REVIEW. Britton's History of Bristol Cathedral.

also shows the remarkable canopies over the monuments, which are parti cularly handsome, each being formed of four segments of arches inverted, having crockets, and a large finial at every point.

The Chapter House, consisting of three aisles of equal proportion, and its vestibule or porch, are noble specimens of Norman architecture, being wholly

610

REVIEW.-George Colman's Random Records."

he is willing to devote his exertions and abilities in prosecuting the series to a close; and he is now collecting mate rials for the History of the Cathedrals of Hereford and Worcester."

We heartily rejoice at this determination. It would indeed be a disgrace to the age, if this very valuable and interesting series of Histories of our Cathedrals should cease for want of patronage. We regret that emolument, as enlarged as it is deserved, does not accompany the publication of every one of these beautiful volumes; but Mr. Britton may have at least this consolation, that he will enrol his name amongst the worthies of his country, although he may fail to emblazon it in letters of gold."

Random Records. By George Colman the
Younger. 2 vols. post 8vo. Colburn and
Bentley.

A QUAKER is as fit a person for a watering-place master of the ceremonies, as a reviewing exciseman, whose duties lie chiefly with what the coachmanism of modern dialect calls " heavy wet," is for determining the proof and purity of Mr. Colman's spirits, wines, and liqueurs. Our experience does not

go
far beyond port and claret, the vi-
nous gentry, not the vinous nobility.
But even in our obtuseness of palate,
though we think that we taste some
aqueous dilution in prosy accounts of
forgotten plays and players, yet most
excellent is the treat from the pet bin.
Boisterous has been our cachinnation

at the "Broad Grins" of our author;
and as Menander says,

συμμανήσαι EVIO SEL, Horace dulce est desipere in loco," and Mr. Colman translates both by "It is very pleasant to talk nonsense after

dinner;"-i. 297.

-so we do not wish to be without

"taste or fancy enough for the genuine sportiveness of table-talk-to be dapper dullards and fastidious pedants-killjoys of a convivial party."-Ibid.

There is a tempestivity for all things; and our author, a writer of comedies, naturally says with the man in Plautus, "Jocos ridiculos vendo, agite licemini." A public-school education and fashionable society have dancing-mastered Mr. Colman's wit; and his taste is of the first character. He is neither coarse nor ill-natured. We only wish that he was younger, for an 66 elderly gentleman should be an Æsop in his facetious

[VOL. C.

ness; i. e. be one whose humour carries a moral with it. Here, however, we stop. Mr. Colman is a wine mer chant, and we shall pour out a glass or two of his best. Be it first, however, remembered, that the wit of a gentleman implies knowledge of the world, observation, and strong sense. He is, to adopt our author's happy manner, not a buffoon, but a smiling philo sopher over a bottle; a landscapegardener who picturesques table-talk, whose trade is happiness, but who unselfishly delights to have partners in the firm. Be it also remembered, that misery generates bad temper; and that it is better to laugh off trouble than drink it off; for the remedy neither hurts ourselves nor torments those who live with us. Many a time when we have been suffering under gloomy affliction have "Colman and Co." broken the oppression of that incubus; we have waked with the Virgilian line in our mouth,

"Superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est ;”

and, resolved to pull up in future, away we have strutted, elated and supercilious in philosophical "cothurni."

People have a notion that schoolboys are the happiest of mortals; but, says our author, inter alia,

"What are the beatitudes of a scholastic paradise? To be fagged, flogged, thumped, coerced to mental labour, and constrained in personal liberty. This may all be very proper and salutary, (so is physic) but it is not happiness and there is very, very rarely, an prisons for the body and treadmills for the instance of a boy, while he is in one of these mind, who is not always wishing to get out of it, and to get home.”—i. 93.

Masquerades, says Mr. C., are foreigners, which will never be naturalized in this country.

"An English private masquerade, where people are striving to be clever, is the dullest of all dull vivacity; a public one is the most vulgar of vulgar dissipation.

"Then, pouring in, come Punches, Turks,
and Tailors,

Heavy-heel'd Harlequins and inland Sailors;
Jews without Hebrew, brogueless Pats from
Cork,

And Clodpoles without dialect from York.
Attorney's Clerks as Shepherds; doom'd to
[show;

know

No fields but those which Lincoln's Inn cau
But who, if not by sheep, by parchment thrive,
And scrawl upon the skins they never drive.
Here songsters squall, fat waltzers there ad-

vance,

PART 1.]

REVIEW.-Ellis's History of Weymouth.

To crush our toes with what they call a dance;
A dance at which a well-taught bear would
blush;

Till supper is announced-and then a rush!
The masks get neither seats nor meats enough.
Rolls stale, ham rank, pies mouldy, chick-

ens tough;

Cold punch grown warm, dead porter, wine

that's rum,

And waiters' coming' who will never come."
These are lines of which Swift would

not have been ashamed.

A bowling green Mr. C. calls a dull vegetable gaming table, on which nobody plays when it rains.-i. 173.

Such was the requisition for car. riages, to see the private theatricals at Winstay, that

"On one night there were two mourning coaches waiting in the Park, which had each brought a merry party of six inside.”—i. 259.

One of his college tutors, he calls, from his imperturbable phlegm, a "piece of sham marble-Scagliola." i. 265.

We have read of Tartars riding a whole stage, fast asleep. Mr. Colman says that it is a phenomenon not uncommon to soldiers upon a distressing march. His servant was plodding along in this state of somnambulisın, aud Mr. C. says,

"The fellow's eyes were fixed, glassy, and half-sunk in their sockets, while he stepped forward, as if unconscious of his progress; I might have fancied myself followed by a corpse upon board wages."-ii. 142.

We have recently heard of gentlemen tramping about the country as mendicants. It is a stale Scotch joke; for when Mr. C. was an itinerant, on a foot-sore pleasurable tour, in a "shabby jacket and kilt," his man, to salve appearances, represented him as a gentleman roaming over the country for a wager."-ii. 170.

He mentions a Mr. Silver, a surgeon. He used to teaze this gentleman with the following adage from the Merchant

of Venice:

"All that glisters is not gold."-ii. 297. The following monition should be recollected by every person of diathesis: gouty

"[His father] had gout in his habit, which had been indicated so slightly that he neglected the hints to take care of himself, which Nature had mildly thrown out. Cold bathing is, perhaps, one of the most dangerous luxuries in which an elderly man can indulge, when so formidable an enemy is lurking in his constitution: the gout having been re

611

pelled by repeated submersion in the sea, not only paralysed the body, but distempered the brain, and reason was subverted."-ii. 286.

of the gentleman's kind. One we shall The book abounds with anecdotes give, relative to the old adage of losing a friend for a joke.

The Hon. Francis North was dining for the first time with the Earl of Llan

daff, a noblenian of the vielle-cour dignity. A quantity of excellent claret had been drunk, and the party was about to break up,

"when the joyous Francis, who sat next to the noble host, put his hand upon the Earl's shoulder, saying, " Come, old Daffy, The requested Elixir was produced, but the let us have one more bottle of your Elixir." Earl never gave my friend a second invi

tation.'

"

Flashes of wit, Attic salt, and interesting sketches of character, which strengthen good sense and promote subelongs to the library of men of the perior taste, abound in this book. It world; and knowledge of the world is in it; for as life is composed of sea the art of navigation to those who live and earth, men should know how to be mariners, as well as landsmen.

The History and Antiquities of the borough and town of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. By George Alfred Ellis, Surgeon, &c. 8vo. pp. 269.

Melcombe, have been hitherto deemed WEYMOUTH and its consort, destitute of any remote claims; but Mr. opinion, that one was the Clavinium Ellis has lent some support to Baxter's of Ravennas, from the discovery of a Vicinal way, leading to the Ikenildstreet, and Roman coins (p. 3); but the first actual mention of Weymouth is in the foundation charter of the Abbey by that Prince in expiation of the murof Milton by Athelstan. It was erected der of his half-brother, Prince Edwin, by exposure in an open boat on the sea, because, as Athelstan alleged, he was engaged in a conspiracy to dethrone him. Mr. Ellis gives, however, the following curious account of Edwin's

offence:

the East, and while there had been initiated
"Prince Edwin, it appears, had visited
into the sublime mysteries of freemasonry:
York, was elected grand master of the craft
on his return he instituted a grand lodge at
in England, and formed the constitution of

612

REVIEW.-Warner's Literary Recollections.

the English lodges. It is more than probable that the necessary meetings of the craft, whose sublime mysteries are excluded from the profane eyes of the communis vulgus, were the cause of this suspicion of his conspiring against the throne of his brother, and led to his murder."-p. 4.

We recommend Mr. Ellis to the patronage of the Craft; for in p. 33 he also informs us, that

"Ralph de Monthermer was raised to the degree of grand master of the beautiful and sublime mysteries of freemasonry in all Eng land, at the death of Gilb. de Clare, 1280.'

As he married a widow of Clare, we are therefore to presume that the grand mastership was then a heir-loom in the Clare family.

Another curious circumstance connected with Weymouth is its being a favourite port for the embarkation of pilgrims to Compostella.

"In the year 1428, 926 pilgrims sailed from England; viz. from London, 280; Bristol, 200; and Weymouth, 222. It appears that the inhabitants built ships on purpose to convey the pilgrims."—p. 113.

We shall next extract a passage, which shows a method taken by Government to prevent insurrection, and what was deemed a good income for a Member of Parliament.

10th Henry VI. 1433.-Under pretence of the country being overrun with robbers (which was a mere subterfuge), as the real object in view was the detection of those who were the adherents of the house of York, four commissioners were empowered to summon and tender an oath to persons of quality to keep the peace, both themselves and their retainers. The commissioners visited most of the towns in this county; in Melcombe, the only individuals who gave in their names were the two M.P.'s for the borough, Philip Leweston and William Corfe; these are stated to be considerable men, and able to disperse 121. per annum each individual."-p. 113.

This sum, multiplied by Mr. Ellis's own ratio, (fifteen) is 180l. per annum ; but the fact is, that mere multiplication by any number will not give an accurate idea of real value; nor is the price of wheat any better standard; for the date here is 1433, and Fleetwood says, (Chronic. Precios. p. 103, ed. 8vo.) that in 1434, though a wet year, wheat was sold in many places of the kingdom at 17. 6s. 3d. per quarter; but that at the end of the year following it sunk again to the usual common price of a quarter about that time, 5s. 4d.; and

[VOL. C.

in 1439, through scarcity, rose again to
11. 6s. 8d. We know that in our own
times, wheat is so affected by seasons
of plenty or scarcity, that the prices
vary far too much for a standard; and
if we take Browne Willis's scale of 51.
per annum, as the cost of board for a
parish priest, then the 121. per annum
of the said members of parliament
would only maintain two persons and
a boy. In short, unless we can get at
the actual price of every article of con-
sumption at the time being, and the
necessary expenditure of the quantum
per annum of each, we cannot tell how
much of such articles twelve pounds
per annum would furnish. One fact is
only apparent: that, in modern times,
not price only, but intrinsic value is
also greatly altered; for Bishop Fleet-
wood tells us, that while at this period
wheat was only about 84d. the bushel,
fine cloth for surplices (see p. 108), was
8d. the ell: that is, of the value of a
bushel of wheat, and taking the mo-
dern cost of a bushel at 10s. 6d. no
fine linen for surplices now costs any-
thing like such a sum; so that while
in former times manufactured goods
far exceeded agricultural produce in
value, the converse of the proposition
has now ensued.

We willingly give every credit to
Mr. Ellis for his useful work.

Literary Recollections. By the Rev. Richard Warner, F.A.S. &c. &c. &c. 2 vol. 8vo. MR. WARNER has distinguished himself by his worthy endeavours to vindicate rational piety, which those who ought to know better have been foolishly striving to extinguish. He was influenced, he says (ii. 308) by the axiom of Paley, that he who makes Christianity most rational, makes it most credible. This is undeniable, for by reference to natural philosophy, it will be clearly seen that he who makes the word of God irreconcileable with the laws of his Providence, is unqualified for a teacher, and substitutes the enthusiasm of the ignorant for the knowledge of the learned. Hence it happens, says Mr. Townsend, that one of the most strenuous advocates of that mode of instruction which is generally called Evangelical, has written an essay on the aversion of men of taste to erangelical religion. Now the confession that men of taste can be adverse to evangelical religion, while they are not

PART 1.]

REVIEW.-Warner's Literary Recollections.

adverse to the volume of scripture and the truth of orthodox Christianity, is, he says, the severest condemnation of that system of instruction which is called evangelical.

If taste, therefore, be the result of knowledge, cultivation of intellect, and mental refinement, we reiterate from our notice of the last report of the Humane Society, (p. 539) that the miracles virtually achieved by scientific men, show that the Almighty permits his works to be understood by them alone, and that Providence patronises them, and not devotees, because History proves, that the latter cause the Bible to become an engine of mischief; an evil not to be ascribed to scientific men, and inconsistent with the divine intention.

Mr. Warner was born in London, and like most other London boys, and some country ones, commenced his studies with Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant Killer, and the Seven Champions; heroes whose high fame and exploits we also recollect with much pleasure. He was next taken to see a play, and attempted the dagger-scene in Macbeth with a carving knife. When five years old, he was imprisoned in one of those jails for boys, entitled a boarding school; and bitterly complains of their penitentiary diet. Here he stayed, till he had acquired the usual elementary Latin, preparatory to the Greek grammar, and then removed with his father to Lymington in Hamp shire. Of this place he speaks affectionately, and mentions various acquaintance; among them a Mr. Dunkerly and a Miss Bere. The former we also knew. He was the reputed natural son of George the Second, and to him, not to George the Third, as Mr. Warner says, he bore a strong facial resemblance. We have read a confutation of his presumed origin, but from his pension and interviews with members of the royal family, as well as personal likeness, we believe his claims to have been just. A more romantic story is that of Miss Bere. A Mrs. Hackman wanted a weeder for her garden. John the footman brought a little girl from the work house, who, like a bee, sang at her work. Her mis tress, pleased with the rich melody of

Of one of these interviews he gave us an account, which, under future opportunity, we may publish.-REV.

613

her voice, ordered her to be introduced; and, being pleased with her manners, promoted her from the workhouse to the kitchen, as cook's deputy. Her deportment was so good, that she was soon preferred to be lady's maid, and carefully instructed in elementary education. In this situation she made herself so agreeable to her mistress by an uncommon sweetness of temper, gentleness of disposition, and feminine softness of character, that she was soon promoted to the rank of a humble friend, and ultimately was adopted and educated as a daughter. She became highly accomplished, and attracted the attention of a young clergyman, who came to Lymington for autumnal bathing and partridge shooting. He made her an offer, but, as he had only his living, and she had no fortune, it was judged prudent that the affair should be dropt. It was so, to all appearance entirely, but in the ensuing season, the Rev. gentleman returned, a Dean," renewed his offer, which was accepted; and a few years ago

"the little warbling pauper, Nancy Bere, of Lymington workhouse, quitted this temporal being, the universally lamented widow of the Right Rev. Thomas Thurlow, Palatine Bishop of Durham.”—i. 51.

Mr. W. was next sent to school at Christchurch, and gives us an interesting account of the Corporation, which was composed as usual, in the main, of unlettered borough magnates, who drank at every civic festival, in a bumper,

"PROSPERATION-TO THIS CORPORATION." The noble parish church first incited him to antiquarian speculations, which he took up with all the characteristic ardour of the profession; and in so doing was (as usual) hoaxed by the discovery of, as he presumed, a Roman thorax, which proved to be only the side of

an old stable lantern. He enlivens this

part of his biography with most interesting ana of various eminent men, who visited Mr. Gustavus Brander, at Christchurch Priory, and proves himself a superior raconteur, by the flavour of his anecdote. He left Christchurch school, under a promise of being admitted a foundationer at Winchester. The promiser, who ought to have reflected upon the expense to which he had put the father, and the vexatious feelings which he would occasion, told him upon the day of examination, that