1819.] Inscription on a Brass Plate --Poor Rates. 39 from which he proceeded. Joho Ry- Mr. URBAN,

July 10. der, Archbishop of Tuam in 1752,

I

HEARTILY join in the appelwas first cousin to Sir Dudley Ryder, lation you have bestowed, in p. the eminent Judge.

537, on the “ Hints towards an at. Your heraldic friends could proba tempt to reduce the Poor Rate.” bly say whether a title of Peerage The Autbor commences his able should date froin the period of the pamphlet with joining in the general grant appearing in the Gazette, or agreement, that Excess of Population from the perfect completion of the is the chief cause of the increase depatent. A title, for instance, may precated, to which he adds, Inoculabe gazetted in 1818, and the pateot iion for the Small Pux and the Vacnot fully completed' until January cine have eminently contributed. The 1819. Instances have occurred of other leading great cause, is impromaoy months interveniog,

videot marriage in the poor, iu check Is your Correspondent, p. 404, cer- of which, the Author purposes de. tain as to the Lorton Viscounty being pial of parochial relief to all persons derived from Cumberland ? G. H. W. under the age of thirty, except from

urgent circumstances approved by a Mr. URBAN,

June 10. Magistrate. Many other regulations A

CORRESPONDENT, in vol. are suggested, all of which deserve

LXXXVIII. p. 305, requests in the most solemn attention. formation respecting an inscription The following account will highly upon a brass-plate in the possession of amuse persons of sentimneot and kuowMr. Burleigh, of Barnwell, of which ledge of the world: “In some instances a figure, No. 11, is given in the which have come within my own second Plate of that Nuinber.

knowledge, the overseers and farmers Io the walls of a farm-house built have held meetings at the parish aleupon the site of Marton Abbey, in house, for putting up to sale by aucYorkshire, are two stones represent. tion the labour of the poor for the ing shields, bearing the same device, ensuing week, after this inaoner: the and surmounted with cruwos. A shield farmer bids two shilliogs ; another of the same description occurs in the advances three-pence (oo bidding can wall over the East window of the be under three-pence), another bids Chapel of Marton, situated about a three-pence more; and so on, till the inile from the place where the Abbey poor man is bought in al four or five stood. There are also two other simi- shillings for tbe week. The farmer larly-inscribed stones in the walls of a pays the poor map the whole sum coliage at Craike, about two miles allowed him by the parish for the distant, and another over the porch week, and then receives back from the of the Church at Wheuby, of which overseer as much as the difference Mulesby, a Nuonery subordinate to is belween the sum so allowed and Martoo, was the impropriator and the price of the purchase. The conpatrou ; which induced ine to suppose sequence is, that the purchasing far. that it was a device peculiar to that mer gets his labour done at half.price, Abbey; but I have since found that or less: and that what ought to come it is common to all religious houses, from his own pocket, is paid from the and is sufficiently explained in the Poor-rate, and thrown upon the Gentleman's Magazine for 1754, page other inhabitants. And this is not 494. Il is there stated to be an abbre. all;—for the farmers consider these viation of the Greek name 'Incês, meetings to be of such advantage, that name being originally very com

that the ale-house expences are all monly written l'HC, which is usually charged to the parish account.” interpreted, Jesus Hominum Salva- Allowing thai versatility of talents tor; but this the writer looks upon is daily exhibited with amazing ingeas a vulgar error, it being no other nuity in shuffling and swindling, dothan the cominon note of 'Irošs, thing is equal to the ability displayed both in MSS and inscriptions.

in low life. I actually knew If the Brass-plate in question were

miser of bumble condition, who found in or near tbe Priory at Barn

wanted beer, and brewed a single well, there can be no doubt of its bushel of malt, but so managed the designation.

process, as to create almost as much Yours, &c. SCRUTATOR. yeast as payed for the malt.

G. MUNGO

a

W

MUNGO PARK.

there is to prove his being still in ex

istence.

received LETTER has been

No iotelligence has been A by a gentleman of Liverpool sanding in the year 1805; and this

received from him since he left Sanfrom his brother at Juddah, a seaport on the Red Sea. The following that he is not now in existence, and

fact itself is a strong presumption extract purports to give some infor.

a corroboration of the several acmalion respecting ihis enterprising counts which have been published retraveller:

specting the manner of his death, “ Dec. 13, 1818.-On my landing at Pearce, we suppose, obtained his ioJuddah, a place where I did not expect to telligence respecting Park in Abyshear an English word, I was accosted by sioia; but the distance of Tombuctoo a man in the complete costume of the from the Eastern coast is so great, country, with “ Are you an Englishman, and the intermediate regions so comSir?" "My answer being of course in the pletely a terra incognita, that this affirmative, appeared to give him plea, consideration alone is sufficient to sure beyond expression. Thanks and

overthrow the whole story. But there praise to God! be exclaimed, 'I once

is one fact which to us is decisive more hear an English tongue, which ! have not done for fourteen years before against the truth of Pearce's relation. I have been much amused by him since;

Many of our Readers inay have read his account of the Abyssinians, the in

the parrative of Robert Adams, a habitants of a country tbat' has absorbed

sailor, who was wrecked in the year fourteen years of his existence, is indeed 1810 on the Western coast of Africa, truly interesting. You must, no doubt, detained by the Arabs of the Great have heard or read of him ; he is that Desert, and carried by theni to ToniNathaniel Pearce spoken of by Mr. Salt buclov. He remained there several in his Account of bis Travels in Abyssi- months, resided the whole period of nia. He was left there by Lord Valen

his stay in the palace of Woollo the tia, and has been the greater part of king, and frequently walked about the time in the service of one or other

the town. Adams, from the uncomof the chiefs in various parts of the coun.

mon degree of curiosity which he ex. try. At the time I met with him, he

cited, believed that the people of was endeavouring to make his way to

Tombuctoo had never seen a white Tombuctoo, where he says Mungo Park is still in existence, detained by the

man before. Now, supposing Park chief. He says the whole country al.

to have been theo detained in that most idolize him for his skill in surgery,

cily (and he must have been there at astronomy, &c. &c. They say he is an that time, if Pearce's story be true), angel come from heaven to administer engaged in explaining to the rude comforts to them; and he explains to and ignorant natives the sublime scithem the motions and uses of the hea- ence of astronomy, is it at all provenly bodies. He is, Pearce says, very bable, either that Adams would not desirous to make his escape, but finds it have seen or heard of so wonderful impossible. - - What!' say they, a man, or that Park would not have you suppose us so foolish as to part with

found some means of communication so invaluable a treasure ? If you go with Adams? The writer of the let. away, where are we to find another pos

ter states, that when he met at Jud. sessing so much knowledge, or who will do us so much good?'—Pearce appeared inake his way to Tumbuctoo. This,

dah, Pearce was endeavouring to to have been resolutely bent on endeavouring to reach Tombuctoo, but bad

in our opinion, is as improbable as for some time been labouring under se

the story about Park. For where is vere illness."

this Juddah? It is, no doubt, the

well-known sea-port of Arabia Felix Happy should we be if Pearce's statement should be found correct, Pearce were endeavouring to pene

on the Red Sea. If it be so, and if and the illustrious Park still in ex- trate to the far-famed Tombuctoo, is istence. That Pearce gave the above it not a little singular that be should relation to the writer of the letter, endeavour to do so from Juddah, we do vot doubt; but we question the which is on the Asiatic side of the truth of that relation. There is a Red Sea, which, before he could comgreater weight of evidence to prove mence his journey, he must cross to the melancholy fate of Park, thau the African side:

2

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

a

1

1. Political and Literary Anecdotes perpetual intrusion from servants for

of his own Times. By Dr. William orders, and tenants or weighbours on King, Principal of St. Mary Hall, petty business. When a dinner is got Oxon. 8vo. 2d. Edit. pp. 252. Murray, up for a large party, it is a bustle for TE E have been much delighted with

a week throughout the house.

Now all these miseries are avoided in this instructive and amusing Work. It brings to our view a cha College. It is habitation in an inn, or

hotel, without its publicity, or severe racter not uncommon, the pleasing

The Residents know pois often seen filling the arm-chair by of the business of the world; and garrulous old Collegiate scholar, who expence:

thing of the lower orders of life, or the fire-side of a common, or com•

their abstract studious pursuits, foolbination-room. Being among com.

ish to the majority of mankind, bepapions of siunilar habits, and a common interest, such persons indulge in

cause they are not certain roads to all that innocent hilarity which pro- table, enjoyed in innocence, to puns,

riches, limit their desires, beyond the ceeds from absence of cares. Of this, criticisms, anecdotes, and

calculations that part of society which is unac

of the value of livings. Such are the quainted with the modes of living in

blessings atlached to the University an English University has no con

Toga. ception. Released from the trouble

We remember to have heard, when and expence of a household establishment, borses, taxes, wives, children, young, our old University friends talk and other expensive et ceteras, un

very affectionately of Dr. King, and avoidably attached to living in the cobites and Hanoverians, which once

the furious party contentions of Jaworld ; their experces are or may be limited to food, wines, clothes, and prevailed in the University of Oxford. books, without any diminution of re

Dr. King was a strong Pretendarian spectability. They are not further and, like many other good men in ali spectability. They are not further similar occasions, suffered much in subjected to inequalities of society, worldly respects from trying to serve especially the torture of humouring and enduriog those who are wealthy fools, an obstinate one, who did not

a fool; fool of the worst sort of without education, and the eteroal annoyances of ignorance, slander; but presumed that it was the duty of

suit his measures to circumstances, roguers, and clamorous beggary, with Providence to adapt events to his own which many a resident in a country inclinations. This the Pretender convillage is frequently harassed. Of all this, even the gentleman of good Royalty: and that it was the ruin of

ceived to be a certain privilege of property, who resides in the country, the Stuarts is luminously exhibited has no knowledge. He is constantly by Dr. King, in the following passage; interrupted by domestic disagree for we shall not quote that in p. ables : even if he is blessed with a consort who is in everlasting good 196, because it has appeared in other humour, unfortunately an impossibi.

journals. lity, if she be also a good ma

Dr. King, speaking of the misfornager; for it is the injury which all tunes of this House, ascribes them such characters feel from waste and

“ to a certain obstinacy of temper, mischief that occasions such frequent which appears to have been hereditary ringing of the animal bell. But ad

and inherent in all the Stuarts, except mitting that he has an accomplished, Charles !I. I have read a series of letamiable, drawing-room wife, there is ters, which passed between King Charles

I. wbilst he was prisoner at Newcastle, still perpetual misbehaviour of ser. vants; sickness in the pursery ; colds The whole purport of her letters was to

and his Queen, who was then in France, and lameness in the stable; poultry press him most earnestly to make his stealing ; rainy weather in baymak. escape, which she had so well contrived, ing time ; unsuccessful brewings; and, by the assistance of Cardinal Mazarine, more especially, that consummate that it could not fail of success. She misery, poaching. Add to this, one informed him of the designs of his eneGENT. MAG. July, 1819.

mies,

mies, and assured him, if he suffered wrote a composition, which was seot himself to be conveyed to London, they by his friends to that Editor: “Mait. would certainly put him to death. But taire marked eleven expressions, as all her entreaties were fruitless, she unclassical. These were communi. could not persuade him to believe her cated to me in a letter, which my information. In all his answers he was

friends sent me to Oxford. The same positive that his enemies would not dare evening, by return of the post, ! anto attempt his life.”

swered nine of Maittaire's exceptions, Thus it appears that the infatua

and produced all my authorities from tion of the Stuarts consisted in a Virgil, Ovid, and Tibullus ; and by presumed miraculous exemption of the post following I sent authorities Royal birth from the contingencies for the other two. I could not help incident to human nature *.

remarking, that Maittaire, some lit. Dr. King occasionally appears in tle time before, had published new the high character of a Philosopher, editions of those Poets from whence and probably would have made an ex- I drew my authorities, and had added cellent Biographer or Historian. The a very copious index to every author; following remarks upon Friendship and in these indexes were to be found are of this superior kind of writing. most of the phrases to which he had

“ A perfect friendship, as it is de excepted in the Miltonis Epistola." scribed by the ancients, can only be con- The fact is, that such verbal criti. tracted between men of the greatest vir- cisins must be absurd. All tbe Latin tue, generosity, truth, and honour. Such

Dictionaries are compiled from the a friendship requires that all things

ancient classicks; and the words, should be in common; and that one friend should not only venture, but be though not possibly of the Augustan ready to lay down his life for the other.

age, are of course such as were used According to this definition of friend by the Romans. ship, Cicero observes, that all the his

Dr. King (p. 154) exhibits one of tories, from the earliest ages down to

these sapient criticks taking a phrase his time, had not recorded more than of Cicero, and spending three or four two or three friends; and I doubt, whe- whole pages to prove that it was ther at this day we could add two or

neither Latin nor sense! three pair more to the number. In our We perfectly agree with Dr. King, country, which is governed by money, that “The art of speaking ought to and where every man is in pursuit of his be especially cultivated in the Uniown interest, it would be in vain to look versities, p. 170;" but we are obliged for a real friendship."

to pass the paragraph by, to make Dr. King then recommends the

preo room for the following account of servation of such amity as we are the coosequences of permitting the able to form, by having no money clergy to marry, preinising, that we concerns with our friends. In p. 144 know it to have originated in the we have his golden rule for acquiring debauchery of that class of men when the love and esteem of every body, compulsory bachelors: viz. “ To speak evil of no man.”

“ It was no small misfortune to the think that it might be improved by cause of Christianity in this kingdom the addition of Bishop Beveridge, that when we resormed from popery, our “ Never speak well of a man be

Clergy, were permitted to marry: from fore his face, nor ill of him behind that period their only care (which was his back.”

natural, and must have been foreseen) We know that the following re

was to provide for their wives and child marks concerning Criticisms on La

dren; this the Dignitaries, who bad ample tinity are exceedingly just. We have

revenues, could easily effect, with the heard sentences condemned as bald, loss, however, of that respect and vene.

ration which they formerly received on though absolutely copied, by way of

account of their hospitality and numertraps, from Cicero; and we should

ous cbarities; but the greatest part of the ont give the quotation, were it got inferior Clergy were incapable of making connected with Maittaire. Dr. King a provision for sons and daughters, and

soon left families of beggars in every #*Tenunc delicias extra communia censes part of the kingdom. As an Academi. Ponendum, quia tu gallinæ filius albæ." cians, and friend to the republic of letters,

Juvenal. I have often wished, that the canons which forbid priests to marry were still

We

1819.]
Review of New Publications.

43 in force. To the celibacy of the Bishops throne to the misery that racked the we owe almost all those noble founda- aposlate under his curslet and diadem, tions which are established in both The Poem opens with a sketch of our Universities; but since the Refor- the scene where Charles XII. of Swe. mation, we can boast of few of the Epis- den and Mazeppa, with the rempantof copal order as benefactors to these

their cavalry, halt after the first exseats of learning. The munificent do

haustion of the flight. Churles cannot nations of Laud and Sheldon in the last

sleep, and some commendation of century, will, indeed, ever be remembered, but let it likewise be remembered, Mazeppa's horsemanship induces the

old Hettman to speak of his early ad. that these two prelates were unmarried.”

venture. The King commands hiin pp. 187, 188. We have not room to say more ;

to relate it to beguile the time. thay that this is a cheerful pice draw. “ Well, Sire, with such a hope I'll track ing-room book before dipper; conve- My seventy years of memory back; nient either for dipping, or regular I think 'twas in my twentieth spring, perusal.

Aye-'twas, when Casimir was King.

John Casimir,-1 was his page, 2. Mazeppa: A Poem. By Lord Six summers in my earlier age ; Byron. 8vo. pp. 69. Murray. A learned Monarch, faith was be, [From the New Times.]

And most unlike your Majesty." Italy, with all its charms of blue The Poet has here made a mise lakes and eternal sunshine, does not take in his cbronology. Norberg, abouod iu Poets, and it should seem as the most favourable to Mazeppa's if other Poets than its owo felt the in- longevity, makes him but eighty fluence of that land of silk and slavery. when he died. The otber Polish hisLord Byron's vigorous and original torians make bim but seventy in 1708, style has certainly received po obvious the year before the battle of Pultowa, improvement since his residence on which was fought on the 27th of June, the shores of the Mediterranean, and 1709. Thus he was probably in the bis present poem forms po exception nurse's arms at the time of his involv. to the general rank of his Italian ing the Count's family in disturbance, efforts. "But he is a poetic genius; or at best he could have been but ten indolence may enfeeble his pow years old. The description of John it does those of all men, but it can- Cusimir goes on with more truth than pot extinguish them; carelessness of courtesy. fame or contempt of criticism may Having glanced at some of the dedebase his poetry by common-place fects, it is but justice to select a spealiusion or negligent arrangement, cimen of the passages in which Lord but the true fire still burns, and if Byron has evinced his most conspicu. it be only exposed to the air for a ous talent, that of describing mixed momentit Aames out and vindi- mental and bodily sensations, with a cates its early brilliancy. Mazeppu is force, an accuracy, and, if we may so to us the least inleresting of the Noble speak, with a picturesqueness, rarely Bard's works. We can have no gra- equalled. lification in giving this opinion.- Lord Mazeppa, paked and tightly bound Byron has drawn the circle for him- with thonys to the back and neck of self. He can raise no spirit beyond ; a wild horse, which had been caught within that parrow and gloomy ring but the day before, is borne for three he has great command, without it he days, by the affrighted animal, is not niore than the rest of the world. through woods, across rivers, and at His characteristic was, to plunge into last enters upon one of those steppes, the depths of the place of torment or vast plaius, which divide from each that desponding and criminal thoughts other the haunts of the different Tarmake for themselves, and to smite tar tribes. The feelings of the hopeour senses with the rapid view of that less rider, after having endured many intense and burning preparation for long hours of excessive agony, fa. the suffering rather of the spirit than tigue, hunger, and thirst, are thus of the body. He opened his pande- strongly painted :monium to us, yet not Milton's gene

“ The earth gave way, the skies rollid ral and magnificent display of demo

round, viac splendour; he turned our eyes I seem'd to sisik upon the ground; from ihe majesty of Satan on his But err'd, for I was lastly bound.

My

as