Allufions, &c. in Milton-Ld. D. and Dr. B. their Conteft. Poudred with fiars ftreaming with glorious light." Sylvefter's Du Bartas, 4th Day, 1ft Week. Again: "With giftering fars imboft, and poudred rich." 4th Part of ad Day of 2d Week. Jortin, in his note on Book XI. ver. 565, introduces the following remark : "Quod fupereft, æs atque aurum, ferrumque repertum eft, Et fimul argenti pondus, plumbique poteftas ; Lucret. lib. V. v. 1240. "These verses want emendation. Plumbi poteftas is nonsense. The stop should be placed thus: "Et fimul argenti pondus, plumbique potef tas Ignis ubi ingentes, &c. Argenti pondus plumbique, as in Virgil, argenti pondus et auri. Poteftas ig nis expreffes the confuming power of fire. We have potentia folis in Virgil, and poteftates herbarum." JORTIN. If Dr. Jortin had examined the whole paffage in Lucretius relating to the difcovery of metals and the ufes men first applied them to, he would not have thought any alteration necessary in the pointing. "Et terebrare etiam, ac pertundere, perque forare. Nec minus argento facere hæc auroque parabunt, Quam validi primùm violentis viribus æris : Necquicquam: quoniam cedebat viЯa po teftas, Nec poterat pariter durum fufferre laborem, Nam fuit in pretio magis æs, aurumque jacebat fum." Propter inutilitatem hebeti mucrone retuVer. 1267 No doubt the poteftas plumbi in the former quotation hath the fame meaning as the poteftas auri et argenti in this. The plain import of this defcription of the poet is, that metals were firft difcovered by the burning of forefts, and that men valued the different forts, in early ages, according as they found them more or lefs hard, when they attempted to use them in fuch tools and inftruments as their occafions required. PARADISE REGAINED. Sea, or thore, Freflet, or purling brook, B. II. 344. "Wich fragrant fmells and fine A freshet runs." Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 566, GENT. MAG. January, 1786. Shot 41 Sharp flest of arrowy show'rs against the faceIII. 323. Ripheæ." "Telorum, aut grandinis inftar Stat. Theb. L.i. ver. 419. "They were ymet With a sharp foure of arrowes, which them ftaid." Spenf. F. 2. b. V. cant. iv. ft. 38. MR. URBAN, YOUR 871, fuppofes me to have forgot the controverfy between a deceased Peer and a Reverend Doctor, likewife deceased. Having been privy to every circumstance of that bufinefs, from the claim being firft made to the commencement of the fuits that it produced, and knowing more of its origin than any pérfon now living, he will excufe my having formed an opinion of it which by no means affimilates with eftate, a peremptory demand of four his. On his lordship's coming to his tythe inftead of two, which had been acfhillings in the pound was made for the cepted in his immediate predeceffor's the right of the doctor, I am not competime. How far this demand might be cufs whether it was unworldly or worldly? tent to judge; nor am I inclined to difbut this I know, that the claim was made ducted, either from inattention or a negin fo ungracious a manner, and conlect of the common forms of business, in fo unusual a ftyle, as might have offended the most paffive temper. much on the fcore of punctilio as protention at law, therefore, took place as The conperty, which a little common prudence might have averted; and the animofities prevented. The fubject is fingularly unwhich enfued would probably have been pleafant; but thus much D. H. has urged me to fay, and here I fhall finally clofe it. The living, as D. H. obferves, formerly belonged to the family. It had been before the fource of difcontent. A quired the tythe of fome hops, which Lord D. prefented a Mr. or Dr. B. to it within the prefent century: he rehis lordship had grown in the parish, which he conceived to be fo ungrateful a return from having given him the living, that he immediately fold it, and every other belonging to the family, in order that he might have no more to do with them. VERAX. 42 Peculiarities of the Macaw and Cuckoo. In MR. URBAN, Nov. 10. EEING a fhort account of the Macaw Cuckoo in your last entertaining Mifcellany, I have taken the liberty of fending you what has fallen under my own obfervation refpecting them. 1782 I had in my poffeflion a Macaw that laid feveral eggs, and have now by me one of thofe eggs, which is entirely white, rather larger than a pigeon's, longer and more tapering to the fmall end; whether the bird was a cock or hen, I know not; but, from many of its actions, have reafon to fuppofe it a hen. It was never chained to a ftand, or confined to a cage, but permitted to ramble where it pleated; it would frequently fly two hundred yards from the houfe to a plantation, and take great delight in fitting upon a timber oak, to the terror of the finall birds, which kept a continual clamour while it was upon wing, and appeared greatly alarmed during its ftay, which was generally till the evening, when it would return again to the houfe. I gave it to a friend, who requested it for a lady, at, or near, Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, where I believe it is now living. Your correfpondent T. obferves, two Cuckoos are never feen together. I do not exactly comprehend his meaning: I have feen two Cuckoos flying within a foot of each other, and frequently after cach other; and have seen them upon the trees a fmall diftance apart. In the fummer of 1784 there were two Cuckoos hatched at Clare Priory, in Suffolk: one by a Wagtail; the other by the Certhia, or Creeper. The latter made its neft in a hole in the wall (part of the ruins of the monaftery), the nest being not more than five feet from the ground. The gentleman who refides in the priory had -frequent opportunities of feeing the young Cuckoo fed, which it was alternately by the cock and hen Creeper, with worms, &c. It was not difcovered till almoft full-feathered. When any perfon went near the neft, it at firft made ahiffing noife, lifting itfelf up as if with an intention to fly at them; afterwards, when any perfon approached, it opened its mouth, expecting food that fear, which at firft was expreffed by hitting, being entirely laid alide by the frequency of vifitors, who came and very much admired the bird, which was then as lane as a Blackbird: the mouth was obferved to be very large, not unlike the Caprimulgus, or Goat Suckers. It was not deftroyed, but permitted to fly away, in hopes of its returning the following fpring. 1785, the 21ft of last month, a Hoopoe* was feen feeding in the farm-yard at Clare Priory; it was a few days after fhot at Cavendish, the adjoining village. I compared it with Mr. Pennant's account, which I found exceedingly accuW. rate. I MR. URBAN, Have no objection to give your candid and polite querift, J. L. as full an anfwer to his feveral queries as lie in the power of my memory. I have not be fore me your Magazine, in which I gave the account of iny friend Captain Williams's Mackaw, nor do I recollect particularly what I faid on that fubject'; but having been in South America, and being well acquainted with the externals of the male and female Mackaw, I can pofitively pronounce, it was a male bird, his fize and refplendant variegated plumage announced him to be fo. As to his laying eggs, or an egg, I forget which, that depended on the veracity of Captain Williams, a man of worth and honour. But, fir, I have a fill ftronger proof as to his fex, and that he was a male, for it was notorious to the whole town of Plaistow, where Captain Williams then lived, that he conftantly lay with the maids, nay, that he WOULD lie with thein; ftealing fivly into their bed-chambers, going in head-foremost down to the bottom of the bed, and there lying concealed till the maids had got in feetforemost, and then he came fmoothly up without difcompofing his feathers, and lay as decently with his head on the pillow, as any male would he, between two handfome young girls. To this part of the bird's conduct I can fpeak pofitively; for both the maids acknowledged that he did lie with them, though they both refated to lie with me. Further, he had a violent antipathy to males of every kind; and once nearly bit off his master's thumb; but any female might approach him, or carefs him, with fafety. know, Mr. Urban, this account may difpole you to laugh; but be affured it is STRICTLY TRUE. I Anfwer to the first query. I believe the bird had been in Mr. Williams's houfe many years; and I now recolle&t that the bird laid feveral eggs, and that * See a fine print of one, vol. XLVII. p. 313. the The young Cuckoo-Caftles in Glamorganfh're. the days of their delivery were marked The, fecond query I have aníwered P. S. Since I wrote the above, or pro- MR. URBAN. for: THOUGH Newcourt, vol. I. p. 6:6, 657, makes the priory and the parish church of Clerkenwell one and the fame. Stowe (Survey, p. 484), feems to diftinguish them, and to call the latter St. James's church, which is that now fub youngest daughter of Sir Richard Sack- The following caftles enumerated in vol. LV. p. 936, have been engraved and Buck. Buck and Grofe. Buck and Grofe." defcribed: Sandby. Grofe. Buck and Grofe. Oxwich, Buck. Buck and Grofe. Cardiff, Loughor, Buck. Grofe. Q Laugharne Buck and Grose. Neath, your correfpondent, but to be found in cefte, but Allencefier, as Matthew Paris in Mr. Hemming (p. 1010) was nomi- fhop there, but never practifed even as an In a north window of St. Laurence's Cromwell, are communicated to you on 44 Cromwell Family.-Nautical Queries.-Dr. Horsley. Henry the eldest fon of Anne Field is faid to be born Dec. 9, 1755. It was Sept. 29, 1755; his wife's name Esther Baron. Thomas Cromwell was apprentice to Mr. Buttal, ironmonger, not Mr Sharp, and is ftated fo, p. 34, l. 1. If d. before Elizabeth Oliveria daughter of Mr. Oliver Cromwell, means the died an infant, it is a mistake, she being living. P. xii. 1. 26. for 1698, r. 1648. P. xvi. 1. 17. There was no Edward in the family; it should have been Thomas, who was a grocer. P. 33. 1. 8. Helling fhould have been Hewling. The marriage of Henry Field, 1748, fhould be 1784**.. J. FIELD. Mr. URBAN, Chrift-Church, Jan. 21. Tmitted to the confideration of any HE following questions are fubreader of your ufeful Mifcellany, who has it in his power to answer them, refpecting the dreadful accident which lately befel the unfortunate Halfewell Outward-bound Eaft Indiaman, the circumftances attending which, being fo peculiarly diftreffing, have diffused a general gloom amongst all ranks of people, except indeed the rapacious plunderers on the fea coaft, who are fo devoid of humanity as to ftrip the bodies of the dead as foon as the waves have thrown them on the fhore; which, however, fome gentlemen in the vicinity of this place, to their honour be it spoken, have had decently interred. Question I. As the fhip, during the violent fnow torm of the 4th inftant, had her main and mizen mafts cut away, and several feet of water in the hold, why did not the captain, after the weather became moderate, make for the first Jeeward port, and put into Plymouth? Queftion II. When the thip came to anchor off Portland, in a fecond form early in the morning of the 6th inftant, why was not the foremaft immediately cut away, which probably might have prevented the fhip from driving on the rocks, where, in ten minutes, he was dafhed to pieces? Question III. Whether there is any truth in the report circulated in the pub So it is in the pedigree. Most of the a love are errors of the prefs. EDIT. lic papers, that the fhip's crew refused to Question IV. What is the meaning MR. URBAN, Br, Effex, Dec. given of a ring faid to be found at Bourchier-Hall, in the parish of Halfted, in the county of Effex. Mr. Goffer must have mistaken the name of the hall, as there is not anyone of that name in the parish of Halfted. Of this I can speak confidently, being a native of that place, and having family poffeffed Stanfted-Hall, or Boynrefided there many years. The Bourchier Hall, in Halfted. I believe the former. Of this fome of your correfpondents can give you better information from Mr. Morant's Hiftory of Effext. dif Dr. Horsley § infinuates that no diffenters, except the very dregs of methedifm, retain Calviniftic principles. Is this matter of fact? or is the Doctor mifinformed? Are there not many fenting minifters in London and the country, men of refpectable characters and liberal education, who avow the fentiments of Calvin? A perfon obferved on hearing this, that Dr. Horfley is not fo well acquainted with the diffenters as his grandfather was ||. Some account of Mr. Morley friend of Mat. Prior, will oblige the Vol. LV. p. 921. Rev. Mr. Church, rector of Boxford, Surrey-no fuch place -query, Suffolk? T. CAMP. Mifreprefentations concerning Mr. Gainsborough corrected. POLYXENA, vol. LV, P. 912, was, I fuppofe, fo totally abforbed in grief when he visited the burial place of his friend, as to be incapable of accurate ob fervation. I can no otherwife account for the mifrepresentation he has given of it in your laft Magazine. In juftice to the congregation of diffenters at Henley, who had an high refpect for this paftor, I trouble you with this. Mr. Gainfborough's remains are not depofited, as your correfpondent afferts," in the fiable "yard of a paltry inn," nor is fuch the fituation of the Henley meeting, close to which he is interred. It ftands in a court enclosed with a wall, and a pair of gates for the admiffion of carriages to the door. Within this enclosure was lately a cottage, which is now purchafed, and converted into a comfortable habitation for the present worthy minifter, at the expence of his flock. A fmall alehoufe adjoins the wall of the meetinghoufe yard, from whence, perhaps, arofe Polyxena's mistake. 45 rough, feems to be mifinformed concerning the manner of his death. He intimates, that he died of a cancer; which diforder was communicated to him by his clofe attendance to his wife *. Whereas, if diligent inquiry had been made, he would have found, that Mr. Gainfborough departed this life fuddenly in place near Henley, while he was converfing with fome gentlemen about the locks of the river, which he had conftructed, and of which, I think, he was the treasurer, having about feventy pounds of the money belonging to that useful work in his pocket. This, if I mistake not, happened in the year 1771. MR. URBAN, R. W. LET us Critical Reviewers to Mr. Jan. 10. advert a little to the partiality 66 66 J. R. Sullivan's Obfervations on a Tour through parts of England, Scotland, and Wales, firft published in 4to, 1779, which, in their firft review of it, they fufpected to be "really fabricated in the clofet out of the As to the bullet-clock which Polyx-"materials of former writers," and they ena is in poffeffion of, I well remember add, "we were not mistaken in our opiit; it is a curious piece of mechanifm, "nion." From fome palpable geographi and deferves a fuller defcription than he "cal errors, we fufpect that the author nehas given. The inactive wheels were, ver really vifited all the places he menas he rightly imagines, intended to fetch up the bullets by means of a vane, which was to have been kept in motion by a current of air directed againft it; but Mr. Gainsborough was too fenfible a man, and too good a mechanic, to dream of forming a “perfect perpetual mo"tion;" juft fuch a perpetual motion as this would have been are the prefent new-invented watches, which require no other power to keep them going than that motion which is communicated to them by the play of the thigh in walking. I perfectly agree with Polyxena as to Mr. Gainsborough's character: this good man and fincere Chriftian died fuddenly as he was walking on the banks of the Thames. I do not recollect feeing in your entertaining Mifcellany any account of the key ftone of the center arch of Henley new bridge, on which is an head of" Father Thames," executed in a very mafterly ftyle by Mrs. Damer. I wonder much at this, as it is a great curiofity, if on no other account, at least as being the workmanship of a lady. Yours, &c. MR. URBAN, No DISSENTER. Jan. 16. nious artist, the late Mr. GainfboSee vol LV. p. 932. POLYXENA, fpeaking of that inve tions. He has, however, frequent"ly given the most interesting parts of "the narratives of former travellers, and by a variety of circumftances, apparently fictitious, has, perhaps, rendered "the work entertaining to readers of a "particular clafs t." While the book had no author's name, it had no reputation. No fooner has the author emerged from his cloud, and powdered his pages with a larger proportion of fentiments and obfervations, not to mention citations from Grofe, Pennant, and the pacts, but it begins to engage the attention of a particular clafs, though the prefent edition contains nearly the fame account of the tour as formerly. But as this fecond edition is announced as corrected and enlarged, and the fize, though not the price, reduced, I contrived to get a fight of it to form a fairer judgement of it. Some childish stories are omitted, but the vacancy is largely fupplied by others, and by copious extracts of cafties and fieges, of abbies and their diffolution, and the *Another correfpondeat informs us, that Mr. Gainsborough was on the point of a fecond marriage when he was inatched away by death. EDIT, + Crit. Rev. vol. XLIX. pp. 117. 121. |