Defcription of Matlock Bath.

do not mean to question the fincerity of Mr. Harley's attachment to his M's government. Since the commencement of the prefent reign, I have feen ftill greater contradictions reconciled. The principles of thefe worthy Jacobites, are not fo abfurd, as they have been reprefented. Their ideas of divine rights are not fo much annexed to the perfon or family, as to the political character of the fovereign. Had there ever been an honest man among the Stuarts his M-'s prefent friends would have been Whigs upon principle. But the converfion of the beft of Princes has removed their fcruples. They have forgiven him the fins of his Hanoverian Ancestors, and acknowledge the hand of providence in the descent of the crown upon the head of a true Stuart. In you, my Lord, they alfo behold, with a kind of predilection, which borders upon loyalty, the natural reprefentative of that illuftrious family. The mode of your defcent from Charles the Second is only a bar to your pretenfions to the corwn, and no way interrupts the regularity of your fucceffion to all the -virtues of the Stuarts.

The unfortunate fuccefs of the Reverend Mr. Horne's endeavours, in fupport of the minifterial nomination of Sheriffs, will I fear obftruct his preferment. Permit me to recommend him to your grace's protection. You will find him copiously gifted with thofe qualities of the heart, which ufually direct you in the choice of your friendships. He too was Mr.

255

Wilkes's friend, and as incapable as you are of the liberal resentment of a gentleman. No, my Lord;-it was the folitary vindictive malice of a Monk, brooding over the infirmities of his friend, until he thought they quickened into public life; and feasting, with a rancorous rapture, upon the fordid catalogue of his diftreffes. Now, let him go back to his cloister. The church is a proper retreat for him. In his principles he is already a Bishop.

The inention of this man has moved me from my natural moderation. Let me return to your grace. You are the pillow, upon which I am determined to reft all my refentments. What idea can the belt of Sovereigns form to himfelf of his own government ;-in what repute can he conceive that he ftands with his people, when he fees, beyond the poffibility of a doubt, that, whatever be the office, the fufpicion of his favour is fatal to the candidate, and that, when the party he wishes well to has the fairest profpect of fuccefs, if his royal inclination should unfortunately be difcovered, it drops like an Acid, and turns the election? This, event, among others, may perhaps contribute to open his M's eyes to his real honour and interest. fpite of all your grace's ingenuity, he may at laft perceive the inconvenience of felecting, with fuch a curious feli city, every villain in the nation to fill the various departments of his government. Yet I fhould be forry to confine him in the choice either of his footmen or his friends. JUNIUS.

To the EDITOR of the OXFORD MAGAZINE.
SIR,

In

IN a late journey into Derbyshire, I could not help taking notice of the noble fituation of Matlock Bath, which poffeffes fuch an extraordinary number of rural beauties that I can't help thinking, but the following defcription of it will be very acceptable to fuch of your readers as have a relish for Country improvements.

M

a

Atlock Bath, is fituated in vale near three miles long, fhut up at one end by a rifing moor, and at the other end by vaft cliffs of rock: The entrance into it is hewn through

one of them, and is indeed a noble rude portal to a scene of romantic magnifience. One fide of the valley is a very high range of hills, rough with bushes, great blocks or ledges of ftone; the

other

256
other fide is wafhed by the Derwent,
and confifts of rocks; which, however
are often interrupted by fteep declivi-
ties of greenfwerd, large thickets, and
gentle defcents of fine fields from the
adjacent country. The rocks form the
brow, fometimes they fix the foot, and
fometimes break the fides of the
hill; at the high Tor they are an hun-
dred and twenty three yards above the
water; in other places they are
abrupt bank of a
no more than an
few feet to the river; for the moft
part they are nearly perpendicular,
falling in feveral stages, or in one vaft
precipice from the top to the bottom;
but though fimilar in fhape, they are
widely different in their conftruction;
in one place they are irregularly
jointed; in another more uniformly
ribbed; in a third they form a con-
tinued furface from the fubmit to the
bafe; and frequently they are com-
pofed of enormous males of ftone
heaped upon each other. From fome
fach fcene probably was conceived the
wild imagination in antient mythology
of the giants piling Pelion upon Ofla:
in this, all is valt; height, breadth,
folidity, boldness of idea, and unity
of style, combine to form a character
of greatnefs, confiftent throughout,
not uniform, unmixed with any lit-
tleness, unallayed with any extrava-
gance.

Of the Installation of the Knights of the Garter.

The colour of the rocks is aloft white; and their fplendor is enhanced in many places by ivy and ingle yew-trees appearing amongst them; the fpaces between them are generally filled with a brufhy underwood, which diverfifies and embellishes the fcene very beautifully; but for want of large trees adds nothing to

its grandeur; there are few of any
note throughout the vale; the be
are in a mall wood near the bath;
but they are not adequate to the mag-
nificence of the objects around them,
to the steeps of the hill, the loftinefs
of the rocks, and the character of the
Derwent. That character is, indeed,
rather too ftrong for the place; in fize,
and in the direction of its courfe, the
river is exactly fuch as might be wish-
ed; but it is a torrent, in which force
and fury prevail; the cafcades in it
are innumerable; before the water is
recovered from one fall it is hur-
ried down another; and its agita-
tion being thus encreased by repeated
fhocks, it pushes on with reftlefs vio-
lence to the next, where it dafhes
against fragments of rocks, or foams
among heaps of ftones which the ftream
has driven together. The colour all
along is of a reddish brown; even the
foam is tinged with a dufky hue; and
where there are no cafcades, ftill the
declivity of the bed preferves the ra-
pidity, and a quantity of the little
breakers continue the turbulence of
the current. Many of these circum-
ftances are certainly great; but a more
temperate river, rolling its full tide
along with ftrength and activity, with-
out rage, falling down one noble caf-
cade inftead of many, and ani-
mated fometimes by refiftance, yet not
conftantly ftruggling with obftructions,
would have been more confiftent with
the fedate fteady dignity of these noble
piles of rock, whofe brightnefs, and
appearance of culture, would give to
the whole an air of chearful ferenity, if
undisturbed by the impetuofity of the
Derwent.

VIATOR

To the EDITOR of the OXFORD MAGAZINE. SIR, Inclofed I fend you a defcription of the ceremony of inftalling the Knights of the Garter, as it is performed at Windfor; which, I doubt not, will be pleafing to many of your numerous readers, as well as your humble fervant,

HE knights elat anciently went
T
in a foleinn and stately cavalcade
to Windfor, accompanied by their

A. B. friends, and attended by their fervants in rich liveries. The proceffion from their lodgings in the chapel, to the

caftle

Of the Inftallation of the Knights of the Garter.

caftle of St. George, has likewife frequently been on horfeback, but most commonly it was, as it is at prefent, on foot. The conducting the many ceremonies eftablished by the royal founder, and the fucceeding fovereigns of this illuftrious order, belongs to Garter King at Arms, who is appointed to maintain and support its dignity.

On the morning of the inftallation, the knights commiffioners, whom the fovereign has appointed to install the perfons who are to have the honour of being invested with this dignity, affemble in the great chamber, at the dean of Windfor's lodgings, robed in the full habit of the order, where Garter and the officers of the order likewife attend in their robes; but the knights elect appear there only in their under habits, with their caps and feathers in their hands.

Here, being all affembled, thofe knights who are not named in the commiffion, are first conducted in their full habits to the chapel, preceded by the poor knights and prebends, who enter the choir bowing to the altar and the fovereign's ftall; and when the knights have entered their refpective ftalls, the poor knights and prebends returning, wait in the cloyfter; but the officers of arms in the dean's hall. The proceffion from that hall to St. George's chapel then begins in the following order:

The poor knights, two a-breast.
The prebends, two a-breaft.
The officers of arms, two a-breast.
The elect knights, two a-breaft, with
their caps and feathers in their
hands, the junior walking firft,
and if the number be odd, the
junior walks alone.

Then come the officers of the order in their mantles of crimíon fattin, the regifter having on his right hand Garter King at Arms, who carries the fovereign's commiffion; and on his left the officer termed the Black-Rod.

Thefe are followed by the knightscommiffioners, two a-breaft, wearing their black caps and feathers, the -juniors first.

In this manner they proceed to the north ile of the chapel, where the poor VOL.VI.

257

knights make a stand at a small distance beyond the Chapter-house door. Mean while the knights elect retire to chairs placed for them behind the altar.

The three officers of the order then enter the Chapter-houfe, followed by the commiffioners, who feat the nfelves by the fides of the table, according to their seniority, and the order of their ftalls in the chapel. After which Garter prefents the commiffion to the fenior commiffioner, who delivers it to the register for him to read, which having done, he prefents it to the lords commiffioners, who give it him back, in order to its being entered.

Garter is then fent to conduct the fenior knight by election, from his chair behind the altar, to the door of the Chapter-houfe, where the commiffioners receive him; and then Garter walks before them to that part of the table where the enfigns of the knights elect are placed. After which the fame officer is fent to bring him all the other knights elect, or their proxies, according to their feniority, all of whom are fingly introduced, and received in the fame manner.

Garter then presents to the lords commiffioners the furcoat or upper habit of the order of the fenior knights elect, and they inveft him with it, while the register reads the following admonition: "Take this robe of crimson, to the increase of your honour, and in token or fign of the most noble order you have received; wherewith you being defended, may be bold, not only ftrong to fight, but also to offer yourfelf to shed your blond for Chrift's Faith, the liberties of the Church, and the juft and neceffary defence of them that are oppressed and needy."

Garter then prefents the girdle of crimson velvet to the lords commiffioners, who buckle it on over the furcoat. After which they gird on the hanger and fword. The fame is repeated to all the knights elect in their order, but the proxies are not invested.

The knights elect are now left in the Chapter-houfe, while the relt go and offer the atchievements of the deceafed knights at the altar.

Kk

258

Of the Installation of the Knights of the Garter.

In this proceffion the poor knights enter the choir first, and making their reverences all together, firft to the altar, and then to the fovereign's ftall, proceed as near as poffible to the rails of the altar, placing themfelves below each other on each fide.

The prebends, who follow them, make the fame reverences, and ftand all below the poor knights, except two, who walk up to the altar.

Thefe are followed by the officers of arms, who bow in the fame manner, and stand on both fides below the prebends.

Next come the officers of the order in the fame manner, and stand before their own feat. Thefe are followed by the commiflioners, who, if they are companions, enter together, make their reverences, and stand under their banners before their respective ftalls; but if they are not knights of the Garter, the junior enters firft, and the other follows.

Garter then going into the middle of the choir, makes his reverence, and repairs to the place where he had before caufed the atchievements to be laid on a ftool; and taking up the banner, holds it almoft rolled up. The provincial kings at arms then meet, make their reverences, and paffing down into the middle of the choir, advance to the lords commiffioners, who initantly join, and receiving the banner from Garter, bow towards the altar, and then to the fovereign's ftall; when being preceded by the two kings at arms, carrying it with the point forward, and a little declining to the first step of the altar, there make the like reverences, and from thence go to the rails, where they bow only to the aitar; then kneeling, deliver the banner to the two prebends, who place it upright at the fouth end of the altar; when the lords commiflioners, after making the fame reverences as they did before in their coming up, return to their former place under their banners, attended by the provincial kings at arms, who afterwards return to their former itation.

The two eldeft heralds then meet in like manner; and after making their reverences, repair to the lords com

miflioners, to whom Garter delivers the fword with the pommel upwards, which is carried and offered at the altar in the like manner; after which the commiffioners again return. The two next heralds then meeting as before, repair to the lords commiffioners, to whom Garter delivers the helmet and creft, which are likewife offered in the fame manner. And in this form the atchievements of each deceafed knight are offered, one after the other.

The knights then standing under their respective banners, the poor knights inftantly joining, make their reverences, and walk out of the choir two a-breaft. The prebends next follow, and then the officers of arms, in the fame order. The commiffioners, if Knights of the Garter, walk out together with the like reverences; but if they are not companions of that moft noble order, the junior goes out first, and waits on the outfide of the choir door till the other commiffioner comes; and then the proceffion is continued through the ile towards the Chapter-houfe, where the poor knights divide themfelves on each fide, ftanding at a distance from the door. The officers of arms ftand nearest to it, and thofe of the order enter the Chapterhoufe, before the lords commiffioners.

Thus the ceremony of offering the atchievements is performed, previous to the inftallation, which now begins. The poor knights, prebends, and officers of arms, having again ranged themselves, walk in proceflion into the choir. The poor knights pafs into the chapel, make their reverences, and, as before, place themfelves on both fides near the altar. The prebends then follow with the fame reverences, and go to their respective feats. The officers of arms ftand next below the poor knights, and thofe of the order follow, Garter in the middle, carrying a cufhion, on which is the mantle, hood, great-collar, george, and book of statutes: The regifter walking on his right-hand, carries the New Teftament, and the oath fairly written on parchment; and on his left walks the Black-Rod. They enter the choir with the like reverences, and proceed towards a feat before or below the stall

of

Of the Installation of the Knights of the Garter.

of the elect knight, where Garter places the cushion, with the enfigns, on the defk; the officers of the order ftanding below in the choir.

The commiffioners, having between them the knight elect, who carries his cap in his hand, then enter, making the like reverences; after which they go into the feat below or under the knight's ftall, the fenior commiffioner entering firft. If there are three commiffioners, the junior goes before them, and the two feniors conduct the knight.

One of the officers of the order then holding the New Teftament open, the 'knight elect places his right hand upon it, and the regifter reads the oath, which is expreffed in thefe terms: "You being chofen to be one of the honourable company of this moft noble order of the Garter, fhall promife and fwear by the holy Evangelifts by you here touched, that wittingly and willingly you fhall not break any ftatute of the faid order, or any articles in them contained, the fame bring agreeable, and not repugnant to the laws of this realm, as far forth as to you be longeth and appertaineth: So help you God and his holy word." Then the knight elect kiffes the book. About the fame time the verger conducts two prebends to the altar to officiate.

The commiffioners and knight elect now leaving this under feat, the fenior knight enters the appointed stall of the knight elect, who follows him; and then the other commiffioner alfo enters. Garter and the register now enter the under feat, the Black-Rod continuing in his former place, and the former prefenting to the commiflioners the mantle, they inveft the knight with it; mean while the register reads the admonition, receive this robe, &c.

Garter than prefents to the commiffioners the hood, and they put it over the knight's right fhoulder, bringing the tippets across his breaft, and tucking them under the belt,

This being done, Garter prefents to them the great collar and george, which they hang over the mantle and hood, while the regifter reads the following admonition: Wear this col ruftic's wife, that "the young gentle image bleffed Martyr and Soldier of

259

Chrift, St. George; by whofe imitatio" provoked, thou mayeft fo país over both profperous and adverfe encounters, that having ftoutly vanquished thy enemies, both of body and foul, thou mayft not only receive the praises of of this tranfient combat, but be crowned with the palm of eternal victory."

Garter then presents the statute book, which the commiffioners deliver to the knight, after which they place his cap and feathers on his ftall. This being done, the officers of the order retire with the ufual reverences, and ftand before their feats; while the knight thus inftalled rifes, and bows first towards the altar, and then to the fovereign's ftall: The commiflioners then embracing him, congratulate him, and defcend; when being come into the middle of the choir, they maketheir reverences; and if no more are to be inftalled, the junior knight ftands in the choir before his ftall, till the fenior afcends his; the other then allo takes his ftall, and both make their reverences, as foon as they are in them; after which the officers of the order make their reverences and place themselves in their feats. The officers of arms in a body do the like, and proceeding towards the fovereign's stall, place them. felves on both fides. At last the poor knights do the fame, and retire to their feats.

But if any other knight is to be inftalled, the commiffioners defcend in the manner above defcribed, and stand under their banners. The poor knights then join, and making their reverences, go out two and two. The officers of arms then do the fame; then the officers of the order, and then the commiflioners, if companions together, otherwife the junior firft; and from thence introducing the other knight elct, inftall him in the fame manner.

If this be done by proxy, he enters bare-headed between the commiftioners, and is conducted as above to the fat under the fall of the perfon he reprefents, where the commiffioners put the mantle over his left fhoulder in fuch a manner, as the cross embroidered within the Carter way be keen; and then the commiffioners teating him in the fol, he rifes up, bows to the