GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. AUGUST, 1835. BY SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. CONTENTS. MINOR CORRESPONDENCE-Churches of Stoke d'Abernon and Stoke by Guildford-Hudibrastic lines-Arms of Lord Mayors-Bercarius-&c.... .. COOKE'S MEMOIR OF LORD BOLINGBROKE... NEW RECORD COMMISSION, No. II. Close Rolls of King John..... PAGE 106 107 118 Rare and unpublished Coins of Roman Emperors, &c. struck in Greek Cities... 129 British Relations with China...... 132 Proceedings of the Record Commission in France.... 140 143 ..... MEMORIALS OF LITERARY CHARACTERS, NO. VII. Letters of Lord Bolingbroke, 146.-Dr. Stukeley's Journal, 149.-Family of Dr. Donne.............. Ancient Book of Medical Recipes........ 150 150 Boccaccius de Mulieribus Clarissimis, printed at Ulm in 1473.. 151 152 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Willis on the Architecture of the Middle Ages, and Whewell on German Churches, 153.-Montgomery's Poet's Portfolio, 156.-Keightley's History of Greece, 157.-Chabaille's Roman du Renart, &c. 158.-Pluquet's Contes Populaires, 159.-American Common Prayer, 160.-Literary History of Italy, 163.-Ord's England, 163.-Dallaway's Antiquities of Bristow, 164.-Letters on the Court of Chancery, 167.-Latham on the Greek Language, 168.-Ingram's Memorials of Oxford, 169.-Hardy's Notices of the Holy Land, 170.-Mrs. Loudon's Philanthropic Economy, 172.Robinson's History of Hardwicke Hall, 174.-Auldjo's Visit to Constantinople, 174-Provincial Sketches, The Gipsy, and Miscellaneous Reviews.. 177 FINE ARTS.-New Publications, 178.-Architectural Designs at the Royal Academy. ..... LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 120 185 New Publications, 183.-Installation of the Marquis Camden at Cambridge, 184 Learned Societies, &c........ ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.-Sale of Mr. Salt's Egyptian Antiquities.. 190 HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. Proceedings in Parliament, 190.- Foreign News, 193.-Domestic Occurrences, St. Alban's and Bath Abbeys-Great Tom of Lincoln, 195.-Promotions, Preferments, &c. 198.-Marriages.... 199 OBITUARY; with Memoirs of Earl of Courtown; Earl of Longford; Marchioness H. L. Grimaldi; Hon. B. Bouverie; Sir W. C. Medlycott, Bart. ; Sir Andrew Corbet, Bart.; Major-Gen. Sir John Ross; General Burton; Vice-Adm. Locke; William Smith, esq.; Evan Baillie, esq.; Thomas Car. ter, esq. William Cobbett, esq. M.P.; Thomas Clayton, esq.; James Morris, esq.; Mrs. Davies; Charles Mathews, esq.; Rev. Thomas Harvey; Edw. Troughton, esq. F.R.S.; Professor Martos; Col. W. B. Naynoe; Joseph Todd, esq.; Dr. Pughe...... CLERGY DECEASED, 217.-DEATHS, arranged in Counties.. Embellished with Representations of GREEK IMPERIAL COINS. MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. E. I. C. remarks: "In Mr. Rickman's Observations on the Ecclesiastical Architecture of France and England, in the new portion of the Archæologia, vol. xxvi. p. 40, he names Stoke D'Abernon, in Surrey, as one of the examples of the description of architecture to which the essay refers; he refers, in particular, to the chancel arch and the tower. The church which he means is, I apprehend, Stoke by Guildford; for the present church of Stoke D'Abernon has no tower, and though the chancel has a round arch, it is so covered with plaster that the architecture cannot be distinguished. In other respects, the church is worthy of the notice of the antiquary; it possesses a beautiful stone-roofed chancel in the taste of the thirteenth century, and contains one of the oldest brasses in existence. Mr. Rickman will pardon this correction, as he must be well aware of the necessity of correctness in all matters of this kind. While on the subject of Surrey antiquities, I would notice that the ancient rood-loft of Kingston church, which was perfect when I first visited the church, has been entirely destroyed. This spoliation took place about three years since; and in pursuing the work of destruction some ancient paintings were discovered. I understand that a portion of the remains were purchased by some of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the parish. Why are our ancient churches to be left entirely at the mercy of ignorant churchwardens? The ancient chantry, used as a grammar school, has suffered from the modern fancy of throwing open every relic of former times, institutions as well as buildings. As the exposed walls were not deemed neat enough to meet public gaze, they have been covered with compo, another evidence of the corrupt taste which prevails in this town." Dr. Ward, in his Life of Sir Thomas Gresham prefixed to the "Lives of the Gresham Professors," alludes, in p. 27, to" Sir Thomas Gresham's Journal MS." Can any of our readers inform us where that MS. is now to be found? J. G. D. communicates from "Sententiæ Morales a diversis auctoribus collectæ, per eruditiss. &c. Andream Cagnatum, Lugd. 1584." the following Latin version of the four Hudibrastic lines given in June, p. 562, Qui fugit e pugnâ rursus pugnare redibit; Qui cadit in pugnâ nunquam pugnare resurget. These certainly resemble so closely the English lines, that the latter may have been derived immediately from them; but they do not bear out our Correspond ent in his opinion "that no Greek writer is the author of the idea."-Dr. RUDGE'S letter on the same subject we may be excused inserting, after its having been published in the St. James's Chronicle; but, having referred to Pearch's Collection of Poems, vol. iii. p. 84, we have to inform him that the lines in question do not occur there. Mr. LEEDS claims our attention to "a very singular ruse practised towards him. After his name had actually been given to the public as the author of the letter-press of the Second Series of Goodwin's Domestic Architecture, it was, as he has since discovered, withdrawn previously to the new edition of the work, and another title substituted in lieu of the original one, although he had expressly conditioned that his name should appear. In fact, that, he observes, constituted the chief remuneration for his labour; and what renders the case the more extraordinary is, that Mr. Goodwin had manifested neither dissatisfaction nor displeasure of any kind that would in some degree account for, yet certainly not justify, such procedure." In answer to the inquiries of Mr. SAMUEL GREGORY (New Series, vol ii. p. 562,) respecting the arms of several aldermen of London, H. G. is enabled to give the two following. Brackley Kennett, Lord Mayor 1780, Quarterly Or and Gules, a label of three points in chief Sable, charged with nine Bezants, 3, 3, and 3. Thomas Sainsbury, Lord Mayor 1787, Azure, three lozenges conjoined in bend Or, within a bordure engrailed of the Last, a mullet for difference. It is probable that the arms of those yet wanting may be obtained from the churches of their respective wards. ANTIQUARIUS (p. 2,) may be referred for Pigot of Clotheram to Gent. Mag. XCII. ii. p. 2; for the Wardes of Yorkshire to XCIV. i. 290, ii. 482; and for some slight notice of the names of Warde and Burton, to Hargrove's Knaresborough. If E. N. had looked for Bercarius instead of Beckarius in any of the lawdictionaries, his curiosity would have been satisfied. The word has the same origin as the French berger, which was derived from brebis, berbicarius, per sync. bercarius. T. B. inquires, what were the arms (if any) of the Priory of Tortington, near Arundel, in Sussex, and of its foundress, Hadwise Corbet, as well as those of the Priory of Okeburn, in Wiltshire, which was dependent on the Abbey of Bec in Normandy. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. MEMOIR OF LORD BOLINGBROKE. BY GEORGE WINGROVE COOKE, ESQ. 2 vols. 8vo. THERE are few characters recorded in English history, who have filled so important a space in the eyes of their contemporaries, who have been more highly extolled by their friends, and who have wrung a reluctant acknowledgment of the superiority of their talents from their bitterest enemies,* than that very singular and eminent person who forms the subject of Mr. Cooke's biography. At the same time, there are few, the blossoms of whose fame have so rapidly faded away under the hand of Time, whose name is so seldom heard in political disquisitions, or in the walks which he once adorned, of literature and philosophy; and over whose writings, which society once beheld with curiosity and with awe, the occasional eye of the scholar and the man of letters is alone seen to glance, more for the purpose of completing a knowledge of the literature of the time, than for auy instruction which they are calculated to afford. Yet Bolingbroke was a man adorned with the richest gifts of nature; and in whom the original powers of his mind were as early and boldly developed, as they were afterwards cultivated and matured. We think it is Dr. Johnson who observes, "that no man dis inguishes himself in after life, in whom the superiority of his talents could not have been discovered in his youth;"-if so, the dawning light which early burst into the full effulgence of genius, in Bolingbroke's youthful days, may corroborate the observation of the moralist. Mr Cooke says, He was removed from Eton to Christ-Church, where his great natural advantages had more facility for development. His wit and genius soon distinguished him among his companions,† and he already assumed a superiority which he was destined always to maintain. His extraordinary talents forced themselves into general notice, and his tutors confessed that in him they had no common pupil. His original and unquiet curiosity startled and perplexed them, and his prodigious strength of memory and quick apprehension excited their astonishment. His dashing and brilliant style of conversation was the admiration of his friends;.. ....his tenacious memory and strong reasoning powers, rendered him an antagonist to be dreaded even by those who had laboured most diligently at Walpole dreaded him, even when he had disarmed him; and watched him even at the lowest ebb of his fortunes, and when he was lying like a wreck on the shore. 'While he was engaged with the Pretender, the authorities at home (says Mr. Cooke) dreaded his talents and felt the force of his influence. They knew the value of his assistance, and the confusion which must follow his defection; and personally interested as they were in preventing his return to England, they thought that abroad he was a more dangerous enemy than he could be at home. It was determined, therefore, to attempt to detach him from the cause he had so imprudently espoused, and full powers were sent to the Earl of Stair to treat with him for that purpose.' See Cooke's Life, vol. ii. p. 9. Walpole's hatred was the strongest proof of Bolingbroke's talents. H. Walpole, in his Memoirs, says that his father and Bolingbroke were rivals at school. Walpole was older by two years. How little did they foresee Them shall the fury passions tear,' &c. the studies he had neglected. His learning was crude and undigested, but the mass was great, and as he always possessed the strong art of displaying every qualification in the most advantageous view, his companions considered him as resembling Chrichton as deeply in his acquirements as he certainly did in his dissipation. When he left them, they looked after him with anxious expectations as he immerged into the world: none doubted that he was destined to perform a distinguished part in the great drama of his age.'-As a writer, it may be said of Bolingbroke, that he was considered by the unanimous consent of his contemporaries, as in no wise inferior even to those who were esteemed the first models of their age. His style was said to possess all the graces and elegance of Addison's, and the idiomatic purity of Swift's; while it surpassed them both in the majestic flow of its eloquence, and in the tasteful richness of its decorations. Pope said,— Lord Bolingbroke was much the best writer of the age.' Chesterfield says, Bolingbroke talked all day long, as elegantly as he wrote.'* As an orator he stood pre-eminent and unapproached. To the knowledge of a statesman, and the attainments of a philosopher, he added all the graces of the courtier: the fascinating powers of his conversation, and the almost boundless stores of his intellectual wealth, were acknowledged by all. He ought to have been the greatest man of his age. The man gifted with the greatest variety of the highest qualities which nature could bestow, or education improve; one who seemed born to occupy a commanding situation, and exercise that powerful influence which superior genius possesses over common minds. Ingenium cui sit, cui mens divinior, atque os Hear what Swift says of him,t in the commencement of his political career: I think Mr. St. John the greatest young man I ever knew. Wit, capacity, beauty, quickness of apprehension, good learning, and an excellent taste; the best orator in the House of Commons, admirable conversation, goodnature, and good manners; generous, and a despiser of money. This is his character. In after life, Pope speaks of him, as of a being almost elevated above the level of mortality, Lord Bolingbroke is something superior to any thing I have seen in human nature. You know I don't deal much in hyperboles; I quite think him what I say. When a man is much above the rank of men, (he had been speaking of Bolingbroke,) who can he have to converse with?.... Nobody knows half the extent of his excellencies but two or three of his most intimate friends..... There is one thing in Lord Bolingbroke which seems peculiar to himself. He has so great a memory as well as judgment, that if he is alone and without books, he can sit down by himself, and refer to the books, or such a particular subject in them, in his own mind; and write as fully on it, as another man would with all his books about him. He sits like an intelligence, and recollects all the question within himself. I really think there is something in that great man which looks as if he were placed here by mistake. There is so; and when the comet appeared to us a month or two ago, I had sometimes an * Doctor Parr, in his Warburtonian Tracts, speaks of "hanging with rapture over the gorgeous declamation of Bolingbroke." But Bolingbroke's style possessed a great variety of excellence; and was as perspicuous when the subject demanded, as it was ornamented and elaborate when he chose to soar away in praise of friendship, and virtue, and patriotism, and give the thoughts of Seneca in the language of Tully. + See Journal to Stella, vol. xv. p. 176, ed. Nichols. See Spence's Anecdotes, in various places. |