MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. J.T. observes, "The story of St. Swithin, as given in Mr. Croker's Legends of the Lakes,' reviewed in p. 60, is very different from the commonly received account. In the Calendar, the 15th July is marked as the festival of Swithin or Swithun, Bishop of Winchester; and tradition says, he was buried in the church-yard at Winchester, from whence it was resolved to remove or translate his remains into the Church, but on the day when the translation was to take place, it rained violently, and continued to do so for the thirty-nine days following, which prevented the ceremony, as it was thought that Swithin, disliking the exhumation, had taken this means of manifesting his objections, and hence the common report of forty days' rain. The Winchester Guide says, St. Swithin was a native of Winchester, celebrated for his virtues. He was the tutor both of Ethelwolph and of Alfred; and, besides establishing Churches in most parts of his diocese for the spiritual advantage of his people, he likewise built bridges, and other public works. At the back of the altar in the Cathedral at Winchester, is a Chapel, in which the shrine of St. Swithin was formerly kept; his skull is said to have been deposited in the Cathedral at Canterbury. Swithin is the patron Saint of Winchester Cathedral, and one of the parochial Churches in that city is also dedicated to him." Mr. J. HALLAM observes, "the following extract, from a copy of the will of Edward Wentworth, esq. of York, dated 14th Dec. 1673, may lead your Correspondent Q. p. 2, to something more. I give unto the Rev. Mr. Samuel Leedes, Vicar of Conisbro', the sum of five guineas to buy a ring with, to wear for my sake'." -This person, whose name is spelt Lees (probably incorrectly) in Hunter's "South Yorkshire," vol. i. p. 119, was presented to the Vicarage of Coningsborough in 1672, and died in 1680.-Another Correspondent suggests, that Samuel Leeds, who was a Master in Chancery in 1799, and died March 22, 1803, might be a descendant of the same family. C. D. states, “In Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, ix. 292, it appears that several MS. Sermons of Bp. Butler's are still in existence. From my regard for the writings of that great and good man, I shall feel obliged if any of your Correspondents could inform me, with whom these Sermons are deposited, the number of them, and whether the loan or purchase of them could be obtained." Our reply to Mr. MANNERS is, that most probably no such letters ever existed. Mr. A. J. CHIGWELL begs to direct the attention of our Antiquarian correspondents to what he conceives an unnoticed ancient camp on a hill between Odiam and Farnham, about a mile from the latter place. J. S. is informed, that the half-noble of Edward III. is by no means uncommon; nor does his drawing differ materially from Ruding, Plate 1, No. 6; or from Snelling, Plate 1, No. 6. There are, however, many trifling varieties of these pieces. His other drawing represents a Counter of very common occurrence. See Snelling's Jettons and Counters, Plate 2, No. 27. We are requested by our correspondent, Mrs. CAREY, to convey to the gentleman who has sent us a letter from Manchester, the expression of her grateful thanks, for the very flattering terms in which he has been pleased to notice her poem of "Fair Ellen"-inserted in p. 504 of our Mag. for December 1828. The full account of the melancholy event, which that Poem commemorates, may be found in the "Observer," and other Newspapers, for Oct. 1, 1826. Mrs. C. has caused inquiry to be made after Elizabeth Wetherall, who so generously succoured the destitute and dying Ellen; but can obtain no clue, by which to discover her present residence or condition. We have received another Letter from Mr. Duke, relative to his Controversy with Mr. Bowles on the Celtic Antiquities of Wiltshire; but as Mr. Duke began the Controversy, which has been continued through several letters, we think our readers will agree with us that the question should now be left to the friendly discussion in Mr. Bowles's dining-room, as proposed by Mr. Bowles. We regret that an interesting letter on Dr. Pearson's Lectures should have arrived too late to attach to his Memoir in our present Number. ERRATA.-P. 4, a. 1. 9, for guineas, read quinces.-P. 6, a. 1. 21, for Bartholomew, read Rodomorie.-P. 6, a. l. 23, for Modomonte, read Rodomonte.-P. 14, a. l. 4 from bottom, for Cambria, read Cumbria (the ancient name for Cumberland); b. l. 25, for Ionic, read Runic; 1. 28, for Druidical, read juridical; and 1. 29, for destinations, read destination.-P. 73, 1. 2, for Holland, read New Holland; 1. 22 from bottom, for Fleaders, read Flinders.-P. 89, Sir Baldwin Leighton died Oct. 18, at the family seat, Loton Park, near Alberbury, Shropshire, not at the seat of his government. The name of the second Baronet was not Sir Baldwin, but Sir Edward.-P. 92, b. 39, for Aug. 20, read Jan, 20, THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1829. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ORIGINAL LETter of the RIGHT HON. GEORGE GRENVILLE. HE Right Hon. George Grenville as First Lord of the Treasury, in April, 1763. Under his administration the Act was passed, said to be framed by himself, "for laying a stamp-duty on the British Colonies of North America," which received the Royal assent in March, 1765. The commotions which this Act excited in America, occasioned so great an alarm in England, that the late King thought it advisable to dismiss his Ministers; when the Marquis of Rockingham succeeded, as First Lord of the Treasury, on July 13, 1765. The present letter was written by the ex-minister to the Right Hon. Hans Stanley, soon after his dismissal. It shows the state of his private feelings on that occasion. My dear Sir, Downing-street, July 12, 1765. I should make myself unworthy of the very kind and obliging letter which you wrote to me from the Isle of Wight, if I could omit to inform you of an event in which I am so much concerned as my dismission from His Majesty's service, who was pleased to give the office of First Commissioner of the Treasury to Lord Rockingham, and that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to Mr. Dowdeswell, on Wednesday last. The Duke of Grafton and General Conway are appointed the two Secretaries of State, in the room of Lord Halifax and Lord Sandwich; Lord Winchilsea, Lord President of the Council; and a very general removal is talked of, in consequence of these changes already made, either by resignations or dismissions. The particulars you will learn from the newspapers, and from every letter which you will receive from this country, and therefore I do not trouble you with them, as I am not disposed to add to the lye of the day; and you will easily believe that I am not in the secret of the changes which may be intended. observations upon what has happened, and therefore I will leave them to your judgement, after having informed you of the outlines of what has been done. I will only say that I do not see that this measure is likely to contribute to the establishment of a firm and stable administration, nor to the happyness and honor of the King and of his people. If I saw it in that light it would render my retreat infinitely more happy, and give that comfort and satisfaction to me with regard to the public busyness, which I sincerely feel as a private man; in which latter situation I have received the most sensible pleasure which can ever befall me, from the cordial and perfect reconciliation with my brother, Lord Temple, and from the many testimonies of approbation and of friendship which I have had in the course of this transaction. To this let me add, that, if I should live a hundred years, I could never leave the public service more agreeably or honorably to myself than at present, when the public mea sures in Parliament have been attended with the highest success, and when no blame whatever is imputed to me. It will be a real addition even to these pleasing circumstances to know that and good opinion, which I shall alyou continue to me your friendship ways wish to deserve, by the high value which I set upon them, and by the esteem and affection with which I am, My dear Sir, Your most faithful Rt. Hon. Hans Stanley, 100 Advice of James I. to the Papists.—Increase of Crime. [Feb. of a curious old book in the library of a friend, to look into it. This work was printed 1641, and proves" that Papists are traiterous subjects to all true Christian princes," and I read on opening it, that "Papists obey his Majesties Jawes no longer than it stands with the liking of the Pope," for "they languish in looking for their golden day" [i.e. emancipation], "which Almighty God send them," says this fiery puritan, "in leaden haste." The power of compelling the people to pay for "the cause," and their submission, seems to have been as remarkable formerly as it is now. There was no "rent" in those times, but the Catholics were" contented to yield their bracelets and earerings to the forming of the golden calfe." King James the First was aware of this sort of divided allegiance, and in an answer to an Irish deputation, the sapient Monarch says: "You that are of a contrary religion, must not look to be the only law-makers; you that are but half subjects, should have but half privileges. You have but one eye to me one way, and to the Pope another way. The Pope is your father in spiritualibus and I in temporalibus only, and so have your bodies turned one way, and your souls drawn another way. Strive henceforth to be good subjects, that you may have cor unum et viam unam, and then I shall respect you all alike; but your Irish priests teach you such grounds of doctrine, as you cannot follow them with a safe conscience, but you must cast off your loyalty to the King*." L. Mr. URBAN, Feb. 2. AN ingenious and learned author, whose remarks are largely quoted by a Correspondent in your December Magazine, p. 484, on the Evils of Evangelical Preaching, having expressly avowed that he is desirous of calling your attention, and that of your readers, to "the increase of crimes, and the deterioration of the high tone of national morals, in proportion (as he believes) as the old Church of England Christianity declines" [see Bowles's Days Departed, or Banwell Hill]-may I be permitted, with the same view, to submit some few remarks connected with the subject, through the channel of your publication, which circulating * Peck's Desiderata Curiosa. very generally, I presume, amongst the Clergy, and consequently amongst the Magistracy (for in these days the terms are become almost synonymous), may perchance find amongst a class so peculiarly interested in it, persons who by their influence, authority, or example, will endeavour to effect some beneficial change in the system which seems to engender the great evil so generally acknowledged. That the state of public morals declines, seems to be admitted, by the confession that the number of offences and number of commitments to places of criminal confinement, is now disproportionately greater than in past time. Surely therefore it is at least desirable to take some pains in endeavouring to discover the cause, in order that a remedy may be applied. It is mere quackery to attempt to cure a disease without regarding its nature; and if this holds good in the science of physic, it is no less true in the sciences of morals and politics, and quacks or pretenders in either almost certainly do more mischief than good. If crimes increase, notwithstanding all that has been done in order to advance and improve education; to reform obsolete and ancient errors and prejudices; to liberalize the mind and meliorate the condition of the lower classes; to facilitate the attainment of the highest degree of human perfection amongst the superior ranks of society; if multiplying places of religious worship of all sorts and descriptions, and giving encouragement to every man who thinks, or pretends to think, that he can instruct and improve others by the delivery or dissemination of his notions and opinions,—have been so ineffectual that-crimes still increase :—although neither of the circumstances or considerations enumerated, may be justly charged with having contributed to produce that effect which most, if not all of them were intended to counteract or prevent,-let us at least pause, and consider whether there may not have been introduced amongst them, simultaneously, the seeds of those evils which appear to have taken root and support from the shelter which amongst us, and to have gained strength has been afforded to them. If Mr. Bowles's idea be correct, that, as the old Church of England Christianity declines, the increase of crimes and deterioration of morals propor tionably increase, does it not obviously follow that whatever has had a tendency to occasion the former, is in fact one of the causes of the latter? The great changes which have been introduced, of late years, in order to effect the improvement of education, have, for example, been not wholly free from an intermixture of absurdity, inconsistency, and folly, which manifestly diminish their value. Churches which, under the old system, were regarded with veneration, as designed for and devoted to the sacred purposes of religious worship, have been frequently converted into school rooms; and whilst the destruction of those ancient memorials which the piety or gratitude of our forefathers intended as perpetual records of the virtues of their ancestry, were permitted to be trampled under foot and obliterated with indifference, is it surprising if the edifices which had once inspired the youthful mind with seriousness and reverence should have declined in their regard, and have been looked upon, as the Sectarians express it, as only heaps of stones and mortar? And if Churches have been degraded to a level with Meetinghouses and Conventicles, can it be imagined that their ministers could long retain the same rank which they had been accustomed to hold, in the consideration of those who were thus brought up to diregard the places in which their progenitors had listened with delight and gratitude to the instructions of their pastors? I know that it may be said, the inconvenience has been felt, and remedied by the erection of schools in many places. Yes! But this was not done until the mischief had been effected. The education system, which was a hobbyhorse for experimentalists, may be considered a sort of mania. Even prisons have been turned into academies! Now, Mr. Urban, in spite of all the vehemence and abuse which have been continually thrown out against every one who either opposes or objects to that universal diffusion of the blessings of instruction which has been the constant theme of so many tongues and pens, I venture to say, that it would' be no less absurd to convert a school into a prison, than it is to turn a prison into a school. You have not room in your Magazine, and I have not time on this occasion, to introduce the arguments by which this position might be 101 supported; but facts prove the truth of it. Prisons have been converted into schools, and the inmates of prisons have been increased in abundance. Churches have been increased in number, too, and Conventicles of all kinds multiplied. But vital religion, or, as Mr. Bowles well calls it, old Church of England Christianity, declines. The truth is that, whilst a weak and inconsiderate acquiescence in some cases, indolence and indifference in others, and (for I would be sorry to suggest a worse motive) a desire to be thought liberal and universally charitable, in other cases, have thrown wide open the temples of Protestantism-the flock is divided, scattered, and will in time he lost, unless a different system be introduced. Of the doctrines taught in these multiplied seminaries of religious dissent, I presume not to speak. I can not speak with satisfaction, if I speak truth; I will not speak with asperity, because I would not provoke those whom I can neither expect to reform, nor to benefit by contumely. But they are not the doctrines which belong to the Church of England, nor consistent with that old Church of England Christianity which, when it prevailed amongst us, had the effect at least of making the inhabitants of this country more industrious, more happy, more contented, and more free from immorality. And how do we attempt to remedy this evil? Do the Clergy, who daily see the shocking increase of offences, attempt to stem the torrent? Yes! Are they not become the most vigilant and active amongst Civil Magistrates? Do they not continually devote great part of their time to the punishment of offences? They do: and still crimes increase, so that such employment of their time is not productive of proportionable advantage! Let me then recommend it to this important and valuable class of men, who by precept, by example, by instruction, and by a discreet and prudent cultivation of their talents, may effect so much good, that it is beyond all calculation, and above all human praise, to return to the honest simplicity of their predecessors, to confine themselves to the exercise of their proper duties, the duties of their sacred calling, in their proper sphere, in their respective districts and parishes. them be" instant in season and out of season," in the due discharge of their Let 102 Clergyman and Civil Magistrate incompatible. functions as Clergymen, where, and where only, they are lawfully called and commissioned to preach the Gospel. Besides the benefit which would result to their respective congregations, these following advantages would arise. The necessity of a respectable, independent, and efficient Magistracy would then induce many country gentlemen, (who now, in consequence of the crowd of Clerical Magistrates with which almost every county abounds, are worse employed,) to qualify themselves for a discharge of the duty which properly and of right belongs to them, and can never be so well performed by the Clergy, for divers weighty reasons. Parishes would not be left to the influence and intrusion of Sectaries, who are never out of the way when any opening is afforded them to compass the whole land (if not the sea) in order to make proselytes; and to whose schemes and contrivances hundreds and thousands are now left, whilst their proper pastors are engaged upon what is vulgarly called justice business. Instead of complaints that their people are driven from Church to the Meeting, because the former is open once in a week only, and the latter daily or nightly; the proper, consistent, regular, and legal attention which might be then devoted to the performance of Clerical duties, would establish so much harmony, and ensure so much attention, that old Church of England Christianity would assuredly supersede modern absurdities. The Roman Catholics, if not conciliated, which some think desirable, would not be insulted, which I presume no one thinks right; for if it be objected, as I think it may, that the Clergy of that persuasion are eager for the removal of disabilities (as they are called) for the sake of obtaining temporal domination, can a more effectual proof be afforded that there is no injustice in excluding them, than by a regulation which should limit the Clergy of the Established Church to the enjoyment of its emoluments, honours, and dignities, and prevent their interference in secular affairs. If the Roman Catholic Priests perceive that Protestant Clergymen are eager and anxious to superadd to their ecclesiastical livings temporal authority and secular offices, is it at all inconsistent with the common feelings of human nature, that they should perceive in that circumstance an addi [Feb. tional and an attractive object of their envy and of their ambition. In my conscience, I believe that unless the Roman Catholic Clergy wished to ob tain secular advantages, they would not care a straw about what is called Catholic Emancipation; but I almost tremble at the obvious conclusion in regard to my Protestant brethren, if I should extend the inference to which this remark might lead. Another circumstance in which there has been an obvious departure from old English Christianity is, that the Ministers of the Established Church, who were formerly prohibited from engaging in secular concerns, have been encouraged by legal enactments to become farmers; and thus necessarily mixing in the cares, the business, and passions of the world, are apt to withdraw themselves from the duties properly within their sphere, and render the influence of their doctrines, and even of their example, less beneficial and efficacious. Let a remedy be applied to these innovations, and I have little doubt that the old Church of England Christianity will happily revive and once more flourish amongst W. H. H. us. Feb. 10. Mr. URBAN, by Evangelical preaching and Saintship writings is, that our holy Saviour does not condemn vice, only music, painting, the drama, poetry, profane literature, the mathematics, and the arts and sciences. It is to this shocking idea that the Bishop of Salisbury alludes, when he observes, that the tendency of Evangelical religion is to produce Solifidians and Antinomians. The Thirty-nine Articles have nothing to do with the subject.That subject is, the omission or depreciation of the conditions of salvation; either by never mentioning works at all, or calling them filthy rags, splendid sins, fig-leaves of morality, and so forth; as well as by inculcating Cal, vinism, in the manner thus seasonably (Pulpit Instruction, pp. 7-12,) in exposed by the Rev. Mr. Warner, the following words. 2 "With some of the Clergy of this de1 This is incontestably proved in Mr. Warner's Anti-Evangelical publications, and with much wit in the Attic Miscellany. 2 See Review, vol. xcvi. ii. 233. |