that wee took, sunck, and fired of them, 17 men of warr as by the list inclosed. If the night had not preuented, and there had bin searoome enough, tis probable wee should haue cut of most pt of them, but it growing dark and being neere ye Flatts, dangerous place for shipps of a great draught, and being necessitated to stay to mend our sayles and riggin, wch was much toren and shattered, wee could not follow after them, but came to an Anchor about 10 at night. This morning som of our shipps discryed them afarr of, steering away towards the Wellings, wherevpon a Counsell of warr of all the Capts was called to advize what the moste conueniant course was for improuemt of the present Victory to the best aduantage, where it was Resolued, to make what sayle wee could with the whole fleet towards the Wellings, soe farr as with safty wee could, and soe to rang the Dutch coast, till wee come to the Texell, hoping the Lord will soe owne vs in the Isbue thereof, as shall bee most for his Glory, and the good of ye Commonwealth." At present wee are not able to giue your honn's any further account; but shall endeauour by the next, to bee more pticuler, being now prosecuting or former resolutions, as well as putting our selues into such a posture, as may best defend ourselues, and annoy our enemyes, when wee meete with him. Last night Genn" Blake with 13 saile of Shipps came vp with vs (wee are) "Yor Lo'pps most humble seruant, "GEORGE MONCK. "From aboard the Resolution off of Ostend, 5 June 1653. To the C: State."

Mr.URBAN, Tavistock-place, Jan.13. YOU YOU have often noticed my Topographical and Antiquarian Works; and, since the publication of "The Beauties of Wiltshire," 2 vols. 1801, and volume I. of "The Beauties of England and Wales," generally with commendation. These, however, were criticised with some degree of just severity; as both were defective. For the generous and liberal encomiums on subsequent works accept my warmest thanks; and now allow me to inform you that your early censures are duly noticed in a Let ter to Mr. Brewer, in which I have detailed the origin, progress, and cha

racteristics of the latter Work. This Letter is printed in the introductory volume to the said "Beauties," and contains a full and unreserved expla nation of my own and Mr. Brayley's concern in, and influence on, that Work. And as we have both been censured, and now suffer, for the misconduct, or errors of others, I am persuaded you, and many other lovers of Topographical literature, will not deem it too much trouble, or find it loss of time, in perusing the whole Preface to that Work.

Permit me also to direct your attention to the following Prospectus, or notice, which Sir RICHARD HOARE has lately circulated through WILTSHIRE, and which I trust will excite the latent energy and emulation of all those gentlemen of the County who have leisure and talents to assist the worthy Baronet in his most laudable and praiseworthy plan. He promises to furnish us with the Hundred of Mere. Lord ARUNDELL, I learn, has undertaken the Hundreds of Dunworth and Cheek, and I hope soon to be enabled to communicate to you the names of other Wiltshire Topographers, and the districts they propose to elucidate.

Yours, &c.

J. BRITTON.

"TOPOGRAPHY OF WILTShire. "The enlightened period is at length arrived when the researches of an ANTIQUARY are no longer considered as useless, or the taunting expression of cui bono? applied to his topographical labours. The literary annals of the present æra have announced Topography as one of their most favourite subjects, and very justly may it be considered as worthy of general attention; for what information can be more useful, or desirable, than the knowledge of our own Country, of its inhabitants, its property, and its antiquities? The Histories of many of our Counties are at this time publishing, and upon a scale of extent WILTSHIRE, a County which stands preand splendour hitherto unknown; but eminent in its British antiquities, and in its more modern edifices, &c. has not as yet sufficiently attracted the historian's attention; for, if I except the writings of Dr. Stukeley on Abury and Stonehenge, my own Antient History of South Wiltshire, the descriptions of Salisbury Cathedral, and of Malmsbury Town and Abbey, nothing of importance has been published which might tend to the proper illustration of our County.

"I am fully aware of the many difficulties which will occur to any person who may attempt the general history of a County: I am also aware of the great length of time and the heavy expenses which would be incurred in collecting the necessary documents for a general County history; but a Society might encounter what an Individual would not venture to begin, or hope to accomplish. I beg leave, therefore, to propose to my countrymen a plan, which, if adopted con amore, could not fail in due time, and in no very long term, to produce a good County History.

"Though the description of an entire County might be deemed too laborious for one individual, yet I flatter myself that the history of a single Hundred is within the compass of many; and should even these labours be thought too irksome, they might be divided amongst a Society of resident Gentlemen, each taking his own Parish. Such an occupation, I trust, would be particularly gratifying to many a Clergyman, who has both leisure to investigate, and ability to describe.-An annual meeting might be convened, to compare the collected notes, and confer upon the general subject.

"My own literary labours have for many years past been confined to the early British antiquities. The Antient History of South Wiltshire is completed; and that of North Wiltshire, as far as regards the history of the Britons, is ready for the press; and an account of the Roman antiquities in our County will terminate this Work.-I shall then undertake the modern history of the Hundred of Mere, in which I reside; and I hope thereby to excite others to a similar undertaking.

"Should these proposals meet with the wished-for encouragement, I shall feel happy in communicating with those of my Countrymen who are willing to undertake a single Hundred, or even a single Parish; and to facilitate their views by a more copious prospectus, in which I should state the readiest means of inquiry, and suggest a series of necessary queries.

RICHARD COLT HOARE.

Stourhead, Sept. 1, 1817."

Wulk from ROME to OSTIA, &c.

(Concluded from p. 6.)

AFTER breakfast we endeavoured

to find the shortest way to the road leading to Ardea. In the course of our progress we met with some difficulties. The road was rough, and, in some parts, intersected by ditches. On these barren hills our companion,

2

whom we had, for the moment, left in the rear, was attacked, in a most serious manner, by a whole legion of large and savage shepherds' dogs. letto in his umbrella, which appalled He had luckily a small sword or stithem, in some measure, or he would bave been in the greatest danger. The men, to whom they belonged, were at some distance, neither did the dogs seem much inclined to obey the

voices of their masters.

The situation of Ardea, the capital of Turnus, is fine; overlooking and commanding the country for many miles. Some traces of the old town are still remaining. After attempting a sketch of the place, we found it necessary to refresh ourselves. We met with much attention at the osteria, particularly from one of its visitors, whom we had conceived to be the Village Doctor; in the language of the country, the Professor. Our conjecture was right. We were indebted to the Professor for the greatest civility. He wished us to stay till a frittáta should be manufactured, but we had not time. As it was, he repaired to his house, and brought us three clean napkins, and a cheese, in quality much superior to that of the country. In the osteria, indeed, we could find nothing but bread. were much gratified by this attention, and the Professor appeared satisfied with our acknowledgments.

We

We had still a long walk. After proceeding some miles, we were stopped by a river crossing the road, which we conjectured might be the antient Numichus. We were not sorry to doff part of our garments, and to refresh ourselves in its stream. Passing a tower, cailed St. Lorenzo, inhabited by soldiers, we again arrived on the shore. We had still twelve or fourteen miles march. Before quitting this line of coast, we suffered something from fatigue. Several ruins still present themselves, for a considerable space, which appears, in other times, to have been covered with buildings. Close to Antium, now Porto d' Anzio, are several large palaces, and the sea-view is of great extent and beauty. We had an opportunity of enjoying it from a sort of watch-tower, about half a mile from the town. This place contained a considerable number of soldiers, and a pretty extensive population, but there was no osteria at which we could

procure

procure beds. We were compelled

to advance about a mile to Nettuno. Here we had a violent altercation with our host. We were hungry, and he was uncivil. We fared ill, but after much difficulty secured tolerable beds. Our friend found a couch in a palace.

At Nettuno was a café, where we procured some breakfast. We were rather later than usual this morning. For the first eleven miles, we inarched through a wood, over a sandy soil, sometimes varied by marshy spots, which caused us to deviate from our route, and we suffered considerably from the heat. Midway between Nettuno and Albano is a poor hut or osteria, at the door of which we refreshed ourselves with a glass of wine. We had a table placed on the green turf, and enjoyed the bright prospect around us. Corioli was to the front, and, in another direction, we were cheered with the sight of the town which was to be our restingplace for the hight; where we fondly hoped that we should find a decent bed, and perchance a bit of meat. This was a luxury which we had not enjoyed from the commencement of our journey. As we advanced, the country improved upon us, and the prospects extended. We had again a view of the sea, and of the flat country, which we had passed in our route. Pratica was very conspicuous. We marched into Albano with tribes of peasants, men and women, returning from their labour, whose picturesque dresses added much to the beauty of the scenery. The country appears highly cultivated, and the valleys covered with the vine. The inn is excellent; we had the best of beds, as well as the best of beef-stakes, and fared like gentlenen.

In the morning we visited the ruins of Anchises' Tower, close to the entrance into the city from Rome, and proceeded hence along the galleria leading to the Lake of Albano. The walk is broad, well kept, and enclosed within the finest avenues. The oaks were here of the most magnificent growth, of the thickest and the darkest foliage. The hills surrounding the Lake form a complete amphitheatre. We scrambled down a very steep path through the vineyard, and explored the Emissary of the Lake, a work of the antient Romans. Here we met with other English men, and we went into the cavern together.

The water flows from the lake in a narrow channel, down which the guide sends a small boat, lighted with a bit of wax taper, for the amusement of the company. It dispenses its light for a considerable distance under the vault when it is suddenly extinguished by the bad air. The water was carried to Veii.

We ascended by a more circuitous and less arduous path, and were soon on our way to Rome. We marched very briskly, but did not reach home before we were tolerably drenched in rain. Our knapsacks attracted the attention of the soldiers at the barrier, who hailed us, and we brought to. They seemed amused at our appearance. On mentioning our place of abode, we were suffered to proceed.

In our absence, a very visible change had taken place in the vegetation in the neighbourhood of the City. The elders were more green, and the wild flowers more numerous about the walls. "Ce n'est pas seulement de Pampres et d'Epis que notre nature est parée, mais elle prodigue sous les pas de l'homme, comme a la fête d'un Souverain, une abondance de fleurs et de plantes inutiles, qui, destinées a plair, ne s'abaissent point a servir." Yours, &c. A LAURENTIAN.

Mr. URBAN,

Feb. 2.

YOUR Readers must well remem

ber the outcry against poor Bruce, for his story of the Abyssinian feast, which later travellers have however confirmed. The following passage is taken from a small pamphlet of 17 pages quarto, intituled, "A Modern Account of Scotland; being an exact Description of the Country, and a true Character of the People and their manners. Written from thence by an English Gentleman. Printed in the year 1679."

"Their cruelty descends to their beasts, it being a custom in some places to feast upon a living cow they tie in the middle of them, near a great fire, and then cut into collops off this poor living beast, and broil them on the fire, till they have mangled her all to pieces; nay, sometimes they will only cut off as much as will satisfie their present appetites, and let her go till their greedy stomachs call for a new supply; such horrible cruelty as can scarce be parralleled in the whole world!"