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150

REVIEW. Bayley's History of the Tower.

Mary, however, there is no important instruction to be derived. The paint ing of a butcher's shop, by Caracci, is only interesting from its connection with portrait family-history, and fine execution. But there is nothing of ány merit or agreeableness in the representation of Mary's Slaughter-house, or her Butcher-bishops. There is only disgusting caricature in a masquerade of mitres and blue aprons, Bibles in one hand, and hatchets in the other. Mr. Bayley only calls Mary "a stern bigot" for our parts we can form no other opinion of her than that she construed the prophecy of turning the Sun and Moon into blood in a literal sense, and hoped that she was the spirit appointed to execute it. She longed for a child; but Providence possibly prevented it, because nothing but blood would have issued from her breasts. She had her father's vices, in spirit above proof. She was MARIA HENRY-EIGHTISSIMA; a daughter whose soul, body, bones, and nerves, were made out of the Six Bloody Articles. This is a flight à la Burke; but really we cannot think of Mary without falling into a violent passion. But Providence may convert evil into good. There cannot be a doubt but that the disposition of her father prevailed to a certain extent in Elizabeth, as well as in Mary; and yet that spirit was in the former made the instrument of carrying her through her perilous reign, and finally establishing the Reformation. Hume says that he does not like so many masculine qualities in her character; but more feminities would have ruined her. It was very properly said of Elizabeth and James, that the one was a Queen in breeches, and the other a King in pet ticoats. The perpetual conspiracies against the person of Elizabeth justly vindicated the vigilance of her Government, though nothing can extenuaté the cruelties exercised tunate prisoners. The fact, however, upon the unforis, that our ancestors were savages; and it was a rule of Government in this and the preceding reigns, that none should meddle with State affairs but the members of the Administration. If they did, they were first warned, and then surrounded with spies, and entrapped into imprudent language or actions, until they had gone far enough to give a plausible face to accusation. Then they were apprehended upon as◄

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sumed treason, and in most instances punished with death. Elizabeth more than once complained of the free language used in the Commons, notwithstanding privilege, and always gave them to understand that to concern ment, was great presumption. themselves with her or her Govern

rite articles for presents is well known; The custom of making rings favoubut by no means the reasons why they in particular were thus selected:

"Sir John Perros sent one of his gentlemen ashore with a diamond, as a token to tell hir, that a diamond coming unlooked unto his mistress Blanch Parry, willing hym for did always bring good looke (luck) with John Perrot a fair jewel hanged by a white it; which the Queene hearing of, sent Sir he wore that for hir sake, she did beleve, with cypresse, signifying withal, that so long as P. 504. God's helpe, he should have no harme."

bability to the accuracy of the Ring The last incident lends further prostory about Essex.

It is astonishing to find how igno rant our ancestors were of the natural

properties of matter. We have read in the wars of Charles I. of cannon having been rendered useless by merely pouring poison into them; and we find that a fellow was hanged for treason, because he had vowed to take away the Queen's life by rubbing poison on the pommel of her saddle, and actually made the experiment, but without ef fect. He had also anointed the Earl of Essex's chair, and there it was equally unsuccessful. (p. 509.) It is well known that the supposed property of flying, conferred upon the by means of smearing them with a parbroomsticks of witches, was bestowed ticular ointment. See Fosbroke's Encyclopedia of Antiquities, ii. 527. (To be continued.)

32. The Life of Frederick Schiller, compre-
hending an Examination of his Works.
8vo. pp. 352. Taylor and Hessey.

THIS is an exceedingly well writ-
ten Life of the German Shakspeare,
ings of this extraordinary genius. It
and a most skilful analysis of the writ-
is a work far exceeding in execution
all that it pretends to or promises, and
in a style of elegance and of occasional
loftiness worthy of its subject.

by a perusal of this noble specimen of
We have been exceedingly delighted
critical Biography, and we regret that

Our

1825.]

REVIEW-Life of Schiller.

151

scenes of Elysian beauty. It is true, he had no rest, no peace, but he enjoyed the fiery consciousness of his own activity, which stands in place of it for men like him. It is true he was long sickly, but did he not even fomini, and Thekla, and the Maid of then conceive and body forth Max PiccoOrleans,' and the Scenes of William Tell?" It is true he died early, but the Student will exclaim with Charles XII. in another case,

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our limits will not permit us to vindicate our praise by copious extracts. We select, however, the following, as an able and eloquent exposition of the literary character of Schiller; and as it is of this that the volume principally treats, our readers will perceive how masterly is the hand which has given to us in an English dress, not a translation, but an imperishable and origi-Was it not enough of life, when he had nal record of the finest genius which Germany, prolific of genius, has brought forth; in another age to stand in the foremost rank among the master spirits of his century, and be admitted to a place among the

chosen of all centuries.

"No man (says his biographer) ever wore his faculties more meekly, or performed great works with less consciousness of their greatness. Abstracted from the contemplation of himself, his eye was turned upon the objects of his labour, and he pursued them with the eagerness, the entireness, the spontaneous sincerity of a boy pursuing sport. Hence his childlike simplicity,' the last perfection of his other excellencies. His was a mighty spirit, unmindful of its might. He walked the earth in calm power; the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam;'

but he wielded it like a wand.

"Literature was his creed, -the dictate

of his conscience. He was an apostle of the sublime and beautiful, and this his calling made a hero of him; for it was in the spirit of a true man that he viewed it, and undertook to cultivate it, and its inspirations constantly maintained the noblest temper in his soul. The end of Literature was not in Schiller's judgment to amuse the idle, or to recreate the busy, by showy spectacles for the imagination; least of all was it to gratify in any shape the selfishness of its professors, to minister to their malignity, their love of money, or even of fame. For persons who degrade it to such purposes, the deepest contempt of which his kindly nature could admit was at all times in store. Unhappy mortal!' says he to the literary tradesman, the man who writes for gain; unhappy mortal! that with science and art, the noblest of all instruments, effectest and attemptest nothing more than the day drudge with the meanest,—that in the domain of perfect freedom, bearest about in thee the spirit of a slave.' As Schiller viewed it, genuine Literature includes the essence of Philosophy, Religion, Art, whatever speaks to the immortal part of man.”

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conquered kingdoms?' Those kingdoms which Schiller conquered were not for one nation, at the expense of suffering to another; they were soiled by no patriot's blood, no widow's, no orphan's tear, they are kingdoms conquered from the barren, realms of darkness, to increase the happiness, and dignity, and power of all men,-new forms of and scenes of beauty, won from the void truth, new maxims of wisdom, new images and formless infinite,' a xrnua is aluı,—‘a Possession for ever,' to all the generations

of the earth."

Now this, it must be confessed, is beautiful, and we are unwilling to weaken its effect, by adding a syllable of our own; but we are constrained to say that, after all," the highest style of man" is that of "Christian." To assert, therefore, that the "fiery consciousness of activity was in "the place of rest" to Schiller, seems to us to argue a frame of mind far from the influence of that wisdom, compared with which the sublimest speculations of the philosopher are but as dust in the balance, and the proudest achievements of the human intellect altogether lighter than vanity. We will not pursue the subject. We can only re lume, which exhibits, in no ordinary peat our general praise of this able vomanner, both elegance of style and acuteness of analytical criticism.

33. Antiquities in Westminster Abbey. Ancient Oil Paintings and Sepulchral Brasses in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster; engraved from Drawings by G. P. Harding, with an Historical, Biographical, and Heraldic Description, by Thomas Moule, Author of Bibliotheca Heraldica, &c. 4to. pp. 48.

OF Westminster Abbey and its glorious contents we are professed devotees, and we ever welcome with unfeigned satisfaction any publication tending to illustrate its history or display its beauties. Actuated by these feelings, we dilated at some length on Messrs. Neale and Brayley's excellent History (see vol. xc. pp. 137, 236).

What

152

REVIEW.-Antiquities in Westminster Abbey.

What Mr. Smith some years since performed for the relics of early paint ing, at that time discovered in the ancient Palace of Westminster, is here performed for some similar specimens of painting and engraving in the ancient Church. Mr. Harding, with whom this Work has originated, is well known as the artist, to whose industry and research the public are indebted for that complete series of Portraits of the Deans of Westminster, which is an almost necessary accompaniment to Mr. Neale's History. Of the present publication a similar opinion may be given; - it should at least stand on the same shelf.

The plates are in the best style of line-engraving, and in number twelve; three represent Paintings on an ancient wooden enclosure near the altar, and each of the others some remarkable monumental Brass.

On the former subject an interesting discussion is introduced, on which we hope to enter more fully another month. It is only necessary to remark here, that Mr. Harding's drawings excel in accuracy all former representations of the same subjects; and that, by the removal of some old boarding, whilst he was making his drawings, he has attained a more perfect, and indeed complete, view of the paintings.

The Brasses engraved are those of John Waltham, Bishop of Salisbury, and Lord High Treasurer of England, ob. 1395; Robert Waldeby, Archbishop of York, ob. 1397; Eleanor Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester, ob. 1399; Sir John Herpeden, knt. fifth husband of Joan de la Pole, granddaughter and sole heiress of John Lord Cobham, ob. 1457; Sir Humphrey Bourchier, eldest son of Lord Berners, slain at the battle of Barnet, 1471; Sir Thomas Vaughan, knt. Chamberlain to Prince Edward, ob. temp. Edw. IV.; John Esteney, Abbot of Westminster, ob. 1498; Sir Humphrey Stanley, knt. ob. 1505; and John Bill, D. D. the first Dean of Westminster, on Queen Elizabeth's foundation, ob. 1561. The descriptions which accompany these minutely accurate plates seem very complete, each containing a short memoir of the person represented. In some observations on the armour, Dr. Meyrick, with his accustomed liberality, has rendered much assistance.

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We have here, says Mr. Moule, "every sepulchral intagliated brass plate within the Abbey, in which the portrait remains." That the brasses remaining in Westminster Abbey should be so few, is to us surprising, since there are some hundred Parish Churches which contain more, though they be not of such importance. It must be presumed that the spoliators of the Church of St. Peter were more than usually active.

84. Hints on Rural Residences. By Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. Sec. Soc. Antiq. &c. &c. 4to. pp. 107.

THE modern enlarged and philosophical modes of treating Archeology connect it with science, taste, high reason, and philosophy; and the union of the picturesque with it, in the pursuits of its members, may be attended with much utility. It inculcates a good taste in the decoration of ruins, and the preservation of old buildings; and it suggests the useful rule, that old houses, which it is inconvenient or wasteful to destroy, may be successfully Gothicized, though they baffle every attempt at being conformed to the Grecian style; and that the irregularities, which are ruinous to the latter, are ornamental in the former. sides, there are other important reasons. Men of investigation and men of taste ought always to be one and the same. Investigation united with taste, forms the same leading character in arts and elegant pursuits, as the former quality united with judgment does on the Bench and in the Senate; and what the one does for grand constitutional purposes, the other does for private life. Improvement and instruction ought also to be the object of every man of learning who is not a pedant, and to be consequent upon even associating with him.

Be

Landscape gardening is peculiarly a gentleman's study. The Duke of Marlborough pre-eminently excels in it. Much discussion might be indulged on the subject, but in questions of feeling, that is unnecessary, for to what purpose is explanation why a person is hot or cold, or hungry or thirsty, where the knowledge is not connected with a philosophical object? It is sufficient to say, that home is always dear, and that improvements tending to the greater felicity of that

sensation,

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REVIEW Hints on Rural Residences.

sensation, of course augment happiness. A man cannot live in a bad house, or one unornamented, unless he be a man without taste, an uneducated man, or one with money, who looks for his comforts only in starving avarice, or sotting.

Turn, however, where we will, embellished residences gratify the eye, and the fashion is growing. It becomes, therefore, very useful to concentrate such knowledge as may not only tend to the production of taste of the first character, but of wisdom, in the choice of situation and modes of arrangement. With these valuable objects in view, Mr. Carlisle has collected with taste and judgment the best parts of the requisite knowledge into a short compass; and we affirm, without the danger of contradiction, that any man who builds or improves without first perusing this book, is to blame, because he then undertakes to write a letter, without knowing how to use a pen.

Our readers, however, are not men who are so silly, but they and others may be persons who, because the subject is professional, may not be so intimately acquainted with it as is necessary, when that subject, from becoming fashionable and general, requires elementary knowledge of it in all persons. Such a knowledge is indispensable, to prevent error and imposition. Leaving, therefore, our readers to consult the work for principles of high taste, upon all the points to which landscape gardening refers, we shall give extracts, which show the utility of the book, in regard to information of the most valuable character.

We allude to the preparatory processes before building,-voyages, for which this work furnishes a proper compass and charts, and without which it is very common to set sail, to the frequent shipwrecking of a cargo of money, pleasure, and comfort.

The first things to be consulted are, aspect and situation, the effects of which are shown in various forms, by letter-press and diagrams. The next point is not to attend to designs and drawings, because through the different shades of the artist, difference between geometrical and perspective delineation, and the drawings being only miniatures, the effect of the building may be disappointing. Instead of GENT. MAG. August, 1825.

153

these drawings, Mr. Carlisle recommends models, of which he speaks thus (pp. 33-36):

"The gentleman who would proceed and mortar, and enjoy a clear view of the with confidence in a journey through bricks termination of his labours, with all the bye and crooked ways which lead thereto,-together with the pitfalls of the unrighteous mammon which intervene, so as to secure the one and escape the others, will perhaps pursue the following steps: the first of which is, that he do cause a complete though plain MODEL of the DESIGN he has fixed upon to be made very accurately, to foot; the several stories to be contrived so a scale of at least a quarter of an inch to a as to lift on and off at pleasure, that every part may be easily and minutely scrutinized and measured. Gentlemen who have not

been so far conversant in plans, as to judge
therefrom with certainty, ought not to
grudge the trifling charge of three, four, or
five guineas for a toy of this kind,-the in-
formation and advantages to be derived from
it, may prevent much of the opprobrious
work of alteration, save
a great deal of

trouble, and a considerable sum of money.

"Being possessed of such a MODEL, and having obtained thereby a clear and satisfactory idea of the forms, situations, conapartments, his next step will be to minute nections, and dependencies of the several down the general dimensions of such of them at least as are of the greatest cousequence; and in order to satisfy himself of the competency of their magnitudes, let him try the dimensions of several rooms of similar descriptions in the houses of his friends, until he meets with such as shall agree so nearly with his minutes, as to leave no doubt upon his mind of the sufficiency or insufficiency of the capacities of the apartments in his MODEL. This should by no means be considered as a useless trouble,the ideas which we form of magnitudes are often exceedingly deceptious, and therefore the best and most certain means should be used to regulate and correct them, which undoubtedly are those that are now recommended. As to the common method of measuring out the lengths and breadths of the intended apartments in the open air, or in some very large room, and setting chairs, sions, and shape their forms, this method tables, or screens, to confine their dimenwill by no means answer the purpose so well, -a tolerable good room tried in this way, will appear confined and trifling."

"Having proceeded thus far, it will be advisable to procure a few blocks of wood, cut out by the scale of the MODEL, to the proper general dimensions, the shapes of bedsteads, tables, chairs, and other common

pieces

154

REVIEW.-Fosbroke's Encyclopædia of Antiquities.

pieces of furniture, the placing of which in the apartments of the MODEL, will be of considerable use in judging of the conveniences of the design. He will now of course be qualified to decide upon the merits of his MODEL,-and if he can discover no material defects, may call in his friends and his foes too, if he pleases, and submit the whole to their criticism,-there is no doubt but that he will be well enabled to avail himself of such advice as shall be really sensible and proper, and will easily distinguish it from such as may be dictated by mere whim or caprice, and the result will determine him whether he shall adopt the MODEL as it stands, or with any practicable improvements; or, whether he shall throw it into the fire, and procure another formed upon better principles, and repeat his whole operation over again. It will be exceedingly well worth his while, if he cannot fix for himself, to let his friends alter, mangle, and burn, three or four MODELS, one after another, till he has at length satisfied them all, and himself too, if possible, but let him be resolute in this one single point, which is, that he does not by any means suffer a stick or a stone of his building to be altered after it is once begun, let friends or foes say what they will.

"To examine the proportions of the exterior of a design, and form a competent judgment of its effects, supposing an exact MODEL has been made of it, let a board or table (covered with green cloth if you please) be raised to such a height, as that the top thereof may be just so many feet and inches by the scale of the model below your eye, as your eye really is above the ground on which you stand,-the MODEL being placed upon this board or table in the open air, clear of the view of other objects, will then produce the same effect in every respect as the building would do if it was actually completed. This must certainly be far preferable to any ideas that perspective drawings can furnish, and, perhaps, it would not be doing justice to the exterior of a MODEL, to examine it in any other situation with a view to judge of its merits or effects."

35. Fosbroke's Encyclopædia of Antiquities.

(Continued from Part I. p. 54.) HAVING, in our last Part, gone through the first volume of this important Work, we think it fit that we should now give some extracts.

"Stalking-Horse and Bull.-The Albanian sportsmen (says Dr. Clarke) practise the old method of shooting with a stalkinghorse; i. e. by carrying the picture of a horse, or a cow, behind which they conceal themselves, and take their aim through a hole in the picture. Among us, the stalk

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ing-horse was either a real horse, an old jade (says the Gentleman's Recreation) trained for the purpose, and walking up and down in the water, which way the sportsman pleased;' or a piece of old canvas, shaped like a horse grazing, stuffed, painted brown, and fixed to a staff, with a sharp iron at the end, to stick into the ground; when the fowl became familiar with the horse, they made a stalking ox or cow, and stalking stags or deer, especially for fenny grounds, and even trees, shrubs, and bushes, all of painted canvas."

"Stocks. The ancients had the vippus, a kind of wooden fetters, with which they punished criminals and slaves; and nervus, a frame of wood with five holes, two each for the arms and legs, and the other for the neck. At Pompeii were found stocks, probably about four ells long, and so contrived, that ten prisoners might be chained by the leg, each leg separately, by the sliding of a bar. The Barnacles of the Middle Age were of the same kind as stocks, but extended the legs, by distances of the holes, according to the offence. Stocks were anciently moveable, and kept in castles, being an appendage to the inner gate, even for the detention of prisoners, till they could be conveniently taken to prison."

"Talle-Cloth.-The Romans began to cover the table with cloths in the time of the Emperors. Some were striped with gold and purple. Montfaucon adds, that they were of linen, sometimes painted or worked with gold. D'Arnay says also, that table linen was very rare in England about the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries. It was certainly not unusual. The AngloSaxons dined with a clean cloth; and they called it reod-sceat; their successors drapet. We find in the Life of St. Ives, even a cloth

laid for a poor man. A singular feudal privilege appears in Du Cange, that of the Lord being entitled to the table-cloth, towel, &c. of the house, where he dined. A father giving advice to his son, particularly recommends him, as one means of success in life, to have his table covered with a clean cloth and there is a complaint made against the monks for putting before their visitors a dirty one. It seems that table-cloths were made for the use of the nobility and opulent gentry, of great value. One would cost 181. Damask table-cloths are ancient. La Broc

quiere thus describes some used abroad. They are (he says) four feet in diameter, and round, having strings attached to them, so that they may be drawn up like a purse. When they are used they are spread out, and when the meal is over they are drawn up, so that all which remains, even to a crumb is preserved."

"Towel.-The Labanum, one kind of Towel, consisted of white and nappy linen. It was used to receive the infant from the baptismal

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