ral Persons of great Honour. London, printed by J. Winter, for Nath. Brooke, at the Angel in Cornhill neer the Royal Exchange, 1671." To this volume, which contains nearly 500 pages, is prefixed Robert May's Portrait, with the following verses: "What! wouldst thou view but in one All hospitalitie, the race rous Art, I have exposed this Volume to A Preface addressed "To the Master Cooks, and to such young Prac[face titioners of the Art of Cookery, to whom this Book may be useful," is followed by "A short Narrative of some Passages of the Author's Life,” signed W. W. Of those that for the Gusto stand, "To the Right Honourable my Lord Montague, my Lord Lumley, and my Lord Dormer; and to the Right Worshipful Sir Kenelme Digby; so well knwn to this nation for their admired -hospitalities. Right Honourable, and Right Worshipful, He is an alien, a meer stranger in England that hath not been acquaint ed with your generous housekeepings; for my own part, my more particular tyes of service to you, my honoured Lords, have built me up to the height of this experience, for which this Book now at last dares appear to the world: those times which attended upon your Honours were those golden days of peace and hospitality, when you enjoyed your own, so as to entertain and relieve others. Right Honourable, and Right Worshipful, I have not only been an eyewitness, but interested by my attendance; so as that I may justly acknowledge those triumphs and magnificent trophies of Cookery that have adorned your tables; nor can I but confess to the world, except I should be guilty of the highest ingratitude, that the onely structure of this my Art and Knowledge, I owed to your costs, generous and inimitable expences; thus not onely I have derived my experience, but your Countrey hath reapt the plenty of your humanity and charitable bounties. "Right Honourable, and Right Worshipful,-Hospitality, which was once a relique of the gentry, and a known cognizance to all ancient houses, hath lost her title through the unhappy and cruel disturbances of these times, she is now reposing of her lately so allarum'd head on your beds of honour: in the mean space, that our English World may know the Mæcenas's and Patrons of this gene Then is given a whimsical account of "Triumphs and Trophies in Cookery, to be used at Festival Times, at Twelfth Day, &c. accompanied by two Copies of Verses, signed James Perry and John Town, on their "loving Friend, Mr. Robert May, his incomparable Book of Cookery." After "The most exact, or à la Mode Ways of Carving and Sewing," are given "Bills of Fare for every Season in the Year; also how to set forth the Meat in order for that service; as it was before Hospitality left this Nation." Should this communication prove acceptable, I may, in my next, send you some diverting extracts. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, B. N. Jan. 5. O man is more ready to acknow ledge your conciliating disposition, or more willing to respect your award than myself; but I must beg leave to appeal against two observations in your Note on Mr. Storer's last letter. These, I am persuaded, were penned with the haste which is unavoidable in a periodical publi *The Author of "The School of Instruction for the Offices of the Mouth," flourished at the same time with May. He exceeded all his contemporaries in folding of napkins. See the prints in his book, which exhibit them under a great variety of forins. This practice continued for many years. It seems to have required almost as much time as dressing an elegant dinner, him himself as an Artist, whatever he may be now, did not confine the use of his pen to the description of his own productions. He first advanced pretensions which the publick were very far from being disposed to admit. When these were questioned, he chose to level an attack against persons, who (to pay them no compliment) are at least as well acquainted with Antiquities as himself. This was combined with insinuations, calculated to prejudice the reputation, and depreciate the labours of others, whom he did not venture to name. I appeal to your candid judgment, whether such conduct indicates the liberal ambition of a scholar, or the sordid avidity of a monopolist. 66 You call the phrase, which has justly occasioned so much animadversion, an unguarded expression." On this I must beg leave to say, that your good nature has induced you to give it a far more favourable construction than it deserved. It first found its place on the cover of one of his Numbers; it was next given, in less qualified terms, in your Magazine; and finally it was introduced, under a new shape, in the reply to Mr. Storer, and corroborated by an insinuation, calculated to shew, that all opposition to Mr. Britton was hopeless. Can this, Mr. Urban, be suffered to pass with the indulgence which is allowed to an unguarded expression? I am neither Author nor Artist; but I think it my duty to lend my humble aid in rendering justice to those who are wantonly attacked, and consequently are entitled to the privilege of self-defence. Had Mr. B. not obtruded himself a second time on public notice; had he not even challenged animadversion; you, Sir, would never have been troubled with any correspondence of mine so ill according with the liberal purposes for which your Magazine was intended. Yours, &c. AN INHABITANT OF SALISBURY. Allhallows Church, Tower-Street. Wod. Carter, who will readily E shall resign our charge over make one of the party, as the invitation sets forth (Vol. LXXXIII. Part I. p. 528.), to review the Church after its repairs." So says the" Architect," same Vol. Part II. p. 36; of course, when the repairs were completed, and the Church opened for Divine service on New Year's Day last, I took the earliest opportunity of visiting the spot, which was on the 11th instant. "Architect's" notes on the improvements to be done, (same Vol. Part I. p. 333.) "Cieling to give place to a new one, in a better character; windows, more immediately the East one, re-constructed; monuments removed; old graye-stones broke up, and the whole pavement to be re-laid." Same Vol. p. II. p. 36. "the Architect" observes, the cicling is already giving way to a new one; new string to the lower story; on North side of Church a new door-way," &c. On application to the Rev. Henry White for permission to examine the edifice, I met with every attention necessary for that purpose, he sending orders to the inferior officers of the Church to attend me on the occasion. SURVEY." Cieling" an entire new one, worked in fir timber and stucco; old ditto, chesnut, and although, as "specified," without any truss whatever, it maintained its position for three centuries at least ;as for modern cielings, of fir and stucco, every one knows the date of their probable existence! No doubt various reasons may be adduced, why the new cieling is preferable to the former; (though the "Specification" ttt We have without hesitation inserted this Letter, and hope it will put sets forth," the cieling to be formed an end to an unpleasant controversy. in flat compartments, with intersectOur own expression, written (currente ing timbers and mouldings resemcalamo) with the most conciliatory in-bling the original,") but, it is appretention, was far too general, if it implied a wish that Artists would not write. They are the Correspondents whose favours we anxiously covet; and we only re hended, in no wise satisfactory to Antiquaries, supposing for an instant such personages deserving of respect or consideration, The distribution of of the compartments of the old cieling with intersecting mouldings, bosses, &c. ran West and East; the new ditto,with pointed compartments, in servile imitation of the modern fanciful cieling of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, runs South and North. "Mullions and tracery of side and East windows" re-constructed, and with attention to the original work. "Monuments" remain as before, but appear to have been made up in the mutilated parts with stucco; if so, the patch-work has been hid by the new-fashioned white-wash splashing resorted to in such cases. Pavement," "relaid ;" "brasses," no doubt, as before; did not observe the "indents" in the old stones as hinted. "New supernumerary hollow," to string at East end of the exterior rubbed out, and the line masoned somewhat more in unison with the original, yet existing at West end of the building. New "door-way, North side of Church" its incongruities, as objected to by Architect," corrected, particularly in the spandrils of the arch, as the " Turk's-caps" have been dislodged. " So far the "Architect's" communications," to stimulate the beautifiers and improvers to entertain a due respect for our antiquities," have not wholly been without their proper effect; and thus one of our National remote ecclesiastical erections yet stands with some shew of what it once was. As for the other "repairs," independent of the "Architect's" observations, they are as follows: Tower: new trowelled, South side and East end new faced, North side remains untouched. The attached Vestry at East end (17th century work) taken down, and a new Gothic ditto built up; that is, a sort of attempt in the Tudor style (decline of our antient architecture), with Pointed doorway, windows, buttresses at the angles, and parapet. It might have been thought, while this Vestry undertaking was going on, to give a restoration of the sweeping cornice to the windows East and North, and to the parapet of body of the building, which, if not battlemented, something like the Vestry parapet would not have been much out of character. In the interior, a new Gothic Tudor screen in front of organ gallery; ano Within ther attempt in this way. the Vestry similar attempts are in continuation, in architraves to door-ways aud windows; a chimney-piece likewise claims observation on the same score. Modern flat cieling; one of the doors to this Vestry shews mullions with perforations; cannot, however, recollect one old document to bear out this part of the attempt; it must therefore be set down as quite a "new thought." With respect to the pews, organcase, font, pulpit, and altar-piece, they are seen even as the Wren-ean school left them, but new painted, gilded, and varnished. Upon quitting this Survey, it may be told, that two new stone Tudor fancied chimney-pieces and stoves have been introduced; an objectionable expedient certainly, for however warm a few may feel themselves, from the near affinity of a roasting fire, the greater part of the congegation must, as heretofore, be content to suffer cold. So much for the drawing-room semblance of modern accommodation. Nor must it be omitted to set down the award of praise to those who opposed and prevented removing the pulpit into the centre of the Church, and placing it directly before the Altar: another modern and unaccountable practice, prevailing in too many of our London places of Divine worship. Let the opposers to this portion of the repairs," I repeat, let them be praised! Yours, &c. J. CARTER. 66 ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION. Benuation. No. CC. Progress of Architecture in Englund in the Reign of Anne. Continued from LXXXIV. Part II. 549. UCKINGHAM-HOUSE in contiAt present, according to the Duke of Buckingham's description, the "goodly elms and gay flourishing limes," have submitted to feel decay; "iron palisade," changed to a more modern and simple form; "great bason, with statues and water works," no traces remain*; “terrace," done away, entrance is up three small steps into the hall; "covered passage While the famous lead statue yard was in being, in Piccadilly, (about 20 years back,) many of these statues were there deposited, particularly that of Neptune. from from the kitchen," built up; "corridores supported on Ionic pillars," filled in with brick-work, and modern door-ways, windows with compartments over them, inserted therein, with string, plinth, &c. constituting Concealed passages from the wings to the house; "kitchen with an open cupola at top," not visible at this time. Colin Campbell's plan, as seen externally, is now nearly the same, with the exception of the palisade, great bason, covered passages, the building up of the corridores, terrace, or flight of steps, and an additional door-way to left wing. His front, the pilasters at the extremity of the line taken away, as is the terrace; circular pediment to door-way altered to a triangular ditto; festoons of fruit and flowers under windows of principal floor cut out, and in their place the side strings are run in cont nuation. Festoons of fruit and flowers over centre windows of attic floor cut out likewise, and in their place the side balustrades run in continuation; cills of three mouldings only remain under windows of principal floor, a continued string occupies their place to hall story; to the attic floor, archi traves to the four sides of windows, and to the windows of wings common modern cills; to the architraves of the windows of hall and principal floors are additions of frieze and cornice. Inscription in frieze of centre division painted out; statues on dwarf pilas fers and balustrade taken down; the same has been doue with the vases on corridores. Pediments to dormer windows of wings give place to a flat head; additional door-way to left wing made out with common scrolls, Cornice, &c. Buckingham Vignette; the Doric archways filled up, in which are inserted common passage door-ways, and over them semicircular windows: the stone arches obliterated by the filling up, as noted above, common windows occupying their places. Having in the preceding Number given his Grace of Buckingham's and Campbell's descriptions of this noble house, as it appeared when finished, externally and internally; and in the present Number its modernized external state at this day; it is with extreme concern we are compelled to observe, that this survey must be left incomplete, as every means have been tried to obtain permission for view of the interior, but hitherto without effect; and it is understood that nothing but an express order from Royalty itself can bring about so necessary a business. Indeed it is more than a common disappointment, as our Rise and Progress of Euglish Architecture, which is presumed to be of some National interest in the history of our Arts, must at this point be rendered disjointed, and stand unconnected in a certain degree with the general thread of the pursuit. Still if this portion of our Essays should meet the eye of those most competent to grant a gracious order for completing the necessary Survey, and be favourably entertained, an immediate communication may be entered on, by directing a line for J. Carter, our firm friend and second in all Antiquarian labours, at Nichols, Son, and Bentley's, Red Lion Passage, Fleet-Street; and which will ever be considered as the greatest honour that can be conferred on an humble follower of the Arts, and a most dutiful and loyal subject. AN ARCHITECT. "Almighty Creator! oh deign to shed thy blessed influence over me this day, that I may know to shun the path of Error, and walk in the way of Righteousness and Truth. Impress me with an humble sense of duty to my honoured Parents, and of universal love towards my fellow-creatures. And, in thine infinite goodness, O Lord, grant that this be a day of happiness and rejoicing amongst the Creatures of thy Bounty; so shall all Mankind joyfully unite in one Chorus of Praise to the Eternal God of Mercies." enced, and become partakers of every wild error that the wildest imagination can body forth, surpasses any conception of sober reason or sound understanding. We are told that the Followers of this unhappy Woman have not been confined to the very lowest rank of society, but that some, even of superior education, have been deluded by her. Let this humble our pride when we desire to be "wise above what is written;" and let it, at the same time, induce us to distrust our own judgment before we give way to dangerous doubts. There is a true and a right way set before us, by which we may "try the Spirits whether they be of God;" we must search the Scriptures, not for hidden meanings, but for that which lies near the surface, for that bread which all may eat, for that living water which will give refreshment to all. Though a friend to toleration in its purest sense, it was pain and grief to me to sit on a Bench of Magistrates when a License was, ex officio, granted to a Teacher of Johanna's doctrines. The man acknowledged his conviction of their truth, though not publicly interrogated on the subject, and that he had a small Congregation of Hearers scattered up and down in the Country. The want of power to investigate principles on such occasions, by certificate of character, &c. is certainly a proof of the good that might have arisen, even to Dissenters themselves, from that particular clause in Lord Sidmouth's celebrated Bill. In such a case as the present the Legislature was imposing a hardship on the Magistrate, by en joining him to license the teaching of not only absurd but impious doctrines. I have a local reason, Mr. Urban, for troubling you with this letter. About thirty years ago a female from Scotland, of the name of Buchan, came into the part of the county where I reside, and from whence I write, and endeavoured to make proselytes to her opinion. Like Mrs. Southcott, she pretended to inspiration, and interpreted mysterious passages of Scripture to her own purposes. In one instance, at least, she was too successful. A respectable farmer, living on his own estate, was induced to sell it, and, with his wife, who was equally deluded, and a numerous family, attended the pretended prophetess to her native land. In this expedition, it may be imagined, his possess ons were soon dissipated. Here it was that she predicted that the last day would arrive at a time which she mentioned; and her followers were collected together in an upper chamber in awful expectation of its arrival. This person informed the writer, that when he saw from the window the sun rising above the horizon in all its splendour, he began to have suspicions. I do not recollect by what art she reconciled her disciples to this disappointment; but the person abovementioned, after some difficulty, disentangled himself from this connexion and returned home. Soon after this time Mrs. Buchan died; but not till she had predicted her resurrection to life, like Mrs. Southcott, in three days. A second disappointment closed the scene of delusion. Not many years after this period Mrs. Southcott came into this neighbourhood, on a mission similar to that of Mrs. Buchan. The person whose story I am telling, not perfectly cured of all delusions, travelled round the neighbourhood as a selftaught Teacher. In one of his visits at an obscure village in Yorkshire he accidentaliy met with Mrs. Sonthcott. At the first interview she acquainted him that she was the Woman predicted in the Revelations. He informed her that he had seen another Woman foretold in the Revelations; and wished her to explain the difficulty. Her interpretation began and ended in a most severe invective and abuse. I have never seen any written Account of Mrs, Buchan, and should be glad if any of your numerous Correspondents could throw any farther light upon her history. I am aware how worthless such characters are, and how greatly to be despised; but it is absolutely necessary to undeceive the ignorant on such subjects as the present. It will hardly be believed that in an enlightened age such occurrences could take place; but as they have taken place, it is the duty of every good member of society, not only to recommend but to profess that religion in truth and purity which we derive from the most unpolluted source. "Take heed that no man deceive you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many :-all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." CLERICUS DUNELM. |