tion figned by many thoufand maidens and virgins of the famous City of London, to help forward the defign, to the best of their power, "provided they be in readinefs at call, to fweep, cleanfe, and brush away the foot, duft, and cobwebs, which through their abfonce had engendered in their nooks and private corners." That this petition had the defired effect, of confirming the privilege of this ufeful clafs of artizans, is not to be doubted, when we read how much difficulty thofe ftruggle with who in modern times endeavour to counteract them by new inventions, but are reduced for want of encouragement to recommend by advertisement four efpecial mechanifts, who have undertaken to execute their contrivance; a fmall proportion to the encouragement of any laudable and ufeful invention!!! F. B. Mr. URBAN, Epping Academy, PPING Church is fituated upon a be worthy engraving for your Magazine, their appearance will not only confer a degree of obligation, but an excitation to a farther emulation in the profecution of this pleafing art. Yours, &c. T. SQUIRE. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 22. N Old Correfpondent," p. 1107, feeks to revive an old and almoft forgotten enquiry, refpecting the origin of the fleur de lis, in the armorial bearings of the laft inonarchy of France; and however fruitless fuch a controverfy may feem to the generality of readers, in the prefent ftate of that distracted kingdom; to the Antiquary and Herald, I am perfuaded, it will appear neither impertinent nor unintereiting, as many doubtful points of Arm moury depend upon the deceition; to thefe, therefore, I dedicate this com munication, in which Efhall vour to combat the opinion endea your correfpondent. In the firft place, the opinions of the generality of French Armourifts militate against it; and E confiderable eminence, about two here I fhall cite paffages from two or miles North of the town, it is rather of modern conftruction, and moftly built of brick. The North fide of the tower is covered with a thick foliage of ivy, where the loquacious fparrow nefiles in fecurity; the clamorous inhabitant of deferted caftles hides his powdery pate; and the dappled ftarling ferenades his fitting mate. From the dates of a great number of the grave-ftones, it appears that feveral of the inhabitants attained to very advanced ages, and that the air of fo pleafant a part of the country is conducive to longevity; this certainly is the cafe, from the number of old people now living in the town. There are two men, each of whofe ages are up wards of 100 years: thefe centenarians feem to enjoy the ufe of their limbs and faculties, and may frequently be feen taking their diurnal walks, inhaling the refreshing breeze. Thinking the inclofed drawings of the North and South view of the above-mentioned church, which were taken a fhort time ago by H. P. Briggs of this academy, (aged 14) would afford fome amufement to a number of your numerous readers, induced me to tranfinit them, as the juvenile efforts of a rifing and promifing genius, which if they should GENT MAG. April, 1806. three, as they are undoubtedly moft. qualified to judge of their own antiquities. And firft Columbiere fays, ،، The feur de lis, or Lily, excels all other flowers in fweet odour, fruitfulnefs, and tallnefs, and therefore ought to be called the Queen of flowers, and true hieroglyphic of Royal Majefty." The Sieur Chifflet, who wrote a book upon the difcovery of the tomb of Childerie I. at Tournay, A. D. 1653, fays, from the circumfiance of a veft having been there found powdered with golden bees, "That thefe becs were the original arms of the French Kings, and therefore his mantle was fprinkled with them, according to the cuftom of the after-ages; that in tract of time they were ill-pointed or engraved, and fo miftaken for flower de luces." The fame pretext is advanced by thofe Heralds who affign them three toads erected Saturn. The Rev. Father Mabillon, in his Treatife on the Antient Burial-places of the Kings of France, writes thus: "Philip the Auguft was the firft that ufed a fleur de luce for the counterfeal of his dispatches. Louis VIII. and St. Louis followed his example; and at laft the French arms were powdered with fleur de luces, till they were reduced to three by by Charles VI. Then follows a grand The fleur de lis, or Lily, is were the principal ornaments of Solo- I Yours, &c. N. ORWADE, D.D. Mr. URBAN, April 2. HAVE just been reading two ac counts of China, but I with much that all writers of countries would attend to facts; one faw Rice and Tea growing on the Banks of the Pecho; the other declares that in the whole province of Perichee, they know no more of the culture of it than we do in England. There are many who muft know which is the fact; and any information refpecting the above will much oblige a conftant reader, VERITAS. TH MR. URBAN, London, April 19. HE following letter, equally important in its object, and clear in its hiftory, muft command attention, and convey inftruction. The conduct of the Gaoler of Lancafter Castle affords a pleafing inftance of the advantages of proper -and humane treatment, even of the moft depraved and hardened criminal. It is alfo with pleafure that I am enabled to add, from the beft information, that confiderable improvements in many Prifons have been recently effected, in confequence of the letters of my friend to J. C. LETTSOM. LANCASTER CASTLE. Gaoler, John Higgins; falary 600l. out of which he pays three turnkeys. Fees and garnish abolifhed. When prifoners are convicted at Prefton or Manchester, and brought from thence to Lancaster, the Keeper receives Is. per mile, conduct money. Alfo when tranfports are removed to Portsmouth or Woolwich he receives the fame fum. Allowance to debtors, one fhilling per week in bread *. Allowance to felons, fix pounds of good wheaten bread, 10 pounds of potatoes, two pounds and a half of oatmeal every week, and half a pound of boiled beef, and a quart of broth on." Sunday. CHAPLAIN, Rev. John Woodrow. Duty, Sunday, prayers and fermon; Wednesday and Friday, prayers. Salar 50l. and from the Dutchy 47. and from the Sheriff 15s. for his attendance on every Proteftant malefactor who fuffers death. Roman Catholics are a ten led by a prieft of their own reli ( gion, who receives the fame fum from the Sheriff. SURGEON, Mr. Baxendale; falary 20. and allowed for medicines. Remarks. This, CASTLET, having firft been built for a place of defence by the Romans, afterwards became DUKES of Lancaster, and at an early the Palace or Feudal Refidence of the period was converted into a County Gaol. The Gaoler's houfe, which is a handThe fituation is elevated and healthy. fome building, and weil fituated for commanding a view of the fpacious court-yard, fills up the space between the gate-way and the well-tower to the right. The female debtors prifon is a room in the gate-way, and exactly over the entrance; their court-yard is fon for the female felons occupies the in common with the men. The pri fpace from the gate-way to the dungeon-tower on the left, and correfponds with the Gaoler's houfe towards the Calle-yard. It contains two nightrooms in the dungeon-tower, each 23 feet 9 inches, by 15 feet; a day-room under the infirmary, 15 feet 9 inches, by 13 feet; a wash-house adjoining, 15 feet 9 inches, by 7 feet 6 inches; three night-cells under the infirmary, feet, by 6 feet 6 inches; fix fmall ditto behind the new workshops, 7 feet, by 4 feet 6 inches; fix workrooms, 15 feet 9 inches, by 11 feet; between the gate-way and the dungeon-tower, are two well-ventilated rooms for the fick, 30 feet, by 21 feet. The area of that part of the Castleyard which is appropriated to debtors only, contains about 2792 fquare yards. There is a large arcade on the Weft fide for exercife in wet weather; over it are fix day-rooms, each 14 feet 9 inches, by 12 feet 3 inches. In a wing adjoining are three rooms, each 40 feet by 14 feet. That on the ground floor is ufed as a workshop for debtors. In the well-tower are four rooms. Frout room, No. 1, 25 feet, by 11 feet 6 inches; back room, No. 2, 25 * Adam Unfworth, a debtor in the Castle, by letter of the 19th of July, fent with a petition to the Society for Small Debts, fays, "Your petitioner is, and has been fince his confinement here, in a fituation wanting the common neceffaries of life; and had it not been for the well known goodness and humanity of the keeper of the Gaol, he, as well as many others, would probably ere this have paid the debt of Nature." + Its British name was Caerwirdd (caftra viridia) Green Fortress, from the verdure of the hill. Its prefent name is from Lon or Loyn, the name of the river, and Caftra, a fortress. Some derive it from the British Llan, a church, and Caftre a fortrefs; the shurch and castle forming one groupe of buildings. feet feet, by 10 feet; tap-room, No. 3, (formerly the wine-tap), 20 feet fquare; news-room, No. 4, 19 feet 9 inches, by 12 feet. In the gate-way tower are eight rooms. An apartment for the turnkeys, 31 feet 3 inches, by 12 feet 6 inches over it a room for debtors called the Pigeon Box, 33 feet 8 inches, by 12 feet 10 inches; two reception rooms, where difeafed prifoners are put until examined by the furgeon, No. 1, 26 feet 6 inches, by 12 feet 5 inches; No. 2, 33 feet 8 inches, by 14 feet 6 inches; over the entrance is the antient Court-room, now occupied by the female debtors, 25 feet 8 inches, by 15 feet 3 inches. There is a narrow winding flair-cafe to the attic flory, where there are three rooms, viz. Conftable Room, 33 feet, by 16 feet; Smuggling Room, 32 feet 1 inch, by 16 feet 5 inches; Pin Box, 33 feet 8 inches, by 13 feet. Every debtor on his commitment pays 7s. 6d. towards coals, and 2s, for pots and pans. The magiftrates formerly allowed a mop to each room; but, from the infolence and extravagance of fome of the debtors, it is now difcontinued. When a poor debtor cannot pay for coals, &c. he generally does the fervile work of the room in lieu thereof; and if he cannot immediately pay for a bed, he obtains half a bed on credit, which is occafionally paid for out of the Charity Fund by the Keeper. When the number of debtors does not exceed 70 or 80, many fleep in fingle beds; but when more, they are under the neceffity of taking a bed-fellow. At prefent there as only three fingle beds in the whole of the debtors apartments. There are excelent rules and regulations for the government of the criminal fide of this prifon, which are printed and fuck up in different parts of the Gaol; and the worthy Chaplain is empowered to purchafe, at the expence of the County, Bibles and conimon prayer books, for the religious. infruction of the poor prifoners, at his difcretion. it appears to this Court, on the reprefen, tation of the Keeper of the Gaol of the Caftie of Lancaster, that feveral prifoners in his cuftody, being members of the Church of England, and having no lawful excufe, make a common practice of abfenting themfelves from Divine Service performed in the faid Gaol, and mifbehaving themfelves during service: It is therefore ordered by this Court, that if any prifoner or prifoners confined in the faid Caftle, (except Roman Catholics and Quakers) and having no lawful excufe, fhail abfent him, her, or themfelves from attending Divine Service within the faid Caftle, or shall in any way misbehave, fuch prifoner or prifoners fhall immediately be deprived of the county allowance, until further orders to the contrary. And it is further ordered, that the Treafurer of the faid County Stock fhall, immediately upon receiving a complaint from the faid Keeper againft any prifoner or prifoners, ftrike his, her, or their name or names out of his book, and forbear to pay fuch prifoner or prifoners any more money until further order. KENYON. N. B. Whereas many of the debtors of late have abfented themfelves from attende ing Divine Service; this is therefore to give them notice, that for the future the above rule of Court will be strictly put in execution." A fpirit of refleffnefs has been introduced into this prifon, as well as many others, by forming Committees of Affociation, or Secrecy, as they term it, and a correfpondence with the King's Bench priton, by which they are led to believe, that the Gaoler has no control over them, and fometimes fet him at defiance. It is an unfortunate circumfiance to be thus corrupted, and has caufed an abridgement to the debtors of fome of thofe comforts which the liberality of this County had provided for them, and which their errors and diftreffes claim from the humanity of the virtuous and more i fortunate part of mankind. Charity Legacies to the Debtor Prisoners in Lancaster Caftle. £. s. d. From Mrs. Henrietta Rigby's Of the debtors I was forry to obferve Executor, to 12 of the moft necefonly two, out of 76, attended prayers; though the following order is fluck up in various parts of the prifon, viz. "At the General Quarter Seffions of the peace, held at Lancaster, in and for the faid county palatine of Lancaster, the 15th day of July, in the 17th year of King George the Third's reign; Whereas fitous and well-behaved prifoners, From Mrs. Langton, paid by From Sir Thomas Gerrard, of 3 200 |