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. [Aug. 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 On the former subject an interesting good taste in the decoration of ruins, discussion is introduced, on which we and the preservation of old buildings ; hope to enter more fully another month. and it suggests the useful rule, that old It is only necessary to remark here, that houses, which it is inconvenient or Mr. Harding's drawings excel in accu- wasteful to destroy, may be successfully racy all former representations of the Gothicized, though they baffle every same subjects; and that, by the re- attempt at being conformed to the moval of some old boarding, whilst he Grecian style; and that the irregula was making his drawings, he has at-rities, which are ruinous to the latter, tained a more perfect, and indeed com- are ornamental in the former. plete, view of the paintings. 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. 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. Be Landscape gardening is peculiarly a gentleman's study. The Duke of Marlborough pre-eminently excels in it. Much discussion might be indulg ed 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, 1825.] 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 information 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 consequence; 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, tables, or screens, to confine their dimensions, and shape their forms,-this method will 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 certaiuly 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 [Aug. 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 18/. Damask table-cloths are ancient. La Brocquiere 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 1825.] REVIEW. Fosbroke's Encyclopædia of Antiquities. baptismal font, to wipe the body after bath ing, and to wrap up corpses. The Towel was the Anglo-Saxon Hand-cloth; and the Kitchen-towel the Torsorium Culina of the Middle Age. Ja 1444 we find napkins with stripes of another stuff. Some Towels were put round the neck while chipping bread, &c." "Vignette. In the fourteenth century, the term was applied to ornaments upon silver, &c. in the manner of Vines, whence the term. Marchand says, that Rastoldt was the first printer, or artist, who introduced ornaments, capital initials, flowers, and vignettes. He lived in 1476. Pyuson is probably the first printer in England, who introduced borders and vignettes in his books. Vignettes with human figures are probably of the date of 1527." "Bankers.-The Encyclopedists say, that the Trapezite of the Greeks, and Argentarii or Nummularii of the Romans, were persons who lent money upon usury, kept the accounts of other usurers, and exchanged worn for new money, for a profit, but did not deal in cheques, drafts, &c. Beckman, however, says, that they did pay money by a bill, which process was termed perscribere and rescribere, and the assignment or draft attributio, and dealt besides in exchanges and discounts. Philip the Fair, in 1304, ordered a bank to be held upon the great bridge of Paris; and they had booths and tables before church-doors, &c. called Mense Cambiatorum,' (our Scriptural' tables of the Money-changers') stands at fairs for changing money, &c. They were obliged to give security in property, and were formed into Gilds. We had a set of them called Caursini, from the family Caursina at Florence; it being agreed, that however divided, they should take the name of that family, penes quam summa mercaturæ erat. All the Italian merchants who practised usury were called Lombards; bence our Lombard Street. The draft of one Banker upon another, and the check, occur in Rymer. The deposit of money to be let out at interest is a practice of the Roman Argentari, who exercised their trade in the Forum, under the inspection of the town Magistrate; and when they ceased to show themselves, their bankruptcy was declared by these words, foro cessit." "Barber, Barber-Surgeon.-The Encyclopedia is scanty. In Greece there were both Barbers and Barber-surgeons; but the shop of the latter was deemed a more genteel lounge for the news. Ticinius Mena introduced them into Rome from Sicily, A.U.C. 454. They not only dressed the hair and beard, but cut nails. The bason is mentioned by Ezekiel. It is the Cantharus of the Middle Age, of bright copper. Juvenal speaks of the snapping of the scisaars, transferred in the Middle Ages to the 155 snapping of the fingers. Plutarch mentions the cloth, the tonsorium of Du Cange, the mirror, now a looking-glass, the chair, and their loquacity. Our barbers were not only musicians, but kept some musical instrument for their customers to amuse themselves with while waiting, which practice newspapers have superseded. The privilege of making and selling aqua vitæ remained after their eternal separation from surgery, in some places, about the beginning of the last century. In Brand's Newcastle, we find it ordered, December 11, 1711, that perriwig-making be considered part and branch of the Company of Barber-Chirurgeons. A staff, bound by a ribbon, was held by persons being bled, and the pole was intended to denote the practice of phlebotomy." "Auction, Auctioneer.-1. In the Roman sales, a spear was fixed in the Forum, by which stood a Cryer, who proclaimed the articles. A catalogue was made in tables, called Auctionarie. The seller was called Auctor, and the bidders Sectores. They signified their bidding by lifting up their fingers, and the highest bidder succeeded. The Magistrate's permission was necessary for a sale. About the Forum, were a number of silversmiths', or rather bankers' shops, where things sold by auction were registered and sealed. At their shops, the auctions were in general made, in order that these Argentarii might note on the tables the names of the buyers; and the goods were delivered under the Magistrate's authority. Buying in, or redemption, was made by giving security through a friend, which was termed Dejicere libellos, Petronius gives a hand-bill of an auction, literally thus: Julius Proculus will make an auction of his superfluous goods to pay his debts.' Estates, pictures, &c. were sold by the Romans in this way, as now, and sales sometimes lasted two months. "In the Middle Age the goods were cried and sold to the highest bidder, and the sound of a trumpet added, with a very loud noise. The use of the spear was retained, the auctions being called Subhastationes; and the Subhastator, or auctioneer, was sworn to sell the goods faithfully. In Nares we have, sold at a pike or spear, i. e. by public auction or outcry; and auctions, called port-sales, because originally, perhaps, sales made in ports. The cryer stood under the spear, as in the Roman æra, and was in the thirteenth century called cursor. In London, sales by auction were held at Mercers' Hall, and other public places. 2. The barbarous Latin Auctionarius signified a tradesman who augmented his property,-properly speaking, one who bought old, worn, and damaged goods, to sell them dearer afterwards,—a regrator," 36. Reins 155 REVIEW.-Reine Canziani. 36. Reine Canziani; a Tale of Modern Greece. In two volumes. Hurst, Robinson, &c. SIR EGERTON BRYDGES is of opinion that the imagination of Milton must have been to him a source of great happiness, and we think that ab stract feelings may be sensualized, may be as it were manufactured into nerves, and become capable of physical material enjoyment. A cold-blooded villain of high intellectual qualifications may thus invest his imagination with passions, and revel in a voluptuousness unknown to others. The endearments of a fond female, who deeply loves the object, may furnish an exquisite treat to the additional susceptibility of such a refined libertine; and he may seek for the same gratifications by seduction as an epicure does by French cookery. An illustration of these opinions is afforded by the Novel before us, which is all through well written. Lord Byron, under the name of Lord Avlone, is made to corrupt a charming Greek girl, whom, by consummate art, he inveigles into the most passionate love. He deserts her; comes to England, and marries a beautiful and brilliant woman. The poor girl mourns like Sappho, and withers away into (Aug. only to enhance the dazzling white of the Now what are our emblems? An infant's head with wings,-a monstrous conception which Belzoni saw in Egypt; a scull with a laurel crown around it,-tasteless allegories! Can any man suppose that Heaven is peo pled with winged heads flying about, or that skeletons crowned with laurels sing rapturous hallelujahs around the throne of Him whose vision is bea tific? Is there any suggestion favourable to the "beauty of holiness," to its influence over the mind, its recommendation of piety in such more than contemptible, such mischievous trash? By what authority does a low, vulgar mechanic disgrace our consecrated cemeteries with things which excite a laugh? The moral injury is not trifling, in the view of those who know any thing of the doctrine of "association of ideas." The Clergyman should be legally empowered to refuse admission of incongruous symbols and epitaphs. There exist too such beautiful hieroglyphics, the sprig of a flower, the broken column for a public character; the ruined Gothic arch for an Now really Lord Byron has no good Antiquary; the figure on the ground, qualities to spare; and it is rather cruel like the dying gladiator, with the upto over-blacken his memory. Sir Eger- lifted arm, and raised head to Heaven, ton Brydges says (i. 263), in his Re--and many other fine emblems to be flections, "It is unpardonable to load derived from Scripture. him with reproaches, while men who have passed their days in sleep, and their nights at the gambling house, reckless of fortune, and of all that is estimable in life, live on without in dignation or painful notice." death. We shall not, however, detail the contents of this Novel (because the plot is an everyday case), but proceed to notice an elegant specimen of Taste, tending to improve the barbarism and vulgarity of our funereal emblems. "There is a simple tomb in Athens, composed of one single slab of white mar ble; a stripling palm tree waves over it its light graceful foliage. The epitaph that is carved on the marble is one that she loved, —it is one that he whose falseness had laid her there, had fixed in her memory; it isFarewell! A white rose has been placed above that motto; 'tis said there was on it a blemish inflicted by some profaning touch; but that spot on its delicate texture seemed We assure our readers that this elegant Novel will gratify them in the perusal, and convince our fair readers that nothing is more dangerous than the Devil, when he assumes the form of an angel of light; and that, in the language of Miss Bowdler, the murderer and the seducer are similar criminals; with this aggravation, that the latter affixes infamy to the name of his victim,-brands even her memory,-executes her, and then hangs ed at as a warning, though her very her in chains on a gibbet, to be pointerror originated in a virtue, the parent of all connubial fidelity and happiness, invincible attachment and singlehearted devotedness. But Providence makes guilty and unwise men ruin themselves, or know no happiness, the sole object of rational desire; for without it, life is only disease. Thus it happened to Cæsar, |