Sir Frederic Evelyn's tenant, a decent landlord, takes care of his visitors' horses, (good hay, and home-brewed beer, fine white bread, &c. but no lodging, for obvious reasons): the house is called Woot ton-hatch, and is only four miles from

Dorking. From Wootton-hatch to the

right, and at the first turning, descend to Wootton-house, where all the woody grounds, &c. are well worth seeing; from hence you ascend by a very narrow and rural sandy lane, to a gate that brings you to the top of Leith-hill, where you enter un avenue of firs in clumps; and go on bearing to the right a little, at the end of the avenue to Tanburst, on the edge of Leith-hill, from whence you proceed to Leith-hill Place, late Mr. Thompson's, a magnificent situation; ascend again, and pursue your road along the edge of Leith-hill to the tower, and still pursue the edge of this wonderful mound, till you come to Cold-harbour; from thence through a very grand wood, winding to the left from the ridge, turn down the first turning to the right to Foily-farm, or, crossing some open ground, take the second to the right, by Ridland-farm, entering the high road from Horsham, about the 2-mile stone from Dorking. From Dorking ride to Beechworth Castle, about a mile to Brookham-green; cross the Mole here, and proceed to Beechworth, Tranquil Dale; and return short to the left by Box-hill farm to Box-hill, from whence you see below Mr. Boccat's and Mr. Bouverie's, both of which rural places, if possible, you should visit. Next ascend to Norbury Park (Mr. Locke's); turning off the road at Juniper-hill, proceed to Leatherhead; from Leatherhead to the left, visit Randall-house, whose park is skirted by the Mole; go on to Platsome-green to Lea therhead-common, after passing about one mile of which you come to Ockshott. From Ockshott, two miles of a straight road through Esher-common brings you to Claremont Park, close to which is Esher Place, where a bridge crosses the Mole; three miles from whence is Walton-on-Thames, and Ashley Park. Cross Walton-bridge to Shepperton, Abbymill, and Laleham; proceed to Staines, Cross Staines bridge, and just before you come to Egham, enter Runnymeed to the right, where the road leads along the river by Anchorwick-house, to the Bells of Oseley, a public-house; and by a road called Priest's-hill you ascend to Englefield-green, where you should walk on Lord Shuldham's terrace to Cooper's MONTHLY MAG. No, 207.

hill; and returning by Bishopsgate, visit the Great Lodge, and go back to Windsor by the grand avenue.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. SIR,

Tvention of the piano-forte, which Mr. Lydiatt has communicated, p. 411, agrees in some measure with a letter I received from Mr. James Broadwood, on this subject.

HE information relative to the in

"The first maker of the grand pianoforte was H. Baccers, a Dutchman, who, in 1772, invented nearly its mecha nism, by which it is distinguished from the instrument with that name made in Germany."

I should esteem it a favour if Mr. Lydiatt would state what he knows with respect to an instrument invented by Mr. Clagget, viz. his forks struck by hammers, as on the sinall piano-forte. When I saw this instrument, some years ago, at Mr. Clagget's, it was incomplete; not having at that time dumpers applied to it, to stop the resonance of the forks,, after the fingers were taken off the keys." The tone was fluty, and made its way, though not disagreeably loud, to the performer. According to the best of my recollection, the voicing was not sufficiently equal. It had the compass, if I mistake not, of a common pianoforte; but I do not recollect whether it was an octave above concert-pitch, as was the aieuton.

An instrument on this construction, would probably never require tuning after the pitch of the forks had once been adjusted; and perhaps there is little reason for apprehending that any change of temperature would affect, in any sensible degree, their relative proportion of vibrations. I once tried an experiment by tuning an organ-pipe to a pitch-fork, and then warming the pitch-fork in a much greater degree than it would have been affected by any change of heat or cold, to which, in the common state of things, it could have been subject. The fork and the organ-pipe beat slowly, which proved that the vibrations of the fork had been altered in a very small degree. When the fork was made absolutely hot, its tone became very feeble, but the beats were more rapid, perhaps about eight in a second. If care were taken to procure a fork whose vibra tions are 480 in a second, or any other known number, some valuable experi ments might be tried, especially if the

3 T

exact

IN

SIR,

N making a tour in June, 1809, I passed through the wretched town of Woodstock, and of course went with my family to view the contrast afforded by the adjoining palace of Blenheim.

After paying the fines which are imposed at two or three passes on travel. lers, for attempting to gratify their curiosity in viewing this national edifice, we reached the flight of steps leading into the great hall; but were told by our conductor, that Louis XVIII. the exile King of France, was then viewing Blenheim; and, finding that we might join his party by missing two or three rooms which he had seen, we gladly embraced the offer, and joined the party of his Most Christian Majesty.

Entering suddenly by a side door, in a party of six or eight, His Majesty appeared to take alarm, and retreated for a moment through an open door into another room; but observing that we bore the open visages of Englishmen, he instantly returned, and surveyed us with much complacency. He was accompanied by the Duke de Grammont, and two or three other French noblemen, whose names I knew not; but many powerful associations gave the groupe à stroug interest with me.

I could not but marvel at thus meeting with a King of France, a grand grand-son of Louis XIV. in the very palace which had been erected by the parliament of England, as a trophy to the General who had so often in the field humbled the pride of that ambitious Bourbon. The incident too was rendered more curious from the circuinstance, that all the walls of Blenheim are covered with graphic representations of the triumphs of the Duke of Marlborough, and to view these exaggerated representations was

1

a voluntary penance, which the exiled monarch had imposed on himself.

The Ciceroni performing this delicate task, was, however, the ordinary showman, dressed out in the tawdry livery of his office, flippantly sporting his Mounsheers, his tossicated Bacchus's, his Lewis's, and other John-Bullisms; and vaunting about the thousands of the Mounsheers that were killed, taken prisoners, &c. &c. in every battle! In vain did I take him aside, and apprize him that the decencies of hospitality, and the quality and intelligence of his visitors, rendered fewer explanations necessary "I likes it," said he, “I likes to tell him the truth;" winking his eye at the same instant, and smiling with excessive gratification.

When he came to the battle of Mal plaquet, he entered into a Rourishing rhodomontade about the vast superiority of the French, their total rout, &c. &c. when Louis, a little piqued, exclaim ed, "Yes, it was a very bloody battle!” "Ah," said the fellow, "twenty thou sand of the Mounsheers were killed on the spot!"

His Majesty appeared to have a very correct taste in matters of art, dwelt with pleasure on the fine Carlo Dolci's, the Rubens's, &c. &c. and, evidently as a compliment to my party, praised some faded groupes of Sir Joshua Reynolds, representing some matter-of-fact figures in the uncouth costume of the year 1770.

is conduct and observations, made in pretty good English, evinced an active intelligence on historical and other subjects. He spoke with evident reserve; but I hope he was satisfied that some of the English of the party felt a strong desire to shew him every possible respect, and were much affected by the vulgar spirit of the ciceroni.

At the tomb, in the chapel, this fellow was more than commonly boisterous in his descriptions of the allegories of vic tory, of prostrate nations, &c. &c, es. hibited by the sculptor. But I lost all patience when, on departing, I saw him hold out his hand to the royal party, and receive a fee of a guinea! On this subject I remonstrated with him again, but was told, "he did not get a royal customer every day, and instead of not paying at all, he thought they ought to pay better than other people."

The profile of Louis XVIII. is exactly that of the unhappy Louis XVI. and I do not doubt but his whole contour is very like that of his brother. Ile is very fac

and

coigne. The building appears to have been begun in 1246, but was not completed till 1251, when it was dedicated by the bishop of Lincoln, assisted by twelve others, who officiated each at a separate altar. This solemnity was graced with the presence of the king and queen, and almost all the nobility and prelates of the land; and on the following Sunday a sumptuous entertainment was prepared for this august assemblage of royalty and

rank.

This house, in common with many others, doubtless suffered very serious dilapidations at the general suppression of monastic institutions. The principals of such societies usually lived in great state, with large retinues of domestics, in houses contiguous to their convents; and the residence of the abbot of Hailes, which was spacious and handsome, long survived the reformation, for John Viscount Tracey, who was the last of its possessors by whom it was occupied, died here in 1686. It was then deserted, and the whole fabric was from time to time destroyed, as the materials were required, either to repair or to erect other buildings. Many magnificent decora tions, such as the arms from the windows, and a richly-carved chimney-piece, were removed from hence to the family-seat of the Traceys at Toddington. The church of that village is likewise enriched with some fine figures of apostles from this place; and the mansion of the De. laberes, and probably those of other an. cient families in the neighbourhood, par took also of the spoils.

A beautiful fragment of the entrancetower, of light and elegant architecture, was however suffered till very lately to remain; but even this has, with Vandal barbarity, been rudely demolished. The only considerable vestiges now standing, are the ruins of a noble quadrangular cloister, inclosing an extensive area, planted with fruit-trees. Of this, one side is much more complete than the other; and, at irregular intervals, many beautiful arches, of various forms, have escaped the general devastation.

The walls, of massive thickness, seem to frown as in Time's despite; and the mantling ivy, thriving in unmolested possession,

*Here also the sons of the neighbouring gentry were frequently educated; and many youths were supported at the universities by the abbot's bounty. Their hospitality was almost unlimited, and their charitable donations munificent.

spreads wide its protecting arms, and increases the picturesque beauty of the

scene.

Here we were shown a large blue stone, which had Been excavated in the course of a recent search for materials to be converted into lime. It had evidently covered the grave of no ordinary pers sonage, for the rivets and indentations plainly proved that it had been curiously inlaid with brass figures and inscriptions, These we learnt upon enquiry were per fect when it was discovered, but had been subsequently torn off and sold by the workmen. Thus are the valuable and venerable relics of antiquity neglect ed by their possessors, and suffered to become the prey of unrelenting ignorance and uncontrouled avarice.

A subterraneous archway is pointed out as the commencement of a commu nication which is supposed in days of yore to have existed between this and some distant place; but, as such conjec tures are often formed on very slight grounds, they deserve little attention. The inn which once accommodated the numerous pilgrims that crowded this mi raculous shrine, has only been destroyed within the remembrance of some of the present inhabitants of the village.

Although the demon of demolition has here triumphed in his spoils, yet some interesting fragments of arched doorways and noble windows, still attract and gra tity the eye of taste. Several of the for mer appear to have led from the northeast side of the cloister to the abbey church, the size of which may with some difficulty be ascertained in an adjoining field, by broken masses of foundation, overgrown with brambles. Here lie in terred the bodies of the founder of the abbey, and his queen,* and their eldest son Edmund, together with the remains of many others of inferior note. Long may their obscure sepulchres elude the prying eye of unhallowed curiosity, and escape the destructive touch of undiscri minating barbarism!

4

Richard bequeathed his heart to Reuly Abbey, at Oxford, which was another of his foundations, and it was there deposited under a pyramid of "admirable workmanship." These stately piles have both been levelled with the dust, and the

* Senchia, his second wife, who was the third daughter of the Earl of Provence, and the sister of Queen Eleanor. She was one of the four daughters of an earl, that were exalted to the thrones of as many kings.

monumental

That mix'd in hasty graves unnotic'd lie." Edmund, who succeeded to the earldom of Cornwall on the death of his father, presented to the monks of Hailes a small portion of the blood of our Saviour, which had been found among the stores of the ancient emperors. This proved an inestimable acquisition, and was productive of great profit by the vast concourse of pilgrims which it attracted. It was inclosed in a richly-adorned crystal cabinet, one side of which by its thickness and opacity intercepted the view of this sacred treasure, while the other, purposely prepared, exposed it to the sight of the enraptured devotee, who had paid for a sufficient number of masses to wipe away his crimes. This miraculous blood was reported by the visitors at the dissolution of the abbey to be merely that of some animal frequently renewed; but the bishop of Rochester, who exhibited it in the course of a sermon which he preached upon the subject at St. Paul's Cross, described it as being clarified honey coloured with saffron.

The feeling excited by these ruins is rather that of desolation than of grandeur: "Inexorably calm-with silent pace Here Time hath passed. What ravage marks his way:

This pile now crumbling o'er its hallow'd base

Turn'd not his step, nor could his course

1,309,080 1,191,213

The unsold goods in their warehouses in London on the 1st of March, 1808, and expected in the course of the season, at prime cost, amounted to 1.7,148,440: valued at the selling prices at 7.13,086,305.

The India debt, according to the best estimate that can be formed ofits amount on the 1st of May, 1808, stood at 7.31,895,000.

There had been, on the whole, no di❤ minution of civil and military expenditures to compensate for the heavier charge of interest; but, on the contrary, while the revenues had from different acquisitions and annexations, been greatly enhanced, the expenditure kept pace with the increase, and had even outrun it; so that

Debt.