rived from this source must in the portion to the interest taken in pronarrative related, in the prominent feature of the story, or in the judicious arrangement and happy denouement of the whole. In these Metrical Romances we have indeed a source of amusement superior to the dry and voluminous disquisitions of the antient Chronicler. The fancy is interested, and the mind is improved. The data of facts and assertions are vague and inconsistent: still there is much to be praised in that bold and vigorous delineation of character, those minutie of description, and that pleasing alliteration, the characteristics of our, antient rhyme. This was the storehouse from whence the Muses of our immortal Bards, Shakspeare, Spenser, Milton, and Thomson, drew their choicest materials; and from thence alone has every writer who would be thought original, transfused images and ideas warm and picturesque, vivid and beautiful. A Collection of the Reliques of Antient Scottish Poetry is a desideratum in our Northern Literature. There have been collections published worthy of the names prefixed to their pages; but a judicious selection, in the manner of Percy's "Reliques," would be a work highly useful and amusing. Yours, &c. W. L. RIVERS. Mr. URBAN, Kthe Marsye time tords of it, is in the hundred and deanery of The first of the family of Malory that I have met with was Geffrey Malory, father to that Sir Anketill Malory, knt. who, being governor of the castle and town of Leicester under Robert Blanchmaines in the time of his rebellion against king Henry II. marched thence to Northampton; and after a sharp fight, having defeated the burghers there, returned to Leicester, with the spoils and plunder of that town; for which his lands being forfeited, they were, in 1174, seized by Henry II. nor was he ever restored GENT. MAG. Suppl. LXXXIV. PART B restitution to this is reign, obtained a In 1220 Richard Malory was lord of this place. He gave to the Priory of Thelesford, co. Warwick, in pure and perpetual alms, the land called Barlichevong, in which the church of Kirkby was erected, together with the advowson of the said church, and the chapels of Peckleton and Shilton, with all their appurtenances. Sir Anketill Malory sold this manor in the reign of Edward III. to the abbot and convent of Leicester; in whose possession it continued till 1540; when, falling into Henry the Eighth's hands, it was by him, the next year, granted to Thomas Harvey, then of Elmesthorpe. He died in 1544, and his tombstone is still remaining in the neighbouring church of Peckleton. He probably lived at what is now called The Moats, the antient residence, as is supposed, of the Malory's. They are still remaining, being a few hundred yards, from the village. The area in the centre, as well as the square canals of water which encircle it, are tolerably perfect; and the whole being surrounded with majestic trees, afford an object at a distance, and, on a nearer survey, form a gloomy appearance, consistent with the notions of those rude times in which it was inhabited. The three surviving daughters and a grand-daughter of Thomas Harvey grand-daughter, Anne Fowler, was afterwards the wife of John Noel, esq. of Whellesburgh; who, in her right, became possessed of the lordship of Kirkby-Malory. William Noel, esq. of Whellesburgh, is noticed by Mr. Burton, in 1622, as lord of the manor of Kirkby. He served the office of Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1604, and that of Warwickshire in 1624. He died 1641, and was buried at Kirk His second son Verney Noel was advanced to the dignity of a baronet in 1660. His son Sir William Noel married Margaret eldest daughter of John lord Lovelace, by Anne daughter of Thomas earl of Cleveland, and in her own right baroness Wentworth of Nettlested. II. His His second grandson, William Noel, esq. was one of the king's counsel, recorder and M. P. for Stamford; chief justice of Chester, and justice of the Common Pleas in 1757. His eldest brother, Sir Clobery Noel, was M. P. for Leicestershire 1727, and died 1733. His eldest son Sir Edward Noel succeeded to the barony of Wentworth on the death of Lady Wentworth 1745, and was created Viscount Wentworth of Whellesburgh 1762. He died 1774; and was succeeded by his only son, the present Viscount Wentworth, who is now lord of the manor, and patron of the rectory, of Kirkby Malory. His Lordship resides at Kirkby Hall, a handsome and commodious mansion, which was (except the South front) rebuilt by the late Viscount Wentworth. It consists of many good and comfortable apartments, in which are several antient and modern family portraits. The library contains a large and excellent collection of books. The offices and stables are spacious and convenient. The ground in the park is pleasantly diversified with hill and dale, well wooded with fine elms and oaks, and ornamented with a canal of running water. Good views of this Mansion are given in Nichols's “ History of Leicestershire." The Church (see Plate II.) dedicated to All Saints, is neat within, and consists of an embattled tower, surmounted by a light and handsome pinnacle; a long nave; and a chancel. The church is well pewed, and has a good gallery. The Parsonage, a neat house, situated on a beautiful spot, commanding one of the finest views in the county, was built by the Rev. Clobery Noel; and it was altered and enlarged by his successor, the Rev. Rowney Noel, D. D. Dean of Salisbury. The present rector is the Rev. Thomas Noel, M. A. The following epitaph in the church seems to demand insertion, as a tribute to a Naval Hero · "This monument is erected to the fell with honour in the service of his Country. Being commander of his Majesty's ship Princess Louisa, in the engagement with the French near Minorca, on the 20th of May, 1756, he was mortally wounded; and dying on the 5th of June following, in the 39th year of his age, was buried in the English Church at Gibraltar." The Church contains many other epitaphs, particularly of the Noel family, all of which are given in the "History of Leicestershire," with a full history of the place, and its noble owners; and from which work the preceding particulars have been extracted. By the Return to Parliament in 1811, Kirkby Malory contained 2 pr. inhabited houses, and 51 houses occu pied by 53 families, (48 of which were employed in agriculture, and 3 in trade, and 2 not comprized in the preceding classes,) consisting of 122 males, and 126 females, total 248. Yours, &c. B. N. Dec. 31. Mr. URBAN, Brougham last Summer, my attention was attracted by a Pillar, standing on a gently-rising ground on the South side of the road, about a mile this side of the latter place. On examination, I found it to have been erected in the year 1656, by the Countess Dowager of Pembroke; a woman so justly celebrated for her many excellent qualities, that a little description of this memorial, with four of the numerous castles belonging to her, and which, under her munificence, were repaired and preserved from demolition, may, I presume, not be unacceptable. This pillar is between seven and eight feet high, and about three in diameter, of an octagonal form, with capital and base: it supports a square block of stone, on two sides of which are sun-dials, on a third the arms of Veteriponts and Clifford, impaling Russell, surmounted by an earl's coronet; and on the fourth, the following inscription, on a brass plate: "This pillar was erected, anno 1656, by the Right Honourable Ann Countess Dowager of Pembroke, &c. and sole heire of the Right Honourable George Earl of Cumberland, &c. for a memorial of of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother, the Right Honourable Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland, the 2nd of April, 1616. In memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds to be distributed to the poor within this parish of Brougham every 2nd day of April for ever, upon the stone table here hard by. Laus Deo," A few paces towards the South is the base of a small stone table, the upper part of which has been thrown down, and lies near the spot: how long it has been in this state, I know not; but with very little trouble it might be replaced, and both preserved from destruction. Gratitude to the benevolent distributor of so many charities would, I think, be alone sufficient to preserve this and all other of her works from wanton demolition; and when we reflect on the doubly pious intention of this little monumental tribute, as expressed in the inscription, it is a duty absolute and indispensable. This exalted female character (the daughter of George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, by Margaret Russell his wife,) was born at Skipton Castle on the 30th of January, 1590. She first married William Sackville, Earl of Dorset, and afterwards Philip Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who died in the year 1649. After his death the Countess devoted her attention to many pious works, and the restoration of six of her noble castles, which had suffered dilapidations during the civil wars. Of these, SKIPTON in Yorkshire first claimed her notice, it being the place of her birth, and which was afterwards her chief residence. The situation of this building, although not very commanding, is nevertheless beautiful, and much admired for the finely-diversified scenery which surrounds it. The chief entrance is through a gate protected by four round towers, a short distance North-east of the church, near the market-place. It has been much altered from its original state, and now forms a convenient lodge. On entering the court-yard, a large and ponderous square building presents itself, with a venerable circular tower at each angle: within this is a small ancient quadrangle, picturesque from its variety of windows, buttresses, &c. and a fine old yew tree standing in the centre. The parts of the castle now inhabited are attached to the North and East of these more antient apartments, the whole forming a picturesque group. Skipton Church is a spacious handsome structure, consisting of body and chancel, with a well-proportioned tower at the West end, and is entered by a porch on the South side. Some portions of it are antient, but the prevailing style is that of Henry VII. The interior contains nothing remarkable but several monuments of the Clifford family. BROUGHAM CASTLE, near Penrith in Westmorland, was repaired by the Countess Dowager of Pembroke in the year 1651, having been in a dilapidated state nearly five and thirty years. After her death it was entirely neglected, and all the materials sold for £100 to two attorneys in Penrith. It is now a mouldering venerable ruin on the banks of the river Eden. The keep and chapel are the most prominent features, the former of which is very ancient, of massy construction, having several circular arches in front, and has probably been considerably higher. To the Northeast angle is attached a gateway of less antient erection. The chapel was very small; part of the East window, stalls, and holy-water recess, with large corbels of the roof, remain. The old church at Brougham, being considered in a dangerous state, was taken down, and rebuilt by the Countess of Pembroke, in the year 1659. BROUGH, (or Brough under Stanimore, to distinguish it from places of a similar name,) one stage on the London side of Appleby, is a town of no great importance, except that its Castle was one of the number belonging to the great Dutchess of Pembroke; it is a fine remain, on a grand and commanding situation, towards the North of the town. A great fire happened here before the year 1521, which destroyed nearly all the internal timber work, with the lead roofs, &e. But the Dutchess began to repair these extensive damages in 1660, and over the gate placed an inscription to that effect, which has long since been beaten down and destroyed. strength of this Castle was very great. In addition to its defence by Nature, it had several deep fosses with high banks and ramparts between, the whole rising with very steep ascent. The With APPLEBY I shall conclude, being the last of the four Castles I visited belonging belonging to the Countess of Pembroke. This is the county town, an extensive place, of very high antiquity, though some doubts exist about its ever having been a Roman town, which many assert; but no fragments of this kind ever having been found, it rests upon mere conjecture. The Countess herself believed the keep of the Castle to be of Roman construction; but there is no appearance of such character. It may probably claim a date as early as the Conquest, which the general form and circular arches induce us to believe is near the time of its erection. It has received the appellation of Cæsar's Tower, but from what circumstance is not exactly known. It has a square turret at each angle, rising above the battlements, terininated by a leaden cupola and vane, is surrounded by a high rampart-wall, extending Eastward a considerable length, with two bastions; the North has one bastion and the entrance gateway. In the East and part of the North side are the dwelling buildings, which have been much altered from their original state. The whole of this is encompassed and farther protected by a deep foss, which in addition to its lofty situation must have rendered it a very formidable place of defence. The quantity of ground in the Castie Park, including the Castle, &c. is twenty-two acres and eight perches. The whole is now finely wooded; and the beautiful river Eden, flowing under the steep declivity towards the East, renders the scene particularly grand. Towards the North end of the town stands the Church, dedicated, to St. Laurence, near an old bridge of two arches, at the West end of which was formerly a small Chapel, likewise dedicated to that Saint. The Church is large, having a long body of three ailes, a small chancel, a low tower enbattled at the West end, and a porch on the South side. Great part of the Church was rebuilt by the Countess in the year 1659, and a vault made during her lifetime near the North-east angle of the chancel. On the North wall is her monument of black marble, on which are distributed twenty-four shields bearing arms, the pedigree of her illustrious family. In the base is this inscription: "Here lyes expecting ye second comeinge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, ye dead body of ye Lady Anne Clifford, daughter and sole-heire to George Clifford, third Earle of Cumberland, by his blessed wife Margaret Russell, Countess of Cumberland, which Lady Anne was born in Skipton Castle in Craven ye 30th of January (being a Friday) in the year 1590, as ye year begins on New-year'sday. By a long-continued descent from She her father and his noble ancestors, she was Barronesse Clifford, Westmorland, and Vesey, High Sherifesse of the county of Westmorland, and Lady of ye Honor of Skipton in Craven, aforesaid. married for her first husband Richard Sackville, Earl of Dorset; and for her second husband, Philip Herberte, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, leaving behind her only two daughters that lived, which she had by her first husband; the eldest, Margaret Countess of Thannett, and the younger Isabella Countess of Northampton. Which Lady Anne Clifford Countess Dowager of Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery, deceased, at her Castle of Brougham, ye 22nd day of March, in ye year of our Lord 1675, Christianly, willingly, and quietly, having before her death seen a plentiful issue by her two daughters of thirteen grandchildren; and her body lies buried in this vaulte," Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, AN OBSERVER. Aug. 10, HE following passage in Xenophon's Memorabilia appears to bave occasioned the critics considerable trouble. Lib. i. cap. vii. sect. 5. speaking of the manner in which Socrates dissuaded men from a false estimation of their own powers, and from seeking reputation for fictitious qualities, the elegant author, (according to Benwell's edition, Oxon. 1809, p. 55,) thus expresses himself: Απατεῶνα δ ̓ ἐκάλει, ὦ τὸν μικρὸν μὲν, ἐδ ̓ εἴ τις ἀργύριον ἢ σκεῦος παρά τε πειθοῖ λαβὼν ἀποτεροίη, πολὺ δὲ μέγισον, ὅσις, μηδενὸς ἄξιος ὤν, ἐξηπατήκει, πείθων ὡς ἱκανὸς εἴη τῆς πόλεως ἡγεῖσθαι. Benwell, with great gravity, tells us in a note, that he has admitted the emendationem optimam of Leunclas vius, instead of the vulgate Tòv & μixe̟ò̟y μv, & Ts. It is observable that those copies which admit the rèv, omit the, and vice versa. Ruhnkenius has found this reading μικρον μεν, τον ει τις, &c. leaving out and de. Unquestionably this is preferable |