Mr. URBAN, Welbeck Street, Nov. 7. FROM a notice in one of your late Numbers (p.61), and from observations in other periodicals, my attention was lately called to some Stained Glass at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, a visit to which afforded me a most delightful morning's occupation. I found myself surveying the works of one of the greatest artists the world ever produced, Albert Durer. It is impossible for a moment to resist the inclination one feels imposed, of attributing the above specimen to him, inasmuch as the great similarity of style, in this and the glass at Fairford, Gloucestershire (which there is every reasonable plea for attributing to his hand, notwithstanding Mr. Dallaway's observation), and also in many of his numerous works both in this country and on the Continent, places it beyond all doubt. There is such an extraordinary identity in the figures and their arrangement, as to render it impossible to be mistaken. One frame in particular caught my attention, that which depicts the benefit of clergy being extended to a criminal. Can any one for a moment behold the figure of the executioner and doubt its origin? The colours too are certainly very splendid; there is some exquisite ruby, blue, and amber; the velvets and damasked dresses are gorgeous, and in design, freedom of drawing, depth and extraordinary perspective, it far surpasses (in my estimation) any thing I have yet seen. You observed with truth, that it has not so deep a tone of colouring, and that the glass is not quite so much covered as some of a rather earlier date; but whether this is in its favour or not, I leave others to determine, although I incline to the opinion, that it is a proof of its superiority and value, and that the mind with such power of conception was accompanied by a hand of such power of execution, as needed not the usual gloom to hide the more elaborate and beautiful drawing for which this specimen stands pre-eminent. But I advance this only as an opinion; at all events, to depict the minute details so absolutely necessary in glass of this clear and cheerful character, is, I venture to submit, a sufficient proof its author had no fear of the results. Out of about 30 frames, more or less, there appear two or three not deserving so much notice, and I almost regret the proprietor has not kept them back or placed them by themselves; but, excluding them, sufficient remains to form a pictorial display much exceeding 200 square feet of, to me, unequalled beauty. I need not point out to you, Mr. Urban, the feelings that must arise in every cultivated mind, upon the consideration that these storied panes have outlived, fragile and precious as they are, the stone and marble of the edifice which originally contained them; and how often we are assisted in clearing up historical doubts by the armorial shields, the portraits, dates, and legends, in which this is so abundant, and which are generally met with in the article in question. The falling off in all modern productions of this nearly lost art, cannot be too much regretted; and, notwithstanding the specimen now offered to public inspection is somewhat carelessly got up, no pains having been apparently taken to clean it, or repair the very slight fractures that a period of three centuries has inflicted, notwithstanding these disadvantages, let it be compared with modern attempts-place it beside the window at Trinity College, Cambridge, by Peckitt (which contains 140 square feet, and cost 5007.), and but little time will be expended in coming to a decision, as to ancient or modern claims upon our admiration. I could multiply comparisons that would compel conviction; but I have already occupied too much of your valued pages. It is, however, a fine opportunity for those erecting extensive buildings, whether public or private, to procure a species of decoration, so rare and so beautiful, and which is of course diminishing at a fearful rate, and can never be replaced. In concluding, I shall take the liberty of observing, that an alteration for the better might be made in the present arrangement of the glass in question. Surely the western and eastern windows should change places; as it is now exhibited, some part by far the most precious I have ever seen, may easily escape observation. A CONSTANT READER AND Mr. URBAN, Nov. 1. A VIEW of Saint George's Tower, a solitary relic of the once-formidable castle of Oxford, will it is hoped be deemed an appropriate illustration of your valuable Magazine, which has uniformly distinguished itself by a predilection for our national antiquities. The origin of this ancient structure is blended in the same obscurity which envelopes the history of the city to which it appertains; and the labours of Camden, Wood, Hearne, King, and other antiquaries, have failed to dispel the gloom which hangs over this important question. The well-known facts of the residence of Offa, when Oxford was included within the limits of his kingdom of Mercia, of Alfred the Great, after the heptarchy had merged in the kingdom of England, and of Canute the Dane, together with the ceremonial of the Coronation of Harold Harefoot, sufficiently demonstrate the existence of a regal mansion at Oxford in the time of the Saxons; and the silence of Domesdaybook affords strong presumption that that mansion was no other than the Castle, which at the time of the Norman survey was held by Robert d'Oiley, to whom it was granted in 1067 by William I. in acknowledg. ment of the services he had rendered the Conqueror during the invasion and subjugation of his newly-acquired kingdom. Under that powerful Ba, ron, Oxford Castle gained much additional importance as a fortress, being augmented and partly rebuilt on a stronger and grander scale; d'Oiley also founded and liberally endowed a chapel, which speedily became a parish and even a collegiate church, within the precincts of the castle. The external enclosure appears to have been formed by a strong octagonal wall and moat, the latter being filled with water from a branch of the Isis, which flows under the south-western boundary, Four strong and lofty towers; two gates, one of them accessible only by means of a long and well-fortified bridge; a donjon or keep, elevated on an immense mound of earth, and commanding the adjoining city and country; together with the sacred edifice before mentioned; constituted the principal features of the ancient fortress, which wanted not suitable buildings for the accommodation of the numerous GENT. MAG. November, 1832. ecclesiastical and civil dependants necessary to the splendour of feudal magnificence. Here in 1141 the Empress Maud was besieged by Stephen; and her escape by night, in a white dress, during a severe frost, and when the ground was covered by snow, has been often related. Little alteration appears to have been made in the general form and appearance of the castle until after the civil wars. In 1649 Colonel Ingoldsby, the Parliamentarian Governor, demolished great part of the ancient buildings and fortifications, and in their stead erected some expensive works on the mount of the old keep; but these soon fell into decay, and were removed in their turn. Upon the conversion of the Castle into the county gaol, the dilapidated and ruinous edifices of former times necessarily gave place to erections more appropriate to its modern desti. nation; yet, after all these mutations, the Tower of Saint George remains an interesting specimen of castellated architecture, of a date little posterior to the era of the Norman Conquest, and probably owing its existence to one of the actors in that national tragedy. The characteristics of this building are simplicity and strength; it is divided into stories by a diminution, at the proper stages, of the solidity of its walls, which at the basement are of prodigious thickness; and security being the first object of its erection, it presents on its external faces, the north and west, no openings but in the parapet, which has been carried up considerably above the roof, and pierced with loopholes for arrows. The apartments of its dismal interior are now seldom used, those dungeons be. ing reserved for offenders of peculiar atrocity. The surrounding houses, although adjoining the Castle, are unconnected with it. The buildings which stand on the river are corn mills. Mr. URBAN, X. H.M.S. Ocean, Sheerness, Nov. 2, IF you think my account of Agriculture in Normandy will make any of my countrymen more contented with their own lot, I beg you will make use of it. I believe it to be correct. I took some trouble to obtain my information, and I can answer for not being wilfully in error. During the Spring of 1831, I made some enquiry into the state of agriculture in Normandy. The following are the results, after having taken the data from one parish. I was assisted in my enquiry by Lieut. Watt of the Navy, who had resided twelve years in the parish of Allemagne, and twentytwo years in France. There are four distinct qualities of soil in Allemagne : first, that above the quarries, which is but a thin layer with a great mixture of stone, yielding little return for labour, except in very wet seasons. There is also a portion of half reclaimed heath, which must be classed with the former as very bad, but is a slight improvement in the depth of soil, still very much mixed with stone: it, however, sometimes produces good crops of buck wheat. The third quality has a tolerable depth of soil over clay, which renders it cold, yielding however good crops, particularly in dry seasons; and its rental is estimated at fifteen sous the perche (26 feet English, each side), or 40 sous the English acre, and is by far the most general in the parish. There is however a fourth quality, consisting of a strong dark loam, the rental of which is 20 sous the perche, or 21.198.1d. the acre. There is also a considerable quantity of meadow land, which is included in the fourth quality as yielding the best return to the farmer. There are some small portions of coppice distant three miles from the market of Caen. The quantity of land in the parish is 1650 acres, 11 perches; and the number of inhabitants is 800. There are 11 farming establishments in the parish, and about 20 persons who cultivate land upon a small scale, belonging to themselves, in addition to their other trades or business. The largest farms consist of 100 arpens (or 155 English acres); the least of about 8 arpens (or 124 English acres) in the parish, and of an equal number in an adjoining one. This not being sufficient to occupy the small farmers, they plough and sow for the small occupiers. The average rent is about 15 sous the perch (27. 108. the acre), including every description of land. This, on enquiry, is found too high, as there is a considerable quantity of bad land; and perhaps il. 128. the acre is a juster average. The tenants of the larger farms do, in general, agree to pay in kind to their landlords a few articles, but so trifling as not to cause the rent to exceed what I have stated. For instance, one of Mons. St. Marie's tenants, who farms 100 acres, agrees to cart six loads of wood, or of any other article, to town each year; and to supply for the house twelve fat fowls, twelve chickens, twelve ducks, and a quantity of straw. But the rent is below 21. the acre; the farmer pays no tax except that called personal (poll) and mobilier (furniture) nor does he pay anything to the poor, but what he gives in alms at his door; nor to the clergyman, but for his seat in the church, and the fees for marriage and burial. The poll and furniture-tax about equals our window and land-tax. The average quantity of wheat produced is one hectolitre on eight perches, or about twenty-four English bushels the acre; cole seed about the same quantity; and barley from 36 to 42 bushels the acre. Oats are not suited to the soil, and are seldom cultivated. The rotation crops are wheat, barley, and cole seed; and sometimes artificial grasses are sown with the barley. Sainfoin remains three years on the ground, after which it is usual to sow two successive crops of wheat. The rents mentioned are nearly the same for several leagues round; towards the sea they are higher. Each farm of 155 acres employs twelve men and a boy; besides the farmer and a female servant, a shepherd, and one or two threshers, who are usually paid by the day, and are not lodged. The principal servant, or grand valet or ploughman, has eight guineas a year wages, and about two guineas profits; a boy, called his domestique, gets from 27. 108. to 31. wages; and a man or lad, called petit valet, gets 51. a year. The shepherd has the same as the grand valet (or sometimes less wages, with permission to keep a given number of sheep with his master's flock, which amounts to the same thing). These are all boarded and lodged; their food consisting (except in harvest time) of bread and small cider for breakfast; at dinner they have soup and meat five days in the week; on the fast days soup maigre |