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thinkers, whose habits of reasoning, and opacities of understanding, would receive much benefit from a little more knowledge, and a little less enthusiasm. The history of Monks discovers to us all the infirmities of buman faculties, and that peculiar kind of insanity which we take to have religious excesses for its hobby, and has been so universal in exciting every extravagance, from monastic pomp and pageantry, downwards to its inferior mock-bird in suspicion, gross ignorance, and paltry disgusting attributes, the sectarianism of this country. What I think of a puritanical hierarchy is, that it would resemble the Romish Church in every thing besides its splendour and majesty, that it would debase physical superiority, indeed as the fascinating and admirable author of "Woman" has observed, "Literature, Science, the Arts; all that agitates or embellishes life, all that makes human existence superior to that of the beasts that perish, would be lost, confounded, trampled on;" and this the British Monachism" convincingly shows.

There is one sect of this country, the Quakers, exceeding all others in practical virtue and good sense, to whom I would not be deemed to allude, or include in my heartfelt commiseration.

Mr. URBAN,

V.

Jan. 16.

THE HE following extract from "Felix Farley's Bristol Journal" is so congenial with the general tenor of your Magazine, that I doubt not your readily giving it a wider circulation. M. GREEN.

"The sitting of Parliament which has just passed, will form one of the most important periods of our history. It has been short but eventful; the energy and the wisdom of the Government, backed by the good sense and firmness of Parliament, have rescued us from great danger, and warded off most serious calamities. Never did six weeks produce a greater change in the feelings and situation of the country. What was our condition when Parliament assembled? In extensive districts the laws of the land were nearly suspended, property was violated with impunity, life was threatened without disguise, the operations of industry were interrupted, the transactious of commercial intercourse at a stand, the proprietor was menaced, the Magistrate reviled, defied, and resisted.

A general panic pervaded the whole country; and even in those parts where the storm did not rage, there was a swell upon the face of the waters, which to an experienced observer conveyed too certain marks of a near and tremendous danger. While the Reformers were daily assembling thousands of men at given times and places, in order to accustom the country to the light, preparatory to an explosion, just as we break in a horse to stand fire by flashing an unloaded pistol before his eyes, they were nightly training their adherents to military evolutions, and preparing in secret the arms which were shortly to be put into their bands. Elated by their increasing numbers, and confident in their growing strength, they disjects, and began openly to proclaim their dained any longer to conceal their obpurposes, and audaciously boast of the certainty of their success: like the beasts of the forest, which creep up to their prey while they think it can escape, but when near enough to be sure of their victim, start forth in the full display of their terrors, the more effectually to arrest its flight, and paralyze resistance. Fortunately we had an Administration neither duty; wise enough to see the necessity of blind to the danger nor afraid to do their assembling Parliament, bold enough not to precipitate the meeting, and, during the interval, to stand themselves in the breach. The measures resolved upon were prepared with moderation, but with firmness; when proposed, they seemed to every dispassionate man what he himself would have suggested, if it had been his business to frame them. They appeared to grow naturally out of the peculiar character of the danger against which they were to provide, and they were voted by triumphant and unexampled majorities. The good consequences are already felt: confidence begius to revive; the seditious and the traitorous are crest-fallen; the well-affected and loyal are re-assured; they feel that their Legislature will stand by them, and, protected by the shield of the Law, they are encouraged to place themselves in an attitude of self-defence. These are the glorious moments of the British Constitution; it is in a crisis like this that the lover of his country should fall down and worship."

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Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 17.

Elegant and correct delineations of the classes, orders, genera, and species the Examinations for DeROM the formidable impressions,

of the LINNEAN SYSTEM OF BOTANY, and his Natural Orders of Plants, are displayed on a magnified scale, so as to be seen by a large audience. The facility with which students, by his mode of teaching, may compre hend the Linnæan System, and the impressions of the hieroglyphic resemblances, strike the inquiring eye, carry home to the mind ideas lasting as life, and give them just conceptions of the great power and wisdom of the Creator, in the construction and government of the world, and so admirably displayed in the vegetable kingdom, who, from a few simple and primary elements combined in peculiar proportions, educes all that variety and profusion of substances which the vegetable kingdom exbibits.

Mr. Whitlaw, in his las! Lecture, concluded his remarks on the great importance of the study of Botany, by an observation from that great and illustrious luminary of science, Francis Bacon, who, having explored and developed the true foundations of human knowledge, with a sagacity and penetration unparalleled in the history of mankind, and having dared to disengage himself from the fetters of academical authority, denounced as vain and idle the visionary speculations of the schools, and boldly pointed out the necessity of a complete and thorough revolution in all pre-established methods of study.

Recommending the more tedious, but yet more successful method of analytical and inductive investigation, and proclaiming truth to be but the image of nature, the great Linnæus has observed, "That existence is surely contemptible which regards only the gratification of instinctive wants, and the preservation of a body made to perish: it is therefore the business of a thinking being to look forward to the purposes of all things, and to remember that the end of creation is, that God may be glorified in all his works."

Mr. Whitlaw has travelled sixteen years as a practical Botanist in the West Indies, Spanish America, the United States, and Canada. He has Jectured on Botanical subjects in most of the Colleges in the States and Canada. BOTANICUS.

grees in the University of Oxford have made upon many parents, I am induced to submit to you some hints. Whether they are adopted, or not, is a matter in which I have no concern. I mean no disrespect to the learned body which has instituted these examinations, nor do I question the manifest propriety of such an institution. I merely speak, from reflection, that it is a hard case for many parents to expend vast sums in the education of sous, who, when they apply for degrees, are plucked (as failure upon Examination is denominated) for no other reason sometimes, but, because the Examination crowds too much into one process.

From the time of Aristotle, division of labour has obtained credit for being a grand source of improvement. At present the Examination is divided into a Little-go and a Great-go; colloquial appellations of the facetious great children, sucking at the bosom of Alma Mater. Such cant terms are common in the language of the Brazen Age. I mean not, however, to offend their beardless manhoods by this humble squib: on the contrary, I solemnly believe that they form the finest and cleverest body of youths in the kingdom; and, as the Examination is a dose of physick, which they are obliged to take, I only wish to render it more palatable.

Instead, therefore, of mixing the Examinations, I think it would be an improvement, if they were divided into three stages, as follows:

Second Year's Standing. The Examination in the Classicks, which I found upon this principle, that being the nearest to departure from School, there is less oblivion of the proficiency brought from thence.

Third Year's Standing. The Literæ Humaniores.

Fourth Year's Stunding. Term before the Degree. Divinity.

These, I believe, are the chief points of study; and it certainly accords with reason, that the focus of mind being directed to one object at a time, a greater solidity of knowledge will be acquired, with infinitely more ease to the students. It is an old rule, that if you mean to do things well, you should never do but

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one thing at a time. This is an axiom of business, of which the wisdom is not to be disputed.

When I was a Member of the University, and i was a contemporary with Lont Liverpool, Mr. Canning, &c. the public Examinations were not

exorated from the sligina of Vice.

simus Koox. But literary merit was st solicitously regarded by the in- . cuation of “Original Composition," apa the plan of Ideas. For men, who are to plead at the Bar, or write Sermons, nothing can be more instructive or appropriate; and, with a view to professional qualifications, the old pian is of infinitely more consequence than chewing Greek roots, and preserving Herodotus and Thucydides in spirits. I am sorry, therefore, that the old plan of estimating merit by composition is consigned only to the stimulus of the Prizes; but I do not blame the stress laid upon Classical acquisitions, because a great part of the Clergy, being obliged to keep schools for their support, during

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their early manhood, such acquisitions AS the object of your Correspondare highly important. Besides, the Dissenters, in general, substitute a smattering in Natural Philosophy for Classical Proficiency; and, were it not for the Universities, it is doubtful whether Classical Knowledge, beyond the mere parrot-like acquisitions of an upper-class school-boy, would be preserved in the nation. Latin, too, is a substitute for universal language. AN OLD MASTER OF ARTS.

I

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BEG to communicate to you au ancient superstitious custom, still obtaining at Tretyre, in Herefordshire, upon Christmas Eve. They make a Cake, poke a stick through it, fasten it upon the horn of an ix, and say certain words, begging a good crop of corn for the master.

The men and boys, attending the oxen, range themselves around. If the ox throws the cake behind, it belongs to the men; if before, to the boys. They take with them a wooden bottle of cyder, and drink it, repeating the charin before-mentioned. I strongly suspect, from the ox and the cake, an allusion to some sacrifice to Ceres; and the Confarreatio, the Harvest home, being a ceremonial appertaining to that goddess; but I have no GENT, MAG. January, 1820,

ent C. (Mag. for Nov. last, p. 410) in favouring your readers with an account of the family of Clare, with a pedigree thereof, was to correct the anachronisms and inaccuracies of former writers in your volumes, he ought to have been careful lest the same complaint should he made against his statements, which he has brought forward against those of others. I am afraid, however, that some parts of C.'s pedigree will not bear a strict scrutiny; at least, they appear to me zequire sonie further explanation; and, in order to give your correspondent an opportunity of affording such explanation, I shall state the doubts which have arisen in my mind upon the perusal of his letter, &c,

In the first place, C. states, that Fitz Gilbert de Clare, son of Fitz Gelfrey, Earl of Eu, which Fitz Gilbert was called De Clare, from his Seignory of Clare, or Clere, in Normaudy, having had a grant of lands on the river Stour, (not Storn) in Suffolk, built a Castle there, which he called Clare, from his own name. Upon reference, however, to Donesday Book, it appears that in the time of K. Edward, “ Claram te nuit Aluricus"; it seems, therefore, doubtful,

doubtful, whether the Clare family took their name from their residence in Suffolk, or not; if they did, the coincidence of names is certainly singular.

In C.'s Pedigree, Richard Fitz Gilbert, and his two immediate successors, are called Earls of Tunbridge. I cannot find such a Peerage in any of the books to which I have access. Richard had a grant from the Crown

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Mr. URBAN, London, Jan. 10. N Association was formed in the

of Tunbridge, where he built a Castle City of London, in the year

and from thence was often called Richard de Tonebridge: his son Gilbert was also frequently called de Tonebrige. Instead therefore, of Earls of Tunbridge, the more correct designation would perhaps have been Lords of that place.

Gilbert de Clare, younger son of Gilbert de Clare, is surnamed Strongbow. This, surely, is incorrect. It was his son Richard, who, from the length and strength of his bow, obtained that surname.

The occurrence which is stated to have been the cause of the loss of its honours to this family, was surely not productive of such an effect. The honours were conveyed out of the family, in consequence of the failure of male issue, and went to those families which intermarried with the heirs general of the Clares. These losses, therefore, could not complete the ruin of the family, which had previously come to a natural end, at least in its main branches; nor could such losses have been increased by joining the Lancasterian party in England, which had no existence for many years after the death of the last male heir of the family, which happened in 1295, 24 Edw. 1.

1 should be glad to know the authority which C. has, for deducing the Norfolk family of Clere, from this of Clare. I dare say, he will be at no loss to produce it; but in the Pedigree of the former family, in Blomet. Norf. vol. xi. Svo edit. p. 234, &c. such a descent is not hinted at; and there exists no similitude in the arms, which we might have been led to expect would have been the case, had they been descended from the same stock: nor do Clere's arms at all approach those of Fitzwalter, or Bay nard, with both which great families, according to C. they claim a common origin.

1799, for the distribution of provisions, or other articles of the first necessity, at reduced prices, to the Poor. For several winters the Committee have adopted the sale of Coals at 9d. a bushel, and Potatoes at 14lb. for 3d. as a mode of relief, the most acceptable and efficacious; for, while it affords material assistance to the industrious and necessitous, it holds out no encouragement to the idle and profligate. Subscribers, moreover, are supplied with a certain number of tickets every month which they may distribute themselves to worthy objects, and thus become their own Almoners, while they promote the views of a most useful and extensive charity.

During the last Season, from January to April, 356 chaldrons of coals, and 72 tons of potatoes, were distributed, affording relief to not less than 2500 poor families, cousisting of about 12,500 individuals, residing in various parts of the Metropolis. The expence to the Association amounted to

7381. 9s.

The Committee commenced the delivery of Coals and Potatoes, at the City Public Kitchen, New-street, Blackfriars, on the 20th ult. for the present winter. As a very heavy expenditure attends the distribution, and as the disbursements last year exceeded the subscriptions, it has been deemed necessary earnestly to solicit the liberal Contributions of the affluent and charitable, in aid of an institution which renders such important benefits to the Community.

Signed, on behalf of the Committee of the Association for the relief of the Poor of the City of London and parts adjacent,

R. CLARK, Chamberlain of London, President. [By whomSubscriptions are received.]

Mr.

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I HAVE read the Observations of T. W. on the Colonization of the Cape of Good Hope, with considerable interest. His recommendations correspond with my own ideas in many respects; but, although I concur and accord with T. W. and the Government or Administration of this country, in the general plan of making a Colony there; yet it has very often struck me as very imperfect in the manner in which it continues to proceed; that they have taken no steps, no measures for their being better acquainted with that country, although we have now had it in our possession for nearly twenty years. The Travels of Lieut. Patterson, of Vaillant, and of Mr. Barrow, are of no further information than to say, that it is a most extensive country, inhabited literally by nothing else than wild beasts, save here and there a few Dutch Boors; that the climate is capable of producing Wine, Wheat, and all the Necessaries of Life; that there are great tracts of country called Karroo, that produce nothing, and are perfectly sterile; and that they lie north of the coast from Algoa Bay, or end of Seldanah Bay, by the Cragee River, or near to the Drahensleen; and get wandering away to Graaf Rennell, as if it was at hand, or as near to the Cape Town, as Windsor or Oxford are near to the capital of England: Graaf Rennett is near 600 miles from the Cape

Town.

The first thing that should have been set out with, as a temptation to those who might wish to emigrate there, should have been the publishing of a large Map of each division of that extensive country, for the information of those who had ideas of going there. This Map should have been done by our own Engineers; it would have been of double use, not only in making us acquainted perfectly with the boundaries of the course of the rivers, but we should have been generally informed, as to its geological productions, where the valuable mines lie, their possibility of being brought down to the coast and conveyed to Great Britain, &c. &c. And this survey would have not only employed our young engineers, who are wasting their time in coffee

houses, but it would have given them bread, and instruction in their profession: it would give information to every one going there, to pick out the situation suitable to his own ideas, and corresponding with his line of life, or profession, whether a vineplanter, a corn farmer, a grazier, miller, or any other profession or calling; one of the necessary links of the chain for the formation of a Colony.

The various productions of so extensive a country as the Cape of Good Hope, must naturally be great. We are informed that there is iron in such productive yielding as to be equal to the highest produce of the mines of Sweden; that they yield nearly 80 per cent. This is equal to the greatest produce of that country. Now, as that article abounds within our own colony, is it not worth while to have it pointed out where it lies, the probability of its being brought down to the coast, the making of a road, or, if there can be any chance of its conveyance by water, if only a part of the way? These things point out (what I have before observed) the great call and necessity of having a large and accurate set of Maps of that Colony immediately published.

It will be further of great utility in pointing out the great line of Roads, and the several changes necessary to be made; for in all countries in the state in which the Cape is, the roads lie without interest as to the several productions. They have been made and followed, for the convenience of a very few, without recourse to the general service of a great population and commerce.

Would it not be doing this country an essential service, if the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge were to send some of their learned travelling fellows out there, to investigate the natural productions of that great country? We could depend

more on their information than on the many travellers sent by France, Denmark, or Germany. Besides, it is a reflection on Great Britain to have such valuable countries as the Cape, and Demerara, and to be ignorant of their produce and value, whether as to science or commerce. It was al ways the first thing the French Goverument began with, on taking pos

session

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