What may truly and fairly be faid of young Betty is, that he is a very extraordinary boy. Perhaps there is fearcely a youth of his age in five thousand, who, with every benefit of inftruction, could fucceed fo well upon the flage as he does; but to say that he is now a complete Actor, is to fay infinitely too much.

His figure is good; and his countenance, though with no very expreffive feature, is pleafing and interefting. His voice is bovifh, and his utterance not remarkably clear. He feems to have been advised to truft a good deal to his lower tones, as requiring lefs effort, and as giving him an opportunity to deliver hitelf, in animated paffages, with an energy that is the more ftriking, on account of its diffimilarity from the other parts of his performance. He always gives his hearers the notion of a youth exceedingly well taught, and never forgetful of the leffons he has received; not but that in his action, he must frequently be directed by his own feeling and good sense. His memory is excellent. Wherever he is defective, you plainly fee the caufe his age renders it impollible he should do better. I would be the laft to deny, admiration is often juftly excited that he fhould do fo well.

It is much to be feared that in a defire, on the part of his relations, to collect for him a large fum of money, his health will fuffer from exertion too frequent and violent for his years. He certainly fhould not perform oftener than once, or (now and then) twice a week; and that the Managers will find very foon is as often as he need perform, for their intereft as well as his own. If he fhould live, he will, in all probability, be a diftinguifhed ornament to the Theatre. But let him beware. The Town is highly indulgent to rifing merit; and the great applaufe he gains, unless he poffefs much prudence, may be prejudicial to him. He may fairly attribute a confiderable portion of that applaufe to his own clever exertions, and the judgment and pathos with which he occafionally expreffes himself; but part of it let him be wife enough to put down to the circumftances of his juvenile appearance, the novelty of a boy of thirteen upon the stage, and the fifhion which (with infinite care and skill) his friends have made it to give him unbounded praife. ANOCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT GENT. MAG. December, 1804.

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Mr. URBAN,

A

Dec. 22. FRIEND at Norwich has jatt communicated to me, that, in pulling down fome buildings in the Clofe of the Cathedral, a row of columns, &c. were difcovered, obferving,

their capitals are beautiful, in good prefervation, and about the time of Stephen." Among other particulars he thus concludes: "THESE REMAINS ARE LEFT TILL THE DEAN RETURNS."

When we are fo thoroughly convinced how the relicks of Antiquity are valued and protected, notwithstanding they may ftand in the way of fome projected improvement, it is hardly necef fary to fay what will be the fate of the "columns ;" and the more fo, when it may be recollected, that the characteriftic and noble architectural mound girding the City of Norwich, with fuch honourable and historic reference, has of late loft all, if not the greater number, of the grand gates of entrance. What is the recompence for fuch loffes? The phantom “TASTE."

A circumfiance of this nature, two or three months back, took place in the Abbey remains at Weftminder. While workmen were preparing the face of the walls in the Little Cloifiers, in order to receive a new coat of plafter and whitewath, a curious Saxon window, fome pointed-arch door-ways, and other particulars, became visible. In this state I faw them. Imagining of course, from the fpirit of Reftoration faid to be abroad among the walls of the facred pile, that thefe objects would be left for public view with the other curiofities meeting the eye at every fiep, I delayed taking fketches at that time until a more favourable opportunity; which foon occurring, behold! all the relicks were departed, fmooth was the whitened wall, and all that remained for me was difappointment and regret.

In the year 1788 I was more fortunate. A range of Saxon columns and arches (supposed to be part of Edward the Confeilor's church, and fituated Eaft of the Little Cloifters) were laid open to fight in taking down fome outhoufes which had been built up against them. I drew the lines on the noment; and in a very thort time afterwards these very valuable traces of Edward's architectural magnificence were once more hid from noice, by fome new common yard-offices being again reared up against them. J.C.

Mr.

Mr. URBAN, Hull, Dec. 20. I RETURN Nauticus thanks for his information refpecting the Swallow tribe; but, cannot at the fame time help expreffing my aftonishment that all thofe gentlemen, who have an opportunity of obferving the appearance and difappearance of thefe fingularlyinterefting little animals, are not equally communicative with your above intelligent Correfpondent.

A few extracts from my Naturalift's Calendar are at Dr. Mavor's fervice; fhould he deem them worthy of notice, he may at leaft rely upon them as correct, as I have paid particular attention to the fubject.

July 28th. Swifts (Hirundo. Apus) begin to depart; lafi feen Auguft 4th.

Sept. 7th. The generality of Swallows (Hirundo Ruftica) difappeared this morning, directing their courfe to the South Weli. Wind S. E. very low, mifty.

25th. Martins (Hirundo Urbica) depart in a South Wefterly direction. Wind N. brifk; hazy.

Oct. 6th. Some of the latter broods of Swallows took their departure this morning to the South Weft. Wind S W. brifk; dark, mifty, and cloudy. Oct. 7th. Martins (Hirundo Urbica) lati feen. Yours, &c. PHYSICIEN.

on; air undulating; very little worthy notice (excepting undulations in the air) till the 22nd, on which day a pretty large clutter of macule might be feen near the Eaftern limb; facule around this clufier; on the 27th it was near the middle of its path, and about the 3d of Dec. it quitted the interior difk. Hence there has been very little diverfity in the Solar phænomena this

month.

It is to be obferved, in the Query concerning Hadley's Quadrant, p.1021, that it relates to the taking of the Sun's altitude from reflection on an artificial horizon (which gives the dou blealtitude), and not from the horizon of the fea; for a leffening of the aperture of the fight vane in the latter cafe, would too much diminish the light at the horizon.

A Barometrical Chart fhall be sent in time for your Supplement, laid down from four years obfervations of the Barometer, viz. from 1801 to 1804, both inclufive.

WE

T. S.

The PURSUITS OF ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION. N LXXVIII. ST. DAVID'S CATHEDRAL continued. E now refume the defcription of the Choir, and that part bearing to the Eaft, the roof of which is formed with open-worked timbers in manner like thofe of the Nave already fpoken of; though far inferior in regard to tracery and other adornments, ftill among the compartments are many fhields with arms. In the centre of this portion of the Choir, and directly before the fteps of the High Altar, flands the tomb of Jafper Earl of Richmond, father to Henry VII. It was in confideration of the relationship (if my information may be depended on) that the layer-wafle of architectural grandeur, Henry VIII, forbore to fign the deftruction of this Church in common with fo many glorious fabricks ennobling thofe realms under his dominion. On this confideration, who can approach the royal memorial without imbibing a double hare of fatisfaction in reflecting on the "good works" of the defunct, and being fenfible his remains have been, and it may be inferred will fill continue to be, the guardian of all that makes St. David's fane confpicuous in the Antiquarian world, and fo juftly charms thole who conftitute the chief fupporters of a study fo delectable and fo important. I have

often been led to admire the confum mate fkill of our ancestors (to fay nothing of the religious intent) in placing in this kind of centrical fituation the tombs of regal and illuftrious perfonages; fuch works becoming from their pofition both interefting and picturesque. Thus, while inferior memorials of mortality lie on each fide of Choirs, the principal objects to be reverenced are thus rendered the grand points of view in fo bright a difplay of architectural and monumental feenery. Forgive the expreflion, if it thould be thought to favour more of the Artift than the Moralift.

It may not be amifs to inftance a few exifting examples of this Sepulchral arrangement, in order to enforce the above remarks. Edward the Confeffor's fhrine, Henry VII's tomb, Weftminster; King John's tomb, Worcester (if not barbaroufly removed of late); William Ru fus'stomb, Winchester; thetombof Ralph Neville Earl of Weftmorland, Staindrop church*, Durham (barbarouily removed of late into the South-weft corner of the edifice); the tombs of the Earls of Warwick, in St. Mary's church, War wick; the tomb of Bishop Beauchamp, in his chapel in Salisbury (the tomb barbaroudly removed, and his chapel defiroyed, a thort time back); the exquifite tomb of Thomas Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel, in the Priory church at Arundel; &c. &c.

After I had fufficiently fatisfied myfelf of the propriety of placing Tombs of great characters fo near the most facred pot in the "Houfe of the Lord," and being about to take account of other remarkables, there came about me a large company of pilgrims (otherwife travellers; and furely thofe who could leave their diftant home, their ease, and focial comforts, to tempt the barren wafle, and ftill more barren hospitality, to gaze on the religious veftiges of thrice hallowed St. David's, may, as of old, deferve fuch a diftinguifhment). In their looks, poor creatures! there was much devout curiofuy ; but in their demeanour there was every thing that indicated dread and confufion. They gave little heed to the perfon who conducted them; and, on perceiving a brother wanderer bufily employed in noting down the feveral Antiquities, inftantly broke in upon my labours, by enquiring about the dates of the differ

* See Gough's Sepulchral Monuments.

ent

ent fpecies of architecture feen about the church; what were the names appertaining to this and that Sepulchre; how far was it to the next Town; what was the purport of the drawings and memoranda I was making; and-Thefe Pilgrims were English, and thewed fome confequence, and, as I heard them tell the officer of the church, had ftore of money in their pockets, yet could not procure acconimodations, or means of farther travel, either for themfelves or fervants, by a change of carriages or horfes. Haftily they entered, and haftily they departed. Ah! I cried, was it always thus in the City of St. David? No; thy mighty Palace, thy noble College, and the fuperb mantions of thy citizens, once told another tale: all then was pomp and princely greeting, now yawning ruins and miferable hovels reverse the hours of Fate!-The Cathedral ftill endures!

On the pavement, and at the right of the Earl of Richmond's memorial, are two very low Tombs, one placed at the head of the other: that Weftward has a ftatue of Bishop Jorwerth; that Eiftward bears the ftatue of Bifhop Anfelm. At the head of this latter ftatue is a canopy supported by angels; and in its arch, confifting of three turns, is an infeription in which the name occurs. Thefe two ftatues are remarkably well fculptured, and in good prefervation. Within the arch of the third divifion, on the South fide of the Choir, is the tomb of Rhys ap Griffith, Prince of South Wales, who died 1197. This ftatue is fometimes pointed out as the effigies of Owen Tador, who married Catharine, queen to Henry V.; but the make of the armour, and other coftunic particulars, align to it a much earlier period than the reign of Henry VI: when Owen was beheaded. The fide of this tomb is plain; and behind it is a very rich open oak fereen, which, before the divitions of the Choir were flopped up, gave view into the fide aile, &c. The hands and right foot of the flatne are demolished; the head refis on a helmet furmounted with the head of a lion; a lion rampant is ent on the body-part of the armour. Of the eibellifliments belonging to this warlike habiliment the girdle is very beautiful. The countenance is ftrongly marked, and well exprefles the character of the Hero and the Chriftian. In the divifion on the oppofite fide of the Choir is the Tomb of Rhys Grigg, the fon of the

forenamed Prince. The fide of this tomb is likewife plain; and above the ftatue is a low arch, extremely plain alfo. The ftatue has loft both the hands and the extremities of the feet. The head is borne by cushions, and the feet reft on a lion. The armour varies but little from that of the father's, though not fo rich in ornaments. A lion is likewife cut on the body of the armour, with the label of three points. The fon has not any whifkers, as is feen on the father, nor are the features either to handfome or fo commanding. Thefe fculptures are of the first clafs for truth of drawing, fine execution, and exact reprefentation of coliumic minutie, ranking them among the fineft performances of our old matters.

Under the fecond divifion, on the North fide of the Choir, flands a piece of architecture which is faid to be the Shrine of St. David!

When there is a received opinion that any particular object of Antiquity was originally appropriated to a precife purpofe, bold, nay prefumptuous, is that perfon who may go about to do away, in any wife, fuch authority: yet, trong as may appear the teftimony, fome doubts may be fubmitted in "contradict line" as to the authenticity of the polition advanced. Upon thefe grounds I fhall bring forward a few thoughts relative to the Shrine in ques tion; and, if what is advanced be found nugatory, and unworthy of regard, let the furmifes difappear, not in the fhades of contempt, but in those of forgivenels, and be no more thought on.

A Shrine is understood to be a large wooden cheft, richly ornamented, fo as to contain a fmaller cheft, in which is depofited the body of fome Saint; the whole raifed on a basis of fione, decorated with niches, paintings, precious fiones, &c. This ineftimable work was placed in an infular fituation, and in the centre of a Feretory, or Chapel, behind the high Altar of a Choir, fuch as we yet witnefs at Weftminster, the Shrine of Edward the Confeffor; and which was once beheld at Canterbury, the Shrine of St. Thomas à Becket; and at Durham, the Shrine of St. Cuthbert, &c. The fubject under difcuffion is done wholly in fone; fet up under an arch in one of the divifions of the Choir, in like manner as Tombs and Monuments; has no traits of the ufual form of Shrines (as above specified), and comes fimply under this defcription