the punishment which Davifon suffered would give any fatisfaction to those who thought the execution of the Queen of Scots unjuft, fuppofing him to have been in the fault; and to those who thought the execution politic and well timed, that punishment must have appeared cruel, wanten, and oppreflive. They must have weak optics indeed who could not fee through the meannefs, hypocrify, malice, and bloodthirstinefs of the English Queen on this occafion.-2. There were no Stewarts to whom the compliment could be paid.

Vol. XII. p. 377, Coble ftones,] NOT pebbles, but large paveing Alones, fomewhat in the fhape of an egg. They are very well known in the north. The court-yard of the British Museum is paved with coble fiones.

396, Merry paffages and feafs.] Read jeafs.

I

Mr. URBAN.

Now proceed to the three laft volumes of Dodley's Collection.

Vol. IV. Virgil's Tomb [by Mr. Trapp].

The Link, a ballad [by Dr. Lowth].

The poem, entitled The Pleasures of Melancholy, by Mr. Thomas Warton, is an early, yet happy effufion of a poetical and contemplative mind. It is a matter of juft furprize, that this beautiful performance is not inferted in the author's edition of his poems.

The Lawyer's Farewell to his Muse [by Dr. Blackstone], whofe pofthumous notes on Shakspeare have alfo proved his biafs to one of the politer branches of literature.

The Progrefs of Difcontent [by Mr. Warton, of Trin. Coll].

Vol. V. Verfes to a Friend, [and the eight poems which next follow them, by Mr. Shenftone].

Vacuna, by Mr. D[D. Sn. Davies]. Song on Mifs Harriet Hanbury, How happy the lord of the manor, Who fhall be of her poffeft, Sir, For all must agree, Who my Harriet fhall fee, She's a Heriot of the beft, Sir. Harriet is erroneously printed in the laft line in the edition 1775.

Letter to Corinna by J. H. Browne. The Mufcipula, by the ingenious Mr. Holdfworth, was anfwered by a Welshman, in a Latin poem called Hoglandia. The answer has merit, but is much inferior to the Mufcipula.

Ode to a Lady in London, by Mifs C[arter].

Vol. VI. Dr. Akenfide's Hymn and Infcriptions. Mr. Gray and Mr. Mafon have spoken with diflike of the works of this poet. Thefe great men fhould not too hastily have denied this other great man that approbation which many eminent names have bestowed upon him, and which they want themfelves in the opinion of fome. Dr. Akenfide's poems are written in a ftyle and manner, which, though it ought never to be imitated, deferves to be admired.

To the Hon. and [Moft] Rev. Fr[ederic] C[ornwalli]s.

Lady Mary] Wortley] to Sir William] Young].

O Nancy, wilt thou gang with me [by Thomas Percy, D. D].

This has been esteemed, not undefervedly, the most beautiful song in the English language. It is tender, eafy, and elegant.

Panegyric on [Oxford] Ale [by Mr. Thomas Warton]. This poem is a finished fpecimen of the grave burlefque.

Epistle from Lord B[olinbroke] to MifsLucy A[t]k[i]ns. Unfortunate man! whofe ingenious and mafterly pen was employed in the defence of deism, and the praife of prostitutes!

Ode to Sculpture [by Mr. Scott, of Trin. Coll. Cam. a very confiderable poet]. I remain, yours, &c. J. W. Oxford, July 5, 1780.

AN admirer of the fine arts requests

Mr. Urban to point out to thofe whom it may concern, that there ftill exist two different portraits of SoMERVILE the Poet; one of them, which belonged to his intimate friend Mr. Shenftone, came into the poffeffion of Mr. J. Hodgetts, of Hagley, in Worcesterfhire, Mr. Shenstone's executor; the other, a still better likeness, belonged to the late Lady Luxborough, and may be feen at her Ladyfhip's feat at Barrels, where a beautiful urn is erected to his memory, infcribed by Mr. Shenstone. Should thefe hints produce an engraving of the portrait, I fhall think my trouble well bestowed. Aug. 19.

LYCIDAS.

The conclufion of the Exhibition of Pictures is unavoidably deferred till next month.

Mr. URBAN,

то

O remove the perplexities in which your anonymous correfpondent, p. 131, finds himself involved by the carving and infcription at Bolton, you will please to inform him, that there is nothing uncommon in the figures, either of the men or horfes, as repre. fented in his friend's drawing, admit. ting it to be a faithful one, which may perhaps be doubted. If time has not made the figures ruder than the carver or the draughtsman formed them, he need go no further than the famous tapestry of Bayeux for their parallels. He will there find the fame pointed helmets, oval thields, indented banners, tirrups not g owing out of the borfes bellies, but affixed to the faddle. The infcription is compofed of the faine kind of letters. The croffes are prefixed to it as in all of this and earlier as well as later periods. In that at Kirkdale (Arch. V. p. 188, Pl.IV.) we fee the crufs at the beginning of different fentences, and at the end of the whole. That the language of our infeription is Saxon appears from the first letter D, which probably is followed by a figle expreffing ER. Lurren de may be luffende living: eredun pendun, werdun, were. dni Hugo miles de Boeltun.

DER LYFFENDE PEREDVN DNS HV.. MLes DE BOELTVN. This may be one fentence; and this conjecture may or may not be right: but further this deponent faith not, except that the two laft words of the remaining part refemble the two first of the preceding. Dr.Burn cannot help us out; for he goes no further back in the history of Bolton than the time of Edward II. A correcter copy might clear its own way ; but the prefeut may prove a Gordian knot to T.

Row or Maifter Somerfet.

The Runic infcription fent from Bristol, in p. 166, I copied near twenty years ago. It makes the motto of a coat of arms in the weit window of the cathedral: Or or Vert between three ftags trippant O. a chevron O. charged with three trefoils Gules, impaling the fees of Bristol and London. The fame arms and impalements, with the fame motto, are in the west window of St. George's Chapel at Windfor. I prefume they are the arms of Dr. John Robinfon, Dean of Windfor, who was promoted to the fee of Briftal 1710, and to that of London 1713, and died 1723, and was buried at GENT. MAG. for August, 1780.

Fulham. He was fent embaffador to Sweden, and appointed Chaplain in ordinary to his Swedish Majefty; in compliment to whom, or by whofe favour, he probably affumed a Runic motto, the fenfe of which I do not pretend to make out, though by comparing the letters with Wormius' Runic alphabet, I conjecture it is to be read Madur i- multr euke. Madur his Lexicon Runicum explains bomo: if one might change euke into fuke, which is fanum viliffimum, or alga, the motto may refer to the mortality of man. But the confideration of the whole is fubmitted to your correfpondents better verfed in northern lite

rature.

To the character of Mr. Charles Godwyn, given from Dr. Burton in p. 166, may be added the manly and affectionate tribute paid to his memory by Mr. Hutchins, in the preface to his Hiftory of Dorfet.

Mr. Godwyn died 1770, four years before the above book was published, in the 72d year of his age. He had for feveral of the last years of his life been troubled with fits, for which he would take no remedy. Mrs. Barker of Wareham had juft brought her fon, his pupil, back to college, when drinking tea at his chambers, fhe obferved he declined it, giving for a reafon, that whenever he drank it he found himfelf on the floor. He was taken for the last time at dinner, when complaining he was ill, and fending out his fervant for fome cheesecakes, he was found at his return on the floor. A phyfician being immediately fent for opened a vein in his temples, but in vain. He continued for fome time fenfelefs, except that on fomebody's asking how old he was he faid 72, and toon after died. He left 30l. to Mr. Hutchins, and to his fervant, who was going to be married, and now keeps a lodginghoufe, all his plate, linen, and furniture, and fixty guineas.

An occafional correfpondent has given you, p. 187, a letter from a Surry churchwarden, which, by the by, had before been inferted in your Magazine from the Antiquarian Repertory. I will give you an original note from a churchwarden in Bedfordfhire, which was my introduction to a fight of Ampthill church.

Pleafe to fhow this gentelman the church From your Thos. Cooke." May one not fairly afk your other correfpondent in the fame page, 187, whether the rapacity of the farmers did

not

not bring on the rapacity of the landlords? When the holders of arable land keep back and monopolize wheat for hafty gain, and Gloucestershire graziers conftitute a Madeira club, and make the mafter of their inn a gentleman, are not landlords of every denomination, whether minifterial or patriotic, juftified in demanding their proportion of the profits? and if the tenant will not lay up for a wet day, is the landlord obliged to make an abatement in his rent?

I heartily concur in the propofal in favour of Capt. Carver's diftrefs'd family, p. 219; but wish to know more of Mr. Bicknell, who calls himself editor of the former edition of his Travels.

P. 199. It is a certain fact that the judge omitting to pafs fentence of death on the pirates, and only faying.

they should be carried to the ufual place of execution," a doubt arofe how they could be difpofed of, and this weighed as much in their favour as the alleviating circumftances that appeared on their trial. During the late riots, being fet at large, they are faid to have furrendered themselves to the judge, and offered to defend him, when he fled from the fury of the populace. P. 248. The ceremonial of Sir H. Monro's inftallation is defired from the Gazette.

The Greek coin in your laft, p. 309, belongs to fome of the Kings of Syria, of the name of Antiochus. The reverfe reprefents Apollo, feated on the Delphic tripod, holding in his hands his bow and arrow. Antiochus Soter, who died 262 years before Chrift, and derived his defcent from Apollo, first affumed this cognizance, which occurs on the coins of his fucceffors Antiochus Theos, and Antiochus Theos Epiphanes. The other kings of this name, as well as of others, took different devices. See Vaillant's Hift. Regum Syriæ, 4to, pp. 45, 50, 196.

The feal in the fame page moft probably belongs to fome foreign bishop whole furname was Monis, there being no prelate of either name here given who filled the fees of Rochester or Raphoe.

By a ftrange mistake, Tarleton's Chriftian name is made Thomas instead of Ricbard.

A Conftant Reader wishes to know if any account has been published of the 50 new churches, or of the duty on coals appropriated thereto; and how many fuch churches have been built.

THE reafons why the first day of

Auguft was denominated Lammasday, and gule or yule of Auguft, may perhaps be an entertainment for your readers. Yours, &c. S. POLLET.

The first of Auguft is called Lammas-day, fome fay, because the priests were then wont to gather their tithe lambs: others derive it from the Saxon word Leffmefle, i. e. bread mass; it being kept as a thanksgiving for the first fruits of the corn. It is also called gule or yule of Auguft, in old Almanacs St. Peter ad Vincula; it is derived from the French word guel a throat, because, as the catholics report, a certain maid, having a diforder in her throat, was cured by kiffing the chains with which St. Peter was bound.

Mr. URBAN,

I Am furprized how the article in p.

120, on the average price of wheat, by Crito, found a place in the Gentleman's magazine, that article being defpicable in point of compofition, and ungenerous and difgraceful in its reflections and tendency.

In matters that respect the public, it is the privilege of Englishmen to speak their fentiments, and it is a duty which we think we owe to our correfpondents to fuffer what they have to offer, to be heard. We are far from approving what Crito has faid upon the fubject; yet we are fenfible there are many of his opinion, however ill grounded.

Letter from the King of Pruffia to the late Earl Marifehal-[From Mr. Cordiner's Antiquities and Scenery of the North of Scotland.

I

Cannot allow the Scotch the happi

nefs of poffeffing you altogether. Had I a fleet, I would make a descent on their coafts, and carry you off. The banks of the Elbe do not admit of these equipments: I must therefore have recourfe to your friendship, to bring you to him who esteems and loves you. I loved your * brother with my heart and foul: I was indebted to him for great obligations. This is my right to you; this my title.

"Ifpend my time as formerly; only at night I read Virgil's Georgics, and go to my garden in the morning, to make my gardener reduce them to practice: he laughs both at Virgil and me, and thinks

us both fools.

54. Supplement to the Edition of Shakfpeare's Plays, published in 1778, by Samuel Johnfon and George Steevens. Containing additional Obfervations by fe veral of the former Commentators: To which are fubjoined the genuine Poems of the fame Author, and feven Plays that have been afcribed to him. With Notes, by the Editor and others. 2 vols, large 8vo. 18s. Bathurst.

THE Editor, Mr. Malone, apologifes, in a prefatory advertisem nt, &c. for this large increase to the already numerous commentaries on this admired bard, from the difficulty and almoft impoffibility of tracing the fources of all his allufions, and illuftrating all his obfcurities. Befides additional obfervations by feveral of the former commentators, fome other gentlemen now first appear as fcholiafts on our author, particularly, the late eminent Sir William Blackflone, tam Mercurio quam Themide,whofe notes, by his defire, have no diftinction but the final letter of his name. The editor alfo returns his warmest acknowledgments to the Dean of Carlisle, Dr. Farmer, Mr. Henley, Mr. Tyrwhitt, Mr. Steevens, and his other co-adjutors. Befides theSupplemental Obfervations," among which the ancient poem intitled Romeus and Juliet, 1562, on which Shakspeare's tragedy was manifeftly founded, is reprinted entire, and fuch parts alfo of tha Hiftorie of Hamblet, 1608, old let. as ferve in any fort to illuftrate the drama, the first volume contains the genuine poetical compo. fitions of Shakspeare, now firft fepa. rated from the fpurious performances with which they have been long in. termixed, illuftrated with notes, and all, except the firft, printed from the original copies, viz. Venus and Adonis, the first essay of Shakspear's muse, from a copy published in 1600, with a print prefixed of the Lord Treasurer Southampton, to whom it is dedicated, the Rape of Lucrece, first printed 1 594, CLIV Sonnets, 1609, formed, Mr. Malone thinks, on the model of Da niel's, published 1592, The Paffionate Pilgrim (other fonnets), and A Lover's Complaint, 1609.

The ad vol. is composed of fuch plays as have been afcribed to ShakIpeare, viz. Pericles, Locrine, Sir John Oldeafile, Lord Cromwell, The London Prodigal, The Puritan, and a Yorkfhire Tragedy; though the editor is convinced, that of the majority of them, not a single one was written by our great

poet, Pericles and a Yorkshire Tragedy excepted: the latter, he thinks, has in many places much of our author's manner; and being thoroughly convinced that of Pericles, if not the whole, at leaft the greateft part, was written by Shakspeare, he hopes it will be admitted into fome future edition of his works, in the room of Titus Andronicus, of which he does not believe a fingle line to have been the compofition of our great bard. In this with and opinion we entirely coincide. Of each of thefe dramas the hiftory is traced as far as poffible, their probable authors and era invettigated, and the original copies collated and corrected. To the ift volume is prefixed a view of "the "houfe in Stratford-upon-Avon in "which Shakspeare was born." A few extracts, with fome remarks, shall be added.

Here

In a note on the Prolegomena we have the following account_of_the origin of hackney-coaches: "I cannot (fays Mr. Garrard) omit to mention any new thing that comes up amongst us, though never fo trivial. is one Capt. Baily, he hath been a fea-captain, but now lives on the land, about this city, where he tries experiments. He hath erected, according to his ability, fome four backneycoaches, put his men in livery, and appointed them to ftand at the Maypole in the Strand, gives them inftructions at what rates to carry men into feveral parts of the town, where all day they may be had. Other hackney-men feeing this way, they flocked to the fame place, and perform their journey at the fame rate, fo that fometimes there are twenty of them together, which dif perfe up and down, that they and others are to be had every where, as watermen are to be had by the water-fide. Every body is much pleafed with it. For whereas, before, coaches could not be had but at great rates, now a man may have one much cheaper." This letter is dated April 1, 1634. [See p. 379 of this Magazine.]

"Macbeth.-This cafle bath a pleafant feat.] This fhort dialogue between Duncan and Banquo,whilst they are approaching the gates of Macbeth's caltie, has always appeared to me a ftriking inftance of what in painting is termed repose. Their converfation very naturally turns upon the beauty of its fituation, and the pleafantnefs of the air; and Banquo, obferving the martlets nefs in every recefs of the cornice, remarks,

rem rks, that where thofe birds moft breed and haunt, the air is delicate. The fubje&t of this quiet and easy converfation gives that repofe fo neceffary to the mind after the tumultuous buitle of the preceding enes, and perfectly contrasts the fcene of horror that immediately fucceeds. It feems as if Shakspeare afked himself, What is a prince likely to fay to his attendants on fuch an occafion? Whereas the modern writers feem, on the contrary, to be always fearching for newthoughts, fuch as would never occur to men in the fituation which is reprefented. This allo is frequently the practice of Homer, who, from the midst of battles and horrors, relieves and refreshes the mind of the reader, by introducing fome quiet rural image, or picture of familiar domeftic life. Sir J. REYNOLDS."

The taste and propriety of this picturefque illuftration are felf-evident. But what lefs could we expect from such a masterly painter i r?

"Comedy of Errors. For ever hous'd where't gets pofhion.] Poffeffion is pronounced as a trifyilable; and therefore the line thould be printed: "where it," &c. MALONE.

We think it thould be alfo printed "houfed," &c.

"Macbeth.

Befides, this Duncan bath borne bis faculties fo meek, &c.] As Mr. Henderfon fp aks this speech, thefe lines fhould be thus pointed : "Befides this; Duncan,&c."HENLEY.

Mr. Garrick, the best commentator on Shakspeare, fpoke it otherwife, and the old reading feems to us much the most natural, and also agreeble to our author's idiom.

"King Henry V.-O well-a-day, lady, if he be not drawn now!] Surely, lady has crept into this paffage by the compofitor's eye glancing on the preceding word. It feems to have no meaning here. MALONE.

To us it feems obvioufly to mean by our lady, or by'r lady, a kind of oath very common in thofe times.

"Sir John Oldcastle-Enter the Duke of Suffolk, &c. and Sir John of Wrobam.] Almoft all the divines that appear in our old comedies are thus denominated, Sir being the academical diftinction of thofe who have taken their first degree. Thus Sir Hugh Evans in the Merry Wives of Windfor; Sir Oliver Martext in As You Like It; Sir Topaz in Twelfth Night, &c.

"In the University of Dublin this

title is still bestowed on Batchelors of! Arts, but is always annexed to the furnames of graduate." MALONE. The fame cuftom prevails at Cambridge.

"As You Like It.-As the Coney, that you fee dwell where he is kindled.] Rather kind-led; led by her kind or kindred. HENLEY.

Kindled is a technical term for the generation of rabbits.

"Dr. Johnson once affured me, that, when he wrote his Irene, he had never read Othello; but meeting with it foon afterwards, was surprised to find that he had given one of his characters a fpeech very strongly refembling that in which Caffio defcribes the effects produced by Defdemona's beauty on fuch inanimate objects as the gutter'd rocks and congregated fands. The Doctor added, that, on making the difcovery, for fear of imputed plagiarism, he truck out this accidental coincidence from his own tragedy. STEE

VENS.

"The late Mr. James Weft, of the Treafury, affured me, that at his houfe in Warwickshire he had a wooden bench, once the favourite accommodation of Shakespeare, together with an earthen half-pint mug, out of which he was accustomed to take his draughts of ale at a certain public-noufe in the neighbourhood of Stratford every Saturday afternoon.-I fear that the refpect paid to the feat and the pitcher do [does] more honour to our poet's memory than the imputation of this play [Sir John Oldeafile]. Ditto. "Whereas a noble Earl is much difiress'd. An Englishman, Ruffel the Earl of Bed

ford, &c. Lord Cromwell."]

An anachronism has efcaped our learned commentators, this scene being laid early in the reign of K. Henry VIII. when this nobleman was only Lord Ruffel, nor was he advanced to an Earldom till January 19, 1550, by Edward VI.

that hath bored you, Sir." Ib.] So in King Henry VIII." He bores me with fome trick." STEEVENS. As old things often become new, it might have been added, that this is now again a cant-word among the great vulgar. "but to feed a fort. Of lazy abbots, and of full-fed friars? Ibid.

A fort anciently fignified a company, a numerous body. So in Aretine's Wars of the Goths, tranflated by Golding, 1563: "Howbeit, when night

came,