rings, love, marriage, &c. by Robert Smith, esq. might suit Mr. Urban for the Gentleman's Magazine; but, like the preceding, is surely not of sufficient importance to deserve a place in such a volume as this ought to be. Under the class of HISTORICAL and CRITICAL, we are furnished with five papers, some of which are the most interesting in the volume. Indeed, if this species of learning formed a larger part of the communications afforded by this learned society, the future volumes of the Archæologia would be more generally interesting. Article 6 affords us an original proclamation of queen Elizabeth, concerning a scarcity of grain, and a letter from her majesty's privy council to the sheriff and justices of the county of Norfolk on the same subject. The perusal of this must suggest to the mind of every attentive reader these two things,-that much of the blessed queen's learning only existed in panegyric, and that the villainous arts for producing artificial scarcity, and enhancing the price of corn to a fatal height, were then practised, and that the present is countenanced by the past. This document was communicated in Nov. 1800, when the tricks of monopolists had produced much real misery in this country. It may be a musing to trace the coincidence of circumstances in 1565 and in 1800. The proclamation commences in the following style. "The queenes majestye is presently given t'understand of sum ill-disposed persons, who partly to move misliking amongst the comun and meaner sort of her loving people, partly of covetousness, to enhaunce the prices of corn, have of late secretly spred abrode, in markets and other places, that the prices do ryse and ar like daily to increace, by reason that certain persons have bought sum quantities of grayn to her majesties use in sundry countrees; and that also her majestie meanith to graunt to sum about her licence to cary corn out of the realm. Upon which rumour being maliciously spred, it may indede happen, that although there be no scarcite in the realm (thanked be Almighty God), yet thereby the covetousness of such as have either of their own stoore, or by unlawful bargaynes ingrossed into their hands great quantite of all manner of grayn, will take occasions to inhaunce the prices thereof without necessary cause, to the detriment and burthen of the multitude which have lack. Therefor her majestie, mynding to prevent the inconveniences that may herof arrise, doth straightly chardg and commaund all manner of persons, and specially se have governaunce of markets, to appre and commit to prison such as do ar atter and spred abrode any such de subjects. And secondly her majestie w move dearth or offence amongst be truth, that she hath no meaning in all her good subgects to understaun suffer any thing to be done, whe dearth of corn should rise amongst t ple; neither has she graunted licence person about her to cary out anyt grayn, and therfor, if any be so n evil intent, the same is also misused. Article 12 is a letter from king ( II. to colonel Thomas Veal, t troops for the royal cause. Thi flatter the vanity of the descendan adds nothing to our stock of ori information. Article 24 is a charter of inp reciting another charter of king respecting the abbey of Ranx Huntingdonshire, which shews: stitutions of superstition were o with the introduction of christianal mong the Saxons. The 25th article is a corrective by the late Thomas Astle, esq. res ing the mode of dating English ree particularly those relating to parl tary history. Mr. Astle's paper tremely useful, and its decided quence cannot be too forcibly im on the minds of historians and a ries. We have frequently had ord to lament the inattention of wil dates. But in justice to Mr. R (not mentioned by Mr. Astle). w: observe that he has rectified this ra in his useful tables. Articles 26 and 27 contain an act of the early use of rhyme, by si Turner, esq. who states that t opinions which at present divide terati, is whether it originated w Arabs who invaded Spain in 715 whether it began among the mont Italy, and so spread over the res Europe. This Mr. Turner quote Pinkerton, but only to combat the sition. For he finds from sir W Jones that rhyme is found in the S creet and Chinese languages, Persian also contains it. He has f it likewise in the ancient British and Hebrew. But all this will not in us to believe that Homer ever m the Iliad should be in rhyme; nor di think that the Ourther meant ex what we mean by rhyme, figures Пapo, Qurollor, and I and nor that SCOTIA DEPICTA. sally produced such effects. In these papers, however, there is much learning and liberality of sentiment displayed; and we agree perfectly with Mr. Turner hat rhyrie had a much earlier introducon than the eighth century. Mr. Turer has adduced a specimen of rhyme, ound in St. Austin's works, who died A. D. 480. This is a curious docuent, of a very early period. But the words of St. Austin," says Mr. Turner, "which introduce it are as imporas the poem, in proving the antiquity of ume. He says he wrote it in this form on pose that it might be popular; that it might be level to the capacity of the lowest gar, be impressed on their memory, and sung by them; he adds, therefore I uld write it in no other manner, lest mewal necessity should compel me to use any rds not familiar to the vulgar.' "A poem so written as to reach the ledge of the lowest vulgar, and of those rly unskilled and ignorant, and as far as ble to fasten upon their memory,' which his exact words, must of course present va real specimen of vulgar poetry, and if th.me was an appendage to the vulgar at poetry of the fourth and fifth centuries. may here recal to our recollection the Latin song on the victories of Chloas mentioned in my former letter." Articles 19 and 34 might have been 437 properly placed in the appendix, in which If we may be allowed a voice, not be ing members of this privy council, we are of opinion that no division of this kind is necessary, as it tends to create invidious distinctions highly injurious to the cause of science. Every communicator considers his own paper at least equally valuable with another, according to the importance of the subjects; and it would appear less partial to reject the whole, than a part. On these occasions there is a want of consummate judgment, and a delicacy not always possessed by public editors. At the end of the volume is a list of presents to the society, a catalogue of its published works, and a good index. XX. Scotia depicta; or, the Antiquities, Castles, Public Buildings, Nollemen and entlemen's Seats, Cities, Towns, and Picturesque Scenery, of Scotland, illustrated in Series of finished Etchings. By JAMES FITTLER, A.R. A. and Engraver to his esty, from accurate Drawings made on the Spot, by JOHN CLAUDE NATTES. b Descriptions, antiquarian, historical, and picturesque. Long folio. HE avowed object of "Scotia de"is to represent most of the interantiquities and other characteristic es of that part of Great Britain is north of the river Tweed. The is spacious, the objects numerous, many of them peculiarly calculated make extremely fine pictures, and equently prints. The artist has, tore, nothing to do, but transmit to anvas a correct representation of the before him to make his painting , fine, or singular; and the en. er performs the whole of his duty losely copying the works of the press. Some of the scenes are singularly picturesque, and are drawn in an artistlike manner; but the whole of the views are greatly deficient in that minuteness of detail which gives interest to topographi cal prints. The engraver has also worked with such a coarse and open stroke,, that all parts of the print are rendered very liny and harsh. Though they profess to be only etchings, yet they should have been more finished. If we compare them with the works of a Waterlo, a Perelle, a Sylvestre, or a Piranesi, we shall discover a painful difference in the etchings of our countryman and those by the above masters. Indeed we are sorry to be compelled to say, that the joint efforts of Messrs. Nattes and Fittler, as displayed in this work, will neither add to their fame, nor be any credit to the arts of our country. The descrip tions, however, though concise, are well Ff3 written; and by the frequent quotations from Mr. Stoddart's Tour, we are in clined to think they were chiefly written by that gentleman. ART. XXI. The Beauties of England and Wales; or Delineations topographical, hitorical, and descriptive of each County. Embelished with Engravings. By EW. BRAYLEY and J. BRITTON. 8vo. pp. 750. 36 plates. Vol. V. THE preceding volumes of this very meritorious work have been already noticed by us, we shall therefore at present confine ourselves to a compendious summary of the volume which now solicits our attention. The first part of the present volume is occupied by an account of the episcopal palatinate of Durham," which appears to have derived its original privileges from the grant made to St. Cuthbert by Egfrid king of Northumberland, in the year 685, of all the land between the ri. vers Wear and Tyne, to hold in as full and ample manner as the king himself held the same." A succinct account is given of these privileges, and of the various restrictions to which they have from time to time been subjected. In the general view which follows of the agricultural, mineral, and manufactured products of the country, we regret that the authors have not procured more specific details on the latter of these important subjects. The account of Durham, the capital of the county, is an elaborate and interesting article; commencing from the erection of a wicker tabernacle, to receive the relics of St. Cuthbert on Dunholme, a small elevated plain in the midst of a thick forest, and carried down to the enumeration of its inhabitants in 1802. The cathedral, both in its ancient and present state, is well described: we shall select a passage for the entertainment of our readers. "The situation of this venerable pile is equally bold and singular. Elevated on a rocky eminence that forms the highest part of the city, it bursts on the sight with uncommon grandeur; the base of the rocks which support its west end, being laved by the waters of the Wear. From the square called the Place Green, by which it is generally approached, the whole of the north front is at once beheld. This entire range preserves its original Norman character, with occasional introductions of windows and tracery in the pointed arch manner: but various incongruities in the style and ornaments are observable, and may be traced to the late reparations. The porch forming the principal entrance, may, in particular, be remarked as one of the most barbarous commixtures of the Saxon and pointed styles that ever dis graced modern architecture. On the c within the porch is a curious metallic ra or knocker, sculptured with a terrific vis in bold relief, and well executed, with whi persons claiming sanctuary in the night-t were accustomed to alarm the innates of u cathedral. "The east front has been repaired a modernized: the windows, forming a do. range, are all of the lancet shape, excep the centre window of the upper tier, w is circular, and radiated with stone-w These windows were originally ornamente from various accidents, became so de's with a profusion of painted glass, wh and mutilated, that the subjects could po traced; it is now entirely removed. T south front preserves much of its arr character, though some parts have been seled over to make way for the new fac Only a partial view can be obtained of " side of the cathedral, as the cloisters, do tory, and other buildings, conceal nearly i consisting of two highly ornamented square whole of the lower part. The west fron towers, with the galilee between, appear great advantage from the opposite side of the river. "The basement line of the es tion," observes Mr. Carter, projecting chapel of the galilee, flanker! huge buttresses and arches, springing c the rock, to contribute due support walls, which form one vast combinatio security to the main edifice itself." Abers the galilee is the great west window, w various enriched compartments springing to the roof. The architectural adornicat the towers are modern; and the attempt a make them accord with the original for has, in many instances, proved unsuceTM-ful their summits are bounded by pins and open worked battlements. The centre tower rises from the intersection of presen's nave and transept, and is singularly richelegant. Round it is a profusion of fine cery, pointed arches, and other orname and its buttresses are graced with nichts, nopied, and decorated with tracery, which various statues are placed, repres ing the original founders and patrons of see. The height of this tower is 214 ft. "The interior of this august building; ↑ highly interesting to those who wish to the connection between Saxon and Nom architecture, or to observe the latter in haps, its highest stage of perfection. comparison of these orders with the Engi or pointed styles, may also be made; aa° chapel of the Nine Altars pariabes, The next place of consequence which The description of the contiguous From Durham the alphabetical ar- Essex being a county little abounding picturesque and romantic scenes, and ing the seat of no extensive manufacre, naturally tempts the togographer indulge more than usual in historical nd antiquarian researches; we shall not herefore greatly blame the authors, but would wish them to recollect that in a rk designed for general readers, the putation of dryness and want of intest is what they should be especially Cautions to avoid. In the agriculture of this county, bedes the usual objects of cultivation, we meet with some peculiarities, on account of the vicinity of the metropolis. The most curious of these is the mixed crop of coriander, teasel, and carraway. "The seeds of these are sometimes sown together early in the spring, upon a strong old ley, once ploughed, and are often very hand or machinery, they are applied to the The prominent article in the history of this county, we might say in the volume, is the account of Colchester. It commences with the establishment of a Roman colony here by Claudius, then notices its first destruction by the insurgent Britons under Boadicea, and details perhaps rather too much at length, its fabled importance, under Coel the British king, fondly but improbably supposed by certain antiquaries to be the maternal grandfather of the emperor Constantine. The occupation of this town by the Danes, and their bloody expulsion by the vigour of Edward the elder, are then narrated, and, in the order of time, its capture by the dauphin in the inglorious reign of John, its loyalty during the short insurrection of lady Jane Grey, and its long siege and final surrender to Fairfax, after a gallant resistance by sir Charles Lucas. The present state of Colchester, the relics of its ancient strength and importance, and its staple trade the oyster fishery, are also satisfactorily re corded. Audley house, the object of such enormous and absurd expenditure to Thomas Howard, the first carl of Suffolk, in its erection, and to the after possessors in its repairs and alterations, forms an interesting article; as also do the accounts of the royal castle of Pleshy, of Waltham abbey the burial place of Harold, and of Wansted house, perhaps, upon the whole, the best specimen of modern architecture in England. The last county noticed in the volume before us is Gloucestershire: the account of which possesses nearly the same merits and defects as those which precede. It is deficient in statistical details, and in not giving a sufficiently correct idea of the general character and appearance of the country, and of par ticular districts, striking either for their beauty or singularity. It is eminently meritorious in the historical and antiquarian departments; but in a work styled "Beauties of England," these ought hardly to be the preponderat ing topics. The articles of Gloucester, Woodchester, Cirencester, and Tewkesbury, are particularly well executed. In a volume printed for the most part with exemplary correctness, we were concerned to observe the errors which ap pear in several of the Latin quotations, particularly at pages 52, 139, 157, 298, 548. As intimately connected with the present work. we may remark, that the first numbers of a BRITISH ATLAS, by the same authors, have been put into our hands. This atlas consists of separate maps of the counties, and plans of the county towns. All the places mentioned in the "Beauties" are inserted, and the Roman roads and stations are marked with great care and fidelity; the engraving is well executed, and the whole promises to be a very valuable supplement to the origi nal plan of the authors. ART. XXII. A Family Tour through the British Empire; containing some Account of 27 Manufactures, natural and artificial Curiosities, History, and Antiquities; intersperiod with biographical Anecdotes. Particularly adapted to the Amusement and Instruction f Youth. By PRISCILLA WAKEFIELD. 8vo. pp. 450. MRS. Wakefield is already advantageously known by an excellent Introduction to the Study of Botany, and in the work before us she has established a further claim to the regard of the public. We have looked through this volume with considerable care, and have not found any thing to be excepted against either in the matter or style. The focal information respecting England, and the most frequented parts of Scotland and Ireland, is much more considerable than might be imagined from the size of the book; it is also well selected, being directed almost exclusively to those objects which are the most useful and the most interesting to young persons in the topography of their native country. The sentiments and reflections of the author are not needlessly and impertinently dragged in, but are of rare occurrence, and always in their proper places, and adapted to the occa sion. We select the following passage as a fair specimen of the whole: The romantic village of Adare had too many attractions to be passed without pat ticular notice. Inclosed by surrounding groves, it appears secluded from the world. and impresses a stranger with reverence from: rable abbies, whose fragments are bound tagthe mutilated remains of its castle and venether by thick clusters of clasping ivy. H ing wandered amongst the mouldering clonters of these sacred edifices, till the refer tion of the rising moon, glancing through. window, warned them to depart, they ren tered the village, rendered still more pieseresque by the dress of the inhabitants, who are descended from a German colony that still retain their own customs, dress, and kin settled here about a hundred years ago: thes quage; the women wear large straw hats and short petticoats, and their cottages are far neater and better provided than those of the Irish. "The moon shining uncommonly bright induced them, though late, to proceed to Limerick, along a road bordered with eyder orchards, corn fields, and pasture lands. "The old town of Limerick is dirty and disagreeable; it is joined to the new town in a bridge thrown across the Shannon, which here divides and forms an island, where stands the new part of the city, handsomely built, with noble, spacious quays, for the |