It is remarkable that this word occurs in Rowley in the same obscurity. "Ye dacyanne menne, gyff dacyanne [bee; menne yee are, Lette nete botte blodde suffycile for yee TO FEST, V. a. to fix, to secure. "Our seymly soverane hymself forsuth Gowan and Gol. ii. 9. TO FLEM, FLEME, V. a. to drive away, to banish, to expel. JAMIESON. Wallace, Dougl. Virgil, R. Brunne, Chaucer, &c. all afford proofs that this word means to banish or drive away. If Mr. J. had paid that attention to the Tournament of Rowley which it merits, he would have found it there used in that sense, and erroneously rendered "frighted" by Chatterton. In a war songe, alluding to William the Conqueror, it is said “Throwe the merke shade of twistynde Till at the last great Stanley stout, bides; The lordynge toade ynn all hys passes [stynge The berten neders att hym darte the Stylle, styll, hee passes onn, hys stede astrodde, fynge,untoe bloodde." Nee hedes the daungerous waie gyff leadChatterton has rendered the flemed the frighted owlett; but the author of the poem, in this instance, meant the chaced, hooled, banished owl or owlet. I am sure Mr. J. would so have understood it. I am not quite so certain that he would have understood the eve-speckte wyng, notwithstanding his Dictionary affords the v. a. to EVEN, to equal, to compare, s. I shall therefore request the attention of him and such of your readers, Mr. Urban, as still place confidence in the opinion of Mr. Warton, to a note in p. 20. of my Introduction to "An Examination of the Internal Evidence respecting the Antiquity, &c. of Rowley's Poems." "Mr. W. has been equally unhappy in his objection to the eve-speckte wynge of the Owlet,Tournament,1.56. "The flemed owlett flaps herr eve-speckte wynge" “To enumerate his compound epithets," says he (Mr. W.) p. 25 of his Reply to Milles, Bryant, &c." such as the owlett's eve-speckle wynge and a thousand others, would be tedious and-trifling;why? Chatterton, by the eve-speckte wing, understood the wing marked with evening dew." He knew nothing of its meaning, but endeavoured to explain it by guess, Dr. Milles has and guessed wrong. approached very near to the truth; but has not given us the whole truth. He says, "the eve-speckte wynge of the Owl seems to allude to, the dark spots on one species of them, and not to the evening dew." The whole truth is this: the author of these poems has given a thousand proofs that he was an admirer and an elegant describer of nature. Had even Linnæus been describing the wing of the Owlett, he could not have fixed upon a more striking, a more characteristic, or happier epithet than the eve speckt, ..e. the even or evenly spotted or speckled wing; for, of the multitude of beautiful specks with which the wings of this bird are adorned, each has its fellow, in the most regular and equal arrangement. We now know, and we are partly indebted to these poems for the information, that the the old English evalle is the same as the modern equal, and "eve, is, in the Teutonic, as much as to say consimilis, even, the same: for our even cometh from the Teutonic word eve, and likewise from their eve so cometh our even so;" vide Verstegan, p. 191. -To this might be added, that the evening is the exact portion of time betwixt day-light and darkness, or twilight. The eaves of a house take their name from the exactness and evenness of the line; and the eve-drop, which forms an even parallel line with the wall of the house, is a name origi nating in the same idea. Would it not be trifling with the reader, to adopt for a single moment the notion, that Chatterton was not as ignorant of the true meaning of the eve-speckte wynge as Mr. Warton; or that he did understand it, but artfully inserted a faise and nonsensical interpretation, to deprive himself of the credit and reputation due to the writer of such poems. This interpretation of the evespeckle wing throws light upon a passage in Hamlet, and they mutually support each other, Act V. Scene II. "and the more pity, that great folks should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even Christian :" i. e. more than their equal Christian; from eve or eval, equal. Shakespeare uses the same word as a verb, which has been noticed by Mr. Malone in the following passages; "Be comforted, good madam; the great rage, [danger You see, is cured in him; (and yet it is To make him even o'er the time he has lost) K. Lear, Act IV. Sc. 7. "There's more to be considered; but we'll even All that good time will give us." "Madam, the care I have had to even [equal] your content, I wish might be found in the callender of my past endeavours." All's well that ends well. Mr. Steevens doubted its being a verb; not considering, that however strange it may appear at present, standing by itself; we still retain it in common language in the compound word evening: i. e. the equalising, or rendering day and night, as to light, eve or equal. We still frequently express it in common conversation by the old word evc, alone; as Christmas eve, or this eve, &c. &c. It would be robbing my future publication too much, Mr. Urban, were I to enter into a disquisition on the Lordynge-Toade, which affords a very curious investigation, and will be found to convey a meaning of which Dr. Milles and Mr. Bryant had as little true idea as Mr. Warton or Chatterton had of the eve-speckte wynge of the Owlett. Mr. URBAN, JOHN SHERWEN, M.D. May 28. BENG at Dover last Summer, in company with a friend, in the course of exploring the various objects of attraction in that town, not unaptly termed by my companion the English Gibraltar, I strolled into St. Mary's Church, in which I noticed the chancel was inlaid with brasses containing inscriptions in Greek and Hebrew. Time not allowing me to attempt decyphering them, I referred, on my return home, to Hasted's Kent, but could not find any account of them. If any of your Correspondents would point out where my curiosity might be gratified, it would oblige Yours, &c. G. H. Mr. URBAN, TH College, Worcester, April 7. HE following brief statement will probably be acceptable to such of your Readers as take a particular interest in the beauties of our Ecclesiastical Architecture. The Eastern or Chancel part of the Choir of the Cathedral at Worcester, is inclosed on the sides by stone screens, of very elegant designs, crowned with a beautiful embattled line of open work quatrefoils. These screens were removed from some other part of the Church, and set up in their present site, on the restoration of the Choir in 1556, by Dean Hawford, alias Ballard (see Green's Worcester). They were, however, either left imperfect, or subsequently injured in the Civil War, being much broken in the inner side, and having some of the openings closed up. They were terminated at each extremity by a plain wall, and were loaded at the top throughout their whole extent by three courses of ashler. On the inside next the choir they were entirely concealed from view by an ordinary brown wainscot, with common Grecian mouldings, and a few carvings carvings from some older work nailing, evidently, no part of the original ed on some of the pannels. This wainscot was last year taken away down to the line of the pews or seats, and the stone screens thereby exposed to sight. Two courses of the heavy ashler on the top were removed, leaving only an appropriate base under the cornice of quatrefoils; the plain walls at the extremities gave place to a continuation of the screens to their proper terminations, and the whole work was completely restored, with the addition that the openings (for the sake of warmth) are glazed, but without lead. This alteration has produced a very striking in provement in this part of the Church; the beautiful architecture of which, being now viewed from side to side through the tracery of the screens, appears more light, airy, and extensive, than it did before, and the whole effect is pleasing and impressive. The much-admired stone Pulpit also is seen to greater advan tage in consequence of the removal of the wainscot, as it now stands in the centre of a range of stone-work of corresponding elegance; and in point of utility, its extent of view is augmented, as it now commands, a sight of great part of the ailes, as well as of the Choir itself; a consideration of some importance, many of the audience being in those ailes on crowded days. Another alteration, of bolder design, and more striking consequences, is now carrying into executiou in this part of the Church. The Altar screen at present is of wainscot, ill placed, and worse designed, and quite unsuitable to the surrounding display of Pointed architecture; Green calls it "a Greek among the Goths." Besides, it hides from view all the lower compartments of the great East window, which is of magnificent dimensions; as well as the fine ranges of arches in the Presbytery or Lady's Chapel, which intervenes. It is, therefore, condemned to give place to a stone screen, the upper part of which will be open-work glazed with plate glass; and, consequently, admitting a beautiful perspective from the Choir. The materials for this new altar-screen have fortunately been found, standing in situations in the lateral Chapels, where they were neither useful nor ornamental, form building, which is uniform and perfect without them. They will, however, with a little new work, and considerable repairs, work up into a screen for the altar of corresponding design with the screens before mentioned, and somewhat similar in effect and position to the altar screen at York. It will staud about seven feet farther back than the present screen; namely, immediately under the great Eastern arch of the upper cfoss. This will bring the altar itself into its proper position, whereas, at present it is not on the central line of the church on account of the projection of Prince Arthur's Chapel. That very beauti ful Chapel will be unconnected with the new screen, and, in consequence, appear to greater advantage; and the additional space gained within the altar rails will be a desirable circumstance, it being now rather narrow and confined. The old stone wall, behind the wainscot, has been already taken down. It was quite plain, without any pilasters, as Mr. Green supposed, and having had no other decoration than a few sentences from the Psalms, &c. It was, however, very thick, and internally constructed out of the ruins of some rich tabernacle work of the 14th or 15th century, destroyed probably at the Reformation. Some beautiful fragments have been picked out of the rubbish, but all greatly mutilated. Against the back of this wall stood four large monuments, viz. those of Bps. Gauden, Blandford, Fleetwood, and Stilling fleet. These have been removed to better situations; the first has been placed opposite to Arthur's Chapel; the two next in the Baptistery; and Bp. Stillingfleet's under the great East window. Window was rebuilt about twenty years ago, when it was glazed with much stained glass of rich colours,but arranged without taste. The tremendous hail-storm of last summer did it very great damage; but its reparation has given opportunity for a better arrangement of the light, and the completion of the lower part,. which will now come more into view. This In the above and some other alterations of less consequence (such as the putting up new doors at the South entrance) nothing farther is attempted than the making the best use use of such materials as were on the spot; and the only new work that has been attempted is the lower part of the altar screen now erecting, which is seen on the Eastern side only, and serves as a base on which the screen itself will stand; the floor of the Presbytery being six feet below that of the altar. Under an arch in the centre of this lower part, the recumbent figure and tomb of Dean Ballard, above-mentioned, is introduced, which tomb it was necessary to remove on taking down the old work in the South chapel; the superfluous parts of which old work have also been introduced as decorations on the new. These, and a few other alterations that are desirable (such as a Gothic entrance-screen to the choir, and decorations on the organ-loft corresponding to the general style of the building, and the opening of the great Western entrance to the nave, which is now walled up) would, it is presumed, contribute to render the interior of this Church one of the most perfect and beautiful specimens of Pointed Architecture of the second style, which though not so splendid as the third, is, perhaps, more pleas ing, elegant, and impressive. The Projector of these alterations is not unaware of the caution and consideration necessary in any attempt to meddle with the tasteful arrangements of this magnificent structure. His aim is restoration,, and to bring its existing beauties more into view. Still, however, he fears the rcensure of the more scientific admirers of our superb Cathedrals; though the flatters himself that censure will be light, when the striking effect, produced from the very limited ineans that are within his reach, is duly taken into consideration. custs, one after another, the moment I entered. "Do you wish to see the curiosities ?” I made no answer: in a few seconds, "Sir, you cannot walk in the Church." The second, “Sir, the Dean and Chapter have given positive orders that no person shall walk in the Church." And the third, just as prayers began, "Sir, I must insist on your leaving the Cathedral, as I have positive orders from the Dean and Chapter, not to suffer any person to be here during Divine Service." I was then in the body of the church, observing William de Wyketham's monument. I asked the last of these officers, what he would charge to take me round; he made an exorbitaut demand: I observed, I could not wait till service was over; he replied, "I will take you round directly." I wish to know whether this is an order also, that the vergers shall, during Divine Service, hurry as many strangers as they can get, through almost every part of the church, to the annoyance of the service, for the sake of what they can get from those who are led by curi osity or otherwise to accompany them. I can scarcely credit that these regulations proceed from the Dean and Chapter; they might be necessary if the Church were made a public parade of; but this I did not conceive could be the case, as there was no other person there but those who perform the service, and the officers. In other Cathedrals I have invariably met with a different reception. At Gloucester there are two vergers, who take their duty (by the week) alternately of shewing that handsome pile; on visiting which I was not preyed upon as at Winchester, but was shewn every thing worth notice with the greatest attention; and after all, requested by the Verger to accompany him to his house, where he has collected a museum of Natural Curiosities, and where, I am persuaded, travellers may spend a pleasant hour. Let the vergers, or others it may concern, at Winchester, take a precedent from this, or indeed any other Cathedral in the kingdom. J.C. greatest difficulties was concerning those substances which are denominated " Rocks," in opposition to Simple Minerals. It has been objected against admitting Rocks into a cabinet, that, as they are generally compounded of more substances than one, where specimens are procured of these, the whole compound rock is to be neglected. Granite is composed of feldspar, quartz, mica, hornblende, Every and sometimes tourmaline. collector has specimens of these; but what idea do they give of the compound rock, when each individual substance is viewed uncombined? In most counties we have abundance of Clay; much of it is indurated; in every cavern we meet with stalactites of every form and colour; but how do these shew separately the characteristic texture and veins of the Ludus Helmontii? Many of the rocks are of such a texture that their different aggregated substances, if any, cannot be detected. Professor Jameson has given us an excellent classification of Rocks, divided into their formations. Chaptal has set forth, in his Chemistry, a good system as far as he goes; but the diamond is added to the earths as an appendix, a fault excusable whilst Che mistry was then in its infancy, compared with the present augmentation of the science. CHAPTAL'S Chemistry may be divided as follows: Part I. Chemical Principles. Class 1. Earths combined with Acids. Arsenic. Cobalt. Nickel. Bismuth. Antimony. Zinc. Manganese. Lead. Tin. Iron. Copper. Mercury. Silver. Gold. Platina. Tungsten. Molybdena. IV. Vegetable Substances. I beg leave to offer this Classification compiled from different Systems, which is only an outline, as I have not room to give it at a greater length. MINERAL KINGDOM. Fleety. Alluvial. Volcanic. To shew the method I have follow ed in the specimens, I add the first part of the Silex genus, quartz, flint, jasper, &c. 1. Common sandstone. 2. Opaque milky quartz. 3. White quartz, with shining particles approaching nearer to crystallization. 4. Ditto, with greenish tint. 6. Coloured Bristol stones. 8. Quartz dearly transparent. 9. Amethystine ditto, with barytes. 10. Blackish brown Cornish diamond. 11. Cairngouran stones. 13. Cornish diamond. 14. Amorphous rock crystal. 1. Black flint. 2. Grey ditto. 3. Opaque white striated ribbon flint. 4. Red flint. 5. Coloured ribbon flint. 6. Flint passing into chalcedony. 8. Grey chalcedony crystallized. 9. Ditto nodules in limestone. 10. Grey pebbles from Portland. 11. Coloured ditto, from Cromer. 12. Red cornelian from Turkey. 14. Agate, zoned in rings round several different centres. 15. Agate, common veined. 18. Green and grey jasper. 21. Commou brown jasper. In this I have preserved the appearances of transitions, not of one spe cies into another, but of varieties of the same, as flint into chalcedony; agate into jasper, &c. A. M.X. |