Page images
PDF
EPUB

bers of the Royal Family, and of the Female Nobility, in support of the repair of the Statues of the Queen.

The next toast was the Society of Antiquaries, particularly those Fellows who had aided the restoration, and were then present. Mr. R. Taylor returned thanks in a neat speech, and alluded to the spirit of restoration which had happily arisen, particularly at the Lady Chapel, Crosby Hall, St Alban's Abbey, &c. Mr. R. Westmacott, R. A. in responding for the Royal Academy and his own name, entered into some inquiry on the state of monumental sculpture and architecture in the time of Edward I., and gave it as his opinion that the statues on Waltham Cross, as well as the tomb of Queen Eleanor at Warminster, were by an Italian artist of the Pisan school. The next toast was, "Mr. W. B. Clarke the architect, who has superintended the restoration; and the Architectural Society." Mr. Clarke returned thanks, and stated the objects of the Society. He adverted to a survey and measurements of the Cross which he had made 10 years ago, and mentioned those parts of the structure in which he had been obliged in some degree to rely on his own judgment, and on analogy with the rest of the original work. Mr. Harman proposed the Chairman; who observed, that in assisting the restoration of the Cross, he should feel gratified to the last day of his life. The health of Rowland Alston, esq. who has been a liberal contributor, those of the Vice-Presidents, and other appropriate toasts succeeded. Mr. Britton, in proposing the health of the master mason, expressed his approbation of the execution of the new work, and complimented Mr. Farrar for his care and skill.

Nor was

the health of Mr. Howard, the host of

the Falcon, forgotten, who has allowed one corner of his house to be taken down, by which the fourth side of the Cross will be seen.

INCREASE OF ROMANISM.

At the Anniversary of the British Reformation Society, Captain Gordon stated that there were eight millions of persons in these kingdoms professing the Catholic religion. That in England and Wales there were 423 chapels, and in Scotland 74. In 1796 there were but two chapels in London, in addition to those belonging to the Ambassadors. In 1834 there are no fewer than 25 chapels, exclusive of those of the Ambassadors. In 1796 there were but 24 chapels licensed in Great Britain; now, as he had stated, there were not fewer than 500. In 1796 the Catholics had no college in England; now the Catholics have upwards of nine colleges. In 1796 the Catholics had only two schools or seminaries near they had now above 50 throughout the country. Even in Scotland, where such a struggle had been made for the preservation of the Reformed Religion, the Catholic Church was rising rapidly. When he was last in Edinburgh he found that a nunnery was about being established, and Scotch Magistrates were sanctioning and patronizing the oratorios in Catholic chapels. The Captain next referred to the spread of liberalism in these lands, and particularly among the Members of the Legislature. Some years ago the Liberals proposed the endowment of Catholic Colleges; 8,000l. a-year had been settled on the College of Maynooth, and, to complete the matter, an Act of Parliament had also authorised the payment of the Ca tholic Clergy in the Colonies.

ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

May 1. Hudson Gurney, esq. V.P. Mr. E. Chatfield exhibited a drawing of a singular stone, called a font, in the chapel at Loch Finlaggon, in Islay, in which the Lords of the Isles were crowned. It is a small shallow basin, with a groove or channel, formed on a flat oblong stone, and resembling the British rock-basins which have sometimes been deemed altars, for the sacrifice of victims. On the same paper were drawn a British urn, and a metal relique found near the same place.

John Britton, esq. F.S.A. exhibited some large drawings of the porch of Malmesbury Abbey Church, the Jewry wall at Leicester, Brixworth Church, the

tower at Earls Barton, and the front of Notre Dame at Poictiers.

John Hay, esq. of Leeds, communicated some remarks on the Roman coinmoulds found at Wakefield, and in various parts of England. He noticed that they all belonged to one period, from the Emperor Severus to Maximus, and that they are all consequently subsequent to the arrival of Severus in Britain. Mr. Hay considers that they were the production of forgers, and not, as has been generally supposed, cast on occasion of a pressing demand for the pay of soldiers, or, as the French have termed them, pièces de necessité.

May 8. Mr. Gurney, V. P. in the chair.

John Gage, esq. Director, communicated an account of a recent disinterment of the remains of Thomas Duke of Exeter (ob. 1426). In 1772 the body was found in the abbey church of Bury, wrapped in lead, and in an extraordinary state of preservation. Its state was described by Dr. Collignon in the 62d volume of the Philosophical Transactions; and the hands are now preserved at the College of Surgeons. In a late excavation near the north-east pier of the abbey tower, the remains were again disturbed; it appeared that the feet, as well as the hands, had been removed from the body.

Mr. Wordesley exhibited some coinmoulds, with a crucible and coins, found in Yorkshire.

A further portion was read of Mr. Ottley's paper on ancient MSS.

May 15. W. R. Hamilton, esq. V. P. The evening was wholly occupied with a further reading of Mr. Ottley's paper. Adjourned over the Whitsun week.

LETTER OF JOAN OF ARC.

An original letter of Joan of Arc has recently been discovered in the Archives of the department du Nord. It is addressed to the Duke of Burgundy, and couched in laconic terms. "Jehanne la

Pucelle requires you, in the name of Heaven and her sovereign Lord the King of France, that you conclude a good and lasting peace-mutually forgive each other, like good Christians but, if you must make war, go and fight the Saracens. I supplicate humbly as well as require, that you fight no more in the holy territory of France, but that you withdraw your troops. If you do not, you may depend that you will not gain any battle against the King Jeshus, King of Heaven and of all the world, and my lawful sovereign." The letter is dated from Reims, and bears a seal. It is in very antiquated French, and there are so many abbreviations in it, that it is difficult in some places to discover the exact meaning.

AN ANCIENT BOAT

It

has been lately discovered in deepening a sewer ditch at North Stoke, a village near the Arun in Sussex. It is formed out of a single oak tree, like the Indian canoes, and is believed to be what was called by the ancient Britons, a CWCH. is in good preservation, measures thirtyfour feet six inches in length, four feet six inches wide in the centre, and is two feet high; it has three divisions which appear to have served the double purpose of seats, and supports to the sides. The oak is become as black as ebony.

MR. WILLET'S COINS.

The most remarkable objects in the four days' sale of Mr. Willet's cabinet, beginning on the 19th Feb., were the following:£ s. d.

A well-preserved Coin of Tiberius in first brass, reverse ROM. ET. AUG. brought

4 20

3 70

4 13 0

9 00

Another, with a countermark Germanicus, in large brass, ill preserved, but the only one known in this country Britannicus in second brass, struck at Alabanda in Caria (in but ordinary preservation), an extremely rare coin...... 15 15 0 A denarius of Drusus, with the head of Tiberius on the reverse A brass medallion of Vitellius, reverse, Mars holding a trophy (the same type as that described in Mr. Akerman's catalogue, vol. 1, p. 178, No. 5) 22 15 0 This is a very extravagant price, considering that it only differs from the large brass of this Emperor in the size of the metal on which it is struck. It was bought by the late Mr. Douce. Some of the collectors would not allow it to be a medallion; but as Coins of the size of the large brass, but struck from the dye of the second size, are ranged with those of the first size, this must certainly be allowed a place among the medallions. It is the only medallion of Vitellius at present known.

11 10 0

... 8 26

Plotina, the wife of Hadrian, in large brass, fine, and of great rarity Pescennius Niger, a denarius, reverse, the Modius with ears of corn; legend, FELICITAS TEMPORUM, well preserved. Sept. Severus, an aureus, in fine preservation, and of much better fabric than the majority of his gold coins, brought (after much competition) Commodus, an aureus, in fine preservation, reverse, Jupiter seated..

Sabinia Tranquillina, a dena

ex

.........

rius, Concord seated, an tremely rare coin Geta in large brass, "ADVENTUS AUGUSTI," probably unique..

ANCIENT ARMOUR.

11 50

8 50

14 0 0

5156

[blocks in formation]

esq. of Wokefield Park in Berkshire;
and the catalogue was very judiciously
and scientifically prepared by J. R.
Planché, esq. F.S.A. who, in his intro-
ductory observations remarked "that the
collection was, with one exception, (that
of Llewellyn Meyrick, esq. is, of course,
alluded to), the most instructive in Eng-
Our
land, and, perhaps, in the world.
own National Collection in the Tower,
though infinitely more extensive, and
boasting costlier specimens in point of
art or material, possesses no Armour
older than the reign of Henry VI. and
the accumulations at Dresden and Vienna,
for want of chronological arrangement,
are useless." The sale commenced with
Oriental specimens, among which a suit
of Mahratta armour, of polished steel,
beautifully gilt and engraved, was sold for
19. 198. Next followed more than a hun-
dred swords, of nearly every nation and
fashion that have been manufactured during
the last 400 years, at Toledo, Ferrara, So-
lingan, Passau, Bilboa, &c. Two of the
most remarkable were a broad sword, ele-
gantly damasked in gold, with Arabic in-
scriptions and ornaments, which sold for
71. 108.; and a magnificent Venetian broad
sword of the 16th century, sold for 11. 11s.
Next followed Hunting Weapons, Hal-
bards, Partizans, Pole-axes, and Maces.
A beautifully engraved Mazuelle of steel,
with a wheel-lock pistol, was deemed
curious for marking the transition from
the former instrument to the latter, about
the reign of our Edward the Sixth: it
was sold for 91. 9s. Among the Daggers
was one of those made for the purpose of
revenging the murder of Sir Edmond-
bury Godfrey, being engraved with a
death's head, and the inscription "Me-
mento Godfrey 1678;" it was sold for 21.
10s. Then came the Cross-bows and
Fire-arms, from the earliest hand-cannons
of the reign of Edward the Fourth, to
the best modern pieces; among them the
rifle of a Margrave of Baden-Durluck
1718, having a stock and butt magnifi-
cently carved in ivory with heathen my-
thology, was sold for 141. 3s. 6d. The Pis-
tols formed a very complete series, from
the invention of that weapon at Pistoia,
in Tuscany, in the reign of our Henry
VIII. to the present day. Among the
Horse Armour, a champfrein and tes-
tiere, exquisitely engraved with Ara-
besque ornaments, and a saddle to match,
perhaps, from bearing the Imperial eagle
and crown, once belonging to Charles V.
produced 341. 13s.; a demi-champfrein,

which certainly belonged to the Empe-
The
ror Ferdinand the First, 107. 10s.
Shields, &c. presented many exquisite
specimens of the Italian chasers. A hel-
met, with a chimera as the crest, magni-
ficently embossed in the 16th century,
447. 2s.; another made in 1542, 291. 8s.;
a shield, presenting figures of Prudentia,
Mars, Invidia, and apparently Fame and
Fortitude, 136. 10s.; another, with the
labours of Hercules, 36l. 15s. An an-
cient Greek or Etruscan helmet of bronze,
of the classical shape usually seen on
the head of Minerva, 21. 2s. A Vene-
tian salade of the 15th century, made in
imitation of the same Greek shape, 21.
5s. A basinet, with a moveable vizor of
the peculiar form in fashion only during
the last 20 years of the 14th century, and
being the earliest war helmet of the chi-
valric times known to exist, except a simi-
lar one which was purchased at the same
time for the collection at Goodrich Court,
was sold for 221. 1s.; a tilting helmet of the
close of the 15th century, with all its
buckles, &c. for the crest and ornaments
Forty-eight hargobus-
complete, 61. 6s.
siers' suits, of the period of the Protec-
torate, were sold in seven lots for 171.
13s. The whole suits, of a superior
description, were nearly fifty in number
they were sold at almost every variety of
price, from less than 10l. to nearly 1501.
The three highest were; an engraved
and gilt suit, 117; a complete suit of
polished steel, ribbed and fluted, 1471.
12s.; a finely engraved Italian suit 1051.;
the presumed date of the first was about
1525 or 1530, and of the others about
20 years later. Towards the close of
the sale was put up a tricolor standard
inscribed "L'EMPEREUR NAPOLEON A LA
GARDE NATIONALE D L'ILE D' ELBE," and
which was presented to that corps at
the review on the Champ de Mars,
Paris, in 1814, and afterwards taken at
Waterloo ; it is embroidered in silver with
wreathed N's, crowns, eagles, and bees,
and the pole ornamented with a brass
eagle and a tricolor scarf. Mr. Brocas
gave a hundred guineas for it; but it was
knocked down for 401. 19s. and, it is sup-
posed, has returned to France. A Napo-
leon eagle, taken at Waterloo, obtained
131. 13s. The whole produce of the sale
was 17007. 10s. 6d. A large portion of
the collection was purchased by dealers
from Paris. There are plates in the cata-
logue representing several interesting
specimens of armour, and the Napoleon
standard.

HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 21. Petitions from Hants, Exeter, and various other places were presented in favour of the claims of the Dissenters, for the better observance of the Sabbath, for the protection of the Established Church, for the abolition of Tithes, &c.-The Duke of Gloucester then presented a petition, signed by 258 resident members of the University of Cambridge, praying their Lordships not to agree to the prayer of a petition signed by 63 members of the University, which had been presented to the House on Friday, the 21st of March. His Grace strongly supported the petition. He had heard no good reason for granting the claim of the Dissenters to be admitted to take degrees. His Grace presented another petition from the same University, signed by 755 under-graduates and bachelors out of 1100.-Earl Grey denied that a compliance with the prayer of the petition presented some nights since from certain members of that University, would be productive of the consequences anticipated by the Noble Duke. The object of the application of the petitioners was, that Dissenters should be admitted to the degree of bachelor, master, or doctor, in arts, in law, or in physic, without being subjected to the subscription of certain religious tests or articles. Instead of endangering the security of the Established Church, the effect of the prayer of this petition, if it were admitted, would be to remove prejudice, to destroy animosity, and, by so doing, to impart strength to that Establishment which it was the most anxious wish of them all to uphold and support.-The Duke of Wel lington was of opinion, that, were the claims of the Dissenters to be conceded, not only the union of Church and State, but the existence of Christianity itself would be endangered. The Lord Chancellor inferred from the objections made by the two Illustrious Dukes to the granting of degrees from Oxford or Cambridge to Dissenters, that they would have no objection to enable other Universities to grant what they refused. It would be the height of injustice and absurdity to tell the Dissenters that they should neither have degrees there nor any where else. The Bishop of Exeter contended that it was utterly impossible, consistently with the oaths by which its members were bound, to admit Dissenters to the privi

9

leges of the University of Oxford. The Noble Prelate affirmed that the subscrip. tion to the 39 Articles required from youths previous to matriculation, was simply tantamount to a declaration that the subscribers were members of the Church of England. The Lord Chancellor, in reference to the last speaker's explanation of subscription to the Articles, said, that if subscription did not mean what it professed to mean, but any thing into which casuists might be pleased to convert it, a more clumsy invention was never struck out by human brain, lay or clerical, academic or barbarous, than to make a man who was only called upon to state his belief of one article swear that he believed in 39 other articles.- After some further discussion, the petition was ordered to lie on the table.

April 22. Lord Kenyon moved the second reading of his Bill for the regulation and amendment of BEER HOUSES.Visc. Melbourne, although much doubting the dreadful increase of crime which had been described, should vote for the second reading. He thought one of the principal objections related to houses established in lonely and remote situations.-The Lord Chancellor thought the difficulties which beset the subject were almost insurmountable.-The Bill was then read a second time, and referred to a committee.

The Marquess of Lansdowne moved certain resolutions relative to the printing of PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS, and with a view to diminish the enormous expense incurred under that head. One of the changes recommended by the Committee, on whose report the resolutions were founded, was an interchange of papers between the two Houses of Parliament. -The resolutions were agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 22.

After a multitude of Petitions had been presented for and against the REPEAL of the LEGISLATIVE UNION between ENGLAND and IRELAND, Mr. O'Connell rose for the purpose of moving for a Select Committee to inquire and report on the means by which the dissolution of the Parliament of Ireland was effected; ou the effects of that measure upon Ireland, and upon the labourers in husbandry and operatives in manufactures in England; and on the probable consequences of continuing the legislative union between

both countries." The Hon. and Learned Member entered into the history of the connexion between the two countries, to show that England had acquired no right, by conquest or otherwise, to supreme power over Ireland. He also detailed the means resorted to for the accomplishment of the Act of Union, which he maintained was not a compact but a gross imposition, brought about by bribery and corruption of the basest character, and since this Union the English Government had not been enabled to govern Ireland even to their own satisfaction; for two-thirds of that time they had ruled Ireland, not by the ordinary laws, but by despotism. They had not treated her with justice; and, as the only remedy, he demanded, in the name of Ireland, the restoration of her independent Parliament. The discussion was then adjourned.

April 23. Mr. Spring Rice resumed the debate on the REPEAL of the UNION, in a speech which occupied six hours in the delivery. He gave a complete history of the changes effected by the Union, and showed that the Union between the two countries had been the source of commercial prosperity to Ireland, and had released the people of that country from the tyranny of the wealthier classes. Were the object of the motion to be gained, and a Repeal of the Union obtained, the result would be the substitution of a fierce and democratic Republic for that constitutional Monarchy under which they then lived-which he should consider one of the greatest curses that could befall the empire, because it would lead to its entire subversion. The Hon. Member concluded by moving, that a humble Address be presented to his Majesty, in which the other House of Parliament should afterwards be invited to concur, expressing the fixed and steady determination of the House of Commons to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, as necessary to the safety of the general interests of the State, and to the security and happiness of all classes of his Majesty's subjects-the conviction of the House, that such determination was justified, not only by general grounds, but by peculiar reasons specially applying to Ireland-expressing also their conviction that the Legislative Union had been for the particular benefit of Ireland-and concluding by assuring his Majesty, that it was the fixed determination of the House to persevere in applying its best attention to the removal of all the just causes of complaint alleged by the people of Ireland, and to the promotion of all well-considered GENT. MAG. VOL. I.

measures of rational liberty.-The debate was then adjourned.

April 24 29. The debate on the REPEAL of the UNION was resumed by Mr. Tennant, who seconded the amendment proposed by Mr. S. Rice, and was continued, by daily adjournment, to the 29th of April. It was carried on with great spirit and animation, especially by those speakers who opposed the motion. Mr. Littleton observed, that the Irish Parlia ment had been notorious for its corruption -and it was in vain to look through its history for the manifestation of one sound constitutional principle.-Sir D. Sandford affirmed, that the state of Ireland previous to the Union had been wretched in the extreme, and that Ireland, in common with Scotland, would derive advantage and prosperity from being united with England.-Mr. Lambert strongly opposed the motion, observing that it would be just as reasonable to have moved for an inquiry into the causes and means of the Irish invasion. Sir R. Peel affirmed, that it would be as reasonable to ask for a revival of the Heptarchy as for a Repeal of the Union, which must not, could not be conceded. There never had been an independent Legislature in Ireland-it could not enjoy it; there must be a paralysed Monarchy in such a case, or a corrupt Parliament, or both. He then implored the House not to entertain for a moment the question of Repeal.-Mr. D. Callaghan contended that Ireland stood in need of a domestic Legislature to look after her own interests, As one of the results of the Union, that country was at present a desolate waste, and the industrious classes were in a state of great misery and wretchedness. Mr. Lefroy affirmed that repeal was called for by a portion only of the people of Ireland, the moral weight and influence of a large body being opposed to it. He was convinced that the measure called for would be the greatest violation of national faith.-Mr. R. C. Fergusson said, that to agree to a Repeal of the Union would be nothing less than signing the death-warrant of the wealth, the glory, and the prosperity of the empire.-Sir H. Vivian observed, that the interests of both countries were so completely dovetailed together, that it was impossible to separate them without destroying both. -Dr. Baldwin affirmed, that the eagerness which the Irish people now displayed for a Repeal of the Legislative Union, was owing to the experience which they had had of the misgovernment of the Imperial Parliament. Mr. Pryme maintained that it was impossible that the Union between the two countries could be continued, if either had the power through its Parlia

4 M

« PreviousContinue »