Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

CORRESPONDENCE.

[The Editor will be glad to receive Correspondence on Archeological matters, and information of discoveries of antiquities, accompanied with drawings of objects, when of sufficient interest, for illustration.]

CHAUCER, A RESIDENT AT ALDGATE.

To the Editor of " THE ANTIQUARIAN." SIR,-Referring to your passing allusion to the recent destruction of an ancient crypt in Aldgate, I wish to draw attention to the site in connection with our immortal poet, Geoffrey Chaucer.

The crypt in question must have originally belonged to St. Michael's Chapel, and is reputed to have been connected by subterranean communications with the priory of Holy Trinity in the immediate neighbourhood, the head whereof was ex officio Alderman of Portsoken Ward.

It seems quite within the scope of possibility, that the entire locality was honeycombed with such passages, and it is on record that in 1374, the mayor and corporation leased the whole dwelling-house over Aldgate to Chaucer, rent free, with the vaults or cellars underneath, which I thus connect with the destroyed crypt. Be it remembered, too, that this gate itself at one time belonged to the aforesaid priory, thus supplying a motive for the connecting passages I refer to. Chaucer may have occupied this dwelling, off and on, from 1374 to 1386, for his duties as comptroller of the customs and subsidies of wool, &c.

Here is the spot most closely identified with his actual career of any that we can identify, and as Aldgate pump is to be restored, why not connect it with Chaucer's memory? Here have stood in succession a cross, a conduit, and a pump. Consecrated by religion, conserved by utility, let us add a further attraction to a conspicuous site. Here is the spot to localise the great memory of Geoffrey Chaucer as I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

one of us.

May 25, 1871.

A. H.

of the accessories on their canvas. How much the pleasure
beholds no incongruity in the details.
of a good picture is enhanced when the observant eye
As an example of
truthfulness I would refer to E. Corbould's highly-finished
drawing of the "War-horse" in the Institute of Painters in
Water Colours from Job's sublime description. The mag-
nificent Assyrian horse trappings are an actual restoration
of the ornaments of the period, and the effect of this grand
artistic conception is the realisation of such a war-horse as
the Uzzean prophet must have seen "going forth to meet
the armed men."

This careful study of antique remains and ancient monu-
ments should be more thoughtfully followed by our artists,
and I trust that "THE ANTIQUARIAN" will lead them to a
far closer observation of the precious ancient and archaic
objects enriching our national and other museums.
I am, Sir,
Yours respectfully, B. S.

[blocks in formation]

out the Kingdom will confer a favour by forwarding to the Editor of [Secretaries of Archeological and Antiquarian Societies through this Journal all Notices and Reports of Meetings, and also their Periodical Publications.]

SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES.

THIS Society held a meeting on the 18th ultimo, Col. Lane
Fox, V.P., in the chair.

On this evening there was opened a large Exhibition of
stone implements and other illustrations of the Paleolithic
period. The contributors were as follows:-A. W. Franks,
Esq., Col. Lane Fox, J. Evans, Esq., Sir J. Lubbock, J.
Brent, Esq., the Rev. W. S. Simpson, the Trustees of the
Blackmore Museum, J. W. Flower, Esq., Sir C. Lyell, T.
Codrington, Esq., C. Child, Esq., F. G. C. Spurrell, Esq.,
J. Wyatt, Esq., and the Rev. W. W. Paley.

Messrs. Franks and Evans addressed a crowded meeting on the remains from the Caves of Dordogne, and on the

HISTORICAL ANACHRONISMS ON THE STAGE Implements from the Drift respectively.

AND CANVAS.

To the Editor of "THE ANTIQUARIAN." SIR,-My archæological knowledge is very limited, yet I have been frequently surprised and sometimes shocked to witness its glaring deficiency in theatrical scene-painters and managers as manifested in their common perpetration of gross anachronisms upon the stage in scenery, properties, and dresses. In minor theatres, whose audiences are almost wholly ignorant of ancient manners and fashions, it can hardly be expected to find any close adherence to things and garments harmonising with the historic periods of the plays, but in leading houses, frequented by superior and better informed people, it is less pardonable that such absurd inconsistencies should be suffered without observation and rebuke. I could mention instances now nightly exhibited, but I would prefer some of your learned correspondents to expose these violations of propriety, having thus called their attention thereto, as their more authoritative voice would much likelier lead to correction in this important department of stage management. The late Mr. Charles Kemble and Mr. Macready were both archeologists of some eminence, and they wisely strove to show to play-goers of their days the "very age and body of the time" in which the several histrionic representations were cast. Let these worthy exemplars be followed, and with the clever impersonations of our living actors, intelligent spectators will receive the additional mental delight of being led into the veritable days of the distant past.

While on this antiquarian topic, allow me also to draw attention to the historical pictures in the London exhibitions, the painters of which pay too little regard to the faithfulness

The Exhibition remained open till Thursday, the 25th, and has proved a great success.

It is believed that at the commencement of the ensuing session an Exhibition will be held of implements belonging to the later Stone Age (Neolithic).

NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

ON the 18th ultimo this Society held a meeting in their rooms, when W. S. W. Vaux, Esq., F.R.S., President, occupied the chair.

Mr. Golding exhibited a quarter noble of Edward III., struck after his twenty-seventh year, with a cross above the shield on the obverse; also one of Edward IV., with a star and a rose on either side of the shield.

Mr. Evans read a paper, translated by himself from the Danish, of Herr C. J. Shive, giving an account of the weight of English and Northern coins in the tenth and eleventh centuries, and an attempt at comparison between these weights and the weight-system for coins which apparently belong to the same period.

ROYAL ARCHEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. THE Annual Meeting of the Royal Archeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, for the year 1871, will commence, at Cardiff, on the 25th of July, under the Presidency of the Marquis of Bute. The Presidents of Sections will be Antiquities, the Earl of Dunraven; Architecture, G. T. Clark, Esq.; History, E. A. Freeman, Esq.

THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHÆOLOGY.

Ar the meeting of the Society of Biblical Archæology, May 2nd, Mr. Goldschmidt of Copenhagen read a paper on the Egyptian word Ukh or Akhu, Spirit, the Creating Spirit. Mr. Goldschmidt explains the name of Egypt, Atyvaros, from Ukh-hap-t, that means (in a free translation) the wife, or land, of the Stream-sending Spirit. He further pointed out that the following Greek words are derived from or closely related to Ukh or Akhu-Ogygia, the oldest name of Egypt as also of Attica, Boeotia, Lycia; Ogyogos, the father of the gods; Ogygios, the ancient Theban na me of Dionysos, Bakkhos, Lakkhos; Achaia; ixa; xevw; Okeanos-thus explaining the true sense of many Greek myths, tales, and names.

ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CORNWALL. THE Spring Meeting of the members of this Institution was held on May 23rd, at the Museum, Truro. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. J. Henwood, F.R.S., who commenced the proceedings with a lengthened address, chiefly having reference to the natural history and mining of the county. At the conclusion of his address, the Rev. J. R. Cornish, Hon. Sec., read the list of presents to the Institution since the last meeting, which included several valuable contributions both to the library and museum.

A paper contributed by Mr. J. Evans, F.S.A., was then read, on an ancient stone weapon of an unusual type, found in the parish of Pelyrt, and now deposited in the museum of the Institution. Mr. Evans remarked that it seemed to occupy an intermediate position between the battle-axe and the mace or fighting hammer. The instruments most nearly approaching it were from Scandinavia. It probably belonged to the period when bronze was in use for small weapons.

The Rev. W. Iago, of Bodmin, then gave an interesting account of the Bodmin ivory casket; of an ancient deed-box found by him in a chest in Bodmin Church, known as the Bodmin skippet; and of a case in which certain deeds belonging to an ancient charity in Lanivet used to be deposited, the Lanivet skippet. His remarks were illustrated by drawings of these and of similar objects. Mr. Iago identified the casket with the reliquary in which the bones of St. Petrock were brought back from France in 1177; and stated that it was of traditional Moorish work, and that its actual money value at the present time was certainly not less than 2001. Some drawings of tallies found at Lanivet, Mr. Iago compared with one of the old exchequer tallies which he produced. The skippet was at present used by the rector of Lanivet to keep the sacramental plate in.

Two papers by Sir John Maclean, F.S.A., were then read; one on the poll tax returns for Cornwall in 1377, the earliest recorded census of the population of that county; and the other a thirteenth century law suit concerning the presentation to the living of St. Pinnock. The recorded population of Cornwall in 1377, of persons above the age of fourteen, omitting the clergy and the non-fraudulent beggars, was 34,274. which, adding the proportion for children under fourteen, would make up the total population to 51,524. Between that date and the time of the first official census in 1801, when there were 189,278 inhabitants in the county, the population had increased 613 per cent. Between 1801 and 1861, 261 per cent.

Mr. Pengelly next read a paper on the insulation of St. Michael's Mount; and Dr. Bannister followed with a paper contending, against Professor Max Müller, that there was evidence of the presence of Jews in West Cornwall ever since the Phoenicians visited the county for tin. After the reading of several scientific papers, Mr. W. C. Borlase, F.S.A., gave a description, written by the historian, Dr. Borlase, of a fresco discovered in Ludgvan Church in 1740. The fresco is destroyed, but Mr. Borlase produced a drawing of it. It appears to have been of a most frivolous character, which was condemned by the learned doctor.

Mr. Worth, of Plymouth, then read "Notes on some bury Hill, near the Caradons, and the remains of an ancient Antiquities in East Cornwall." A British camp on Tokensmelting-house in the valley near Temple Church. Neither had previously been described. The camp is called Roundaberry, is an irregular circle in shape, has an area of two acres, and is situate high up the hill facing the north. Its entrance has two huge gateway stones, the top of which look as if they had supported a lintel. There was a rampart of six or eight feet round the camp, except at the lower end, where advantage was taken of the conformation of the ground; beyond was a ditch, eight to nine feet deep, with a small rampart on the outer edge. The camp is in excellent order, and every care is taken of it by its owner, Mr. S. Eliott. The old smelting-house is on the Lower Hill House estate, near the margin of the evident stream works in the valley. It is circular in form, with a furnace opposite the entrance. The furnace, also circular, is of granite, reddened and disintegrated by the action of fire. Other pieces of similar granite up and down the valley, indicate the existence of other houses. The old house was discovered amongst the remains of what seemed to have been a streamer's village. Near by were found two ancient tin-moulds,

A paper from the Rev. Prebendary Kinsman was then read on the present and former state of Lintagel Castle. He contended that it was once a whole building, and built upon the same ground throughout, and that the chasm was formed by land slips, which were going on at the present time, and the chasm was still widening. He believed the drawbridge had been made after the castle had become a ruin.

With the usual votes of thanks to the contributors of papers, donors, and the chairman, the meeting was brought to a conclusion.

ST. GOTHIAN'S ORATORY, CORNWALL. THE archeologists of West Cornwall are just now having their attention directed to the ruinous condition of the little oratory of St. Gothian, which is situated among the towans or sand-hills on the north coast, about a quarter of a mile from the parish church of Gwithian, near Hayle. Exposed to the full blast of the winds from the Atlantic, this ancient remnant of early Christian times would long ere now have been swept away, had not the sand, although in one sense its destroyer, been its protector by shielding it from outward foes. About forty years or more ago, however, this little structure was brought again to light by a farmer who was digging a pond close to the spring or holy well. Since then the building has been gradually going to decay, undergoing many vicissitudes, at one time being converted by a tenant into a cowshed! Were it allowed to remain much longer unprotected and uncared for, it is probable that in a few years hence there would be but little left of this ancient church. A plea for its preservation has more than once been written, but, alas! without the desired effect. But happily the matter has at last been taken up by certain local parties, and a provisionary committee has been formed to devise some plan for ensuring its safety. The Rev. F. Hockin, rector of Gwithian, has consented to act as chairman, the Rev. W. Horsburgh as secretary, and Mr. F. Harvey as trustee.

As preliminary work it is intended to clear out the interior of the building, and "also to sink a few trial-pits in the vicinity in search of bones or other relics, under the superintendence of one or two archeologists." A visitor to the spot more than a year ago describes the interior as having rough pieces of wood and stones lying about, and, being a shelter for cattle, it was very dirty and unpleasant in its appearance. When first discovered, the workmen "came to many skeletons, and soon after to a portion of the eastern wall. Beneath this and under the altar, there were found eight skeletons, ranged side by side, at a depth of three feet below the foundation. Below these skeletons they struck upon the ruins of another wall of rude construction, about three feet in height; beneath this again they

found other skeletons, still buried in the sand, at a depth of fifteen feet from the surface; here water prevented any further research." It is said that some of these skeletons were

re-buried.

A few remarks descriptive of the plan and construction of St. Gothian's Oratory may here be added.

The building consists of a nave and chancel, its total length being 45 ft. 10 in. Of this, the chancel occupies 14 ft. 4 in., the rest being appropriated to the nave. The walls of the nave are 3 ft. 4 in. thick, those of the chancel being only 2 ft. 6 in. In height they are now much reduced. Only by comparison with the walls of St. Piran's Oratory at Perranzabuloe, near Truro, can any idea be formed of their original elevation. The side walls at St. Piran were 13 ft. high, and it is probable that those of St. Gothian's Oratory were much about the same height. The walls it must be remembered are built of rough stones, unshaped except by nature, and placed together without cement of any kind. All kinds of stones were used, sandstone, slate, and quartz being built in side by side. In the south wall was a window, also an entrance into the nave. At the north-east corner of the chancel there was another opening, evidently a doorway, originally only a narrow opening 3 ft. 7 in. in width, connected the nave with the chancel. This doorway appears to have become ruinous since the Rev. W. Haslam described the building five-and-twenty

years ago.

At St. Piran's Oratory there are stone seats round the nave for the people; here there are no stone seats in the nave, it would seem therefore that wooden benches were used. In the chancel, however, stone seats extend all round from the entrance to the eastern end, where the altar slab was placed. They were about 1 ft. 6 in. in width and the same in height. The altar stone of blue slate was 4 ft. 10 in. in length and not more than 3 ft. in width. This we understand was removed when the tenant made the interior serve as a cowshed. At the same time several holes or breaches in the walls were filled up.

It is to be hoped that through the vigilance and foresight of the members of the committee just formed, this primitive Christian church will be preserved from utter destruction for many years to come. In point of age many believe it to be older than St. Piran's Oratory, owing to the rudeness of the walls and the absence of carved stone in the doorways and window. It would be well, too, if some regard was paid to the state of the little church of St. Piran, which a few years ago was described as "in a most crumbling and shattered condition, the doorway destroyed, and the whole building apparently reduced to a shapeless mass of ruins." The archeologists of Truro would do well to see to this.

E. H. W. DUNKIN.

[blocks in formation]

RELICS OF A BY-GONE AGE.-The workmen engaged in making the intercepting sewer in the Brunswick-square district, Brighton, recently found some bones and teeth of a species of deer or ruminant, lying embedded in the brick earth; the teeth were in a very good state of preservation, but the bones were somewhat friable. Through the exertions of J. Round, Esq., one of the members of the Hove Sewers' Board, these interesting mementoes of the past have been secured for the town, and will shortly be placed in the Brighton Museum at the Pavilion.

[ocr errors]

SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY.-A meeting of this Society will be holden on Tuesday, 6th June, when the following papers will be read :-"On the Early History of Assyria and of Babylonia, from contemporary inscriptions (Part I.), by George Smith, Esq., British Museum; and "On the Date of the Nativity," by J. W. Bosanquet, Esq., F.R.A.S., M.R.A.S., &c. The meeting commences at half-past eight, p.m.

ST. MARY-LE-STRAND.

THIS church was re-opened on Sunday the 21st ultimo, after undergoing complete internal restoration. It was built by the-Fields; the first stone was laid on February 25, 1714, James Gibbs, the architect of the church of St. Martin's-inand it was finished on September 7, 1717. The following is the account given by Gibbs of his work :-"The new church in the Strand, called St. Mary-le-Strand, was the first I was situate in a very public place, the commissioners for building employed on after my arrival from Italy, which, being the fifty churches, of which this is one, spared no cost to beautify it. It consists of two orders, in the upper part of which lights are placed; the wall of the lower, being solid to keep out noises from the street, is adorned with niches. There was at first no steeple designed for this church, only a small campanile or turret. A bell was to have been over the west end of it; but at the distance of eighty feet there was a column 250 feet high, intended to be erected in honour of Queen Anne, on the top of which her statue was to be placed. My design for this column was approved by the commissioners, and a great quantity of stone was brought to the place for the foundation of it; but the thoughts of erecting that monument being laid aside at the Queen's death, I was ordered to erect a steeple instead of the campanile first proposed. The building then advanced twenty feet above ground, and therefore admitting of no alteration from east to west, I was obliged to spread it from north to south, which makes the plan oblong, which should other wise have been square. On the site of this church stood the Maypole, which being grown old and decayed, was, anno 1717, obtained by Sir Isaac Newton, Knt., of the parish, and being taken down, and carried away through the city in a carriage of timber (April, 1718) into Wanstead, in Essex, by the leave of Sir Richard Child, Bart., was reared up and placed in his park there, the use whereof is for the raising of a telescope, the largest in the world, given by a French gentleman (M. Hugon) to the Royal Society. Here also was the first stand for hackney carriages, established by Captain Bailey, who "erected according to his ability some four hackney coaches, put his men in livery, and appointed them to stand at the Maypole in the Strand, and gave them instructions at what rates to carry men into several parts of the town where all day they may be had."

THE VENDOME COLUMN.

THE beautiful column of the Place Vendôme must not be allowed to fall without an obituary notice. The column was the idea of Napoleon. On the 18th of August the first stone was laid; the work was finished in exactly four years. The column is, or was, of the Doric order, and was of stone, coated with 425 bronze plaques, moulded in bas-reliefs, and winding round the shaft from the pedestal to the lantern. These formed a complete history of the campaign of 1805. of 1200 cannon captured at Ulm and Vienna. The total The bronze weighed 1,800,000 pounds, and was the metal height of the column was 132 feet 3 inches, and it was ascended by a spiral staircase of 176 steps. The pedestal was also covered on three sides with bas-reliefs representing arms, uniforms, flags, and other military gear taken from the Austrians. The inscription was by Visconti, and ran as

follows:

[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

campaign. These were selected by the Emperor himself, and the inscriptions which accompanied them, and were engraved on a cordon under the bas-relief, were written by "le savant Denon" and the Prince of Wagram. The column was intended to give a memorial and verbal history of the whole campaign.

Napoleon's first intention was that the statue upon the lantern of the column should be, not his own, but Charlemagne's. After Jena, Eylau, and Friedland, however, he changed his mind, or allowed his flatterers to change it for him, and a statue of himself by Chaudet was placed upon the column. This gave way, in 1844, to another by Seurre, in which the great Emperor was represented standing on a heap of cannon-balls, dressed in his "costume de bataille." The hat, the epaulettes, the boots, the “redingote a revers, the lorgnette, and the sword worn at Austerlitz were copied exactly. The statue was cast in gun metal taken from the enemy, "under the Empire, let it be well understood,” adds | the writer of this year," for if we make war now-a-days we do not take cannon." The present figure succeeded M. Seurre's, and is one of Napoleon III.'s tributes to the memory of his uncle.

The first of these projections was about six inches thick: the second, about sixteen inches. The walls are about four feet wide at the top, but increase in substance and strength towards the bottom. As the earth was opened they appeared to lie in an angular position. The distance from each angle was precisely eleven feet six inches. The inner surface was quite flat and faced three feet from the bottom with plain red tiles, having a lump on the reverse side of each to help secure it when placed in the mortar against the wall. These tiles were not exactly of the ordinary kind, and measured eight inches by ten, though not one whole one could be seen among them. The earth between these walls to the depth of about ten feet consisted of ashes, tiles, bones, &c., and although the workmen dug to the depth of thirteen feet six, yet no kind of flooring or pavement could be discovered. At the bottom of this made-up earth, ten feet below the surface, a small vase was dug up and thrown out. It was rescued from oblivion by myself, and is now in my possession, and also a small piece of green glazed tile. This vase when found was perfectly empty. It is of common earthenware of a light brown colour, and was originally glazed outside, the upper part of it being of a greenish hue. Its shape is somewhat globular, with two slight projections at the base of the neck, and a small hole through each by which it was doubtlessly supported, and by which it would appear to have been used as a censer or lachrymactory, or it might only have been an old water-bottle, although for this purpose it would appear of little service on account of its being so small.

be considered of little value.

ANCIENT DISCOVERIES AT WALTHAM ABBEY. THE ruins which doubtless lie hid beneath many parts of the public thoroughfare contiguous to the Abbey Church are of considerable moment and worthy of contemplation, especially as we are daily necessitated to believe that the fragment of Earl Harold's work is still becoming more and more important and interesting. A short time since while some workmen were making progress with the drains in connection with the sewerage works in Waltham Abbey near the market place, they came across the basement of two stone and flint walls running parallel toward the south-east end of the churchyard. As the trenches were opened it might be at once seen that it was a substance in order contemporary with the old monastery; and according to the cruciform style of the original structure, these walls would come in direct conjunction with the eastern transept, and formed either an enclosed walk or subterranean passage from It is evidently of the medieval class, and measures twelve Similar bottles are portrayed in Erasmus' "Praise of Folly." the Abbey into the centre of the town southward to Seward-inches round the centre, and two inches in diameter at the stone Street, or what was anciently called Shepescotestrete. base. The neck is two inches long, by one and a quarter The names of the streets of our town have been so materially broad across the mouth; the height is five inches; it may altered that none of them scarcely bear the same title as they did in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and which were so congenial to the sombre character and monastic order of the old Augustine fraternity. After taking a faint glance at the geographical position of these walls, we may notice further their dimensions, &c., as it will probably be something for the rising generation to investigate into more fully, though it would now cost but a very trifling expense to trace out their extent, by simply digging out about two feet of surface earth, and which the writer of this contribution, as a member of the Essex Archæological Society, would be only too pleased to witness. It is, says one of the past century, "almost as difficult to distinguish the age of a building by the masonry used in it, when nothing more than the plain walls appear, as it is to distinguish when a foundation was laid by the materials and manner of laying it only. We find the several species of masonry which the Romans introduced were used by the Saxons, the Normans, and also the more modern masons, notwithstanding the various styles of architecture which prevailed in different ages." Each of these newly-discovered walls (which lay before disturbed one foot below the surface) measured in depth four feet from the top to the first narrow set off, and twenty-two inches to the second or broader set off, from which to the extreme base they measured exactly six feet.

Bottles or vases of this kind were used by the ancient shepherds, and especially by the pilgrims who trudged their way to Canterbury, to Walsingham, and to other places, as it is given in the "Fantasie of Idolatrie "

:

"To Wynsore, to Waltam,*
To Ely, to Caultam,

Bare foted and bare legged apace."

Such vases were also Roman, and called Ampulla. Only a few days since while some repairs were going on not far from the place above-named, the workmen discovered several human bones, also two or three small pieces of iron about three inches long, something like spear heads. In 1867 (a few yards from this spot), a great quantity of skeletons were discovered in digging out the foundations of some new buildings. One of the skeletons was entire, having three stakes driven through it in the form of a triangle, near which was a small dagger. I have preserved one of the posts. Can any of your readers give any instance of persons being buried elsewhere like this? Waltham Abbey.

W. WINTERS.

*This is intended evidently for Waltham Abbey, as it is in connec tion with Windsor. The Abbot of Waltham had a vineyard at Windsor, temp. Richd. II.

[ocr errors]

DR. JOHNSON'S CHAIR AT ST. JOHN'S GATE,
CLERKENWELL.

ABOUT 1730, this ancient Priory Gate was hired by Edward
Cave, a printer and earnest promoter of English literature,
and by whom the first monthly publication was here started,
under the title of The Gentleman's Magazine. To carry out
this enterprise the mediaval rooms were cleared of their
monastic relics, when types and printing presses were intro,
duced.

ORIGIN OF HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND. IN a leading article on the Derby Day, the Globe remarks:"Historically regarded, it might be supposed that racing as an institution is older in Yorkshire than in any other of the English counties. It was indigenous in the forest of Galton, to the east of the city of York, as early as the year 1590. But even York must yield in point of antiquity to Chester. Enthusiasts maintain that the Turf was an institution in England in the reign of Athelstan the Saxon: it is certain that the origin of the Chester Cup may be referred to the reign Dr. Johnson, from his constant contributions to The of Henry VIII. In 1511 there was established at Chester a Gentleman's Magazine, as well as being engaged by Cave horse-race, the victor in which was presented with a silver on other works, was very frequently at the ancient gate. A bell. Ninety-eight years subsequently three silver cups were room was appropriated specially to him, where in leisure substituted, and after another interval of fourteen years moments he would invite his brother workers. The house one faire Silver Cupp' of about the value of eight pounds still retains a venerable-looking old arm-chair, of which the took the place of the three. If the line of the annual sucillustration below is an engraving, fondly and with good cession in the contests be not unbroken, their origin is at reason believed to be the one on which the great lexico-least an historical fact. Newmarket first became the megrapher sat when penning many of his most celebrated works.

tropolis of racing in the reign of James I.-the monarch who must also be accredited with the distinction of having popularised the Epsom meeting. Long before the scene to which the multitude has repaired to-day became consecrated to the purposes of horse-racing, Epsom had achieved celebrity in consequence of its medicinal waters and its invigorating climate. It was on the occasion of one of his visits to Norwich Palace that James I. first conceived the idea of enlivening the place of his valetudinarian retirement with equestrian diversions,' and thus royalty created that which royalty has since so often patronised."

[graphic]
[ocr errors]

MR. STOPS.

For the loan of this engraving we are indebted to Mr. Wickens, the present proprietor, whose predecessor published an account of the gate, from which interesting work we are kindly permitted to give extracts and illustrations on a future occasion. It deserves mention that any reader desiring to inspect the whole or any portion of the structure, will find in the worthy host a courteous guide over this historic tavern.

ANCIENT BRITISH SCYTHE-ARMED CHARIOT. A CORRESPONDENT in Notes and Queries, writing thereon, concludes his communication by saying that the question of their use is involved in doubt, and "thinks that a Brochure upon ancient, British war-chariots by some accomplished archæologist is a literary desideratum.

Another correspondent writes :-"There is a certain amount of negative evidence touching the question mooted in the fact that at least three interments involving the presence of a buried ancient British chariot' have been met with in Yorkshire. Two of these are noticed in Phillips' 'Yorkshire,' p. 209, with a reference for fuller information to the Memoirs of the York Meeting of the Arch. Inst., 1846.' The third was discovered by Mr. Kendall, of Pickering, in a tumulus near Cawthorn Camps. He described to me, when showing me the wheel-tires and other parts of the 'find' still extant, the whole transaction, from the first meeting with the hole near its extremity to the complete unearthing of the whole. But the minute examination of the entire interment seemed to have revealed nothing to lead to the inference that scythes had existed. The horse-trappings found showed that draught from the chest, not the shoulder, of the small horses employed had been the rule."

THE grotesque and archaic look of this figure justifies its introduction into these pages. It is taken from a capital little book for children, entitled 66 Round Games and Amusing Exercises upon Grammar," published by Messrs. Dean & Son, of Ludgate Hill, who have kindly lent the engraving. This funny figure was designed to teach children the stops used in punctuation, and is a most capital method of imparting that useful knowledge. It amuses the young, and the most serious adult cannot look upon this Mr. Stops" without laughing at a character so replete in all his points.

OLIVER CROMWELL'S HOUSE.- Workmen have been employed to demolish the fine old large red-brick mansion on Brixton Rise, which, according to repute, was once occupied by Oliver Cromwell. This is the last specimen in the locality. The property has been purchased by the London Tramway Company.

THE 400th anniversary of the birth of Albert Dürer was celebrated at Nürnberg on Sunday and Monday last.

« AnteriorContinuar »