Curious Front of Old Houfes-Johnfon's Opinion of Knolles. 31 Muft it not be allowed that the fronts of the houses built 2 or 3 centuries ago formed very picturefque views in the ftreets of London, compared with thofe of our modern ones? Though there was no elegance in them, there was however a fantastick variety, and that was better than a dull wall of brick continued for foine hundred yards. Let any one look at fome of the principal ftreets in Maryle-bone, efpecially Harley ftreet, &c. for inftances of this; and then fay, whether it is not to be regretted that beauty and convenience are fo feldom united. In a few years, perhaps, fearce an old front will be found in this improving city; it must therefore be the with of every lover of antiquities, that fome artist would make exact drawings of the elevations, projections, &c. of fome of the most remarkable of them, with the dates, where they appear; and depofit them with the Society of Antiquaries, in the British Mufeum, &c. Thefe would be deemed valuable curiofities by pofterity. Engravings of them would be very acceptable in your Mifcellany. I believe it is not generally known, that the "Ornaments of churches confidered," printed in 4to, was chiefly the compofition of the late Archdeacon Hole; Dr. Wilfon having borrowed a MS. treatise on the fubject written by the Archdeacon, and then printed almoft the whole of it, inferting here and there a few notes, &c. of his own. Yours, &c. T. S. MB. URBAN, Margate, Nov. 11. Yo OUR correfpondent (Querift), will find my quotation from Knolles, in the fixth edition of that author, page 481, published, 1687, by H. Baffet London, with Sir Paul Rycaut's continuation. As the merit of Knolles's Hiftory feems not generally known, I beg leave to fubjoin Dr Johnfon's opinion of it, which does equal credit to the hiftorian and the critic." But none of our writers can, in my opinion, juftly conteft the fuperiority of Knolles, who, in his Hiftory of the Turks, has difplayed all the excellencies that narrative can admit. His ftile, though fomewhat obfcured by time, and fometimes vitiated by falfe wit, is pure, nervous, elevated, and clear; a wonder ul multiplicity of events is fo artfully arranged, and fo diftinctly explained, that each facilitates the knowledge of the next. Whenever a new perfonage is introduced, the reader is prepared by his character for his actions; when a nation is first attacked, or city befieged, he is made acquainted with its hiftory, or fituation; fo that a great part of the world is brought into view. The defcriptions of this author are without minuteness, and his digreffions without oftentation. Collateral events are fo artfully woven into the contexture of his principal ftory, that they cannot be difjoined, without leaving it lacerated and broken. There is nothing turgid in his dignity, nor fuperfluous in his copioufnels. His orations only, which he feigns, like the ancient hiftorians, to have been pronounced on remarkable occafions, are tedious and languid; and fince they are merely the voluntary fports of imagination, prove how much the most judicious and skilful may be mistaken, in the eftmate of their own powers. Nothing could have funk this author in obfcurity, but the remotenefs and barbarity of the people whofe ftory he relates. It feldom happens, that all circumftances concurto Happinefs and Fame.. The nation, which produced this great hiftorian, has the grief of feeing his genius employed upon a foreign and uninterefting fubject; and that writer, who might have fecured perpetuity to his name, by a hiftory of his own country, has expofed himself to the danger of oblivion, by recounting enterprifes and refolutions, of which none defire to be informed." Rambier No. 122, page 95. I am, Sir, your humble fervant ROBERT EDWARD HUNTER. MR. URBAN, has been justly obferved by Cicero, that all the Arts and Sciences reciprocally depend on each other. principle it is to be wished that fome On this plan of education were adopted, which, by embracing as much as pollible of fo complicated and fublime a fyfiem, might add new beauty and utility to every part of it. Whatever may have been fuggefted against the difcipline of our English Universities with refpect to academical forms, thefe venerable feminaries furnish the most favourable opportunities of im provement in fevere as well as in oraamental literature; and if to thefe were joined the cultivation of Sculpture, Architecture, and Painting, what might not be expected from fuch an union? Where indeed could thefe elegant Arts be fo fuccesfully cultivated, as under the aufpices of Fancy corrected by Learning; and of Tafte formed on the exquifite, though modeft graces of claflic Antiquity? Poetry 32 Hints for an Academy of Painting at Oxon-Dr. Dodwell. Poetry and Mufic have already been thought worthy of academical cultivation; why then should not the Sifter Art of Painting be entitled to an equal share of attention? Thefe reflections were occafioned by a furvey which I lately took of the Picture Gallery at Oxford. Having lamented, as every lover of Painting must do, the great paucity even of tolerable Pictures in this collection, I looked forward in idea to fome future period, when Munificence, directed by Tafte, fhould enable Oxford to boast of Painters educated in her own school. If fuch a period should arrive, it would not be the leaft advantage accruing from it, that the Portraits of eminent Scholars would be multiplied, and that pofterity would more frequently become acquainted with the perfonal refemblance of those whose talents they are to admire, or whofe virtues they are to emulate, I might poffibly be the more readily led into this train of thinking by the fight of an excellent Portrait of the prefent Laudian Profeffer of Arabic, to which my attention was attracted. It were a fufficient commendation of this piece to inform you, that it is the product of Mr. Peters's pencil; efpecially as it may be truly fafd to be in that great Mafter's beft ftyle; a ftyle which will receive impartial plaudits from fuc ceffive generations, when envy fhall no longer be able to afperfe that excellence which it cannot imitate. It was indeed with the most fenfible pleasure that I understood this Picture to have been prefented by the Artist to the University as a teftimony of his efteem for Profeffor White. For when the character of this celebrated writer is remembered, Mr. Peters's donation must be confidered as a proof not only of his profeffional merit, but of the warmth of his private friendfhip, of his respect to the literary body to The Rev. William Peters, R. A. was born in the Isle of Wight, but his parents removing to Ireland while he was yet an in fant, and fettling there, moft people have fuppofed him a native of that countty. He was from the first intended for the Church, and received the rudiments of his education from the immediate fucceffor of the great Dr. Sheridan in Dublin. His enthufiafm for Painting carried him twice to Rome; but however fafcinating the practice of that Art was as an amufement, he never approved of it as a profeffion and foon after his laft return from abroad, entered himself of Exeter College, Oxford, laid down the pencil, and put on the gown, which he belongs, and above all, of his zeal in the caufe of Chriftianity. You will pardon me if i have digreffed too far from the original defign of this letter; if indeed that can be faid to have any defign which contains only a crude and indigefted hint, on which abler pens than mine must be left to expatiate. I will venture to add, however, that fhould Sculpture, Architecture, and Painting ever form a part of University, Education, Oxford could no where find a more accomplished Profeffor of the last mentioned Art, than the at prefent posfelles in Mr. Peters. An Academy for Painting, inftituted in the first Seminary in the world, and conducted by fo diftinguifhed an Artift, would bid fair to rival even the most celebrated fchools of Italy. I am yours, &c. A. Y. Z. I MR. URBAN, N your last vol. p. 1005, you inform us, "That the good fortune of Dr. Dodwell took its rife from a vifitation fermon preached at Shottefbrook before Dr. Sherlock, when Bishop of Salisbury, who gradually advanced him from a Stall in that Church, to the Archdeaconry; and that Dr. D. publifhed a celebrated tract, entituled, "Chriftianity not founded on Argument." You are, I am fincerely perfuaded, mifinformed in feveral particulars. I will, however, endeavour to correct your intakes. It is not probable that a vifitation fermon fhould be preached in the fmall village of Shottefbrook. There is a vifitation fermon preached at Reading by Dr. D. before Bishop Sherlock in the year 1744, which is now before me; and the Bishop (at whofe defire the Scrmon was printed) promoted him to a Stall in his Cathedral. He was afterwards elected Canon; but he was promoted to the Archdeaconry of Berks by Bishop Thomas, who fucceeded Bishop Drummond in 1761. ment" has ever been efteemed, by ortho"Chriftianity not founded on Argudox perfons, a book of bad tendency; therefore the late worthy Dr. Dodwell, who, by his life and writings, was an illuftrious ornament to his proreffion ; cannot be fuppofed to have been the author of it. The performance has been generally attributed to his brother. It was ably attacked and anfwered by the late execllent Dr. Randolph, Margaret Profeffor of Divinity, and Prefi dent of Corpus Chrifti College at the Univerfity of Oxford, on the encourage ment of Archbishop Potter. I am yours, CLERICUS, Anecdotes of Dr. Dodwell and his Publications, &c. MR. URBAN, IN vol. LV: P. 10051 Chriftianity not founded on Argument," is attri buted to Dr. Dodwell. The tendency of that book being to infinuate, that Chriftianity is founded on no arguments of truth or reason, but on faith; which the author endeavours to make ridicus lous, and debafes to a weak credulity; this would be fufficient to prove that Dr. Dodwell could not be the author of fuch a work. But the real author was Henry Dodwell, efq. brother to the late arch deacon: which probably occafioned the mistake. In anfwer to an enquiry after the au thor of the Turkish Spy, p 882, the Dictionnaire biflorique portatif_names Jean Paul Marana, a native of Geneva. The authors of the Biographia Britannica attribute it, at least the first volume, to Sir Roger Manley, father to Mrs. Manley, authorels of the Atalantis. I . A CONSTANT READER. MR. URBAN, N juftice to the memory of the late Dr. Dodwell, give me leave to affure you, that he was not the author of Chriftianity not founded on Argument," as mentioned in your laft vol. 33 Appendix in Anfwer to Dr. Middleton,” 1751. Feb. 3, 1749, he was created D. D. by diploma. What more he published, except his "Extract from a Sermon of D. South, "A commander in the Parliament's rebel army coming to rifle and deface the cathedral at Lichfield, folemnly, at the head of his troops, begged of God to fhew fome remarkable token of his approbation or dislike,of the work they were going about. Immediately afiet which, looking out at a window, he was fhot in the forehead by a deaf and duinh man. And this was on St. Chadd's day, the name of which faint the church bore, being dedicated to God in memory of the fanie. Where we lee, that as he afked of God a fgn, fo God gave him one, figring him in the forehead, and that with fuch a mark as he is like to be known by to all poterity." MR. URBAN, N looking into the Bill of Mortality I lately published, I obferve that the p. 1005, but his brother Henry Dodwell, Efq. who, I think, had beed of Mag total of the burials exceeds the chriftendaien-ball in Oxford. This was gene-ings exactly 1000; and that, by the bill rally known at the time of its publication, about the year 1746. William was of Trinity College, and admitted to his degree of M. A. June 8, 1732. In 1743 he published two fermions “On the Eternity of future Punishments," preached before the university of Oxford, March 21, 1741. His other works are: "A Differtation on Jephtha's Vow." "Practical Dilcourfes on moral Subjects," in 2 vol. 8vo. "The Defirablenefs of the Chriltian Faith," preached before Thomas bifhop of Sarum, at Reading, Aug. 30, 1744. The Nature, Procedure, Extent, Valuc, and Effets of a rational Faith confidered," in two Sermons be fore the Univerüty; which feem eviJently levelled against "Chriffianity not founded on Argument."] "The practiCal Influence of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity," before the Univerfity, June 9. 1745. The Nature, Extent, and Support of human Laws," an allize fermon, March 8, 1949. "A free Anfwer to Dr. Middleton's free Enquiry," 1749. Reply to Mr. Toli's Defence, with an GENT. MAG. January, 1785, from Dec. 1-49 to Dec. 1741, the numbers were, chiftenings 14.957, and the burials 32.414, fo that the latter then exceeded the former 17,457. I fhould be glad to know if any of your ingenious correfpondents can imagine the reafon for this difference. 1 perceive the buria's conftantly exceed the chriftenings, but I think not in fo great a degree of late years as formerly; however, 1 apprehend, the capital would in time become depopulated, if not conftantly fupplied with petions from the country. OBSERVATOR. Mr. URBAN, Glasgow, Jan. 9. Coferved that you took notice, in one of your Magazines, that a goid on of the Emperor O.bo was found in the neighbourhood of Glafgow; but you doubted the fact. I can alure you it was found in the parish of Curluke, in a ploughed field, within two miles of Lamark. It is now in my cufiody. It is a fresh and beautiful coin, and there it no reafon to fuppofe it an impofition. 1 cuts, &c. P. WRIGHT. Mr. 34 Dean Sherlock's Conformity. Plants growing on Yarmouth Beach. MR. URBAN, July 30, 1784. OBSERVE there was in your last (vol. LIV. p. 247,) a witticifin again repeated on Dean Sherlock's late conformity to the Revolution by King William III. Now as we are affured by Divine Authority, that it is by Providence that Kings reign and Princes decree juftice; and that they are the Minifters of GOD to us for good; I fhould be glad if the writer of that anecdote would lay his hand on his heart, and fay what he would have done in fuch cafe. Would he have complied out of a prudent confideration for himself and family? Or would he have flood out, and made an unavailing refiftance? His jeft on the good Bishop his fon is, I believe, without any foundation; becaufe, when the preaching againft Popery began, he was at his diocefe of Salisbury; and preached, and printed at the request of that corporation, his occafional fermon on that fubje&t in September or October, 1745. So that the Benchers at the Temple could not have any doubt of his fentiments, or fufpect him of temporizing or duplicity. His Chaplain Dr. Samuel Nichols, therefore, preached on that fubject before the Bibop and the Benchers, in November, a very loyal animated difcourfe, which be joined the two focieties in requesting the Doctor to print: and myself purchafed both the fermons. As I was a frequenter of the Temple church at that time, and never heard of the Bishop preaching any fermon on that occafion but the above-mentioned at Salisbury, I truft Mr. Urban's ufual candour for inferting my remarks. Yours, &c. T. O. An Account of the Plants growing on the TH culation more curious than the at tachment of plants to ferations, and the vegetable jocieties, as they may be called, formed by means of this connection. Botanifts, perhaps, have too much confined their attention to plants as individuals, or as allied only by refemblances of form and ftructure; whereas the manner in which they are grouped by Nature, and the purposes to which the makes them fubfervient by fuch ailem. blages, furely merit confideration. Every thing, which is conflant and general in Nature, muft be important, ince it mud be tomad on properties effential either to the existence or to the relative utility of the fubjects in which they are found. Were it a matter of attention to draw out a fort of botanical maps, in which the vegetable inhabitants of each climate, foil, and fituation, were to be affigned in their due proportions, I think we could not fail of difcovering various facts refpecting the mutual action of foils and plants, and plants upon each other, which might lead to very important conclufions, both in an economical and philofophical view. Such a sketch I have here attempted; of a very finall portion of the earth indeed, but a portion fimilar to many very extenfive tracts. It is executed, I confefs, by no masterly hand; but I am willing to hope it may suggest more valuable communications from fome of your correfpondents. The fea-coaft oppofite Yarmouth, and for about two miles each way, is a nearly level common, elevated about two or three yards above high-water mark. From the verdant edge of this common to the fea is a gentle ftope, compofed of a deep fine fand, intermixed with great quantities of loofe pebbles called single. As the tides here are uncommonly tow, the highest not rifing above rive or fix feet, the dif tance from high to low-water mark is but a few yards. From high-water to the turf of the common is fomewhat further; and it is this apparently defart flip of ground to which my prefent botanical geography is contined. The beach to the Southward of the town is principally my field, as being the most regularly formed. I proceed from the fea in a right line, and take the vegetables in the order I come to them. BUNIAS CAKILE, Sea Rocket, in msny places approaches neareft to the wa ter, friking its fibrous roots into the loofe fand, and harbouring between the fronts. Its purplish flowers, refèmbling thofe of the finall kind of stock, enliven the bare fpots on which i Plants growing on the Beach at Yarmouth.-Mex and Books. renders it fo valuable on thofe coafts of England and Holland which are protected from the ocean by ranges of fand hills. At Caifter, two miles North of Yarmouth, begins a line of thefe hills, of confiderable height, on which this grafs grows abundantly. ARENARIA PEPLOIDES, Sea Chickaveed, remarkable for the depth and length to which it runs its roots, is found firft fparingly, but afterwards in fuch plenty, that its broad fiff leaves make the chief verdure of the fandy beach near its junction with the turf of the common.` ERYNGHAM MARITIMUM, Eryngo, or Sea Holly. This fingular and beautiful plant grows in an irregular feattered manner on the beach, and alfo firays higher on the common, where it is moft naked and fandy. CAREX ARENARIA, Sea-fand Carex. This, where it begins, forms a regular line at an equal diftance from the fea, Erft thinly covering the fand, but grow. ing thicker and thicker as one proceeds higher. Its horizontal creeping roots, and frequent fhoots, bind the fand in the manner of the Reed-Grafs. CONVOLVOLUS SOLDANELLA, Sea Bindaweed, grows most plentifully at the edge of the junction of the beach with the common, or upon the bareft spots of the latter, laying its large and beautiful flowers upon the naked fand. It is really furprifing to fee fo fine a flower growing abundantly upon fo expofed and barren a foil. ONONIS REPENS, Creeping RefbarForu. This grows thinly on the beach, but copioufly op the fandy parts of the common, running its strong roots very far into the loofe foil. GALIUM VERUM, Ladies Bed-firaw. This appears thin and fcattered about the junction of the beach with the common, but afterwards becomes fo plentiful as to form the chief covering of the fandieft fide of the common, fcenting the air with its strong perfume when in 35 above enumerated, only the two first Yarmouth, Dec. 12. OPINIONS OF PERSONS AND BOOKS *, BY DR. JOHNSON AND MR. BOSWELL *. ❝ Dr. Doddridge being mentioned, he obferved, that he was the author of one of the finest epigrams in the English language. his family motto,-Dum vivimus, vivamus ; It is in Orton's Life of him. The fubject is which, in its primary fignification, is, to be fare, not very fuitable to a Chriftian divine; but he paraphrafed it thus: Live, while you live, the epicure would fay, And give to God each moment as it flies. "The best book that ever was written upon good-breeding, Il Corteggiano, by Caf tiglione, grew up at the little court of Urbino, and you thould read it." "The first part of Burner's Hißory is one of the most entertaining books in the Englith language; it is quite dramatick: while he went about every where, faw every where, and heard every where. By the firti part, I mean fo far as it appears that Bornet hims felf was actually engaged in what he has told; and this may be easily diffinguished." "Leibnitz perfified in affirming that Newton called space fenforium numinis, notwithftanding he was fet right, and defired to obferve that Newton's words were QUASI fen-. fellow as I know. Out of refpect to Queen Leibnitz was as paltry a forium zuminis. Caroline, who patronifed him, Clarke treated him too well." "Gay's line in the Biggar's Opera, As men thould ferve a cucumber, &c.' has no waggith meaning with reference to men flinging away cucumbers as too cooling, which fome have thought; for it has been a common faying of phyficians in England, that a cucumber fhould be well fliced, and dreffed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing." "Carte's Life of the Duke of Ormond is confidered as a book of authority; but it is il-written. The matter is diffofed in too many words; there is no animation, no compreffion, no vigour. Two good volumes in duodecimo might be made out of the two in folio." “ Addison's Remarks [on Italy] is a tedious |