felicissimè excogitatum, beneficii publici piè memores, D. D. D. 1. H. I. F. I.T. Cal. Junii, A. C. 1808. On asking who this Mr. Clerk might be, and what his specific merits, I was referred to a very curious article in the Edinburgh Review, No. XII; a publication, by the way, not universally approved in our Combinationrooms. If the account of the book on Naval Tacticks given by these Scotsmen be true, which account really is not ill drawn up, it follows, that of all the benefits derived to this Country from the manœuvre of breaking the line, since the 12th April, 1782, downwards, this John Clerk is the ultimate author; for that the manoeuvre was his, and not Lord Rodney's invention. To all the statements in the Edinburgh Review, I have nothing to oppose but their improbability prima facie, and the unfitness that such statements in a Country like this should be true. What am I to believe, that where Vaccination, and the Life-boat, have gained Parliamentary applause, and large sums of public money for Greathead and Jenner, "the magnificent invention" in Naval Tacticks, which has stood as it were in the gulph to save us from ruin, should have passed unrequited and unhonoured till the 1st June, 1808, and then noticed by three obscure individuals in a remote part of the North? No, Mr. Urban, this, I trust, will be found to be scandalously false; or, by my faith, if otherwise, it is scandalously true. And I hereby invite any of your intelligent Correspondents to contradict and disprove the foul insinuation on our National gratitude : in so doing, they will very greatly oblige, Yours, &c. C. DUILLIUS. joining parishes in Staffordshire, situ ate between Eccleshall in Staffordshire, and Newport in Shropshire, about four miles distant from Ecclesi hall, and nearly the same from Newport. Norbury Church is a plain old stone building, consisting of a Nave and Chancel, and a modern brick Tower at the West end of the Nave, in which are four bells and a small one. the Changel on slabs are these inscriptions; the two first being on brassplates. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 28. SEND you a few inscriptions copied from monuments in the Parish Churches of Norbury and High Offley; which, as they refer chiefly to the same family as that whose epitaphs appear in vol. LXXI. p. 17*, you will probably favour them with a place in one of your Numbers. High Offey and Norbury are ad See also vol. LXXVII. p. 1105. 1. In "Here lyeth the body of John Partington, steward to yo Right-worshipful Sr Charles Skrymsher of Norbury Mann, in this parish, knt. which trust he disharg'd with the greatest integrity, industry, and prudence, near 30 years; and has left us an example truly worthy of our imitation, in his charity to ye poor, love to his neigh bour, fidelity to his master, and devotion to his God. He departed this life, 9th day of July, in ye 52nd year of his age, anto Dom' 1707." unicæ filiæ D. Harvey Bagot de Blithfield in agro Staff. Baronetti; Nepos Jo'is Skrymsher et Alicia D. Francisci Leigh, Barti, de King's Newnha', filiæ. Uxorem primam fœliciter duxit. subtus sepultam, 17 Octob. A. D. 1694, ex quâ suscepit tres filias, Elis. Hest. Eleanor. A. D. 1708, ætatis 56. Eleanor, filia et cohæres superstes, uxor Acton Baldwyn de Aqualat. arm. pietatis ergò posuit." On each side of the tablet which bears the above inscription, is a handsome fluted column; which columns support an entablature, ornamented with three coats of arms. The middle coat, which is the largest, is, Quarterly, 1 and 4 Gules, a lion rampant Or, in a border vairy Argent and Azure; 2 and 3, a chevron Argent, between three butterflies; an escutcheon of pretence Ermine bears, on a chevron Azure, between three anchors of the same, three escalop shells Argent. The small shield below the above, on the dexter side thereof, is the first quarter, impaling the arms on the escutcheon of pretence of the above. The other coat was too much effaced to describe; but probably was the first quarter, impaling the second quarter of the first, or middle, coat. Within a pointed arch, ornamented on its mouldings with divers small and fanciful figures, in the North wall of the Chancel, lies a male effigies, as large as life, clad in armour, with sword and shield; and within the rails of the Altar, on-the floor, have been three effigies, a male between two females, the male in armour. No inscriptions were near any of these effigies; but I take the one within the arch in the North wall to represent the Agitant-general Rupert, and those within the rails of the Altar on the floor, Sir Charles and his two wives. When I made the above remarks, some years ago, the effigies on the floor were much mutilated, and nothing of the male remained entire but the head and shoulders. The armour belonging to one of the Skrymshers was formerly preserved in the Church; but nothing remained, when I saw it, but the helmet and part of a gauntlet. The Living is a Rectory, situated in the Deanery of Lapley and Treizull, in the Archdeaconry of Stafford, and Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry; and valued in the King's Books at £10. 2s. 6d. The present Incumbent is the Rev. Sambrook Higgins, A. M.; and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Stafford, In High Offley Church on two mural monuments near the Altar, the first of marble and the second of stone, are preserved the memory of more of the Skrymshire family, viz. 1. "Near this place lieth interred, the body of Gerrard Skrymsher, late of Woods Eaves in this parish, Dtr of Physick, a man of honour, probity, and piety. He was youngest son of James Skrymsher of Norbury Manour, in this county of Stafford, esq. He departed this life ye 24 of Oct. 1700, in ye 83d year of his age. "Near this place also lieth ye remains of Catherine, his dear and beloved wife, who departed this life ye 27 day of July, 1725, in ye 75th year of her age. They had issue, four children: Hester, who was married to Thomas Boothby of Tooly, in ye county of Leicester, esq.; Charles, now at Woods-Eaves; Elizabeth, died an infant; and Mary, now wife to John Bromfield of Midgebrook in ye county of Chester, gent.; at whose charge, to ye pious memory of her kind and indulgent parents, this monument is erected. Ann. Dom. 1728," Part II. p. 317, is the following pas- brated Act; most of which have sage: "I effectually closed the Alburnous tubes with a composition of calcined oyster-shells and cheese (which alone is capable of instantaneously stopping the effusion of sap from the vine, or from any other plants, in the bleeding season); and this was covered with a mixture of bees'wax and turpentine, so as to exclude external air and all moisture." Permit me to enquire from any of your Horticultural Correspondents, in what proportion and manner the ingredients specified are to be mixed and prepared. By so doing, you will oblige a constant Reader and occasional Correspondent. VULCAN. LETTER LVII. ON PRISONS. proved subversive of the advantages derived from the original plan, which the great legislators of this Queen's reign had wisely adopted. It is, indeed, lamentable, that, under the bad policy of some of our laws, this object is never recognized. How often has Humanity raised her voice against the cruelty of empowering one man to enclose in a dungeon an unfortunate fellow-citizen; who, born in a country boasting of its general freedom, from its laws, finds none to secure his liberty! How often has the impolicy of excluding from the exercise of industry, individuals, whose labour might retrieve misfortune, and repay obligation, been in vain repeated +! Scarcely ever have I entered a prison, without meeting with persons, whose talents and qualifications, unfettered by restraint, might be pro Hent Letter, the painful reflection ftable to their families, and some is excited, from perceiving in the Bridewell of Hertford, as well as in many other Prisons, that no attention is devoted to the promotion of habits of industry in the prisoners. It is well known, that, after the dissolution of Monasteries under Henry VIII. multitudes who lived by mendicity on the alms of the Clergy,, became burthensome and dangerous' to the community, in spite of the infliction of the most severe punishments; until the famous Act of the 43d of Queen Elizabeth was passed; which directed the supply of mate-, rials, and the employment of labour, as best calculated to prevent idleness, indigence, and mendicity; and happily it succeeded. It would occasion too extensive a narrative, to trace the various alterations of, and additions to, this cele times even honourable to their coun- In adversity those talents are called forth, which are concealed by prosperity. + See Dr. Johnson's Remarks in the Idler, No. 38. Perhaps the great North American Empire may trace its origin equally from persecution and the issues of the prisons; and New South Wales may lay its claim almost exclusively from the latter. 1 spent an evening, which agreeably continued till two o'clock in the morning, with the late General Oglethorpe, when this Veteran was in the 96th year of his age, who told me that he planted Georgia chiefly from the prisons. § Described in the Gent. Mag, 1807, vol. LXXVII. p. 211. I hope it will not be deemed improper to add here, that soon after this ingenious person was liberated, and appointed to a respectable station under Government, he died, and left a widow and six children unprovided. A small fund, was however raised for their support; and they are now comfortably situated. The two eldest sons have risen to Lieutenants in the Navy; and lately one of these was appointed the Governor of a West India Island. deed, deed, the remark of Bouhours, "Les malheureux, qui ont de l'esprit, trouvent des ressources eu euxmêmes *. J. C. LETTSOM. HERTFORD. The COUNTY GAOL and BRIDEWELL. Gaoler, Charlotte Wilson, widow of the late Keeper. Salary, 180; and for the Bridewell, £24. Fees, felons and debtors, 158. 4d.; besides which, the Under Sherift demands 6s. 8d. of each debtor, for his liberate! Fees for Bridewell prisoners, 4s. 6d. No table. For the conveyance of transports, one shilling per mile. Garnish, prohibited. On a painted board is affixed up, "No Garnish to be taken." See Remarks. Chaplain, Rev. James Moore. Du ty, Prayers and Sermon every Sunday. Salary, £40.-Surgeon, Mr. Bradley. Salary, £20.-Number of prisoners, Sept. 20, 1808, debtors, 9; felons and Bridewell, 17.-Allowance, to débtors, none whatever; to felons and other criminal prisoners, one pound and half of bread daily, cut from the Gaoler's loaf. Convicts under sentence of transportation have the King's allowance for their support, 2s. 6d. per week. REMARKS. This Gaol, which is also the County Bridewell, is situated just out of the town, and surrounded by a boundary-wall, 15 feet high; which, being at a considerable distance from the building, admits a free circulation of air; and the Gaoler has within it a convenient garden. A For men and women debtors, here is only one court-yard, 60 feet by 36. Theirinfirmary-room is on the groundfloor, spacious and lofty, but destitute of furniture; and they have ho day-room. 3 For common-side debtors, there are 10 sleeping-rooms of 16 feet 8 inches by 11 feet 7, which are Free Wards: but the County allows neither bedding nor straw; so that if a debtor cannot provide himself with a bed, he must sleep on the bare boards. The lobby which leads to these rooms is only four feet wide; and the pillars being square, and of brick, make them both dark and close. The door-ways are but twenty-two inches wide; so that no crib-bed * Unfortunate persons of genius find resourees within themselves. steads can be introduced into them! There are two other rooms of 12 feet by 10, which are furnished for such as can pay seven shillings each per week, and two sleep together. No firing is allowed them. The men felons have two courtyards, each of them about the same size as that for the debtors. One of them, called "The Further-yard," has six cells, and a day-room about 15 feet square, on the ground-floor. The other, called "The Middle-yard,'' has eight sleeping-cells, built over those in the Further-yards and, on the ground-floor, is a large day-room, and an infirmary. The felons' cells are about 16 feet 8 inches each, by 11 feet 7; with straw on the floor, scantily supplied by the Gaoler out of her salary. In the debtors' and felons' courts are boards fixed up, on which, as I before remarked, is painted, "No garnish to be taken in this Gaol." But, at my visit in 1808, the word No was obliterated in the felons' court-yard, and a gallon of beer exacted, as garnish, from every new-comer. The court for women felons is about 45 feet by 16, with a sewer in it, and two sleeping-cells, each 16 feet 6 inches by 12 feet; both of which have fire-places and grated windows towards the court. Two sleep in a cell upon the floor, which has a partition, about four inches high, to keep the straw together; and that is the only bedding allowed them. The Bridewell men's court is about 33 yards by 24, and has 12 sleepingcells on the ground-floor, with as many above them, all opening to the court-yard. The aperture over each door has sloping boards before it, to prevent their view of the court; and, at the further end of each cell, is a casement. Twelve of these cells have a fire-place. The Bridewell women's court is about the same size as that of the men, with a gravel-walk surrounding a grass-plat. They have eight sleeping-cells, four at each end of the court, on the ground-floor, with a fire-place in each cell. There is a pump in these, and in every other court-yard of this Gaol. The rooms for the Bridewell prisoners have vaulted roofs, and are 12 feet each, by 9. The The men's Bridewell has a spacious and lofty room on the ground-floor, paved, like the others, with flagstones, and intended as an infirmary; with a small room for the Surgeon; but it has never been used as such. It has no furniture, and is occupied by vagrants, who sleep upon loose straw, laid on the floor. The warm and cold baths adjoin to it; of which the former has never been used, and the latter only twice! Between the two baths is an oven, to purify infected cloaths. Here is also a small court-yard, and a convenient sewer, intended for the sick. The Chapel of this Gaol has no cupola, and is very close, and sometimes offensive. The debtors appeared to me not only negligent in their attendance on Divine Service, but even frequently interrupted it by misbehaviour. At my visit in 1803, only three of them, out of eleven, were present; and, in 1804, eight only attended Chapel out of the twelve. Of the 12 House of Correction prisoners, at one of my visits (in 1804), four were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, without any employment whatever, although they much wished for it; and bitterly did they complain, "At not being allowed more than one hour of enJargement, out of the twenty-four, to get a little fresh air; at no firing being supplied to them in cold weather; and at being denied the indulgence of either soap or towels, for personal, or prison, cleanliness." At my visit also in 1808, I found four other prisoners of the above description, committed for a twelvemonth; and the whole number, as before, destitute of the blessings of that employment, which they earnestly desired to obtain. Their cells are not -now offensive as heretofore; because they are permitted the use of a courtyard, and the loathsome pails or buckets seldom required. This indulgence, the Keeper's son informed me, was in consequence of my re-marks at former visits. vial offences, and before a trial) are here immediately put in irons, and at night are pinioned (two together) down to the flooring of their cells, by a ponderous chain passed through the main link of their fetters, and padiocked to a strong iron staple; "and with this additional aggravation of their daily misery, are left to pass the hours destined by Nature to ease and refreshment, upon loose straw only, scattered on the floor. A man may thus suffer six months imprisonment, under the bare suspicion of a crime, from which, at the end of that dreary term, his country may perhaps honourably acquit him.” I saw no county furniture here, either in the infirmaries, or in any part of the Prison, except one rug in the felons' gaol, one in the men's bridewell, and one in the women's bridewell neither is any county clothing allowed to the prisoners. : Mr. Wilson, the widowed Keeper's son, who occasionally assists his mother in her arduous task, is a farmer in the neighbourhood of the Gaol; and he told me, that if a chaff-cutting machine were provided, and a shed erected over it, he could keep the prisoners constantly employed. But no employment is now regularly furnished. The County did heretofore attempt to establish a manufactory; but the expence having been found to exceed the prisoners' earnings, it was soon discontinued. That employment, however, (under due regulations and a patient superintendence) may be rendered productive, has been already and amply evinced at Dorchester, Gloucester, &c.; and it will be so elsewhere, in various other prisons, noticed in the course of my Prison Remarks. On this head, our Legislature has not been inattentive. By the 14th of Elizabeth, c. 5; and the 12th Geo. II. it is enacted, that," Prisoners shall be provided for out of the general County Rate, &c." By the 19th Cha. II. and 12th Geo. II. c. 29. "Justices, in their Sessions, may provide a stock of materials for setting the poor to work, &c." By the lastmentioned Statute, c. 29, Justices, in their Quarter-sessions, have power and authority to make one general rate, or assessment, as they, in their discretion, shall think necessary to answer all and every purpose of the |