THE ARCH OF TITUS *. OXFORD PRIZE POEM FOR 1824, SPOKEN BY MR. J. T. HOPE, OF CHRIST CHURCH. LIVES there no trophy of the hero's fame, Where Rome's dread Genius guards each mouldering stone, Though dimm'd the outline now, not time o'erthrows With mingling beauties crown'd the columns tower, And tapering as they rise aloft in air, The sculptur'd frieze and votive tablet bear. From o'er each column Fame exulting springs, Seems stretch'd for flight, and waves her golden wings : Yet linger not! within the circling space The storied walls more radiant beauties grace, In days of festal gladness and of war? Is then the seven-branch lustre sunk in night, And bless the Anointed King she crucified! 1548 Yon Arch o'erthrown, and Rome itself a name. * For a description and representation of this interesting monument, see vol. XCI. i. 489. PREFACE. THE half-yearly Preface is by no means that part of the Volume; which we present with most confidence. Relying as we do on our Literary Friends to fill the majority of our pages, we feel that our own communications ought to be something more than formal. But, though, many may not perceive the difference between the characters of Author and Editor, they will acknowledge that which exists between the nurse and child, and, by analogy, that the one is strictly accountable for the faults of the other. 1 Those who take any pleasure in Literary History, must be acquainted with the rise and progress of Periodicals: at their first appearance, scarcely a century ago, few could have discerned that such would have become the most eligible method of diffusing instruction equally among all classes. Difference of style may confine a work to certain degrees of society, but it is the peculiar advantage of Magazines, that they embrace all. History is not adapted to the boudoir, or novels to the study, but the Magazine conforms to every taste, leaving to the reader the trouble of selection alone. Much, then, as we rejoice in the progress of Periodical Literature, and kindly as we view the thousand imitators of ourselves, we cannot but feel an honest pride at the eminence we have preserved. The Literary Bills of Mortality assign various causes for the decease of our followers: the death of an Editor, or the change of taste, is the usual apology of unsuccessful aspirants; but whilst we can retain our valuable Correspondents, we may smile at the mutability of fashion. We have seen out more Magazines than we can reckon; Journals have had their day, and Miscellanies have been mingled with the dead. To assume an exemption from the common fate would be arrogant; but when we look on the long series of our Volumes, and reflect how frequently they are referred to as authority by the Topographer, the Historian, and the Biographer, we feel a conscious pride in the certainty of their co-existence with Literature itself. Having thus explained every thing of a private nature, it remains to cast the usual glance at "things in general." things in general." Perhaps a fitter sea son son could not be chosen. The prosperity of our happy Country is general and increasing; Agriculture is flourishing, as well as Trade and Commerce; and the last Report on the state of the Public Finances, is most satisfactory. The moderate reform which the champions of Revolution would have annihilated, is making its slow but salutary progress on the Continent. In Asia the success of our arms is accelerating a better system, and the recent melancholy intelligence from Africa serves to remind us that our labours are not yet finished. But since our last, there are many events which demand the sympathy of the publick as a relief to the grief of individuals: Asia has to deplore the death of Maurice and Langlès; Africa, of Bowdich and Belzoni; the decease of Maseres has left a blank in mathematical science; and the dawn of Grecian independence is clouded by the funerals of Botzaris and of Byron. How, also, will the friends of Christianity lament, and its enemies exult, at the loss of Rennell! Pleasing as is the task of watching the progress of Literature, it is a melancholy one to record the deaths of its professors; yet is our strength unimpaired; England still maintains her eminence; and among her meritorious sons it shall ever be the pride of SYLVANUS URBAN to deserve a place. MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. « E. J. C." will excuse our not inserting his remarks on the New Marriage Act. With respect to the seven days' notice previous to the publication of banns, the same clause will be found in the 26 Geo. II. cap. 33, commonly called Lord Hardwicke's Act; and we think it is a very proper precaution, that the Minister may have an opportunity of enquiring as to the correctness of the parties' statement. It cannot be supposed for a moment that a marriage would be void, should the Minister publish the banns out of an improper book. We conceive the Minister would be subject to censure if he did not comply with this clause, but that it would in no wise affect the parties. The utility of this clause seems to be, the greater assurance, at the time of the solemnization, that the three publications have taken place, and in case of any question hereafter as to the due publication, there may be some kind of record of its having been regularly done, but the evidence of the marriage is the certificate of marriage, and not the publication of banns which is required. A. H. remarks, that "the case of circumstantial evidence, stated by P. W. vol. XCIII. ii. 485, could never maintain a prosecution for the stealing the coin found, because he would himself be the prosecutor; and as he had not been able to decipher the characters before he lost it in the ashes, he would be unable, without direct perjury, to substantiate the identity of that found by his labourer in the sunk fence on the following morning. The cautions taken by Judges and Juries, in all cases of circumstantial evidence, precludes the fear of injustice; and in very many, the due administration of the law would be defeated, if the admission of it were totally excluded." P. says, "I sent you an account of that part of the Poynyngs family (see p. 603 of Supplement) which married into two families of the name of More (not Moore), not related to each other. I can answer that neither of them inherited Ostenhanger house. The sister, who married Mr. Rogers, died under age, without issue." Vol. xcm. ii. p. 609. A Corn Rent, instead of Tithe in kind, has been over and over mentioned as "fair for both Clergy and Laity." It is no more than a lease for a short term, instead of the mutually vexatious collection in kind. It is first set on an average price of corn for a certain number of preceding years; this remains for a term of seven years (sometimes fourteen), at the end of which either party may apply to the Sessions to have a new average taken. If the price of corn rises, the Clergyman has the benefit; if it falls, the Layman has that advantage; so that it is mutual. This rent is a charge on the land, not on the owner, so that the Clergyman is equally secure. This remedy is equally applicable to Vicarial tithes issuing out of land, as to great tithes. I believe it is now generally adopted in inclosure bills, instead of an allotment of land. P. C. observes, that "amongst the numerous benevolent institutions for which this kingdom is so justly distinguished, there is not to be found a receptacle for that truly pitiable and helpless class of beings, labouring under a state of Idiotism. I scarcely need remark the unhappy number there are, since almost every parish in the kingdom can furnish one or more instances." R. C. H. will be much obliged for any information respecting Sir Ralph Sadleir. Qy. if there is any original portrait of him excepting the one (small life) at Sir John Astley's house at Everley? and where such is to be found? Mr. W. T. ALCHIN, of Winchester, inquires, "whether any of our readers, in the course of their researches, have ever met with the registers of Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, and of Richard Tucklin, or Toclive, his immediate successor; referred to by Sir William Dugdale, in his "History of Saint Paul's Cathedral," p. 92, edit. Maynard; and there stated to be in the possession of Richard (Neile) Bishop of Winchester?" M. GIORDINELLI would esteem it a favour if he could obtain any information respecting Monsieur Le Chevalier Lembert, particu larly as to the time of his death and place of burial. He was born in England, and was a Banquier in Paris for English people, and Administrateur de la Caisse d'Ecompte (now the French bank). He married Miss Lenieps, a very rich English lady, who had by this marriage a son: this son in 1792 was a Captain of the body-guard of the King of England. Le Chevalier Lembert, in the midst of the French Revolution, set out for London, and did not take any of his household with him; this happened in 1795 or 1796. Mr. T. TOVEY observes, "that Captain Forman is certainly right in his assertion that his proposition has never been proved, for it is one that does not yet admit of an absolute proof, how true soever it may be ; because the nature of gravity, by which Mr. T. means the cause of those effects that are ascribed to gravity, is yet unknown. But Captain Forman must be aware that every one of those formulæ in physical astronomy by which all complicated motions of the heavenly bodies are explained and calculated, is built on this principle, and consequently if the principle be erroneous, the formula must be erroneous; but observations show the formule to be correct." And here Mr. Tovey takes his final leave. |
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