleaching the rags previously, or the paper subsequently, with oxymuriatic acid gas (chlorine). The tissue of paper will be more or less firm and permanent according to the substance from which the pulp is [July, obtained. I am disposed to think that nettles (urtica urens) would be an excellent substitute for linen rags, if linen cannot be obtained in sufficient quantity. In the North of Italy they manufacture a beautiful cloth from the parenchematous fibre of the nettle. Various have been the substitutes for, and materials of, paper. The medulla of the "cyperus papyrus," (not the epidermis of that plant, as has been erroneously supposed); the bark of trees, as of the " paper mulberry,” white cotton, silk, &c. have afforded materials for the pulp. The " paper reeds" are adverted to in holy writ; and it has often occurred to me, that the Wasp ("Vespa Vulgaris,") first gave the important hint of our present paper tissue to man. I have specimens of paper made from Amianthus (incombustible paper), leather, (not parchment, &c.) wood, straw, silk, &c. Having examined the paper taken from the copy of the Bible, 1816, and already mentioued as in a state of ruin, by chemical re-agents, I presume leave to subjoin the results. To the tongue it presents a highly astringent and aluminous taste. On a heated metallic disc the leaf evolves a volatile acid, evincing white vapours with ammonia. The paper is brittle as tinder, and of a yellowish tint. The ink is brown. Litmus paper was reddened in a solution of the leaves in distilled water. Hydriodate of potassa became greenish yellow, from free sulphuric acid, or rather from the excess of that acid, obtaining in the supersulphate of alumina (allum). Osallate of ammonia gave the usual indications of lime. Nitrate of silver exhibited the presence of muriatic acid, no doubt resulting from the chlorine employed in whitening the rags or paper. Nitrate of baryta proved the presence of sulphuric acid, or of a sulphate. The inference from these tests fol lows: 1823.] Compendium of County History-Staffordshire. COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY. STAFFORDSHIRE. "Where Hamps and Manifold, their cliffs among Three thousand steps in sparry clefts they stray, Or sigh o'er jasper fish, and agate shells, In playful groups by towering Thorp they move, SITUATION AND EXTENT. 23 -DARWIN, Boundaries, North, Cheshire: East, Derbyshire: South, Worcestershire and Warwickshire: West, Shropshire. Greatest length 62; greatest breadth 38; circumference, 180; square 1220 miles. Province, Canterbury; Diocese, Lichfield and Coventry; Circuit, Oxford. ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. British Inhabitants, the Ordivices; afterwards the Cornavii and Brigantes. Roman Province, Flavia Cæsariensis. Stations, Etocetum, Wall; Pennocrucium, Penkridge; Uriconium, Uttoxeter. Saxon Heptarchy, Mercia. Antiquities. Druidical Remains, Cannock (several large single stones mark the spot as having been one of their residences); Druid Heath, near Barr Beacon (the seat of the Arch-Druid. Near this place was the summer and winter seats of the Arch-Druid); Wetton. British Encampments, Billington; Castle-hill, near Beaudesert. Roman Earthwork, Morton. Roman Encampments, Arleywood; Ashton Heath; Ashwood Heath; Kinver; Oldbury; Shareshill, 2; Teddesley Park; Wolverhampton church-yard. Roman Temples, Eccleshall; Wall. Saxon Encampments, Bury Bank, near Stone; Bunbury: Kinver, (the work of Wulfhere, king of Mercia). Saxon Earthwork, at Byrgh, near Maer, erected by Kenred, in 705, in opposition to Osrid. Danish Earthwork, King's-standing, Sutton Coldfield, (thrown up about 910 at the battles of Tettenhall and Wednesfield). Abbeys of Burton (founded 1004, by Ulfricus Spot, Earl of Mercia); Chotes (cell to Aunay Abbey, in Normandy, removed to Croxden); Croxden (founded in 1176, by Bertrand de Verdon); Dieulacres (founded by Ranulph Earl of Chester, in 1220); Hanbury (of which St. Werburgh was Abbess); Hilton (founded in 1223, by Henry de Audley); and Radmore (founded in 1154, removed to Stonely, co. Warwick). Priories of Calwich (founded before 1148, by Nicholas de Greselei Fitz-Nigel); Canwell (founded in 1142, by Geva Ridel, daughter of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester); Dudley (founded in 1155, by Gervase Paganel, last Baron of Dudley, of that name); Lapley (founded by Algar, a noble Saxon, in 1146, cell to the Abbey at Rheims); LICHFIELD (founded by Roger de Clinton, who was Bishop of Lichfield in 1129); Ranton (founded by Robert Fitz-Noel, in 1190); Rowcester (founded by Richard Bacon, in 1140); Sandwell (founded in 1155, by William, son of Guy de Opheni); STAFFORD (founded about 1180, by Richard Peche, Bishop of Lichfield); Stone (founded by Robert Lord Stafford, in 1100; parts of the building form the foundation of the present parsonage-house); Thomas, St. (founded by Gerard de Stafford, in 1162); Trentham (founded by Robert Earl of Chester, in 1218); Tutbury (founded by Henry de Ferrers, in 1081); and Wolverhampton (founded 24 Compendium of County History-Staffordshire. [July, (founded by Wulfrena, relict of Aldhelm, Duke of Northampton, in 996). Nunneries of Blithbury (founded by Hugh Mavesyn); Breewood, or Black Ladies (founded by Isabel Launder); Carswall Castle (created into a Nunnery in 1811, by some French emigrant Nuns, who first settled at Preston, co. Lancashire); Fairwell (founded by Bishop Clinton, in 1140); Stone (founded by Ermenilda, wife of King Wulfhere, afterwards a Priory); Tamworth (on the site of which the church now stands); and White Ladies (founded in 1195, by Hubert Walter). Churches of Audley; Barton (built twentieth Henry VIII. by John Taylor); Burslem; Byshbury; Carswall; Checkley; Colwich; Clifton Camville (the spire one of the finest in the kingdom); Draycote; Elford; Gayton; Gnosal (Saxon style); Kinver (very ancient); LICHFIELD, St. Chad's (supposed to have been erected by the Ro mans), St. Mary's (founded in 855); Madely; Mavesine-Ridware; MUCKLESTON (lofty tower); Pipe-Ridware; Rushall; Sandon; STAFFORD, St. Mary's (early style of Pointed architecture) St. Chad's (very ancient); Stoke (of the Saxon style); Tettenhall (handsome); Trysall (on the Tower is sculptured the figure of a Bishop); Wednesbury; and Wolstanton. Chapels of Amington (in ruins); Aston, Little; Burston (founded by Ermenilda, the foundress of Stone Nunnery); Burton (erected by Edward II. in memory of his victory over the Earl of Lancaster at this place); Clent (on the scite of the place where the body of St. Kenelm was buried, very ancient Saxon); Fazeley (long gone to decay); Kinver (erected by the Hampton's, temp. Edward III.); Packington (long dilapidated); Spittal, Tamworth (converted into a barn); and Stonywell (built by Bishop Stonywell). Fonts of Ashley; Lichfield, St. Chad's; Pipe-Ridware (sculptured with circles interlaced); Norton-under-Cannock; Stafford, St. Mary's; Tettenhall (beautifully ornamented); and Wolverhampton (sculptured with numerous figures). Stone Pulpit of Wolverhampton (peculiarly beautiful). Castles of Alveton (built by Theob. de Verdon, in 1300, destroyed in the civil wars); Audley (no remains); Bonebury (built by Ceolrid, King of Mercia, in 716); Burgh, Maer (composed of a double trench and rampire, supposed to have been built by Kenrid, King of Mercia); Burton (built by Henry de Ferrers in 1070); Cannock (the occasional residence of the 1st Kings of the Norman race); Carswall (built by Sir William de Carswall temp. Edward II. at present a Nunnery); Chartley (built by Richard de Blondeville, Earl of Chester, in 1220, in ruins); Chesterton (existed before temp. William I.; in ruins); Croxden (founded 1179, by Bertram de Verdon); Darlaston (supposed to have been the residence of Wulfhere King of Mercia); Dudley (fortified by Gervase Paganel, 3d of Stephen, for Maud the Empress); Eccleshall (rebuilt in 1310 by Walter de Langton, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry); Heleigh (built by Henry de Audley in 1200); Lichfield (levelled with the ground); Newcastle (founded by Edmund Earl of Lancaster, younger son of Henry III. scarce a vestige remains); Stafford (built in 913 by Ethelfleda, a Countess of Mercia), another, the baronial castle (built by Ralph first Earl of Stafford); Stourton (built by Robert Earl of Stafford in 1087); Tamworth (erected on the site of Ethelfleda's Tower); Tirley (on the borders of Shropshire); Tutbury (built by John of Gaunt in 1358); and Wednesbury (built by Adelfleda, Governess of the Mercian kingdom in 916). Mansions of Bentley (in which Charles II. took refuge after the battle of Worcester); BOSCOBEL HOUSE (the refuge of Charles II. after the same battle); Brinsford (in which Lord Wilmot took refuge after the same battle); Eccleshall (the seat of the Bosville family, converted into a farm house); Holbeach (the property of the Waltons, and in which Littleton, and others, concerned in the Powder-plot were taken); and Moseley Hall (in which Charles II. took refuge after the battle of Worcester). Caves of Biddulph (artificial); and Thor's Cavern, Manifold (a large excavation on the side of a lofty precipice, 30 feet high and 44 long, supposed to have been the place of sacrifice of the Druids.) PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. Rivers. Blythe; Borne; Chernet; Dane; Dove; Hamps; Ilam; Lime; Manifold; Penk; Smestall; Sow; Stour; Tame; Tern; and Trent. Inland Navigation. Birmingham; Coventry and Oxford; Dudley Tunnel, and 1823.] Compendium of County History.-Staffordshire. 25 and Netherton; Grand Trunk (to Hare-castle hill, under ground 2,880 yards); Gresley's (Sir Nigel); Staffordshire and Worcester; Stourbridge; Trent and Mersey; and Wyrley and Essington canals. Lakes. Aquelate (1848 yards long, and 672 broad); Eccleshall Pool; Ladford Pool (said to comprehend about 60 acres); Lush Pool; Maer Pool; and New Pool. Eminences and Views. Ashley Heath (803 feet high); Barr Beacon (653 feet high); Barrow-cop-hill, very extensive; Beaudesert Park (a delightful prospect of nine different counties); Castle Ring (715 feet high); Knaves Castle, Cannock Heath; Sherholt Park, Tamworth Castle; Tutbury Castle; and Weaver-hill (1154 feet high). Natural Curiosities. Alstonfield (the source of the river Dove); Bradley (the earth on fire): Codsall Sulphureous springs; Erasmus' (St.) Well between Ingestrie and Stafford; Enstone spring of weak brine; Maer (the source of the river Tern); Modswell Well, near Canwell Priory; Newcastle (the source of the river Sow); Penk river rises in Cuddleston Hundred; Shopnall Chalybeate spring; Tame river rises in Seisdon Hundred; Trent river rises from New pool, at Knipersley, and from two springs near Molecap and Norton Hay; Western salt and sulphur springs; and Willow-bridge medicinal spring (originally discovered by Lady Bromley.) Public Edifices. Abbot's Bromley Free School, founded in 1603. Brewood Free Grammar School, founded by Dr. Knightley. BURTON-UPON-TRENT bridge of 36 arches, 1545 feet long; Free Grammar School, founded in 1520, by William Beane. Cheadle Free School. Dilhorne Free Grammar School. Elford bridge, across the Tame, handsome. Falkesley bridge, over the Tame, through which the Watling Street passes at its entrance into the county. Harborne Charity School. Haywood bridge of 40 arches. LICHFIELD Guildhall; Free Grammar School, founded by Bishop Smith in 1495, re-founded by Edward VI; English Free School, endowed by Thomas Minors, esq. in 1670; the New Theatre in Boar-street; Gaol; Botanic Garden formed by Dr. Darwin. NEWCASTLE Free Grammar School, founded temp. Elizabeth, by John Cotton, Gent. of Alkington, co. Salop, the present one erected in 1722: Free School erected in 1704, by Edward Orme, Clerk. Over Penn Charity School, founded by Rev. C. Wynn, Vicar of that place in 1714. Penkridge Charity School. Rolleston Free School, founded about 1520, by R. Sherebourne, Bp. of Chichester. Rugeley Charity School, founded by J. B. Cowper. STAFFORD County Hall, built in 1794; County Gaol, built in 1793; County Infirmary, built in 1777; Lunatic Asylum, built in 1817; Free School, founded by Edward VI. in 1550. Stone Free Grammar School, founded in 1558, by THOMAS ALLEN, the eminent Mathematician. Tamworth Free Grammar School, restored by Elizabeth in 1588. Tixall bridge, over the Trent, consisted of 42 arches. UTTOXETER Free School, founded in 1558, by THOMAS ALLEN, the Mathematician; Stone bridge, connecting this county with Derby. Walsall Free School, founded by Queen Mary in 1553. Whichnor bridge, built temp. Henry III. destroyed by a flood in 1795, and the present one soon after erected. Wolverhampton Free School, founded in 1515, by Sir Stephen Jenyns, Knt. Alderman of London. Seats. Ingestrie Hall, Earl Talbot, Lord Lieutenant of the County. Abbeville Park, Lord Gardner. Aston Hall, near Sandon, Rev. T. Grafton. Basford Hall, near Wetley, Wm. Sneyd, esq. Beaudesert Park, Marquis of Anglesea. Berry Hill Cottage, Swinfen, esq. Stanley, Betley House, Sir John-Fletcher-Fenton Bishton Hall, Rugeley, John Sparrow, esq. Bonehill House, near Fazeley, E. Peel, esq. Boscobel 26 Compendium of County History.-Staffordshire. Boscobel House, Mr. Evans. Broadwall Hall, William Sneyd, esq. Brocton Hall, Milford, Sir George Chet Lodge, G. Chetwynd, esq. esq. Broom's Cottage, W. B. Meeke, esq. Mount, W. Bagot, esq. esq. Crakemarsh Hall, near Uttoxeter, Thomas Creswell Hall, near Great Bridgeford, Rev. Drakelow, Sir Roger Gresley, bart. Elfred, near Lichfield, Hon. Col. Howard. Enville Hall, Earl of Stamford and Warrington. Etruria, Josiah Wedgwood, esq. Fenton Hall, Thomas Allen, esq. Fotherley Hall, Weeford, Rev. Mr. Phillips. Park, Hon. R. Curzon. Hamstead Hall, W. Wallis, esq. Handsworth, J. Spencer, esq. W. G. Clarke, esq. J. Grice, esq. Rev. J. L. Freer. [July, Huntley Hall, Captain Sneyd. Cottage, Rev. R. Levett. Cloughs, Rev. J. B. Basnett. Mount, Josiah Spode, esq. Oakeley, Sir John Chetwode, bart. Packington Hall, near Hopwas, Rev. T. Levett. Parkhouse, Wolseley bridge, T. Mackenzie, esq. Patteshul, Sir George Pigott, bart. Grove, J. L. Moillies, esq. Stapenhall, Swinfen Hall, J. Swinfen, esq. J. Pearson, esq. P. T. Hinckes, esq. Thickbroom Cottage, Weeford, Admiral Manley. Tellington House, Eccleshall, W. Locker, |