1824.] Publication of Evidence before Coroners desirable. the awakened curiosity, or the benevolent concern of the public. In this part of their engagement a very serious responsibility attaches to them for the accuracy of their reports-to mislead, to misrepresent, or to injure either the public or the parties more immediately interested, involves consequences of the last importance; and besides the renown of an established character for correctness, the love of fame, and safety for themselves, render it their best interest to be faithful. It is on all these views, that reporters have of late years found their way into Coroner's Courts, and Police Offices, are accommodated in the sittings of the Commissioners of Bankruptcy and Lunacy, follow the learned Judges in their Circuits, in their arguments in Courts, and trials at Nisi Prius, and are present in every public assembly, except those at Church! Hence the question has been started, whether in one case they have done good or harm? If by publishing the evidence before a Coroner they have given to the presumed murderer a knowledge of the testimony by which he is to be prosecuted, they have in this done no more than the Statute Law of the land prescribes for the trial of treason, except the substance of the evidence; and in this, if he has the full scope of preparation for his defence, it is no more than the liberal regard legally due to every one who stands charged at the bar of justice by the criminal judicature of the country. The arm of retributive justice is not half so vindictive as the love of lenity and forbearance is preponderating in favour of any criminal. The arm of the law is not willingly uplifted; but reluctantly spreads its power to avenge evil, and to shew a severe example to those in danger of tempta tion. If Courts of Justice, and the evidence by which their judgments are governed, were to be held in secret, it would be a manifest inconsistency with their execution of that judgment which is necessarily public. Great part of the injustice of the Inquisition rests in its secret investigation and as secret punishment. Criminals are justly censured for "seeking darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil" but in this case the precept would unhappily be reversed, and 13 would justly accuse tribunals of the secret measures which we condemn. Justice can never be so sincerely vene rated, and her decrees be regarded with awe, as when she publicly administers every part of her responsible duties. She has always regarded the claims of the public to a knowledge of her various measures, as a principle of benevolence as well as right; and though, as we have noticed already, the wish was not formerly so much awakened as in these times of increased sensibi. lity, yet it is not on that account to be supposed that her latent claim did not exist, or that upon any particular occasion it was not as active and vigilant as now. Inaccuracy, misrepresentation, hurry, or ignorance, in any of these reports, are after all but human frailties; very aggravating, it must be allowed, but yet not sufficient to suppress the general practice, which would at once relax the mutual spirit of our nature, and consign the interests of each other to supineness and negligence. If it be a duty to " bear each other's burdens," it becomes a concurrent duty to declare what they are, and to keep alive the love of political freedom as connected with moral union. It is said that not less than 30,000 copies of some of the daily journals were lately circulated on some parts of the narrative relative to the murder of Mr. Weare, previous to the trial of the persons accused: -this must be considered as a great proof of the lively interest taken by the publick, and affords a strong contrast to the fears which I freely confess that I have entertained, of a change in our national character, when I have reviewed the increase of depravity: all ranks of society are deeply affected with benevolent concern in similar cases-not with the levity of idle curiosity, but with a grave compassion for the sufferers, and a love of participating in the fate of their fellow-creatures. Thus, the publicity of the evidence, though some errors may sometimes be discovered in reports, appears to be of too grave an importance, as well politically as morally, to be in any case suppressed, except in some where decency would veil it from the public eye rather than let it spread to do greater mischief. It is needless to dwell farther on this subject; some of your 14 Original Letters of Linnæus. your Correspondents will probably enter the lists with the spirit of argument, but more with the spirit of truth. A. H. You To the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. DEAR SIR, Moreton, Jan. 9. VOU, I believe, are one of the three only surviving acquaintance of my much to be respected parents. Of you I clearly recollect hearing them speak with regard soon after my mind began to expand and act. Approaching fast towards the eve of 70, you will, I am persuaded, be foremost to gratulate me on the recollection of some events full 65 years ago. This alone, were there no circumstances in the general tenour of your useful and exemplary life, is quite enough to render you valuable in my esteem, and is, truly, an additional ́inducement to communicate the inclosed literal relics of the celebrated Naturalist, (before whose day the works of our Creator were to the eye of man a chaotic mass,) through your periodical publication, to the general notice of your various readers, however widely dispersed throughout the earth. They were kindly entrusted to my inspection, if my memory fails not, about four or five years after they were written to Mr. Marmaduke Tunstal*, some of whose pictures are now in my possession. Was it possible to doubt their authenticity, the channel through which they came to hand, as well as the unique peculiarity of the style, would set that point at rest. These, dear Sir, are what I received from an honest literary man, who has long ago been taken from us to meet the reward of his integrity in another world. They remain as they were, not verbally only, but in a strict literal sense, unaltered. They will, doubtless, amuse the philosophic reader, and if they shall haply contribute to enliven his curiosity, in a degree even inferior to mine, the intention of your most obedient will be highly gratified. SAMUEL HOPKINSON. Viro nobili et generoso Carol, a Linné, S. pl. d. Nihil magis inexpectatum contingere unquam potuit, quam tuas exosculari literas et gazas, quas ante duos dies ritè excepi; *See Literary Anecotes," vol. VII. p. 429. [Jan. devotissima mea reddo pro litteris; et affectum tuum sincerum, quem nullâ ratione, quod doleo, demereri possum. Animæ tuæ candidissimæ hæc debeo unicè. Nihil magis exoptavi, quam videre aliquod documentum rei naturalis ex orbe antarctico per D. Banks et Solandrum allatum, sed votum meum omninò frustraneum fuit. Tu, V. G. primus me eò beare voluisti, mittendo tam numerosa Conchilia, quam ipse deberes æstimari uti sanctissima. Quantum pro his debeo effari profectò nequeo, sed pietate et cultu omni dum vixero te prosequar. Occurrunt hæc pleraque exceptis duobus aut tribus conchiliis in Mari Mediterraneo et proximis Africæ sed, unicus trochus erat valdè singularis, et fortè a nullo anteà visus, Trochus Tunstalli, a me dicendus. Dum in eo ut adornem novam editionem tomi 1 mi systematis, quem typographus efflagitat a me, magnoperè exoptarem allegare ornithologiam tuam, quam dicis te liberali manu ad me misisse; sed meo magno cum dolore nondum excepi: quæso, dicas mihi per quem exoptatissimum opus misisti? et si rescribas, sit titulus epistola societati Regia Scientiarum Upsaliæ, cujus omnes literas ipse aperio, et certiùs eas obtinebo. Ter vale. sum, Upsaliæ, 1772, Aug. 13. Viro nobili et generoso No. 12, Welbeck-street, London. Dudùm die scilicet Augusti a te literas accepi sed hodiè primum pretiotissima tua dona. Tetraonas Scoticos Marem et Feminam pulcherrimè præparatos et asservatos, undè abundè constitit mihi distinctas esse species a Tetrasnib. Lagopodibus. Ornithologiam tuam Britannicam. Insecta quatuor Orasiliensia, omnium pulcherrimè delineata et rarissima. 1. Curculio a me visus. 2. Curculio rostro lanato admodùm singularis et novus. 3. Cerambyx albo luteoque lincatus pulcherrimus. 4. Adeo singularis, ut nequeam devinare ad quoddam genus sit referendus: si noveris cujusquam sit generis, hoc me doceas, ого. 5. Curculio imperalis aureo splendore nobilis. Pro his omnibus et singulis nequeo alia referre, quam diù vixero animum devotissimum qui te omni pietate colat. Vive diu felix et sospes. Affectum meum quæso declares communi nostro amico Dno Pennant. Upsalia, 1773, Oct. 13. [Addressed as the former.] Carol. a Linnè. Accepi tandem exoptatissima dona tua, et valdè ex iis lætatus fui. Tetrones istæ rarissimæ, 4 ! 1824.] Association for protecting the Rights of School-masters. rarissimæ, quæ Grous Pennanti sine dubio, Catologus tuus de Avibus Britannicis Servet te Deus in seros annos. T has long been a matter of regret, that the beneficent intentions of founders of Schools, and other charitable institutions, have, either from time producing various changes, or from the want of care in the guardians of the different foundations, been counteracted; and much abuse and innovation have crept in. To provide means for checking such abuses, and restoring a benevolent institution to its original design, is the purpose of the letter accompanying this, which by inserting in your excellent and wideextended Miscellany, you will greatly promote, and oblige your well-wisher and constant reader, W. B. SLEATH. Head Master of Repton School. (CIRCULAR.) "SIR, Repton, Nov. 1823. ed it, in many cases, necessary for the Mas- their incomes for a contingent benefit, by endeavouring to remedy, at their own ex- "1. That the Masters of the Endowed 15 sertion and maintenance of their common and individual rights. 2. That a fund be provided and supported, by Donations and annual Contributions, for the maintenance of such rights as may be assailed, as well as for the recovery of those which may have been lost (leaving the option of any grant from the fund to the Committee that may be formed from the body of Subscribers); the Subscriptions not to be less than one Guinea per annum. "3. That a provisional Committee be established for the present, until a general one can be organized. The Rev. Dr. Sleath, Head Master of Repton Grammar School, having kindly undertaken the office of Treasurer until some Banking House in London is fixed upon to receive subscriptions. "4. That some eminent Solicitor and Equity Barrister be employed in London by the Committee of the Association, to investigate the abuses which the Masters may transmit through the Secretary, and to prosecute such suits as it may be deemed advisable to institute for their redress, out of the funds of the Society. "5. That the Masters of Endowed Schools be solicited to send, through the Secretary, copies or sufficient extracts from the deeds of Endowment, of their respective Schools, as well as of the Statutes, if there are any, as also of Decrees in Chancery, or Acts of Parliament, under which they may be at present regulated. And to state whether the Funds of the School are employed in the way designed by the Founders-Whether Leases have been improperly grantedWhether more Masters are kept upon the Establishment, or more Boys than the Founders authorise-Whether the School is maintained according to its original constitution as a Grammar School, or whether other Masters have been added-Whether the funds are alienated in any way whatever, from their original destination, and any, and every other grievance under which the Masfidently anticipated that the issue of any one ters may conceive they labour, as it is consuit will determine a great number of others. "The favour of an early answer is requested, addressed to Rev. G. Griffin, at Messrs. Lackington and Co. Finsbury-square, and favour the Committee with, will receive any suggestions you may feel disposed to every attention." IN Mr. URBAN, Wymondham, Jan.13. N answer to a query in Minor Correspondence, respecting John Sturt, vol. xc111. ii. 482, the following may be acceptable. He was born April 6, 1668; and at the age of 17, was put apprentice to Robert White, and engraved several prints, but of no great merit. However, he was exceedingly admired by Mr. Thoresby, who in his Museum had the Lord's Prayer engraved by him, in the compass of a silver peuny; the Ten Commandments, &c. in the size of a medal; and the Gospel of St. Matthew engraved in 8vo. Sturt's capital work was his Common Prayerbook, published by subscription in 1717; it is all engraven very neatly on silver plates, in two columns, with borders round each plate, small histories at top, and initial letters. It is a large 8vo, and contains 166 plates, besides 22 in the beginning, which consist of the dedication, table, preface, calendar, names of subscribers, &c. Prefixed is a bust of Geo. I. in a round, and facing it, those of the Prince and Princess of Wales. On the King's bust* are engraven the Lord's Prayer, Creed, Commandments, Prayer for the Royal Family, and the 21st Psalm; but so small as not to be legible without a magnifying glass. He also engraved a Companion to the Altar, on plates of the same size, and a set of 55 historic cuts for the Common Prayer-book, in small 8vo. He copied faithfully, as may be seen by the English translation of Pazzo's Perspective, published by James, in folio. Sturt, grown old and poor, had a place offered him in the Charter-house, which he refused, and died about the age of 72. He had received near 5001. of Mr. James Anderson, of Edinburgh, to engrave plates for his fine book of Scottish Records, Diplomata, &c. but did not live to complete them. His prints are nu The lines of the King's face are expressed by letters. CHALMERS. merous, and prove him to have been a very industrious man, but no great genius. He engraved an elegy on Queen Mary, in so small a size, that it might be set in a ring or locket. This last wonderful feat, which was announced in the Gazette, was performed in 1694. Mr. Dibdin's account of Sturt's Prayer Book is as follows: "Sturt's was, I believe, the last (Qu. first) attempt deserving particular notice, to make the ritual of the Church of England popular through the medium of copperplate embellishment. The title of Sturt's publication is as follows: The Book of Common Prayer, with the administration of the Sacrament, and other rites and ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, printed as they are to be sung or said in Churches. London, engraved and printed by the permission of Mr. John Basket, printer to the King's most excellent Majesty, 1717, 8vo. Sold by John Sturt, engraver, in Golden Lion-court, in Aldersgate-street. This work was published both in medium and in super royal 8vo. On the reverse of the title-page is a portrait of George I. in stippling, with the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments. Prayers for the King and Royal Family, and the 21st Psalm, running horizontally and directly across the physiognomy of his Majesty. These sacred parts of our Liturgy were perhaps never before so unpicturesquely introduced. The portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with a dedication to their Royal Highnesses, signed by Sturt, then follow. Each page of text is surrounded by an ornamented border of religious ornaments, and both these and the text, the latter in two columns, are engraved upon copper. The effect is harsh and dazzling in the extreme, and surely none but the most enthusiastic devotee ever yet prayed to heaven from the text of Sturt's prayer-book. There are also scriptural subjects engraved upon copper, running across the page, or divided into two compartments, side by side. The capital initials are small, and well ornamented; at the end are the usual prayers for Gunpowder Treason, Charles the Martyr, the Restoration, &c. &c. The copy from which this description is taken, is on the large paper in the Althorp Library, and is elegantly bound in old red morocco." Dibdin's Bib. Decam. p. 116. |