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THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE,

For OCTOBER, 1820.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr. URBAN,

Oct. 1.

As S the extension of Christianity, and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, are always interesting to your numerous Readers, allow me to submit the following brief abstract from the Rev. Mr. Jowett's late Report to the Bible Society at Malta on his return from Egypt, and communicated in correspondence with the Society in London. It contains much valuable information relative to the present state of Egypt, and other parts of Africa.

After mentioning his interview at Cairo with Mr. Salt, he was introduced to a Prussian Nobleman, who is preparing himself by the study of Arabic for a future journey into Syria and Persia, and has offered his services gratuitously to distribute the Scriptures. From the Coptic Patriarch, he, Mr. Jowett, procured a copy of the four Gospels, written iu Coptic and Arabic, in parallel columns, who informed him that at Boosh, there was a Preparatory School, where about 20 youths are trained for the Church; afterwards removed to the Monastery of Mar Antonius, in the mountains, about three days journey Eastward of the Nile here about 50 in number prepare themselves for the higher stations in their Church: from this place the Patriarch himself, the Coptic Bishops in Egypt, and the present Abune of Abyssinia proceeds. While in these Freparatory Studies of va rious Churches in the East, great attention is paid to the recitation of prayers and liturgical offices, and the performance of extremely rigid mortifications; yet, in the lapse of ages, the original Word of God has fallen into comparative neglect, and does not receive that diligent, well-grounded, and persevering study which it so pre-eminently claims.

At these places Mr. Jowett distributed copies with grateful acceptance. "In the former part of July (he says) I quitted this populous capital of the most antient of nations, not without feelings of regret, having experienced there so many acts of kindness, mingled with gratitude to Him who had watched over my path through the whole length of the Land of Egypt." He then speaks of having visited Mr. Lee, the Consul, and of his accurate and able services in this cause, and then proceeds to state the present condition of Egypt in the following terms:

"Here we behold, though in circumstances of great depression and ignorance, one body of professing

Christians more numerous than the rest, occupying a line of country not less than 500 miles in length, and extending their influence Southward beyond the Deserts of Nubia and Senna, into a considerable part of Abyssinia, identified by name with Egypt, (for to hear a native Copt of the interior pronounce the name of his nation el Geptai, and compare the sound with οἱ Αιγυπτοί, is sufficient to prove the identity,) and possessing much influence from their habits of business, and from their knowledge of the language, long since imposed upon them by their Conquerors, the Copts may certainly be considered as the dominaut Christian Church of those parts. There are, however, many Greeks, whose patriarch resides at Cairo: the influence of this Church is acknowledged also in a part of Abyssinia; otherwise they have no Churches South of Cairo, but consider their jurisdiction to reach to Alexandria, Rosetta, Damietta, Suez, Candia, Tunis, and Tripoli in the West; at all which places they have Convents, though at that last mentioned they have not for many years had a priest.

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The Latins have also eight Convents, four of which are considerably to the South of Cairo. The Arminians have a Bishop at Cairo, and individuals of that nation are situated far to the South in all the principal towns of Egypt, as Bankers to the Govern

ment.

"Leaving out of our present consideration the ruling power of the Turks, and the immensely and extended population of the Arabs, the number of whom is variously estimated, from two and a half to four millions, it is not possible to behold without a lively interest, these several Churches of Christians.

66 Among the Copts I found no difficulty in distributing the Arabic Bibles, but, on the contrary, the greatest willingness and readiness. Upon my first arrival at Cairo, on my re turn thither from the Upper Country, subsequently on my release from quarantine, in the Consulate, and by letters since received from Egypt, their desire to possess them has been manifested. In endeavouring to explain to the Patriarch, the Bishops, the Lay head of their nation, and to others, the objects of the Society they shewed their ignorance of the nature of a voluntary association, and, familiarised to fear, they shrink from ostensible services," &c.'

Among the Jews he had little opportunity of inquiry, from the confinement necessarily attendant on the appearance of the plague both at Alexandria and Cairo. South of Cairo there are none in Egypt. In Gondar, the Capital of Abyssinia, there are about 1000, who were described by Mr. Pearce as keeping much to themselves, and being very tenacious of their religious books.

"How deeply Christianity," he adds, "must once have been seated in the hearts of the people of that country, appears from a great variety of proofs; but now, nominally a Christian Empire, it is distracted by the feuds of various chieftains, who aspire to supreme power, without even a hopeful prospect of peace being settled by the successful authority of One. Thus situated, composed of various Christian, Mahomedan, and Heathen tribes, all independant, fierce, and warlike, and exposed to incursions from similar tribes on every side, Abyssinia may fear for her existence

as a Christian nation. That Christianity would not soon disappear from the country may be inferred from the great attachment of the people to their religion, an attachment which has been tried by numerous opposing circumstances for many centuries. But how much longer Christianity might exist without a general knowledge of the Scriptures would be a bitter experiment to make; an experiment happily not suited to the benevolent genius of this age."

If from this brief view of Egypt and Abyssinia, we turn our eyes to that vast Continent in which these Countries lie, with what feelings shall we rise from such contemplation !— "To what extent have the sciences, the study of barbarous tongues, the experience of travellers, commercial enterprise, and actual converse with the natives, assisted to make Europe acquainted with Abyssinia! Rather should I say to make Africa known to the inhabitants of that planet, in which Africa exists! Even the Geographer, whose task lies merely with the surface of the land and sea, con fesses that all he has to shew of Africa is but as the hem of the garment. Every one, however, may in some degree infer the state of. Africa, partly from general moral principles, and partly from a knowledge acquired by means of a most demoralizing traffick. From these too slender premises, many are led to consider as dif. ficulties nearly insuperable the hostile superstition, the barbarous cus toms, and savage horrors which reign there to an almost unlimited extent; while at the same time, lost in inquiry concerning the best practical measures, the mind turns alternately from one project to another, and travels through all the plans that can be devised, of research, of civilization, of education, until weary, spiritless, and desponding, it is ready to shrink from attempting any."

After perusing this very interesting Report, it is wholly unnecessary to speak of either the zeal and learn ing of Mr. Jowett, or of the necessity of aiding him in his laudable exertions.

The Testaments in Modern Greek are very acceptable at Smyrna and the Islands, for Syria, Aleppo, and the Sea Coast of Egypt; but those for Mecca and Constantinople are

required

required in a more elevated and clas sical style. The unremitted labour and cordial good will that animate the great design, will accomplish every difficulty, and render the Scriptures as familiar there as in any part of civilized Europe.

Devoutly praying for their increase and growing success, let every Chris tian do his part, and then we may indulge the delightful hope that the time is not far distant, when the mighty design of these benevolent Institutions shall be accomplished, and when every buman being shall be enabled to read in his own tongue the wonderful works of God, and see them more immediately extended to the establishment of universal righteousness and peace!

Mr. URBAN,

A. H.

Chelsea, Oct. 12. N the month of November, 1812, I transmitted you an account of the Ceremonial of Consecrating the New Burial Ground in this Parish by the Lord Bishop of London: and I have now the pleasure to announce that the first Stone of the beautiful new Gothic Church to be built in the above-mentioned cemetery, which is generally allowed to be the largest in the vicinity of London, was laid this day, by the Hon. and Rev. G. V. Wellesley, Rector, as proxy for his brother, his Grace Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, who was prevented from attending, to the great regret of all present, by receiving his Majesty's commands to attend his Majesty at his Palace in Pall Mall. Tickets had been issued for the admission of the parishioners and their friends, the female part of whom were accommodated in a spacious amphitheatre erected at the East end of the Church. The fineness of the day, and the brilliancy of so many elegantly-dressed ladies seated one above another, formed altogether one of the most gratifying spectacles that can possibly be conceived. About half-past five o'clock the procession for laying the first Stone moved for wards in the following order:

His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Band; Beadles two and two;-the Architect, Mr. James Savage, with his Plans;the Master Builder, with a Silver Trowell, on a crimson velvet Cushion ;-the Trea

surer, with a metal Box and Coins on a crimson velvet Cushion, and the Brass Plate, thus inscribed:

"This Stone was laid on the 12th day of October, A.D. 1820, by Field Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wellington, the Hon. and Rev. G. V. Wellesley, Rector. Richard Rattenbury and Richard Mann, Churchwardens."

The Hon. and Rev. G. V. Wellesley, Rector, supported by his two Churchwardens; -the Curates and Lecturer of the Parish; -and the Trustees.

As the procession moved forward, the Rector read the service used on similar occasions; and, upon approaching the East end of the Church, he deposited the Coins and Brass Plate, and spread the mortar on the chief stone, which had been prepared for the purpose; the upper stone was then lowered down and secured and the ceremony being thus ended, a signal was given, and the air resounded with the acclamations of the assembled multitude.

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On the next morning the Churchwardens received the following Letter from his Grace the Duke of Wellington, stating the reasons of his ronattendance.

"London, Oct. 13, 1820,

"GENTLEMEN,The Rev. Dr. Wellesley will have informed you of the circumstance which prevented me from attending yesterday, according to appointment, the ceremony of laying the first stone of your Church. I had received his Majesty's cominformed Dr. Wellerley, that I could atmands to attend his Majesty; and having tend you if dismissed by his Majesty before half-past five, I was not dismissed till a quarter before six; and I could not have reached Chelsea till long after dark. I then went to the Ordnance; and did not return home till balf past six, when I received Dr. Wellesley's note expressing your intention to wait for me till I could come, and your wish that I should attend you, however late. It was then, however, quite dark, and I concluded that if I had gone to Chelsea I should have found no

body. I hope that under these circumstances you will excuse my not having attended according to appointment.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

WELLINGTON."

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Mes.

"Vous avez renoncé à Genève votre Patrie; vous vous ê es fait chasser de la Suisse Pays tant vanté dans vos ecrits; la France vous a decreté; venez donc chez moi. J'admire vos talents; je m'amuse de vos reveries qui (soit dit en passant) vous occupent trop et trop long tems. Il faut à la fin être sage et heureux. Vous avez fait assez parler de vous par des singularités peu convenables à un véritable grand homme. Demontrez à vos ennemis que vous pouvez avoir quelquefois le sens commun; cela les fachera sans vous faire tort. Etats vous offrent une retraite paisable. Je vous veux du bien, et je vous en ferai, si vous le trouvez bon; mais si vous vous obstinez à rejetter mon sécours, attendez vous que je ne le dirai à personne; si vous persistez à vous creuser l'esprit pour trouver de nouveaux malheurs-choissez les tels que vous voudrez. Je suis Roi; je puis vous en procurer au grè de vos souhaits, et ce qui surement ne vous arrivera pas vis-à-vis de vos ennemis. Je cesserai de vous persécuter, quand vous cesserez de mettre votre gloire à l'être,

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Mr. URBAN, Oct. 5. CANNOT conceive how "S. I. A." (p. 113), or any one, could imagine from my language that I stated the West front of St. Katherine's Church to have remained uninjured; as I well knew it had been cruelly innovated upon in a former repair; neither did I represent the North side of the Nave as 66 remaining uninjured in all the hoary majesty of four hundred years;" as if such had been the case I could not with any propriety have applied the term venerable to its appearance. But even a mouldering wall, the work of our ancestors, is more agreeable to the eyes of an Antiquary than the modern appearance which the covering of cement gives this antient building.

I recommended the application of the cement to the choir, because it is chiefly rebuilt with modern brickwork, and it would undoubtedly be improved by any alteration that could be made; at least on the South and Eastern parts of it, to which “S.I.A." surely cannot object, because a few feet of masonry are left at the basement of the buttresses: the North side being almost secluded from the public eye would not require any ornamental application; the small remains of antiquity on that side seem as if left as a guide to the enquiring Antiquary, with the "mind's eye" to look beyond the modern insertions and alterations (I will not offend your Correspondent by add. ing of parish carpenters and plas terers) and to see this once elegant structure in the state it was when drawn by the accurate pencil of Hollar.

The reason "S. I. A." gives for removing the arms from the windows is such, as any innovator, or defender of innovations, could be expected to adduce, and is in plain words this, "that they are not worth the preservation." The antient Church itself may at some future period meet with no better fate. “A crazy old fabric! a remnant of Popery! pull it down, Mr. Architect, and build a modern Church in its place more commodious and comfortable."

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I am sorry that the doorways your Correspondent saw should have been closed up, but what else could have been expected from such restorers, as he volunteers to defend? I only "lamented" the loss of such antiquities as were visible. It would have been presumption to have expected any others to be brought to light at the same time I cannot agree with "S. I. A." that the tracery of the windows was inelegant. It was of that description which marked the Edwardian æra, before the introduction of the formal upright divisions, which were in use till the loss of the style. But admitting it was even worse than that gentleman asserts, nothing is gained by the clumsy garbled imitation which now appears in the windows.

Before I conclude, I should wish, Mr. Urban, to be understood, that neither a spirit of false criticism, nor I hope an "uncandid judgment,"

guides me in my "lamentations," as "S. I.A." has pleasantly styled them. If I could see those professional men who imitate or restore our antient architecture condescend to be guided by the principles which directed their antieut predecessors, rather than any modern fancy of their own, I would be the first to record their praise.

Mr. Walters seems greatly to have misunderstood my meaning; the object of my Letter (Aug. Mag. p. 127) was to shew the superiority of Pointed Architecture for Churches over the Grecian or Roman styles. was not my intention to censure œconomy; for my remarks as well

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applied to buildings of stone as brick. On the contrary, laudable economy is always praiseworthy. But when I spoke of Churches having plain bodies and equivocal appearances, I meant, that if they had been built in the former style, such remarks could not have been applicable; and if, instead of the windows I objected to, Pointed arches, embellished with the mullions and tracery so justly admired in our antient Churches, had occupied their situations, little doubt could be entertained of the destina. tion of the erection; and the adoption of any material in their construction to save expense, would have received praise rather than censure. Mr. Walters must be aware that structures of the Pointed style, as well as any other, may be built to meet a limited expense; and as he allows its superiority for ecclesias tical edifices, I cannot agree with him in retaining the Grecian and Roman styles for the reason he mentions; as sufficient variety may be always found in the successive æras of the Pointed style, which are as essentially different as any of the five orders.

If the Dissenters make it an article of conscience to assemble in plain meeting houses, they certainly adorn their pulpits with greater profusion than those in the Established Church. The reason is obvious; the pulpit is their altar, and to that their principal atLention is directed.

How far Parish Committees are guided by their architects, I have as yet heard nothing to make me alter my former opinion. But on this head I ask Mr. Walters whether it

is customary for professional men to present (with a very few exceptions) any designs but Grecian for Churches. Such are the majority exhibited at Somerset House, and in the last exbibition there were three designs for a Church at Chelsea, all in that style. I feel confident if the profession generally would submit designs in the Pointed style, they would in many instances meet with acceptance, in preference to others, except when a spirit of bigoted fanaticism rejected them on the ground of their monastic appearance.

Mr. URBAN,

E. 1. C.

Sept. 15.

THE Origin of Names seenis to have been hitherto rather superficially treated; and there is not wanting reason to believe, that from the surname may be drawn very probable conclusions respecting not only the trade or profession of the family's founders, but also their bodily peculiarities, qualities, accomplishments, or defects, and the degree of respectability in which they were held; remarkable accidents which have hap pened to particular persons, are also frequently recorded in their surnames. Those resulting from personal description, are probably much older than those from trades or professions, these not having been regularly exercised by particular persons, until nations were considerably advanced in civilization ; for before that pe riod, every man was his own smith, carpenter, mason, &c. and every man made his own clothes and shoes. But from the earliest times, it was necessary to distinguish one man from another, which could only be done by pointing out personal qualities, or places of residence. For John, the son of John, or William, would suit more than one; but John Crookshanks, the son of John, could only suit a bandy-legged man, and thus Mr. Lightfoot, Mr. Golightly, Mr. Swift, Mr. Hopper, Mr. Ambler, and Mr. Jumper, drew their names from the bodily agility of the first bearers; and Mr. Heavysides, Messrs. Saunter, Onslow, and Waddle, from the contrary quality. The Pains, Akinheads, Akinsides, Anguishes, and Headacres, owed their appellations to the dolorous sensations of their ancestors; while the Wilds, the Sangwines, the Joys, the Merrys, and the Bucks, an

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