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REVIEW.-Frost on the Poor Rates. [March,

penses of maintaining the prisoners, but leaves a considerable balance in favour of the Government. Another gratifying circumstance, connected with the administration of that country, is, that in a population of 2,500,000, only two persons

have been sentenced to death within the last five years, and even these have not been executed."

Dronery is the thief's principle;

and that the Bavarian Plan is the right one, is evident, from the following result:

"The introduction of labour into pri

sons begins already to manifest itself in

the diminution of refractory servants, and of vagrants. Both these classes have been deterred from the commission of offences, by the dread of compulsory and hard labour, with a restricted diet." P. xx.

Crime is rare in Sweden, through the religious education of youth; no persons being allowed to exercise the privileges of citizenship, or even to marry, unless they are at least able to read. P. xxxiv.

Upon these excellent grounds of labour, instruction, and classification of offenders, is this very laudable Society proceeding. In a luxurious over-populous nation like this, where the Government is not arbitrary, and provisions dearer, the Bavarian success cannot be absolutely insured; but infinite good may still be done; and Magistrates, who do not acquaint themselves with the contents of this important Report, are unworthy of their honourable office. It is only a pamphlet.

49. A Letter to Thomas Thompson, Esq. on the Propriety of equalizing the Poor Rates at Hull, by assessing the Shipping belonging to the Port, to the Relief of the Poor. By Cha. Frost, Attorney at Law. Second Edition, 8vo. pp. 61. Baldwin. NOTHING can be more plainly iniquitous, than assessment of the Poor Rates by parishes; because a man, who, from his local situation, pays 108. in the pound, can sell his corn for no more than he who pays only sixpence. It appears, that out of 16,0007. paid at Hull, during the year 1819, upwards of 70007. was paid towards the support of persons who immediately gained their settlement in that town from their servitude, as mariners, or in trades dependent on shipping. P. 5.

In 1817, the sum raised was 31,200. In 1819, 19,7607. This astonishing difference shows

what important ameliorations may be effected by good management; and it is an inestimable document for all parish officers.

Mr. Frost treats the subject excellently, like a real man of business.

But there is one consideration which ought always to accompany every of the Poor Rates; viz. that the imabstract view of the heavy expense mense profits accruing from the use of machinery, and the gains (whatever they may be) from Corn Bills, ought to be deducted, as a set off, from such expenses. Let this be done, as in equity is but fair; and the balance may show, that the increased expense, compared with former times, is far less than supposed *: but compulsory relief must, though inevitable, be bad, because it prompts and emboldens abuse and imposition.

When the Poor rise from reduction of wages, it is because they have so much less for the purchase of tea, sugar, snuff, tobacco, and spirits, commodities which do not fall, like others, with the price of corn, and by the use of which, the Poor Rates are unnecessarily augmented, and payers find no relief when provisions are cheap.

50. Kenilworth, a Romance. By the Author of Waverley, Ivanhoe, &c. 3 vols. 12mo. Edinburgh, 1821.

IN introducing the productions of this popular Writer to the notice of our Readers, it would be superfluous to occupy much time in canvassing their respective merits. They are all infinitely superior to the Novels and Romances of the day. They excel in historical importance and general interest, in the same degree as the wonderful Tales of Mrs. Ratcliffe eclipsed all contemporary productions in fertility of invention, and the glowing powers of description. The Author of Waverley may be considered as the founder of a new school, who has been frequently imitated, but never equalled. His plan is to fix upon some interesting portion of history; and, by a few fictitious embellishments, produce a most delightful and entertaining denouement. On the other hand, it was the chief object of Mrs. Ratcliffe, and her crowd of servile followers, to soar on the pinions

* On this subject, see an excellent Letter, in p. 195. of

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of Imagination, and delight her astonished Readers by her glowing descriptions, and brilliancy of language. The present unknown Author may be considered in the light of an historical painter, whose works will always maintain their value; though the productions of the Ratcliffe school. must ever present their beauties and allurements. The writer of Kenilworth converts the crudest materials to gold with an art peculiar to himself; and the manners of former ages, however obsolete, are rendered inexhaustible funds of amusement. But notwithstanding the fertility of this writer's genius, it is evident that he does not possess the same powers of happy delineation in describing the characteristics of the inhabitants of Old England, as when his talents have had full scope in pourtraying the eccentricities of his own native characters; such as the Ferguses, the Oldbucks, &c. of the North.

As Kenilworth Castle, which is one of the most picturesque and interesting ruins in the kingdom, is the grand theatre of this Romance, we may gratify the curiosity of our Antiquarian readers, by introducing a few historical particulars; after which we will detail some of the principal incidents of the Work.

Kenilworth Castle, in the times of our warlike Barons, was renowned for superior strength; and in later days, when security rendered its use as a fortress unnecessary, after being enlarged and greatly ornamented by the Earl of Leicester, it became the scene of one of the most sumptuous entertainments that was ever offered by a subject to his Sovereign. The beauty and grandeur of the remaining ruins, correspond with the magnificent ideas one has been led to form of this Castle, and bear indisputable testimony of its ancient splendour. It was built about the year 1120, by Geoffry de Clinton, a Norman, who was Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer to King Henry the First, of whom he obtained a grant of land for this purpose.

In 1279, there was a great resort of noble persons to this castle, consisting of an hundred Knights and as many ladies, who formed a round table (a custom of great antiquity, to prevent disputes about precedence). Many noblemen from foreign countries came

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here on the occasion, and spent a week with the Knights and Ladies in feasting, martial tournaments, dancing, and other amusements.

Kenilworth Castle frequently chang ed its possessors, and twice reverted to the Crown.

He

John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, greatly enlarged the Castle, by adding various buildings to it; particularly the tower, with three stories of arches, at the North end of the hall, which still bears his name; and he very much increased the strength of it, by adding turrets to the outer walls. He died in 1399, and leaving issue, Henry, surnamed Bolingbroke (from the place of his birth), who was afterwards Henry the Fourth, this castle came a third time into the hands of the crown, and continued so through several successive reigns. Henry the Seventh united it to the Dukedom of Cornwall; and his son Henry the Eighth was at a considerable expence in repairing and ornamenting it. removed the Plaisance en Marais (apparently a building for little parties. of pleasure) from the low marshy grounds where it stood, to where the remains of it now are, within the walls near the Swan Tower. After the death of Henry VIII. it descended to his son Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and her sister Elizabeth; who, in 1563, granted it, with all the Royalties belonging to it, to Robert Dudley, fifth son to the Duke of Northumberland, whom she soon afterwards created Earl of Leicester. This individual is the principal hero of the Romance. It was under this haughty favourite, that Kenilworth reached the summit of its grandeur. He, in 1571, erected the large pile of building on the South side of the inner court, which bears his name, and the great gatehouse on the North; this he made the principal entrance, and changed the front of the castle, which before was towards the lake. He likewise built a tower at each end of the tilt-yard, from whence the ladies had an oppor tunity of seeing the noble diversion of tilting and barriers; and greatly enlarged the lake, the chase, and the parks, which now extended over near twenty miles of country. He is said to have expended sixty thousand pounds (an immense sum in those days) in these magnificent improve

ments.

Here,

H

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REVIEW.-Kenilworth.

Here, in July 1575, having completed all things for her reception, Lord Leicester entertained Queen Elizabeth for the space of seventeen days, with excessive cost, and a variety of delightful shews, as may be seen at large in a special discourse then printed, and entitled "The Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth Castle." "At her first entrance, there was a floating island upon the pool, bright blazing with torches; upon which, clad in silks, were the Lady of the Lake, and two nymphs waiting on her; who made a speech to the Queen in metre, of the antiquity and owners of the castle; which was closed with cornets aud loud music. Within the base-court there was a very goodly bridge set up, of twenty feet wide and seventy feet long, over which the Queen did pass. On each side thereof were posts erected, with presents upon them unto her, by the gods; viz. a cage of wild fowls, by Silvanus; sundry rare fruits, by Pomona; of corn, by Ceres; of wine, by Bacchus; of sea-fish, by Neptune ; of all the habiliments of war by Mars; and of musical instruments, by Apollo. And for the several days of her stay, various rare sports and shews were there exercised; viz. in the chase, a savage man with satyrs; bear-baitings, fire-works, Italian-tumblers, a country bridal, with running at the quintin, and morris-dancing.

And

that there might be nothing wanting that these parts could afford, hither came the Coventry men, and acted the ancient play, long since used in that city, called Hock's Tuesday, setting forth the destruction of the Danes in King Etheldred's time; with which the Queen was so well pleased, that she gave them a brace of bucks, and five marks in money, to bear the charges of a feast.

"Besides all this, he had upon the pool a Triton, riding on a Mermaid eighteen feet long; as also an Arion on a Dolphin, with rare music. And to honour this entertainment the more, there were then knighted here, Sir Thomas Cecil, son and heir to the Lord Treasurer, Sir Henry Cobham, brother to Lord Cobham, Sir Francis Stanhope, and Sir Thomas Tresham."

After various changes in the possessors, the Castle came into the possion of Lord Hyde, Earl of Clarendon.

[March,

His Lordship died Dec. 15, 1786, leaving this Castle and his estates in Warwickshire to his eldest son, the present Earl of Clarendon.

Having briefly traced the history of Kenilworth Castle, from the founda. tion to the present time, we will direct the Reader's attention to the annexed engraving, (see Plate III.); for the use of which we are indebted to the proprietors of "The London Literary Gazette."

The entrance, from the North, is by the side of the great Gate-house (No. 13), built by Lord Leicester. The wall and ditch formerly joined it, and the Castle was entered under an archway, between four turrets; but it has since been walled up. The large pile of building, called Caesar's Tower (9), is the strongest and most ancient part of the castle, and served as a kind of fortress to it in times of danger; three sides of the wall are entire, the fourth side was pulled down by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers, in order to make use of the materials. The great staircase was in the South-west angle of the building. Some of the paintings on the walls are still visible.-The three kitchens lie beyond it, and reach nearly from Cæsar's Tower to Lancaster Buildings; they were very large: some traces of foundations on the greenswerd is all that now remains of them, and only serves to shew their situation.- Lancaster Buildings (1) come next, they were very strong. The three ranges of arches one above an other are still to be seen.

Of the range of apartments that formed the South-side of the innercourt, consisting of the White-ball, the Presence-chamber, and the Privychamber, nothing remains but the fragments of walls and staircases, and a part of two large bow windows; the inner one is, like those of the hall, hung with ivy in a very picturesque way. Indeed the ivy that covers these ruins, forms one of the greatest ornaments.-Leicester Buildings (6), though the last erected, seem likely to be the first part that will totally fall to decay. Time has already made great havoc with this noble pile, and some part or other annually moulders away under his ruthless hand. The light arch fronting, leads through what was formerly called Plaisance (10), to the garden, which is modernized into an orchard.

The

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