ing brought to Craigmiller's lodgings, who was then Provost of the town, a ftrong guard was placed upon her, and he was left to her reft, without fo much as any of her maids being allowed to wait upon her; all which the bore with a patience and fortitude of mind becoming a Chriftian Queen: only as he was carried along the streets, he could not refrain from fhedding abundance of tears, caufed by the vile and fcurrilous reproaches of the mob.

The next morning, when the looked out of her window, the first object that prefented to her fight was a banner, fully difplayed, and fixed foregainst her window, whereon was painted her dead husband King Henry, lying under the fhade of a tree, with the young Prince upon his knees, with thefe words pro ceeding out of his mouth, Judge and revenge my cause, O Lord! Upon the viewing of this the burst into tears; and calling upon the people who were gaz ing upon her in the ftreets, the faid, Good people, either fatisfy your cruelty and hatred by taking away my miferable life, or relieve me from the bands of fuch inbuman and miferable traitors.This being fpoken and accompanied with all the moving circumftances of the brighteft Majefty that ever fun fhined upon in the greateft mifery, it was no wonder that their hearts were melted into compaflion: fo running immediately to arms, they had certainly fet her at liberty, had not the rebels foftened their tempers by telling them, that they were going to convey her to her palace of Holyrood-houfe, where he was to have her liberty as much as ever. Towards the evening fhe was conveyed to her palace, accompanied by the accla,mations of a mob: but the rebel Lords immediately met in council, to confider what was further to be done; and it was agreed to amongst them, that the fhould be fent prifoner to the caftle of Lochlevin, to remain there during her life, and that the roval authority fhould be eftablished in the perfon of her fon t."

It may not be amils here to say something refpecting the peculiar fpecies of architecture formerly ufed in Edinburgh. It feems to have arifen trom

Sir Simon Prefton, of Craigmiller, was Lord Provoit of Edinburgh A.D 1567.

+ See Makenzie's Lives of the Scotch Writers, vol. III. p. 294-Spotswood's Hiftory-and Crawford's Memoirs.

GENT. MAG. April, 1788.

three diftinct caufes. ift, The clofe connection which in early times fubfified between Scotland and France, and, of courfe, the adoption of the French mode of building. 2dly, The defire (in turbulent times) to be under the protectionof the cattle. And 3dly, the fingular fituation of the old town, which, being built on the ridge of a hill, gave oppor tunity of making the backs of the houfes ten or twelve ftories high, although the fronts of them towards the ftreet appear to be only fix or feven.

Fig. 2, in the fame plate, is an ancient feal of block tin, found in making the South Bridge at Edinburgh, A.D 1786, and is in the poffeffion of James Brown, efq; architect. It is fuppofed to be the arms of Arnot, and is a fpecimen of the feals ufed for writings, impreffions of which were directed to be given in to the fheriff-clerks of the different coupties in Scotland, by act of Parliament in the time of Queen Mary.

Fig. 3, is a white cornelian feal, found, in 1772, to the South of Lundie-houfe; Fifefhire, in the field renowned for the battle fought between the Scots, commanded by Conflantine their King, and the Danes, led by their King Humba and his brother Habba, in the ninth century. The feal, if dropped at that battle, is fuppofed to have been the spoil of the Roman provinces, and could not be the workmanship of either of thofe nations. This feal is in the poffeffion of Lady Rachael Drummond. Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

OBS

O. R.

St. Alban's, April 9. BSERVING in your valuable Magazine for March, p. 225, a copy of an original letter of the Protector Cromwell; it has induced me to fubmit one from the original in my poffeflion, which if you think worthy a place, you will oblige,

Yours, &c.

T. C.

wealth was then in, from the old cavalier party, who were defigning new infurrections within us, whilft their head and mafter was contriving to invade us from abroad, and thereupon defir'd your care and vigiJancy for preferving the peace, and apprehending all dangerous perfons. Our intelligence of that kind still continues; and we

are more affur'd of their refolutions to put in execution their defigns aforefaid within a very short tyme, being much encouraged from fome late actings of fome turbulent and unquiet fpirits, as well in this town as elsewhere, and who, to fruftrate and render vayne and fruitleffe all thofe good hopes of fettlement which we had conceived from the proceedings of Parliament before their adjournment in June laft, framed a treafonable petition to the Houfe of Commons,

by the name of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, defigning thereby not only the overthrow of the late petition

and advice of the Parliament, but of all that

hath been done thefe feven years, hoping thereby to bring all things into confufion; and were in a very tumultuous manner procuring fubfcriptions thereunto, giving out, that they were encouraged in it by fome members of the Houfe of Commons: and the truth is, the debates that have been in that House fince their last meeting have had their tendencie to the ftirring up and cherifhing of fuch humours, having done nothing in fourteen daies but debated whether they fhould own the government of these nations, as it is contayned in the petition and advice w'ch the Parliament, at their former fitting, had invited us to accept of, ⚫ and had fworn us unto, and they themfelves also haveing taken an oath upon it before they went into the house. And wee, judging these things to have in them very dangerous confequences to the peace of this nation, and to the loofening all the bonds of government, and being hopeleffe of obtain ing fupplies of monies, for anfwering the exigencies of the nation, from fuch men as are not fatisfied with the foundation we ftand upon, we thought it of abfolute neceffity to diffolve this prefent Parliament, which I have done this day, and to give you notice thereof, that you, with your troope, may be most vigilant for the fuppreffing of any disturbance which may arife from any party whatsoever. And if you can heare of any perfons who have been active to promote the aforefaid treasonable petition, that you apprehend them, and give an account thereof to us forthwith. And wee doe further let you know, that we are fenfible of your want of pay for yourfelfe and troope; and doe affure you, that effectual care thall be taken therein, and that without delay; and I reft, your loveing friend, Whiteball, Febr. 4b 1657.

OLIVER P.

CHE

Mr. URBAN, Lincoln, Marcb 2. HARITY deservedly obtains the first rank among all the Chriftian virtues; and the fervent manner with which it is every where recommended and enforced, eminently diftinguishes Christianity above every other religion. rality of mankind are more mistaken, But there is nothing in which the genethan the true effence of this virtue. Charity does not confift in the mere dif tribution of alms, or indifcriminate relief of every fupplicant. It is to be eftimated from the heart. A truly charitable perfon will regard all his fellowcreatures with an eye of love and tendernefs; their diftreffes will always find a ready tear, and their wants a supply proportionable to his circumstances and fituation in life. Yet his philanthropy will not prevent him from making the proper diftinctions in the objects of his charity, or from felecting, among a number, a few worthy perfons, who are more peculiarly deferving of his af fiftance. And there are in the neighbourhood of every one perfons of this defcription. The hapless orphan-the widow finking under poverty and forrow, oppreffed by a number of children, deprived of the only comfort that could

render the afflictions of life tolerable to her, and which enhanced all the joys of it-the man who has feen better days, but whom unforeseen accidents have reduced to indigence—to such does true charity open her arms with the warmest and most fincere expreffions of love and protection.

The wisdom of the Legislature has taken care that every parifh fhall provide for its own poor. To relieve the cafual itinerant beggar is, therefore, to counteract the intentions of the Legislature, and, in many inftances, to promote vice, and encourage idleness. Befides, the diftreffes which every day pafs before our eyes are not the mont deplorable in themfelves. "The common fupplicant (as an elegant author has obferved) fubmits, without a blush, to folicit alms of all he meets; and, from having been always involved in poverty, his ideas of happiness are accommodated to his ftate of penury. But there are others who feel a more delicate diftrefs, and, inftead of their misfortunes forcing them into the world to feek redrefs, the recollection of their past hap pier lot drives them into folitary retirement, there to lament their unhappy fate."

There

There is an inftitution at Lincoln which I do not remember to have met with at any other place, calculated to relieve private afflictions of this nature. A lady and gentleman, who wish to relieve fome widow in diftrefs, or fome perfon of reduced circumftances, make what is called a charitable affembly for them. They fix upon an evening, and, in their own names, fend cards of invitation round the town, "requesting the favour of your company at the charitable affembly for the relief of." After tea, the mafter and mistress of the ceremonies hand about plates to the company, when every one gives what he pleafes above a billing. These meetings are very well attended by all the people of the firft fashion, and very confiderable fums are fometimes collect ed. The reft of the evening is spent in dancing and card-playing. Thus the happiness of a diftreffed individual is infured, to the amusement and gratification of thofe who contribute to it. The utility of thefe inftitutions, befides the innocent pleafure they promote, is obvious and friking; and it is a pity that they are not more generally adopted.

Your Magazine, Mr. Urban, from its refpectability, and very extenfive circulation, has appeared to me the propereft vehicle for recommending thefe inftitutions to the public notice; and I fhould feel a peculiar fatisfaction if, from the inhabitants of any other town taking this hint, I fhould be the remote caufe of alleviating the misfortunes of a fellow-creature. Yours, &c. J. C.

I

Mr. URBAN,

March 31. HAVE read with pleafure the letter (vol. LVII. pr. 9. 105) concerning incorporated boroughs, in which that fubject is treated with the fagacity of an Antiquary, and the temper of a philofopher. The curfory reflection on justices of the peace, with which the letter clofes, caught my eye; and I am heartily forry that your correfpondent, inftead of tagging it on to the end of a letter, had not referved it for the fubject of a future one. Indeed, Sir, thefe worthy gentlemen merit his notice. It is poffible they may afford matter for panegyric, for cenfure they certainly do.

If his Majefty's lieutenants of counties are not more attentive to the birth, parentage, and education, as well as lives, fortunes, charaders, and behavi

our, of thofe who apply to have their names inferted in the commiffion, in a very few years it will be found difficult to prevail on men of fortune and abili ties to act, and run the risk of attending quarter feffions. You may obferve, I have united fortune and abilities as two indifpenfable requifites; for I am fo unfashionable as to think, that these united are abfolutely neceffary towards forming a refpectable bench of juftices. Without the firft, contempt, without the latter, error and oppreffion take place.

The little property I have is in two remote parts of England. In the first, the neighbouring juftice is a well-meaning man, with fome share of parochial knowledge. But, alas! all his good qualities are rendered ufelefs by paflions ungovernably furious, a fantastic whimfical wife, and a penchant for fridly enforcing the game-laws. If any one is fo injudicious as to venture to difagree with him in opinion, if his wife happens, by her ftrange fancies, to excite the mirth or notice of his neighbours, or if a longing woman prefumes, in fpite of the ftatute, to tafte hare's fleth, neither prudence nor pity can prevent the most violent rage, and the most inveterate revenge. Without any juftice in the neighbourhood of property or importance fufficient to withfland his outrages, he is degenerated into that worst of all defpots, a judicial tyrant.

In the other parish, the principal justice is a good-natured fox-hunter, who fpends his days on horfeback, and his evenings in eating and drinking. He regularly attends the juftice-meeting; and, when bufinefs begins pouring in, he opens as follows, first taking out his watch: "Well, Gentlemen, you are better acquainted with Burn and Blackftone than I am; you will recollect that dinner is to be ready at four." He then retires to an adjoining room, which he devotes to a more pleafing amufement with the landlord's daughter-his bumble brethren are too well-bred to break in on his pleafores. Thus, though naturally a good kind of man, he gives up his neighbours to pettifoggers and halfgentlemen, who torture the laws to bafe purpofes of petty quarrels, low prejudice, and mercenary cabal.

But this is a fubject your correfpond. ent Bradwardin is fo much better qua lified to difcufs, that I willingly relig my half-finished outline for his mafterle hand to fill up. LENIS ET ACER.

M