did not appear lively the rest of the evening; the Lieutenant Governor on his right, and the Commander in Chief on his left, seemed to enjoy it very much, whilst the gravity of the Chief Justice was compelled into a smile. Mr. URBAN, T. W. Dallington, Nov. 1. YOUR Correspondent T.S. (p.206), opinion, "that no person can hold a Pew in a Church, unless in respect of a dwelling, and never as appurtenant to land," as far as regards the nave of the church; for "a seat cannot be claimed by prescription as appendant to land, but to an house" (Gibs. 198.) But it hath been held, that a seat in an aile may be prescribed for, by an inhabitant of another parish. (Ibid.) But in that case, I should suppose that it is taken for granted, that the possessor repaired it. And so it was judged in the case Dawtry v. Dee (2 Cro. 604.) which was an action for seats in a little chancel in the North part of the chancel of Petworth, Sussex; and it was there held, that tho' no man can tell the true reasons of prescriptions, yet some probable reason must be alleged, to give such a peculiar right, and none is more probable than repairing it. And this will entitle a man to a seat in an aile or chancel, though he lives in another parish; and therefore, where the plaintiff sets forth that he had an antient messuage in the parish of H, and that he and all of those whose estate he had in the said house, had a seat in the aile of the parish church of B, this was considered a good prescription for a seat in an aile, because he or they might build or repair it, though it is not a good prescription to have a seat in nave Ecclesiæ of another parish (Sid. 361). I should apprehend it to be unlaw ful to expose to sale a pew, merely as such, unconnected with that property to which Canon Law allows it to be attached, because such pew, in its disposal," appertaineth of common right to the Bishop of the diocese." (2 Rolls, Abr. 288) Seats in Churches are generally built and repaired as the church is to be, at the general charge of the parishioners, unless any particular person be chargeable to do the same by prescription, (Degge, p. 1, c. 12), as those seised of antient houses, &c. I should, therefore, consider the practice in the parish church of Alcester, of esteeming Pews as "mere personal chattels," to be an evil that has gone greatly beyond any rights that prescription can have conferred, and may be put down by the power of the Ordinary," or that the Churchwardens may have their action against (Wala. c. though the freehold of the body of the Church be in the incumbent, and the seats fixed to the freehold, yet because the Church is for the use of the inhabitants, and the seats thereof erected for their more convenient attending on Divine Service, the use of them is common to all the people that pay to the repair of them. And for this reason, if a seat be taken away by a stranger, though affixed to the Church, the Churchwardens, and not the Parson, may have their action, as a " Quondam Churchwarden" observes, from Dr. Burn. T. F. Mr. URBAN, IN Oct. 27. N considering the Soul as exerting its energies, I had almost said, independent, on the Body, there are two circumstances, which have occurred to Anti-materialists, and have been slightly noticed, though very little insisted upon,-I mean the more than usual vigour or vivacity of the intellectual powers in Dreams; and the case of insane persons suddenly recovering their reason and memory and feelings at the approach of death. First, for Dreams. I have not unfrequently wondered at the uncommon perspicuity and exactness of delineation with which some are able to draw characters, and describe situations, in Dreams; though I am sure they could not in their waking moments have perceived the proprieties of action under the same circumstances, had such been real instead of imaginary. There are very stupid people in whose dreams the dramatis personæ are discriminated with accuracy, and coloured with liveliness and strength-people who (it should seem) had never, from their observation and experience, placed the characters represented to them in sleep, in points of view so just or so striking. With respect to insanity, it is remarkable that they who for a long series of years may be considered as Jost lost to this world, have been known to recover at the hour of death a perfect use of their understandingawakened to a right perception of all around them; recollecting the past transactions of their lives; sensible of their approaching dissolution, and looking forward to that aweful change in the mode of their existence, with the sentiments and feelings most natural to the human mind. I believe I have stated facts. But what has induced me to address you on the subject is the desire to have that subject illustrated by any of your Correspondents, who may be disposed to communicate to the Publick their sentiments and conclusions. Sa man and a Christian, I re ed in your Magazine for September last (p. 198), that the differences too long maintained respecting the London Institution at West Brook were all reconciled; that the Pulpits throughout the Isle of Thanet were all re-opened to its clerical advocates; and that an enlargement of the building was resolved upon. Heartily do I (a member of our excellent Church Establishment, from choice grounded on conviction) congratulate the Reve rend Rectors and Vicars and their Curates on a result that must tend no less to their own respectability and comfort, than to the prosperity of a great Charity, and to the relief and consolation of our diseased Poor. The funds of the Royal Sea-Bathing Infirmary, I am assured, depend upon various modes of collection: and these modes are; ist. Voluntary separate contributions, by individual subscribers. 2. Bequests, or Legacies, by Will. 3. Dinners, 4. An nual Balls at Margate and at Ramsgate, under the auspices of Lady Patronesses of the highest rank in the neighbourhood of those towns. Single Morning or Evening Sermons at Churches, Chapels, and independent Meetings. Of these the aggregate is handsome. The clear net amount of the Gentlemen's Dinners 5. and Ladies' Balls usually reaches the average of one hundred pounds (together) more than the produce of the Sermons: that of the latter being in general 2001.; that of the two former being from 300l. to 3401. I have not seen yet the REPORT for the season, 1820. CHRISTIANUS. Mr. URBAN, King's Head, Poultry, THE Provisional Commitee for Encouragment of Industry, and Reduction of Poor's Rates, considering that it is well understood that the most eminent medium of rendering the labouring classes independent of parochial aid, is the Cultivation of the Soil, desires to submit the propriety of an immediate adoption of means whereby this important object may with the greatest promptitude be effected. For those portions of our fellow subjects whose habits have been hitherto agricultural, and who are either unemployed, or, if employed, are unable to subsist by their labour, it appears that, if supplied with a small portion of land in proportion to their families, such would be enabled, at no distant period, to extricate themselves from the debasement of pauperism. Also that, for the manufacturing classes now destitute, parcels of waste land should be occupied; abodes and buildings erected, and superintendants provided. For effecting these purposes, the following is submitted: That Commissioners (to be denominated General Commissioners) should be appointed by the Legislature, composed of the most suitable country, and to be assisted by the and distinguished characters in our Commissioners, who shall be elected Board of Agriculture; also Local by Parishes, or by the Hundred, and appointed by the General Commis sioners. To accomplish these designs, and to obtain the most eligible co-operation in the necessary application to the Legislature, County Associations by which the most valuable concen have been thought to be requisite, tration of effort will be obtained. By these measures, stimulating the rating to the general interest, will the industry of our population, and opeharmony of the British community be restored. BENJ. WILLS, Hon. Sec. REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. We to the contents of the first volume 72. Monasticon Anglicanum: A History of the Abbies and other Monasteries, Hospitals, Friaries, and Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with their Dependencies, in England and Wales: also of all such Scotch, Irish, and French Monasteries as were in any manner connected with Religious Houses in England. Together with a particular account of their respective foundations, grunts, and donations, and a full statement of their possessions, as well temporal as spiritual. Originally published in Latin by Sir William Dug. dale, knt. Garter Principal King at Arms. A New Edition, enriched with a large accession of materials, now first printed I from Leiger Books, Chartularies, Rolls, and other documents preserved in the national archives, public libraries, and other been esteemed one of the most cuDugdale's Monasticon has long repositories: the History of each Religious Foundation in English being pre-history; but it "claims the attenrious and interesting works in English fixed to its respective series of Latin Charters: By John Caley, Esq. F. S. A. Keeper of the Records in the Augmentation Office; Henry Ellis, L.L.B. F.R.S. Sec. S. A. Keeper of the Manuscripts in the British Museum, and the Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel, M. A. Keeper of the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Volume the First, fol. pp. 642, besides preliminary matter, 1813-17. Longman & Co. and Lackington & Co. I that have been tardy in our Fit appear to some of our Readers notice of this new edition of Dugdale's magnum opus, and that too in a Magazine so greatly devoted to antiquarian pursuits, we may plead as an apology, that such an undertaking as is now before us, requires no small portion of time to appreciate its merits; and we were certainly unwilling to congratulate our Readers on so important a desideratum as an improved edition of the MONASTICON, until we were satisfied that it amply merited their approbation. We can now, however, speak from an attentive observation of its progress, and a careful examination of its contents; and have no hesitation in pronouncing it a most gratifying acquisition to the library of the Antiquary, as well as, what it has always been con sidered even in its former state, a work indispensably necessary to every person interested in ecclesiastical history or property. And although in the present article we shall advert only GENT. MAC. November, 1820. tion of the public, on higher grounds, than those of mere curiosity. In determining doubtful points as to the distribution of property, and in tracing landed possessions from their earliest proprietors, the MONASTICON has long been acknowledged one of the best and most authentic authori ties, and it has accordingly found a place in every considerable Law Library." While thus noticing the acknowledged merits of a work which does so much honour to the talents and industry of our illustrious Antiquary, we cannot help adverting to a circumstance, whether arising from prejudice or ignorance, that appears calculated to injure Dugdale's repu tation in some degree. In all the biographical accounts which we have yet seen of Sir William Dugdale, DODSWORTH is the person with whom the publication is said to have originated, and to whom consequently the world has hitherto been accustomed to ascribe more credit than was his due. From an attentive perusal, however, of Dodsworth's own collections in the Bodleian Library, as well as from various letters and papers in Dugdale's hand-writing, which might be cited, it would be easy to prove that the larger share of credit through the progress of the work is due to Dugdale. In truth, there is every reason to think, that if Dods worth worth had been left to himself, with out Dugdale's aid, we should have had no Monasticon. It ought also to be remarked, that Dodsworth died before more than half of the first vo. lume was completed; and for the completion of that and the subse. quent volumes, we are entirely in debted to the perseverance and care of Dugdale during the long series of twenty-eight years. But in whatever value the Monasticon has been held, it has been felt by all Antiquaries, that it was still capable of improvement; and it would have been indeed singular if the labours of Dugdale's successors, for more than a century past, besides discovering some errors and omissions, had not furnished the means of rendering the work still more perfect, as a book of authority, reference, and even historical curiosity. On this subject it cannot be necessary to expatiate. Whoever is acquainted with the progress made, only within the last half century, in the study of Antiquities, and particularly with the laudable and persevering researches of the late and present keepers and inspectors of our antient records, must be sensible that talents and accuracy only were wanting to improve the Monasticon, and to complete the original author's design by an important accession of new and indispensible matter. In this respect, however, Dugdale has hitherto been rather unfortunate. In 1693, an epitome of the MONASTICON was published in English by Wright, the Historian of Rutlandshire; but the matter was injudiciously abridged, and the references to the original were extremely inaccurate. In 1718, John Stevens, commonly called Captain Stevens, gave the English Reader a somewhat better idea of Dugdale's work, in his enlarged translation; but the objections to Wright's book attached in a considerable degree to Stevens's, although the latter contained some additions of importance. We were happy therefore to find that in the undertaking now before us, the English translation has been carefully compared with the original, the references verified, and the text augmented, not only with Stevens's additions, but with that information and those discoveries of recent times, which will render the whole more satisfactory to the pro fessional inquirer, as well as more interesting to the general Reader. In vol. I. to which at present we shall confine our remarks, are contained, the histories of Glastonbury, Christchurch, and St. Augustine in Canterbury, Rochester Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral, Lindisfarn or Holy Island, Malmsbury, Westminster Abbey, Sherbourn, Lestingeham, Peterborough, Whitby, Chertsey, Barking, St. Mildreds, Folkstone, Liming, Reculver, Ely, Weremouth and Jarrow, Abingdon, St. Peter, Gloucester, Worcester and Bardney Abbey.. Of these the accounts of Glastonbury, Westminster, Peterborough, Ely, Abingdon, Worcester, and Bardney, appear to us the most elaborate: and how highly they, as well as the others, must be improved from the original edition will be evident from the addition of the English descriptions, and the abstracts of Registers, neither of which entered into Dugdale's plan. Yet this last feature of the re-publication is of great importance. Persons interested in the whole or any part of the property of any given Monastery of which the Register remains, by glancing through the abstract, may see at one view what charters are still extant, as to any manor, churches, fairs, markets, rents, or even smaller property, originally belonging to the Monastery, an insertion calculated not less to aid the researches of the Lawyer than the Antiquary, in numerous instances, in matters of tithe, &c. Appended to the account of each monastery also is an abstract of what are called the Ministers' Accompts, of the time of Henry VIII. preserved in the Augmentation Office, containing the enumeration and value of the different species of property belonging to the various houses at the time when the agents of the Crown had become the receivers of the different revenues. Where the Ministers' Accompts are not to be found, the "Valor Ecclesiasticus" of the same period has been the substitute. The value of these and other additions will likewise appear from the sources of information to which the learned Editors have applied: those parts of the Latin Appendix of Glastonbury Monastery, taken from the Register called the "Secretum Ab batis," batis," now in the Bodleian Library: the singular collection of early English Charters to Westminster Abbey, from the Cottonian Manuscript Faustina A. III: the excerpts from the Black Book of Peterborough, in the library of the Society of Antiquaries: the extracts from an hitherto undescribed Register of Whitby, among the Donation Manuscripts in the British Museum: the survey of the monastery of Ely in the time of Henry VIII. remaining in the Augmentation Office: and the charters of the Saxon period relating to Worcester monastery, from the archives of the Dean and Chapter, are among the more valuable additions made by the present Editors to the documents preserved by Dugdale. Indeed it appears to us that no important accessible fact relating to the history of any of the monasteries has been omitted, as far as the work has yet proceeded; nor do we perceive that any part of the English details, or any one account, could have been left out without injury to the history of the monastery described. With respect to the English descriptions of the different abbies, we have still to remark that they appear to be compiled with all possible care and industry. The English Dissertations (for such they really are) afford a condensed view of every thing material in the history of each house, occasionally reconciling the discrepancies of charters and historians: arranging historical facts or accessions of property under the respective Abbots or other superiors in whose time they occurred: affording regular lists of these Abbots, with the circumstances attending the dissolution of the monastery, its revenues, the subsequent grant of the site, architectural history, present state of its ruins, library, registers, seals, &c. The plates have always been considered as constituting an important feature of the Monasticon; but, admired as Hollar deservedly is, it is acknowledged that his larger performances are more indebted to their accuracy as representations, than to their elegance as engravings. We are happy, therefore, to find that where the former appears the chief merit, they are copied in the present edition with a fidelity which leaves no regret for the loss of the original cop pers. In other respects, the improved state of the arts induced us to expect that the engravings now produced in addition to the former series would correspond with the elegance of the letter-press, and the novel, yet appropriate embellishments of many beautiful initial letters, &c. and in this expectation we have not been disappointed. The volume before us contains forty-four plates of buildings and dresses, the latter engraven in a correct style by Finden. Of the former, the happiest imitations of Hollar appear to be the tree of the different monastic orders, and the views of York, Litchfield, Lincoln, and Salisbury cathedrals. We are glad to find that the design of re-engraving King's plates, from Stevens's edition, has been abandoned, in lieu of which a series of more modern views have been engraved, of which, among those in this volume, Tynemouth Priory, by Byrne, Peterborough cathedral, Bath abbey, the interior of Canterbury, Whitby, and St. Mary's abbey at York, by Coney, with Chester cathedral, and St. Augustin's monastery at Canterbury, by Hollis, are most conspicuous for elegance and minute accuracy. The new plates amount to nineteen; and although we may appear to have given a preference to those above mentioned, we would by no means have it considered as exclusive. We shall take an early opportunity of offering some remarks on the second volume of this important work, so creditable to the spirit of the Proprietors and the talents of the Editors. 73. History of Verulam and St. Alban's, concluded from pp. 333. THERE is one particular department which the Editor has woefully neglected; we mean the "History" of the Town. After the Dissolution he takes a leap over two centuries to the "Present State of St. Alban's," not considering that several transactions here during the Rebellion are worthy of notice. As we are not at present inclined to become pioneers for one who seems so reluctant to pursue the path we would wish to point out, it is unnecessary to enunerate the political particulars which lie scattered in Mercuries and Diurnals; yet he could scarcely be iguo rant |
