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Society," he has written, "By the celebrated Dr. Sir John Hill, who was born about the year 1716, and died in Nov. 1766." Under that of the first piece in the second volume, intituled "A Vindication of Natural Society," he has written, " By Mr. Burke." Under that of the second piece, intituled "The History and Antiquities of the antient Villa of Wheatfield, in the County of Suffolk," he has written, "By the Rev. Mr. John Clubbe, Rector of Wheatfield, and Vicar of Debenham."

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Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

LUKE BOOKER.

Jan. 13.

Carthusian severities, nor the “ hairy gown," nor" mossy cell," are requisite; yet a calm sequestered seclusion, with a certain degree of order, regulation, and conformity, would be the best of all for those who, from melancholy disappointments, misfortunes, or tired of the world's woes, seek a final dereliction of life, to avoid insult, ignominy, and affliction.

With the pathos of Mr. Fosbrooke, we may indeed say,

"Alas! there now are no Elysian bowers
To sepulchre among the living dead,
A lost thing, when life's day in tempests
lowers,
[shrieking hours.”
And Grief the painted wings rends of the
Economy of Monastic Life, p. 542.

those who have

AM pleased to see that Mr. Fosbrooke's "Monachism" has been ably reviewed in the last Quarterly There are these objections; this is Review. The critique having for its not exactly the age when religious retirement could be accompanied with object a professed recommendation of Protestant Nunneries, the Reviewers those particular associations which, have omitted, as well as the author, almost a romantic dignity, and shed in the eras of Catholicism, gave it to name, among others, who have ardently engaged in attempting to over it "a dim religious light" of form such establishments, a fair Au- peculiar sober serenity. Such a dethoress, who has often been compli- scription of existence could never be mented in your pages, Mrs. Whitford, pleasing to those who had been eduthe writer of" Constantia Neville, or cated in present times; the days when the West Indian," &c. The work al- this "sweet simplicity of life" had its luded to is "Thoughts and Remarks pure controul, are very decisively on establishing an Institution for the elapsed. If there should be any such Support and Education of unportion- modern Institution, it must be very ed respectable Females," 1809. Mrs. exclusively confined to persons of Whitford, who seems to have had a some superiority of soul and educavery large experience in the dilapidation; and, as Mrs. Whitford observes, tion of elegant families, appears to have had an asylum for such sacrifices to misfortune in view, and her plan seems to have been pious and wise; the establishment is suggested to be national, and of the religious principles of the Church of England, the situation, Yorkshire,-education, Scotch. She has quoted Bishop Burnet's favourable arguments, and the Rev. William Tooke, that a similar institution, founded by the Empress Catherine, exists in Russia; with a great deal, we think, of peculiar female knowledge urged in support of it. She justly observes, that a respect able asylum of this nature would spare from association with vulgar illiterate persons, that description of single women to whom limited incomes have fallen, from the families having been broken up by the death of the fathers.

My opinion is certainly favourable to such institutions, though neither

"That peace which goodness bosoms ever." Solitude can never be recommended without evil consequences to such as possess vulgar, restless, and vacant habits, instead of the“ finer movements of the soul," taste and sentiment.

I am glad to see Mr. Fosbrooke's "British Monachism" very well spoken of by a respectable Work, and one which has appeared to me, perhaps fancifully, rather retreating on most occasions from concession of merit. There is a view which may be taken of the utility of that Work, which is rather peculiar to myself; its power of exhibiting the irrational tendency to nonconformity, and this in a very philosophical manner, by discovering the wretched pride, prejudices, and superstitions of older times; and which is singularly imitated at present, on a much meaner scale, by certain casts of religious

thinkers,

1820.] "British Monachism."-Sedition suppressed.

thinkers, whose habits of reasoning, and opacities of understanding, would receive much benefit from a little more knowledge, and a little less enthusiasm. The history of Monks discovers to us all the infirmities of human faculties, and that peculiar kind of insanity which we take to have religious excesses for its hobby, and has been so universal in exciting every extravagance, from monastic pomp and pageantry, downwards to its inferior mock-bird in sus

picion, gross ignorance, and paltry disgusting attributes, the sectarianism of this country. What I think of a puritanical hierarchy is, that it would resemble the Romish Church in every thing besides its splendour and majesty, that it would debase physical superiority, indeed as the fascinating and admirable author of "Woman" has observed, "Literature, Science, the Arts; all that agitates or embellishes life, all that makes human existence superior to that of the beasts that perish, would be lost, confounded, trampled on;" and this the "British Monachism" convincingly shows.

There is one sect of this country, the Quakers, exceeding all others in practical virtue and good sense, to whom I would not be deemed to allude, or include in my heartfelt commiseration. V.

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"The sitting of Parliament which has, just passed, will form one of the most important periods of our history. It has been short but eventful; the energy and the wisdom of the Government, backed by the good sense and firmness of Parliament, have rescued us from great danger, and warded off most serious calamities. Never did six weeks produce a greater change in the feelings and situation of the country. What was our condition when Parliament assembled ? In extensive districts the laws of the land were nearly suspended, property was violated with impunity, life was threatened without disguise, the operations of industry were interrupted, the transactions of commercial intercourse at a stand, the proprietor was menaced, the Magistrate reviled, defied, and resisted.

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A general panic pervaded the whole country; and even in those parts where the storm did not rage, there was a swell upon the face of the waters, which to an experienced observer conveyed too certain marks of a near and tremendous danger. While the Reformers were daily assembling thousands of men at given times and places, in order to accustom the country to the light, preparatory to an explosion, just as we break in a horse to stand fire by flashing an unloaded pistol before his eyes, they were nightly training their adherents to military evolutions, and preparing in secret the arms which were shortly to be put into their hands. Elated by their increasing numbers, and confident in their growing strength, they disdained any longer to conceal their objects, and began openly to proclaim their purposes, and audaciously boast of the certainty of their success: like the beasts of the forest, which creep up to their prey while they think it can escape, but when near enough to be sure of their victim, start forth in the full display of their terrors, the more effectually to arrest its flight, and paralyze resistance. Fortunately we had an Administration neither blind to the danger nor afraid to do their duty; wise enough to see the necessity of assembling Parliament, bold enough not. to precipitate the meeting, and, during the interval, to stand themselves in the breach. The measures resolved upon were prepared with moderation, but with firmness; when proposed, they seemed to every dispassionate man what he himself would have suggested, if it had been his business to frame them. They appeared to grow naturally out of the peculiar character of the danger against which they were to provide, and they were voted by triumphant and unexampled majorities. The good consequences are already felt: confidence begins to revive; the seditious and the traitorous are crest-fallen; the well-affected and loyal are re-assured; they feel that their Legislature will stand by them, and, protected by the shield of the Law, they are encouraged to place themselves in an attitude of self-defence. These are the glorious moments of the British Constitution; it is in a crisis like this that the lover of his country should fall down and worship."

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Elegant and correct delineations of the classes, orders, genera, and species of the LINNAN SYSTEM OF BOTANY, and his Natural Orders of Plants, are displayed on a magnified scale, so as to be seen by a large audience. The facility with which students, by his mode of teaching, may comprehend the Linnæan System, and the impressions of the hieroglyphic resemblances, strike the inquiring eye, carry home to the mind ideas lasting as life, and give them just conceptions of the great power and wisdom of the Creator, in the construction and government of the world, and so admirably displayed in the vegetable kingdom, who, from a few simple and primary elements combined in peculiar proportions, educes all that variety and profusion of substances which the vegetable kingdom exbibits.

Mr. Whitlaw, in his last Lecture, concluded his remarks on the great importance of the study of Botany, by an observation from that great and illustrious luminary of science, Francis Bacon, who, having explored and developed the true foundations of human knowledge, with a sagacity and penetration unparalleled in the history of mankind, and having dared to disengage himself from the felters of academical authority, denounced as vain and idle the visionary speculations of the schools, and boldly pointed out the necessity of a complete and thorough revolution in all pre-established methods of study.

Recommending the more tedious, but yet more successful method of analytical and inductive investigation, and proclaiming truth to be but the image of nature, the great Linnæus has observed, "That existence is surely contemptible which regards only the gratification of instinctive wants, and the preservation of a body made to perish: it is therefore the business of a thinking being to look forward to the purposes of all things, and to remember that the end of creation is, that God may be glorified in all his works."

Mr. Whitlaw has travelled sixteen years as a practical Botanist in the West Indies, Spanish America, the United States, and Canada. He has lectured on Botanical subjects in most of the Colleges in the States and Canada. BOTANICUS.

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Mr. URBAN,

FRO

Jan. 17.

ROM the formidable impressions, which the Examinations for Degrees in the University of Oxford have made upon many parents, I am induced to submit to you some hints. Whether they are adopted, or not, is a matter in which I have no concern. I mean no disrespect to the learned body which has instituted these examinations, nor do I question the manifest propriety of such an institution. I merely speak, from reflection, that it is a hard case for many parents to expend vast sums in the education of sons, who, when they apply for de grees, are plucked (as failure upon Examination is denominated) for no other reason sometimes, but, because the Examination crowds too much into one process.

From the time of Aristotle, division of labour has obtained credit for being a grand source of improvement. At present the Examination is divided into a Little-go and a Great-go; colloquial appellations of the facetious great children, sucking at the bosom of Alma Mater. Such cant terms are common in the language of the Brazen Age. I mean not, however, to offend their beardless manhoods by this humble squib: on the contrary, I solemnly believe that they form the finest and cleverest body of youths in the kingdom; and, as the Examination is a dose of physick, which they are obliged to take, I only wish to render it more palatable.

Instead, therefore, of mixing the Examinations, I think it would be an improvement, if they were divided into three stages, as follows:

Second Year's Standing. The Examination in the Classicks, which I found upon this principle, that being the nearest to departure from School, there is less oblivion of the proficiency brought from thence.

Third Year's Standing. The Literæ Humaniores.

Fourth Year's Stunding. Term before the Degree. Divinity.

These, I believe, are the chief points of study; and it certainly accords with reason, that the focus of mind being directed to one object at a time, a greater solidity of knowledge will be acquired, with infinitely more ease to the students. It is an old rule, that if you mean to do things well, you should never do but

on

1820.] Antient Custom.-Great Cold.-Family of Clare.

one thing at a time. This is an axiom of business, of which the wisdom is not to be disputed.

When I was a Member of the University, and I was a contemporary with Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning, &c. the public Examinations were not exonerated from the stigma of Vicesimus Knox. But literary merit was stili solicitously regarded by the inculcation of "Original Composition," upon the plan of Ideas. For men, who are to plead at the Bar, or write Sermons, nothing can be more instructive or appropriate; and, with a view to professional qualifications, the old plan is of infinitely more consequence than chewing Greek roots, and preserving Herodotus and Thucydides in spirits. I am sorry, there fore, that the old plan of estimating merit by composition is consigned only to the stimulus of the Prizes; but I do not blame the stress laid upon Classical acquisitions, because a great part of the Clergy, being obliged to keep schools for their support, during their early manhood, such acquisitions are highly important. Besides, the Dissenters, in general, substitute a smattering in Natural Philosophy for Classical Proficiency; and, were it not for the Universities, it is doubtful whether Classical Knowledge, beyond the mere parrot-like acquisitions of an upper-class school-boy, would be preserved in the nation. Latin, too, is a substitute for universal language. AN OLD MASTER OF ARTS.

Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 14. I BEG to communicate to you an ancient superstitious custom, still obtaining at Tretyre, in Herefordshire, upon Christmas Eve. They make a Cake, poke a stick through it, fasten it upon the born of an ox, and say certain words, begging a good crop of corn for the master.

The men and boys, attending the oxen, range themselves around. If the ox throws the cake behind, it belongs to the men; if before, to the boys. They take with them a wooden bottle of cyder, and drink it, repeating the charm before-mentioned. I strongly suspect, from the ox and the cake, an allusion to some sacrifice to Ceres; and the Confarreatio, the Harvest home, being a ceremonial appertaining to that goddess; but I have no GENT, MAG. January, 1820.

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means of referring to the new Edition
of the " Antiquitates Vulgares," or
time to examine the custom archæo-
logically.
A. B. and C.

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Mr. URBAN, Barton-street, Jan. 21. S you will probably have many Thermometrical accounts transmitted to you this month, allow me to add one, accurately observed on a self-registering Instrument, exposed to the open air in Barton-street, Westminster, denoting the lowest degrees in the present winter.

Degrees.

Dec. 11, 1819, 13
Jan. 1, 1820, 16

5,

13,

15,

Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

A

16

Deg, Highbury, 11

14

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S the object of your Correspond. ent C. (Mag, for Nov. last, p. 410) in favouring your readers with an account of the family of Clare, with a pedigree thereof, was to correct the anachronisms and inaccuracies of former writers in your volumes, he ought to have been careful lest the same complaint should be made against his statements, which he has brought forward against those of others. I am afraid, however, that some parts of C.'s pedigree will not bear a strict scrutiny; at least, they appear to me to require some further explanation; and, in order to give your correspondent an opportunity of affording such explanation, I shall state the doubts which have arisen in my mind upon the perusal of his letter, &c.

In the first place, C. states, that Fitz Gilbert de Clare, son of Fitz Gelfrey, Earl of Eu, which Fitz Gilbert was called De Clare, from his Seignory of Clare, or Clere, in Normaudy, having had a grant of lands on the river Stour, (not Storn) ia Suffolk, built a Castle there, which he called Clare, from his own name. Upon reference, however, to Domesday Book, it appears that in the time of K. Edward, "Claram tenuit Aluricus"; it seems, therefore, doubtful,

doubtful, whether the Clare family took their name from their residence in Suffolk, or not; if they did, the coincidence of names is certainly singular.

In C.'s Pedigree, Richard Fitz Gilbert, and his two immediate successors, are called Earls of Tunbridge. I cannot find such a Peerage in any of the books to which I have access. Richard had a grant from the Crown of Tunbridge, where he built a Castle,

and from thence was often called Richard de Tonebridge: his son Gilbert was also frequently called de Tonebrige. Instead therefore, of Earls of Tunbridge, the more correct designation would perhaps have been Lords of that place.

Gilbert de Clare, younger son of Gilbert de Clare, is surnamed Strongbow. This, surely, is incorrect. It was his son Richard, who, from the length and strength of his bow, obtained that surname.

The occurrence which is slated to have been the cause of the loss of its honours to this family, was surely not productive of such an effect. The honours were conveyed out of the family, in consequence of the failure of male issue, and went to those families which intermarried with the heirs general of the Clares. These losses, therefore, could not complete the ruin of the family, which had previously come to a natural end, at least in its main branches; nor could such Josses have been increased by joining the Lancasterian party in England, which had no existence for many years after the death of the last male heir of the family, which happened in 1295, 24 Edw. 1.

I should be glad to know the authority which C. has, for deducing the Norfolk family of Clere, from this of Clare. I dare say, he will be at no loss to produce it; but in the Pedigree of the former family, in Blomef. Norf. vol. xi. 8vo edit. p. 234, &c. such a descent is not hinted at; and there exists no similitude in the arms, which we might have been led to expect would have been the case, had they been descended from the same stock: nor do Clere's arms at all approach those of Fitzwalter, or Bay hard, with both which great families, according to C. they claim a common origin.

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Mr. URBAN, London, Jun. 10. Association was formed in the

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City of London, in the year

1799, for the distribution of provisions, or other articles of the first necessity, at reduced prices, to the Poor. For several winters the Committee have adopted the sale of Coals at 9d. a bushel, and Potatoes at 14lb. for 3d. as a mode of relief, the most acceptable and efficacious; for, while it affords material assistance to the industrious and necessitous, it holds out no encouragement to the idle and profligate. Subscribers, moreover, are supplied with a certain number of tickets every month which they may distribute themselves to worthy objects, and thus become their own Almoners, while they promote the views of a most useful and extensive charity.

During the last Season, from January to April, 356 chaldrons of coals, and 72 tons of potatoes, were distributed, affording relief to not less than 2500 poor families, consisting of about 12,500 individuals, residing in various parts of the Metropolis. The expence to the Association amounted to

7381. 95.

The Committee commenced the delivery of Coals and Potatoes, at the City Public Kitchen, New-street, Blackfriars, on the 20th ult. for the present winter. As a very heavy expenditure attends the distribution, and as the disbursements last year exceeded the subscriptions, it has been deemed necessary earnestly to solicit the liberal Contributions of the affluent and charitable, in aid of an institution which renders such important benefits to the Community.

Signed, on behalf of the Committee of the Association for the relief of the Poor of the City of London and parts adjacent,

R. CLARK, Chamberlain of London, President. [By whom Subscriptions are received.]

Mr.

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