Conjectures concerning the Phænomenon of Saturn's Ring. 251 menon of the third book, of the Principia), the periodical times are in a ses. quiplicate proportion of the distance; that is, the fquares of the times are as the cubes of the distances; and the periodical time of the firit fatellite revolving round the planet Saturn, is 1 day, 21 hours, 18 min. and 27 fec. and its distance from the center of Saturn is 1,93 times the femidiameter of the ring: whence a fatellite, at the fuppofed diftance from the planet Saturn, will make its revolution in 16 hours, 53 'min. and 58 fec. Now, fuppofe this fatellite to confift of a great quantity of fulphureous, nitrous, or other combuftible and inflammable matter, and to be in actual fire, leaving behind it, in the path through which it makes its revolution, a confiderable quantity of inflamed va pour and fparks, which continue their heat, and thereby cease not to be vifible for the space of 16 hours, &c. in which time the fatellite will make a revolution, and enter the latter part of the tail, thereby forming a compleat luminous circle; but as a comet, as is before faid, is known to extend its tail over a space which itself takes several days to pafs over, we may justly be allowed to fuppofe, that this fatellite may perform, not only one revolution, but many; in which cafe (as the node and the inclination of its orbit will be continually changing), the path made by feveral revolutions will form a spiral curve, and the tail, at the fame time, being fomewhat expanded, will fill up the intermediate spaces of the spiral curve, and thereby increase its dimenfions, while it likewife increases its denfity, fo as to intercept the fight of the fatellite revolving in the midlt of it. Now, as the appearances of the burning torch, the meteor, the comet, and the Saturnian annulus, are fimilar, we may conclude the cause to be one and the fame. And herein we may fee and adore the abounding providence of the Almighty Creator, who, having, in his infinite wisdom, formed a defign to constitute a world, at a distance too remote from the great fountain of light and heat to receive a due proportion of its benign influence, hath, notwithstanding, bestowed on it five fair moons, to beautify and illuminate the Light, and this ftupendous, magnificent, and refplendent bow, to afford both light and genial heat. And, as the distance of this glorious eircle is no more than four thirds of the femidiameter of Saturn diftant from its furface, fo great a vicinity, added to the numerous nocturnal luminaries, and the proportion of vivifying warmth it receives from the diftant fun, muft, in all probability, render it as agreeable and comfortable a place of abode, as any other part of the Immortal Deity's creation. Mr. URBAN, GIVE me leave to add to the extra ordinary memoirs of Mrs. Bridget Bendyth, Oliver Cromwell's granddaughter, in the third volume of Hughes's letters, by Mr. Say, Dr. Brooke, and Mr. Lufon, that, as this lady, with much to admire, and much to approve in her, had alfo fomething which cannot but be feriously difappro ved, fo had the no little of the ridicu lous. Perhaps there is ever fomething of this in great characters; it seems almost a neceffary refult of the outre, without which, perhaps, there never was a great character. Who, for inftance, would think, that this admirable female Quixote, this heroical deliverer and defender of the poor perfecuted faints (as they were called, in unworthy derifion, by their perfecutors), this heroine alfo in the caufe of civil liberty, fhould ever have condefcended,amongst the fcenes of her adventures, to have become an adven turer in finuggling! Yet even fo, I am affured, it was. Having fupplied herfelf in France with a cargo, the fouth- weft, or Cornish coaft, I think it was, on which the rich lace, and fine cambrics, &c. of French Flanders were once landed; at least, it was at a friend's, in fome part of Cornwall, or Devonshire, where the repofed with them on the night of their landing. From thence, the fpeeded to a ftage-coach town, and took place, with her venture, for London. On their way, they took in two paffengers, who were custom-house-officers, that had been fent in purfuit of her and her cargo upon information; but had missed of their prey where they had expected to find it. In conversation, they mentioned whence they came, the business they had been upon, and their difappointment. She defcribed herself to them in the dress and appearance the knew moft probably they had been instructed to find her-It was agreed this must be the very perfon-" Then, Gentle See alfo our Mag. Vol, xxxv. p. 357. 252 Anecdote of Mrs. men, you are on a wrong fcent, faid the: I fapped with that woman laft night at the place where you expected to find her, but he was concealed, and, after you were gone, fet off directly for Penzance, and waits there till all search for her is over, and will proceed to London when the can do it with fafety." The officers wanted no more; they left the ftage at the first town, and took poft-horfes for Penzance, while fhe went on triumphantly to London. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, WE B. J. WE have a fpecies of words in our language, that is, certain names of things, which, being originally derived and borrowed from cultoms and practices now difufed, carry with them an air of impropriety, and, for the fame reason, their etymology is, in many cafes, very greatly obfcured. To explain my meaning by an example-the word minfier, in Saxon minrene, from the Latin monafterium, we apply very generally to our cathedral or collegiate churches, as when we say York-minster, or Southwell-minfier; and yet thefe churches are at prefent very far from having any thing of the nature of monafteries in them. But the words of Mr. Thoresby, the famous Leeds Antiquary, are lo pertinent to the fubject, that I fhall here tranfcribe them, as fufficient for the purpose of making a proper preamble to the following lift, or catalogue. Bridget Bendyth. "Reafon tells us," fays this gentleman, that, before the use of metals was found out, the Aborigines in each country would make ufe of ftones, flints, fhells, bones, &c. formed, in the best manner they could, to the various uses they defigned them; and it is usual for fuch inftruments or utenfils gratefully to retain, even in different languages, the memory of the matter they were firft made of, as cochleare, a spoon, (tho' of metal,) because cockle-fhells were first used to that purpose. So candleflick, or flaff (for it is candel-fræk in the Saxon monuments); fo likewise books (Amos iv. 2.), in the original, is thorns, with which they ufed to pierce fish, before they had the fkill of applying iron to that ufe. And, to give but one inftance more, the harp knives (Joh. v. 2.) ufed in circumcifion, are, by our Saxon ancestors, (who received their very names from the weapon called fex, or feax, culter, gladius) Ailed reenene rex, (Mr. Thwaites's Sax, Hept.) which in the original is knives of fint, which is more agreeable both to thofe parts of the world, where there was but little iron, and to that operation, wherein the Jewish Doctors fay that harp fints or ftones were used *." All I hall add to thefe learned and judicious obfervations, is, that the born was anciently used for a drinking veffel, as indeed it ftill is in many country places, and retained the na:ne of a born, though made of richer materials; whence Athenæus, from Pindar, fays, ἐξ αργυρέων κεράτων πίνοντες, drinking out of filver horns † ; and that, to the lift which is intended to follow, many names of places in England might be annexed, which are formed from the religious houfes that once there fubfifted, but are now no more; as Monks- Horton, Monks- Risborough, &c. Warminster, Weftminster, &c. AbbotsLangley, Abbots- Bromley, &c. Many towns are alfo denominated from faints, with whom we have at this day no concern, as St. Alban's, St. Edmundbury, St. Neot's, St. Ive's, &c. and again, that fome faints, in great efleem anciently, no doubt, are, at this time, fo rarely heard of, and fo little known, that it is very difficult fometimes to inveftigate them.I now go on to the lift. The BARK. By this word, in the north of England, is meant the candle-box, which hangs in the common room, for the purpofe of receiving the ends, or pieces, of candles. The reafon of the name is, that, at firft, it was only a piece of bark nailed up against the wall, as fometimes one fees it now at this day; but, in other houses, it ftill retains the name, though it be made of better materials, of brafs or tin. BORSHOLDER. In the ancient police of this king ́dom, established, as fuppofed, by K. Elfred, the counties were divided into hundreds and tithings, fo that every man lived in fome tithing. And "that," fays Mr. Lambarde, the famous Kentifh antiquary, which, in the west country, was at that time, and yet is, called a tithing, is, in Kent, termed a borow, of the Saxon word boph, which fignifieth a pledge, or a furetye; and Mr. Thoresby, in Leland's Itinerary, vol. iv. p. 7. See alfo his Museum, p. 566, where the fame is repeated. ↑ Athenæus, Lib. ii. the Of Names retained when their Origin is diffed. the chief of thefe pledges, which the avellern men [and we may add the northern men] call a tithingman, they of Kent name a borbolder, of the Saxon words hoɲher ealdon, that is to say, the most ancient, or elder, of the pledges. The borfholder answers in fome respects to the petty conftable, and the name is still continued in Kent, though King Alfred's establishment is now grown obfolete. A BROOM. This was formerly made of the fhrub of that name, but is now applied to implements of the fame ufe, though made of birchen twigs, or hogs briftles. I am, &c. T. ROW.. [To be continued.] A TOUR in the Midland Counties of ENGLAND, performed in the Summer of 1772. (By T---- Q------~) Continued from p. 209. will now proceed to mention a few curiofities that I took the opportunity of viewing in the northern parts of Lincolnshire. About 12 miles N. W. of Boston lies Tattershall; an inconfiderable town on a small river called the Bane, navigable, however, for boats, and a little below falling into the Witham: the only thing worth notice at this town is the castle, a venerable remain of ancient induftry: the great tower is entire, but all the outer buildings, walls, draw-bridge, &c. are totally deftroyed. This tower is of brick, the materials excellent; it is faid to be about 200 feet high, and I have read that "the walls are 15 feet thick in the thinnest part," but this is a mistake: however, by admeasurement I find they are near 15 feet thick in the thickest part. Some of the infide ornaments are carvings in brick; which, confidering the materials and the age, are really curious. The tower is fquare, and terminated by four small pinnacles placed at the angles. At Kirkited, three miles from Tatterfhall, was a Ciftercian abbey, of which a gable end is now standing. In the road from Tatter fhall to Horncaftie, you país near another anti P. 27. Lambarde's Perambulation of Kent, The only print of this caftle that I ever faw, which bore any resemblance to it in the prefent ftate, was one inferted in the Gentleman's Magazine feveral years ago, 253 quity, confifting of a fiender oftagonal tower in a ruinous condition, called "Tower of Moor:" its original use is not known. The moor on which this tower is fituated, (with other fpots on the fouthern extremity of the Wolds,) produces cranberries, which the poor people gather, and fell now at four hillings a peck, though till of late much cheaper. Horncattle is a compact, well-built town, fituated alfo on the banks of the Bane, and formerly defended by a ftrong castle, of which there are now but few vestiges. The country for about 6 miles round the town is extremely populous, the land moftly arable, but (to the decrease of its popula tion) many of the common fields are lately inclosed. Proceeding northerly, I paffed thro' the village of Bamber, where there is a new church, a plain neat edifice, built of red (commonly known by the name of polished) brick, with a tower of the fame. Three or four miles further lies Stanton, which had a market and fairs; but thefe, I know not by what authority, were lately transferred to the town of Horncastle, for the fum of two hundred pounds. After travelling for about an hour from Stanton, we came to a mean public-house, dignified, however, with the title of Tibbs-Inn, from whence to Caftor (nine or ten miles at least) there is not one houfe near the road, the greatest part of which lies over barren heaths, lately, indeed, improved with fome new inclofures. Caftor is a fmall, but neat markettown, the road to which from Tatterfhall, and fo on to the Humber, lies along that district called the Wolds; the fouthern part of which is an agree able country, very full of villages, and almoft all in occupation; but towards the north it degenerates into a barren, thinly-peopled tract, bare of wood, and much of it uncultivated: through the whole, I obferved fome of the inhabitants ploughing with oxen, but more with horses. Near Caftor is another fmall town, called Market Rafon; the Apkam, a large brook, runs through it, and ferves to turn a mill or twot: the country A part of this river has lately been made navigable for floops of fifty tons, to Glandford-bridge, a brisk little mar ket 254 New Tour in the Midland Counties of England. country round this place is far from being either populous or pleasant. At Teleby, near Rason, is a papermill, which, with two or three near Sleaford, are all that, I believe, were ever erected in this large county. About 12 or 14 miles to the Eaft of Rafon is Louth; a confiderable, handfome, thriving town, and one of the gayeft in Lincolnshire, in which there are not only frequent affemblies, concerts, &c. but even masquerades. The church, however, is handsome, and the fpire very lofty, not inferior, as fome people affert, to that of Grantham . At Louth is alfo a freefchool, town-hall, and some very elegant buildings; but what will afford the traveller, fond of modern improvements, the most sensible pleasure, `is, the new canal from this place to the sea at Tetney; its length is about eight miles, the greateft part of which was by enlarging the Lud, a large brook which ran through the town; and as the courfe of the cut is not perfectly level, a fufficient quantity of water is obtained by means of eight locks: the work is now compleated, and will undoubtedly anfwer one good purpose, by reducing the price of coals." Returning foutherly, the next place of note is Spilsby; a tolerable markettown, but not remarkable for any thing curious or striking. From this place to Bofton is a new turnpike-road, lately finished; an undertaking of the greatest confequence to the laft mentioned corporation,-as the old road was fo execrably bad that the travellers were very few, and confequently the inns upon it proportionably neglected. On leaving Spilby, you foon come to the fpot where ftood Erefby-hall, a magnificent houfe, belonging to the Duke of Ancatter; but being burnt down five or fix years ago, his Grace has not thought proper to rebuild it. Further on, you leave on the right the village of Keale, round which the fields are chiefly planted with potatoes: thefe roots are not confumed in the neighbourhood, but shipped at Boston, where they find a ready market. Near this place is Bullinbroke; an inconfiderable town, in which there is nothing to be seen but a pottery for coarfe earthen ware. ket town, and for boats as high as Bishopbridge, a village between that place and Rafon. My enquiries could not procure a fatisfactory account of the height of either of these steeples Still further, the road leads across a part of the Eaft Fen, in which there is now a small tract of new inclosures; in dividing of which by ditches, several large trees were found, at a confiderable depth below the furface, perfectly found. And here, having concluded my obfervations on this part of my travels, I will just make a few remarks upon (Holland, or) the flat country in general. Throughout the whole, the walls of the houses are generally brick, and their roofs covered with tile, flate, or reed; thofe, indeed, of the meaner fort are of mud; a ftone house is fcarce to be feen in the whole district, nor one thatched with straw; many of the dwellings of the more opulent graziers are large and handfome. The churches are in general fpacious, and feveral of them built with excellent ftone; there are none of those despicable hovels (called churches) fo frequently to be met with in the Wolds of this country, but all the buildings for divine service in the Fen-country, if not elegant, are at leaft large and neat. Some of them deferve particular notice that of Fifhtoft, near Boftor, is equal to any in point of excellence of materials; it is fuppofed to have been built by fome of the Abbots of the monaftery at Crowland, in confirmation of which there is a figure of St. Guthlake, in a niche at the Weft end of the steeple. This church has lately been new pewed, and otherways beautified. The churches of Surfleet and Pinchbeck, near Spalding, are remarkable for inclining confiderably from a perpendicular, but they have been in this ftate to long, that the fears of their falling are wholly vanished: their deviation is undoubtedly owing to the swampinefs of the foil, and the want of due care in first laying the foundations. The church at Kirton is a very large, noble ftructure, built like a cathedral, with crofs- ailes, and a tower in the middle; but fome of the fide walls of this edifice alfo recline a little. Kirton had a market, now difufed. Leaving Bofton finally, I proceeded Weftward. Between the feventh and eighth mile-ftones, to the left of the road, is a confiderable tract, lately converted into inclofures; among them are fome in which woad is cultivated, and also a mill and other erections for preparing it for fale. By the fide of this plantation there is a row of col tages, the dwellings of the people employed in the culture. There are two or New Tour in the Midland Counties of England. or three other plantations of this dye in the Fens; and the fame method of providing for the hands neceffary to cultivate and prepare it upon the spot, prevails in them all. A little beyond the eighth mile-ftone begins Heckington Fen; this has been wholly inclofed half a score years. In its original state a great part of it was generally under water. The crops of oats here, as well as in the other Fens, are amazingly great. The view over this Fen is very pretty, every inclosure being furrounded by a quick hedge, and in one place by the road-fide is a clump of firs, elms, and flowering fhrubs; at the fame time the appearance of fome new houfes, and many large ftacks of corn, &c. give a chearful idea of an increafing popularity. On entering Heckington Field you may fee Kyme tower, an ancient plain brick structure, to the right: it is fi tuated at the village of the fame name; but whether it be a part of the priory which formerly fubfifted at that place, I could not learn from thofe people of whom I enquired. Heckington, though only a village, is a compact place, with feveral good houfes; its extenfive field has lately been inclosed, and I may venture to pronounce this inclofure (like a thousand others) a very fatire upon the judgment and patriotifm of its promoters.Every person who bestows a difpaffionate thought on thefe improvements, must instantly difcern the difference between enclosing waftes, and inclofing lands already cultivated. In the former cafe, we neceffarily fubject part of the foil to tillage, and employ our otherwife idle poor at the fame time in increafing the quantity of vegetable and animal food, and by fuch increase reducing the price of provifions. This being once accomplished, will enable our manufacturers to enter into competition with their rivals, and to exceed them in cheapness as well as goodness at foreign markets in fhort, every acre of land that is thus improved is an addition to the wealth and ftrength of the kingdom. Inclofing a wild wafte is only another name for planting a fettlement in the most advantageous fituation, and whofe profperity, instead of being the terror, is the delight of its inftitutors; but the dividing of corn-fields can boaft no fuch advantage. The land is already employed in culture, in the culture too of grain, at present the highest object of national concern; and it will not affect our argument, if the : 255 caviller reply, that "what we lose in corn is made up to us in wool," becaufe we have already much more of the latter than we can make up and vend in manufactures; and this overplus being clandeftinely disposed of to our neighbours, who have a fuperiority over us in regard to the lowness of wages, enables them to underfel us in foreign markets. I am aware, that the produce of inclofures, well managed, is univerfally allowed to be much greater than on the fame land in an open expofed field, where, among other difadvantages, every man is cramped in his ideas of improvement, and is obliged to follow his neighbour's method. This argument has truth in it; but then it must be obferved, in return, that, if one perfon's land is feparated from the reft, the occupier feldom confults the good of his country fo far as to retain it all in cultivation; on the contrary, he converts the best parts of it to grazing, the confequence of which is, that, in proportion to the quantity laid down to grafs, the practice is fo far injurious to population. And this affertion is not barely founded on opinion, but is a fact confirmed by every day's experience; for, by tracing its effects in one inftance, we find, that, upon applying a part (perhaps the prin cipal part) of thefe inclosures to the feeding of cattle, the farmer has no further occafion for more than half his labourers. The reft then are dismissed, they have their living to feek, but where fhall they find it? It would be needless to inquire of other inclosing farmers for employment; they too are in the fame predicament. What then they do? Where go? They must quit the place of their nativity, or itarve; muft become idle vagabonds, or heavy burdens to the parishes where they belong. In fhort, agriculture and hufbandmen dismissed, grazing and luxury introduced; land more plentiful than ever, and engroffed into fewer hands; thefe are the obvious confequences of inclofing commonable fields. If it be afked, why thefe inclofures have not hitherto produced all these dreadful effects? I answer, because other causes have intervened to render them lefs vifible. The multitudes that for many years past have been and are ftill employed in the different navigations throughout the kingdom, have providentially conduced to give bread to those whom thefe inclosures would otherwife have left deftitute. Add to |