different sorts lately found in those parts. That the earth is prolific, and hath a vegetative principle continually working in it; that there is no caput mortuum, no idle, unactive, unformable matter in nature, as in chemistry; but every clod of earth, turned up by the spade, is either already formed into some distinct species of clay, sand, loam, &c. or in a tendency towards iti and that, as there are various kinds of submarine plants, so all the several kinds of ore, metals, minerals, inarbles, and other regular fossils, or stony concretions, are so many different sorts of subterraneous plants, &c. &c. &c.

Jan. 14. Account of the magnetical power of a bar of iron, according to its long-continued position from perpendicular; for fifteen years, to horizontal, for as many months only.

Account by Maurice Johnson, jun. Esq. of a Roman mint in the city of Lincoln.

Jan. 28. Curious drawings of an ancient book of anatomy by one Gemini, an Englishman, dedicated to King Edward VI. 1552.

Feb. 4. Form of prohibiting of books for the Index Expurgatorius in the Consistory of Rome.

Feb. 11. Old grant of a right of fishery in Whitlesea Mere to the abbot of Peterborough, in the reign of Henry VI. who has this uncommon title, “ Henricus Dei gratia rex Angliæ, heres et regens Franciæ, et dominus Hiberniæ.”

Feb. 18. Remonstrance of the sequestered members, 1656, to which above 100 subscribed their names.

Feb. 25. An original letter of Andreas Colvius to Dr. Beal, Dean of Ely, dated Dordrecht, 20 Aug. 1647, concerning tolerating of sects in Holland.

Mar. 4. Office for installation of knights of the garter.

Mar. 11. Alcock, Bishop of Ely, his “ Exhortation made to two Relygious Systers in the Tyme of their Consecra

Mar. 18. “ Modus fulminandi Sententiam in Ecclesia Ro. mana," and the “ Bedes on the Sunday,” or bidding prayer. These are all ancient papers belonging to me, and, for want of other matter, communicated occasionally.

Apr. 1. Lord Fitzwilliam proposed.
Apr. 8. Elected.

Apr. 29. A letter from the secretary in London, with the account of what was read and communicated there when he was present.

May 13. List of all the members who have represented

tyon,” &c.

this city in parliament from 1546, the first of Edward VI. to this present time.

May 20. Epitaph upon Lipsius, &c.

May 29. Luctus et gratulatio Acad. Cantab. in Oliveri mortem, et Ricardi inaugurationem.

June 3. Drawing of a fine ancient crystal vase, and of an ancient East-India rice-pot.

June 24. Account of Sir Richard Ellis's library, and some curiosities lately come in there.

July 1. Part of a letter from Baron Clarke of his Majesty's Exchequer, in Edinburgh, concerning the unseasonable colds of the late years, which he conjectures to be owing to the great spots in the surface of the sun, many of which are much larger than the whole globe of our earth, which, must needs take off both from its light and heat. George Lynn, Esq. of Southwick, in this neighbourhood, and my very particular friend and learned acquaintance, in his Ephemeris of the weather for this year, observed that the mean height of the thermometer for the month of last March, was just the same with that of January for fourteen years past, &c.

July 8. Presented to the Society a small Roman lamp, entire, of red earth, lately found at Whitlesea, in the Isle of Ely, five miles from bence. Also a human skull dug up lately in this town, the whole brain whereof is ossified, and concreted into as hard and solid substance as the bone, retaining still its natural curdled form, the sutors, &c. remaining entire.

July 15. Presented a branch of an ash-tree, being an uncommon lusus, which grew in the shape of the left-hand of a man, &c. &c. &c.

By this short specimen you will be able to guess how we idle away two or three hours once a week. Things omitted are only the presents of books, medals, and other odd things, admissions of members, or the like. If you approve of our scheme, give me leave to make use of

your name among the honorary members, for which I will give some book in your name to the Society from among several of mine that I can spare; in return for which, the favour of your correspondence will make ample amends. come into these parts, I shall rejoice to see you under my roof.

I once had a wife lived with me near 6 years, by whom I had four children, two of which, a son, now of Corpus Christi College, in Oxford, and a daughter at home, only reinain. I have lived a widower now almost 13 years. I

If you

shall be glad to hear that you are happy in a married state, and blest with hopeful children. I have lived so long out of that country, that I have scarcely any acquaintance left there; and my near relations are such to whom I choose rather to be helpful at a distance than to be burdensome by visits. Your brother Jerry I was well acquainted with at school; since that I never saw him, nor heard what became of him, only I thiuk not so well as could be wished. Your own personal character, joined to the easiness of your for, tune, gives you a great interest and authority in the neighbourhood, as I am well informed, and rejoiced to hear; and therefore beg leave to assure you that I am, with great regard, your most affectionate kinsman, and humble servant, 1786, July

TIM. Neve.

a

LIII. Letters from Mr. Howard.

MR. URBAN, LET me beg you to insert the two following genuine letters from Mr. Howard to the gentlemen who have done themselves so much honour in their endeavours to perpetuate his fair fame by the erecting of a statue. The first of them hasnever yet appeared in print. The other is copied from the daily papers.

M. G.

LETTER I.

« GENTLEMEN,

Vienna, Dec. 15, 1786. I SHALL ever think it an honour to have my weak endeavours approved by so many respectable persons, who devote their time, and have so generously subscribed towards a fund for relieving prisoners and reforming prisons. But to the erecting a monument, permit me, in the most fixed and unequivocal manner, to declare my repugnancy to such a design, and that the execution of it will be a punishment ta me: it is therefore, Gentlemen, my particular and earnest request, that so distinguished a mark of me may for ever be laid aside. With great regard, I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Join HOWARD,"

LETTER II.
“To the Subscribers for erecting a Statue, &c to

Mr. Howard.

London, Feb. 16, 1787. “ MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, You are entitled to all the gratitude I can express for the testimony of approbation you have intended me, and I am truly sensible of the honour done me; but at the same time you must permit me to inform you, that I cannot, without violating all my feelings, consent to it, and that the execution of your design would be a cruel punishment to me. It is therefore my earnest request, that those friends, who wish my happiness and future comfort in life, would withdraw their names from the subscription, and that the execution of your design may be laid aside for ever.

“ I shall always think the reforms now going on in several of the jails of this kingdom, and which I hope will become general, the greatest honour, and the most ample reward, I can possibly receive.

“I must further inform you, that I cannot permit the fund, which in my absence, and without my consent, hath been called the Howardian Fund, to go in future by that name; and that I will have no concern in the disposal of the money subscribed; my situation and various pursuits rendering it impossible for me to pay any attention to such a general plan, which can only be carried into due effect in particular districts, by a constant attention and a constant residence. I am, my Lords and Gentlemen, your obedient and faithful humble servant, 1787, Feb.

JOHN HOWARD."

LIV. Sir Dudley Carlton to Mr. Winwoud.
MR. URBAN,

Woodbridge, Jan. 30. As

your Magazine is curious in marking the manners of ancient times, the following little specimen of celebrating marriages at Court, may possibly find a favourable reception. It is taken from a work of no small reputation*.

Yours, &c.

Extract of a letter from Sir Dudley Carlton to Mr. Winwood.

London, January, 1604. On St. John's day we had the marriage of Sir Philip Herbert and the Lady Susan perforined at Whitehall, with all the honour that could be done a great favourite. The court was great, and for that day put on the best bravery. The Prince and Duke of Holst led the bride to the church ; the Queen followed her from thence. The King gave her, and she, in her tresses and trinkets, brided and bridled it so handsomely, and indeed became herself so well, that the King said, if he were unmarried he would not give her, but keep her himself. The marriage dinner was kept in the great chamber, where the Prince and the Duke of Holst and the great Lords and Ladies accompanied the bride. The Ambassador of Venice was the only bidden guest of strangers, and he had place above the Duke of Holst, which the Duke took not well. But after dinner he was as little pleased himself; for, being brought into the closet to retire himself, he was there suffered to walk out his supper unthought of. At night there was a mask in the hall, which, for conceit and fashion, was suitable to the occasion. The actors were, the Earl of Pembroke, the Lord Willoby, Sir Sam. Hays, Sir Thomas Germain, Sir Robert Cary, Sir John Lee, Sir Richard Preston, and Sir Thomas Bager. There was no small loss that night of chains and jewels, and many great Ladies were made shorter by the skirts, and were well enough served that they could keep cut no better. The presents of piate, and other things given by the Noblemen, were valued at 2500l.; but that which made it a good mars riage was a gift of the King's, of 500l. land for the bride's joynture. They were lodged in the Council Charber, where the King, in his shirt and night-gown, gave them a Reville Matin before they were up, and spent a good time in or upon the bed, chuse which you will believe. No ceremony was omitted of bride-cakes, points, garters, and gloves, which have been ever since the livery of the court; and at night there was sewing into the sheet, casting off the bride's left hose, with many other pretty sorceries.

New year's day passed without any solemnity, and the exorbitant gifts that were wont to be used at that time are so far laid by, that the accustomed presents of the purse and gold were hard to be had without asking.