in preference, as forming a better object for the pencil*. SOME writers have afferted, that the fource of this river is in the neighbourhood of Cobberly, in Gloucestershire, at a place called Seven-Wells Head; but as the former opinion is most prevalent, I shall date the prefent enquiry from thence. THE name alfo of this river has long been matter of controverfy, even amongst the learned, on whom we ought to rely; it therefore becomes neceffary previously to investigate the various opinions and authorities that have been advanced on the subject. The vulgar appellation it bears above Oxford is Thame-Ifis, evidently formed from a combi *THE engine with fails, which appears in the annexed view, raises water from the head, and by its mechanical power, throws up feveral tons of water every minute, fupplying the Thames and Severn canal. nation of the words Thame and Ifis; the Tuppofed conflux of which gave rise to a poem of fome eminence, called "The Marriage of Thame and Ifis." How this river obtained the latter name, or at what period, I cannot learn: Stow feems to concur in this poetical fiction, and deems every one ignorant who gives the river any other appellation than that of Ifis; but to fhew that no great reliance is to be placed on his opinion, I will use his own words, which are fo flatly contradictory to themselves as to invalidate his authority: he fays, in the fifth chapter of his Survey of London, that "the "Thames beginneth a little above a village "called Winchcomb in Oxfordshire, and still "increasing, paffeth first by the university of "Oxford, &c. to London;" and in the next chapter, that the Ifis "goeth unto Thame in "Oxfordshire," (which is more than fifteen miles below Oxford)" where joining with a "river of the fame denomination, it loseth "the A 2 "the name of Ifis or Oufe, and from thence " is called Thamesis all along as it passeth." As Master Stow, therefore, does not feem to understand himself, I muft, to clear up this difputed point, refer to Camden, on whose authority I am inclined to rely. He fays, "it plainly appears, that the river was always "called Thames, or Tems, before it came "near the (town of) Thame;" and that in several ancient" charters, granted to the ab bey of Malmesbury, as well as that of Enesham; and from the old deeds relating "to Cricklade," it is never confidered under any other name, than that of Thames. To prove this affertion, he inftances, that "in "an ancient charter granted to abbot Ad"helm, there is mention made of certain "lands upon the east part of the river cujus vocabulum TEMIS, juxta vadum qui appellatur Summerford; and this ford " is in Wiltshire." He likewife fays, it no where occurs under the name of Ifis. ALL |