Zodiacal Signs are not Astronomical Monuments; we would observe, that this only happens when they are not complete. We find also another proof of the existence of such an edifice in the design of the Mosaic, composed evidently according to the custom of the Romans, to designate in Temples, and on various objects relative to worship, Astronomical Symbols. It would not be too much to imagine that the legions returned from Egypt, the soldiers of the Nile, milites Niliaci, according to the inscription of Moirans, who were employed under Tiberius to construct and repair in Gaul public roads and monuments, might ornament with our Mosaic a Temple of Belenus, become the Temple of Apollo. Having brought from the East the taste for allegory, so cominon in all ages with the nations of that part of the world, they might easily be supposed to multiply the indications of the destination of the edifice. To conclude: the Mosaic of Estavaye appears to us a complete Astronomical Table, executed in a Temple placed near Poligny, and dedicated to the Sun; and that it would be improper to regard it as a work of the middle ages or of modern times. The most rare Antient Marbles, such as were specially employed in edifices consecrated to religious worship, Roman tiles, Medals of the Antonines, of the Faustini, of Tiberius, a Maerious in grand bronze, and traces of Roman Ways, have been found near this place, believed, with good rea son, to be near Olinum. Tradition, History, and Antient Records, are silent on the cause of the destruction of the Temple of Estavaye; therefore there is not the slightest reason for attributing it to Charles the Bold, the Sarazens, or the Primitive Christians, as has been heretofore supposed. The reasonings of Chevalier are by no means consistent with those simple and precise allegories constantly used by the An tients. Mr. URBAN, BRCAND. Jan. 10. O all the numerous plans which are suggested in times of distress like the present, to alleviate the sufferings of the labouring poor of this great Metropolis, none seem better calculated for permanent and real benefit, than enabling them to purchase those articies which are absolutely necessary, either for their subsistence or comfort, at the lowest rate. The public attention has been lately much called to the present high price of Coals, in great measure arising from the heavy duties peculiar to the Port of London. And as they are in this country strictly an article of the first necessity, and not to be dispensed with, I would propose, in lieu of the present Port Duties, that upon all houses of 201. per annum, there be laid a small tax, of so much in the pound, as would be equivalent to those duties. This would be so inconsiderable as to be no object to the class on whom it would fall, and the poor would be entirely relieved from the duty, whose situation is at present peculiarly hard, as they not only pay the heavy duties, in common with persons of opulence, but can only buy them in small parcels, and generally at a time when they are at the dearest. We, of the middling classes, who depend upon business, are certainly much indebted to those Members of the Corporation who took the lead in the abolition of the Property Tax; but it is to be remembered, that the labouring, and by far the most numerous class, were not at all benefited by it. And we think the same Gentlemen would be conferring immortal honour on themselves, if they would now step forward and propose such a measure, to which they seem more particularly called, as the City so largely participates with Governinent in the present enormous Port Duties. As a further motive for the adop tion of some such plan, it is submitted, that it would be the means of much additional employment, which is universally admitted to be all that the poor want; for it appears evident, that coals being more accessible to them, by being so much cheaper, the demand would increase considerably, to meet which more coals would be brought to market; this would necessarily employ more shipping, and many additional hands in the conveyance, besides the increase of labour that would be requisite, both at the pit and in delivery. The following observations, from the leading paper of the day, are so pertincat, that l beg to transcribe them. "What "It may be said, that this Duty forms part of the revenue of the City, a property, we confess, quite as sacred as that of any private individual; but this forms no objection to reasonable arrangement for benefiting the publick; it formed no objection when a part of the Duty actually was private property under a Royal Grant; and it is but justice that private or municipal right should be bought up when it interferes with public utility. "This essential article of life, instead of coming as every means of comfort ought, almost free into the market, is loaded in London with rigorous and expensive impositions, as if a fire-side were an extravagant and even profligate luxury. "The demand for this kind of article is greatly on the decrease. This Duty operates as a tax of singular inequality, not where the article is cheap, but where it is dear. It is not laid on at the pit, where it may be had for the fetching away, but at the distant market, where it is loaded with all the charges of freight, insurance, loading, unloading, &c. Nay, its locality is still more narrowed. Just below Gravesend there is a large coal wharf, where the coals are landed to save duty; and of so much importance is this saving, that carts come from several miles above Gravesend, burthening an article with land-carriage, which might, but for this injudicious tax on river navigation, have been unloaded at their own doors." PINDAR, Olymp. II. Ye' Lincolne Nosegay' wights, to you I speak; [Greek! To others, pshaw! 'tis English, Lutin, Mr. URBAN, WH HEN a very young Bibliomani acal Nimrod of the chace, I had once the good luck to start, pursue, and safely bag, a leash of game articles of the STULrifere kind; and perhaps you, Sir, who appear a staunch brother of the sport, may be willing to allow me a peg in your Grand Hall of Curiosities, On which to hang up and triumphantly display my "honours of the brush." Believe me, friend Sylvanus, it grieves me much that all the noted blackletter heroes should have missed so glorious a prey.-A correct reprint of Stultifera or rather Salutifera Navis, with plates, would sell at least as rapidly as that of Scroggins's Jests, or even that of The delectable and right pitiful History of Tibbe, our Cal. Revenons à nos moutons. I. SALUTIFERA NAVIS, a small quarto volume, with one hundred and is thus entitled in the frontispiece: nineteen plates of singular humour, Narragonicæ profectionis nunquam satis laudata NAVIS per Sebastianum Grant, vernaculo vulgarique sermone et rhythmo pro cunctorum mortalium fatuitatis semitas effugere cupientium directione, speculo, commodoque et salute: proque inertis ignavæque stulticiæ perpetuâ infamiâ, execratione et confutatione, nuper fabricata: Atque jampridem per Jacobum Locher, cognomento Philomusum: Suevum: in latinum traducta eloquium: et per Sebastianum Brant: denuo seduloque revisa: fœlici exorditur principio. and just before the Index Libri, or At the end of this very old edition, table of contents, occur the following words: Finis Narragonicæ NAVIS per Sebastianum Brant vulgari sermone theutonico quondam fabricatæ atque jampridem per Jacobum Locher, cognomento Philomusum, in latinum traducte: perque prætactum [Qu. prædictum ?] Sebastianum Brant denuo revisa: aptissimisque concordantiis et suppletionibus exornatæ : et nová quâdam exactâque emendatione elimata. Atque superadditis quibusdam novis admirandisque fatuorum generibus suppleta. Impressum per Jacobum Zachoni de Romano. Anno Domini M.CCCC.LXXXVIII. die xxviii. mensis Junii. [Errore manifesto, mt amice, Sylvane Urbane, pro 1498; cùm fol. V. 76. Novi Orbis Inventio, quæ anno 1492 tantùm contigit, his versibus declaretur: "Hesperia Occiduæ rex Ferdinandus in Jacob Zachoni, qui typographus est, The Index Libri, or as it is also Under the picture are the following quaint lines, in hexameter and penta meter verse: Etvafro ingenio,-parvi putata jacent. I-STULTIFERA NAVIS, a remarkably small quarto volume, with one hundred and sixteen plates, executed Auriculas vellens inquit Apollo meus : Collige vela, Badi: sat erat tibi sensa poetæ [sinus: : nec in tumidos carbasa ferre Nosse: in a superior manuer, is thus entitled Pergere si mavis, tibi ne consortia desint. in the frontispiece: Stultifera Navis mortalium, in quà fatui affectus, mores, conatus atque studia, quibus vita hæc nostra, in omni hominum genere, scatet, cunctis Sapientiæ cultoribus depinguntur, et velut in speculo ob oculos ponuntur. Liber salutaribus doctrinis et admonitionibus plenus. Olim a clarissimo viro D. Sebastiano Brant jurisconsulto, Germanicis rhythmis conscriptus, et per Jacobum Locher, Suevum, Latinitati donatus : nunc verò revisus, et elegantissimis figuris recens illustratus. Basileæ, cum gratia et privilegio Cæs. Majest. At the end of this Edition we find printed : Basileæ, Ex officina Sebastiani Henriepetri, Anno recuperata Salutis humanae M.D.LXXII. Mense Martio. [Hane editionem secutum constat amicum tuum emunctæ naris, D. Æs. Es. S.] A III. NAVIS STULTIFERE COLLECTANEA. Ab Judoco Badio Ascensio vario carminum genere non sine eorundem familiari explanatione conflata. Venundantur Parisiis in vico Sancti Jacobi sub Pelicano; et in Ædibus Ascensianis. This is, also, a quarto volume, with one hundred and fifteen plates, ad Stultiferam in classem fac comes in silias. [novi Dixit: et aspiciens instare pericula Et lasso ad portum remige flecto viam. At quisquis ridet faciles humilesque Camœnas, Ferto magis cultas, aut tolerato meas. Hæc babui, Lector candide, in STULTIFERAM NAVEM properanti calore afferenda, quæ si minus demorsos sapiunt ungues, noris curando stulto cui fatua duntaxat sapiunt esse decocta. Vale. Ex officina nostra in Parrhsiorum Academia nobilissima. vi. Idus Maias Anno Salutis M.D.VII. I consider this curious book, of which I never before saw a copy,and we obscure and irregular poachers have great experience, per fas aut nefas, as a complete and most important Commentary on that truly valuable production, Brant's SALUTIFERA, OF STULTIFERA NAVIS. Mr. Urban, if any of your Correspondents would condescend to favour me with an analysis of Barclay's "SHIP OF FOOLES," and describe the characteristic marks of every separate edition of that scarce work; and, also, if the fortunate possessor of a copy Copy of "LA NEF DES FOUS," an equally rare production from the French press; and, particularly, if some German gentleman of vertù commanding GRANT OF BRANT's original composition in the German language; would kindly do the same by their respective treasures: I doubt not, a mass of information might soon be collected concerning the unique lucubration thus casually brought into notice by Es. Es. Ss. sufficient to engage the erudite attention of all the true BIBLIOMANIACKS in the British Empire throughout best part of this new year 1817. The poignant satire from STULTIFERA NAVIS, quoted by E. E3⁄4. S. p. 420, is thas neatly abridged in my NAVIS STULTIFERE COLLECTANEA, in à Cento drawn up from good authors, with all the fire and spirit of a genuine original composition: Qui libros Tyriis vestit honoribus Et Jus Cæsarium subdere Canonico? Quid vel Aristotelem: vel grandia Theologiæ Verba polis opibus, sordibus ipse, tuis? "Sat sapio," inquis: " et est mihi biblio theca parata Qualis Niliacis regibus ante fuit. Si Romana minùs, præstò est vernacula lingua, [putes." Quâ tono: vix tantùm Stentora posse O Stolide, atque expers veri: Si fortè medelam [cape. Stultitiæ expectas, pharmaca nostra Ne te multarum disturbet copia rerum: Excole te paucis utilibusque libris. Commentarium. Quemadmodum Persius primam Satyram in vanos poetas composuit, ita Satyra nostra initium sumit a stultis librorum coacervatoribus, qui plurimos excolunt et se negligunt: quia libros neque legunt, neque si legerent intelligerent; qui non didicerunt litteras bonas, et quod detestabilius est discere nolunt. Placent enim sibi : atque vernaculæ suæ torrente præditi inter balbos et ineptulum vulgus famam sapientium assequuntur. Verùm qui sapiet emet paucos libros et eos utiles, diligenterque perdiscet. Es. Es. S. writes likes a person half in jest and half in earnest: I have, therefore, emulated his happy example. True it is, Sir, that there is not one of the three little Canter tragedians mentioned by your Corre Mr. URBAN, Coventry, Jan. 10. respondent wishes to know some mode of treatment for insane patients, and more particularly his unfortunate friend. It is certainly lamentable that no book has been published upon that subject, where any correct plan of treatment is pointed out. Of course so many unfortunate objects afflicted with derangement, confined in houses for their reception, can have no prospect of recovery except from their erroneous and very harsh method of severe restraint, when, perhaps, in incipient and recent affections, where the passions have predominated over the reason, a little controul might be favourable to such slight and trifling objects. The late Dr. Arnold has published some interesting quiries are such minutia as render matter upon the subject; but his inhis Work extremely confusing. I can certainly say, there can be certain methods adapted to many objects of that disease, and where hereditary taints and dispositions producing symptoms leading to such diseases, Insane persons, and those liable, may, by proper attention to their several causes, have those afflicting maladies kept completely under order. I P. Mr. URBAN, Dover-street, Jan. 21. fine three-quarter Paintings of Sir Daniel Harvey and his Lady, whose name was Elizabeth, and was the only daughter of Edward, second Lord Montagu of Boughton, and sister to the first Duke of Montagu. Can any of your numerous Readers inform me when they died, or where they were buried; or if Sir Daniel, who was at one time Ambassador at Constantinople, was related to Lieut. gen. Daniel Harvey, who married Lady Anne, only daughter of Ralph Duke of Montagu, and who, with his Lady, is buried at Mitcham in Surrey? H. M. * Regina, sublimi flagello Tange — semel arrogantem. HOR. Carm. Lib. III. Ode xxvi. COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY. DEVONSHIRE. SITUATION AND EXTENT. Boundaries. North, Bristol Channel. East, Somerset and Dorset. South, English Channel. West, Cornwall. Greatest length 12; greatest breadth 71; circumference 287 ; square 2552 miles. Province, Canterbury. Diocese, Exeter. Circuit, Western. British Inhabitants. ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. Roman Province. Britannia Prima.-Stations. Isca Danmoniorum, Exeter; Antiquities. Drew Steignton Cromlech, Kistvaen, and Druidical Circles. Tawton and Crediton were Episcopal Sees. Tavistock was a Mitred Abbey, founded in 961, by Orgar, Duke of Devon, father of the beautiful and infamous Elfrida, Queen of Edgar, and completed in 981 by his son Ordulph, who was buried there. PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. Rivers. Aven, Axe, Dart, Erme, Exe, Otter, Plym, Tamer, Taw, Teign, Torridge, Yealm-Bovey, Bray, Carey, Coly, Creedy, Culm or Columb, Little Dart, Dawl, Kenn, Lenmon, Lyd, Lyn, Mole, Oke, East and West Okements, Sid, Tidal, Tynhay, Waldon, Wrey, Yeo. Inland Navigation. Grand Western, Tavistock, Stover, Tamar Manure Canals. The twelve first-mentioned rivers. Lakes. Cran meer, Source of the Dart in Dartmoor. Lea, and Sutton Pools. Bradford, Slapton Eminences and Views. Dunkerry Beacon, in Exmoor, 1890 feet above level of the sea; Castle Head, in Parish of High Bray, 1500: Chapman Burrows, 900; Great Hangman Hill, 800; and little Hangman Hill, near Combe Martin, 600; Hoardown Gate, 1000; Slade Hill, 900, aud Swindown, 800, near Ilfracomb; Rippon Tor, 1540; High Bellever, Essery, Steeperton, Ham, Mist, Row and Crockern Tors, in Dart moor; Haldown Hill; Piddle Down; Castle Lawrence, on Pen Hill; Belvidere, in Powderham Grounds. Natural Curiosities. Laywell, near Brixham ebbing and flowing spring; Bampton chalybeate spring; Lundy island; Hartland point, Start point, and Bolt head; Dart and Ex moors; Chudleigh rock and cavern, Morwell rock, and Bren tor. Drew Steignton, and Withicomb, or Nut crackers logan stones; Scenery of Lydford bridge and cascades; of Ivy bridge; of Linton, Limmouth, and the Valley of Stones; of Combe Martin, and Ilfracombe. Public Buildings. Edystone light-house, finished by John Smeaton in 1759; Plymouth breakwater, arsenal, dock-yard, lines; Bideford bridge, 677 feet long; Barnstaple and Exeter bridges. Seats. Castle Hill, Earl Fortescue, Lord Lieutenant of the County. Blatchford, Sir John Lemon Rogers, bari. Buckland Monachorum, Sir Francis GENT. MAG. January, 1817, Collypriest, Thomas Winsloe Philips, esq. Creedy, Sir John Davie, bart. Escott House, Sir John Kennaway, bart. Great Fulford, Baldwin Fulford, esq. |