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IFLEY CHURCH, OXON. S.W.

• See p.9.

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(BEING THE ELEVENTH OF A NEW SERIES.)

a

PART THE SECOND.

PRODESSE ET DELECTARE.

E PLURIBUS UNUM.

By SYLVANUS URBAN, Gent.

LONDON: Printed by NICHOLS, SON, and BENTLEY,
at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street ;

where LETTERS are particularly requested to be sent, POST- PAID.
And sold by J. HARRIS (Successor to Mrs. NEWBERY).
at the Corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, Ludgate Street;
and by PERTHES and BESSER, Hamburgh. 1818.

TO SYLVANUS URBAN, Gent.
ON THE COMPLETION OF HIS EIGHTY-EIGHTH VOLUME.

IN days of yore, a Bard with harp well.
strung,

Thus of departed CAVE, prophetic sung:
"Yet shall thy fame through future ages
bloom,

Avert destruction, and defy the tomb *."
With "Master's hand," he struck the
trembling wire,

Predicting true, that name should ne'er
expire:

For, as the Sun from his meridian height,
Diffuses joy around, and gives delight:
So you, Sylvanus, to th' enamour'd eye,
New charms impart, and pleasures fresh
supply,

As, round the circle of the varied year,
Your beauties in succeeding months ap-

pear.

scene,

As Frontispiece to grace the New Year's [seen, Lo! Cardiff's stately tower and vanes are Encomiums high th' enlighter'd mind await [fate.

That sav'd the structure from impending From thy bright garland, Urban, choose, and give

The sweetest flower to Bowles, whose name
shall live.

True Church, his triumphs ever shall dis-
play,
[away:

While New and No Church scowl, and slink
The Ebenezer Bricks will ne'er subdue
The heap of Old Stones, venerable to view.
The Muse enraptur'd notes a glorious
sight,

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'Where goodness, charity benign, unite.
Thy unique building, Pleasants! calls the
lay:
[tray.
Distress and want reliev'd thy worth pour-
Had souls capacious e'er presided o'er
The Monuments so dear to classic lore,
Where Quar'ndon's Chapel shews a falling
head,
[dead:
Crumbling to dust, like its sepultur'd
Those sacred walls had ne'er in ruins
been;
[seen;
The sculptur'd marbles still with rapture
The Antiquary now with reverence see
The splendid tomb of Vavasor and Lee.
Oh, may the thought inspirit good Dupré.
Now with delight fam'd Wyon's gems
behold,

His silver medals, and his coins of gold:
These works magnificent his skill proclaim,
And rauk the Artist in the rolls of Fame.
But hark! the thundering cannons peal
around,

[sound;
The trumpets flourish, bells melodious
The fair Eliza, lov'd by England's land,
Gives to Hesse Homberg's Prince her Royal

hand.

Again do Princely Nuptials greet the sight, [light; And Albion's Realm around receives de

Gent. Mag. Jan. 1754, vol. XV. p. 41.

The Royal Dukes now take a blooming [preside;

Bride:

May choicest blessings o'er each Pair
May joys supreme long on their union
shine;
[Line!
And Kings spring from the great illustrious
Thy martial pages India's war proclaim :
The valiant Chieftains consecrate to Fame.
Hislop's and Ochterlony's actions shine,
The brightest bay round Hastings' temples
twine,

Who plann'd the operations of the field,
And Eastern Monarchs were compell'd to
yield.

The choice remarks on Signs of Inns
impart

Historic illustration to the heart;
The Eagle, Christopher, the Alfred's Head,
St. George and Dragon, are with pleasure
read;
[display,

The number such, the Muse can't here
Save Ring of bells that hails each festal day.
On Byro's neat “ Compendiums," praise

is due;

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Say! what eulogium shall the Nation give?
Widely diffus'd her Charities shall live,
Her virtues ever shall exalt her name,
Her excellence be blown from trump of
Fame.

The ships that to the Arctic regions sail'd,
A North west passage to explore, have
fail'd:
[wind,
The well-built keels encounter'd storm and
But only frozen seas and ice could find:
Yet Ross has brought from new-discover'd
shore
[fore.

Its race canine, and things unknown be-
What though the arduous souls did not
succeed,
[meed.
The Heroes well have won fair Honour's
As erst in prose each month you did
[verse;
These few contents the Muse now gives in
More to depict, she feels the effort vain,
Such numerous charms thy different leaves

rehearse,

contain.

Horace renown'd thus clos'd his bright

career,

Ere perennius will my works appear.
And latest Time, O Urban! shalt thou
brave,

Such the foundation laid by great, immor-
tal Cave. WILLIAM RAWLINS.
Teversal Rectory, Dec. 31

PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND PART OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH VOLUME.

IN

presenting ourselves before the Publick again with grateful açknowledgments for their past support, we think that we now do so under promising aspects. The Political Machine, so long hacknied in a War direction, of course became for a time unfit for use in another form. The wheels appeared simply to hang together, without the capacity of effective action. But, the stream of pecuniary capital seeming now to be applied with increasing force, we think that the National energy is beginning more and more to develope itself, and will, under Providence, effect as many blessings in Peace, as it has glories in War.

How much Literature and Science are impeded by War, is well-known ; but we need only allude to the eagerness and zeal with which all the different Nations of the Globe are now explored by Englishmen, and the number and immense circulation of Encyclopædias, to justify a most favourable expectation of high National improvement in mind and morals. In adverting to our own humble share in political concerns, it is of course limited to such effects as may be justifiably presumed to result from the diffusion of principles, we trust, correct in reference to the Constitution in Church and State. We think that we act rightly, where the object is of most momentous concern, and the thing itself is the creature, not of theory, but of time and experience. We do not deny (to use a homely allusion) that there may be very good Constitution-Tailors in all countries: but, if their coats will not fit, to what purpose is their calling? We conceive that Englishmen do not assimilate the Inhabitants of any other Nation. They use more labour and activity. They talk at freedom of Politicks and Religion. They quarrel differently; even in their Duels, they do not seek sanguinary revenge, so much as vindication of their bravery. If they become rich, they expect titles and honours; nor indeed do they like to adopt any vocation which does not promise either wealth or promotion; nor are they happy if they do not mix in society with perfect liberty of speech and action. Let us add to this, that their pecuniary interests are so intimately involved in their constitution, and that their habits are so formed by that very constitution, that we do not see why we are to listen to clamorous Quacks, who would persuade us that we are in a state of high disease, in order that we may take their medicines. Whoever differs from us in opinion, will at least admit that caution is a necessary property of respectability.

From an earnest zeal for the good of Science, properly so called, we have ever kept our pages open to the discussion of all points which add to information, or promise useful results. We have been honoured by communications from the first and the best-informed minds. Whoever

knows

knows how much useful and interesting matter would inevitably be lost to the world, were it not for Periodical Miscellanies, will see their importance in its real light. If our first Scholars, or our active minds, had not these channels of communication, much of their labours, if even reduced to writing, would become useless, and share the fate of the letters and papers of deceased Attorneys; devolve to the heir, and be used for waste paper. We trust that we have claims to public respect in restricting our Miscellany from degeneration into a political pamphlet, in substituting intelligible elegancies of the higher order of composition, the fine and delicate classicalia of finished Scholars and Gentlemen, for the superstition of Literature, the heavy metaphysical jargon of discontented Politicians and Religionists. We also can proudly boast that we set the example of paying due regard to departed worth, by having amplified our OBITUARY.

We do not profess to usher our Readers into a dark room, where there is a pulpit in one corner, and a tribune in another, for raving declaimers; we do not think that the mind of NEWTON was formed either by religious or political enthusiasm, and we know that science alone can display the glory of God, can enable us to behold his admirable Museum of the Universe, study in his Library, and understand the language which He speaks.

We speak not thus intemperately; but, in every period, when, from circumstances, religious and political discussion have been carried to extremes, feeling has been substituted for sense, and nonsense has abounded through the encouragement of Party. We could even name modern Writers of high fame and eloquence, engaged in the propagation of gloom and misery, by perverting the most evident attributes of Deity, and professing to combat an infidel petitio principii by others of even silly absurdity. But our object is not to censure: we mean only to warn; and, in the spirit of meekness, solicit our Literati to protect and secure the taste of the Country from miserable deterioration; and divert the national attention from aiming at impossibilities, to rational improvements in Science and the Arts.

In promotion of these laudable objects, we solicit the continuation of the favours of our Literary Friends. They know our principles, and we trust, that they will duly appreciate our motives. To useful, elegant, and liberal studies, we own ourselves highly friendly, because we think that they alone are capable of satisfactory results: and we trust that the Gentleman's Magazine will ever retain its character of being a Temple, where may be found a variety of Ceimelia, in Greek delicacy of fabrick, choice offerings from the fine-minded devotees of pure taste, and deep and elegant learning.

December 31, 1918.

LIST OF PLATES.

Antiquities, Miscellaneous, 305.
Colet, Dean, his house at Stepney, 233.
Combe, Alderman, portrait of, 201.
Cranborne Chace, Deer-Hunter, 113.
Deer-Hunter, in proper costume, 113.
Dunnington on the Heath, old house
at, 17.

Essex, antiquities found in, 305.
Iffley Church, Oxon, 9.
Kilcolman Castle, co. Cork, 577.
Lichfield, antiquities found at, 305.

Marston Magna Church, Somerset, 105.
Nottingham Castle, Lodge of, 577.
Shrewsbury, Grey Friars, 297.

St. Martin's Le Grand, Architectural
Remains, 393.

St. Paul's School, 233.
Salisbury, ornamented stones at, 305.
Seal, antient, 305.

Sharp, Granville, Portrait of, 489.
Sherborne, Antient Building at, 497.
Stepney, Dean Colet's House at, 233.

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