tient families of this District, to say, that no proposal so humiliating was ever made to him; as in truth it never will be made to any man who is known to respect himself. Such baseness, indeed, while it degrades an useful and amusing department of literature, though in its lowest branch, never fails to be visited upon the receiver of these fabrications with the infamy which it deserves On the other hand, there are works, which scrupulous accuracy, united with stubborn integrity, has elevated to the rank of legal evidence. Such is Dugdale's Warwickshire! But, independently of all consequences, Truth on the most trifling subjects (and, after all, Genealogies are very trifling) is sacred for its own sake. It may sometimes, indeed, be suppressed, but never compromised. Yet, in subjects like these, why suppress it? Of the ancestors of old families, it is no libel on human nature, or even on their posterity, to suppose that some were knaves, and others were dunces; and surely to rectify the blunders of the one, and expose the impostures of the other, while it affords some exercise to the per -- spicacity of the inquirer, ought, at the *See p. 150 of this Edition; where the Reader will find the following very excellent remarks: "Before the introduction of Manufactories, the Parish of Kighley did not want its retired glens and well-wooded hills; but the clear mountain torrent now is defiled, its scaly inhabitants suffocated by filth, its murmurs lost in the din of machinery, and the native musick of its overhanging groves exchanged for oaths and curses. Northward from Hawcliff and Holden, the Parish of Kildwick, from the extirpation of its native woods, and the absence of a spirit of planting in the proprietors, somewhat disappoints the expectations of a stranger; yet, in an ornamental view, I am no undistinguishing advocate for this species of improvement. All that Art can do is a contemptible substitution for what Nature has done in the creation of woody scenery, and Man in its partial destruction. It is not the work of one or even two generations to hang the sides of these hills once more with the full and majestic foliage of their native oak; and in the pine-tribe, all the species of which are sufficiently grateful to the planter, there is at once a poverty and stiffness, which deprives them of any higher merit than that of being better than no shade or clothing at all.-If, however, the proprietors will plant, let them reserve every acre of their fertile levels, with the exception of judicious spottings, for the foreground of· their landscape: let them leave the tops of the fells to present their craggy fronts and deep purple surfaces as a distance to the picture; but let them remember, that it is the intermediate slopes which Nature has chosen for the growth of wood in large masses, and that by treading anxiously in her footsteps they can alone hope to produce an harmonious or pleasing effect. In defining their outline, let them beware of angular forms, and, if possible, of stone walls, but, above all, of the Scottish invention of belts, which, instead of circumscribing, fairly impound a domain. At Skipton the basis of lime-stone commences, and henceforward Aredale assumes a new face and character. The verdure and fertility of the soil are now unrivalled; and if the oak in its native state disappears, the maple, beech, wychelm, and, above all, the ash, more than compensate the loss; so that the banks of the Are in the parishes of Carlton, Broughton, and Gargrave, as specimens of soft and expanded landscape, have no equals in Craven.. . Yet this favoured district is ill adapted to the growth of corn. Even its fertility indisposes it for agriculture, as a luxuriant soil and dripping climate will always produce gigantic straw and a thick-skinned unyielding grain; but Providence distributes its blessings with a more equal hand than we are willing to allow, and the productions of a better climate and inferior soil now find their way into Craven, with a facility which will ensure subject. The benefactors to this Edition, whether in matter or ornament, are entitled to a grateful remembrance. Miss Currer, consistently with the general liberality of her conduct in the application of a large fortune, has contributed Plates of Eshton and Kildwick Halls. The Rev. William Roundell has kindly added an aquatinta engraving of Gledstone House; the Rev. William Carr, a beautiful View of the West front of the Abbey Church at Bolton; and Stephen Tempest, esq. among other favours, a View of the new Front of Broughton Hall. Mrs. Richardson has exerted her wonted activity and intelligence in collecting and communicating many particulars relating to the Caves in Craven, and to St. Hellen's Crosses; while Mr. Carr, above mentioned, the unshaken friend of the Author and his family, by diligent researches among the Evidences of the Cliffords at Londesborough, has brought to light by far the most numerous and valuable additions to this Volume. The last but not least honourable place in this catalogue belongs to the dead. - It is a melancholy, but it ought to be an improving reflection, that in Work after Work, at no great distance of time, the Author has still had to deplore the loss of some Friend, to whose assistance it was indebted, or for whose amusement it was intended. And now, scarcely had Mr. Beaumont, whose latest correspondence with him was on the subject of the present VoJume, received from him a public testimony of grateful friendship, when he was no more. On this occasion the Writer waited till those who stood nearer, or were more obliged than himself, had time to discover that talents for panegyrick are best directed to living objects. This silence, however, far better than ill-judged flattery, has left space for fact and truth. Let it now, therefore, be told without offence, that his peculiarities were great, and his prejudices strong. He had a clear understanding, and a tenacious memory, which, after his return from Italy, were devoted principally to the study of English History and Antiquities. Inheriting a fine estate, and having never married, he became, through the ardour of this pursuit, an hermit in a palace; for such was his house at Whitley. At his other mansion of Little Mitton, in which he took great delight, he was wont to say, that he contended with the owls for possession. His apartments were not merely strewed, but piled, with books and papers of his own transcribing. No man living had taken the same pains with Dodsworth's MSS. or was so well qualified to make an Index to that confused but valuable collection. As a magistrate, he was skilful and upright, but very irascible, and altogether irreconcilable to every thing which he thought improper in the conduct of his brethren. He was a warm and faithful friend, and more especially a literary friend; but subject to fits of resentment, which, if he thought well of the objects of them on the whole, were easily appeased. To his indigent acquaintance the large sums which he professed to lend, were eventually given. His liberality to his immediate relatives knew no bound but the extent of his means, and scarcely even that. With an income of little less than 10,000l. per annum, and no personal expence (for he was remarkably inattentive both to his own comforts and to external appearance), his estate was left somewhat in debt. He had all the pride of antient descent, and with it an high sense of honour, which, together with his good understanding, would not permit him to be either duped or flattered by the ascription of alliances, to which he had no claim. He knew and despised all the tricks of pedigreemongers; and when some herald, whom he employed to marshal the bearings of his family, had officiously inserted that of the Viscounts and Barons Beaumont, he struck the quartering out with his own hand, saying to the Writer of the present article, These are honourable bearings, but they belong not to me.' His eye, when an object could be brought within its short focus, was perfectly microscopical; and he was perhaps the best reader of antient charters in his time. For the same reason he was an excellent judge of forgeries. Such were the mixed qualities, such the head and heart, of this singular man, delineated at a distance of time sufficient to allow the first feelings of surviving friendship to cool; without par ensure the fine pastures of Aredale from being ever again perverted to the purposes of tillage. A single horse, which forty years since toiled from Knaresborough to Skipton with a sack of wheat upon its back, will now, with equal or greater ease, draw a boat upon a canal laden with forty tons of the same great necessary of life." "In the Dedication to The Life and Correspondence of Sir George Radcliffe ;" a Work far less generally circulated than its merits fairly deserve. See our vol. LXXX. Part ii. p. 151. EDIT. tiality, tiality, therefore, but not without affection. He died Nov. 22, 1810, aged 61, and was interred in the family chapel within the church of Kirk Heaton." An Index is added to this Edition; and a Portrait of the animated and intelligent Author is prefixed. A Second Edition of Dr.Whitaker's History of Whalley is in great forwardness at the press. 18. A Graphical Illustration of the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Canterbury; accompanied by a History and Description, collected from the most authentic Documents, and drawn up from repeated Surveys of that venerable Fubrick. With Descriptions of its Monumental Structures, and an Account of its Chapels, Altars, Shrines, and Chantries. Also comprising Biographical Sketches of the Lives of the Archbishops and Deans of Canterbury; and Historical Notices of the celebrated Convent of Christchurch; with Lists, and interesting Particulars of its Deans, Priors, and distinguished Monks. By W. Woolnoth. Containing Twenty Plates, engraved by himself, from Drawings by T. Hastings, Member of the Royal Liverpool Academy. 4to. pp. 174. Nichols, Son, and Bentley. OF the several illustrations of our Cathedrals which have hitherto appeared, the present publication has very superior claims to the patronage of the publick, as well on account of the elaborate execution of the Plates, as for the intrinsic excellence of the subject. The Engravings, which are intended as specimens of Mr. Woolnoth's talent in that department of Art, appear to be finished with the most scrupulous care; and a critical examination of them will allow him, if we are not mistaken, a high rank among the Artists of the present age. "He has spared no pains to render the Graphical portion, the production of which formed the more immediate end of his exertions, as complete as possible, During the progress of the Plates, he has personally corrected the proofs upon the spot, to insure accuracy of detail; and he trusts that the uniformity of style in which they have all been executed by his own hand, will prove a recommendation not common to publications of a similar description." These Embellishments, which are XX in number, comprise the follow ing subjects: Door in the Cloisters, Ground Plan, East Transept, East End, View from St. Martin's, West Front,West Towers, St. Anselm's Chapel, View from the North-West, View of Chapter-house and Cloisters, South Porch, View of the Nave, View of the Undercroft, Capitals in the Crypt, Capitals in the Choir, View of Choir from North-East Transept, Capitals in the Lady (Trinity) Chapel, View from Becket's Crown, Edward the Black Prince, and Tomb of Hubert Waiter. - Of these, the View of the Nave from the South Aile, that of the Choir from the North-East Transept, and the View from Becket's Crown, are eminently beautiful. With respect to the Literary department of the Work (to which, Mr. Woolnoth modestly says, he cannot but advert in a tone of subdued confidence), it affords a compendious, well-digested, and satisfactory account of the venerable Fabrick, and whatever is remarkable that is connected with it. The labours of Somner, Batteley, Dart, Gostling, and others, the researches of modern inquirers; have left little to be discovered by and it is no mean praise to have faithfully and judiciously condensed, and given an interesting and attractive form to, the valuable materials which their industry had accumulated. Mr. Woolnoth has classed his subject under Five Sections: the First, comprising the History of the Structure until its partial destruction by fire in 1174, and subsequent reparation; which History is, in the Second Section, continued to the present time. The Third contains a descriptive Survey of the Structure, explanatory of the Plates. The Fourth, a classification and description of the Monuments within the Cathedral. And the concluding Section consists of Biographical Sketches of the Archbishops, &c. &c. We shall subjoin a few short extracts from the Third Section, from' which it cannot fail to be observed, that "the peculiar feeling of the Artist gives a predominant cast to his composition," and, it may justly be added, "connects it intimately with the transcript which hisViews exhibit." stately central tower, with its graceful "In the approach to Canterbury, the pinnacles, forms an object of impressive dignity, and announces the consequence of that antient seat of Sanctity. There are.. are not many situations from whence, on a near approach to the structure, the parts unfold to advantage, on account of the contiguous mass of buildings; combined, however, with the surrounding objects of antiquity, all of them connected with its history, it presents a magnificent assemblage. Advancing from the Eastward, St. Martin's churchyard forms a station not unfavourable for a general view. The Cathedral rises nobly above the City, Becket's Crown being the nearest point to the eye, behind which extends the venerable Eastern transept, and in its rear the angel steeple crowns the view. Over the roof of the transept are seen the pinnacles of the Dunstan steeple, and the small leaden spires of the Saxon turrets at the junction of that transept with the choir. Immediately to the left of Becket's Crown appears the decorative entrance to St. Augustine's Monastery, flanked with octagonal turrets of singular beauty; and still farther, the remains of the Abbey-church, and the lofty dilapidated tower honoured with the name of Ethelbert. From this point of view there is an agreeable blending of foliage with architectural forms highly picturesque." "Having surveyed the exterior of our Cathedral, we enter by the South Porch, in order to contemplate the relicks of fallen splendour, and investigate the examples of art which an internal survey affords. The coup-d'œil would be impressively grand if strangers were conducted by the main entrance, with a view to permit them to receive the full effect of the vista of the nave, its graceful clustered columns receding in gradual perspective, and the lofty arch of its groined roof diminishing in distance; this effect is lost from the customary entrance: nor is the deficiency compensated by the view from the front of the choir, when the eye has become familiarized to its forms. Upon gaining the centre of the nave, we cast a retrospective glance at the spacious Western window, which, though inferior in the brilliancy of its hues to those of earlier date, has a noble effect, from its extent." "Emerging from this dark and solitary seat of sublime recollections (the Undercroft), we ascend the steps leading to the choir, and rest to enjoy the finest general view of the interior. To the Westward we have a full and command ing prospect of the nave we had quitted, and in the East, through the grated door of the choir, we catch a glimpse of the brilliant window at that termination of the long-extended structure, sparkling with a radiancy unparalleled. Above us, "The fatigue of the ascent to the platform of the roof is most amply repaid by the enjoyment of a lovely and luxuriant prospect. Below us, Kent unfolds all its charms. Its mouldering ruins, its stately mansions, its fertile fields of waving corn, the rich foliage of its woods, streams that glitter in the sun, its vales and proudly-swelling hills, studded with farms and cottages, peopled by a manly and healthful race of peasantry, extending in long perspective to that Ocean which formerly so often wafted to her shores desolating and destructive hosts, now bearing on its bosom, and into her ports, the productions of the remotest Nations, the wealth of the World.” It gives us pleasure to extract the following paragraph: "It would be unjust not to yield a deserved tribute of praise to the care and attention bestowed in preserving from farther devastation this noble work of our ancestors, and in checking as much as possible the progress of decay. The partial restorations which have taken place are executed with scrupulous fidelity to the character of the original design; instances of which are displayed in the front of St. Anselm's chapel, the pediment of the Eastern transept, the great window in front of the Western transept, the pinnacles surmounting the buttresses of the nave, and in various other parts." To conclude: we trust that Mr. Woolnoth will meet with the encouragement of the publick, to which his labours have justly entitled him. He has at all events secured to himself the satisfaction of having executed a work, to which he may refer with confidence as a specimen of graphic ability, and on which he may hereafter reflect with undiminished pleasure. 19. The Life and Studies of Benjamin West, Esq. President of the Royal Academy of London, prior to his Arrival in England; compiled from Materials furnished by himself. By John Galt. 8vo. pp. 160. Cadell & Davies. THE authority of these" Memoirs" admits of no dispute, and we agree with Mr. Galt in his idea of the utility of such a Work. "Mr. West, in relating the circumstances by which he was led to approximate, without the aid of an instructor, to to those principles and rules of Art, which it is the object of Schools and Academies to disseminate, has conferred a greater benefit on young Artists than he could possibly have done by the most ingenious and eloquent lectures on the theories of his profession; and it was necessary that the narrative should appear in his own time, in order that the authenticity of the incidents might not rest on the authority of any Biographer. - The professional life of Mr. West constitutes an important part of an historical work, in which the matter of this volume could only have been introduced as an episode, and, perhaps, not with much propriety even in that form. It was my intention, at one time, to have prepared the whole of his Memoirs, separately, for publication; but a careful review of the manuscript convinced me, that the transactions in which he has been engaged, subsequently to his arrival in England, are so much of a public nature, and belong so immediately to the history of the Arts, that such a separation could not be effected without essentially impairing the interest and unity of the main design; and that the particular nature of this portion of his Memoirs admitted of being easily detached, and arranged into a whole complete within itself." The admirers of the venerable President (who has nearly completed his 78th year) will be agreeably amused by the interesting narrative of his early life, and the progress of his studies. The Work abounds with entertaining anecdotes; of which a good analysis precedes the Volume. The following is selected, as it relates to his first Historical Picture; a species of the art in which he has since so pre-eminently excelled : 66 Among those who sent to him in this early stage of his career, was a person of the name of William Henry *. He was an able mechanick, and had acquired a handsome fortune by his proession of a gunsmith. Henry was, indeed, in several respects, an extraordinary man, and possessed the power ge nerally attendant upon genius under all circumstances, that of interesting the imagination of those with whom he conversed. On examining the young Artist's performance, he observed to him, that, if he could paint as well, he would not waste his time on portraits, but would devote himself to historical subjects; and he mentioned the Death of Socrates as affording one of the best topicks for illustrating the moral effect of the art of Painting. The Painter knew nothing of the history of the Philosopher; and, upon confessing his ig norance, Mr. Henry went to his library, and, taking down a volume of the English translation of Plutarch, read to him the account given by that writer of this affecting story. description wrought upon the imaginaThe suggestion and tion of West, and induced him to make a drawing, which he shewed to Mr. Henry, who commended it as a perspi'cuous delineation of the probable cireumstances of the event, and requested him to paint it. West said that he would be happy to undertake the task, but, having hitherto painted only faces and men cloathed, he should be unable to do justice to the figure of the slave who presented the poison, and which, he thought, ought to be naked. Henry had among his workmen a very handsome young man, and, without waiting to answer the objection, he sent for him into the room. On his entrance he pointed him out to West, and said, 'There is your model.' The appearance of the young man, whose arms and breast were naked, instantaneously convinced the Artist that he had only to look into Nature for the models which would impart grace and energy to his delineation of forms.-When the Death of Socrates was finished, it attracted much attention, and led to one of those fortunate acquaintances by which the subsequent career of the Artist has been so happily facilitated. About this period the inbabitants of Lancaster had resolved to erect a public grammar-school; and Dr. Smith, the Provost of the College at Philadelphia, was invited by them to arrange the course of instruction, and to place the institution in the way best calculated to answer the intention of the founders. This gentleman was an excellent classical scholar, and combined with his knowledge and admiration of the merits of the antients that liberality of respect for the endeavours of modern talent, with which the same kind of feeling is but rarely found connected. After seeing the picture, and sonversing with the Artist, he offered to undertake to make him to a certain degree acquainted with classical literature; while at the same time he would give him * Brother, we have reason to believe, to our good old friend David Henry, Esq. many years the respectable Editor and Printer of this Magazine. EDIT. GENT. MAG. August, 1816. suck |