that such as are in need and necessity have right." On that ground I take up my pen to ask your opinion, or that of your friends, on the following subject:-A gentleman, by his will, about 30 years ago, charged a field of his with the annual payment of Five Pounds for ever to the poor of the parish in which I reside. The Churchwarden and Overseer of the Poor are appointed, in the said will, to assist the Trustee in distributing the same. This money was paid two or three years by the gentleman before his death, and has been paid since his decease by his Executor. But, alas! Mr. Urban, neither the Churchwarden nor Overseer can now get any money to distribute. The field charged with the sum has been sold into another family, and the purchaser has refused payment. Had this legacy been bequeathed to some priest in the age of Romish superstition and darkness, we might have been led to conjecture, that it was given through fear of purgatory; one flash of which fire (says Fuller*) is able to melt a miser into charity;" but, as the light of the blessed Reformation shone with great splendour at the time, and as the money was left to the poor, we may believe that it was no papistical hoax. I shall feel particularly obliged for information, through the medium of your Magazine, whether the money can be recovered or not; if it can, what steps are requisite to be taken. I doubt not, Mr. Urban, but you will feel much interest in the subject, as I am certain that you are an advocate for the poor. Whatever new Law there may be concerning charitable donations, can any man, who has a heart of flesh, rob the needy, for the sake of a few pounds, when he knows full well that they were left to " lieve the distressed?" Let such men ponder in their hearts the words of the wise Solomon: "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches shall surely come to want."

PHILO PATRIE & PAUPERUM.

re

building a village, to be inhabited by a select description of persons, who were all to be liberally supplied with the comforts of life, and to be made very happy and independent in a community of theworthiest dispositionsand most refined sentiments, collectively operating to the promotion of human virtue and happiness, and the exclusion of every thing adverse to either, was very well displayed in a satirical Novel, written, indeed, on the suggestion of the Poet himself, and published some years ago under the name of Columella, or Shenstonegreen; but, though it could not be realized exactly on poetical principles, nor to the extent of that felicity conceived by a warm imagination, it has been happily exemplified as far as it is practicable, in se veral very liberal foundations established in this country; but in none I ever met with so completely calculated for health, independence, quiet, competence, and comfort, as in that of St. Bartholomew neur Sandwich in Kent; a very full and correct account of which is given in Mr. Boys's valuable History of that Town and Port, published in 1788, to which I refer for information of its founder, benefactors, endowments, &c. and proceed to describe its present state. It consists of an entire village, commonly called Bartlemas, pleasantly situated on the West side of the high road leading from Sandwich to Dover, containing a respectable farm-house occupied by a tenant of the estate, an ancient and spacious church, or chapel, inclosing the tomb of Sir Henry Sandwich, Kat. the founder or chief benefactor of the Hospital, fifteen or sixteen cottages, or rather commodious houses, some of them genteelly fitted up, for the brothers aud sisters of the foundation, not ranged together in a line, but irregularly disposed, as in other villages, with their respective gardens and orchards, perfectly distinct from and unconnected with each other, exempt from tithes and taxes, and endowed with pensions, which now amount, by coúsiderable advances of the rental, to fifty-two pounds per annum each, exclusive of some certain customary emoluments.

The Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich are styled Patrons, Governors, and Visitors of the Hospital, who visit

adopted in the "Cathedral Antiquities," for the purpose of defining and characterising this new series, which may be considered as second in arrangement, but will be found first in quality; for this will be distinguished by a more regular and uniform style of excellence in drawings and engravings-by better paper, printing, and all the exterior forms-and also by a more scrupulous attention to historical and antiquarian informa tion. This I am induced to promise, because the Cathedrals contain more authentic archives than any of the subordinate buildings; the dates and æras of their foundation, enlarge ment, and repairs, are better and more amply recorded the distinguished personages and events connected with their anuais are of first-rate interest

and importance. Added to these considerations, I feel warranted in saying, that in future my studies and pursuits will be more single and specific than they have been for some ́years past. At the time of publishing my Second Number, I shall have completed the series of the Architectural Antiquitiesa Topographical Ac count of Wiltshire, for the fifteenth volume of the Beauties of Englandand some minor literary works, which engrossed time and inuch anxiety. Thus relieved, it is my intention to direct all my care and solicitude to the Cathedral Antiquities: first, from a partiality to the subject; secondly, from the high interest and amusement it affords to the Antiquary and Historian; and thirdly, from ambition to produce a work honourable to all the Artists concerned in the execution; a beautiful specimen of the embellished Literature of the country; and to supersede the necessity of other publications on the same subject. Many may contend for public favour and patronage; but that work alone will be permanently successful which is best and nearest to excellence. J. BRITTON.

P. S. Waiting the issue of a Bill in Parliament relating to Copyright, and the Presentation of Eleven Copies of every New Book to certain Public Libraries, I was induced→→ indeed almost compelled, to delay the publication of any letter-press to this work till I knew the full extent of the compulsory measures of that Act.

J. B.

Mr. URBAN,

THE

Sept. 6. HE following account of a truly laudable and rational manner of lastingly commemorating the glorious events which have given peace to Europe, (would I could say to the world!) unquestionably deserves a niche in your adamantine temple of Literature.

On Thursday last, a most interesting scene took place on the South side of New Sydney-place, Bath, viz. the laying the foundation-stone of a new Parish Church at Bathwick. The worthy Rector of the parish, Churchwardens, and gentlemen of the Committee, assembled at the Committee-room; and proceeded, accompanied by most of the inhabitants of the parish, to the site: where they were joined by that pattern of philanthropy, John Parish, esq. The Rev. Rector, after going through the usual forms, in an appropriate and impressive prayer, implored the Divine Architect of the Universe, to bless and further the pious undertaking. A plate with the inscription had been prepared, and previous to its being soldered into the stone, (which was near five tons in weight) a great variety of coins, medals, and tokens, were placed underneath. During the ceremony 21 rounds of cannon were fired, &c.

The Inscription is as follows:-
*
Glory to God in the Highest-
On Earth Peace.
The most

sanguinary Conflict ever
recorded in the Annals of History
had ceased, and the Downfall of
Napoleon, the Despot of France,
had taken place,

when the Nations of Europe became united in the bond of Peace. At such a joyful period, and on the first day of September, in the year of our Lord 1814,

The Foundation Stone of
Bathwick New Church, dedicated to
St. Paul, was laid.

The Right Hon. Wm. Harry, Earl of
Darlington, Lord of the Manor;
The Rt. Rev. Richard, Lord Bishop of
the Diocese:

The Rev. Peter Gunning, Rector.

This, Mr. Urban, I conceive to be an example well worthy the imitation of all the opulent and populous towns and cities in Great Britain. Were Parliament to pass an Act for the erection of such a number of new Churches

Churches in the Metropolis and its Environs, as would be proportionate to the increase both of population, and of the conventicles of schismatics—a memorial of this pre-eminently glorious æra, at once splendid and permanent, would be transmitted to posterity-an essential service would be rendered to the cause of true piety and the Established Church ;— and, by the manifestation of so just and becoming a sense of gratitude to "the Author of every good and perfect gift," the Nation could with a better-grounded confidence raise the hand of devotion, and supplicate his future blessings.

The observation of the Roman Orator, though on a different subject, may not be altogether irrelative. Using Aristotle's arguments respecting public entertainments gratuitously given, he well remarks:

"In his immanibus jacturis, infinitisque sumtibus, nihil nos magnopere mirari; cum præsertim neque necessitati subveniatur, nec dignitas augeatur; ipsaque illa delectatio multitudinis sit ad breve exiguumque tempus; eaque a levissimo quoque: in quo tamen ipso, unà cum satietate, memoria quoque moriatur voluptatis. Bene etiam colligit, hæe pueris, et mulierculis, et servis, et servorum simillimis liberis esse grata: gravi vero homini, et ea, quæ fiunt, judicio certo ponderanti, probari

posse nullo modo."

Cic. de Of. lib. 2. c. xvi.

The inference in favour of the du

rability of what is designed for the happiness and welfare of the people is obvious: and what, let me ask, is more conducive to their happiness and welfare, than the cause and maintenance of the true Religion?

Yours, &c.

S. H. CASSAN.

Mr. URBAN, Lutterworth, Sept. 7. I responde Pishes to beld CorN Part I. p. 453. "An Old Cor

ed what country Mr. Polwhele alludes to when he says "we have a description of a country where Christianity once flourished, but is now extinct." I do not know that I am correct, but I rather think Japan is the country alluded to, both by Mr. Polwhele and Mr. Gilpin. When Christianity was first introduced into Japan, the converts áre, by some writers, said to have amounted to many myriads. But they afterwards

underwent a most grievous persecu tion; and the last remains, after they had seen the far greater part cruelly cut off, took shelter in the city Jamabrava. But the Japanese, assisted with cannon by the Dutch, soon took the place, and put all without mercy to the sword; and Christianity, I be lieve, is now become totally extinct in Japan.

Indeed, so very inveterate are the Japanese to this day against the Christian Religion, that in order to impress every individual with a hatred of it, they annually perform the horrid ceremony (at which even chil dren are obliged to be present) of trampling on representations of the cross of Christ, and of the Virgin Mary and her child.

I can refer your Correspondent with much pleasure to "A Speech concerning the Japanese, delivered before the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm in 1785, by Mr. Thunberg." It contains a great deal of information respecting the religion and manners of this most extraordinary people. A translation of it, I believe, was published in London in

1786.

J. A. LIEVRE.

Mr. URBAN, Exeter, Nov. 9, 1813.

R. Lævinus Lemnius, the fa

Dmous German philosopher, who flourished about the beginning of the sixteenth century, visited this country nearly 300 years ago; his remarks

scription of England and its inhabitthe sweating sickness, and deants of that period, are so curious, that, if you will permit them a place in your interesting Miscellany, I presume they will afford amusement to many of your Readers; I have extracted the narration as follows, from a rare book now in my possession, called the Touchstone of Complexions, translated by T.Newton, printed 1633. Yours,&c. S. WOOLMER, Printer of the Exeter Gazette.

"The Ephemera, or Diaria, is the Sweating Sickness, which, because it began in England, is called the English Sweat. Why this disease is termed by the name of the English Sweat, I supof that country be often therewith atpose grew hereupon, for that the people tacked, partly through their curious and dainty fare, and great abundance of meats, wherewith they cramme themselves very ingluviously, which I noted at my late being in that realme, (about

the