perch in the Consistory. Johannes Oculus is mixing flatts and sharps to compose an Anthem for the Primate. Charellus is upon the spur to Rippon to reform the Choir. My old friend the Caladonian is not absolutely dead; he lives yet by a kind of metemphycosis in little Jenny Wistow; and the old Præcentor in a new organ-pipe. Triceps Fitz-deacon is to be money scrivener to Baron Silversides, the Chancellor of Mexico. Fitz-canon is Archdeacon of the Window-tax; or if you please, Oculus Fenestrorum. Lagostoma hopes to rise; and the Inspector to be a great man. Clyfton Ings is to be the celebrated Hypodrome. St. Peter's is to take place of St. Paul's, and John the Poignant to be preferred before Tom Flatman, and Crosier of York before the Crabtree Cudjel of Canterbury; the Lower House of Convocation, like younger brothers, to be better gentlemen. The old Prophesye is now fulfilling, Lincolne was, London is, and York shall be.' 'Thus here is a wonderful turn of affairs, yet there is no alteration in the Whiggs; they are the same in and out of power, constant and firm to themselves and principles. Thus we find that 'Strickland in Strickland lives, the point is strong; And Catline sings the old paternal song. Now chang'd from others, preys upon himselfe.' 'Now, as for Whiggs, I have traced them out, and find them out, and find them predominant in all ranks and orders of creatures; every part of the creation is troubled with them, and you find no set of animals but there are Whigsters among them. 'At sea and land, in salt water and fresh, you have them. Thus, Sir, among the quadrupeds, you have tygers, wolves, badgers, bears, foxes, jackcalls, chamelions, raits and mice, wild-cats, foomards, weesels, with a multitude of Whig animals. 'Amongst birds we have vultures, kites, screech-owles, buzzards, rooks, daws, carrion-crows, hawkes, jayes, cormorants, hen-harrowes, and magpies. 'Amongst fishes, alligators, crocodiles, sharks, porposes, pikes, gramps, eels, whales, sword-fish, and congers. Amongst serpents, vipers, snakes, adders, blind-worms, scorpions, rattle-snakes, lizards. Amongst insects, hornets, wasps, flesh-flies, hennals, buggs, warbles, maggots, punirs, lops, lice, caterpillars, and spiders. 'In the kingdom of plants there are nettles, thistles, hemlocks, tares, quicks, arsmart, and cockle. 'But amongst men they abound under the names of knaves, fools, haughty, hypocrites, discontented, discarded, sour, ambitious, proud, ill-natured, silly, malicious, intriguers, cowards, wheedlers, covetous, cheats, fitz-rebells, liars, and surmizors, atheists, atheists, deists, and nullifidians. In short, every man that is not loyal, orthodox, and honest, is a Whigg. But, leaving this sour subject, meliora canamus. Let us come to a familiar Catechisme. How do you like Canterbury? How did Bully Rock receive you? Is his corruption in his head or in his feet? Is his mitre tin, lead, or pewter; or, like the Saramites, Corinthian? Are his lawn sleeves really blue? or is it only the cast of the indigo? and proceeds from the folly of his laundress? Does he wear the cloak above the gown? and the precise neckcloth above the band? Is his black cap hooped with linen? and his cassock of Tom Dennison's cut? In short, what is the bulk, stature, and selvidge of the man? Is he bigger or less than his predecessor? In what climate stands Lambeth? because I am told 'tis always summer there; if so, their heads must be flie-blown. I congratulate you on your happy fall of preferment. I have had my share too; but I fell downwards, as you fell upwards—one from my horse, and another from the horse-block; however, I have got a new livery in my skin, if I get nothing else. I am now a worse cripple than ever, and am become a walking Clogg*, an Almanack to foretell weather, and shew changes; however, I must always be unalterably 'Yours, &c. GEORGE PLAXTON.'" "There is a curious Treatise on Military Discipline, illustrated with many very neat figures done with Chinese ink. Two poems prefixed to it are by a Joseph Ward: Per Josephum Ward, 1636.' The 2d poem of the same date, April 1636, Bishop Midlam, near Durham. From both it is evident he was the author of the Military Treatise here transcribed, which extends from page 151 to 199, when the MS. oddly enough is paged again 131, and so on erroneously to p. 149, when the next page is marked 250, and goes on regularly to 270, the last page of the book. At page marked 145 begins with a mathematical neat drawing prefixed, Euclidis Elementa, figuris ejusdem magnitudinis cum libro a Dr. Isaaco Barrow edito, 8vo, 1660. In quibus multæ lineæ punctis notatæ magnopere hoc opus illustrant. Per Milonem Gale †.' "The writing and figures are exceedingly neat. This goes on to the conclusion and end of the MS. "This MS. the property of a Mrs. Stables, grand-daughter to Mr. Roger Gale, has been on loan from her for a year past in the custody of Dr. Sibley, at the desire of the Proprietor, who lives now in Glocestershire. It was got from the Doctor by Mr. Smithson, an apothecary, who shewed it to me, with permission to copy from it whatever I liked in it. "Mrs. Stables lived formerly at Boxley Abbey in Kent, and before that with an uncle of the name of Gale. Her maiden name was Jackson, and her mother's name was Gale. "Nov. 1, 1793. Alluding to the curious wooden Almanack so which is engraved in Gough's Camden, vol. II. p. 379. JOHN CALDER." denominated; one of † See before, p. 490. SAMUEL SAMUEL GALE, Esq. to Dr. STUKELEY. "DEAR DOCTOR, March 30, 1727. "I shall ever apply to my much-esteemed Stukeley what Virgil said of his great and good Augustus : 'Ante leves ergo pascentur in æthere cervi, &c. Aut Ararim Parthus bibet, aut Germania Tigrim, "I congratulate you upon your glorious choice. I admire your beautiful disposition of your Laurentinum, your hall, your terras, and your fine cascade *. These all raise in me such sublime sentiments, and I am lost in the vast etendue, 'O beate Rus, quando te aspiciam?" And now what asylum shall a distressed inhabitant of Fumopolist fly to? I must own I have no other resource but the peaceful manes of the Antients, with whose conversation I am never tired, never discomposed; and thus preferring the few instructive dead to the more numerous and senseless living, how few of our hours can we here pass rationally away! Amongst those spent thus, I reverently place our antiquarian periods, some account of which, I hope, will not be unacceptable to you. They have begun the new year with new apartments in Gray's Inn; and for the farther advancement of their affairs, two coadjutors have been added to assist Dr. Massey, Mr. Wests and Mr. Theobald, gentlemen equal to their office, literati and travellers, who draw well, and are beaux esprits. Dr. Degge¶ is chosen Director. Our great Tournament, I believe, you have seen. We are now busy in preserving the lofty ruins of Furness Abbey, belonging to our brother his Grace of Montagu. "Last Wednesday night the Rev. Mr. Lamotte read to us a critical Dissertation upon the Keys of the Antients, and has favoured the Society with a copy of it. He designs to communicate several other Essays in that way. The same evening Mr. Peck presented us with his Academia Tertia, or Antiquities of Stanford.' Your health and prosperity are frequently enquired after by the Members, among whom I presume you still continue your name, as yet shining in our Annals. "This Summer, if Heaven permits, I may pay you a visit, view your rural retreat, and partake of your amusements. I cannot say much to the country-house you desire me to buy, it being too remote for my affairs. I should be glad if you would * Dr. Stukeley, who had practised nine years in London as a physician, removed to Grantham in 1726; where he soon after married. Having been ordained in 1729, he next year was presented to the Vicarage of All Saints, in Stamford. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. V. p. 502. + For an explanation of these allusions to Druidical names, see the Letters to Dr. Stukeley in vol. II. pp. 769-795. 66 Dr. Richard Middleton Massey; see Literary Anecdotes," VII. 256. § James West, Esq. Ibid. pp. 460. 709. James Theobald, Esq. Ibid. p. 417. Dr. Samuel Degge. Ibid. p 106. send send me a sketch of it, and what land belongs to it, with the usual rent: if approved on, may induce me to be a purchaser, if the title be good, for I presume it will be some time before I shall reside there. One would not willingly have such a house empty. If it be any pennyworth, I shall not be averse to proposals. And here I must give a loose to my grief, whilst I not only deplore your long absence, but the fatal loss of so many of our Society, who have by their works rescued the world from death, and are themselves made immortal. O Winchilsea *! O Talman†! names more fragrant than odoriferous roses or Arabian sweets! the first the Father of Antiquities, who has justly verified that of Horace, 'Non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia the last the most unwearied conservator of all that can be called curious, both of the past and present ages; one who trod not in the road of common travellers, or was satisfied with the cursory remarks of a grand tour; but, fired with a noble desire, penetrated the most hidden recesses of France, Germany, and Italy, no subterranean caverns too deep for his searching eye, nor were mountains higher than the Alps any obstacle to his soaring genius. Vesuvius itself, though belching sulphureous smoke, could not deter him from looking into its deep abyss, Ye sacred temples, what lights has he thrown in upon your lofty domes; your antique roofs, encrusted with mosaic, your variegated floors, your rich embellished altars, your painted windows, your walls adorned with holy story, your reverend shrines, your costly vestments, and your whole treasures are by him all gloriously transmitted to posterity, while Britain admires, and emulates Greece and Rome. Besides these two illustrious, I could enumerate many more whom the last fatal year hath too lavishly snatched from us. Annus ille infaustus et omnibus bonis exosus usque hodie permanet. Bedæ, Hist. Eccl. lib ii. c. "But, lest I should trespass too much on your time, or, like a rising torrent, find no bounds to my grief, I must abruptly quit this topick, and endeavour under this crush of Nature, to be calm and undisturbed; in the mean while begging the Divine Powers to guard you against evil men, and against evil times, and ever to have the great and good Chyndonar under thei protection, I take the liberty to assure that I am your affectionate friend and very humble servant to command, S. GALE. P. S. This very last year the Stone-killers have been exceed ing busy in demolishing the great house belonging to the Prios of St. John of Jerusalem extra Civitat. Lond. They have broke down all the carved work thereof with axes and hammers, and * Heneage (not Daniel) Finch, fifth Earl of Winchilsea. See these "Illustrations," vol. II. p. 770. + See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII p. 410. The Druidical naine assumed by Dr. Stukeley. There is a good por trait of him, inscribed, CHYNDONAZ. Auctori d. d. Observantiæ ergò. J. Vgucht, Sculptor. have scarce left one stone upon another. Sir Prasutagus * and all the Virtuosi greet you-more especially our Family. " "Done at Irenopolis, March 30th, 1727." "DEAR DOCTOR, Colonia Castrum, Aug. 1, 1728. Having been informed, since the arrival of Prasutagus from the Girvii, of the never-enough-to-be-lamented miscarriage † of the incomparable Cartismandua, this comes to condole with you upon so great a misfortune-a misfortune which not only myself but all Albion must be sensibly touched with, since, without doubt, we have lost a second Chyndonax, or at least another Boadicea. It is high time to assemble the sacred College of the Druids to sacrifice to the Dea Matres, to haunt the shades, select the largest oaks, and prune the misletoe, if by any means we can avert the anger of the Gods, and draw down blessings for the future on the beautiful Cartismandua. Carvilliust and Segonar§ are both in the Municipium, and in perfect health; Venutius has paid a visit to them; Gordonius ||, the Caledonian, is going to give the Literati a noble prospect of the Roman Walls, inter Scoticas Pruinas. "I have lately made a few rural Equitations to visit some seats, gardens, &c. Having traversed the ruins of Verulam, and paid our devoirs to the great Viscount Bacon's shrine, I crossed both the counties of Hertford and Middlesex, and passed over the Thames at Shepperton to Weybridge in Surrey, and viewed my Lord Lincoln's garden there**, where I believe is the grandest terras walk in England, it being 1900 feet long, the gravel walk on it 100 feet broad, and the two grass borders on either side it 50 feet each, so that the whole breadth is 200 feet, the height from the basis to the edge of the green slope 150 feet. At the bottom of the terras runs a fine canal of 1500 feet, the middle part of which is cut into a square of 300 feet. The house is old, and has nothing in the architecture remarkable, being built of brick, with battlements upon the walls of a very ill taste. "One front of it is set off with a court-yard for coaches to come up to it, and this not surrounded with the least walling, but encompassed with a great number of large wooden posts, painted like stone, and joined to each other with iron chains. This indeed opens a great visto every way, and is what I have seen done to secure the pedestal of a great brazen trophy, erected by the late Emperor Leopold at Vienna, in honour of the Holy Trinity, for a deliverance of that city from the plague; but the posts and chains this latter were all of brass, and the tops of each terminating in a large pine apple; the whole of a most elegant design. At * Probably Maurice Johnson, Esq. Founder of the Spalding Society. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol VI. pp 1-140. This misfortune recently occurred to Dr. Stukeley's first wife (Frances Williamson), to whom he had then recently been married. Perhaps Algernon Duke of Somerset. See vol. II. p. 770. Alexander Gordon. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol VII. p. 153. ¶ See more of this, ibid. vol. VI. p. 129. **At Oatlands. VOL. IV. KK Clermont, |