fhopric, is a very small town, one hundred and forty-fix miles from London. It was made a bishop's fee about the year 490, by St. Jubricius, who was fucceeded by St. Tillian, to whom the church is dedicated. The modern cathedral, on which large fums have been lavished is a medley of abfurdities, yet in some respects a fine structure. Part of the ancient nave is included in it; but the rebuilder has added Roman architecture, mixed with a capricious kind of his own, to the folemnity of the Norman and Gothic. The Chriftian altar is raised under the portico of a heathen temple, which projects into the choir. Bishop Urban, about the year 1120, rebuilt the church, with two towers at the weft end, eighty-nine feet high, of which that at the fouth now remains, though two of its pinnacles were thrown down by the ftorm in 1703. The north tower was pulled down, and rebuilt in an elegant manner, one hundred and five feet high, in the reign of Henry VII. at the expence of Jafper, duke of Bedford. The body of the cathedral has been lately rebuilt, and is two hundred and fixty-three feet and a half in length from east to weft: the distance from the west door to the choir is one hundred and ten feet: the length from the choir door to the altar is feventyfive feet; and the distance from

thence to the farther end of what is called St. Mary's chapel, is fixtyfive feet. The body of this church is fixty-five feet broad: and the height from the floor to the top of the compass work of the roof is alfo fixty-five feet; and to the top of the middle ifle, above the pillars, fifty-four feet. The choir is very neat; but in this cathedral there is no crofs ifle, as there is in all other cathedrals in England and Wales; nor is there any middle fteeple, as in all other cathedrals, except Bangor and Exeter.

Landaff fends one member to

parliament; though, like the boroughs in Cardigan fhire, there are five or fix others concerned in the choice. Here is a weekly market on Mondays; and two annual fairs, namely, February the ninth, and Whit-monday for cattle and ftockings.

We fhall here observe, that the fouth part of Glamorganfhire, in which county Landaff is fituated, is pleafant, agreeable, and very populous, infomuch that it is called The Garden of Wales. Its foil is fertile and rich; and the low grounds are fo well covered with grafs, and ftocked with cattle, that they fupply the city of Bristol with butter in great quantities, falted and barrelled up, as Suffolk does the city of London.

At the request of a Correfpondent, and with a view of promoting the benevolent intentions of the author, we infert the following extract from an "Hiftorical Account of the Origin, Progress, and prefent State of the Hofpital of Bethlem," by the Rev. Mr. Thomas Bowen.

AN

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF

BETHLEM HOSPITAL.

and original establishment, to HIS hofpital owes its name,

the piety of a citizen of London. In 1247, Simon Fitz Mary, who had been sheriff, being defirous to found a religious houfe, appropriated by a deed of gift, which is ftill extant, all his lands in the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopfgate, being the spot now known by. the name of Old Bethlem, to the foundation of a priory. The prior, canons, brethren, and fifters, were diftinguished by a ftar upon their mantles, and were efpecially directed to receive and entertain the

bishop of St. Mary of Bethlem, and the canons, brothers, and messengers of that their mother church, as often as they might come to England.

We hear but little more of this houfe for the space of 200 years. When the vaft fabric of papal su'perftition in England began to totter, it was feized by Henry VIII. who, in 1547, granted the hofpital of Bethlem, with all its revenues, to the mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London, from which time it became an hofpital for the cure of Lunatics.

It is probable that the city of London had felt great inconveniencies from the want of a proper receptacle for thofe unhappy objects, who were afflicted by the most deplorable malady incident to the human frame. The retired fituation of the hofpital of Bethlem, and its contiguity to the city, pointed it out as a fit place for this purpose. Accordingly, we find from authentic documents, that, in 1523, Stephen Gennings, merchant-taylor, gave 401. by will towards the purchase of this hofpital, and, that the mayor and commonalty had taken fome steps to procure it, a very fhort time before they derived their right to it from royal munificence. What were the revenues which it then enjoyed does not now appear: it is certain, they were inadequate to the neceffities which they were intended to remedy; for, five years after the royal grant had paff ed, letters patent were iffued to John Whitehead, proctor to the hoipital of Bethlem, to folicit donations within the counties of Lincoln and Cambridge, the city of London, and the isle of Ely.

In the infant ftate of this charity, no other provifion was made for the unfortunate patient, befides confinement and medical relief. His friends, if they had ability, or the parish, of which the wretched lunatic was an inhabitant, were obliged to contribute to his fup

port. It remained for the judicious benevolence of fucceeding times to improve the good work, and to fupply that comfortable subfiftence, and tender care, which, through the bleffing of the divine providence, have restored fo many distracted objects to their families, and to fociety.

There is no account of donations received before the year 1632, when the growing charity was cherished not only by citizens, upon whofe notice it more immediately preffed, but by others who had judgment to felect proper objects of their attention, and ability to affift them. And here the mind, which rejoices to indulge the pleafing fenfations of benevolence, cannot but feel the warmest glow, when it perceives how much the hofpital of Bethlem has been indebted to fecret, unknown benefactors.

About the year 1644, it was under confideration to enlarge the old hofpital; but the fituation was too confined to allow of its being rendered a commodious afylum for the numerous distracted perfons that claimed its protection: fo that, after the conclufion of the dreadful commotions of that period, it became a matter of ferious deliberation to build a new hofpital. In April, 1675, this great work was begun. The Lord-mayor, aldermen, and common-council, allotted to the governors a large piece of ground near London-Wall, on the fouth-fide of the lower quarter of Moorfields, where the hofpital of Bethlem now ftands. The expedition with which this ftately fabric was completed, challenges our admiration for, from an infcription over the arch facing the entrance into the hofpital, it appears that it was finished in July, in the following year. The generofity of the contributors must have been equal to their attention, for the charge of the building amounted to no less than 17,000l. And never, Ddz

it may be truly afferted, were expence and trouble better bestowed: the hofpital of Bethlem ftands an illuftrious monument of British charity; and, whether we confider the becoming magnificence of the building, the commodious arrangement of the interior apartments, or the effectual relief which it reaches out to the poor objects whom it shelters, we may fafely pronounce, that it is not to be paralleled in the whole world,

In the clofe limits within which the old hospital was confined, it was impracticable to referve room for thofe forlorn beings, of whofe return to the comforts of a found mind there were no hopes. The increafing multitude of curable objects justly demanded admittance; nor did it feem reasonable that they fhould be excluded from the profpect of enjoying a bleffing which the former could not attain. When the new house was erected, it was hoped that fome provision might be made for fuch as were deemed incurable, and at the fame time dangerous to the public. But the great influx of infane perfons, into the hofpital, from all parts of the kingdom, fruftrated thefe expectations, and gave reafon to suppose, that few of its numerous apartments, would, at any time, be vacant. It was therefore found neceffary to enlarge the building; a particular fubfcription was fet on foot for that purpofe; and, in 1734, two wings were added to the hofpital. This addition of room has enabled the governors, in fome degree, to answer the wishes of the public; and there are now maintained one hundred incurable patients, fifty of each fex, who enjoy every advantage which their deplorable ftate can admit. The number of patients in the house, who are fuppofed capable of being relieved, commonly amounts about one hun 'red and feventy, and of these, it has been found upon an average, that nearly two out of

to

three are reftored to their underftanding. To fuch a degree of perfection have the liberal benefactions of the well difpofed (for it is by benefactions that the deficient revenues of this hofpital have been, and must be fupplied) advanced this noble inftitution!

But while the benevolent heart feels a fenfible joy in reflecting upon the load of human wretchedness that is lightened by the accommodations of this friendly manfion, it cennot but exprefs a wish, that the benefits of the hofpital might be rendered more extensive. It is an object much to be defired, that the many distracted perfons, whofe diforder no medicine can reach, might continue to find protection within thefe walls, and not be returned to their friends, a burthen, very often too heavy for them to bear. At prefent, when a patient, after fuf ficient trial, is judged incurable, he is difmiffed from the hofpital, and if pronounced dangerous to himself or others, his name is entered into a book, that he may be received in turn among the incurables maintained in the house, whenever a vacancy fhall happen. The number of incurables, which the hofpital can at prefent contain, is fmall, when compared with those who wait their turn of admiffion; there being generally more than two hundred upon the lift; and, as inftances of longevity are frequent in infane perfons, it commonly happens that the expectants are obliged to wait fix or feven years, after their difmiffion from the hof pital, before they can be again received. During this long interval, they must be fupported either by their respective friends, or parishes. The expence of maintaining and properly fecuring them far exceeds the allowance that is ufually made for paupers; and in middling life, where the feelings of a worthy fon or hufband revolt at the idea of a near relation becoming an object of parochial alms, the diftrefs and dif

ficulties

ficulties of the lunatic's unhappy friends must be greatly aggravated. Befides, for want of due care and fecurity, accidents, far too fhocking to be related, have fometimes happened. In the hospital there are now two patients, who have committed deeds of the moft horrid kind.

These manifeft evils, that arife from the want of a proper provifion for fo great a number of incurable patients, have induced many benevolent perfons to wifh that the hofpital might be enlarged. Indeed, many have appropriated their benefactions folely to the incurables; and it is hoped that others will forward and complete their good intentions. True policy muft join with humanity in the wish, that, this may not any longer be, what at prefent it is, almoft the only branch of charity in this great city that wants a fufficient establishment. Beides, there feems a peculiar degree of generofity in affifting thofe who must burthen, but can never benefit fociety, and who, fo far from recompenfing, cannot even feel the least gratitude to their benefactors. It has been prefumed by many, that the hofpitals of Bethlem, and St. Luke, are connected; and that the latter is appointed for the reception of Incurables dif charged by the former. But this has not the leatt foundation in truth. Both hospitals are engaged in the fame good work, have the fame object in view, the reftoration. of reafon to the distracted; and both admit a limited number of incurables; but the governors, offi cers, and funds of each charity, are totally feparate and distinct.

Mr. Bowen next enters into a particular defcription of the con. du&t and management of this hofpital. It used formerly to derive a renenue, of at least 400l. a year, from the indifcriminate admiffion of vifitants, whom, very often, an idle and wanton curiofity drew to thefe

regions of diftrefs. But this liberty, though beneficial to the funds of the charity, was thought to counteract its grand defign, as it tended to disturb the tranquillity of the patients. It was therefore judged proper, in the year 1770, no longer to expofe the houfe to public view: and now, it is fcarce ever open to ftrangers, unless they are introduced by a particular order. The friends of the poor objects have a limited accefs to them. At the admiffion of a patient, a ticket is delivered, which authorifes the bearer of it to come to the hofpital on Mondays and Wednesdays, between the hours of ten and twelve. Such is the comfortable fubfiftence, kind treatment, and able medical aid. which the patients here meet with, that many, who are intimately acquainted with the conduct of the houfe, have declared, that if ever God fhould be pleased to vifit them with infanity, Bethlem hofpital is the place into which they would wish to be admitted; and, it is worthy of remark, that the patients them felves are often known to prefer Bethlem to private mad houfes. It is neceffary to obferve here, that a conteft had long subfifted between the common-council of the city of London, and the acting governors of all the royal hofpitals; the former claiming a right to be admitted governers, in virtue of the feveral royal charters. This difpute has been happily settled by a compromife, which allows the admiffion of twelve of the common-council to each hofpital. Application was made to parlia ment in 1782, and a bill paffed, which fully establishes this agreement, and the friends of thefe noble charities have now the fatisfaction to be affured, that the government of them is fettled in a mode beft calculated to promote their profperity..

Mr. Bowen concludes his account with the following obfervations, Happy,'

a

Happy," fays he, "it is for the individual, for his friends, and for fociety, when the divine blefing gives efficacy to the means used for his reftoration! The wishes of the benevolent are gratified, and the fuccefs of the inftitution is fo far complete! How then must we lament the cafe of the incurable lunatic, difmiffed from the protection to which he had been accuftomed, and thrown upon his diftreffed unfortunate friends; cafe, which is more particularly hard, when the patient, as it often happens, is fent to London from a remote country. The hopes indeed of his return to his afylum are not entirely cut off, but the prospect of it is too remote to alleviate the prefent fuffering. A long period muft elapfe before he can be readmitted. In the mean time the frantic maniac, and the defponding lunatic, must be fecured from doing violence to themselves and others. The lowest annual expence, in thofe houfes where parish objects are maintained, exceeds zol. Where the forlorn being is fupported by his friends, the expenditure scarce ever falls fhort of thirty. The confiderate mind, that can judge of the economy requifite in humble life, and knows how to estimate its wants, will eafily calculate the weight and effect of fo heavy an expence; will imagine how fevere a ftruggle it must often occafion between neceffity and pity, between natural affection and the pride of honeft industry, which is fometimes reduced, by exertions too great for

its ability, to accept itfelf that relief, which it had blushed to ask for the dearest relatives.

How glorious then would be the work! how comprehenfive the charity, that fhould contribute to increafe the establishment for incurable lunatics! The good that would arise from the improvement of fo excellent an inftitution, is undoubted; and from that active fpirit of rational benevolence which peculiarly adorns the British name, we may hope, that this great work will not be left defective and incomplete. The government of the royal hofpitals, as lately established by parliament, affords ample fecurity to the charitable benefactor, that his good intentions will receive their accomplishment. The wealthy and munificent city of London, affociated with the guardians of each charity, cherishes in her bofom, and fofters,with her care, those endowments, which the liberality of Henry, and the piety of Edward committed to her adminiftration, That this happy union. will operate to the relief of the diftreffed poor, there can be little doubt. The friends of the hofpital of Bethlem form the most fanguine expectations, that their abi lity to alleviate the greateft of all human calamities will be enlarged and extended; they hope to effect the purposes they have in view, and entertain full confidence, that the generous affistance of the opulent, and the good, will enable them, in an eminent degree, to leffen the evils of humanity.

TH

[Continued from page 115. HUS having taken a view of the diurnal motions of the great globes of the univerfe, that

fall beft under the cognizance of our instruments, and found that many, and probably all of them, have a rotation round in a determinate time; if to this we add the convenience and prodigious ufe of this motion to the feveral refpec