1823.] REVIEW. Dr. Robinson's History of Enfield. Forty-Hall was built by Inigo Jones, and it conveys an excellent idea of his style of building. (See Plate II. No. 1.) Highnam, near Gloucester, a seat of Sir B. W. Guise, now member for Gloucestershire, and Troy House, an occasional residence of the Dukes of Beaufort, both works of this great Architect, are of the same external character, as any one may see by comparing the plate of Highnam, in Rudder's "Gloucestershire," with the Engraving here given. The rooms at Troy are very large, lofty, and of magnificent character; probably they are so in other fabricks of this eminent Architect. According to our knowledge, lofty ceilings, halls excepted, in a considerable degree commenced with him, and were very rare before. Trent-place, built by the late Sir Richard Jebb, we notice for one judicious circumstance, which deserves imitation. It was the wise plan of building on a spot which abounded with ready-made trees, the remains of the old Chase. No infant plantations can confer magnificence. The utmost idea which they can give is that of extensive property. In pages 259, 262, we have a front and back view of the mansion of the late Richard Gough, Esq. the celebrated Antiquary. (The front view is given in the annexed Plate, No. 2.) A biographical account is added, of which the accuracy is unquestionable; but we have particular reasons for enlarging on the subject. Certain antiquaries, of considerable eminence, possibly from pique, arising from divisions in the Society about twenty years ago, have thought fit to warn readers against the "Camden," edited and admirably enlarged by Mr. Gough, on account of pretended inaccuracies. In the same illiberal spirit, we know another eminent Antiquary, now living, who published in GENT. MAG. June, 1823. 537 his first leading work little else but ancient manuscripts and records, censured for having published things not of authority, though there could be no other authorities on the subject, and they were in the main as solemn documents as Acts of Parliament. The injury to Science by the indulgence of such a spirit, is too manifest to need remark; for who will produce good things, or take pains, if obloquy is to be his reward. The fact is, that Mr. Gough's "Camden" is a most valuable Thesaurus of British Topography. It contains the substance of a whole Library in the letter-press, and of a Museum in the plates; for though there may be picturesque views of Ruins, Castles, &c. in the popular Compendia, yet the authors pay little or no regard to the scientific archæological part, ancient remains found by excavations, and therefore give a very imperfect view of the state of the arts in various periods of our history. Inaccuracies ensue in every compilation whatever, which is extensive, and for obvious reasons. The authorities quoted may not themselves be correct; some statements or descriptions may be opposed to each other, and may require reconciliation, which may not be possible, without an actual graphic representation of the subject. Verbal descrip tions may lead to inaccurate conclusions, for nothing is more common than to find unintelligible delineation. The mind may be occupied with several accounts or views of a subject, or have preconceptions, or be in haste, and may unintentionally omit or err; and in Topography especially, objects without end are not explicable without drawings. Take it in the whole, Gough's "Camden" is a fine national work. The "Sepulchral Monuments" are also splendid, valuable, and interesting. One word more. The expense of engraving is so great, and yet so essential in many branches of Literature, that our obligations to amateur gentlemen, who take this serious expense upon themselves, are, in a manner, similar to those which we owe to publick benefactors. Expectations of a return by sale are not to be reasonably expected. An Antiquary in general must entertain a solemn veneration for ancient things; and the pique which pursued Mr. Gough, founded 539 REVIEW. Robinson's Enfield.→Memoir of William Hayley. [June, Coronets and supporters were then unknown in the modern use; but it appears, from this instance, that new rank was designated by an augmentation of the arms. The escarbuncle is known to have been a cognizance of Henry the Second; and there was no doubt an important reason why it was made here a designation of new rank. It would be a novel and curious enquiry to find out what bearings, in the infancy of Heraldry, were assumed as tokens of a particular order or new creation,-modes now superseded by the coronets and supporters. Of one fact we are here certified, that a nobleman, upon a new creation, did augment his arms, as a symbol of such new creation, and that by so doing he was considered to nobilitate his paternal coat. It is also probable that such an augmentation was understood by the people in those ages (when arms were in fact uniforms) to mean a nobleman; and hence we may infer, that there might have been once a distinction between the Ordinaries borne by noblemen, and those borne by commoners. We speak only in pure hypothesis; and merely start the question for the microscopical investigation of our heraldic Antiquaries. (To be continued.) 112. Memoirs of the Life and Writings of William Hayley, Esq. the Friend and Biographer of Cowper, written by himself; and Memoirs of his Son Thomas Alphonso Hayley, the Young Sculptor. Edited by J. Johnson, LL.D. 2 vols. 4to. with Portraits. Colburn. .:SO direct and extensive is the in fluence of letters in meliorating the condition of society, that the history of every eminent Scholar may be safely regarded as a subject of more honourable record than that of Heroes and Statesmen, who often shine with a dazzling, but destructive splendour. Other views and feelings, too, than those connected with gratitude alone, contribute to the importance of impar tial displays of Literary Biography, since no object can more deeply interest the student of human nature, than a cultivated understanding, and in no circumstances are the mental faculties more distinctly developed than in the acquisition of knowledge and science. We may be allowed to add that, next to familiar access to living models of learning, the memorials of their talents are powerfully calculated to rouse genius, and inspire emulation. It must at the same time be conceded, that the task of commemoration too frequently devolves on those who are by no means qualified for its perform ance; and while one presents us with little more than a chronicle of events, a second blends with facts the partialities of consanguinity or friendship, a third recites with complacency the most trivial incidents, and a fourth exalts the Hero of his theme to a Saint, or a Demi-god. These general reflections have been suggested by the title of the present volumes, respecting an amiable literary character, whose name and memory are connected with the most pleasing poetical lucubrations. From the Memoirs of the Author, to which our first and principal attention is due, we shall endeavour to col lect some of the more important notices. William Hayley succeeded at an early age to a patrimony which enab led him to choose his own pursuit, and he first directed his studies towards the Bar, but soon abandoned the profession, and betook himself to that retirement at Eartham, in which he passed a long and studious life, intent on the improvement of his own mind, and equally desirous of benefiting the minds of others. In delineating the character of our Poet, Dr. J. Johnson observes that, "In so summary an account of the Poet of Eartham, as this professes to be, and from a pen so unqualified to delineate the cha 1823.1 REVIEW.-Life and Writings of William Hayley. characteristics of his genlus, as that of the writer of it most assuredly is, the less that is offered upon this subject the better; especially since the public opinion, as to the merits and defects of his various compositions, both in prose and verse, has been so long and so firmly established. It may suffice therefore to say, that an easy flow of versification, great sweetness of numbers, and an engaging playfulness of fancy have been generally conceded to the Poetry of Hayley. As a prose writer also he has been allowed to exhibit a peculiar facility of style, and at the same time a gracefulness of expression that has placed him high in the list of authors; while as an annotator, especially, it would not be perhaps easy to find any writer to whom the friends of literature have confessed themselves more indebted both for copious and varied information, and for a fund of entertainment coextensive with the treasures of an exquisite library." "In concluding these imperfect remarks on the literary character of the author of this Memoir, whose extensive compositions, and especially his Triumphs of Temper,' are so honourable to the school in which he formed his taste, the Editor cannot help expressing his conviction, that had the studies of the Poet been directed to happier models, or had his genius, like that of his friend Cowper, drunk deeply into the sublime simplicity of Scripture, elevated as he confessedly was above the far greater part of his contemporaries, he would have attained to a much prouder eminence on the scale of positive merit, and travelled down to posterity with a transcendant lustre." It appears that Hayley was extremely fortunate in the choice of his friends. Those of his juvenile days, when friends are formed more by chance than by selection, were men of considerable intellectual powers and honest hearts; but these favourites, Thornton, Clyfford, and Beridge, and their successors of more renown, Gibbon, Howard, and Cowper, sunk into the grave long before his decease. The latter years of the life of Hayley do not appear to have been distinguished by any literary composition either in prose or verse. It is certain that he published nothing after the Milton and a Volume of Tragedies. Though devoted to retirement, he was not inactive; he persevered in the practice of early rising to a late period of his life, walking in his garden, even in winter, when the ground was covered with snow, with a lantern in his hand, some hours before day-light. He would mount his horse, * 589 and make a journey of forty miles in the depth of winter, if he might hope by his personal intervention to benefit a friend; and it appears to have been to this amiable disposition, so conspicuously prominent in his character, that he was indebted for that firm attachment which Cowper manifested for him; as the following sonnet, addressed to him in 1792, will show. "HAYLEY-thy tenderness fraternal shown, In our first interview, delightful guest! To Mary and me for her dear sake distress'd, Such as it is has made my heart thy own, Though heedless now of new engagements [breast, grown; For threescore winters make a wintry Who, ere this last afflictive scene began, man. Among the distinguished persons, whose names have place in these Volumes, we notice those of Dr. Beattie, Gen. Burgoyne, the Earl of Charlemont, Capt. Cook, Lord Chatham, J. B. Cipriani, the Poet Cowper, Dr. Darwin, Duchess of Devonshire, the Earl of Egremont, Princess Elizabeth, Mr. Flaxman, Mr. Garrick, Mr. Gibbon, Jonas Hanway, Lord Hardwicke, Mr. Henderson, Lady Hesketh, Lord Holland, Rev. Mr. Hurdes, Dr. Johnson, Sir William Jones, Mr. Kemble, Dr. Kippis, Marquis of Lansdown, Bp. Lowth, Lady Lucan, Mrs. Montagu, Mrs. Opie, Mr. Pitt, Romney the Painter, Prince and Princess of Saxe Coburg, Miss Seward, Mrs. Siddons, Earl Spencer, George Steevens, Lord Thurlow, Dr. Warton, Caroline Watson, Mr. Wilberforce, with many others of distinguished celebrity in the literary world. We doubt not, the work will be considered as an acquisition to our stores of National Biography and Literary History. 113. An Essay on Marriage, Adultery, and Divorce, (now first printed,) and an Essay on the State of the Soul between Death and the Resurrection (the third Edition), to both of which Premiums have been adjudged by the Church Union Society; the outline of a Sermon and a Lecture on Taste, &c. By the 540 REVIEW-Polwhele's Essay on Marriage, &c. the Rev. R. Polwhele, Vicar of Newlyn, &c. cr. 8vo. pp. 269. Nichols and Son. MULTUM in parvo! as the Titlepage demonstrates.-The Volume is printed (at Truro) in a cheap form; and contains the result of much laborious research, and the demonstration of superior intellect. As a Poet, Historian, and Divine, Mr. Polwhele has been long and deservedly esteemed; and his reputation as a Writer will not be diminished by what is now submitted to the publick. We regret that the Writers on Marriage, Adultery, &c. have not availed themselves of the fine argument of Lord Kaimes on this subject, in his Sketches of the History of Man, and Professor Millar's collateral illustrations of the union of the sexes in this form, as varying according to circumstances, in the respective states of Society. The former Philosopher states, that Providence has ordained the close connection of the male and female to subsist in all animals, so long as the efforts of both are essential to rearing the young; and the latter notes the different state of things, which grew out of the avocations of women in the conjugal state, i. e. when females ceased to be sources of profit to the husband. We differ too from Mr. Polwhele, in p. 31, concerning the presumed indifference of the Romans to Adultery. The contrary is the fact; for in the MS. Notes of Spence and Holdsworth, upon Horace, (with the sight of which we have been favoured,) the Roman opinions on this subject are clearly established. One main disgust of Lucretia on account of the rape, was that she had been treated as a slave; and however justified the Romans might think themselves to be in taking liberties with this unfortunate class of persons, nothing was more severely reprobated by them than violation or corruption of the freeborn virgin or matron. This note explains the apparent inconsistency of Horace in his occasional ebullitions of priapism and moral strictness on the same subject. As to the facility of divorce, we perfectly agree with Mr. Polwhele, in its shocking tendency. As a ser They are, or recently were, in the possession of a very amiable and worthy man ; the Rev. Thos. Foster, of Salisbury. Jas. Wadmore, Esq. of Chapel-street, New-road, has others of them. [[June, mon, or moral discourse, Mr. Pol- discussion has arisen, in our opinion Traditions and Recollections, Domestic, Clerical, and Literary,' &c. Among these are several interesting documents respecting the Author's An 1823.1 Miscellaneous Reviews-Literary Intelligenceð The following anecdote of Foote (p. 234) is, we believe, new. "One of the earliest instances of his jocularity, as practised upon his fatherThe Old Justice,' is yet in the minds of several aged people of this neighbourhood. Imitating the voice of Mr. Nicholas Donnithorne, from an inner apartment, where his father had supposed Mr. D. was sitting, he drew his father into conversation on the subject of a family-transaction be<tween the two old gentlemen, and thus posbosessed himself of a secret, which, while it displayed his mimickery, justly incurred his parent's displeasure.' Whether a buffoon was ever known to be a man of character, we shall not inquire. We know that such instances are at least rare, and recommend parents, as they value the best interests of their children, to correct in time LITERARY CAMBRIDGE, June 13. 641 propensities to mimickry and coarse humour. 114. A most absurd and indeed dan gerous publication has been recently issued, entitled Accredited Ghost Stories, consisting of a ridiculous collection of falsehoods, originating from the cunning or ignorance of the inventors. As an antidote to these baneful fabrications, Mr. ACKERMANN has published a neat edition, illustrated with six coloured engravings, entitled Ghost Stories. They have been collected, as the Compiler states, with a particular view to counteract the vulgar belief in ghosts and apparitions, and to promote a rational estimate of the nature and phenomena commonly considered as supernatural. The principal story, consisting of 120 pages, is the "Green Mantle of Venice." There are seventeen others, all demonstrating how easily the imagination may be imposed upon by appearances, resulting alone from natural causes. We should therefore particularly recommend them to the notice of those who may still labour under the early prejudices of the nursery. 115. Of Mr. USHER'S New Version of the Psalms, we can only say, that we have seen sublime paraphrases of them, but never an unexceptionable translation, nor do we believe that they are translateable at all in a literary view. Mr. Usher's version is a very fair one, and we do not expect impossibilities. 116. The Bases for the Establishment of Literary Societies, contain many valuable hints, particularly on the distinction of subjects; but there is such a thing as legislating too much, and less than a dozen of the bases would be more than sufficient. INTELLIGENCE. The Chancellor's gold medal for the best English poem by a resident undergraduate, was adjudged to Winthorp Mackworth Praed, of Trinity College. Subject, Australasia. June 19. Sir William Browne's gold medals for the Greek Ode, and for the Greek and Latin Epigrams, were yesterday adjudged as follows: Greek Ode.-In Obitum Viri admodum Reverendi Doctissimique Thomæ Fanshawe Middleton, Episcopi Calcuttensis. To Winthrop Mackworth Praed, Trin. Coll. Greek Epigram. Εαν ης φιλομαθής, εση πολυμαθης. Latin Epigram. Os Eyes may manara. To John Wilder, Fellow of King's College. Latin Ode.Africani Catenis Devincti. No prize adjudged. The first stone of the new buildings at Corpus Christi College, will be laid on Wednesday the 2d of July. OXFORD COMMEMORATION. OXFORD, June 12.-In the Convocation the following were admitted to the Honorary Degree of D. C. L. and presented by the Rev. Dr. Bliss, Deputy Professor of Civil Law: -- -Sir Berkeley William Guise,_of Rendcombe Park, co. Gloucester, M. P.: Maj.-gen. Sir George Sackville Browne, K.C.B. Edward Webb, Esq. of Stoke Bishop, co. Gloucester, M. P. : The Creweian Oration was delivered by the Rev. Henry Hart Milman, M. A. of Brasennose, Professor of Poetry, in a pure and classic style. The learned Professor commenced his discourse with an address to the Members of Convocation present, and then disserted upon the general advantages re sulting |