AN OLD CORRESPONDENT observes, "Mr. Lysons, in Magna Britannia,' quotes the following entry in the Parish Accounts of Isleworth in the year 1655: Received of the Countess of Sunderland for her Rate for the Poor for Half a Year, 15s.' This proves,' says Mr. Lysons, that the Countess of Sunderland resided at Isleworth in her widowhood,' 1655., Here is a mistake. The Countess of Sunderland (Waller's Sacharissa) was not then a widow. She was the wife of Mr. Smyth of Bounds, in Kent, whom she married in 1652, How she became resident at Isleworth I do not understand. Perhaps one of your Correspondents may inform me, and add some particulars of this Countess of Sunderland after she became the wife of Mr. Smyth. When and where did Mr. Smyth die?-In Mr. Nichols's Literary Anecdotes,' vol. IV. p. 555, it is said that at the sale of Dr. Ducarel's Library, several of Mr. Gale's MSS. were purchased by Mr. Gough, and among them his account of Barden, Tunbridge Wells, &c. with a List of the Pictures at Penshurst. Pray who is now in possession of these papers relating to Barden, &c. I do not see any mention of them in the printed Catalogue of Mr. Gough's MSS."

In vol. xxvi. p. 224, Dr. Pegge, (under the signature of P. GEMSEGE,) mentioned having in his possession, a copy of "Melanthe," a Latin Pastoral, acted before King James at Cambridge, March 10, 1614-15. "In this exemplar," says he, "which formerly belonged to Matthew Hutton, the

names of the Masters of Arts and Batchelors, concerned in acting the Play, are written against the respective Dramatis Personæ. The Editor of King James's Progresses respectfully requests of the present owner of this volume, or of any person possessing a transcript of the list of performers, a copy of the same.

M. having inquired, in p. 2, whether NIYON, &c. is to be found elsewhere than at St. Martin's, A. H. says, " he may see it painted on the exergue of the copper cover to the font at Dulwich College. When I was compiling my work of Pietas Londinensis, this College and its Font came under a due portion of study, and it gave rise to a correspondence with the late Rev. Dr. Parr, with whose critical observations I had the pleasure to enrich my pages."

S. N. is informed that the person commemorated by that laconic memorial "Miserrimus" in Worcester Cathedral, was the unhappy Rev. Thomas Morris, who at the Revolution in 1688 refused to acknowledge the King's supremacy, and was deprived of all ecclesiastical preferments. His necessities

then entitled him to support, which he received in the liberality and generosity of some affluent Jacobins. He died in 1748, at the age of 88; and it was his last request to the friend who witnessed his final exit, that no monumental table should relate who he had been, but that he had died as he had lived, "Miserrimus."

NEPOS remarks, on the List of Roman Catholic Nonjurors in 1715, which was printed in our last Suppl. p. 603, that the Correspondent who sent it must stand convicted of playing a hoax on Mr. Urban, and needlessly filling his columus with what is already preserved in its proper repository, Shaw's "History of Staffordshire." It is copied from that work, with the introduction word for word, "General History," pp. 84, 85. The "Staffordshire Tract," from which Mr. Shaw took it, was itself a reprint of part of an octavo volume of 160 pages, published in London in 1745, containing the names of all the Nonjurors in England and Wales. The latter is dedicated to George II. by James Cosin, son of the "principal Clerk in the Accountant General's Office," and was avowedly "published, at this time, with no other view but to assist the Magistrates and other Officers who shall happen to be entrusted with the execution of such orders of Government, as either have already been, or may hereafter be issued, for suppressing the growth and unhappy effects of the present rebellious insurrection in the North." Now had our Correspondent communicated the Nonjurors of any other County from this volume, our columns had been more usefully employed. We do not know, however, that the book is rare. Every County Historian should certainly follow Mr. Shaw's example in giving the list of Nonjurors of his County, and another of those who compounded for their estates in the Civil War; and we would recommend an alphabetical arrange

ment.

A CONSTANT CORRESPONDENT inquires respecting the descent of the Family of Arbuthnot, connected with Dean Swift or Pope; or particulars of George Arbuthnot, who held an office in the Treasury.

ANTIQUARIUS inquires for a correct genealogical account of the noble and most illustrious family of West de la War, who flourished in the reigns of the Henrys and Edwards; their arms, and their monu

ments.

Errata. Part i. 127, l. 14, for Strafford, read Stratford; 329 b. 20, and 330 a. 2. read Barber; Part ii, 4 a. 9 from bottom, read Canto 4; 20 b. 33 for Gwinkle, read de Ginkell; 36, 1. 14, read Cainstone; 16, read de Grey; 77 a. 14 from bottom, dele the words to be a; 88 b. 47, read conspicerere.

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delight. The Life of Davison, the Secretary of Queen Elizabeth, does much credit to Mr. Nicolas, whose great research and impartiality entitle him to praise and support. Mr. Hamper has announced a Life of Dugdale the Antiquary, which from all appearances will be exceedingly interesting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY has but one distinguished champion, the Rev. Dr. Dibdin. This gentleman attaches too much importance to the pursuit, and his Library Companion" has exposed him to animadversion; but his "des Althorpiania" is deserving of praise, and similar accounts of other distinguished libraries would be interesting. HISTORY boasts two celebrated votaries-Lingard and Mitford. Both these are too prejudiced, the former in favour of Churchmen, and the latter against Republicans. A good History both of England and Greece is still a desideratum. Hume's is by no means so circumstantial as it ought to be. Echard's is unphilosophical. Bacon's, More's, and Russel's, are oldfashioned and prejudiced, as well as Lingard's. Rollin's History of Greece is very poor. Mitford labours under the objection we before stated, and Goldsmith is too brief. As to Rome, that is more fortunate, in Niebuhr, Cervier, and Gibbon. Altogether, Rapin's England, and Goldsmith's Greece, are the best at present in existence.

Under the head of LOCAL HISTORY, Sir Richard Colt Hoare's interesting work, and Bayley's "Tower of London," may be commended. Accounts of Counties and Parishes are daily issuing from the press, and merit effectual support. There are besides the "Antiquities of Westminster Abbey," by Brayley and Moule; and various other works.

Perhaps of all the departments of Literature, that of ESSAYS is the most neglected. Since "The Gossip," there has not been even an attempt this way; for Gaieties and Gravities, and the many light articles in the New Monthly Magazine, are so dissimilar to the ancient bijoux, under this title, that they can scarcely be called by the same name. This is chiefly to be attributed to the disgraceful want of patronage of this species of composition manifested by the publick. While "Salmagundi," one of the most inferior collections of essays ever sent forth, has attained four

[Sept:

or five editions, both in America and England, "The Indicator" and "The Honeycomb," which do honour to their authors, have been suffered to die in obscurity and neglect. The former can boast of some of the most amusing articles that Leigh Hunt has ever written; for instance, "Thieves Ancient and Modern," parts of which have been frequently copied without the least acknowledgment. "The Honeycomb" was not even noticed by any distinguished publication, although it is a fact that "The New Monthly" and "Imperial Magazine" stole the principal articles without once stating their obligation. It was whispered that either Coleridge or Barry Cornwall conducted this work. However this may be, it is certain that "Henicia," a poetical tale, and "The Triumph of Paulus Æmilius," breathe much of the style of the author of "Deucalion and Pyrrha." The latter is a noble triumph of genius, and would do honour to the pen of Byron.

While on this subject, it may be worth observing, that the work entitled "The British Essayists," is extremely poor and ill-selected. The late productions of this class are not inserted, and the Dissertations rather than Essays of Vicesimus Knox, occupy their places. Dr. Knox's articles are very good, but so totally dissimilar to the "Tatler," "Spectator," and "Guardian," that they can scarcely be included in such a collection. "The Indicator" and the "Honeycomb," though not formed exactly on the plan of

The Adventurer," &c. have a much higher claims.

In POETRY, the nineteenth century, with the exception of the two or three first years, has been particularly rich. The works of Walter Scott, of Campbell, of Southey, Rogers, and of Byron, will excite the admiration of posterity. The last canto of Marmion is one of the noblest flights of human genius; and "The Bride of Abydos," &c. abound in passages that equal any in the ancient poets. Rogers's Jacqueline is throughout elegant and easy. Campbell's Theodric has somewhat lowered his fame; but as long as the English language remains, "Hohenlinden," "The Address to the Rainbow," "Lochiel's Warning," &c. will stand no chance of being neglected or forgotten. "The Curse of Kehama,"

and