EQUESTRIAN STATUE TO THE DUKE

GAUL

OF YORK.

Mr. URBAN, Richmond, Jan. 12. AUDET animus, maximorum virorum memoriam percurrens. The late DUKE OF YORK, in his capacity of Commander-in-chief, did so much for the army, and through that for the nation at large, that, independently of distinguished notice in historic records, something striking to the public eye, sanctioned by his EXCELLENT MAJESTY THE KING, should, at least, mark the gratitude of the Army, for the multiplied signal benefits derived to them from his zealous and useful administration.

By subscription from all branches of the Army, an Equestrian Statue, of finished execution, ought to be erected to his memory; and the expense individually, and by corps, would amount to little, while every military man would thus have the gratifying satisfaction of aiding to effect so very desirable an object.

On the pedestal it might be quite sufficient to engrave "This Statue was erected to the memory of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the late illustrious Commander-in-chief, in token of the gratitude of the British Army."

I have frequently had occasion to appear before the Duke of York, with various Military Publications; and, with all others, experienced a condescending kindness of reception, equally dignified and affable.

This well-merited and (it ought to be) magnificent equestrian statue, worthy of an Army of the highest repute, could not be more appropriately situated than in St. James's Park, on the middle of the line at right angles with the centre of the Horse Guards, where His Royal Highness did so much good. Yours, JOHN MACDON

AN ELEGY

ON THE DEATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK AND ALBANY.

BY THE REV. JOHN GRAHAM, M. A.

"TIS done, the dreaded hour is past,
The fatal struggle o'er;
The hand of Death prevails at last,
And Royal YORK's no more!
Wept by an Empire, and a host

Of warriors wise and brave,
His Sov'reign's pride, his Country's boast,
He sinks into the grave.
In vain did fiends in Erin's isle,

That Island's curse and shame,
The dying Prince's worth revile,

And rail against his name.
That name will shine on Britain's roll,
In characters of gold,
Long after theirs, malignant souls,
In infamy grow old.
In hatred of the wholesome laws,
The Royal Duke maintain'd,
In envy of the sacred cause

ΣΤΗ

His princely Speech sustain'd, They'd wound the wounded, grieve Poison the parting breath, And find their frenzy scarce reliev' By adding pangs to death; But far beyond the traitor's powe

Humble, resign'd, serene, Our Prince has met his awful ho

And left this mortal scene. And tho' he's gone where grie

And sorrow are unknown,

We recollect those who re

To fill his Father's thro

Long may our Monarch G

His throne adorn and And until time's remot

God save the Brun

May He, the King

CLARENCE protes
Guards those who
In honour,

4

LINES

ON THE DEATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF York. ·

By Mr. STOCKDALE HARDY. ALAS, Britannia! one more wreath is

lost,

Which once inclos'd thy silken hair, The chaplet fled-its mighty cost

Thy scatter'd locks too plain declare! Yes, nurs'd in Freedom's purest soil,

A foe to Superstition's reign, Attach'd to England's laws and isle, Thy FREDERICK did his rank maintain. Thrice Royal name! to memory dear!

While passing to the silent tomb, A Nation's grief adorns thy bier,

As incense wafts a sweet perfume. And as Britannia mourns thy fate, And veils herself in deepest woe, Her banners hang disconsolate

O'er ONE who once ador'd them so! Bright Star of Brunswick's Royal line, Firm Champion of a People's rights! Long shall thy proud exemplar shine, From Scotia's isles to Dover's heights! Illustrious Prince! enjoy repose!

Thy mantle is o'er Albion spread, For as thy lofty spirit rose,

And left the chambers of the dead

Down on the land it lov'd so true,

A glance of fervent hope it shot, A glance which Royal FREDERICK knew Would never, never be forgot!

By JOHN MAYNE, Author of the "Poems of Glasgow," the "Siller Gun," &c. &c. TOLL ev'ry bell till midnight late,

While sadly roll the muffled drums; For, lo! with trumpets, and with state, The Royal FREDERICK's Funeral comes ! Yes, toll for him!-by all belov'd,

In camps or courts, where'er he shone : A Prince by all the brave approv'd,

And dear to him upon the throne !
Who was it hied from Windsor's tow'rs,
As if with healing on his wing?
Who sooth'd a dying Brother's hours?
'Twas GEORGE the good, our gracious
King!

Behold him now, in sorrow drown'd,
Lamenting o'er that Brother's bier,
The Princes, and the People round,
Bedew'd with many a silent tear!
The hardy troops, that line the way,

Through which the funeral train moves on, Hang down their heads; for, well-a-day! Their Friend, their long-lov'd Chief, is gone!

[Jan.

All ranks, the humble, and the grand, Devote this day to grief sincere

A day of woe throughout the land! The flags are drooping half-mast high, A mournful signal o'er the main, Seen only when th' illustrious die,

Or are in glorious battle slain! Mourn then for him, th' illustrious great, And sadly roll the muffled drums; For, lo! in regal pomp and state,

The Royal FREDERICK'S Funeral comes ! But though his mortal course is run,

Immortal shall his mem'ry beThe fastest Friend, the kindest Son, The noblest, best of men was he! Ask of our hosts and armed bands, O'er whom the princely YORK bore sway! To them, his wishes were commandsWith them, 'twas glory to obey! When War had render'd fatherless

The helpless children of the brave,
He sought them out in their distress,
And stretch'd his friendly arm to save!
With ev'ry social virtue fraught,

Eudu'd with ev'ry mental grace,
He practis'd what his SAVIOUR taught-
Akin to all the human race!
Lament for him, supremely great,

And slowly roll the muffled drums;
For, lo! to Windsor's Castle-gate,
The Royal FREDERICK's Funeral comes !
January 20.

LETTER OF OLIVER CROMWELL.
Mr. URBAN,

send

Jun. 1.

tous Jouer written by Oliver Croma verbatim copy of a cuwell to the Rev. Henry Hich. The Assembly of Divines, spoken of in it, were particularly repugnant to the King and his loyal adherents.

"Mr. Hich, Least the souldiers should in any tumultuarie or disorderly way attempt the reformation of your Cathedral church, I requier you to forbeare altogether your quier service soe unedifyinge and offensive, and this as you will answer it if any disorder should arise thereupon.

I advise you to cattechise, and reade, and expound the Scriptures to the people, not doubtinge but the Parlat wth the advise of the Assemblie of Divines, will in due tyme direct you farther. I desire the sermons may be where usually they have been, but more frequent. Your lovinge friend, OLIVER CROMWELL." The date of the above letter would, in some minds, create doubt as to its authenticity, from the circumstance of its being written five years before the martyrdom of King Charles; but they may be easily removed, for

Jan. 10. 43.

ances of his doctrine, of his own identity, and of his future coming again in glory and power, and where near the very place of his entire resignation to the tyranny of his oppressors, he now finished his first Advent by the glorious triumph over every enemy and even over death itself,-where he led captivity captive,-where he was raised to the dignity of his kingdom at the right hand of the Majesty on high!

Surely, when we are so attentive to commemorate his passion, this glorious exaltation to enable him to be our Mediator and Intercessor, as he had by his death been our Redeemer, where he rose to be our High Priest, presenting himself once for all the holy sacrifice of his own blood, without which there could have been no remission for us surely I may say this glorious Ascension demands that the congregations of Christians should not any longer continue to disregard, as a mere holiday, the day on which it returns. The Apostles, who were wit nesses of the fact, established a pious observance of it during their time, on Thursday at noon; and this solemnity, says Calmet, is so ancient, that its beginning is not known; which has been thought some reason to believe that it came traditionally from them; and if their constitutions were admitted as authority, we find express directions given for it (b. 5, s. 19); and St. Austin is said to have believed that noon-day was sanctified by this Ascension. In our Church a very appropriate selection of Psalms, of Collects, Epistles and Gospels, is introduced into the Morning and Evening Service; so that it has been evidently intended that this event should always

be devoutly observed; and where the Minister of any parish or district is disposed to the fulfilment of this duty, he will add a suitable discourse to secure the attention of his flock, and to give them strength in this portion of their faith. The mere notice on the previous Sunday of this day being appointed to be kept holy, does not seem to attach the minds of the congregation more than that for any saint's day; but if the Minister would also more particularly allude to it in his discourse on the previous Sunday, and impress upon his hearers the importance of their taking to heart this event, and that he would do his part on the occasion, he would awaken thein fron

their coldness and inattention. This I can myself testify to have been done, in the instance of the late venerable Dean of Canterbury at his parish church of St. James, Westminster, than whom no minister was ever more zealous in his duty. If the Bishops and beneficed Clergy, and the Secre tary for the Home Department, would in concert unite their efforts by influencing the Magistrates to assist them in causing the day to be observed with its proper solemnities, it would become a general day of religious triumph, and the minds of the people would not remain, as too many now are, ignorant of the sanctity, the glory, the accomplishment, and the design of the covenant of mercy, in which they are all so deeply concerned.

The modern practice of perambulating the parochial boundaries may be easily removed from that day to Easter-monday; for both these ceremonies can never be the companions of the same day; and as Easter-tuesday is the day fixed for election of parochial officers, any remarks that the inspections on the previous day might suggest, would most readily be received and considered, when the parishioners were temporally assembled.

I cannot claim excuse for thus putting my fellow Christians in mind of a neglected but important duty; and to those who expect the second Advent of our Lord, of the day and hour of which no one knoweth, I will add one word more,-" Lay up these my words in your hearts!" (Deut. xi. 19.) Yours, &c. A. H.

Mr. URBAN,

Coventry, Jan. 5. HAVING offered some critical re

your last volume relative to the Chronology of the Median Kings, in further illustration of the subject, I send you the following, which is presumed to be a nearer approximation to the truth, or more susceptible of demonstration, than the statements A. Z. has made. An analysis of the epochs given, and their comparison with the text of Herodotus, will still further exhibit his inaccuracy.

The principal error, however, appears to exist in the assigning 68 years to the duration of Cyaxares' reign; for by the text of Herodotus it appears that the duration of Cyaxares' reign

family of Lennox, which is called Dar-leith House. The prefix Dar signifies an oak; that tree having been in a peculiar manner sacred to this worship, which was as much attached, in this country at least, to groves of oak as to elevated places, fountains, rivers, &c.

In the parish of Fossaway in Perthshire, there is said to be a rising ground, on which is an ancient circuJar building about twenty-four feet diameter, called Car-leith, concerning the origin of which no conjecture has yet been made (see Carlisle's Topog. Dict. article Aldic). From the name, which will bear the literal interpretation of Temple of the Fire God, it is reasonable to imagine that it is a very ancient Druidical edifice, and it is earnestly to be desired that some one near the spot, or inquisitive visitant, will be induced to make drawings and accurate plans and measurements of a piece of antiquity so interesting; and to collect the various traditions and opinions upon it which may be existing in its neighbourhood.

I had written thus far when the following account of this place, by Sir John Sinclair (Stat. 18. 468), was shown to me:

"Not long ago the proprietor ordered this ground to be planted, and the stones were dug up to make the fence. When the work people were going on, they found two stone coffins near the centre. They were four feet long, and three broad, and contained, to all appearance, human bones and teeth, and something resembling tallow, which went to decay as soon as exposed to the air. One of the coffins was destroyed

before the workmen attended to it; the

Cu

other was preserved entire, and consists of five stones pretty exactly joined together, and a very large one for the cover. rious conjectures are formed concerning these ruins; some imagine that it has been a place of worship; others that it was a burying-place, and that some persons of distinction have been buried there. Although a satisfactory account of it cannot be given, it is accounted one of the antiquities of the parish."

I trust that the account here given will rather increase than diminish the desire of Antiquaries to rescue all that still remains of this ruin worth recording from the destructive ravages of time. If it is true that the method of interment, by gathering the legs up towards the head, preceded that of extending the body at full length, and is

supposed to be coeval with or even prior to cremation, this place must be one of the most ancient relics of antiquity in this country, and well deserving of accurate investigation. It may be necessary to observe, that the lower parts of temples were in the most ancient times employed for sepulchral purposes. G. I.

I

SELDOM review the discipline and ordinance of the Church of England without satisfaction, and as seldom remark the neglect of any of them without sincere regret. The mode of ensuring to the devout disciple a gradual course of reading the Scriptures during the year, and also of bringing him to the serious and grateful recollection of the events which have passed in the history of mankind, and in the establishment of the Christian dispensation, are likewise to be revered as evidence of the judicious and exemplary piety of our venerable ancestors, who were, in the Reformation, earnestly desirous of handing to posterity a well-arranged method, by which every one should be readily brought to study the great work of his salvation, and to commemorate its occurrences by suitable services. If, therefore, our own Church has provided for us a plan which may fairly be deemed superior in motive as well as practice, it becomes much more incumbent upon the members of our Church to meet the wishes and exhortations of our venerable Reformers. In this re

spect it must be acknowledged, with respectful approbation, that very few disciples, with the exceptions of sickness or some necessity, are absent from this duty on the days of the Nativity, and of the Crucifixion of our Lord, and of his Resurrection: but then it is just to require some reason why he should so ungraciously stop at this point and not proceed one step further, and with the saine heartfelt regard commemorate his Lord's glorious and miraculous Ascension? The fact itself has the testimony of 500 witnesses; the place at the Mount of Olives was not more than a mile's distance from Jerusalem, in which neighbourhood our Divine Master had continued during 40 days after his equally miraculous Resurrection, explaining, verifying, and giving assur

side of the east window, which is enriched with a border of stained glass, and contains a dove and glory. The ceiling of the Church is coved elliptically, and its only ornaments are groups of foliage at intervals; it is far more

pleasing to the eye than the flat ceil ings which are so fashionable; it gives an appearance of lightness to the Church, and adds greatly to the grandeur of the design. The pulpit is supported on a screen of Doric architecture, and is very tastefully embellished. The reading-desk on the opposite side of the Church corresponds with it, and, unlike the modern Church arrangements, is lower than the pulpit. The galleries rest on Doric columns, and the piers between the windows are furnished with pilasters.

Throughout the interior, the architect has displayed great taste in the judicious embellishments he has introduced. His attention to the ap propriate ornamenting of the altar is not lost, and had he assimilated the styles of the building more closely, it would have presented to the critical eye that additional claim to admiration which results from propriety.

The lighting of the Church by antique bronze lamps is very tastefully effected.

The church-yard is inclosed by a handsome railing on a granite plinth, and set off by piers of the same material. Some advocate for innovation has deviated from the universal custom of burying the corpse with the feet to the east, several of the graves having been constructed exactly at angles with the usual mode. I have somewhere seen the prevalence of the custom in all ages adduced as an evidence of the reliance of the Church on the general resurrection: receiving the custom in this light, it ought not to be departed from in these ages of schism, at the mere caprice of a gravedigger. When an old custom like this is, to say the least of it, harmless, and clearly not unmeaning, though it may be founded in a superstitious reason, until a better cause can be assigned for giving it up than for retaining it, I see no reason for its discontinuance.

The estimated expence of the present Church is 15,2481. The first stone was laid on the 1st of July, 1822, and it was consecrated on the 30th of June, 1824; the ceremony on

both occasions being performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. E. 1.C.

Mr. URBAN,

Dec. 13.

NE of the most important fea

tures in the history of all nations, and which constitutes the ground of a just demand upon posterity for credibility, is chronological accuracy. As mankind in all ages have formed one great family, their original must have begun at one period; for at whatever æra of time any one of them may have begun to take " local habitation and a name," their progress must have been traceable to one source: the difficulty of discovering their pedigree, especially when involved by them. selves in obscure traditions, has given rise to one of the most valuable arts which the improvements of laborious research has ever ushered into the world,-the art of verifying dates.

There is a vanity prevalent in nations as in some individuals, respecting the antiquity of their race. The nobility and gentry of these kingdoms are not more zealous that their banners and heraldic crests should be known to have shone in the Crusades, and at Poictiers and Cressy, than the leaders of the nations of China and Tartary should be able to trace their foundation to the skies, and to have looked down upon the origin of the present world. The zeal or the artifice by which they have been able either to deceive or to silence the rest of mankind into the acquiescence of this national vanity, has involved the great question to discover where lies the correct truth; and of this, as there can be no direct evidence, the fact must be ascertained from those æras when tradition ceased, and positive testimony and record commenced.

In order to reconcile this great dif ference between the Chinese and European nations, the case would soon be decided, if it were to be determined by a majority in numbers: but as this would no more attain the truth than a battle ascertains more than strength, a still more powerful effort must be sought for.

One principal ground of difference in their and our computations is probably to be found in their methods of division of time, and of counting pe riods and days; and these have not been clearly explained. We know