Page images
PDF
EPUB

Italian, and his order discovered- Make way there,' was the word; they took him for a foreign minister; the people opened right and left, and we had free admission; so much for appearances!

"I recollect being told by an old gentleman, that having been to dine privately at Northumberland House with the proud Duke of Somerset, and who boasted of a lineal descent from the Plantagenets; that whilst they were talking tête-a-tête in the saloon, the folding doors flew open, and a man in a black fringed robe, with a large silver-headed staff in his hand, entered and exclaimed with a loud voice, Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! This is to give notice that his Grace the Duke of Somerset's dinner 's upon the table' and then retired.

"I have known this pride of rank spread through a whole family, from the lord even to his lowest domestic; though it does not sit so well upon them. It partakes of infection. A certain Duchess, who had been very kind to the distressed poor round her country seat, being taken dangerously ill, a woman who had been often fed by her bounty went to her house, bathed in tears, and with every mark of true sorrow begged to know how her Grace did; when her favourite maid, who happened to be at the gate, fired with indignation at the presumptuous grief of the woman, shoved her from it, with, I should not have thought of it! It's the height of assurance in a low creature like you to be at all affected or concerned for the ill health of a Duchess.""

Dr. Trusler had a wealthy relation, named Benjamin Webb of Devizes. He was a noted miser, and being "left executor to his own son, a batchelor, who lived under the same roof with him, and who bequeathed to an aunt of mine £1000 500 to be paid six days after his funeral, carried his love of money so far that he would not bury this son, but kept him six months above ground, supported in his coffin on a pair of tressels, standing in his hall; through which he passed ten times a day; where the body would have continued till the old man's death had not the parish threatened him with a prosecution."

"That prowess is often occasional and the effect of frame, is evident by a man's being more courageous at one time than another from better health and spirits ; we have had numberless instances of this. The Hon. and Rev. Mr. Cholmondeley, Rector of Hertingfordbury, Herts, once an officer, broke for cowardice at the battle of Dettingen, had acquitted himself with marked bravery on some former occasion; Sir Eyre Coote, who when a subaltern, was broke for running away at the battle of Falkirk, signalized himself in more advanced life with uncommon heroism in India; and Lord Geo. Sackville broke for cowardice at the battle of Minden, acquitted himself afterwards manly in a duel; and yet Lord Ligonier, who delivered him the orders from Prince Ferdinand, declared to me that he was a rank coward. Death therefore should never be inflicted for want of courage. When Admiral Byng was shot for not engaging the enemy, Voltaire shrewdly observed, that it was done to encourage others."

within three rows of the orchestra; a countryman who sat in the first row in a line before him, being too short to have as he sat, a command of the stage, stood up and interrupted his view. Mr. C., in a peremptory tone of voice, and loud, cried out, 'Sit down!' the man sat down, but some time after, not being able to see, rose again. A second time and louder than before, Mr. C. cried, Sit down.' The man said as he had paid for his seat, he had a right to see as well as he. 'Peace, fellow,' said he, 'do you know to whom you are talking" Unfortunately for Mr. C. this simple man was given to understand who this honourable gentleman was, by a loud voice from the gallery, exclaiming, It is Parson Cholmondeley, who was broke for cowardice at the battle of Dettingen.""

"When Cheere the statuary was knighted, he made a point of calling on all his acquaintance, and introduced the honour he had received by saying, that though his Majesty had been pleased to confer a title on him, he should not overlook his old friends, but be always as glad to see them as before; and being at a club soon after, and desired to give a lady for a toast, he rose from his chair, and filling a bumper, vociferated aloud, Sir Harry Cheere drinks Laly Cheere's good health!'"'

66

Some curious stories are told of the roué Duke of Cumberland, “I had it from very good authority that Lord Trevor was applied to by a gentleman, when the Bishopric of Durham was vacant, saying, that if he wished his brother to be Bishop, it might be brought about in his advancing the Duke of Cumberland £10,000, who was in immediate want of it to go to Newmarket. The money was advanced and his brother was the bishop. "At another time he obtained a loan of the like sum from his sister, the Princess Amelia, whom he importuned very much; she took him to task. arraigned his dissipated conduct, and said, she never would be instrumental to it. He assured her that the money he wanted was to complete an improvement in Windsor Park, where it was well laid out in employing the surrounding poor, and to convince her of it proposed to take her down to inspect the works. He had at that time near 500 men digging a canal. She went to the lodge and he drove her round the park in a one horse chaise: and had so contrived it with his manager, that as she passed from one place to another, the same set of men as in a theatre, removed to another spot; which when she was brought to, were seen planting trees, at another, 500 men (the same) were found grubbing hedges. 'Well,' said she, brother, I had no conception of this; you must employ near 2000 peopie.' 'True madam,' said he, and to take you to the other side of the park, I could shew you as many more.' No, she was satisfied that his money was better expended than she had apprehended, and she lent him the sum he wanted. The truth of this was averred to me by an old servant privy to the deception."

Was

[ocr errors]

A good story is told how Lady Maria Waldegrave was jilted by her lover, but it would seem, "there are in return women who act as unfeelingly by our sex. I "The stigma that hangs upon a man (who acted as Mr. heard once of a lady, who so played upon the feelings of a Cholmondeley did) as long as he lives is a sufficient punish-young gentleman who courted her as to break his heart, ment. He had married Mary, sister of the celebrated Peg Woffington, the comedian, with whom he was so enamoured, that his plea for not being able to face the enemy was that Polly was in his head and he could not get her out of it. I happened to be at one of the theatres, thirty years after this transaction, when Mr. Cholmondeley was in the pit,

and he requested on his dying bed, that it might be embalmed and taken to her as his last gift, and without her being made previously acquainted with it. When brought to her she seemed amazed, but on recollecting herself, called to her maid, and smiling, said, 'Fanny, take it up stairs and place it on my toilette, I wanted a pincushion.'

MARICODE MORLA

MEDIEVAL SEALS.-The invaluable work upon "Ancient Scottish Seals," published by Mr. Laing under the auspices of the Bannatyne Club, has frequently induced me to hope that a similar Descriptive Catalogue would be undertaken by some of our Antiquarian Societies. Ample materials are at hand in the stores of the British Museum and in private collections. The new edition of Dugdale's Monasticon, Surtees' Durham, and indeed most topographical works, are rich in similar illustrations; the Gentleman's Magazine has devoted considerable attention to the subject; we possess an unbroken series of royal seals from William the Norman to Victoria; all that is required is the enterprise of a painstaking editor to work this "raw material" into form. The study of seals is no unimportant branch of Archæology. They serve to illustrate correctly the costume of individuals and the architecture of buildings, present portraits of kings, bishops, saints and abbots, and are in most instances beautiful specimens of medieval art. I subjoin a few examples I have met with, in my own native county-Surrey, and shall esteem it a favour if any of your correspondents can add to the list.

Croydon.

F. R. S.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][graphic][merged small]
[graphic]

STOUT.ECCLESIA
SANCTO

Reverse. St. Augustine, mitred," standing under a pointed arch, having his right hand raised in the act of benediction, and holding in his left a pastoral staff. Legend: Mundi Lucerna. nos Augustine Guberna. Exergue: Augustine Pater, quos instruis in Meritonâ His Christi mater tutrix est atque Patrona. From an indenture dated 1264.

NEWARK PRIORY. (Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine.)

The Virgin is represented sitting with the infant Saviour at her breast, and angels glorifying at the sides. The middle part is defaced.

Legend:+S. Ecclesie Beate Marie et Sci. T. From a deed, temp. Henry VI. engraved in Brayley, ii. 134.

The conventual Seal represents the Transfiguration before Peter, James and John.

Legend: Sigill. ec.... e. sci Salvatoris de Bermondeseye.

[graphic]
[ocr errors][merged small]

A second Seal represents the assassination of Archbishop Becket, to whom this Priory was dedicated. The shield charged with a chevron between three escallops, denotes Richard Brito, who is said to have cloven off a piece of the archbishop's skull. The other knights are William de Tracy, Reginald Fitz-Urse, and Hugh de Moreville. Within a niche at the bottom is a monk praying to the archbishop, who was canonized by Pope Alexander III. 1173. From a deed, temp. Henry VI.

[graphic]
[graphic]
[blocks in formation]

Seal of John de Chartres, Abbot, represents the Flight into Egypt.

Legend: Sigi.. . . oris . . . . Bermondeseye, From a deed in the Chapter House at Westminster, bearing date 1266.

[graphic]
[subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic]

JACOBITE SONGS.

Tune, For a'that.

Tho' Georgie reigns in Jamie's stead,
I'm grieved, yet scorn to shew that,
I'll ne'er look down nor hang my head
On rebel Whig for a'that;
For still I trust that Providence,
Will us relieve from a'that,
Our royal Prince is weal in health,
And will be here for a'that.

For a'that and a'that,

And thrice as muckle as a' that,
He's far beyond the seas, the night,
Yet he'll be here for a'that.

He's far beyond Dumblain, the night
Whom I love weal for a' that,
He wears a pistol by his side,

That makes me blyth for a' that,
The Highland coat, the Philabeg,
The Tartan hose and a'that,
And tho' he's o'er the seas, the night,
He'll soon be here for a' that.

And a' that, &c.

He wears a broadsword by his side,
And weell he kens to draw that,
The target and the Highland plaid,
The shoulder belt and a' that;
A bonnet bound with ribbons blue,
The white cockade and a' that,
And tho' beyond the seas, the night,
Yet he'll be here for a' that.

And a' that, &c.

The Whigs think a that Weal is won,
But faith they ma'na fa' that,
They think our loyal hearts dung down,
But we'll be blyth for a' that.

For a' that, &c.

But, O what will the Whigs say syne,
When they're mista'en in a' that;
When Georgie mun fling by the crown,
His hat and wig and a' that,

The flames will get baith hat and wig,
As often they've done a' that,
Our Highland lad will get the crown,
And we'll be blyth for a' that.
And a' that, &c.

O then your bra' militia lads,

Will be rewarded duly,

When they fling by their black cockades, A hellish colour truly.

As night is banished by the day,

The white shall drive awa that,

The sun shall then his beams display,
And we'll be blyth for a' that.

And a' that, &c.

From "A Collection of Loyal Songs, Poems, &c." 8vo. 1750. This work, in favour of the Pretender, is of very rare occurrence. It was privately printed at Ragland Castle. The frontispiece contains portraits of the Earl of Kilmarnock, Earl of Cromartie, Lord Lovat,

[blocks in formation]

third over its edge-then carrying his hand perpendicularly, thumb uppermost, he strikes it like a billiard ball on to the lines. If it be between any two of them it counts, and one of the marks at that space on the player's side, is rubbed out. A lined shot may become good if struck into an opening by either party. If a line is crossed by the coin in the slightest degree it is of no value. When either of them has erased all the marks from any of the openings, should he lodge a shot there his opponent takes the benefit by erasing one of his own marks from that opening, should he have such still remaining. The players thus proceed alternately, five shots at a time. The game affords scope for considerable skill, as will be found by any one who will try it. The table must be steady and heavy, such as the old dormant tables of a hall, on which indeed it was invariably played, and of which specimens are not uncommon with the diagram inlaid in marquetrie.

It was doubtless from its encouraging loitering in the hall over the great oaken tables, that the game was so heavily proscribed by the benchers, as mentioned by "Rusticus." E. K.

[blocks in formation]

FOR JUNE, 1853.

PAINTINGS BY POPE.-In a letter to Gay, dated 23 August, 1713, the poet says:

"I have been near a week in London, where I am like to remain till I become, by Mr. Jervas's help, elegans formarum spectator. I begin to discover beauties that were till now imperceptible to me. Every corner of an eye, or turn of a nose or ear, the smallest degree of light or shade I on a cheek or in a dimple, have charms to distract me. no longer look upon Lord Plausible as ridiculous for admiring a lady's fine tip of an ear and pretty elbow (as the Plain Dealer has it), but I am in some danger even from the ugly and disagreeable, since they may have their retired beauties in one part or another about them. You may guess in how uneasy a state I am, when every day the performances of others appear more beautiful and excellent, and my own more despicable. I have thrown away three Dr. Swifts, each of which was once my vanity, two Lady Bridgewaters, a Duchess of Montague, half a dozen Earls, I have crucified Christ over and one Knight of the Garter. again in effigy, and made a Madonna as old as her mother St. Anne. Nay, what is yet more miraculous, I have rivalled St. Luke himself in painting, and as it is said an angel came and finished his piece, so you would swear a devil put the last hand to mine, it is so begrimed and smutted. However, I comfort myself with a Christian reflection that I have not broken the commandment, for my pictures are not the likeness of anything in heaven above, or in the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. Neither will any body adore or worship them, except the Indians should have a sight of them, who they tell us worship certain pagods or idols purely for their ugliness." Are any of the paintings alluded to in existence, and in whose possession are they to be found?

Doncaster.

G. M.

GLASSMAKERS.-In Bourne's History of Newcastleon-Tyne, published 1736, he states in an account of the Glass Houses in that town: "On the other side of the bridge the Glass-houses, which in Grey's time served most part of the kingdom with window glass. Some time in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, came over to Eng land from Lorraine, the Henzels, Tyzacks and Tytory's. The reason of their coming hither was the persecution of the Protestants in their own country, of whose persuasion they were.

[ocr errors]

They were by occupation glass-makers; at their first coming to this town, they wrought in their trade at the Close Gate, after that they removed into Staffordshire, from whence they removed and settled upon the river side, at the place called from their abiding in it, the Glass Houses, deservedly therefore have some of these families been named Peregrine, from the Latin word which signifies a pilgrim or a stranger.

"Having at last settled here they became very numerous and generally married with each other's families, to preserve the three names of Henzel, Tyzack and Tytory, but the latter of these within these few years became extinct. There are of the Tyzacks several remaining, but the Henzells are most numerous."

Could some of your readers or correspondents in Staffordshire supply any information about these families of early Glass-makers, either from tombstones, tradition or other sources? THOMAS GRAY.

59, Grey Street, Newcastle.

WYCHERLEY THE DRAMATIST. Few persons who are conversant with his plays, have read his "PostHis Maxims and Reflections now humous Remains.' lie forgotten upon book-stalls, although they contain passages not unworthy of what Dryden calls,

"The satire, wit, and strength of manly Wycherley." Our hopes, though they never happen, yet are some kind of happiness, as trees, whilst they are still growing, please in the prospect, though they bear no fruit.

We increase our losses ourselves, and club with Fortune to undo us, when we lose our patience too; as infants, that being robbed of some of their baubles, throw away the rest in childish anger.

Poor men's small gifts to the rich and great, are rather bribes than presents; as a little water is thrown into a dry pump to fetch up more; or as mercenary sacrificers woo God with light smoke, to send down weighty blessings. Flattery to a wise man's face is a greater abuse than calumny behind his back.

of

Covetous men rob themselves by their selfishness.
The best wits make the worst men of business, as beasts

Man's life is a scene of contradictions; we appear as fond of life as if we never could have enough of it, yet are as profuse of our time as if we had too much of it on our hands.

pleasure are least fit for burthens.

Travellers are ever tinctured with the humours of the

places through which they pass, as running waters imbibe the qualities of the soil through which they flow.

There are snarlers in all Parliaments, who, like dogs shut out of a House, bark aloud against the Court, with design only to be let into it.

Detractors are like leeches, and live upon the ill qualities of men, as the others do upon their ill blood.

Flatterers and cringers are like wrestlers, who put their bodies in a low posture, the better to overcome the man they deal with.

A man must renounce his reason to prove his faith, as the best way to see the light at break of day is to put out the candle.

Hypocrisy is a sort of sacrilege that makes the appearance of virtue serviceable to our crimes.

We have a fearful distrust of God's Providence in our temporal affairs, but a rash confidence in his mercy as to what concerns our eternity.

Lawyers and Doctors practise alike on mankind, the first prolonging our suits and the latter our diseases, till our estates and constitutions are ruined by what should repair

them.

The eagerness of our desire is often the disappointment of our hopes.

Flatterers are like physicians who give opium in the most painful diseases of the mind, pretending it best but to quiet the distempers they know not how to remove.

The silence of a wise man is more wrong to mankind than the slanderer's speech.

The only good of flattery is that by hearing what we are not we are instructed what we ought to be.

It is a very common feeling in us never to be satisfied with our fortune, and never dissatisfied with our sense and conduct.

« PreviousContinue »