"A notable discovery has been made here, in digging (twenty feet deep) to make a vault. They found a Roman Urn, with three or four sacrifical vessels, all complete. The place is in the suburbs of this city, nearly where two Roman Roads (one going to Silchester, the other to Andover) meet in an acute angle at the North gate. I will send you the dimensions and colours of these curious pieces of Roman Pottery. No Coins were found. They are in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Richards, Schoolmaster, in Hyde-street. Sincerely yours, T. WARTON."

"DEAR SIR,

To Mr. NICHOLS.

Winton, Nov. 3, 1782. "I should esteem it a very singular favour if you would insert the inclosed letter in this month's Gentleman's Magazine. Much depends on so early an appearance; but, if you should be under any sort of embarrassment about the insertion of it, I beg you will reject it without ceremony, and send the copy back to me at Oxford, where I mean to be in a day or two. I know I may depend on your secrecy. I wish you would order the compositors to attend to my preparations of copy; and am, dear Sir, "Your most obedient humble servant,

"SIR,

To Mr. GOUGH.

T. WARTON."

Winton, Sept. 30, 1786.

"I have just seen your account of the Winchester Font, and am quite of your opinion about the ship-compartment. What I said about the decollation of Birinus, was from a conjecture of A. Wood, who visited Dorchester Church, and whose papers relating to it are at Oxford. I visited this Church in 1769, with Mr. Huddesford, late Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, and took down every thing observable there, with the most minute exactness. About two miles from Dorchester is a manor be

longing to Trinity College, Oxford. It is called Holcomb Grange, and the old manorial house was a very large Gothic mansion, I believe a retiring place for the Abbot of Dorchester. Our Founder bought this estate at the Dissolution, and the College pulled down the old house above 100 years ago, to build one more commodious; but, two or three arches and apartments of the original house still remain; and in one room were some bits of painted glass, which seemed to be part of this history of Birinus, perhaps brought hither from the Abbey-church. I fear these curious remains are now gone; but, I think, in an old room (a dairy) there are one or two coats in the glass.

"As to the compartment exhibiting the West end or façade of a Church, you know that antiently the first process of the marriage ceremony was performed there, viz. the presentation of the bride's dowry before they entered the Church. The figures are then obvious, the Bishop, the father (giving the dowry) and mother, the bride and bridegroom, and one man with a hawk, who stands for Retinua. I know not what to make of the axe, &c. I am, dear Sir, your humble servant, T. WARTON."

[1789.]"They are new-roofing the Choir of New College Chapel at a considerable expence-wood-work in the Gothic style in a good taste. All the old frontispiece behind the altar (demolished by Visitor Horne) has been laid open. There are three tier of niches for statues, one above another, from side to side, each niche six feet high. The canopies and rich tracery all hacked to pieces, with a series of basso-relievo of the life of the Virgin Mary. They talk of restoring as much as they can."

Rev. THEOPH. HENRY HASTINGS* to Mr. NICHOLS. "SIR, Little Leke, March 4, 1801. "The short paper war between me and Mr. Russel† must be soon after the war between England and America, which, I believe, happened in the year 1775. It originated from the late Lord Effingham Howard being appointed to go thither, and his refusing to obey orders. On that account I wrote to him, and inclosed the chaplainship which, by the interest of the late Francis Earl of Huntingdon, I had received from him. That letter was inserted both in the Leicester and Nottingham papers. Mr. Russel wrote an Answer, to which I wrote a Reply immediately, which was seen by many, and reported to Lord Huntingdon, who immediately likewise, and before it could be published, requested me not to do it, for what reason I did not know; but I complied with the request, or perhaps the altercation between me and Mr. Russel might have lasted as long as the American war. I was persuaded that the cause in which I was engaged was a good one, and would never have given it up but with death. I am, Sir, &c. T. H. HASTINGS."

*This Letter, if not otherwise interesting, adds one more to the Catalogue of Noble Authors, and to the English Peerage. On the death of Francis Earl of Huntingdon in 1789, this gentleman became the hereditary, successor to the Earldom, which has since been claimed, and allowed to the son of his younger Brother.--Theophilus Henry Hastings, born in 1728, was presented in 1763 to the Vicarage of Belton, and in 1764 to the Rectory of Osgathorpe, both in Leicestershire; and resigned them in 1795, on being presented to the Rectory of East and West Leke in Nottinghamshire. He was generally considered as the presumptive heir to the Earldom; and, as Mr. Heury Nugent Bell, the intelligent Historian of the Huntingdon Peerage, informs us, "For some after the Earl's death, he assumed the title of Earl of Huntingdon; and there is a stone pillar standing in front of the Parsonage-house, at Leke, on which there was a plate bearing a Latin inscription, stating him to be the eleventh Earl of Huntingdon, godson of Theophilus, ninth Earl, and entitled to the Earldom, by descent. This plate covered another Latin inscription, stating that it was erected by Theophilus the second Earl of Huntingdon of that name. In his religious principles Mr. Hastings was a zealous supporter of the Established Faith, and a constant and animated opposer of the sect of Methodists, by which last application of bis talents he incurred the severe displeasure of the Countess Dowager Selina, and probably the loss of a great part of her fortune, which might otherwise have been bequeathed to him, or his Brother's Family."

See before in these "Illustrations," vol. III. p. 747.

WILLIAM

WILLIAM HAYLEY *; Esq. to Mr. NICHOLS.

[1789.]

"MY DEAR SIR, "I was in hopes that last night would have brought me the printed close of our second volume t. If it is ready, be so good as to dispatch it by Tuesday's coach, with a line to tell me if you received my letter to Mr. Howard, and if it has found him in England. After Tuesday I will beg you to send no parcel to this country, as I propose being in town at the end of this week, and I shall soon inform you of my arrival, as I shall be eager to have the pleasure of seeing you at my breakfast-table, and to assure you that I am ever affectionately yours, W. H. "I shall probably be in London several days before our dear rambling Divine ‡, who is just going to Paris. Adieu." March 7, 1789.

"MY DEAR SIR, "I send you with some satisfaction the last volume of a work from which I sincerely hope you will derive both pleasure and emolument. I will not trouble you to send me the 200l. which, according to our agreement I was to receive on delivering the MS. complete, because I hope to be in town in about three weeks, but I will beg the favour of you to send me 100l. in banknotes. I hope our dear rambling Divine will be soon safe in his cell again, as I shall be eager to hear that you are both pleased with the close of my production. Adieu, my dear Sir, and believe me ever cordially yours,

W. H."

"MY DEAR SIR, Eartham, near Chichester, April 22, 1791. "I am not insensible to the liberal politeness with which you and your worthy friend Robinson have refrained from reminding me of my promise to recompense the purchaser of a certain luckless book § for any loss he might sustain. Much ill health and many perplexing avocations have hitherto prevented me from shewing you that I have not forgot my word.

"I have now just closed a very little occasional composition, which may possibly have a much greater circulation than a larger work. This, if he think it worth his acceptance, I will most readily give to your friend, and not limit to this (should it fail to reimburse him) my intention in his favour.

"I am particularly desirous that the author of the little work I have mentioned may for the present remain unknown. That it may not appear even at the press in my hand, I must still detain the manuscript about a week, till I can get it copied under my own roof. I flatter myself, however, you will receive pleasure when I tell you that the chief aim of this performance is to honour the memory of our departed friend the excellent *See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII. pp. 173, 389.

+ Of "The Young Widow," an elegant Novel; see ibid. vol. IX. p. 50. The Rev. John Warner, the original Proposer of a Statue for Mr. Howard. Ibid. vol. II. pp. 416. 644.

"The Young Widow," (see above.) This entertaining Novel, having been published anonymously, and without any of those adventitious aids too frequently practised in modern times, was less successful than its merits fairly claimed.

HOWARD,

HOWARD, with a view to quickert and extend the generosity of the nation in subscribing to his monument.

"The work is in prose, and intituled, The Eulogies of Howard*, a Vision.' To shew how much all ranks of men are interested in his glory, I have represented, in this visionary form, persons of different professions pronouncing different panegyricks on his incomparable character.

"The work altogether does not amount to a hundred pages. I could wish it printed on a very good paper, with a large type, but as a little book, of the most convenient size for the pocket; somewhat like the Sermons of Yorick. But how it shall be printed, I will leave you and our friend Robinson to determine, when you receive the MS. which I will send you as soon as possible, if you assure me it will prove a welcome guest. Indeed the season for such a publication is so far advanced in every point of view, that we have no time to lose. Believe me, my dear Sir, with every good wish to you and our worthy confederate, your very faithful friend and servant, W. HAYLEY."

TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esq.

"DEAR SIR, Red Lion Passage, March 26, 1810. "After thanking you for the great entertainment I received from the Life of Romney,' of which our Friend Sylvanus Urban has fully expressed my sentiments, I am happy to renew a long interrupted correspondence, with a request, which I make at the suggestion of a grandson of mild William Clarke and Anne his wife,' that you would have the goodness to point out to me some of the more prominent parts of the splendid Life of Lord Nelsont,' by way of a Review of it for the Gentleman's Magazine.' I understand that you have read it attentively; and am sure you will gladly assist me in doing justice to the labours of so good a man as Mr. James Stanier Clarke. There will not be occasion to transcribe any extracts. I have the volumes, and references will be sufficient. Mrs. Hayley (to whom, though I have not the honour to be known, I beg to be respectfully remembered) will, Mr. Clarke assures me, second my request; and I can only say that I shall be proud at any time to receive your communications either on this or any other subject, particularly on those in which you are so eminently versed, Italian literature and Old English Poetry. I am, Sir, with grateful recollections, "Your faithful humble servant, J. NICHOLS."

To Mr. NICHOLS.

"DEAR SYLVANUS IN URBE,

April 17, 1810. "I rejoice to hear, that while so many anonymous malignants assume the mask of periodical criticism to indulge their hatred,

See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. IX. p. 57.

A masterly Volunteer Review of this Work was soon after furnished by the learned and very Reverend Dr. Vincent, Dean of Westminster. See Gent. Mag. vol. LXXXI. i. pp. 46. 354; ii. p. 44.

malice,

malice, and all uncharitableness, you continue to exercise a very useful and honourable art with your usual good sense and good nature. I have not seen your account of the book you mention, but I am persuaded you cannot fail to speak of the meritorious departed painter, and of his affectionate biographer with your native benevolence.

"I am very glad you are preparing to do justice to the very great biographical merits of our Friend Clarke, who is scurrilously reviled in the Quarterly Review. In following the dictates of your own honest mind, you cannot fail to give him the character he deserves of a very industrious, intelligent, and eloquent Historian, who, being liberally furnished with all the documents of highest authority for his arduous work, has delineated the Life of our great Naval Hero with such fidelity and feeling, as ought to secure to the just, perspicuous, and animated biographer the general and permanent applause of our country. His extensive acquaintance with great naval characters, and his own personal knowledge of the habitudes and discipline of a seaman's life, qualified him, in a peculiar manner, for the task, which he has happily accomplished. As you possess the book, you have only to state your own genuine feelings in perusing it, and I am persuaded they will be such as to do honour both to the author and the critic.

"Since I received the favor of your letter, I have been anxiously employed in an irksome embroiled correspondence, trying to preserve two old friends from a very foolish quarrel about a few acres of land; with the additional anxiety of nursing a female relation in a painful state of health under this roof. Let these circumstances plead my excuse to you, my dear good-natured Sylvanus, for the tardiness, and for all the deficiencies of my reply to your friendly letter. Accept my best wishes for your health and happiness; and believe me ever faithfully

"Your Friend,

W. H." "DEAR SYLVANUS, Felpham, Sept. 3, 1810. "I happened to hear yesterday that you lately passed the gate of my little marine retirement without knowing that within you might have found an old friend and fellow-labourer in the field of literature, who would most willingly have refreshed you on your travels with a hermit's simple and salutary fare.

"I received my intelligence from my worthy printer, Mason of Chichester. He tells me he mentioned to you the four neat little volumes of Cowper's Milton, which we have recently produced for the emolument of Cowper's beloved and meritorious Johnny of Norfolk. As I most anxiously wish the publication to prosper for his sake, and am a little apprehensive that several booksellers, interested in other Milton's, may rather thwart than promote the success of the volumes in question, let me request you to assist their circulation to the utmost of your power. You cannot offer any tribute more acceptable to the pure spirit of our beloved Cowper, than a zealous endeavour to befriend his favourite and most meritorious kinsman.

"While