Mr. URBAN, Letcomb Regis, Nov. 5. SEND you a tketch (plate I. fig. 1. of the almthoufe of William Fettyplace at Childrey, Berks, who founded the fame, in 1526, for one chaplain, or cantarift, and three alimen, together with a chantry in the South aile. of Childrey church, wherein the faid cantarift and almimen were to pray for the foul of the founder, and for the fouls of all his family (by name), for ever *. At the Reformation, this chantry was valued at 81. per annum, which is now applied as a falary for a schoolmafter, and the houfe abovementioned appointed for his refidence. In the tower of the church, which ftands at a little distance Weftwards, is a ring of fix fmall bells, faid to be the moft mufical in the kingdom for their number and fize. I have heard them; and indeed the tones are exquifitely fine: the tenor is in the key of A. Yours, &c. J. STONE. Mr. URBAN, March 7. HE annexed drawing, fig. 2. Tisa ketch of Stratford houfe, near the caftle of Old Sarum. The manfion has not been occupied by the Pitt family for a great number of years, but let to different tenants: first, I think, to a Mr. Treby; after him, 1ord Windfor; and then a Weft-Indian (George Webbe, eiq. of the inland of Nevis), and for fome years paft has been occupied by a farmer, tenant to Lord Camelford. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, PLE AMICUS. Feb. 18. LEASE to accept the author's thanks for your fpeedy and judicious analyfis of the Infpector and Irith Purfuits of Literature, in vol. LXIX. pp. 865 and 1135; like * For a very particular account of this foundation, fee "Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica," No. XVI. under the article CHILDREY. GENT. MAG. March, 1800. a true and long-eftablished British Critic, kilfully and fagaciufly grafping the comprehenfive plan, and developing the fuotle spirit of thofe " defuitory and extraordinary" mifcellanies by no trivial, infufficient, and faftidious review. Compare the Briti Critic, O. 1799, p. 359. Your learned and candid conefpondent Iulus, in his ufeful Hints to Commentator on the Sacred Writings, jan. 1800, p. 13, has expreted his wifhes for " fome channel of communication between fuch, in order that they. may correct each other's errors, inconfiftencies, and felf-contradictions; and, as you have commendably admitted his not illiberal ftrictures on the Infpector, you will, I am perfuaded, grant the Infpector the like indulgence: "Hare veniam pet m efque damufque viciffim." This Commentato himfelf does not feem to have fully comprehended the fcheme of interpreting Daniel's moft abftrufe and myfterious chronoLogical prophecies, flated too' concifely, I fear, in the Infpector, the Irish Purfuits of Literature. May the following fynopfis prove more fatisfactory! 1. The grand prophetic period of 2300 days, or years, involving the fortunes of the Jewish State, from its reftoration after the Babylonian captivity to its final restoration at the end of the predicted defolation, Dan. viii. 13-14, is fup pofed to be divided into two main branches, before and after the deftruction of Jerufalem by Titus 'A. D. 70; the former confifting of 70 weeks, or 490 years, com-' mencing B. C 420; the latter confifting of 1810 years, ending A. D. 1880. 2. The former branch is fubdivided into three parts; 62 weeks, 7 weeks, and 1 week. Arranged in this order 62 + *2+1+*5=70. Suppofing two of the 7 weeks to be inferted between the 62 and the one week in the midst of which the Meffiah was to be cut off; and the remaining five to follow it without a chaẩm. A. D. 1880; to be inflicted by the Infidel Antichrift, Rev. xi. 15-19. And during the courfe of this third woe, the faithful witneffes (or Remnant of the Patriarchal and Evangelical Church) will have finished or perfected their teftimony and'orα» TEλtowσ¡—and, when they fhali have done fo, they shall be overcome and flain by their ene mies of every defcription, or " fettlement of all religious eftablisements" every where fhall take place, as predicts Luke xxi. 9. for a short period before the end, and before their refufcitation. Rev. xi. 7— 13. The 14th verfe (" the fecond woe is paft, and the third approaching rapidly") I conceive to be parenthetical, and parallel to Matt. xxiv. 29. But, although the churches or 13 3. The latter branch of 1810 years, is alfo fubdivided into three diftinct parts, not fucceffive like the former, but detached. The firft of 1260 days, counted backwards from the end, A. D. 1880, and confequently commencing B. C. 620; during the whole of which, I conceive, the Patriarchal and Evangelical Church, on the two faithful witnesses," are to be in a state of perfecution from the Papal, the Mahometan, and the Infidel Anti-Chrift; who, I humbly conceive, are denoted by the firft beaft arifing out of the fea, or Weft; the second beaft, arifing out of the earth, or Eaft; and the establishments may be every image of the firft beaft, formed and where overthrown, (even Philadel animated by the Spirit of the fecond, phia, and the British, alas!) God Rev. xiii. 1-11-14. The first, forbid that, "when the Son of is the Onpor xoxxivov, Rev. xvii. 3, Man cometh, he will not find faith afterwards called, To nov, xix. among many individuals on earth" 19; the fecond, the falje prophet, purified, and made white, xix. 20, or the "Hebraized" Ma- and tried, and perfected by fufferhomet 666; for, it is "a main ings," Daniel xii. 3-10. Rev. number," and does not accord with xxiii. 20. a people, or a city; and the context confirms it to the fecond beaft, Rev. xiii. 18; and, although I cannot yet explain the affociation between the first and second beaft, in answer to lulus's objection (or between Mahometanism and Popery), yet French Infidelity is clearly a compound of Romish or Pagan idolatry and Mahometan fanaticifm. And the three woes are included in this fuffering period of 1260 days. The firft wee, commencing A. D. 630, and lafting 150 years, to be inflicted by the Saracens, under the Caliphs, Mahomet's fucceffors, Rev. ix. 5-12. The fecond woe, commencing A. D. 1281, and lafting 391 years, 224 days, to be inflicted by the Turks, Rev. ix. 13-21. And the third woe, commencing with the French Revolution, or Buonaparte's Mahometan manifefto, 1798, and to laft for the remainder of the period, until 5 4. The fecond part of the latter branch of 1810 days, confifting of 1290 days, and the third of 1335 days, counting from its beginning, or the deftruction of Jerufalem, A. D. 70, both run into the first, of 1260 days; and peculiarly intimate, I conceive, the perfecutions of Papal Antichrift. But the Infpector has not, as Iulus imagines, unfortunately fixed upon a part of this difaftrous and calamitous period of 1260 years for that happy period foretold by Daniel, which is to commence at the expiration of 1335 years," Dan. xii.-The “felfcontradiction" is all his own: the Infpector no where ftates that "period to be happy" or profperous; nor does Daniel intimate any fuch notion; he only fays, "happy is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days." And "a wifer than Daniel" has declared to his faithful difciples, "happy "happy are ye when (the world) fhall revile and perfecute you, and Lay all manner of evil against you, falfely, for my fake," Matt. v. 11. Such were " they that were perfecuted for righteoufnefs fake"-the pious and undaunted martyrs Hufs, and Jerom of Prague, &c. who are "rejoicing and exulting, for abundant is their reward" now" in Paradife," and hereafter" in the Heavens," and foon, where they fhall" fand in their lot," at the refurrection of the juft, and the happy period, of the prevalence of the kingdom of God and of his Chrift " upon Earth, as it is in heaven," which fhould be the object of our daily prayers; but it is not deftined to arrive till the conclufion or confummation of the "days of vengeance" upon rebellious Jews and apoftate Chriftans and Mahometans. 5." And that the churches continue under perfecution, or that the perfecution increased to a frightful degree"-" feems, furely, to be a good argument that the 1260 years are not yet expired"-or that the time" of the perfecution and fufferings of the faithful witneffes, is "not yet" come to an end, or "finished;" for fo, I conceive, the folemn oath of the mighty angel of mercy (of which, his rainbow or glory was a fine emblem, Gen. ix. 13, even under the patriarchal difpenfation,) fhould be understood. Rev. x. 1-6. And where did Iulus learn, that the "fynagogue of Satan were, before the end of the days of vengeance, and fecond coming of Chrift in power and great glory, “to bow down before the little church of Philadelphia ?” that "column ftill erect amidst a fcene of ruins and defolation of the fix other Afiatic churches;" ftill furviving their downfal, A. D. 1312, by a fignal providence, and moft comfortable verification of prophecy, "because thou haft a little ftrength, and haft kept my word, and haft not denied my name-like the reft, Rev. ii. 7-13. See Gibbon's atteftation to this curious and marvellous fact, vol. VI. p. 314; or Kett on the Prophecies, vol. II. p. 296. And the righteous nation ftaid in mind," &c. Ifa. xxvi. 3, plainly denotes "the Ifrael of God," after the restoration of all things. 6. Although the Papacy be fallen, Babylon is not yet deftroyed, as Rome, perhaps, will be, by fome fignal vengeance, at the end of the 1260 years from the date of the lapal Antichrift. But the exact commencement of this, whether from the Gregorian Liturgy, and celibacy of the clergy, or from the title of Univerfal Father, confirmed on his fucceffor by Phocas, &c. cannot be ascertained until the catastrophe. And does not Iulus feem to confound the first appointment of the bishop of Rome, after it was rent from the Eaftern empire, with the establishment of the Papal Antichrift? Surely his beginnings were too inconfiderable at that earlier period, and his power confined to his own fee. 7. As to the Eaftern leg of Daniel's image, chap. vii. " denoting the fortunes of the Jewish church, and the Western leg thofe of the Chriftian," I must own the bluntnefs of my understanding does not, with my beft attention, difcover this nice and curious diftinétion in the prophet himself. And this I will venture to "hint to my brother commentators" by way of apology for not defcrying "the parallelijm between the two legs and the 1290 and 1335 days." The argument fomehow balts between these two unequal legs. I fear I have trefpaffed too much, Mr. Urban, on your tried patience and precious room; but the dignity, the importance, and the difficulty, of the fubject, imperioufly demand it at this awful juncture; and even a much fuller, abler, and more elaborate difcuffion, than falls to the lot of your prefent, and perhaps furure, corre fpondent, thould this letter be fa yourably vourably received by you, and indulgently by the publick. I thank you alfo for the paffage from allimachus. p. 143. Yours, &c. THE INSPECTOR. D RETROSPECT OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. ESSAY II. (Continued from p. 120.) URING and after this ftruggle for the fifter kingdoin, the nation was deeply embarked in a war on the Continent; fo that the difcontents obferved, that, inftead of being allies, we were become principals, and bore the greateft part of the burthen, though we had the leaft share of the profit. And from this connexion with William many have dated thofe continental alliances, which have engaged for ages the animadverfions or elogiums of our different politicians. This confeft was ended after various fucceifes, to which the king's perfonal valour in a great meature contributed, by the peace of Ryfwick, ned Sept. 10, 1697. by which tranquility was reftored to great part of Lope, and his majefty was fecured in the poffeffion of the kingdoms which he had fo bravely defended at the hazard of his royal perfon and all he held dear. Whilft the king was thus publicly engaged for the fafety and honour of the nation, James and his adherents were fecretly plotting the deftruction of his perfon, and the overthrow of his government; but, through the vigilance and prudent direction of his queen and others, guided by the bleffing of an Almighty Providence, their machinations were fruftrated, and feveral of the late king's abettors were brought to condign punishment. But during this war his majefty's feelings were moft acutely tried in the lots of Dr. Tillotion, archbifhop of Canterbury, who died on Nov. 22, 1694, deeply regretted; and by that of his beloved queen, on Dec. 28 following, of the finallpox. His diltrels was fo poignant, that, for fome weeks after her death, "he could neither fee company, nor attend to the bufin-is of ftate." In her he had loft a faithful and obedient wife, bleffed with a clear apprehenfion, a tenacious memory, and a folid judgement; and who had endeared herself to the nation by her ftrict adherence to the Proteftant religion, by her care of the State during the abfence of the king, and by her unruffled paffions, even temper, and mild converfation. Though King William, during the greateft part of his reign, had had to combat with divinons between the houfes of parliament, and of the factions in divers parts of the nation; yet he had the fati-faction, towards the clofe of bis life, of feeing them fubfide, and Il parties join in reprobating the infidious conduct of France, and cordially entering into his views of re-commencing a continental war, on the wide and firm bafis of the clofeft alliance with his Imperial Majefty and the States General. Thas commenced the new century with the most active preparations for hoitilities; but the hopes of the nation were confiderably damped by his majefty's having a fall from his horfe on the 21st day of February, which, from the injury he then received, terminated in his death on March 8, 1701-2. A few days before his aiffolution, he gave his affent, by commilion, to the act of attainder against the pretended Prince of Wales; by which he fecured the fucceffion of the crown in the Proteftant line, and thereby bequeathed to us the bleffings of the religion and conftitution we now enjoy. And, had no other good refulted from the Revolution but this, it would have endeared the memory of King William to every true Proteftant and friend to his country; for, in no tranfaction in which we are concerned, could the hand of God be more confpicuous in refeuing us from the fuperftitions of Popery Popery, and from the defpotifin of arbitrary princes. Difcordant indeed have been the opinions of hitoriaus on the character of this prince; his conduct having been pourtrayed in all the different lights and fhades which the actions of man can polibly bear. But, far removed from the caufes which influenced the mediums through which his conduct was then viewed, we may, perhaps, with greater impartiality attempt an outline of his likeness. His per on, though of the middle ftature and not robuft, yet, from his aquiline nofe, fparkling eyes, large forehead, and folemn afpect, was commanding and respectful His learning was not extenfive, though he was well verfed in the French language, and tolerably in the German and English. He was T ligious, temperate, fincere, and juft; a confummate fage politician; an intrepid and fuccefsful warrior; indefatigable in the field and in the cabinet, giving out his orders with his own mouth, and writing difpatches with his own hand. But, as a foil to thefe great qualifications, truth extracts from us the confeflion, that he was too ambitious; addicted to avarice; and, in the few inftances in which his liberality was exerted, it was profufe without a due difcrimination of merit. Yet, in the aggregate, William III. was undoubtedly one of the greatest men of his age-a true friend to liberty -the preferver of his country. the deliverer of Britain, and the defender of the freedom of Europe." On the death of King William, the party denominated Whigs were exceedingly disheartened, fuppofing, from the known predilection of his fucceffor to the oppofite one of the Tories, that all the plans which had been devifed by their favourite monarch would be relinquifhed, and all their hopes of employment entirely fruftrated. But the Princefs Anne was no fooner afcended the throne, than fhe affured her parliament, that the was determined to purfue the measures which had been concluded on by her predeceffor; and that no en deavours fhould be wanting on her part to humble the power of France. In Holland, the intelligence of the king's death caufed the greatest difmay; but the affurances which they received of Queen Anne's firm alliance and protection, raifed them from their defpondency, and they unanimously determined on purfuing the moft vigorous meatures against the common enemy. In France, the certification of his diffolution occafioned univerfal rejoicings (a fare criterion in what eftimation his abilities were confidered by them); and at Rome they were ftill more indecorous; fo that the Imperial minifter complained of them as an infult to the Emperor, William's friend and ally. The Earl of Marlborough, who enjoyed her Majefty's confidence, or at leaft that of the majority of the council, having been difpatched to Holland, concluded with the States General and the Imperial minifter, that war fhould be declared against France and Spain on the fame day at Vienna, London, and the Hague; and returned to England to hatten the preparations for opening the campaign on the Continent. T. MOT, F.S. M. (To be continued.) P. 120, col. 2, 20, for even г. won. Mr. URBAN, March 7. F you deem the following Ode, upon the death of Pilatre de Roffier, the celebrated aëronaut, entitled to infertion, it is much at your fervice.--The event it com⚫ memorates is not indeed very recent; but a fubject fo blended with the difcoveries of fcience can never be altogether old to the friends of literature.-The manner of Roffier's death is well known.-And, as his attempt to explore the fecrets of Nature, and to foar into the regions of the fky, "pennis non ho mini |