LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS. [Those marked thus * are Vignettes printed with the letter-press.] Portrait of Mr. Thomas Bewick, the Engraver on wood. .... *Representations of Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva, in Trinity Church, Coventry 120 Portrait of George Pearson, M. D. F. R. S. ..... 129 *View of the Birth-place of Dr. Young, at Upham, Hampshire.... ..217 Trinity Church, St. Mary-le-bone.... 297 St. Peter's Church, Pimlico..... ib. Representations of Carvings at Norton Fitzwarren, Somersetshire, and a Representations of some Roman Remains found in Warbank Field, Kent....401 *Curious Arch in a Chapel at Callipo, in Portugal. .... .437 Autographs from early Albums, of the children of James the First, and their uncles Christian King of Denmark and Ulrich Duke of Holst........489 PREFACE. THE Parliamentary proceedings of our present Volume will present a most important feature to the future historian. The long contested question of Catholic Emancipation has at length been conceded without the least qualification, and with scarcely a pledge for the security of the Establishment. Protestant ascendancy, it may be truly said, has thus been compromised at the shrine of political expediency. "I had only this choice," said the noble Premier, "concession to the Catholics, or civil war." Of two evils, he asserts, he chose the least, concession in preference to an Irish rebellion. It was not because the members of the Legislature considered the spirit of Popery as ameliorated, that this important measure was carried in its favour, but because they were in hopes that unrestricted concession might allay the rancorous party animosities which had been so long raging in the Sister Kingdom. Had we ourselves expected such a blessing as a necessary consequence, we should never have opposed so desirable a measure; but our opinions in this respect remain unchanged, notwithstanding the different attitude which the question has assumed. We have but little hope of the measure producing the beneficial effects which the pro-Catholics have so confidently prognosticated. The only real effect will be to elevate Popery in a Protestant State; and to place popish idolatry, as to constitutional rights, on a level with our own Protestant Church; thus depriving us of the glorious distinction, so long enjoyed and so dearly purchased, of a pure and unmixed Protestant Constitution,-that twofold shield against papal idolatry and civil servitude. As to Catholic Emancipation allaying the feuds which have so long distracted unhappy Ireland, it is folly to expect it, in its present priest-ridden and barbarous condition. Such a supposition is contrary to all experience, and even passing events tend daily to disprove it. It is a notorious fact that every concession granted to the Irish Catholics has been followed by rebellion and bloodshed, ostensibly to obtain additional privileges, but in reality to subvert the British Government, and emancipate themselves from Protestant dominion. Thus in 1778 and 1782, the penal laws against the Catholics, which the prudence of our Protestant ancestors considered necessary, were materially mitigated. Yet, a very short period afterwards the same violent spirit manifested itself in Ireland, as previous to the concessions made by Government; until, after two years' discussion, an Act was passed in 1792, permitting Catholics to be called to the Bar, to be Attornies, and to other privileges of which they had been deprived in the reign of Queen Anne. Dissatisfaction was still the order of the day; until, at length, came the Statute of 1793, which restored or conceded to the Roman Catholics in Ireland the right of voting at elections, and relieved them from all "penalties, forfeitures, disabilities, or incapacities." This Act opened to the Papists all civil and military offices, except about thirty, and enabled them to take university degrees. Yet, notwithstanding these very liberal concessions, which indeed exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine Catholics, a treacherous rebellion was organized in 1798, which desolated the fairest provinces, and spilt some of the best blood in Ireland. Though the Act of 1793 was expected to conciliate all existing factions, the spirit of rancorous hostility on the part of the Irish Papists was more inveterate than ever. Precisely the same consequences do we apprehend from the late concessions, unless timely prevented by military interference. The Romish faction, emboldened by the success attendant on clamour and menace, will never rest satisfied till Papal domination in Ireland triumphs over the ruins of the Protestant Church. Entertaining this opinion, we consider it a sacred duty, as ardent admirers of the British Constitution, to watch every future encroachment with a jealous eye. What has already been effected by the Legislature, and sanctioned by the Executive, must be submitted to as part and parcel of the law of the land; but still it behoves the true friends of their country to resist every undue advantage which may be hereafter taken by Papistical demagogues, to supplant our Protestant Constitution; and we shall certainly not slumber at our post in the time of need. If ever Romish influence should again prevail, as it once did, the horrors of the system would return. Their return, however, would be gradual, because the better principles of Protestantism, with which Catholic minds had become unconsciously embued, would, for awhile, struggle against and check the evil principles of Popery; and it would not be till the former were extinguished by the long-continued influence of an arbitrary priesthood, that the latter would display themselves in their true light. Then it would be seen, how little education (as separated from religion) had been able to effect-and how little dependance is to be placed on changes in national character and on intellectual progress, to stem the torrent of superstition and bigotry. An enlightened and elevated Protestantism is the only antidote to Popery if we are indifferent to this, we shall present no adequate barrier against the encroachments of a system which can brook no rivalry, and which, when possessed of authority, can allow no difference of sentiment. The comparison of English with Irish Catholics will confirm these positions. Where Popery prevails, how cruel is the systemhow unfeeling are the minds of its adherents-how debased the character of the mass of its population! They are the slaves of an imperious priesthood; and rejoice to bind around them the chains which keep them in hopeless misery and in deep delusion. Why is it that in no country on earth are Catholics more wretched than in Ireland; but because they are no where more abject tools of the Papacy?—and why is it that in no country are they more happy and enlightened than in England, but because they are no where else so free from the direct and powerful operation of their own system? The Commissioners for the Building of New Churches are steadily proceeding with their laudable objects; and our readers will be gratified to notice the successful result of their labours,-an abstract of which will be found at p. 637. In the present volume we have given illustrative engravings of seven new Churches recently erected under the spices, in the vicinity of London, as will be seen in the List of Embellishments. The descriptions which accompany them are from the pen of a gentleman who is intimately acquainted with every minutia of architectural detail. To our numerous and valuable correspondents we tender our warmest acknowledgments. MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. We are requested by Mr. BowLES to say, that his observations in his Poem on "Banwell-hill," and notes (quoted in the first pages of our December number) are intended to apply only to those who, of whatever persuasion, or class, preach against morals as forming no part of the Christian code. He is persuaded of the pernicious effects of such doctrines, in every part of the country. W. S. begs to call the attention of our readers to the important fact of the Bishop of London forbidding Christ Church to be used by the " Society for the sale of Religions Books" for their Anniversary Sermon. The reason alleged is the existence of Dissenters upon the Committee:-his Lordship having refused to sanction any union be tween the Established Church and Dissenters in his diocese. The old Font engraved in the November Magazine, p. 446, is no longer in Stepney Church. It was removed in 1806; and a modern one in the style of the Tudor architecture substituted for it. The present font is constructed of the imitation stone of Messrs. Coade and Co. and is probably cast in the same mould as that at Depden.It stands on the site of the older one; and the staple, by which the cover of that was drawn up, still remains. E. I. C. Vol. xcvi. ii. p. 558, 1. 5, for Earl of Winchester read Marquess of Winchester. P. 571. We were not quite correct as to Charles Wolsey Johnson. He was the third and youngest son of the Rev. Wolsey Johnson, of Olney, Bucks, and of Wytham-onthe-Hill in the county of Lincoln, who died in April 1756. The Rev. C. W. Johnson married Jan. 6, 1787, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Liuton, of Freiston, near Boston in Lincolnshire, who survives him, and without issue. He was presented to the Vicarage of Wytham-on-the-Hill in 1786, by his brother George William Johnson, who died in February 1814 unmarried. The family is now represented by Col. William Augustus Johnson, the eldest son of the Rev. Robert Augustus Johnson (second son of Wolsey above-named) by Anna Rebecca, youngest sister of William sixth Lord Craven. Col. Johnson is eighth in descent from Archdeacon Robert Johnson, the munificent founder of Oakham and Uppingham Grammar Schools. The family were first settled at Milton Bryant; and one branch is represented by Sir Robert Inglis, whose father Sir Hugh married an heiress of the family. They were also settled at Clipsham in Rutland, and thence removed to Olney, and thence to Wytham. P. 573. Catherine Charlotte Lady Carbery is not dead: the Lady Carbery who died at her seat, Laxton-hall, co. Northampton, was Susan dowager Baroness Carbery, widow of George, fourth Lord Carbery, who died issueless in 1807, and only child of Colonel Henry Watson, Chief Engineer at Bengal (see his memoir iu vol. LVI. pt. ii. p. 996). Her ladyship brought a large fortune to her Lord; after whose decease she married, secondly, in 1806, his cousin, George Freke Evans, Esq. next brother and presumptive heir to John the sixth and present Lord Carbery, by whom she had no issue. Had her second husband survived his elder brother in her life-time, her Ladyship would have been successively Baroness Carbery, dowager Baroness Carbery, and again Baroness Carbery, the present Lord's wife changing position with his younger brother's wife, a circumstance unprecedented in the annals of the Peerage. J. P. inquires as to the mode of paying Counsel and Physicians, prior to the coinage of Guineas. Whether in even pounds, or how otherwise? Pray who was Samuel Leedes? whose name and very numerous notes and observations in a remarkably fine hand-writing I observe on the margin aud blank leaves of a copy of Magna Britannia Antiqua et Nova, in six vols. small quarto. London, priuted for Cæsar Ward and Richard Chandler, 1738, which I accidentally purchased some time since. These entries, some of which are extremely curious, both critical and topographical, seem to indicate that he was a clergyman. One of them is as follows: "Sr Matthew Decker, of St. Janies'ssquare and Richmond, father to my young patroness Mrs. Croftes, y generous donour of these 6 volumes, to me Sam. Leedes, A. D. 1739. Ye now Lady Fitzwilliam came and brought them wth her own hand; gratius est pulchro veniens e corpore Donum." -I find Samuel Leedes among the Cambridge Graduates of Queen's-college, A. B. 1701, A. M. 1705; and another of the same name of Clare-hall, A. B. 1677, spelt Leeds; but when he took his Master's degree in 1681 Leedes. It is scarcely probable that the Samuel Leedes above-mentioned was the same with the last, but might have been the former; and any further information respecting him or his works, his family, or where he was beneficed and resided, would much gratify the curiosity which has been excited by reading his manuscript observations, which seem to indicate a mind well stored with literature, and evince great industry of research. Q. The communications of Dr. Meyrick, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Tradescant Lay, of J. and several others, are unavoidably postponed until next month. To the recommendation of An Old Subscriber we shall also attend hereafter. |