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from medical aid, and others where no butcher comes but twice a year, at certain festive seasons.

This description, incomplete and desultory as it is, but faithful, shows that the manners of the people are half-English, half-Welsh. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

A. B. C. D.

Jan. 17.

YOUR pages are open to enquiries

on almost all subjects, particularly on such as are connected with Biography and Literature.

Dr. Doddridge, in his Life of Colonel Gardiner, relates a memorable event, which "drew after it a train of the most important and happy consequences." In the middle of July, 1719, about eleven o'clock at night, when the Colonel was alone in his chamber, he took up, but with no good design (and, indeed, having a very profligate design in actual contemplation), a book called The Christian Soldier. As he was reading, he "thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book; and lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme amazement, that there was before him, as it were, suspended in the air, a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed, as if a voice, or something equivalent to a voice, had come to him, to this effect (for he was not confident as to the very words) Oh sinner, did I suffer this for thee, and are these the returns?' Struck with this amazing phenomenon, he immediately broke off from his vicious courses, became and continued most sincere and exemplary in his character and conduct, as well as, what he had always been, a very accomplished gentleman and gallant officer, till he fell, in the year 1745, and in the 58th year of his age, in the unfortunate battle of Preston Pans.

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Having related this extraordinary appearance, Dr. Doddridge quotes a passage from his eighth Sermon on Regeneration, which he says was "dictated chiefly by the circumstantial knowledge which he had of this amazing story; and methinks (continues he) sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone; which yet, I must take the liberty to say, it does not. For I hope the world will be particularly

informed, that there is at least a second, that very nearly approaches it, whenever the Established Church of England shall lose one of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members, which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the mean time may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous ministry abundantly prospered!" P. 37.

Supposing this "bright ornament of the Church of England" was one of the venerable Bench of Bishops, who was living when Dr. Doddridge wrote the Life of Col. Gardiner, I borrowed a copy of it, which belonged to an incomparable friend deceased, who used to enrich his books with notes, explanatory of fugitive and other material circumstances. In this volume, purchased by my late friend in the year 1747, the very year when the Life was published, he says, referring to the page which I have now quoted, "Bishop S." This is something of a clue, but does not entirely unravel the mystery; for in the year 1747, there were three English prelates, whose names began with S. Smalbrooke, bishop of Lichfield, Sherlock, bishop of Salisbury, afterwards of London, and Secker, bishop of Oxford, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury. The late owner of the book was intimate with Secker; and if my memory does not deceive me, I have seen, in your Magazine or elsewhere, letters, one or more, by Sherlock or Secker, one or both, addressed to Dr. Doddridge. I guess Archbishop Secker is the Prelate alluded to; but as it is only conjecture, I shall be glad if any of your Correspondents can, from Bishop Porteus's Life of Secker (which I have not at hand) or other authentic information, ascertain the fact, and still more if he can give the particulars of the case, which resembled and "approached" to the astonishing vision seen by Col. Gardiner; and, if necessary, this I can say, that I know bishop Porteus, like Addison and other wise and good men, did not, as some affect to do, reject all accounts of supernatural appearances in modern times, if they are supported, as they sometimes are, by incontrovertible evidence.

Regeneration having been mentioned, shall I be pardoned (having already intruded longer than I usually

do

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do on the patience of your Readers) if I briefly state the different senses of that much-abused term? Regeneration is used to denote three distinct things. It signifies, 1. the new birth, the event or fact of our being born of water and of the Holy Spirit in baptism; and this is the meaning of the word in the New Testament, and in our Liturgy. 2. It denotes a regenerate state, a life of sincere faith and obedience, such as the gospel requires. 3. It is used to signify conversion, turning to God after some great sin, as Peter's conversion after his shameful denial of his Lord, or after a habit or course of wickedness, as in the case of Colonel Gardiner. In this third and least proper sense, Regeneration is commonly used by Methodists and Dissenters in general; and in this sense, I presume, from what precedes, Dr. Doddridge takes it in his sermons on Regeneration. Words are in themselves harmless; and if a man chooses by the word Chulk to denote Cheese, and tells us so, we can understand him. But endless confusion arises, if men speak of things as different as light and darkness, under one and the same term, and giving no explanation of their meaning, lead us to suppose they speak of one and the same thing.

But I am deviating from the particular fact, which I wish to learn in the life of Smalbrooke, of Sherlock, or, as I rather imagine, of Secker. Yours, &c. R. C.

Topographical Account of the Parish of TOTTINGTON, in Norfolk. (Concluded from p. 27.)

HE Church (see PlateII.) is a fair

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cel, nave, side ailes, and South porch. Of the vestry, which is said to have been on the North side of the chancel, nothing now remains. At the West end of the nave is a square tower supported by strong buttresses at each corner. It was formerly crowned with a spire covered with lead, but, being in a ruinous state, was, in 1802, taken down with the Archdeacon's consent. West entrance under a pointed arch; pointed window above consisting of two lights. Winding stair

* Dimensions of the Church within the walls nave 60 feet long, 23 feet wide; each aile 53 feet long, 11 feet wide; chancel 32 feet long, 19 feet wide, GENT. MAG. February, 1819.

There

case in the North-east corner. are five bells in the tower thus inscribed:

1, 2, and 3. LESTER AND PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1755.

4. ROBARD GVRNEY. MADE. ME. 1665.

5. JOHN. BREND. MADE. ME. 1658*. The nave, which is separated from the tower by a lofty pointed arch, and from the ailes by four pointed arches upon clustered columns, is lighted on each side by three small clerestory windows, square-headed, and consisting of two lights. The font is a plain octagonal bason lined with lead, and supported by an octagonal shaft, and stands at the Northwest corner of the nave. The pulpit and reading-desk, which are of oak, and carved, are placed on the North side, against the first pillar from the chancel. Near the step to the reading-desk, lie two slabs of black marble thus inscribed:

"Here lyeth the body of Margaret Knopwood, ye wife of Robt. Knopwood, who dep this life the 27th of Novem 1729. Aged 67 years."

"Here lyeth the body of Robert Knopwood, who departed this life the twentyseventh day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty-three, and in the sixty-fifth year of his age."

A little more towards the South, are two black slabs:

"In memory of William Farrer, who departed this life April 22d, 1775, aged 61 years.

As I am now so must you be, Therefore prepare to follow me. Also Mary the wife of the above William Farrer, who departed this life April

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"Sacred to the memory of Willm the son of Willm and Mary Farrer: who died March 20th, 1808, aged 58 years."

At the East end of the nave are two

large pews, which, in Blomefield's time, stood in the North aile. That on the South side has this inscription, within:

"Su'ptu Ed'i Salter, et Brigitt nup' vxor eius: An'o. D'ni. 1631."

*There is a tradition in the village, of an acre of land having been left by an old lady, the rent of which was to be expended towards keeping the bells in repair. It is much to be regretted that this bequest (if any such existed) is now lost, as the woodwork in which the bells hang are much decayed.

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At the entrance into the chancel, lies a slab, robbed of a brass plate which has contained an inscription. In the North-east corner of the nave there appears to have been either a niche for a statue, or a door-way to the rood-loft.

The South aile is lighted by one window to the West,three to theSouth, and one to the East. There are many small remnants of painted glass. In the upper part of the East window of this aile, is the figure of an angel, with wings and an outstretched arm, approaching a throne, having these words on a scroll:

SCS SANCTVS SCS. [Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.] The entrance from the porch is under a pointed arch. Against the South wall are two plain monuments of black marble, bordered with freestone, thus inscribed:

"To the memory of Joseph Duffield, who departed this life June 21, 1758, in the 88th year of his age. To the memory also of Mary Duffield, wife of the said Joseph Duffield."

"In memory of Thomas Duffield, youngest son of Joseph Duffield, and Mary his wife. He departed this life the 3d of April, 1770, aged 46 years."

The back of the second seat from the East end of this aile has this inscription:

"Orate pro a'rab' Walteri Salter, et Alicie ur' eius, `et pro quib' tenentur." The North aile is lighted by the same number of windows as the South

aile. Many fragments of painted glass remain, particularly in the East window, where I find the figure of a lion, having over its back a scroll with

these letters:

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and both are decapitated. That over the North door bears before him a shield, Arg. a cross flory; the other is the figure of a priest or bishop, with uplifted hand, in the posture of benediction. In the middle of the aile are three slabs uninscribed, and towards the East end are the effigies, on a brass plate, of a woman and her daughter, with joined hands, kneeling on a cushion before a desk. (See the Plate.) On the daughter's coat, E. V. for Elizabeth Unger*. Below is this inscription:

"HERE LYETH INTERRED THE CORPES

OF MARGARET PORY, WHOSE SOVLE the

FATHER OF SPIRITES RECEIVED INTO ETER

NAL REST, THE 5TH OF APRIL, AN° DOM. 1598, IN THE 54TH YERE of her age.

THIS MONVMENT WAS ERECTED BY LVKe

VNGER, HER SECOND HVSBAND, IN TOKEN OF

A THANKFVLL AND LOYAL MIND."

On the back of a seat at the East end of the aile:

"THOMAS SALTER. 1636."

The Chancel is separated from the nave by a pointed arch. The Decalogue and Royal arms occupy the upper part of the arch; the lower part is ornamented by a handsome screen, carved and gilded. There are four windows in the chancel ; viz. two to the South, one to the North, and one to the East. The tracery of the East window is, I am sorry to say, blocked up after the barbarous fashion of the present day. It is much to be

lamented that the Archdeacons do not

prevent the venerable structures of our pious forefathers from being thus shamefully disfigured.

This part of the Church underwent considerable repairs some years ago; the roof was tiled and ceiled, the floor was raised and laid with new bricks.

There is a pointed door to the South. In the South wall there was a piscina and three seats for the officiating priests, these are now walled up. All the seats in the Church, except three, are open, and highly ornamented with carved work of lions couchant, and dogs, &c. muzzled; but many of the figures have been wantonly destroyed. The roof of the steeple, nave, ailes, and porch is leaded, the chancel is

* These brass plates lay loose on the floor when Blomefield wrote in 1739, and have continued so till within a few weeks, when they were fixed down at the expence of the present curate.

tiled.

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