"To my deare Ladie and sister, the Countesse of Pembroke. Here now have you (most deare, and most worthy to bee most deare Ladie) this idle Worke of mine: which I feare (like the spider's web) will be thought fitter to be swept away, then worne to any other purpose. For my part, in very truth, (as the cruell fathers among the Greeks were woont to doe to the babes they would not foster) I could well find in my heart to cast out in some desert of forgetfulnes this childe, which I am loth to father. But you desired me to doe it; and your desire, to my heart is an absolute commandement. Now, it is done only for you, onely to you: if you keepe it to yourselfe, or to such friends who wil weigh errors in the ballance of good wil, I hope, for the father's sake, it will be pardoned, perchance made much off, though in itselfe it have deformities. For, indeed, for severer eyes it is not, being but a trifle, and that triflingly handled. Your deare selfe can best witnes the maner, being done in loose sheetes of paper, most of it in your presence, the rest, by sheetes, sent unto you as fast as they were done. In sum, a yong head, not so well stayed as I would it were (and shall bee when God will) having many many fancies begotten in it, if it had not beene in some way delivered, would have growen a monster, and more sory might I be that they came in, then that they gat out. But his chiefe safetie shall be the not walking abroad; and his chiefe protection, the bearing the liverie of your name, which (if much goodwill do not deceave me) is worthy to bee a sanctuarie for a greater offender. This say I, because I know the vertue so; and this say I, because it may be ever so; or to say better, because it wil be ever so! Reade it then at your idle times, and the follies your good judgement will finde in it, blame not, but laugh at. And so, looking for no better stuffe, tban, as in a Haberdashers shop, glasses, or feathers, you will continue to love the Writer, who doth exceedingly love 'you,and moste moste heartilie prayes, you may long live, to be a principall ornament to the familie of the Sidneyes. Your loving brother, *** A Correspondent at Exeter will accept our thanks for another copy, which he has transcribed from a later edition, "now the eighth time publish ed, with some new additions. London: printed for Simon Waterson and R. Young, anno 1633;" in which the Letter is intituled "The Epistle Dedieatory." Mr. URBAN, MR Penzance, June 1. R. Bryant, in his Antient My thology, vol. I. p. 371. informs us that the offerings which people in antient times used to present to the Gods, were generally purchased at the entrance of the Temple, especially every piece of consecrated bread, which was denominated ac cordingly. Those sacred to the God of light, Peon, were called Piones, &c. &c. &c. One species of sacred bread, which used to be offered to the Gods, was of great antiquity, and called Boun. Hesychius speaks of the Boun, and describes it as a kind of cake with a representation of two horns. Diogenes Laertius, speaking of the same offering, describes the chief ingredients of which it was composed. "He offered one of the sacred cakes called a Boun, which was made of fine flour and honey."-The Prophet Jeremiah takes notice of this kind of offering when he is speaking of the Jewish women at Pathros in Egypt, and of their base idolatry. “When we burnt incense to the Queen of Heaven, and poured out drink-offerings to her, did we make cakes to worship her." Jer. xliv. The Prophet in another place takes notice of the same idolatry," The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven." Jer. vii. Can there be any doubt that the English word Bun is derived from the cake Boun; and that the Cross-bun, which is baked on Good Friday, was a substitute for the cakes used in the worship of idols, in the same manner as many of our Christian Festivals were adopted instead of Heathen Feriæ or Holy Days? Perhaps, Mr. Urban, I am only stating what might to Antiquaries have been known before; but Mr. Bryant himself does not make the remark which appears so obviously to have presented itself; and Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, seems to have had no conception of the kind, as he derives Bun from the Spanish word Bunelo.-I have been very concise in the extract from Bryant; and therefore refer the Reader, if if he wishes to see a fuller account of these CAKES, or Bouns, to his work, vol. I. p. 371. The etymology of the word, and the curious custom of marking the symbol of our faith in opposition to idolatrous symbols, mutually confirm my conjecture. I take this opportunity of remarking another curious coincidence, which lay at the feet of Mr. Bryant, though he did not see it, or perhaps would not condescend to pick it up. See vol. I. p. 59. Mr. B. tells us that the symbolical worship of the Serpent was of the most remote antiquity, and very extensive, and that the Greek Python is the same as Opis, Oupis, Oub, and Ob. The woman at Endor who had a familiar spirit is called Oub or Ob; and it is interpreted Pythonissa. This idolatry is also alluded to by Moses (Deut. xviii. 11.) who forbids the Israelites ever to inquire of those demons Ob and Idcone, whose worshippers are called charmers, consulters with evil spirits, or wizards, or necro1mancers. -The curious coincidence which I mean to remark is, that the witchcraft practised by the Blacks in the West Indies at this day is called Ob, or Obi ; the ignorant Negroes are under the most superstitious dread of those who profess the art. "Obi, or Three-fingered Jack" is the title of a Dramatic Piece founded on the above circumstance. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, ་ C.V. L. G. Dec. 7. T has for many years been geneby the present Lord Chancellor gives weight to the opinion, that the title "Grammar School" designates a seminary exclusively devoted to the cultivation of the learned languages. A practice in conformity to this character seems from Mr. Locke's Treatise on Education to have prevailed in his time; and to this, as a distinct cause, the falling off of boys, not of the lowest, but of the inferior ranks, (confessedly entitied to almost gratuitous instruc tion) is properly attributed. The parents of such are induced, by the paramount necessity of the minor branches of learning in the common affairs of life, to desert the Grammarschool for others, where the Elements are taught, and Morals, a constant object with Founders, little enough attended to. The Chancellor has, upon this view of the subject, in the case of Leeds School, above alluded to, justified the addition of the minor branches to classical studies. This is an improved system undoubtedly. It is the only one which is found to fill a stipendiary school, unsupported by extraneous circumstances. But the expences of a suit in Chancery for the sake of this change confine the introduction of it, when not admitted by the good sense of the Masters, to rare instances; and even if à Law should make it general, the expence of classical books for a purpose of remote and only occasional utility, would still render the lower classes less inclined to resort to these schools than the Founders seem to have anticipated. The obvious conclusion is, that we have not preserved from year to year 5 the spirit of these Endowments, or that they are injudiciously planned in respect of the professed purposes of them. From an examination of several sets of original papers, ordinances as well as charters, it has appeared to the writer of these observations, that the latter opinion is not to be hastily taken up; and many circumstances incline him to attribute * Mr. Locke speaks only of the practice in his own time, without appearing to have had in view the intention of the Foundations.-That intention, as one of exclusion, has been again and again attributed to Grammar schools, and complained of, during the last 100 years, but in no instance more strongly than the following. "Arithmetic was long considered in England as a higher branch of science, and therefore left, like Geometry, to be studied at the University. Most of the public or grammar-schools of the South were, on the suppression of the Monasteries, erected a little after the Reformation, during the short but auspicious reign of Edw. VI. They were accordingly destined by their founders merely for teaching the dead languages; and the too exclusive pursuit of the same system is now one of the greatest defects in the English plan of liberal Education." Suppl. to the Encyclopædia Brit. p. 533.-The inaccuracy of the statement that most of these schools were founded in the reign of Edward VI. has convinced me that the common opinion of their destination has been taken up by this writer without & consideration of authentic documents. "the the mischiefs to the neglects more or less culpable of successive administrators, either under the character of Trustees or Masters *. With the intention, therefore, of exciting a discussion of the subject, among those who are the official Guardians of these Foundations, and an examination of records which may lead to the occasions of decline from, or a clear conviction of inadequacy in, the original design of pious institutions, he takes the liberty of submitting to your Readers the following questions. 1. What proof is there that all Grammar-schools were founded upon an intention of having every hour of the day devoted to classical study? 2. What proof is there that in every Grammar-school every boy was to learn Latin, whatever he might learn besides? 3. Is there not proof that in many instances the devotion to classical or to minor studies, is to depend on the talents, or on the condition of the pupils? 4. Is there not proof of its having been the intention of all Founders that improvements in the modes and subjects of study should in discretion be admitted into their schools? 5. Have not these improvements been in many instances adopted? 6. Ought not similar improve ments, or such as would be equally suitable to the circumstances of each case, to be universally admitted? 7. How has it happened, that in the free Grammar-school of St. Olave's, Southwark, boys are not only taught the minor branches together with the learned languages, but in very numerous instances the minor branches alone? 8. How has it happened that the varied instruction in this school is really gratuitous; the books being paid for out of the funds of the Endowment? And did not Founders in general mean that the free boys should be provided with books in a similar manner out of the funds? Yours, &c. A FRIEND TO JUSTICE. LARGE Marble Tablet (or Mo Anument) is finished and imme diately to be erected at Church Gresley in Derbyshire, with the following inscription: "Sacred to the Memory of Nigel Gresley, esq. youngest son of the late Sir Nigel Bowyer Gresley, bart. of Drakelow House in this county. On the 19th May 1816, and in the 16th year of his age, Death terminated his life, which for the last ten months of his amiable, but too short-lived existence, had been gradually sinking under disease; and he was thus untimely cut off in the bloom of youth. The happy consolation of his friends during his long illness, was the peculiar fortitude and patience with which be bore it, though at various times their hopes were alternately elevated and depressed, with regard to his temporal recovery; but his resignation and blameless life entitle them to indulge the hope, that he must now enjoy that happiness which he could not possess in this world. This tablet, as a sincere testimony of affection, and to evince her unceasing grief for her irreparable loss, and as an inefficient tribute to his worth, is erected by his ever most afflicted mother, Maria Eliza Gresley. Sepulchral Marble, wilt thou bear I wish to add, that the late Sir Nigel Bowyer Gresley, who died in March 1808, and was interred in the Abbey Church at Bath, could claim as high ancestral honours as any fa mily in the United Kingdom: indeed very few now can trace so high a descent, as he was descended from the famous Rolla, Duke of Normandy, and Roger de Toeni, standard-bearer of Normandy (at the time of William the Conqueror), whose two sons Nigel and Malabulcius accompanied that Monarch into England, being related to him, who was also descended from Rolla. The late Sir N. B. Gresley was succeeded in his title and estates by the present Sir Roger (a minor), so named from his Norman ancestor Roger de Toeni. Yours, &c. VERAZ. It is hoped that these observations will not appear to have been suggested by a spirit of impertinent malevolence towards our public schools, or a wish to underrate the undoubted results of the system practised in them. The testimony of Mr Brougham on this subject, last Summer, will go very far to confirm their general reputation. The meaning of the writer is, that where schools are in decay, the cause is not to be sought so much as is frequently done in the nature of the Foundation, the spirit of which seems rarely to have been consulted, Boundaries. North, Lancaster and York. East, Derby and Stafford. South, Salop. West, Denbigh, Flint, and Irish Sea. Greatest Length 58, greatest breadth 50, circumference 200, square 1050 miles.. Province, York. Diocese, Chester. Circuit, Chester... ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. ⠀ British Inhabitants. Cornavii or Cornabii. ... Antiquities. Chester Cathedral, Church of St. Joho, castle, bridge, rows, walls 1 mile 3 quarters and 101 yards in circuit. Beeston and Halton castles. Birkinhead Priory. Astbury and Nantwich Churches. Moreton Hall. * PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. Rivers. Dee, Mersey, Weever, Dane, Wheelock, Bolling, Tame, Goyt. Inland Navigation. Bridgwater's, Chester, Trent and Mersey, Ellesmere, Peak Forest Canals. Dee and Weever Rivers. Lakes. Oak, Budworth, Rostherne, Mere, Tatton, Comber, Broad, and Bag meres; Petty, Rookery, and Ridley Pools. Eminences and Views. Alderley Edge; Beeston and Halton Castles ; Kelsal Hill on Delamere Forest; Broxton Hills, Car tor near Mottram; Eccleston Hill; Frodsham Beacon Hill. Seats. Dunham Massey, Earl of Stamford and Warrington, Lord Lieutenant of the County. Alderley Park, Sir John Thom Stanley, bart. Bramhall, William Davenport, esq. Combermere Abbey, Ld. Combermere. Eaton Hall, Lord Grosvenor. Lyme Hall, Thomas Legh, esq. “ Poole Hall, Sir Henry Poole, bart. { Tabley Hall, Sir Johu. Fleming Leycester, bart. a Tatton Park, W. T. Egerton, esq.or Vale Royal, Thomas Cholmondeley, esq. 8 Members to Parliament. For the County, 2, Chester, 2; total 4. POPULATION. སྙན ཏནྟི Hundreds, 7, and the County of the City of Chester; Parishes, 96'; 'Mar2 ket-lowns, 13; Houses, 42,426. Inhabitants. Males, 110,841; Females, 116,190: total 227,031” Families employed in Agriculture, 16,396; in Trade, 23,043; in neither; 5,063 total, 44,502. Baptisms. Males, 3,447; Females, 3,199.-Marriages, 1785.—Burials, Males, 5.3466; Females, 2535. Towns having not less than 1000 Inhabitants; viz. Chester (capital city), 3,457 16,140 Runcorn.... 4,232 .974 4,616 .:873 5,999 Parkgate, with Great 339 * Total, Towns, 15; Houses, 14,417; Inhabitants, 18,197. Pendarvis House, John Stackhouse, esq. Penquite, James Rashleigh, esq. Trelawney House, Rev. Sir Harry Trenant Park, Sir Edw. Buller, bart. Tehidy House, Lord de Dunstanville, Hundreds, 9; Parishes, 203; Market-towns, 30; Houses, 39,371. Families employed in Agriculture, 17,465; Trade, 10,954; in neither, 15,770: total, 44,189. Baptisms. Males, 3,504; Females, 3,321.-Marriages, 1,531.- Burials, Males, 1,890; Females, 1,716. Towns having not less than 1000 Inhabitants, viz. Houses. Inhab. .329 2,297 ..404 2,139 .419 2,070 .374 1,975 .236 1,498 195 1,478 .239 1,319 .216 1,094 .195 1,022 Total: Towns, 18; Houses, 7,502; Inhabitants, 44,720. A. D. 446, On the departure of the Romans, Vortigern, Prince of Cornwall, was elected Sovereign of the Britons. At his invitation, to repel the incursions of the Picts and Scots, the Saxons first landed in Englaud. 542, near Camelford, battle of Camblan, in which the famous Arthur and his traiterous nephew Mordred were slain, 835, at Hengston-hill, Britons and Danes defeated by Egbert. 935, Athelstan completed the conquest of Cornwall from the Britons. 1498, September, at Whitsand Bay, Perkin Warbeck landed. 1643, January 19, on Bradock Down, General Ruthin and the Parliamentarians defeated by Sir Ralph Hopton, who made 1250 prisoners. 1643, May 15, near Stratton, Earl of Stamford and the Parliamentarians defeated by Sir Ralph Hopton, who took prisoner Major-general Chudleigh and 1700 men. For this victory Sir Ralph was created Lord Hopton of Stratton. 1644, September 1, near Fowey, General Skippon and 6000 of the Parliamentarian infantry capitulated to Charles I. 1646, March 12, at Truro, Lord Hopton and 3000 of the Royalist cavalry capitulated to Sir Thomas Fairfax. BIOGRAPHY. Anstis, John, Garter King-at-Arms and Historian of the Order, St. Neots, 1669. ARTHUR, King of the Britons, Tintagel, 452. Arundel, John, Bp. of Exeter, Lanhearn, (died 1503.) Arundel, John, who captured Duncan Campbell, Scotch Admiral, 14 Hen. VIII. Blaunpayn, Michael, Latin Rhymer, (flourished 1350.) Borlase, William, Historian of his native County, Pendeen, 1696. Carew, |