whatever regard his physiognomical observations deserve, has, I believe, mentioned that the modern busts of Shakspeare do not represent a man of genius, from the invariable shortness of his upper lip. In the description of a bust neither possessing a characteristic pertness of countenance, nor deficient in skilfulness of execution, a bust seen to the least advantage in its present situation, so long disregarded, except by the very few, who, having had the constant opportunity, have been in the almost daily habit of contemplating and admiring it; and at last likely to gain its due value in the opinion of the illustrious Bard's intelligent countrymen, when its merits are more fully known than hitherto they have been; it may be at present improper further to intrude upon your pages, which may be better occupied, if not by a subject more interesting to those who boast of being born in a country which produced the greatest dramatic genius in the world, yet by compositions less erratic than the "bald disjointed chat" of Yours, &c. R. B. WHELER. Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 7. AS your pages have always afforded a ready admission any observations relative to the general Topography of this favoured Isle, and as County History in particular seems at present to hold a deservedly high rank in the public estimation; I venture to address you in behalf of a spot, of which but a very unsatisfactory ctory and imperfect account has hitherto been given. The county of Somerset, sir, has laboured under the misfortune of having had an Historian, who, for the most part, has been diffuse, where a less detailed account would have been desirable, and too often brief, where a more ample account would have been acceptable to his readers. His pen was not calculated for the office which it assumed; and, were it necessary, numerous instances might be adduced, in which profferred information was too hastily canvassed, and documents of an interesting nature too cursorily investigated. That the opinion of the residents of the county is not in this respect at variance with that of the publick at large, those certain criterions of merit, the cata logue of the bookseller, and the hammer of the auctioneer, afford a sufficient proof, whenever the History of Somerset is enrolled in the pages of the one, or subjected to the vibration of the other. The very limited patronage, which the venerable and well-qualified Historian of the neighbouring County of Dorset has experienced, would appear to afford in a pecuniary point of view an unfavourable prospect of encouragement to such an undertaking; but, sir, when the extent of our County, its infinitely more abundant population, and the perpetual change of property, to which that population necessarily gives rise, are taken into consideration, the adventurer, I am confident, would not feel that he was about to launch into an uncertain and precarious speculation. From my own personal knowledge, I can affirm that Proposals for a New History of Somerset would meet with general attention; and in the hope that these remarks will be considered as conveying a stimulus to the exertions of the living, rather than a reflection on the labours of the dead, I subscribe myself, URBANI AMICUS. in small characters, and appears first at folio 105, and again at folios 105 b. 108 b. 110, 111, 112, 112 b. 113, 114b. 115, and 116. I am at a loss for its meaning, and shall thank any of your Correspondents who will assist me in attaining it. Mr. Kelham (in Domesday Book Illustrated) does not attempt its explanation, but says merely, "This abbreviation occurs in the margin of Domesday, p. 105, in six places successively, and once in p. 110; but what the signification of it is, or to what it refers, is left to the reader to determine." T Yours, &c. R. R. Mr. URBAN, Middle Temple, Jan. 9. THE very learned Mr. Bawdwen, in his Translation of Domesday Book for Dorsetshire, communicated to Gentleman's Magazine: AND Historical Chronicle. From JANUARY to JUNE, 1815. VOLUME LXXXV. (BEING THE EIGHTH OF A NEW SERIES.) PART THE FIRST. PRODESSE ET DELECTARE. E PLURIBUS UNUM. By SYLVANUS URBAN, Gent. LONDON: Printed by NICHOLS, SON, and BENTLEY, at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street ; where LETTERS are particularly requested to be sent, POST-PAID. And sold by J. HARRIS (Successor to Mrs. NEWBERY), at the Corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, Ludgate Street; and by PERTHES and BESSER, Hamburgh. 1815. A PRESENT FOR YOUTH. To be Sung after a Sermon to Young People. "The Lord called Samuel."-1 Sam. iii. 8. WHILE Samuel waited on the Lord, Thus, when the word of sacred truth, Grace makes the tender mind expand, The firmest stakes of Jacob's tents, Are Youths that love the Lord; Their fragrance spreads abroad. The soul that Jesus calls so soon, : J. I. LIST OF PLATES. Bennett's Hill, Mr. Huston's House, 201. Charnwood Forest, New Chapel in, 209. Harefield Place, Middlesex, 9. Frontis- Henly in Arden, Cross at, 129. PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH VOLUME. PERHAPS there is no epoch in the history of mankind, comprehend ing more extraordinary or more momentous events, than have been exhibited in the few short months which have elapsed, since we made our last periodical address to our Friends and Readers. The tone of the address was exultation, and the language that of cheerfulness, confidence, and hope-In one dark and gloomy moment the aspect of things was changed, threatening clouds collected, and an awful and destructive tempest once more seemed about to overwhelm the Earth; War and Rapine, and every variety of moral Evil, appearing in its train. The Arch-dæmon, who doubtless for good and salutary purposes was Jong permitted to inflict misery on mankind, had, as it should have seemed, been disarmed of his power to do further mischief, had been secluded within a limited area, and became not unwilling to leave the world to recover in repose, from the disasters which his ambition and tyranny had inflicted.-Not so. -The tiger having once tasted of blood, becomes more ravenous and ferocious-so was it with Napoleon : Nullus semel ore receptus Pollutas patitur sanguis mansuescere fauces. Once more, in violation of every sacred obligation, the Fiend burst from his recess, to set the world in arms. But, by the blessing of Providence, his arts again have failed; and though torrents of blood, of the noblest blood, have flowed, they have not flowed in vain. The monster is again driven into darkness and concealment, there to lament his wretched discomfiture in anguish and despair.-Short-sighted man! as if his destiny, his fortune, his vain and constant boasting, was to regulate the order of things, and change the constitution of the world. Was it consistent with common reason and common sense to imagine, that an obscure adventurer, arriving by a series of bold and daring actions to the enjoyment of unlimited power, should, in defiance of all consistency, and experience, and justice, be suffered to elevate to kingdoms, principalities, and powers, a needy crowd of profligate adventurers like himself-It was not in human nature to endure so strange a metamorphosis. Such a system carried and matured within itself the seeds of its own dissolution; and so the Event has proved, and we trust and believe it will never again manifest to society its vile and abominable image, Let us turn to fair and more enlivening scenes; and here the first object which occurs, in the most glorious and captivating shape, is Victory under the bright form of WELLINGTON-Merenti gratias agere facile facile est; but it is impossible to overlook this prominent fact, that the history of mankind does not exhibit as resulting from one conflict, however glorious it may have been, consequences so important, so extensive, so beneficial to mankind, as those which have progressively ensued, and are still succeeding to the Victory of WATERLOO-a Tyrant's sceptre broken, and his arm withered-Revolution crushed-Legitimate Sovereignty confirmed - Treachery chastised - Peace restored. - Our limits would very soon be exhausted, were we to permit ourselves to expatiate on this alluring subject-we must therefore satisfy ourselves, in common with our Countrymen, in rendering this tribute of our heartfelt gratitude to the illustrious Hero, and in decking the venerated tombs of our much lamented brethren with the cypress and the bay. Perhaps it may be permitted us to add on this subject, that the awful and calamitous interval which hid Peace from our contemplation, may more effectually serve to confirm and perpetuate its re-establishment. -The ways of Heaven are intricate. "Habet has vices conditio mortalium, ut adversa ex secundis, ex adversis secunda nascantur-occultat utrorumque semina Deus, et plerumque bonorum malorumque causæ sub diversa specie latent." Thus may it prove in the event. We at least are enabled to pursue our customary labours with renewed alacrity, from the pleasing persuasion that we are not again likely to be interrupted and thwarted by the din and clang of arms. We indulge also the impression, that Astrea, who has so long forsaken for the skies a neighbouring and unhappy Country, may deign to visit it again, no more to be terrified to flight, by the cries of sanguinary Ambition or the clamours of pretended Patriotism. Let us hope that we may again pursue together, with a friendly ingenuous competition, the interests of Science and the cause of Virtue-that we may participate in the fruits resulting from the combined exertion, to make new discoveries in Philosophy, obtain greater knowledge of the Arts, and extend the improvements of Literature. This is the only certain method of promoting the melioration of man, and will be found far more efficacious than the vain and delusive attempts made by a false Philosophy, to obtain such ends, by establishing a chimerical Equality, or by speculations on imaginary Rights. With respect to ourselves, our path is plain and perspicuous; the same yesterday, to-day, and tomorrow. They who wish to know what they may have to expect in future, have only to take a retrospective view of what we have done and accomplished for the greater part of the century last past. On our parts there will be no deviation. - The tide of human events, it is beyond the power of human sagacity to account for, or explain. Our course will be invariably the same; no adverse gales will divert us from the final harbour which it is the object of all our efforts to obtain; nor shall we ever cease to be, as far as our capacities and influence enable us, the friends of real Freedom, the advocates of genuine Patriotism, the zealous assistants of Science in all its ramifications-calm, dispassionate, liberal to others, and independent in ourselves. |
