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upper end of the Haymarket. In like manner, perhaps, Peckham was originally written Peakham, from the beautiful Peak or Hill, under which it is fituated.

Paffing to the eastern end of the town, I would query, Whether the diftrict of Limehoufe took its name from a Lime-burner's, or whether its original orthography might not be Lea-mouth, or Lea-mouth-houfe, conformably to its fituation.

Mr. Lyfons and other topographers have not favoured us with the derivation of the names and villages near London, viz. Lambeth, Kennington, Newington, Clapham, Walworth, Camberwell, Dulwich, Barking, Plaistow, Hommerton, Hackney, Clapton, Shacklewell, Haggerston, Tottenham, Enfield, Barnet, Illington, Hampftead, Hendon, Edgeworth, Pinner, A&ton, Ealing, Fulham, Putney, Chiswick, Chelfea, Kenfington, Kilburn, Paddington, &c. If, therefore, any of your correfpondents, who may have it in his power to examine cient writings or records, would obgingly communicate to the public the reult of any investigations made refpecting the places or circumstances abovemetioned, it would furnish the Monthly Maazine with an entertaining article, whih would also be very interefting to its numrous readers in the vicinity of the metropolis. E. C.

Wepe, Durham, Nov. 4, 1799.

To th Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

I

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nals: but as the originals could not be found, Chatterton was (as he predicted) esteemed the author of poems which he was not capable of writing. The modern ideas, and modern words in old fpelling, were certainly inferted by Chatterton either to fupply deficiencies, or to favor the deceit. Had there been nothing modern found in the poems, no doubt would have been entertained of their authenticity; and Chatterton's deep laid fcheme would, of course, have been defeated.

Of Chatterton no portrait, I believe, exifts. But would it not be poffible to obtain a factitious likeness? Some of his fifter's children may resemble him;—and there probably is ftill living in Briftol fome painter who remembers him. A sketch might be attempted, and handed about amongst his friends. Each would fuggeft an alteration; and at length, a diftant, if not a close resemblance, might be obtained.

Oct. 27, 1799•

H. R. R.

P. S I fhould be glad to fee among the embellishments of the intended edition of

Ramfay's Works, a view of his houfe near Edinburgh. There is, I am told, fomething very whimfical in the conftruction. I hope the editor will keep in mind, that whoever wrote the Gentle Shepherd, would feem to have read both the Aminta and Paftor Fide. It is not, I think, very probable, that Ramfay had ever read either.

Bishop Percy difcovered amongst the minftrels of Henry V. one named Thomas Chatterton. Reliq. Vol. I. Efay on the Anc. Minif?. p. xliv. note (1) 4th ed.

HA'E juft learned with much pleasure that Mr. Southey, whole poetical talents do onor to his country, has undertaken an dition of the poems of Rowley A and Chaterton. At the hands of Mr. Southey, he unfortunate bard may expect juftice. Aoet can beft appreciate the merit of a poet.-If Mr. Southey fhould engage in an inveftgation of the authenticity of the poems afcrbed to Rowley, he will, I am fure, throw new light upon that interefting fubject. Wil this very ingenious gentle man pardon me, if I fhould intrude my opinion on hin?-It fhall be briefly stated. Chatterton was born with admirable talents, and an afpiring foul. He had hardly entered ife when he began to devife means of rendering his name immortal. Difcovering in tle tower of Redcliff church fome old poems of great beauty, he determined to make hem his own. He tranfcribed them, fupplied from his own imagination the paffage defaced by time,deftroyed the originals, and then published his tranfcript. The public curiofity-was excited, and an inquiry fet on foot after the origi

For the Monthly Magazine. PEDESTRIAN EXCURSION THROUGH

SEVERAL PARTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES, DURING THE SUMMER OF 1797.

(Continued from p. 967.)

HE curious collections at Willon

tention of every traveller who visits this part of the country, as we did, to fee and obferve. It is certainly, in its way, a moft grand and interefting exhibition; and the antiquary and the virtuofo mult contemplate it with infatiable delight. It was however, for our tafte, somewhat too curious; at least, for so cafual a survey. To enjoy it properly, one ought to spend days and weeks in its examination. But hurried as one is from chamber to chamber to get through the whole in a few hours, one has not time to become properly interested in any thing; and object rushes upon object with fuch rapidity, that the mind is rather tunned than amufed;

and

and little is retained but a chaos of in-
diftinct impreffions. The bufts and hifto-
rical ftatues claimed the largest share of
our attention; and could we have devoted
to thefe alone the time occupied by run
ning over the whole collection, we should
have been more inftructed and lefs wearied.
There are feveral reafons for the intereft
thefe objects infpire. As monuments of
art, and data for the hiftory of its progrefs,
they must be efteemed by the antiquary
and man of taste; by their connection with
the memorable events of former times,
they recall to the mind of the hiftorian the
tudies which have delighted him in the
clofet, and fitted him for the important
fcenes of publication. They introduce
him, as it were, to the perfonal acquaintance
of diftinguished characters, with whofe
names he had been long familiar. And
where they can be relied upon as genuine
resemblances, they offer to the phyfiogno-
mit a feries of invaluable examples for
the advancement and illuftration of his,
fcience. There are fome in this collection,
however, whofe authenticity I fhould be
inclined to call in queftion.. I pafs over
the bufts of Achilles, and fuch like poe-
tical perfonages. The chiffel has its poe-
tical licence, as well as the pen; and its
fictions fhould be as current in the regions
of taste and criticism. But the bults of
Brutus, who expelled the Tarquins, Col-
latinus his colleague, and Coriolanus,
fhould belong to history. Yet, where
were the ftatuaries to preserve their por-
traiture? When Tarquin the Proud de-
termined to fet up the ftatues of Olym-
pian Jove, he was obliged to fend for an
artift to execute it from among the Vol.
fcians: and that, long after the establish-
ment of the Republic, the Romans had
no ftatuaries among them, may be fairly
prefumed from the circumftance of their
erecting columns only, to the memory of
those citizens who had diftinguished them-
felves by illuftrious actions. Self-love
and ancestral vanity made no delay in fub-
kituting images in the place of thefe,
when the ftate of the arts permitted.
Painting does not appear to have been
cultivated in Rome till the fecond Punic
war; and it was ftill later before ftatuary
was introduced. Thefe, therefore, muft
be confidered alfo as poetical portraits.
But there are others against which no ob-
jections will lie in point of time, of whofe
authenticity, nevertheless, one cannot but
entertain fome doubt. The dignified
compofore and intellectual power exhi-
bited in the features of Theophraftus
correfpond, indeed, with the character
MONTHLY MAG. No. 54.

and writings of that philofopher; and the calm benignity and engaging foftnefs of Didia Clara (daughter of Didius Julianus) make one ftruggle to believe it a genuine portrait, notwithstanding its more than mortal beauty. The fordid, meannefs and infenfate cruelty that debafe the features of Lepidus the triumvir; the ftupid indolence and barbarity of the emperor Claudius, and the bloated, intemperate, licentious, effeminate, mischief-meditating countenance of Nero, with his purfed-up, pouting, diftorted mouth, and affaffin arm wrapped up in his cloak brand thefe portraits refpectively with the indubitable mark of authenticity. Many others, alfo, are the very beings a phyfioEven Segnomift would expect them. neca, notwithstanding his open mouth, and the mixture of voluptuoufnefs and intellectual power blended in the lines and folid parts of his face, will pafs mufter very well. Such, I make no doubt, were the genuine lineaments of the philofopher, whofe "learning and brilliant genius" the flagitious but penetrating Agrippina confidered as fit inftruments "to make the road to empire fmooth and level to her fon;" whofe "gratitude" the forefaw "would fix him in her intereft, a faithful counsellor, and her friend by fentiment; while a sense of former injuries would make him the fecret enemy of Claudius*.” In fhort, the philofophy of Seneca was not like that of Socrates. It was not of the heart, but of the head; and thoughit taught him to die with the magnanimity, it could not influence him to live with the purity, of a philofopher. But, can the man whofe mind has been nurtured with the love of Roman liberty, believe that Marcus Brutus was a gloomy, fordid, and malignant ruffian ? Yet, fuch are the characteristics of the buft of that famous Roman in the veftibule. Scarcely ever did I be hold fo hideous a contraction of feature. It is affaffination perfonified. There is, indeed, in the Great Room, another bust of this fame Brutus, refembling the above in many refpects, but not trenched with the fame villainous expreffions. Yet, even in this, there is little benignity; and we feek in vain for that amiable and philofophical tendernefs fo finely delineated by Shakespeare +, and fo generally ascribed to him by hiftorians. What shall we fay to this? Are the portraits fictitious? Or, have we been impofed upon by legendary

* See Tacit. Ann. b. xii. f. 8.

+ Shak Jul. Cæfar, particularly in A&II. Scene i. and Act IV. Scene iii. C

panegyrics?

panegyrics? For my own part, establish the authenticity of the likeness, and I will believe the teftimony of a man's countenance in preference to his hiftorian, even though he should produce better vouchers than the hiftorians of antiquity generally give themselves the trouble to quote. Perhaps, indeed, our admiration of Brutus and Caffius may have been carried too far. Perhaps we wrong the holy name of liberty, when we rank among its champions the confpirators who affaffinated Cæfar. It is not by crimes that the virtue of a country is to be restored. It is not by executing even a tyrant unheard and unarraigned, that liberty and justice are to be promoted. But this fubject would lead to an elaborate differtation.

The gardens at Wilton are not equal to the house. There is, however, a fine fupply of water, well difpofed; and the noble plantations, the fhadowy walks, the fcattered islands and furrounding foreft fcenery, in bright and glowing weather, must have a fine effect. The view of Salifbury, in which the cathedral makes a prominent feature, from the cafino and triumphal arch, is very delightful.

Our walk over the house and gardens had already coft us fix fhillings; and we Alattered ourselves, that we had no more exactions to encounter. But, as we were going past the porter's lodge, a fervant topped us with a fresh demand; inform ing us, in plain language, that they were all stationed there for their fees, and nobody could come in er out without pay ing."

We accordingly fubmitted to be fleeced once more. I am told, that this kind of tax upon the curiosity of travellers is peculiar to this country; and furely it is fomewhat furprizing, that the pride and oftentation of greatnefs fhould not fpurn the illiberal idea of fupporting its fervants on the alms of curiofity. But there is a nobleman in the county of Derby, who is reported not only to fave the expence of wages by this expedient, but abfolutely to make a bargain with his housekeeper for half the vails collected by exhibiting his Splendid mansion.

(To be continued.)

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fauro, "Res eft vocabulum generale rerum omnium quæ corpora dici non poffunt." If the preceding definition be accurate, the word res may be ufed with the strictest propriety as the reprefentative of that claís of ideas, which by metaphyficians are denominated ideas of abstraction.

Power, therefore, being an affociate of this numerous tribe, will be expreffed by the word under confideration. As a confirmation of the propriety of the definition above quoted, I obferve, that it is in a great measure fanctioned by the authority of Ainsworth, who comprehends power under the fignifications of res.

Power may be regarded either in its fimple application, or attendant confequences. The effects of power exerted on a body may be confidered in two different points of view; viz. as direct and reflex. If a certain degree of power be applied to a body in a state of reft, the direct confequence of this communicated force will be its motion; the remote or reflex effect, the difpofition and actual reversion of the body, after it has attained its acme of ve locity, to its former ftate of quiefcence. I cannot be understood to infinuate, that this latter confequence is the refult of impreffed force, as its efficient caufe; all I mean to affert is, that the return of the body in question to a state of reft, is an event subfequent to the applied force, and may therefore, fo far, be confidered as its concomi. tant effect.

Having premifed thus much refpecting the application and effects of power, I enter on the proof, that the meaning of those words which have the monofyllable re (the ablative of res) prefixed, perfectly harmonizes with the idea I have fuggefted on the term under confideration. To enumerate all the compounds of re, were a task equally tedious and needlefs; a few examples will be fufficient for my present defign. The words reluctor, repugno, and refifto evidently imply the application of a force fuperior to that which can be affirmed of the incompounded terms, luclor, pugno, and fifto. Thus luctor means to frive; but reluctor, to wrestle, supposes the highest degree of corporeal exertion. The fame remarks are equally juft with respect to the words repugno and refifto.

I will now adduce a few examples of thofe compounds of re, which indicate a reflex effect; refpicio, redamo, repuerasco, and recludo, are inftances in point. The cafe of Orpheus exhibits fo appofite an illuftration of my ideas on the import of the preceding words, that I cannot refift my inclination to quote the paffage in which it is defcribed. Orpheus, having

obtained

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Immemor, heu! VICTUSQUE ANIMO, re-
fpexit.
VIRGIL, Georg. iv.

The preceding remarks, if not deftitute of force, directly lead to the folution of Mr. Welley's difficulty, and enable us affign the reafon for the fact, that the meming of the word reclufus is in diametrical oppofition to the English term reclufe. The latter word (derived of re and claufr) will, in exact confiftence with the precoding principles, imply entirely but up; and the former, the reflex effect of claufus, which is open.

Such, Mr. Editor, are my fentiments on the queftion propofed by Mr. Welley. I truft, I am not so far a bigot to my ideas on this or any other fubject, as not to be induced to refign them with thankfulness and pleasure, in favour of any other hypothels, which has fuperior pretenfions to reason and probability. I remain, Sir,

Your's very respectfully, Dec. 10th, 1799. R. PERKINS, jun. The Conigex, near Gloucester.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

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S you have inferted in your Maga

fhort anecdotes of the late Mr. Arch-Deacon Blackburne, I cannot doubt of your readiness in common juftice to admit my remarks thereon; as well as my fubsequent letter, respecting fome of his latest fentiments, which I wrote fome time ago to a friend. Efpecially, as I think myfelf intitled to attention; having been firit coufin to the Arcir Deacon; having had an intimacy with him, from my early days to the end of his life; and preferving a grateful refpect for his memory.

Your correfpondent fays, "The ArchDeacon acquired a great fhare of celebrity, about thirty years ago, by the publication of a work, to which he gave the name of the Confeffional."—And from hence your correfpondent concludes, "that he was a Puritan." Now, I afk, if the oftenfible object of the Confeffional.be not" an inquiry concerning the utility and legality of requiring fubfcriptions from candidates for orders?" As this requifition, therefore, is only a condition for admiffion into an office in the church; and not a general term of communion required of all members, his fentiments on that subject, what

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On the contrary, his not objecting to his fon's taking orders; his even promoting tisfied he would have objected, from his my taking orders; to which I am well fagreat regard to me, if he had thought Icould not enter into that profeffion, without violating my confcience; his not refigning his preferment and dignity in the church; his perfonally executing the laborious, and by no means lucrative, office of Arch-Deacon, by virtue, and in fupport of Episcopal authority; nay, and his acceptance, late in life, of another office, in the execu tion whereof he acted as ecclefiaftical

judge, and inflicted church cenfures; though he was of a generous and difinterested difpofition; and though I had it from his own mouth, that, if he found he could not execute his functions with perfect fatisfaction of mind, he would refign and retire; which, from my long intimacy, could not but lead me to give him full credit for his integrity and honour in his clerical conduct.

Your correfpondent adds, " He affected to be alarmed at the progress of Popery in this kingdom." And from hence likewife infers, that he was puritanical;"and as proof thereof fays, "He published an 8vo volume, in which he heaped up a num

cruelties of the Roman Catholics." How would this argument look, if it were applied to prove a worthy ancestor of the Archdeacon's and mine (Dr. Comber, Dean of Durham, at the conclufion of the last century) to have been a puritan; whofe labours in defence of our church were fo exemplary!

But ftill your correfpondent will have it, that he was "a Puritan in politics." To this I fhall only anfwer, from my own knowledge, that in the active part of his life he was a steady adherent to the fupporters of the happy Act of Settlement; and in his retirement, he was fo cautious of aiding to introduce any innovation in the civil confitution, that he did not choose to concur in an attempt at what was called a Reformation of Parliament; though many of whom he had a good opinion did embark therein.

But it feems rather a hard measure, that the Arch-Deacon fhould not only be accufed as a " Puritan," but as an "Arian or Socinian ;" characters seemingly so op, pofite.

Of the former I have already cleared
C 2

him;

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him; and of the latter, I trust, the follow-
ing letter will as evidently acquit him.
I am, Sir, &c.

Kirkby-Moorfide.
Nov. 7th, 1799.

W. COMBER.

" Kirkby-Moorfide, Sept. 11th, 1793.

"DEAR SIR,

"Understanding that attempts are made to propagate an idea, that the late Arch-Deacon Blackburne's (your worthy father) fentiments correfponded with thofe of the modern Unitarians (as they call themselves); my refpect for the memory of fo near and valuable a relation, as well as my regard for the interefts of true religion, urge me to furnish you with a proof of his latest opinion on the nature of our Saviour Jefus Chrift; which, I hope will, with any ingenuous mind, irrefragably refute any fuch idea. And as I take it for granted you must wish to rescue your father's character from fuch an extraordinary mifreprefentation, you are perfectly at liberty

to make this information as public as you choofe, as I fhould be glad, by my teftimony, to be inftrumental in proving the falfehood of the report.

"You know, Sir, your father honoured me with a confiderable degree of his esteem and confidence, to the very conclufion of his life; it is not therefore furprising, that he fhould communicate, to me, his fentiments; efpecially when he was certain the knowledge of them would give me fatisfaction.

lect :

To the best of my memory, he, more than once, in fome of the latest converfations I had with him, and I believe at the distance of a year or two from each other, expreffed himfelf as follows, as nearly as I can recolCoufin Comber, I firmly believe the Divinity of Jefus Chrift.” My anfwer I think was: "I am very glad of it, Sir." He added, at the fame time, "What Dr Priestley believes, concerning Jefus Chrift, I do not know as I never could get an answer to that question, either from bimfelf or any of his connections ;" or words to that effect.

"This declaration was not made accidentally; but with an evident defign, as appeared to to me, (and, I think, a pofitive request) that Iwould take particular notice of it; which I therefore did; for I felt great joy in-heating it. And as it was made with much energy, and repeatedly; and, as far as I recollect, at the very laft interviews I had with him, one of which, as you must recollect, was a few weeks only before his death, I have no doubt that thefe were his real and his laft fentiments on that fubject. I hope, where this is known, it will effectually do away the idea of his being affociated in opinion with the leaders of the modern Unitarians. I am, dear Sir,

Your affectionate kinfman,

And obliged humble fervant,

W. COMBER."

The Rev. F. Blackburne."-in whofe poffeffon my original letter now is.

For the Monthly Magazine.

[Obfervations on the principal Italian Poets, concluded from p. 872, of vol. viii.]

author that has reconciled me to
foreign dramatic poets.
The dull medi-
ocrity of the best French dramatifts, and
the experience that the prolixity and gar-
rulity of Guarini afforded of the Italian,
had tempted me to believe that dramatic
poetry had become an islander, and seldom
vifited the continent. In Metaftafio, how-
ever, there is a vivacity of action, of fenti-
ment, and of expreffion, fufficient to banish
tion of the French poets was more than fuf-
a bigotry which the phlegmatic declama-
ficient to generate. In this respect, in-
deed, the different conftruction of French
and Italian verfification gives the latter
meted and inflexible dodecafyllabical length
an eminent advantage. The equally
of the French heroic refutes to exprefs any
variety of manner, or accommodate itself
action :-like Hudibras's horse,
to any change of paffion, or difference of

"He was well staid, and in his gait
Preferved a grave majestic state.
At fpur, or switch, no more he skipt,
Or mended pace, than Spaniard whipt.'

Whilft the Italian verfe (like the famous adapts itself to every variety of fentiment coat that fits the moon in all its changes) and diction, and all the inflections of impaffioned tones, find an yielding verfification that they can mould into their own form. There feems, however, a greater compafs and capability in Italian verfe, than even the plastic powers of Metaftalio

has exhibited. general, animation enough to be interestFor though he has, in ing, he has seldom strength enough to decies of very vivid emotion. light, or even to surprise, with any fpeplan and in the conduct of his pieces, Both in the there is an equability obfervable; and though it be a regulated uniformity of excellence, it appears to reprefs any of those explosions of energy, with which poets, lefs generally pleafing, will fometimes aftonifh and delight. His ornaments are few, and generally confined to a fimile in full forin of thefe, too, the place may be generally predicted:the concluding ar poet's imagination, which thinks itself of a icene feems an alarum bell to the obliged to obey the fummons; and is thus rity, that it feldom performs a voluntary. fo often called upon by duty and authofo often pleafed, that an air without an orOn thefe occafions, however, the reader is

nament

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