I. The most ancient Glass-stainers could copy only from the painters of the age in which they lived; and at first the illuminations were imitated on a larger scale. When the imaginary portraits of saints and prophets were painted in fresco, they were as soon transferred to glass; and when Scripture histories were attempted upon pannel, after the introduction of oil painting, they served as a pattern for the exact imitation of the Glassstainers.

H. These last-mentioned artistswere entirely ignorant of light and shade, and supplied the effect by colour only; the excellence therefore of the Glass-stainer cousisted chiefly in the richness or brilliancy of his tints; for the arrangement of them was anticipated in the picture he was employed to copy, and nothing more was attempted by him.

The memorable improvement in the art of Glass-staining is to be referred to that of Painting, after the perfect knowledge and application of the principles of Chiaro-scuro had generally obtained in the modern schools of every nation of Europe.

The old Glass-stainers excelled each other merely in dexterity of placing distinct pieces of a single colour, so as to produce the effect of light and shade, but in an imperfect degree, from the harshness of the outline; and those of the second æra (from 1460 to 1520) used, as the painters did, gradations of tint, by which a considerable improvement was gain ed, as well as by throwing the junctures made by lead, in every possible instance, into the shades.

But the attempt of an exact imitation of painting on canvas, as if the subject were merely transfused

*

from one substance or superficies to another, was reserved to the present age; and the first specimen, in point of merit, if not of date, was the Na tivity, at New College, Oxford. The idea is due to Sir Joshua Reynolds; and Jervais pledged his art for the execution of it, and succeeded to admiration. A description of the subjects of this magnificent window is, unnecessary here, being so generally kuown, and having been so frequently described +.

When this window was first exposed to public view, the late Lord Orford withheld his suffrage from the praise, which an attempt at once new and successful had universally received from men of taste. He speaks with disparagement, in one of his published Letters +, of Sir Joshua's "washy virtues," at New College. The pleasure conveyed to the mind by the deep tone of colouring imparted by the old Stained Glass, adds doubtless to the magic effect on the first view of one of our most perfect Cathedrals; for that effect is instantaneous, and we feel the combination before we examine the composition, or the subject.

Mr. T. Warton, who was a genu ine admirer of the art, acknowledges, in his Verses addressed to Sir Joshua Reynolds on the window at New College, the force of this early impres sion.

"Where Superstition, with capricious band, [plann'd, In many a maze the wreathed "window. With hues romantic ting'd the gorgeous

of

of the new school, and its nearer alliance to the design and colouring of the great masters of Italy.

"For when again I view the chaste design, [line, The just proportion, and the genuine Those native portraitures of Attic Art, That from the lucid surface seem to start;

[chain,

Thy pow'rful hand has broke the Gothic And brought my bosom back to truth again;

To truth, by no peculiar taste confin'd, Whose universal pattern strikes mankind."

Sir Joshua painted no other pic ture for a similar purpose. From the pencil of West, Jervais finished, in the Royal Chapel at Windsor, the subject of the Resurrection," in three compartments, between the years 1785 and 1788. He was assisted by his most successful pupil Forest in the "Crucifixion," upon which both of these eminent artists had worked before 1802 (when Jervais died), and which remained incomplete upon the death of the last-mentioned, in 1807. Forest had finished three subjects from West; 1. The Angels appearing to Christ. 2. The Nativity. 3. The Adoration of the Magi, as if in competition with Sir Joshua. The scholar had taken up the art at first as an amateur, and these performances are evidently inferior in point of distinctness and harmony to the works of Jervais.

Previously to this time, Pearson and his wife had distinguished themselves by several very beautiful works stained upon a single pane of glass of extraordinary dimensions*.

Of larger works which have been placed in ecclesiastical edifices, those most noticed and approved, in his

day, were by Francis Eginton, who

established a school of Glass - staining at Handsworth, near Birming

ham. He died in 1805. With 'considerable merit of colouring, there is a certain deficiency in drawing, and the carnations are not clear, in several of his larger pieces t. Another ingenious artist, H. Hand, a uative of Ireland, has shewn much taste in ornamental design, and great bril fiancy in the execution. He has been much employed by the Marquis of Hastings, at Donington.

We may now consider Glass-staining as having nearly reached its zenith in this kingdom, for on the Continent the art is said to have literally expired. It may be therefore considered as of British growth, and, in its present state, improved in a degree to which the professors of painting and their critics would never allow that it could have possibly attained; it therefore deserves the best patronage of public bodies and of individuals of opulence and taste.

Among the present existing artists, and there are several of great merit, where superiority is so generally allowed, it can be scarcely thought invidious to select the name of Joseph Backler, who in the few years he has practised it, has, by his talent and genius, extended the powers of the art of Glass-staining almost beyond hope of its eventual perfection, and whose industry and unassuming manners promise a continued excellence, and deserve a correspondent encouragement. A view of his exhibition in Newman-street, now open to the publick, will supply a proof, that friendship has not overrated his praise §. E. M.S.

Topographical Account of the Parish of GRISTON in NORFOLK.

GRISTON, or, as as it is com

monly called, Gerston, is a small scattered village in the hun

He was

Millin, Monumens.

dred

dred of Wayland, and deanery of Breccles, and subject to the Archdeacon of Norwich. It is situated about 2 miles South-east of Watton, 12 miles North of Thetford, 11 miles South-east of Swaffham, and 21 miles South-west of Norwich.

It appears by the returns made under the act of parliament for ascertaining the population of this kingdom in 1801, that there were in Griston 29 houses, 42 families, and 180 persons. According to the returns in 1811, there were 28 houses, 39 families, and 171 persons; and, according to the ceasus which i made in February 1817, there were 39 houses, 39 families, and 191 persons.

The parish of Griston is bounded on the North by Carbrook and Scoulton, on the East by Scoulton and Caston, by Caston and Thompson on the South, and on the West by Thompson, Merion, and Watton.

GRISTON HALL MANOR *. This town was a berewic to Sporle in the Confessor's and Conqueror's time, and the chief part of it which constituted this manor belonged to a free woman in the Confessor's time, who held it as part of Sporle Manor: it was seized by the Conqueror, and let to farm to Godric, and was after held by a family sirnamed from the town t. Another part was held by Roger Bigot, of whom Ralf FitzWalter held it; and both these parts made up this manor, which was afterwards held of the Fitz-Walters +.

In 1227 Richard de Rupella settled 120 acres and diverse rents on Henry de Greston and his heirs. In 1256, William, son of John Bozun, and Henry son of Henry de Grestun, paid 6d. a year to the Prior of Alvesboura. In 1272, Dionisia de Montchensy had some concern in it. In 1274 John de Griston was lord, and had the assize of bread and beer, weyf and trebuchet, and held it of the honour of Clare at half a fee, in 1314. In 1315 Robert Fitz-Walter

and Richard Copsey were returned as Lords here. In 1345 John de Griston held a quarter of a fee of the honour of Clare, which formerly belonged to Roger de Griston; and in 1398 John de Griston was Lord, and in 1401 held it of the honour of Clare, which was held by the heirs of the Earls of March. In 1341 it was in the Bishop of Ely's li berty, whose bailiff appointed the constable. It afterwards was in the Clifton's, and passed, with Buckenham, to the Knevels; and in 1541 Edm. Knevet sold it to Edm. Grey and his heirs. In 1558 John Grey, of Methwold, esq. gave it to William Grey, his son, who sold it to Mr. Thomas Dunthorn, who was lord in 1572, and William Dunthorn was his son and heir. It afterwards belonged to Sir Thomas Barney, of Parkhall in Redham, and came to Henry Barney, his second son, who died 23 Nov. 1638, possessed of it, and held it of the honour of Clare, with 36 acres, held of Saham-Tony manor, by fealty, and 34 acres, held of Carbrook, by fealty; and Henry Barney, of Griston, was his son and heir." When Mr. Blomefield wrote his History of this county, Griston Hall manor belonged to Leonard Batchelor, esq. of Norwich. Thomas-John Batchelor, esq. of Horstead, nephew of Sir Horatio Pettus, bart. was afterwards lord, and sold it to Benjamin Barker, esq. of Carbrook, whose son, John Barker, esq. of Carbrook, is the present Lord.

"THE RECTORY MANOR always belonged to the Rectory, which was never appendant to the other manor; for at the survey William Earl Warren had the advowson, and 10 acres of land, which Earl Ralf had laid to his manor of Stow; and so it belonged to that manor, and soon after was joined to Caston manor, and the Caston family, as lords of Caston, presented §." in 1328 Sir John de Caston, knt. held a knight's fee in Caston, Rockland, Tofts, Tom

homines

son, Shipdam, Rudham, and Griston, of the Lord Bardolf, as of his manor of Wirmgeye, which belonged to Reginald de Warren, a younger son of the second Earl William.

In or before 1330 it belonged to the family of Cokefield, and continued a rectory until 1349, when the Church, Rectory Manor, chief part of the glebes, and the great tithes, which were let at 157. were appropriated by William Bateman, Bp. of Norwich, to the Prior and Convent of Buckenham, on condition that the Bishop should always nominate to the Prior, who should present the Vicar, and pay to the Bishop a yearly pension of 16s. Sd.* At the dissolution the manor, great tithes, and advowson of the Vicarage came to the Crown, where they continued until Queen Elizabeth settled them in exchange on the Bishoprick of Ely, to which they now belong.

In Mr. Blomefield's time it was held by lease, of the See, by Mr. Cauch fellow of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, grandson of Dr. Patrick, Bp. of Ely. The Rev. Fairfax Franckin, Rector of Attleburgh, and Vicar of Watton, is the present lessee.

The parish of Griston having been inclosed pursuant to an Act of Parliament passed in 1806, it was enacted, that fifty acres of the commons should be allotted unto, and vested in, the Lords of the Manors of Farthings, in Griston, and Griston-Hall, in Griston, and Griston Rectory, and the lessee of the same manor of Griston Rectory, respectively, and to the vicar, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of the said parish of Griston, for the time being, as trustees for the poor of the said parish for ever; and the rents and profits arising from the said allotment or allotments, shall, from time to time, be laid out and applied by the said trustees in pur chasing fuel, and such fuel shall be distributed among such of the poor

inhabitants of the said parish of Griston who shall be legally settled therein, and shall not occupy lands or tene ments exceeding the yearly value of 101. in such proportion and quantities, and at such times in every year, and according to such rules and orders, as the said trustees for the time being, or the major part of them, shall ap point and prescribe for that purpose, and not otherwise."

The Vicarage Houset, which is situated on the South side of the churchyard, is what Leland would call a meane dwelling;" that is, not contemptible, but moderate.

Duty is performed once every Sunday, alternately morning and after

noon.

A Sunday School has been lately established in this village by the Rev. R. Grenside, A. B. curate, and M. D. Duffield, esq. F. S. A.

(To be continued.)

Mr. URBAN,

N

March 12.

I reply to three inquiries of ject of Parish Registers, I must express a decided opinion, that regard ought to be paid to the regular days and hours when the Churches are open, and the Clergyman is in attendance, for occasional duty, and for affording access to the Registers. If in every other department of business appropriate times are appointed for business, it is surely highly improper and unreasonable, especially in the Gentlemen of the Law, who have their terms and other seasons for practice, to expect that Clergymen should dispense with all order, and give up their time to the uncertain calls which may be thus made upon them. I am here assuming, what the Law will in every instance support, that the Clerk is not the person to be invested with such a trust as the custody of the Parish Register. The Incumbent and Churchwardens are

A Constant Reader on the sub

the