M

Mr. URBAN, Walfall, May 5. *****Y best thanks are due to I. P. p. 219, for his information concerning the cathedrals of Dublin; having defcribed them from memory, and notes taken when an inhabitant of that city in 1767. I am forry to hear that St. Patrick's church, erected 1190, is in fuch a state at prefent; and if the roof of the nave should fall (as there feems to be fome, danger), many lives may be loft. Suppofe that and both tranfepts were entirely pulled down; and in place of the former to erect a new handfome church, clofe to the lofty fteeple, for the parish of St. Nicholas, not fo large as the prefent nave, and the floor to be raised at leaft four feet above the prefent level. The choir to remain as it is; and a ftreet or paffage between it and the propofed new church, right acrofs from Kevin-ftreet, through Mitre-alley, into the clofe; but there fhould be a new handsome Gothic front (with a veftibule) erected at the Weft end of the choir. The monuments in the nave, and particularly Dean Swift's (he merited a better), to be carefully taken down, and fet up a-new in the North and South choral ailes, in which fhould be made fome new Gothic windows, as those places heretofore were dark and gloomy. I very well remember the lofty monuments near the high altar, particularly that of the Boyles, erected in 1629; and, I believe, it is of wood. This, when first erected, was placed immediately behind the communiontable; and because Abp. Laud, when he heard of its being placed

there, interfered fo as to have it removed to its prefent station, he met with fome obloquy from the fanaticks of thofe days, as may be feen in Prynne.

A few words refpecting Chriftchurch, erected 1038. As this ftands in a very confined place, and makes no figure, fuppofe this was alfo taken down, and a new one erected in the centre of St. Stephen's green.

I am obliged to your correfpondent, p. 331; and wish to know, if the old four courts in Chriftchurch-lane be yet ftanding, and to what ufe appropriated.

P. 218. The deanry of Chriftchurch, which is annexed to the bishoprick of Kildare, is 2000l. inftead of 2001. JAMES GEE.

Mr. URBAN,

M

May 12.

R. BOOKER'S idea of a monument, instead of an inanimate one, in commemoration of those illuftrious chiefs, who in the course of this war may have raised British laurels either by fea or land, p. 299, entirely coincides with my own. Such a monument, I am fure, would be much more gratifying to the Heroes, in honour of whom it is intended, than the proudeft execution of the chifel and hammer.

And, as a military man, permit me to obferve a very particular advantage that might be derived from fuch an inftitution as your correfpondent propofes; which is, the fupply of non-commiffioned officers; of which every colonel in the army knows the very great want. In my humbler ftation in the army I had obferved this defect; and had formed a plan of such an infti. tution as that in which I am an

ticipated

icipated by Mr. Booker; and I am obliged to him for the apt foundation on which he hath placed it. A handfome plate on the dome, that shall contain the little progeny of heroin, recording the heroic exploits on which it was founded, would be much more glorious than a coloffal statue, a towering pillar, or triumphant arch, and with the fublime would unite the utile dulci. For who, not dead to the finer feelings that are the fprings of true heroifin, would not enjoy a refined pleafure at fecing fuch a feminary, the tribute of national gratitude, the nursery of infant heroes, founded on exploits of heroic valour? So much for the dulce: and the utile I am fure no one will deny.

Atk my country at large whofe propofals they would adopt; whether, the graceful column, that on the rifing abilities of an architectural friend reflects the highest honour, and merits every praife; the triumphal arch, decorated with Nercids and Tritons; the huge Colotius, ftriding over dolphins and whales; or the lefs oftentatious plan of, Mr. Booker; and, advocate as I am for his plan, I fhould be happy to fee the flue of the conteft placed on their decifion. To the officers of the navy and army in maís refer the option; refer it to thofe very heroes to whofe honour fuch memorial of British gratitude, tributary to British gallantry, is deftined; and I fhould be very eafy as to the fuccefs of my favourite plan. Nay, if the Committee themfelves, the delegated confervators on this occafion of British glory, fhould feel themfelves, authorized by the confent of the fubfcribers to fuch an application of the money; I would with no bet ter, no other arbiters in the conteft, than them. H. SHEPHERD. Mr. URBAN, May 6. THE Pufiers of the author of

are under no mall obligation to

your correfpondent M. G. for directing their attention to former works of the fame writer. That they are really his, no one can hefitate to pronounce, from the extracts you have published in your laft Number; and they feem to throw confiderable light on certain points, which, in the Purfuits of Literature, are induftrioufly concealed or difguifed. That the author is not a churchman, was never indeed a doubt with me, notwithstanding his extenfive acquaintance with the Fathers; for which, I think, I am able to account. But his note on the Church, in his Epiftolary Treatife," and indeed the very fcope and fubftance of that and the other addreffes to Dr. W. are evidently from the hand of a layman. I am perfuaded, however, that he was better reconciled to "falled theology," by a long and clofe intimacy with fome of its profeflors. And it appears clearly, from the Purfuits of Literature, that whatever prejudices he might have entertained in his earlier years againft either Church or King, had vanished before the light of a founder judgement and more ripened understanding. Another point on which fome information may be gleaned from the Epiftolary Treatife, is the place of the author's education. I should much doubt that he was an Etonian, notwithstanding his expreffion that it would not be unnatural in him to fpeak with reverence of those distant fpires," &c. The obfervation, which appeared to give accidental occafion to that expreflion, was evidently intended for the purpofe of introducing it, and of holding out a falfe light: and thus it coincides with many pallages in the Purfuits of Literature, in which, apparently with the fame view of diftinguishing himfelf as an Etonian, he affects the fame veneration for " thofe antique Towers," and the fame af

fection for the members of that

Society; though it is very remark,

able

ble that he no where exprefly of rts he had ever been one himself. The fame artifice is obfervable, acompanied with the fame referve s to pofitive affertion, with repect to the place of his univerfity ducation. Who would not imaine, from innumerable hints and udied allufions, and fome even rong and pointed expreflious, in e Purfuits of Literature, that he ad finished his ftudies on the anks of Cam? Yet it will be ound that this is never directly afrmed; and that all thefe infinuaons are reconcileable with what is roved indifputably by the "Epiflary Addrefs," that Cambridge as not his alma mater. I allude › his parody of the paffage in Luretius," nec minitanti murmure mpreffit Granta," which never uld have fuggefted itfelf to one f her fons. How then will it be (ked, has he acquired to intimate nd particular an acquaintance ith fo many members of that niverfity? And how has he colcted fo many facts and anecdotes oth of Eton and Cambridge? To is I anfwer, in one word, ". Nof tur ex Sociis." As foon as it is fcovered with whom he lived in e clofeft friendhip and intimacy or near 20 years, it will ceafe to wondered that he grew famiir with those celebrated feats of arning, and the literary characrs that have figured in them; ith many of whom, I doubt not, was alto perfonally acquainted, ough not at Cambridge.

Having proceeded fo far, by the ethod of exclufion, I may, perips, in a future letter, extend the gument, and afcertain the unifity which had the honour of his ucation, by the logical rule, Omnibus præter unam remotis, ae reliqua eft concluditur." Yours, &c.

:

Mr. URBAN,

E. L.

May 7. HOUGH no verfifier, I generally read, and often with afure, the poetical pieces as well

a

as the profe in your valuable repòfitory; but I confefs it was with furprize and concern that I saw, and not till yesterday, the lines figned, Philo-dormiat, p. 162. İ will venture to pronounce, that, in the variety of his arduous engagements, your worthy Editor, known and steady friend to our excellent Conftitution in Church and State, never read this "collegiate addrefs." The writer has contrived, like a poet, woλλа λYELV2 but without the indifpenfable qualification of poetry, vuoi opora. The lines have neither truth, nor wit, nor probability, to recommend them. The fuggetion of natural good fenfe taught the heathen, that all important concerns, in which number I truft your correfpondent reckons the cultivation of science in all its branches, ought to com mence with religion: whence, ex Διος αρχώμεθα, αθανατος μεν πρώτα 9, and fimilar fentiments, were antiently proverbial. I hope Philo. dormiat, amidit fuperior light, does not prefer darkness. He come plains of bad academical readers of the Liturgy. All merit in man is comparative; and what is bad or tolerable only in England would, in many another quarters of the globe, bear the ftamp of excellence; but, if a refidence of more than twice ten years in one of our Universities entitles me to judge, the number of good readers, in the University to which I had the happinefs to belong far exceeded the bad; and I have no reafon to think it is otherwife at prefent, nor that the fitter feminary is in this respect inferior. He condemns the repe tition of the fervice; "the fame eternal ftrain." This is not ftrictly true, the Plaims and Leffons are always new; and there are other weekly and occafional varieties. But if there was more of truth, there would be little of folid objection, in the remark. The general wants of men are the fame, and comprifed in two words, Pardon and Allittance. The thing to be requefied,

requested, therefore, being the fame every day, is it reafonable to imagine that He, whofe peculiar attribute is that "He changeth not," muft, like a frail mortal, be allured to hear us by variety of expreflion? Befides, prayers framed as ours are, and as all forms för public, if not alfo for private ufe, ought to be, in general terms, are in reality diftinct and appropriate prayers to every individual in a large congregation, and to the fame individual ufing them at different times. If a thousand perfons join in prayer for "all fick perfons and young children," or blefs God "for all the bleflings of this life," every one of that thousand, under words extenfive as the race of men, will have fpecial refpect to fome fick friend or neighbour, fome tender infant, known and dear to himself; and again, among bleffings poured on the whole fpecies, he will think with gratitude of thofe bleffings which are peculiar to himself, the parents who fupport him, the preceptors who inftruct him, in the feats of literature. We have one fhort prayer, which was delivered by the lips of infinite wisdom; and He who dictated that prayer, and enjoined the ufe of it, has, in the very form of the words, taught us the neceflity of ufing it confiantly: "Give us this day our daily bread.

Mr. URBAN,

IN

R. C.

May 8. Nan age when the principles of the times are inimical to peace and virtue, as well as to that profeflion of Chriftian faith which is the true cement of fociety, it becomes the duty of every citizen (I ufe the word in the fenfe which every Englishman ought) to protect the venerable fabrick of civil and religious government as we received it from our forefathers, and as we hope to tranfmit it to our children. Poilefied of this idea, it feems trange to one buried in the retirement of the country, that the metropolis, where a large proportion

of every thing wife and good is undoubtedly collected, thould not only patiently bear, but patronize in the warmest manner, public exhibitions, which have a tendenc to undermine the dearest rights man. Theatrical entertainmers have an extenfive influence up the manners of Society. Whe well regulated, and the pieces fr representation well felected bot as to matter and manner, they may be esteemed friendly to moraliy and improvers of public tafte. B what fhall we fay when both the ends are difregarded; when mo virtue is banished from the fee, and purity of tafte is deftroyed by affected language and pantomimi cal decorations? Improvements in almoft every art and science hat been, within a few years, rapid and important. But that is t the cafe with the stage; nor cm be, while Kotzebue and his friens ufurp the venerable boards Shakspeare.

I am led to make thefe obfer tions from a parcel of that author's plays now lying upon my table Dr. Moore, in his "Mordaunt," gives a juft defcription of th German compofitions, which, be fays, were congenial to the reveltionary fpirits of thofe patriots who cleared the prifons of France 1792.

"They are a kind of tragi-comedie, in which men in defperate fituations, and of daring and wicked characters, are s

troduced fpeaking appropriate language The hero declaims virtuously, and acts enminally their drift is to fhew that m der, robbery, and other crimes, which a the vulgar opinion are committed by c fummate villains only, may be commi by the mott benevolent, generous, heroic people on earth.”

The farcafm is thrown out gainft thofe characters which, though fometimes proftituted to unworthy purposes, are ufeful and beneficial to fociety. French pri ciples are to be met with in almoft every fentence; thofe principles, I mean, which, in Scripture language, have turned the world of

de down. Kings are reviled for o other reafon but because they re kings: the minifters of kings re upon all occafions the objects of alumny and reproach; the diftrefed veteran, who has been difmifed from his public employments or profefling Jacobinical opinions, s held forth as deferving of fureme pity; chastity is defpifed if t oppofes fentiment; the proftiute becomes the faithful wife; he faithful wife facrifices her mariage vows to fulfil any other imaginary duty; Religion, under evey defcription, bends before Phiofophy. And, if there be any oher perverfion of human reafon, or of those venerable ties, which have long bound fociety together, he plays of Kotzebue will afford a housand instances.

The firft, indeed the only one I hall felect for obfervation at preent, is intituled "Family DifFamily Difrefs, or Self-immolation." The liftrefs indeed is great, the felf-immolation is felf-murder. To fofen terms of deferved reproach is one great object of the new Philofophy. A merchant of refpectable character is reduced by the artifice of a villain to extreme poverty; fo nuch fo, as not to be able to proare bread for a mother old and blind, a wife amiable and virtuous, and a fine boy. He goes in fearch of friends and employment; he inds neither. He meets a Jew. Jew. You owe me gool.-Maxwell. I know I do.-Jew. Can you pay me?-Maxwell. No." After hearing the diftrefs with this entiment, you are a Jew; to you I will confefs it-to a Chriftian I would not. For these two days not a morfel of any thing have I afted"-The Jew offers a purfe, which is refused. "Jew. Why not? Because I am a Jew?-Maxrell. Fie! fie! if fuch were my entiments I fhould deferve my fuferings. [The Jew tears the note, nd goes out haftily.] Maxwell. Yes, yes, there yet are men, but ot among Chriftians. This Jew

has rekindled the fmothered spark of my confidence in human kindnefs." The merchant refifts temptation to procure fubfiftence by immoral means till the diftrefs of himfelf and family is carried to the moft melancholy height. A former lover of his wife now makes his appearance, and offers in the most private and delicate manner to relieve their diftrefs. A place in India is offered to the merchant, but it muft be enjoyed without the prefence of his wife and family. In this dilemma he proposes to his wife's former lover to be to his wife and child and mother, the guardian and protector he can prove no longer." The lover makes this promife. The fame propofal is made to the wife? What is her anfwer! "Moft generous, moft heroic of men! how little have I known thy worth!" The proposal, however, however, is rejected, because he was the father of her child.` To remove this only difficulty, the unhappy merchant determines to deftroy himself. In this interval, an interview takes place between the wife and lover. She repeats the fame determination to reject the propofal, and gives the fame reafon. But, alas! how are all moral ties fhattered by the fentiment! "Maxwell's wild fancy of this day might, perhaps, have feemed to me lefs extravagant bes fore I was a mother. pair might dare to part! But now, Walwyn, now, no power on earth can break afunder the bonds of my duty. No not the power of love itfelf." The lover, who does not with to take advantage of the diftreffing fituation, gives this account of the husband's greatnefs of mind. "To facrifice himfelf for his wife is the fplendid idea on which at prefent he delights to gaze." The author carries this pathos to its utmost stretch, for Maxwell actually facrifices, that is, drowns himself for his wife. But be not alarmed, good reader! The Humane Society reftores the fufpended anima

A childless

tion