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have been informed, is among the traditions of || consequently founded thereon. This tradition

all nations, and is supported by writers sacred and prophane: it would be barely reasonable to ascribe the originality of the thought to be conveyed to all nations by the Jewish history, as a great part of them do not know any thing of it, nor even of the people which it commemorates; but the first race of men, wheresoever they walked, looked, or dug in the ground, must see that the whole had been covered by the sea: thus it became natural for them to conclude, that the world and all that was in it had been drowned :-a story was

descended from one generation to another, the appearance of the earth in those early ages, bearing testimony to the narration: and L conceive it must be some hundreds of years before the atmosphere had so changed the face of the world, and consumed the exuviæ of the Juhabitants of the water, as not to give ample proof to the man with mental powers, even beneath mediocrity, that the ground on which he stood had once been beneath the ocean.

A. B.

ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE CELEBRATED GEORGE ALEXANDER STEVENS.

DEAR SIR,

Yarmouth Guol.

of new pumps enabled me to smoke several pipes. It is incredible how my appetite (barometer like) rises in proportion as my necessities make their terrible advances. I here could say something droll about a stomach; but it is ill jesting with edge tools, and I am sure that is the sharpest thing about me.

served me for dinner two months.-My silk When I parted from you at Doncaster I ima-stockings have paid my lodgings, aud two pair gined, long before this, to have met with some oddities worth acquainting you with. It is grown a fashion of late to write lives-I have now, and for a long time have had, leisure enough to write mine-but want materials for the latter part of it. For my existence cannot properly be called living, but what the painters term still-life; having since February 13th been confined in this town gaol for a London debt. As a hunted deer is always shunned by the happier herd, so am I deserted by the company, my share taken off, and no support left; save what my wife can spare me out of hers.

"Deserted, in my utmost need, "By those my former bounty fed." With an economy, which till now I was a stranger to, I have made shift hitherto to victual my little garrison; but then it has been with the aid of my good friends and allies-my clothes. This week's eating finishes my last waistcoat; and next I must atone for my errors on bread and water.

Themistocles had so many towns to furnish bis table; and a whole city bore the charge of his meals. In some respects I am like him; for I am furnished by the labours of a multitude. A wig has fed me two days-the trim mings of a waistcoat as long--a pair of velvet breeches paid my washer-woman, and a ruffled shirt has found me in shaving.-My coats I swallowed by degrees: the sleeves I breakfasted upon for weeks-the body, skirts, &c.

You may think I can have no sense of my condition, that while I am thus wretched, I should offer at ridicule: But, Sir, people constituted like me, with a disproportionate levity of spirits, are always most merry when they are most miserable, aud quicken like the eyes of the consumptive, which are always brightest the nearer a patient approaches to dissolution. However, Sir, to show that I am not entirely lost to all r flection, I think myself poor enough to want a fvour, and humble enough to ask it Here, Sir, I might make an encomium on your good nature, humanity, &c.; but I shall not pay so bad a compliment to your understanding as to endeavour, by a parade of phrases, to win it over to my interest. If you could, any night, at a concert, make a small collection for me, it might be a means of obtaining my liberty; and you know, Sir, the first people of rank abroad will perform the most friendly offices for the sick. Be not, therefore, offended at the request of a poor though a deservedly punished) debtor. G. A. STEVENS.

To Dr. MILLER, P. M. Doncaster.

79

ON THE SPANISH CHARACTER.

TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH OF COLONEL DON JOSEF CAVAHALSO.

To any one who has travelled in the in- || terior of Spain, it will be evident that the national character is, at this day, in many points the same that it was three or four centuries ago. But to judge of this, it is not sufficient to have seen Madrid and some of the great cities. In the vicinity of every Court, modes and customs are continually changing, as well from the concourse of strangers by which they are always attended, as from other causes; but in the interior provinces of Spain, which by reason of their little commerce, bad roads, and total want of amusements, are not liable to be influenced in a similar manner, the present inhabitants, along with the manners and habits, retain nearly the same virtues and vices which distinguished their ancestors of the fifteenth century. If the Spanish character, generally speaking, is composed of zeal for religion, bravery, and attachment to their Sovereign, on the one hand; and of vanity, indolence, and contempt of industry, with too great a propensity to amorous intrigue on the other: if this mixture of good and bad quali- || ties constituted the general character of the nation five hundred years ago, the same may be said, with little variation, of the Spaniards of the present day. For one fop who alters his dress according to the suggestions of his tailor, or the variations of French or English fashions, there are an hundred thousand persons who will not depart, in the smallest particular, from the style of their ancient habit. Where one is to be found luke-warm in regard to matters of faith, there are a million who would sacrifice any one daring enough to call its doctrines in question. For one that steadily follows a useful occupation, there are thousands ready to shut up their shops and retire to the Asturias, or the mountains, to seek for the patent of their ancestor's nobility. Amidst the evident decline of the national character in many points, however, some genuine traits of their ancient spirit are occasionally to be met with; or, indeed, can it be otherwise. To suppose that there are any people that will retain their

virtues, which are peculiarly their own, and banish their peculiar vices, for the purpose of acquiring in their room the good qualities of other nations, is to imagine a republic like that of Plato. Natious resemble individuals. Every man possesses good and bad qualities, more or less peculiar to himself; and it is a very laudable endeavour to diminish the one, and augment the other by every possible means; but it is impossible to eradicate that which forms part of the constitution.

One of the weaknesses generally imputed by other nations to the Spaniards, is their pride; and if the reproach is well founded (of which there is but little doubt), it is somewhat curious to remark in what manner the foible exhibits itself among them; for, as in falling bodies, the tendency to descend increases the nearer they approach the earth, so the lower the character of its subject, the more does this vice seem to abound. Once a year, the King, accompanied by all the Royal Family, washes the feet of twelve poor men. Grandees, or Nobles of the first class, although they do now and then talk of the greatness of their ancestors, are yet courteous and affable, even to the lowest of their servants. Those

The

of a less elevated rank are more in the habit

of boasting of their families and connexions; and those again who hold only a middle rank between the Nobility and Citizens, and who are chiefly to be found in the great cities, are still more tiresome in this respect. Before they will either visit a stranger, or admit him into their society, they must know who was his great great grandfather; upon no account dispensing with this piece of etiquette in favour of any one, however great or generally acknowledged his merit. And even should it turn out that he is descended from one of the most illustrious families, they will still consider it an inexcusable defect his not having been born in their city; equal purity of nobility being, of course, not to be found elsewhere in the kingdom.

But all this is nothing to the vanity of a Country Gentleman. Hidalgo de Aldea. This

latter stalks magisterially up and down the dull public walk of his miserable village, wrap-¦¦ ped up in the idea of his own importance, and in his thread bare cloak; surveying, with infinite complacency, the coat of arms stuck up over the door of his house, which seems ready to fall about his ears, and thanking Heaven that he is Don Pedro Fraucisco de such a one. He will by no means degrade himself so much as to shew the least attention or politeness to any stranger, who may be obliged to stop a day in passing through his village, although it should be the Governor of the Province, or the President of the first Court in it. The most he will condescend to do is to inquire if their family is known out of Castile; what

coat of arms they bear; and if any of their relations are known in the neighbourhood,

The degree in which this vice is found in the poorest mendicants, is equally surprising. They ask charity, and should their importunity fail in extorting it, and they be denied in a way which they conceive not sufficiently respectful, they immediately become as insolent and abusive as a moment before they were abject in their supplications; which has given rise to the proverb, "El Aleman pide limosna Cantaedo, el Frances Elorando, el Espanol reganando," which may be Englished thus :

"The German begs singing, the Frenchman despairing, "The Spaniard's entreaties are cursing and swearing."

DISCOVERY OF A ROMAN TESSELATED PAVEMENT, AT BIGNOR.

MR. EDITOR,

KNOWING your ready inclinations to communicate any curious information which may relate to the ancient history of this County, or which might possibly conduce to the taste of the antiquary, or to the advantage of literature, I have taken up my pen to communicate to you a recent discovery of a very beautiful specimen of the Roman Lithostreton,|| or tesselated pavement, at Bignor, in Sussex; situated in a field of a respectable yeoman of the name of Tupper, who is the proprietor. It was found on the 18th of July, with the plough, in preparing the land for a turuip crop. The field is called Old bury, from the Saxon Eldburghen; a name which, to the eye of the antiquary, will sufficiently attest its claim to the res gestæ Romanorum; and which the Saxons generally affixed to Roman sta

tions.

The field is situated about a quarter of a mile from the Roman track-way, which goes by the name of Stoue-street, from the Saxon Stein-rassen; and which is noted in the xv ITER of Richard of Cirencester. The outside of this road, according to this ITER, is from Silchester (Caleba), through Winchester (Venta Belgarum), to Porchester (Portus Magnus), Chichester (Regnum), to Bignor, the Ad Deci

mum of Richard, marked x miles in his TER, and which distance exactly corresponds. The approach to this station is by a track-way, or diverticulum, from the line of the Roman road, excavated from the slope of the hill, observable at about a hundred feet from the descent of the apex, and which, forming a crescent to the station, entered the line of the Stone-street, about West-Burton. It is evident this road, or more properly speaking track-way, was thrown out by the Romans at a very low period of the empire, to reach London through the Sylva Anderida, or the Wold; for Antonine in his vii ITER, only brings the road from Calevam to Regnum. It has been accurately traced to Hardham, through a Roman fort, to Pulborough, Billingshurst, Oakley, Woodcote, Dorking church-yard, and to London; and which is now distinguished by the name of West Ermin-street. Richard continues his ITER Coastwise from Ad Deimum to Anderida Portu, Pevensey, Lemeniano Portu, Pevensey, to Dover (Dubri) Rhutupis Coloma, Richborough; and returning over the Watling-street to London. It is therefore probable the road through the Wold, was thrown out after the Xv ITER of Richard was made; apparently about the time of the Emperor Theodosius.

The portion of the Lithostroton which is

80

discovered consists of an apartment, in the centre of which is a small hexagonal vapour bath, 3 feet and a half wide, from the outward stone coping, forming 6 seats; with two steps to the arena or basement; only 2 feet 4 inches wide; in the centre of which is a leaden pipe or flue. The stone coping of the bath is in very thin slabs, laid on terrace mortar with fine pounded brick, of a soft quality like the The tes Bath stone, very neatly worked. selated border, of the beautiful fillet, Roman pattern, is composed of white, black, grey, and red tesseræ, alternate with white and black lines; then the rect-angular square pattern, bounded by two lines of white and black; which fillet encircles an hexagonal compartment of white tesseræ, five feet and a half diameter; in which is tastefully portrayed a Bacchante, or dancing woman, composed of tesseræ of blue and green glass, purple, red, blue, white, and black of other kind of tesseræ, which compartment has its equal on each side of the bath. This spot will be immediately covered in, to prevent the idle curiosity of persons mutilating the remains. Several small removals of the upper coating of the earth have been made at the distance of 10, 20, and 30 feet from the bath, which exhibit very fine specimens of the Roman tesselated pavement. Que, in particular, has discovered a neat ornament of a dolphin in a square compartiment, evidently connected with the other parts of the bath, and which will lead, in all probabi lity, to another suit of baths. Roman bricks of various sizes, some of the flue kind, with a considerable quantity of rubble stone, fragments of the fine red Samian vessels, and other Roman pottery, with decorated plaster of the walls of the apartments, are found all over the field.

The ruins of this station extend at considerable distance to a field called the town or common field, which, if explored, would doubtless bring to light many curious vestigia The spot is classic and picturesque, under the South-downs; its south aspect forming an amphitheatre through which the Roman road is carried. On the east it commands an extensive view over the river Arun, to Parham,

the seat of Sir Cecil Bishop, through the Levels under the Downs. On the north it overlooks a most extensive prospect to the Surrey and Hampshire hills. Ou the west it is bounded by the hill of Bignor, which at the Roman period was rendered inaccessible.

When

These pavements are common to most Roman stations. They are mentioned iu Pliny, lib. xxxvi. cap. xxv. Sylla ornamented the Temple of Fortune at Præneste with them. Varro mentions them Detre Rusticarium, lib. iii. Vetruvius is particular in their structure de Architec. lib. ii. cap. iii. Pliny says the Romans imitated the Greeks in this ornament, who had them from the Asiatics. Quintus Cicero was here with Cæsar, the second time he invaded Britain, in a letter to his brother Tully, he says, he was pleased with his seat because the pavimented piazza was magnificent; and he also mentions another work of this nature performing in the city. Polibius, lib. vii. cap. i. says, these floors were held in the greatest estimation by the first people of the world, in point of rank and eminence. They were the workmanship of the Fabri, or artificers, who were attached to the Roman legions. Vetruvius de Architec. lib. ii. cap. iii. thus describes their structure:-On the nucleus or terrael, were the tesseræ set on end; and in so exact a manner, that two sorts of cement were used to fix them. Their lower ends stood in a cement of lime only, but well worked; their upper halves were cemented with fine grey mortar, composed of fine saud, ashes, or lime. This cement filled every where the intervals at their heads, and was much harder than the tesseræ themselves.

The Earl of Egremont, according to his usual taste and discrimination, has visited this curious discovery, and is greatly interested in its preservation, and in the prosecution of a more extended research.

J. D.

P. S. The discovery at this station of Biguor, seems to have been the remains of a villa of a Roman Prætor, who had the care of the sea coasts about the time of Theodosius, anno. 397.

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.

ON Monday night, July 29, died, at Devenshire-house, his Grace William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire.-His Grace had been confined some days to his town residence, in Piccadilly, in a fluctuating state of health, The first attacks were spasms in the chest, which were succeeded by a difficulty of respiration. They continued, more or less violent, until his death. During the Sunday preceding his demise, his Grace was considerably better; he was enabled to walk upon the terrace in front of Devonshire-house, for at least an hour, and afterwards to eat a hearty dinner.

The first indications of extreme danger, were repeated vomitings, about three o'clock on Monday afternoon. The whole of the medical attendants were then called in, namely, Sir Walter Farquhar, Dr. Sanders, and Mr. Walker, the Prince Regent's Apothecary. About five o'clock, his Grace being relieved in some degree, but much exhausted by the convulsed state of his frame, he laid himself down on the chair-bed; but after remaining twenty minutes, he exclaimed to Mr. Walker, who was in attendance, "I cannot stay in bed." His extremities were then getting cold, and it was thought adviseable to call in the assistance of Dr. Pemberton, who was then at Harrow on the Hill; an express was sent off for the Doctor, who arrived in less than an hour and a half. The difficulty of breathing increased about nine o'clock. A few minutes before ten Mr. Walker bound up the arm, for the purpose of opening a vein. Just as the surgeon was preparing the lancet, the head of the patient fell back, and he expired without a groan in the arms of the Duchess. As soon as it was discovered that the vital spark was extinguished, the Duchess uttered a piercing shriek, and fell helpless on the floor. A corsultation, among the members of the faculty present, afterwards was held, on the subject of the disease which caused his Grace's death; when they appeared to be unanimously of opinion, that it was water on the chest which had communicated to the heart.

His Grace was a very respectable Nobleman, but though one of the chief props of what has No. XXII. Vol. IV.-N. S.

been generally styled the Whig Party in thiscountry, never distinguished himself as a politician. He was of a grave turn in private life, yet not insensible of humour, and of a very hospitable temper. He was fond of the society of men of wit and distinguished talents, and the company whom he assembled at his magnificent seat at Chatsworth, as well as at Chiswick and in town, would have been conspicuous in any age for parts and information. He died in the sixty-third year of his age, having been born, Dec. 4, 1748.-He was Duke of Devonshire, Marquis of Hartington, Earl of Devonshire, Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, Knight of the Garter, Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, and LL.D. He succeeded his father, Duke William, Oct. 2, 1764; married the 5th June, 1774, Lady Georgiana Spencer, sister of the present Earl Spencer, and the Countess of Besborough, which Lady will be long recollected in the regions of fashion as the beauti ful and elegant Duchess of Devonshire; upon whose death the Prince Regent said :-" We have lost the best bred woman in England." Since her Grace's death, which happened a few years since, the Duke re-married to Lady Elizabeth Forster. His Grace is succeeded in his honours and fortune by his son, William George, Marquis of Hartington, who lately came of age, born May 21, 1790.

By the much-lamented decease of this worthy and venerable Peer, and by that of the Marquis of Townshend, a large portion of the nobility will go into deep mourning. It is worthy of remark, that the nephews of the late Duke, and the present Marquis Townshend himself, as well as many of the greatest characters, and the first nobility of the present day, should be descended from one common stock, namely, George, fourth Earl of Northampton; whose grand-daughter, Lady Charlotte, Baroness de Ferrers, was mother of the late Marquis. The Earl had issue four sons, viz. James, whe became fifth Earl; George, who became the sixth; Stephen, who died young; and Charles, who, by Mary, daughter of Sir Berkeley Lucy, Bart. had Charles and Spencer, successive Earls, and four daughters; Charles succeeded his uncle as seventh Earl, and married Lady Anne SoL

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