1825.] Pedigree of the Rokeby Family. 14. Christopher Rokeby, Esq. to Lassells of Brackenburgh's daughter. 16. Sir Thomas Rokeby, Knt. to Sir Ralph Lawson's daughter, of Brough. The same Pedigree as extracted from that I 2. Rad'us Rokeby, filia Thome Dn'i Lumley. 3. Thomas Rokeby, mil. = filia Thome Hebburne, mil. 4. Rad'us Rokebye, miles = filia Rads. Bygot, mil. possess. 5. Thomas Rokeby, miles = filia Jo. de Melsa, of B'net Hall, in Holdernes. 6. Rad'us Rokebye, ar. = filia Briam Stapleton de Wighel, mil. filia Rads Ewrye, mil. 8. Rad'us Rokebye, ar. filia Symon' Murston, mil. com. Cest. 9. Thomas Rokebye, ar. = filia Joh'nis Hothome, mil. 10. Rad'us Rokebye, miles = filia Jacob's Strangways, mil. 11. Thomas Rokeby, miles filia Joh'nis Strode, mil. After this the various branches are given. = filia Thweng et heres de Eastheslerto. filia Faucette de 12. Rad'us Rokeby, ar. filius et heres Margareta filia et heres Danbye de Yaforth. 213 to make is, that my pedigree gives to Sir Thomas Rokeby (No. 11), that Jady for a wife which Sir Walter's bestows upon the grandfather, Thomas Rokeby (No. 9), and vice versa. In looking over these statements, it will be observed that the first important difference between them is respecting the wife of Ralph Rokeby (No. 8), Sir Walter's authority, and the one which I copy, each bestowing upon him a different lady. It is not impossible that he had two wives, which these ladies might be, but the question then is, "whether of the twain" was the mother of Tho. Rokeby (No.9). The observation which I have next Rad'us Rokeby, ar. (No. 12.)Margaret, filia et heres Denbye de Yaforth. Thomas Rokebye, ar. (No. 13.)Filia, Constable de Clyff, Sergeant at Law. And my last remark concerns No. 12. From this Ralph Rokeby, Sir Walter in his note says, "" is the House of Skyers of a fourth brother:" this appears to be incorrect, for, according to the account of the matter, which I quote, it was from his son Thomas Rokeby (No. 13), through his second son that had issue (Thomas), that the House of Skyers sprung, as the following extracts copied literally from my pedigree will show. Thomas Roke-Caterina, filia Leigh 14.) Xpoferus Roke-Filia Ro- Rad'us Rokeby, Master of the Requeste, neuer married. William Rokeby de Hotham, filius et heres Dorothea, filia William Rokeby * de Skyers William Rokeby de Hotham, et Skyers by purchase Francisca, filia 1a de William Hick de from Co. Darcey. Gainsburgh, militis. Alexander Rokeby, filius et heres Willi'mi=Margareta filia 4a Johannis Coke de Holkham, From my Pedigree it appears that this William Rokeby was the son and heir of Ralph Rokeby de Skyers, ar. Sargeant at Law," who was the only brother of Thomas Rokeby (No. 18.) and who is the first Rokeby that I can find as "de Skyrs." T' 214 On Public Buildings in the Metropolis. The MS. which accompanies this Pedigree is a narrow scroll, between three and four yards in length, addressed "To my Right Honble Collonell Sr Thomas Rokeby, Knight, in the words of his learned Cozen Ralph Rokeby, Esquire," and pretends to be "A Copie of the Book of your originall drawne from that which was written by your great uncle Ra. Rokebie, of Lincoln's Inn, directed to his three nephews, Tho. Will. and Ralph Rokeby, written by mee Thomas Henshaw, Esq. Capt. in your regiment, in the service of his most Christian Matie Lewis the 13 King of France and Nauarre: at our Garrison of Amiens, Jan. 26, 1650." It is evidently a Copy of that from which Sir Walter extracted his anecdotes relating to Parson Blackwood and Sir Willyam Walleis," and "the fellow swine and This was no doubt the Ralph Rokeby "Master of the Requeste, neuer married," and his three nephews were with as little question Thomas (No. 16.) the grandson of his brother Christopher, and William and Ralph, the two grandsons of his other brother Thomas de Hotham. + Vide note to Rokeby. [Sept. And now, Mr. Editor, having 'already I fear occupied to much of your valuable space, I must conclude, being first permitted to say that though this MS. and its companion, the Pedigree are treated with profound respect by myself; yet if this should meet the eye of Sir Walter Scott, and the possession of them would afford him the slightest pleasure, they are entirely at his service; as the satisfaction of knowing them to be in the hands of so highly gifted and deservedly celebrated an antiquary would much more than compensate for the loss of the gratification I now feel in being enabled to call myself their proprietor. G. S. Mr. URBAN, Sept. 7. Yart C. 005, Suppl.) surely VOUR Correspondent, "G. A." much underrates our noble Metropopolis. "Take away St. Paul's and Waterloo Bridge" (for Westminster Abbey though added, seems to have been almost forgot), "what is there in London to brag of?" Is the fine Bridge of Westminster an insignificant structure? Has he never viewed it from the [Arch-]Bishop's Walk, at Lambeth? from which spot the agreeable symmetry and moderate expansion of its semicircular arches are far more pleasing to the eye than the wide elliptical ones of Waterloo. With respect to the "great lot of houses collected together without taste, magnificence, or splendour," I should have supposed that Regent-street, Portland-place, some of our squares, and, I might add, the great improvements on the site of Moorfields, might not have been included in his severe censure. Let me, however, acknowledge that I cordially join in your Correspondent's remark that Government has never been impressed by the repeated observations on this subject in your “valuable record," of which we have a glaring proof from the Bridge he so justly admires. I advert to Somersetplace, (an ornament to the capital that "G.A." omits noticing) which to this hour remains in an unfinished state, though Sir Thomas Baring, on 40,000l. being voted for the British Museum, thought it would have been better employed in finishing that edifice; and Mr. Croker said that the East wing would afford three galleries 400 feet long, and 60 wide. As 1825.] Monument of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. As the City of London already possesses the finest Protestant Church in the world, and Westminster its farfamed venerable Abbey; no structure, in my humble opinion, would be more proper and more approved of by the nation, than the long proposed Palace 215 for our august Sovereign, on a scale that THIS Monument of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. HIS handsome Monument is on the North wall of the Church of St. Michael, at Lewes, and bears the following remarkable inscription:. "Here under lye buried the bodies of Sir Nicholas Pelham, Knt. (son of Sir Wm. Pelham, of Laughton), and Dame Anne, his wife, daughter of John Sackvile, Esq. grandfather of the Right Hon. Tho. (late) Earl of Dorset. They had issue six sons and four daughters. "His vals proofe, his manlie virtues, prayse Cannot be marshall'd in this narrow [dayes His brave exploit in great King Henry's Among the worthye hath a worthier roome; tombe: What time the French sought to have Mr. URBAN, Sept. 9. N opening the ground for materials to repair roads on the highest part of the Hamlet or Lordship of Spittlegate, next Harlaxton, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, last winter, a dry cave was discovered hewn out of the white stone rock, wherein was found a quantity of wheat and barley, as black as ink, mixed apparently with burnt ashes. ashes. In the same place lay a pair of antient stone querns. The bottom stone, 13 inches diameter, contained a hole in the middle 2 inches wide for a spindle; the upper stone something like a sugar-loaf, with a hole in the centre for the spindle, and another in the side for a shaft to turn the stone round with one hand, whilst corn was dropped down with the other like a hopper; the flour supposed to be received in a cloth on a table. Several instances of these querns, found in Yorkshire, are noticed in Hargrave's "History of Knaresborough," p. 139; but where and by whom this cave was in use, it is much more difficult to determine. There is no appearance of foundations or earthworks any where near the place. Before the inclosure, this spot was woody and thorny, part of the common cow pasture; and a remarkably high dry situation, commanding a very extensive prospect all round, a mile or more from any town, and fitting for a store and hiding-place for plunderers. Mr. URBAN, C. Sept. 10. Tan early period of my life, when sophy, and grew very metaphysical, as I conceived, and was in my own estimation quite capable of determining the grand questions of the origin of evil, and the derivation of all effects from their most recondite causes, I used to indulge my leisure in settling the motives of the actions of my friends; -I developed their dispositions from their external demeanour, and held fast the legal principle of judging of the hidden motive by the overt act. But I had not always discretion enough to conceal my opinion, and having two or three very narrow escapes from the ultima ratio of offended gentlemen, and the rude shock of John Bull and his family, the doctrine seemed to grow very unpopular, and I judged it most prudent to withdraw from this part of my pursuits: and I am free to confess that my subsequent years have passed over with considerably less difficulty, than they did under the influence of my philosophical penetration. I have, however, very lately fallen into company with a gentleman of about half my own age, and much more leisure, without so much experience, who is far advanced beyond the vanity of [Sept, seeking applause, but not yet arrived at the happy calm of a Sexagenarian, who can weigh all that passes in a more equal balance. He has taken up the science of motive-mongering, and assured me with perfect confidence that he had discovered the grand se cret of developing every character, and of reviewing as a regiment marching before him in ordinary time, all the internal system of mind and intention of every one of his friends. Being myself well aware of the difficulties which I had undergone, it became my duty to check his career, which was very rapidly conducting him into all the labyrinths of phrenology, and was about to place him on the precipice of dishonour! As I one day accompanied him to my house, where he was engaged to meet an intelligent party, who would have seen and esteemed his merit and talents, he stopped short in the street, and asserted that he knew the reason of my invitation; and as he said this, after a pause, I demanded what it was, supposing that I had incautiously disclosed it. "You want me," said he in reply, "to entertain your friends, because you can't do it yourself." I was purely to give him an opportunity of conversing with and shewing himself to advantage to some scientific meu. He desired to be excused. I pressed him; he persisted; and I let him go, whispering as we separated, that he was afraid of their scrutiny. A few days afterwards I saw him walking with one of these very friends, and they were attracted by a venerable man in the wane of years, who gave them a silent look of solicitation, which they could not mistake; his companion, prompted by a momentary benevolence,gave him something worth his acceptance, which the old man acknowledged with fervency and gratitude. You would not have done that alone," said our philosopher; "you purchased his praises, that I might hear them, and because you saw our friend passing by." He protested that he had not thought for a moment. "Yes, yes," said the Motive-monger, "self was the Deity of your service, and the old beggar the happy instrument of your devotion !" Soon after this, my son, after a long and tried attachment, was preparing to marry a young lady of suitable con nection, 1825.] The Motive-monger. nection, fortune, and qualifications for happiness. Just as the articles were signed, and the preparatory steps arranged, our wily philosopher accosted him with his usual freedom, "Well, Tom, I hear you are soon to marry,you think you are attached to the lady, but you are mistaken, for you dare not confess to yourself that you hate her." -My son was irritated, and prepared to shew his anger, when the philosopher retreated a few steps, and said, You are going to marry her connections, and she is the helpless victim!" My son drove him to the wall, and he came to me to complain!-Poor ignorant man! said I, you have mistaken your talent,-you imagine yourself another Rochefoucault, and that you may speak with impunity; if your judgment was matured, you would learn that silence is the first symptom of prudence and skill; and that if you were in the palace of Truth, she would best shew you the merit of benevolence and conciliation. This system of motives has been lately not a little encouraged in its cynical progress by the introduction of Phrenology, a science which I have been told Dr. Gall, the first founder of it, wholly relinquished, from a very obvious discovery that he could not reduce it to fixed principles. Dr. Spurzheim, his pupil, with bolder zeal and more ardent practice, has been lecturing to astonished parties, and shewing them by the bumps and shallows of their skulls, that their whole merit and demerit cannot be hid, at least from his view, and especially if they happen to be bald.Thus the science of Motives has become an easy study; and as soon as an enemy wishes to discover the inducement of any action or sentiment, of any insult or complacency, he is now referred to the great collection of marked skulls and models in the possession of Mr. De Ville, where he soon discovers, or thinks he discovers, the latent cause. One says, if he has an elevation in the os frontis, so has my friend, then he means well, for that is the seat of benevolence; or, his admiration of my daughter, or peradventure my wife, was base, for he has a protuberant oceiput, and that is the seat of the bad passions! or he cannot have much devotion, though he talks well on theology, for I perceived a great shallow GENT. MAG September, 1825. 217 across the sutures. Another gentleman with very anxious enquiry was seen looking for all the skulls which had either an elevation or a hollow beyond those sutures. Now this young man of fashion having received a challenge for the next morning, was desirous of previously knowing whether himself or his antagonist had the most, or any, courage; and I observed him look very grave, when he found a bust most resembling the latter, which discovered a greater elevation in the upper part of the scalp than on his own! It is very remarkable, whatever may be said by the Celebes, that female skulls have very scarcely a protuberant occiput, from which I should be led to conclude, as a liberal phrenologist would assert, that the ladies are free from all bad passions ;-but I shall forbear to develope their motives, lest I get into bad bread at home. All this shows that philosophers are not always mistaken, though they may be run away with by visionary schemes. My friend the Motive-monger was deeply interested in the system, and pursued it with his accustomed ardour. He never examined his head so much in the glass; his very arms and fingers ached with continually feeling different parts of his bald pate; he challenged himself with vices he never had practised; he gave himself credit for virtues he had never exercised; he thought at one time that he could have gained the battle of Waterloo, and at another, that he was fit for the see of either York or Canterbury. One day I found him desponding over a skeleton,-expecting to be hanged for murder or forgery; and at another, aspiring to be Lord Chancellor of England. His unrelaxed ardour at length gave way, and he fell into a stupor of mind, which gave evidence of ungovernable perplexities that threatened insanity or idiotcy. Instead of his customary urbanity and agreeable conversation on almost all literary topics, he sat with fixed eyes comparing the foreheads, chins, and noses of the company; and when the news was conveyed to him that the Catholic Emancipation Bill was thrown out by a large majority in the Upper House, instead of expressing applause or concern, he inquired what was the shape of Lord Liverpool's forehead! What I have seen of the world is suffi |