26. Collections for Herefordshire. by the friends of religion and truth; and they cannot believe that this appeal will be made in vain. "Whether we look backward in admiration of the past-or around us to contemplate the vast field which is open to our present exertions-or before us to anticipate the regeneration of a country, whose mountains and plains, whose forests and rivers, whose towns and villages are associated with the most interesting and the most sacred recollections, we feel persuaded that we shall be assisted to carry forward the good work we have proposed. In that confidence we would again urge the claim upon the public benevolence; and we trust that under the Divine blessing we shall be permitted to see in the moral improvement of Greece the noblest return for generous assistance, the best and the highest recompense for all our exertions." Mr. URBAN, Islington, July 12. FOR OR some years I have read with pleasure your articles upon antiquarian subjects. Time has not cooled attachment to my favourite pursuit, and as your pages are generally perused by all lovers of topography, I venture to throw out a hint that may catch the attention of gentlemen capable of acting upon it for the benefit of others and their own gratification. I have lately returned from visiting one of the most delightful provinces for fertility and beautiful scenery,-the county of Hereford,-a county endeared to me by family ties and early recollections; and on inquiring there if the "Collections towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford, by John Duncumb, M.A." were likely to be completed, I was told that the death of the late Duke of Norfolk, by whose patronage the work was published, had altogether put a stop to its continuation. Why this should be the case is not so apparent, as the reverend author is still living, and there are certainly many gentlemen of the county who would gladly support such an undertaking. The first volume appeared so long ago as 1804, and part of the second in 1812; since that period nothing has been done towards the printing of another portiona circumstance to be regretted by those who, like myself, have purchased the [July, book in its unfinished state. The late Duke of Norfolk had an interesting seat near Hereford, by marriage with the heiress of the ancient house of the Scudamores, and often made it his summer residence. At Holme Lacey Pope wrote his celebrated eulogy on the character of John Kyrle, "The Man of Ross." Since the decease of the Duchess, who was insane, and died in her family mansion, Holme Lacey has been occupied for a few months in the year by General Burr, one of the claimants in possession of the large estates of that branch of the Scudamores, and descended from the last Viscount of the name. As I passed through the city of Hereford, after a long absence from it, I was much pleased with the great improvements made there within_these few years, particularly the new Courts of Justice, with their chaste Doric portico, designed by Smirke; the handsome and commodious covered Market-place (the market having been formerly held in the open streets); the removal of a row of old shops in the centre of the city occupied by butchers (not quite completed); and the general improved appearance of the streets and houses; the County Gaol, its management, classification of prisoners, and working system, revived with effect after some years of discontinuance, speak forcibly of the excellent arrangements of the magistracy, and are very creditable to their superintendance. The great alterations in the Cathedral; the removal of the unsightly dingy coat of paint from the stalls in the choir, and restoring the fine old oak to its natural colour by cleaning and varnishing; with the beautifully painted glass window (by Backler), over the communion table (recently put up), equally delighted me. Mr. Britton, I can venture to predict, will find this not the least interesting portion of his useful labours on our Cathedral Antiquities. Several new monuments have been erected, one to the memory of an old friend, well to many of your Oxford known 1825.] Allen's Bibliotheca Herefordiensis. linguas feliciter excoluerit. Vir moribus simplex præstaus ingenii; multis ille quidem flebilis; nulli quam conjugi et natis debilior. Occidit Oxoniæ Julii xxvi anno Domini MDCCCXIII. ætatis LXI. In my Hereford tour I purchased a little book, "A Walk through the City, by J. P. Wright," 12mo. 1819; in p. 45, (in a note,) is this remark, which I transfer to your pages:-" for this and some other valuable particulars we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. T. Allen, jun. of this city; the collections of this gentleman of traditions, relics, books, and manuscripts relating to the history and topography of this county have perhaps never been equalled; and the public will learn with pleasure that, with all these advantages before him, he is now engaged in the composition of a history of his native county." The gentle man alluded to, as I understood, has left Hereford some time ago to reside in London, and nothing further than the announcement of the projected work has appeared; but a literary friend (whose library has many a tempting black-letter gem and lib. rariss.) has just shewn me a curious and laborious publication, and one of no inconsiderable rarity, illustrating Herefordshire, which proves how well qualified the author is for the task he has undertaken. As your pages preserve many valuable notices of scarce books, and from its being the first attempt, on an extended scale, of the kind, hitherto printed, for any county in England, I am induced to give you an account of the volume. It is an octavo volume of 132 pages, printed on very thick writing paper. Only 25 copies were printed, and none, as my friend was informed, were disposed of but by gift. The title reads thus, "Bibliotheca Herefordiensis; or a De scriptive Catalogue of Books, Pamphlets, Maps, Prints, &c. &c. relating to the County of Hereford: Compiled by John Allen, jun. Hereford: Printed by J. Allen, High Town, 1821." After a short notice that the titles of the principal books and pamphlets are correct transcripts, where access to the original work could be obtained, p. vi.-xii. contain "Introductory Remarks," in which all the known MS. collections towards a history of the County are recorded. This is a more perfect and better arranged analysis 27 than that in "Gough's Topography;" but it is remarkable that no account is given of the compiler's own collection, though they are often referred to in the subsequent pages. The stores in the Harleian MSS. are classed according to their contents by the numbers of the printed catalogue, but the Herefordshire papers in Cole's MSS. in the Museum, are not mentioned, though both numerous and curious. The labours of the Record Committee are properly appreciated; for more valuable books of authority to the antiquary and historian than those published by order of Parliament under this Commission, have never appeared in any country; and the public money cannot be applied to more useful purposes than the preservation, by printing, of such authentic documents of real history. The Catalogue of Books, &c. begins with p. 1, and is arranged under the following heads, which serves as an index to the work: "General History of the County, 1; Agriculture, Cider, &c. of the County, 3; Miscellanies relating to the County, 9; History of the City, 15; Miscellanies relating to the City, 17; Additions to Hereford Miscellanies, 37; History of Leominster, 38; Leominster Miscellanies, 39; Ross, Archenfield, Wye, &c. 46; Ledbury Miscellanies, 53; Miscellanies and History relating to the various parts of Herefordshire, 54; Herefordshire Biography, 61; Clerical Miscellanies and Herefordshire Sermons, 65; Maps and Plans, 73; Prints illustrative of the Antiquities, Scenery, &c. of Herefordshire, and references to Books containing information relating to the County, 77; engraved Portraits of Persons connected with the County of Hereford, Natives, Residents, &c. 93; Acts of Parliament relating to various parts of the County of Hereford, 99; Addenda, &c. 113, to 118; Index." This mass of references carefully brought together, will greatly facilitate the progress of a future writer on this county; a knowledge of what has already been done being a material point gained, in fact almost half the battle won; and it is to be hoped that other counties may find persons equally zealous in investigation on a similar plan, with the same leisure and opportunity of research possessed by the indefatigable collector for Hereford 28 Anecdotes of Dr. Thomas Balguy. [July, (which, by those who have read them, I understand, are highly valuable.) This volume of Tracts and two volumes of Sermons, were all that he published during his life; his son, after his death, published an "Essay on Redemption," written by his father. shire. Long residence, and acquaintance with county affairs, and a real liking for such pursuits, must concur in an individual, before such a laborious task would be undertaken or completed. Nearly half a century ago I remembered this gentleman's father (now retired from business,) the prin- Dr. Thos. Balguy published only cipal bookseller in the county, and the two volumes of Sermons, which his information thus obtained of all local nephew, Dr. Drake, Vicar of Rochpublications, has evidently not been dale, after his death re-printed, and thrown away on the compiler of the prefixed a short Memoir of his uncle. "Bibliotheca Herefordiensis." That I had the pleasure of spending a the projected history alluded to in the week in the summer of 1813 under the "Walk through Hereford," is still in hospitable roof of the late Dr. Drake ; progress for the press, and that the and when there, he shewed me a seremaining parts of the Rev. Mr. Dun-ries of letters from Warburton to Balcomb's Collections (long a desideratum,) will eventually be published, is much desired by your correspondent, and doubtless by others. Yours, &c. S. X. Mr. URBAN, Town, Barbados, May 2. I have had an opportunity of seeing your last Supplement, and I am now writing entirely from memory, in order to correct some errors which have crept in. " Sir P. Meadows is wrong in ascribing one of the portraits of his ancestors to Richard Graves, who wrote concerning Egypt; the learned author of the "Pyramidographia," "Account of the Grand Seraglio,' &c. having flourished in the reign of Charles II. and whose works were collected and published by Dr. Birch. This was long before the period the gentleman to whom Sir P. Meadows refers flourished; and besides, the name is spelt with an e, Greaves, who died in 1731, aged 51. As to the communication relative to the Rev. John Balguy and Dr. Thos. Balguy, the latter was, if I recollect right, not the author of the "Divine Benevolence asserted," but the Rev. John Balguy; it is contained in a volume of Tracts on similar subjects, guy, which I should think would fill a moderate sized octavo; they gave strong proofs of Warburton's powerful mind, and of his warm friendship for Hurd and Balguy. Hurd and Balguy were intimate friends at college, and Hurd introduced Balguy to Warburton. Balguy was of too meek and retiring a mind to seek preferment; he refused a Bishopric, though not exactly in the way mentioned in your Supplement. I will relate it as near as I can in the words of his nephew. "My uncle's eyes were weak, and he had besides a squabble with one Nott, an officer in the Cathedral, about the repairs of it. One night he was awakened by his servant bringing him a note; looking at the bottom of it, and seeing, as he thought, the word Nott, he hastily bade the servant go away, and he would answer it in the morning. The servant shortly returned and informed him that the messenger was sure he had not read the letter. Upon more attentively looking, he saw it was signed North, and contained an offer of the Bishopric of Gloucester, then vacant by the death of Warburton. He still sent away the messenger, saying he would send an answer in the morning, which answer was declining the offer." "The Bishopric of Gloucester," said my uncle to me in relating the story, had cost me one night's rest. I was determined it should not cost me another" and upon my looking a little out of heart, he said, “Come, come, any lad, I considered that, and there was nothing good I could give you." Halifax succeeded Warburton as Bishop of Gloucester, and was afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph, which may 1823.] Dr. Drake.-William Lauder. may have occasioned your correspond ent's mistake. Dr. Drake was of St. John's College, Cambridge, and was afterwards Fellow, tutor to Earl Mount Edgecumb, with whom, I believe, he went on the Continent, was the first domestie chaplain of Archbishop Moore, afterwards Vicar of Hadleigh, in Suffolk, and finally Vicar of Rochdale, in Lancashire, where he died Sept. 12, 1819. He married one of the ancient and respectable family of Yate, in Gloucestershire. His only son died about 1815; and one of his daughters married a Mr. Niblett, who some years ago was High Sheriff of the county of Gloucester. The library of Dr. T. Balguy came into the possession of Dr. Drake, and it was a most choice one, filled with the best quarto variorum classics, and the best divinity. Mrs. Drake survived the Doctor, and, I be lieve, is still living. It certainly would be a loss, should the letters of Warburton perish; they complete and explain those from Warburton to Hard. Yours, &c. I. E. Extracts from the Records of the Free School in Bridge Town, Barbados, relative to William Lauder. Extract of a minute made at a meeting of the Gentlemen Trustees for managing the affairs of the Free School, Aug. 3, 1754. Present, the Hon. Jonathan Bleuman, Attorney-General, Benj. Carlton, esq. Ch. Warden, and the Hon. John Harrison, Treasurer. 29 At a meeting of the Trustees for the Free School, on the 7th Dec. 1762. Present, the Hon. John Lyte, Speaker of the Assembly, the Hon. Jonathan Bleuman, Attorney-Gen. and Henry Hasell, Church Warden. "Then the Trustees took into mature consideration the case of Mr. Lauder, the Latin Master. Upon inquiry it appeared, to their great surprise and concern, that he had been appointed to that office for above eight years, and never taught a single scholar on the foundation, notwithstanding that on his appointment four were ordered for his care out of the twenty-five, which is the whole number; and he might have chosen any four he thought most fit for the purpose. with this shameful behaviour, he had little On said Lauder's being called in and charged more to say than that he never refused to teach the boys, but none were offered him. This was the more astonishing because, although the said Lauder had frequently applied to some of the Trustees for repairs to be made to his apartment, and of the house belonging to the donation, (which for his encouragement he was allowed to rent out,) and which was always done according to his desire, yet he never once signified to any of the gentlemen, or gave the least intimation of what he now offered in his justification, nor had any of them the least reason to doubt but that, however exceptionable his character was in other respects, he did not fail to answer the intention of his appointment, and to discharge his duty to the boys it was supposed had from time to time been under his care. The said Lauder being therefore asked whether he thought it was intended he should be in that station, and receive greater advantages than any of his predecessors, without doing auy thing at all for it? he answered, he would teach double the number for the future. And then being ordered to withdraw, the Trustees came to a resolution that the said Lauder should be immediately discharged; and he was and is discharged accordingly." Extract from the Register of the parish of Saint Michael, Bridge Town, Barbados. Aug. 30, 1771.-Burials.-William Lauder.' "Then the Trustees took into consideration the appointment of a Master of the Grammar School, and Mr. William Lauder being well recommended to them, was ap pointed to that office, to have the usual appointment belonging to such Master; he is also to have the benefit of renting out the house in Marl Hill, near the said School, unless he choose to reside in it himself, which is to be at his election. Then the said Mr. Lauder being called up, and he signifying that he should rather chuse to rent out the house at Marl Hill, at least for the present, provided the apartments in the Schoolhouse were fitted up immediately for him; and the Trustees being willing to give him all the encouragement in their power, did resolve, and it was accordingly ordered, that the said apartments should be fitted up with all convenient speed." *See an account of him in vol. LXXXIX. characters, whether in public or private I. p. 378. life, have been distinguished by any Mr. URBAN, July 22. HE Obituary of the Gentleman's T Magazine having been for many years one of the most authentic and respectable Records of the biographical anecdotes of deceased persons, whose Occurrences 30 Account of the Bunce Family. occurrences worthy of being commemorated for talents or virtue, I am induced to communicate the following particulars respecting a beloved relative of mine, at the time of whose decease, in 1766, the arrangement of such communications was not equal to that which is now so classical a repository of departed worth. "To honour those who gave us birth Is Heaven's divine command:" That honour, or rather, I would say, that filial regard and veneration, which was never in any instance more strictly deserved or more deeply impressed, I have repeatedly paid at different times on the pages of your esteemed Publication; and in the course of a very long and frequent correspondence therein from youth to age, have been favoured with the insertion of some tributes of affection and respect to the merits of several departed and surviving relatives and friends; and also many occasional papers on various subjects, both literary and local, with descriptive pieces of scenery, which give so high a colouring to the progressive passages of life, and to "those painted clouds that beautify our days," until I am become, through advancing years and infirmities, nearly unable to produce any thing new, and even find it difficult to transcribe from the manuscripts I have in my possession, those correct and authentic documents which supply the biographical particulars of my present subject, and will probably close my correspondence with the Editors; and, through their favour, ultimately gratify my utmost ambition in point of any claims or pretensions I can have to the estimation or acceptance of the publick; having not only lived" one month one little month on Urban's page,' beyond the prediction of some satrical and defamatory lines pointed at my "Rural Sabbath," which was written under the Northiam Oak in 1810, and published in 1811, but many successive months and years, to gratify, I trust, a better feeling than vanity; viz. to commemorate the virtues of the friends I love and esteem, and to silence the calumnious censures of those who were disposed to traduce me. To proceed to the subject of my intended memoir. The life of a private Clergyman, though not holding any Church dig Pope. [July, nities, may be of more beneficial influence than one of a higher rank; and the Minister of a Parish, who strictly and conscientiously performs his duty, though he may not come under the modern description of Evangelical, or be possessed of that enthusiasm which the Sectaries admire, may be of more real importance in his station than a Minister of State: the sacred duties of his profession being of a nature far superior to any temporal concerns, yet inseparably connected therewith. The Rev. William Bunce, LL.B. Rector of St. Peter's, and Vicar of St. Clement's, Sandwich, was the younger son of the Rev. John Bunce, A.M. formerly Vicar of Brenzet in Kent, and afterwards Rector of Chingford and Pitsey in Essex, who left in MS. an approved translation from the Greek (since published) of St. Chrysostom's Six Books on the Priesthood, which are esteemed amongst the best pieces of antiquity, and whose death was thus noticed in a Canterbury paper of the 6th of July, 1741: "On Saturday last, died in this City, the Rev. John Bunce, sen.; he had for many years resided on a Vicarage in Romney Marsh, and being taken notice of by the his modest deportment and pious life, was present Archdeacon, Dr. Samuel Lisle, for by him recommended a few years since to more agreeable preferments in Essex, without seeking or even knowing of the same.' The He brought up both his sons to the Church, and sent them, duly qualified by his own tuition, to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where they took their respective degrees in civil law. elder was presented by the above-mentioned Archdeacon Lisle to the Vicarage of St. Stephen's near Canterbury; and the younger, the subject of this memoir, by the same patron, to the Vicarage of St. Clement's, Sandwich, in 1742: and on the presentation of the Crown, to the Rectory of St. Peter's in 1744. On those two small benefices, for in point of value they were then very inferior to what they are now, he passed his useful and exemplary life in the active and arduous Rollin, in his "Belles Letters," vol. ii. p. 301, produces the earnest dissuasion of the mother of St. Chrysostom respecting his intention to leave her, as an example of the most affecting natural eloquence. Her tender remonstrance prevailed. It is prefixed to the translation of the Books. employ |