the expence which a Clergyman is necessarily put to, first for his education at School and College, and afterwards for Letters of Orders, Presentations, and Licences, is very great; and by the late regulations, if a Curate changes his Curacy only to that of the next parish, he must have a new Licence, which costs him 20 shillings. At the same time a Dissenting Minister may, without any education, or examination as to his fitness for the office, be licensed to preach for one shilling; and the licence enables him to preach in any part of the kingdom he pleases. So differently are the Ministers of the Church of England treated from those who are in pretended Orders, or pretending to be in Orders *. Surely your Lordship will be induced to re-consider this matter; and, by a repeal of those Laws which have been of late introduced, and which tend so much to disgrace the Church, endeavour to re-establish it in that estimation which it formerly held in the opinion of the world. I A FRIEND TO THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. Mr. URBAN, Jan. 12. HAVE sent you the following strange account of Buonaparte's interview with his Genius, as it has made its way into several public prints, with a view of inviting your enlightened and unprejudiced Readers to a candid discussion of the probability of supernatural Beings making their appearances to individuals, for the purpose of animating them in the performance of great exploits: for such, it must be allowed, Buonaparte has performed. He has been a severe Scourge to Europe in the hands of Providence, whose chastisements may eventually prove a blessing to Nations, by humbling the pride of their Kings, and disposing their hearts to universal peace, and to the improvement of the temporal and spiritual interests of their people. If an infernal or celestial spirit ever did or may make its appearance, it must be for a public end worthy of supernatural aid. I by no means wish superstition to flourish; or the prophetical visions of the insane to become any more objects of faith. The latter, I trust, have received their death-blow in the *The words of the Statute. end of Joanna Southcott: and the present appears to me a proper time for a candid discussion of the power of supernatural impulses, and the common causes of maniacal delusion. I could wish the cases of the Moderns to be principally regarded by those who may chance to think the subject worthy of notice; by which I mean the cases of individuals now living, or very lately alive: and the cases not only of public but of private characters, as far as the latter can be developed. THE RED MAN. "After the retreat of the ci-devant Emperor Napoleon across the Rhine, and his return to his capital, a visible change was observed in his habits and his conduct. Instead of wearing the livery of woe for the discomfiture of his plans of ambition, and the loss of his second grand army, he dismissed his usual thoughtfulness. Smiles played on his lips, and cheerfulness sat on his brow. His manners became light and easy, and his conversation lively. Business seemed to have lost its charms for him; he sought for amusement and pleasure! Balls and entertainments succeeded each other, and the Parisians began to fancy that either Napoleon was certain of making an advantageous peace with the Allies whenever he thought proper, or was convinced that his downfall was at hand, and therefore wished to spend the last weeks of his Imperial dignity in enjoyment and ease. Another conscription had been ordered, and the Legislative Body had been dismissed; but these were signs of his existence, not of his activity. He remained buried in pleasure, whilst the invaders crossed the Rhine, and, rapidly approaching Paris, threatened to destroy at once his throne and the metropolis. On a sudden, his conduct experienced a second change: his face resumed its deep and habitual thoughtful gloom; his attention was engrossed by the cares due to his armies; and every day witnessed new reviews of regiments in the Place of the Carrousel. Sleep could no longer seal his wakeful eyes; and his wonted activity, in which no other mortal perhaps ever equalled him, was displayed with more energy than ever. All the time he could spare from his armies and bis cabinet, he bestowed on his state council. So striking an opposition between his present and his past conduct, could not fail to excite a powerful agitation in the minds of the Parisians; and to make them strive to trace up a change so abrupt in the manners of their Emperor to its true cause. Precisely at this time, to the still greater astonishment of the whole city, the report of an interview of Napoleon with his Genius, under the shape of a mysterious Red Man, transpired. He "The 1st of January, 1814, early in the morning, Napoleon shut himself up in his cabinet; bidding Count Molé (then Counsellor of State, and since made Grand Judge of the Empire) to remain in the next room, and to hinder any person from troubling him, whilst he was occupied in his cabinet. He looked more thoughtful than usual. had not long retired to his study, when a tall man, dressed all in red, applied to Molé, pretending that he wanted to speak to the Emperor. He was answered, that it was not possible. 'I must speak to him,' said he; go and tell him that it is the Red Man who wants him, and he will admit me.' Awed by the imperious and commanding tone of that strange personage, Molé obeyed reluctantly; and, trembling, executed his dangerous errand. 'Let him in,' said Buonaparte, sternly. "Prompted by curiosity, Molé listened at the door, and overheard the following curious conversation : 6 "The Red Man said, This is my third appearance before you. The first time we met was in Egypt, at the battle of the Pyramids. The second, after the battle of Wagram. I then granted you four years more, to terminate the conquest of Europe, or to make a general peace; threatening you, that if you did not perform one of those two things, I would withdraw my protection from you. Now I am come, for the third and last time, to warn you, that you have now but three months to complete the execution of your designs, or to comply with the proposals of Peace offered you by the Allies; if you do not atchieve the one, or accede to the other, all will be over with you;-so remember it well.' "Napoleon then expostulated with him, to obtain more time, on the plea, that it was impossible, in so short a space, to re-conquer what he had lost, or to make peace on honourable terms. "Do as you please,' said the Red Man; but my resolution is not to be shaken by intreaties, nor otherwise; and I go.' "He opened the door. The Emperor followed, intreating him, but to no purpose. The Red Man would not stop any longer he went away, casting on his Imperial Majesty a contemptuous look, and repeating in a stern voice, three months, no longer.' Napoleon made no reply, but his fiery eyes darted fury; and he returned sullenly into his cabinet, which he did not leave the whole day. "Such were the reports that were spread in Paris three months before the fall of Napoleon Buonaparte; where they caused an unusual sensation, and created a belief that he had dealings with infer nal Spirits, and was bound to fulfil their will or perish. What is more remarkable is, that in three months the last wonderful events justified the Red Man's words completely; more unfortunate than Cæsar, or Henry IV. of France, these presages did but foretel his ruin, and not his death. "Who the Red Man really was, has never been known; but that such a person obtained an interview with him, seems to have been placed beyond a doubt. Even the French Papers, when Buonaparte was deposed, recurred to the fact; and remarked, that his mysterious visitant's prophetic threat had been accomplished." Since writing the above, I have that Joanna Southcott, in her last taken up a Paper, wherein I find, hours, had lucid intervals, in which she made her will, and professed her conviction, that she had been visited by a good or evil spirit. It is said, this poor maniac had upwards of one hundred and ten thousand followers! What a lucrative concern her seals must have been to some! and what a melancholy exemplification, her case, of the mischief done to society by the liberty allowed to the weak and foolish of choosing their own Religion! When such liberty is granted, we have scriptural authority for believing God's blessings are with drawing. "Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them." Isaiah lxvi. 3, 4. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, GULIELMUS. Westfellon, Salop, Jan. 29. HOSTS are a set of gentry with quite as social conversation I have the deepest respect (and at whom hereby, I most honestly confess, I have not the remotest intention to laugh) I trust, with such liberty, I am able to explain. FLETA, we learn from Judge' Blackstone, is an antient Law Book, and so called because it was written in the FLEET Prison: Fleta being the word, in such Latin as was then used, by which that prison was known; in which language the book is written; and as the first sentence implies. Now my very learned friend denies the name FLETA, as follows: F, he says, stands for D, which stands for DIGESTUM. LET. was originally written LET, with a Greek T (gamma), which the ignorant Compositor imagined was a broken T, standing for Legum. And A stood for ANGLIE: which taken together would appear thus: D.LEG. A. instead of FLETA and signifying Digestum Legum Angliæ.-(N. B. I cite from memory, not having the Paper by me.) Now, Sir, with allowance of the same privilege, I think I am able to inform other Correspondent, your not only why Ghosts are said to be laid in the Sea, but also in the RED Sea. But, before I enter upon this deep discussion, it will be necessary to inform some of your readers of the authority of certain antient English words. The mighty Lexicographer defines the substantive SAY to be A SPEECH, and gives the authority of one who "said his SAY;" which word, by the bye, Minshew derives (a little, I think, in our way) from the Latin A10. This substantive SAY, I look upon to claim a pretty close kin the sea, or (if a very troublesome Ghost) in the RED sea; which was the only effectual laying, for from thence there was no return: and the honest Gardener, in Addison's most excellent Comedy, hence very justly remarks, that there must be surely 66 a power of Ghosts in this same Red Sea." Now, Sir, if the Ghost was not a very daring one, the Parson merely came and spoke Latin to it-just said his say, and so got rid of him : but if the Ghost came repeatedly, and, like poor Mr. Moppeson, made a terrible ado in the house, the Parson was obliged to bring his BOOK, the Ghost not caring a straw for the Parson or his SAID say, until compelled to depart, and shew his submission to the READ say. To be serious, Mr. Urban, if I can for a moment be serious on such a subject, either of such derivations or Ghosts; I really think my explanation of this RED SEA business quite as near the mark, as that of my very learned and worthy friend's of Fleta; as well as others in your pages I could name: but for fear I should "catch it" in some future number, to which it is more than ten to one either indolence or ignorance, or both, would forbid me to reply, I have taken the instance above, not that I think it more wide from the point than any other, but solely because I know the Author to be too great, and too good, to be offended with an innocent joke. JOHN F. M. DOVASTON. Mr. URBAN, Feb. 7. HE Life of Robert May, prefixed to the word saw, which Shakspeare Tto "The Accomplisht Cook" (see so very often uses; as, "his weapons holy Saws of sacred writ," "All SAWS of books," "The Parson's Saw,' &c. &c.; and which the aforesaid Lexicographer defines to be, a saying, maxim, or sentence: and derives it from the Saxon raga, which word, if merely Latinized, is much to my purpose. I should also inform the same readers, that antiently the preterit of the verb read, and the adjective red, were both spelt alike, rende. Now, Sir, to return to my Ghost business. It is very well known that when a Ghost was to be laid, the Parson was always sent for, to lay it in p. 33) is more curious, as exhibit. ing the profuseness of his patrons in their hospitalities, than for any interesting particulars of the Author himself: "For the better knowledge of the worth of this Book, though it be not usual the Author being living, it will not be amiss to acquaint the reader with Life, as also what eminent persons (rea brief account of some passages of his nowned for their good house-keeping) whom he hath served throughout the whole series of his life; for, as the growth of the children argueth the strength of the parents, so doth the judgment judgment and abilities of the Artist conduce to the making and goodness of the Work: now that such great knowledge in this so commendable Art was not gained but by long experience, practice, and converse with the most ablest men in their times, the reader in this brief narrative may be informed by what steps and degrees he ascended to the same. "He was born in the year of our Lord 1588, his father being one of the ablest cooks in his time, and his first Tutor in the knowledge or practice of cookery; under whom having attained to some perfection in that art, the old Lady Dormer sent him over into France, where he continued five years, being in the family of a Noble Peer, and first President of Paris; where he gained not only the French tongue, but also bettered his knowledge in his cookery: and returning again into England, was bound apprentice in London to Mr. Arthur Hollinsworth in Newgate Market, one of the ablest workmen in London, cook to the Grocers' Hall and Star-Chamber. His apprenticeship being out, the Lady Dormer sent for him to be her cook under his father (who then served that honourable Lady); where were four cooks more, such noble houses were then kept, the glory of that, and shame of this present age: then were those golden days wherein were practised the triumphs and trophies of Cookery; then was hospitality esteemed, neighbourhood preserved, the poor cherished, and God honoured; then was religion less talkt on, and more practised; then was atheism and schism less in fashion; and then did men strive to be good, rather than to seem so. Here he continued till the Lady Dormer died, and then went again to London, and served the Lord Castlehaven; after that the Lord Lumley, that great lover and knower of art, who wanted no knowledge in the discerning this mistery; next the Lord Montague in Sussex; and at the beginning of these wars, the Countess of Kent; then Mr. Nevel of Christen-Temple in Essex, whose Ancestors the Smiths (of whom he is descended) were the greatest maintainers of hospitality in all those parts, nor doth the present Mr. Nevil degenerate from their laudable examples. Divers other persons of like esteem and quality hath he served, as the Lord Ri vers, Mr. John Ashburnham of the BedChamber, Dr. Steed in Kent, Sir Thomas Stiles, of Drury-Lane in London, Sir Marmaduke Constable in Yorkshire, Sir Charles Lucas; and lastly the Right Honourable the Lady Englefield, where he now liveth," In the Preface, May says: "To be confined and limited to the narrowness of a purse, is to want the materials from which the artist must gain his knowledge. Those Honourable Persons my Lord Lumley, and others, with whom I have spent a part of my time, were such whose generous costs never weighed the expence, so that they might arrive to that right and high esteem they had of their Gusto's. Whosoever peruses this volume, shall find it amply exemplified in dishes of such high prices, which only these Noblesses hospitalities did reach to: I should have sinned against their (to be perpetuated) bounties, if I had not set down their several varieties, that the reader might be as well acquainted with what is extraordinary, as what is ordinary in this art; as I am truly sensible, that some of those things that I have set down will amaze a not thorow-paced reader in the art of cookery, as they are delicates, never till this time made known to the world." 66 Though I may be envied by some that only value their private interests above posterity, and the public good, yet God and my own conscience would not permit me to bury these my experiences with my silver hairs in the grave." "I protest to the whole world, that I have not concealed any material secret of above my fifty and five years' experience; my father being a cook, under 'whom in my childhood I was bred up in this art." "In this book, as in a closet, is contained all such secrets as relate to preserving, conserving, candying, distilling, and such rare varieties as they are most concerned in the best husbandring and huswifering of them, Nor is there any book, except that of the Queen's Closet, which was so enriched with receipts presented to her Majesty, as yet that I ever saw in any language, that ever contained so many profitable experiences, as in this volume; in all which the reader shall finde most of the compositions and mixtures easie to be prepared, most pleasing to the pallat, and not too chargeable to the purse, since you are at liberty to employ as much or as little therein as you please." He concludes his preface, by "desiring of God a blessing upon his endeavours.' In my next, I will, with your leave, extract the Triumphs of Cookery used on Festival Days," the "Tearms of Carving;" and conclude with a specimen or two of the Receipts. Yours, &c. B. N. Mr. Mr. URBAN, Manchester, Feb. 5. Yashort account of Owen, the AuYOUR Correspondent W. may find thor of the Epigrams, in the ninth volume of a New and General Biographical Dictionary (ed. 8vo, 1762), where we are informed that he was born at Armon in Carnarvonshire, and bied at Winchester school, from whence he was chosen a scholar of New College, Oxford, of which he became Professor and Fellow in 1582. In 1590 (er o eously printed 1690) he proceeded LL B.; but quitting his Fellowship the following year, he taught school at Trylegh near Monmouth, and about 1594 was chosen Master of the Free School founded by Henry Vill. at Warwick. He died in 1622, and was interred in St. Paul's, where a monument, with his bust in brass, was erected to his memory by Lord Keeper Williams, his relation and countryman. Under the bust is the following Epigram, or Inscription, which may be found in Dugdale's "History of St. Paul's Cathedral," but which I transcribe from a MS note in my copy of the Epigrammata. (Amst. apud Elz. 1647, 24mo, with engraved frontispiece and portrait.) "Jucundissimæ memoriæ Joannis Oweni Cambro-Britanni, Poetæ celeberrimi. Parva tibi statua est, quia parva statura, supellex Parva, volat parvus magna per ora liber; Sed non parvus honos, non parva est gloria, quippe Ingenio baud quicquam est majus in orbe tuo. Parva domus texit, templum sed grande; Poetæ The MS note in my copy also alludes to the circumstance of Owen having been disinherited by his Uncle: but, in a note to the Dictionary above mentioned it is stated, "Moreri tells us that this story is treated as a fable by M. de la Monnoye." I do not learn that Owen has left any other productions besides his Epigrams, of which there are several translations into English and other languages. John Vicars, Usher of Christ Church Hospital, translated a select number of them into English verse, which were published in 1619. Thomas Pecke (called Beck in the Dictionary) of the Inner Temple, published" Parnassi Puerperium, or some Well-wishes to Ingenuity, in the Translation of 600 of Owen's Epigrams," &c. &c. Printed at London 1659, (now a scarce book, and sells high.) Thomas Harvey, Gent. englished all or most of them, 1677, 12mo. 66 The writer of the note in my copy says, Harvey's is a pitiful perform ance, and Pecke's is worse:" how true this may be, I know not. A Spanish translation, by Fr. de la Torre, appeared, Madrid, 1674, and 1682, 2 vols. 4to; and in the account of Owen in Dict. Univ. Historique, (ed. 1810-12, in 20 vols. 8vo,) it seems "André Le Brun a fait un choix des meilleures Epigrammes de cet Auteur, et les a traduites en vers François, Paris 1709, in 12, et sous le titre de Pensées Ingenieuses,' Bruxelles, 1710, in 12." In the same work, however, under the article Brun (Antoine Louis le,) we are informed that “On a de lui, une Traduction des Epigrammes d'Owen 1714, in Svo." No doubt, the ensuing volume of Mr. Biiss's edition of Wood's Ath. Oxon, which is now daily expected, will furnish us with some further particulars relative to Owen: but I shall be happy if what I have stated be, in the mean time, any gratification to your Correspondent. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, YOUR A. R. F. Feb. 7. YOUR Correspondent, W. p. 33, may find a full account of Owen the Epigrammatist in Wood's Athenæ, vol. Ï. p. 470-472. The Epigrams being much read, at home and abroad, came into the hands of the Romish Inquisitors, who, on account chiefly of the distich quoted by your Correspondent, in which he says, "though it is disputed whether (Simon) Peter ever was at Rome, no one denies that Simon (Magus) was there," put his book into the Index Expurgatorius. And for these verses, and others of like nature, Owen's uncle, a Papist, or popishly affected, dashed his name out of his will; which was the chief reason, that ever after he lived in a poor condition; or, as he had said before, was always troubled with the disease that attends Poets, indi gence." R. C. 66 Mr. |