510 Inquiries suggested by a History of Basing House. The plunder obtained on this occasion is said to have amounted to 200,000), in cash, jewels, and furniture, among which was n bed worth 1,400l. A private seldier is said to have received 3001, as his share of the booty. Among the distinguished persons taken prisoner was Sir Robert Peake, who commanded the garrison under the Marquis. Lieut.-col. Wiburn, and Serjeant-major Cufaude, of the Loyalists, are said to have been slain in cold blood. Dr. Thos. Johnson, the celebrated botanist, being with the royal army, received a wound of which he died. Six Catholic priests (the Marquis being a Catholic) were also among the slain, Robinson, a stage-player, was killed by Major-gen. Harrison, who is said to have refused him quarter, and shot him in the head when he had laid down his arms, Hollar, the celebrated engraver, who was there at the time, made his escape. Dr. Thos, Fuller, author of the Church History of Britain, and other works, being a chaplain in the royal army under Lord Hopton, was for some time shut up in Basing House while it was besieged. Even here, as if sitting in the study of a quiet parsonage far removed from the din of war, he prosecuted his favourite work, entitled The Worthies of England; discovering no sign of fear, but only complaining that the noise of the cannon, which was continually thundering from the lines of the besiegers, interrupted him in digest ing his notes. Dr. Fuller, however, animated the garrison to so vigorous a defence, that Sir Wm. Waller was obliged to raise the siege with considerable loss, by which the fate of Basing House was for a considerable while suspended. When it was besieged a second time and fell, Lord Hopton's army took shelter in the city of Exeter, whither Fuller accompanied it. [July 1, taken during her absence. She wrote a journal of the proceedings relative to the siege.* "After the original house was destroyed, a mansion was built on the north side of the road opposite the ruins. This house was pulled down about fifty or sixty years ago, and the materials carried to Cannons near Kingsclere.t The brave Marquis, whose property was thus reduced to ruins in the cause of his sovereign, lived till the Restoration, but received no recompense from an ungrateful court for his immense lusses. His loyalty was the more remarkable as coming from a Catholic subject to a Protestant King. During the latter part of his life he resided at Englefield, in Berkshire, where he built a noble mansion, the front of which resembled the face of a church organ, but it has suffered by some late modernizatious. Dying in 1674, he was buried in the parish church: the epitaph on his monument was written by the poet Dryden, and is as follows: “He, who in impious times undaunted stood, more And midst rebellion durst be just and good; in thee, Few subjects could a King like thine deserve; nal of the Marchioness? Was it ever pub- 1 The Journal of the Siege of Basing House, "Hugh Peters was at the taking of printed at Oxford in 1645, is considered as Basing House, and being come to London one of the eventful pieces of history to make a report of it to the parliament, during the war. Can any of your reasaid it was a house fit for an emperor to ders favour us with it, or extracts from it, or dwell in, it was so spacious and beauti- inform us where it may be procured or seen? ful. The Marchioness of Winchester, second wife of the Marquis, was distinguished for courage and prudence, like the celebrated Blanche, Lady Arundel, who so nobly defended Wardour Castle. The Marchioness valiantly aided in the defence of Basing House, which was Can any of your correspondents favour us with an account of either or all of the above distinguished persons, or inform us where an account of them is to be found? An engraving of Basing House accompanies the history. It appears to be copied from the plate in Warner's collections engraving intended for the house destroyed for the History of Hampshire. Is Warner's by Cromwell, or for the more modern mansion built afterwards? From its being bounded on one side by water, it is supposed to be intended for the latter, which was built on the edge of the river Loddon. further particulars respecting him, or refer to Can any of your correspondents furnish any work where they may be found? By suffering rose, and gave the law to fate! Such souls are rare; but mighty patterns given To earth, and meant for ornaments to Heaven." "The Marquis translated from the French the Gallery of Heroic Women < 1652; and Talon's Holy History, 1658. See a copy of verses on the Marquis of Winchester's" Gallery of Ladies" in Howell's Letters, vol. 4. "The first wife of the Marquis was Jane, the very accomplished daughter of Thomas, Viscount Savary or Savage: she was taught Spanish by James Howell, Esq. who addressed a very curious letter to her Grace. See his Familiar Letters, vol. 1.† She was the mother of Charles, first Duke of Bolton, but died in the delivery of her second child, in the 24th year of her age. An epitaph to her memory was written by Milton. There was a Cambridge collection of verses on her death, among which Milton's lines appeared, being written while he was a student at Christ's College. Ben Jonson wrote an Elegy on the Lady Anne Pawlett, Marchioness of Winton. She was sister to the Earl of Essex, and to the Marchioness of Hertford. "Among the numerous portraits at Hackwood House is a full length of John Pawlet, fifth Marquis of Winchester; also a full length of the Marchioness, his second wife. A small oval portrait has been engraven of this nobleman, by Hol tar, who also engraved a small view of Basing House, which is extremely rare.§§ "The Marquis was thrice married; 1, To Jane, daughter of Thomas Viscount Savage; 2, To Honora, daughter of Richard, Earl of Clanrickard; and, 3, To of your friends oblige us with Can any these verses? + Cannot some of your readers favour us with it? 1 Can any of your correspondents furnish us with an account of this nobleman, who was so active in promoting the Revolution, or point out a work which gives us the most circumstantial account of him? it? § Can some of your readers favour us with Il Can any of your friends give us an account of them, or extracts from them? Perhaps some of your correspondents could oblige us with this Elegy? Was the small view by Hollar taken from the old house, or the more modern mansion? Where may elther the view or portrait by Hollar be procured or scen? 511 Isabel, daughter of Wm. Viscount Stafford."-See Gent. Mag. for Aug. 1787. If any of your numerous readers would be so good as to notice any or all of the above enquiries or requests, through the medium of your excellent work, they would very much oblige several of your friends, and particularly May 4, 1815. AN INQUIRER. MR. EDITOR, I CANNOT help thinking that neithet H. M., in your number for April, nor W. J. N. in that of June, have fully answered a "Countryman's" enquiry in March last respecting the Chiltern Hundreds. It is very true that the people of Eng land have a right to elect any qualified person as their representative in Parliament, and that they and the House of Commons can force him to attend his duty in St. Stephen's chapel, though at the same time he is perfectly at liberty to do it or not, as he pleases, being perfectly competent to vote directly contrary to the wishes of his constituents, or to avoid voting at all by the convenient mutual accommodation of pairing off. But then the constitution, to avoid the chance of bribery and corruption on the part of ministers, obliges every member, on receiving office under the crown, to vacate his seat, leaving him competent to reelection, provided such a measure is agreeable to his constituents; a circumstance which, for various reasons, has been made a precedent for voluntary resignation, by the acceptance of a nominal office, such as Steward of his Majesty's Hundreds of Chiltern" in this kingdom, and " Escheators of Munster" in Ireland; but whether there is, or ever was such an arrangement in Scotland, I am quite uncertain-indeed I have no doubt that your readers will be grateful for any information upon that head. "A Countryman," however, goes further in his question, and as there are more than one Chiltern in England, he may perhaps be glad to be informed that the parliamentary hundreds of Chiltern are crown lands in Bedfordshire and Bucks, not far from Aylesbury; their topographical name arising from the chalky nature of the hills, of which they principally consist. I have thus, Sir, endeavoured to fill up the hiatus in preceding answers, so as completely, I hope, to satisfy the original inquirer. 1་་ Your's, L. . 512 On the Nature and Cause of Gout-The House Beetle. July 1, ME, EDITOR, IT is not many months since I took occasion to offer some hints, through your medium, respecting a probable cause of the rheumatism. Since that period I have unfortunately had an opportunity of making some observations on the gout, which complaint first attacked me with all the symptoms of rheumatism, with which latter disorder I have many reasons for believing it to be closely connected. When it was most violent in my right hand, the artery which runs at the root of the thumb was not only preternaturally filled with blood, but seemed also to be distended with something else, which produced a most acute pain, fol lowing the direction of the artery across the hand, particularly when any motion of the muscles took place. In conse quence of this, I suspected that the gout, as well as rheumatism, might have a gaseous origin, and that if the one is produced by gas in the vascular substance, or perhaps in the bones, so the other may arise from the introduction of gas into the blood, I shall not trespass on your limits by dry reasoning, but merely offer a few surmises on the subject, as they presented themselves to my view. In the first place, the gas being carried by the circulation to the feet and hands, where there are so many minute blood-vessels, the circulation becomes stopped, blood and gas accumulate, the veins and arteries are distended, pain and inflammation ensue. If perspiration carries off the gas, or if the impulse from the heart, perhaps accelerated by wine taken into the stomach, forces a passage through the obstructed vessels, then the paroxysm ceases; but, in the latter case, the gas is carried on by the circulation, until it meets with fresh obstruction in another foot or hand, a circumstance which, from the frequent circulation, must rapidly take place, and the unhappy patient finds himself, as if by magic, alternately attacked at each extremity. Again-if the gas is carried back to the heart, and there accumulates, so as to prevent the systole and diastole, or collapsing of that organ, then death must ensue: and it is probable that what is called "Gout in the stomach," is actually gout in the heart, but which member may be kept in a state of artificial stimulus by brandy or wine taken inwardly. The formation of chalk-stones is also apparently illustrative of the proposed theory, as it is well known that two impalpable gases, if suffered to unite, will speedily form a concretion. I am aware, indeed, that chalk-stones have been analyzed, and found to contain only urate of soda, and another substance, neither of which is volatile: yet other gases, which afterwards escaped, may have kept them for a time in a state of volatility, but left them subsequently to concrete; so that such an objection is not insurmountable. I presume not to dictate to the College; yet I think it not improbable that these hints may lead to the discovery of a cure for the GOUT. P.S. I found great relief from warm bathing and unctuous applications. MR. EDITOR, ONE of your correspondents begs to be informed how to get rid of the house-beetle. Having been much annoyed with those troublesome insects, I can sympathize in his trouble, and I hope put him in the way of obtaining relief. Some years since our house was beset with them as with an army, and we had recourse to a hedgehog, but found we had only exchanged a small nuisance for one of larger dimensions. The object being frustrated we had recourse to another expedient; which was at once easy, safe, and effectual; it was this:-We took a large bason, or deep pie-dish, well glazed and smooth within side, and put some sweet liquor, such as beer and sugar, or the grounds of wine into it, about half full; then placed it at bed-time where they most frequented, putting pieces of wood on every side from the ground to the edge of the bason or dish, to serve as ladders. These they ran up, attracted by the sweet liquid, and dropped into it: the smooth surface within allowing no hold for their feet, it became a complete trap, and in a short time the house was cleared. That in which I now reside was about three years ago greatly infested by them; I tried the same remedy with similar suc cess. If some of your correspondents could furnish as easy a method of getting rid of those noisome insects that disturb the nightly repose of the inhabitants of this metropolis, and are the dread of our country friends, it would be an extensive benefit. X. D. MR. EDITOR, I CERTAINLY must coincide in opinion with your new correspondent CLE MENT COTTERELL, that the precedency given to the extended Order of the Bath 1815.] Precedency of Companions of the Bath before Esquires. ought not to form any just foundation for an unpleasant feeling on the part of the real esquires of the United British Empire; but, at the same time, I must observe, that the question takes a much broader bearing than your correspondent seems to advert to. That an exception should be taken against the precedency of the knights of the Bath, would argue a degree of absurdity, a morbid feeling of vanity, un deserving of a panacea; considering that no objections have yet been started against the precedency given to grocers and tailors, and mad-house keepers, when dubbed knights bachelors; but the first complaint was against the proposed "companions of the order;" who, without any chivalric prenomen, are to take precedency of all esquires, that is to say, of all esquires who have not a higher elaim to precedency by birth; because the younger sons of dukes are only esquires in the eye of the law, yet it cannot be supposed that the companions are to take rank before them. The highest esquires, as esquires only, in the order of precedency, are those of the King's body, or gentlemen of the privy chamber; next to whom are the ancient esquires of the Bath; it seems probable, therefore, that the place for the companions will be between baronets' younger sons and esquires of the King's body; high above whom are " field and flag officers"-next, indeed, to knights of the Bath, and not so low down as the younger sons of knights bachelors, whose place is immediately above that of gentlemen entitled to bear arms. Now, if we were to take the word "armiger" Jiterally, then every gentleman bearing arms would be an esquire; so that all the sons of an esquire would be esquires, Just as all the sons of a German baron are barons: but neither the law nor the Courtesy of England admit of this; and as the profession of arms, whether naval or military, places all officers as gentlemen-(even though they are not entitled to coat armour, and even below the rank of captains in the army, who are esquires by virtue of their commission, as well as lieutenants in the navy, who are called "Mr." in their commissions or warrants, for such they are really stated, though the King's order in council confirms to them the rank which they have always held equivalent to captain in the army, and which even gives them command in joint expeditions, on shore, agreeable to the date of commissions) the additional honour from the fountain 513 of all honour ought certainly to give them the proposed rank, without its being a matter of complaint for the real esquires of England, who hitherto have not winced at so many (ill deserving of it too) being placed by courtesy or by impudence on an equality with them. It were to be wished that some regula→ tion could take place respecting the term esquire," as we so often see men assuming it who, neither by birth, education, profession, or fortune, have a just claim to rank even as gentlemen. Perhaps it might answer, if real esquires were to take out certificates at the Herald's College, like game licenses; whilst all soi-disant upstarts should be made to pay double postage—an item that would make a figure in a new budget. MR. EDITOR, CAMDEN, JUN, AT a period when the essentials to existence are barely within reach of the majority of the people, it becomes an appropriate duty of the legislature to protect them from impositions on every necessary which in any manner constitutes the support of life.. The following proposed correction of an existing abuse, and the competency of the measure to remedy the evil, embrace in their operation an extensive circle to an amount which precludes any certainty in an estimate. The infinite diversity of scales and weights throughout the kingdom, and the multiplicity of false scales and deficient weights, is too evident and notorious a fact: the constant and increasing practice of the crime defeats the possi bility of reform, by any exertions or punishment which the present mode of executing the laws intended for the purpose. It is now become a disgraceful feature in the police of England. The punishment for this shameful peculation is not sufficiently heavy, nor have the examiners (being parochial officers without salary) any incentive to activity. Blackstone, § 275, on Public Wrongs, remarks on the former attention of legislators to these objects, and with what respectable authority weights and measures were guarded from being unjust. These matters were considered among the Romans of such importance to the public, that they were committed to the care of some of the most dignified magistrates an There are scales in universal use, which, for certain articles, have dissimilar bottoms; one always for the weights, 514 Proposed Regulations for Weights. the other for the commodity sold. Though empty, they are in equilibrium: a small increase of length in the half of the beam to which the commodity is appended will always deceive, and by which means an obvious expedient is with facility afforded to fraud. The weights generally used are of various substances of iron, brass, lead, stone, or any other ponderous substitute; the greater proportion of which are without any controul to standard weight, specific shape, metallic body, or conspicuous mark, to ascertain their being just. The falsity and deceptive methods practised by incorrect weights, and the consequent loss to the consumers of every commodity purchased through this medium, is beyond all calculation. This species of cheating, as it affects every class of people individually, whether engaged in trades, arts, or manufactures, calls aloud for notice and amend ment. To remove this so common imposition, its correction should be made a permanent and certain source of revenue; as it would thereby become doubly useful and important to the public. As the measure, in its effect and operation, must produce a great political improvement, repress fraudulent practices, and favour honest industry, every one must applaud an impost unexceptionable but to those, whose interest and inclination direct them to a continuance of a nefarious and predatory pursuit. All persons using scales and weights, steel-yards or balances of any kind, for the purposes of publicly buying and selling, should be compelled to keep them in a conspicuous situation in their houses, shops, warehouses, wharfs, &c. with a suitable inscription on a board, indicating in the clearest manner the several natures of the beams, weights, scales, and steel-yards, &c. &c. they possess; their numbers, with separate capacities, being previously registered in the office appointed for the purpose. Concealed scales and weights to be and which being discovered interdicted; with intention to be secreted, should be subject to forfeiture and penalty upon the party in whose custody they may be found. This inhibition would check the common custom of most small retailers, who always have a set of perfect weights independent of those employed in their business, ready to be produced when ever an examination should chance to happen. Certificates from the office of entry, [July 1, reciting the numbers and species of times per au Beams and weights of every kind to be strictly examined at the public office before the stamp or mark of probation is affixed, and counterfeiting the same to be deemed felony. Weights from 7 lbs. and upwards to be constructed of iron, and of a certain shape; and those of 4lbs. to the smallest fraction of an ounce, to be made of brass only, bearing a stamp expressing the amount of the duty to which it is annually subject; and no other weights to be used than of these descriptions under fine or imprisonment. Diminishing weights after receiving the official stamp, to be liable to a heavy fine or transportation. Weights to be provided and issued from the public office, at a price ade quate to the necessary charges of the government; and all beams to be examined, and to have a mark or stamp of approbation affixed, with a charge in proportion to its size. Every certificate of register, and receipt for the duties, to be on a two-shilling-and-sixpenny stamp. Proposed Table of Stamps to be annually paid. Every beam, balance, or steel 1. s. d. yard, constructed to suspend 56cwt, and upwards on each arm 1 5 From 56 lbs. to 56 cwt, inclusive From 56 lbs, to the smallest beam in use. sive 1 From 4 lbs. to oz. both inclusive o 0 0 5 The above plan is suggested, without further attempt to enumerate the various good consequences deducible from its adoption; but it must appear sufficiently evident that it would be calculated to relieve the public from a grievous op pression, and contribute a considerable |