ART. I.

THE idea of a Topographical Dictionary of England appears to have been first conceived by William Lambarde, so long ago as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Mr. Carlisle in the preface to his dictionary mentions Speed's "Theatre of Great Britain's Empire" as the next work; followed by Sir Henry Spelman's" Villare Anglicum," in 1656, and the Index Villaris by Adams in 1680. But the truth is that till 1751 we had nothing that answered to the title of a Topographical Dictionary. In that year, England's Gazetteer" appeared, by Stephen Whatley; in three volumes octavo: the materials of which seem to have formed the bases of the several Gazetteers which have been subsequently published as original compositions.

To the accident of Mr. Carlisle's employment in the office where the poor returns were arranged, the production of his Topographical Dictionary is to be ascribed. The difficulty and frequent delay, which occurred in that office, from the want of some general directory, at once led him to perceive that an amended Index Villaris was become necessary, and enabled him by experience to execute it in a manner satisfactory to himself.

Mr. Capper, we are told, assisted in preparing the abstracts of the answer and returns made to the

Population Act, as well as in arranging the returns of the cultivation of the kingdom, which were, laid before parliament in 1802.

From the orthography and alphabetical arrangement of the different places, indeed, it is evident that authentic returns have been consulted for a great portion of their materials by both writers. In the greater number of instances, it will be found they agree; though here and there it may occur that each dictionary has the names of inconsiderable places not found in the other.

Mr. Carlisle's Dictionary is confined to England only with the promise of a third volume which with Wales will include Scotland, Ireland, and the Islands of the British seas.

Mr. Capper's work is already completed; and is accompanied by a set of maps: confined for the counties, to the size of an octavo page; and having only such places laid down as contain more than forty houses.

In one respect, perhaps, there is an essential difference between the two Dictionaries: in the mode adopted for the arrangement of the topographical descriptions. In Mr. Capper's, the information obtained appears to have been condensed: while in Mr. Carlisle's the descriptions are given in a more dilated

by the name of Gothic are principally selected from Ely Cathedral and King's College Chapel, classed in centuries; a mode of arrangement certainly the most convenient; for though it may happen, that the style of one century should some times run into the next, yet there has been always one mode sufficiently prevalent in each, to be considered as appropriate to that century. The richer specimens in other parts of the county, however, are duly noticed in their proper periods. The doorway on the south side of the Nave, the elevation of part of the Western Transept, with the specimen from the second tier of arches in the Presbytery of Ely Cathedral, and the elevation of part of the Nave of King's Chapel, are the best of the architectural plates. The specimens of sepulchral monuments, in Cambridgeshire, begin no earlier than the thirteenth century. The first mentioned is that in Ely Cathedral, which is ascribed by some to John de Fontibus, 1225; and by others to Geoffry de Burgh, 1228. The next specimen, of which the date can be accurately ascertained, is the tomb of Hugh Northwold Bishop of Ely, who died in 1254. Though an example of greater elegance occurs in the monument which Messrs. Lysons have engraved of Williams de Luda, who died Bishop of Ely in 1298. The specimens of the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries seem chiefly confined to brass plates; the most beautiful specimens of which are the grave-stones of William de Fulborne at Fulbourn, 1328, Sir Thomas de Braunston in the church of Wisbech St. Peter, 1401, John de Sieford at Balsham, 1401, and of Thomas Peyton and his wives, at Isleham, 1404.

As a specimen of the Parochia Topography we shall quote the ac count of GRANCHESTER.

"GRANCHESTER, in the hundred of of Wetherley, and deanery of Barton, lies about two miles south-west of Cambridge: it has been supposed by some to have been the ancient Grantaceaster mentioned by Bede, whilst others, from various circumstances, are inclined to believe that Grantaceaster, which had been evidently a Roman station, was situated in what is now the no.th suburb Domesday survey, and other very auof Cambridge. it is certain that in tient records, the name of this village is written Gransete, Graumete, and Graun

teseihe: the manor of that name was at

an earl period in the noble family of Lacy; Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, who died in 1312, gave it to a kinsman, supposed to be his natural son, directing that he, and his successors, should always

name their eldest son Henry:* it is probable that this kinsman died without issue, for it appears that the manor of Granchester descended, with other estates of the Lacies, to the house of Lan

caster; and that King Henry IV. gave it to the provost and fellows of King's College, newly founded by him. In 1451, not long after the foundation, the manor of Burgherst, in Granchester, so called from its former possessor, Bartholomew Lord Burgherst; and the manor of Jak, in the same parish, were purchased, in trust for the coliege, of the executors of Henry Somer, esq. in the old mansion, which belonged to this estate, was some years ago a large hall, with a pulpit and gallery; the arms of Somer remained in one of the rooms: Henry Somer's name was returned in a list of the gentry of Cambridgeshire in 1433.4

"Walter de Merton gave an estate in this parish, in ancient writings, § called Manerium de Grauntesethe, which he had purchased of the Sengham family, to the warden and fellows of his newly founded college in Oxford. The prior and convent of St. Neots, had a manor in Granchester in the reign of king John.

"The rectory of Granchester was purchased by Bene't College in Cam

Escheat roll.

Fuller's

bridge, in 1359, and the great tithes were appropriated to the master and fellows in 1380: in the intermediate time, (1373) John, king of Castile and Leon, had given an estate in Granchester to this college.

"The church appears to have been built in the time of Bishop Fordham, who died in 1425: his arms are on the tower; the inside of the chancel is very light and elegant."

In the brief accounts of the several colleges in CAMBRIDGE, inserted in the Parochial Topography, the history of their foundations appears to have been taken from Parker and Fuller; their constitution and present state, from the last edition of the University Calendar; and in most instances, the master,

we are told, or some intelligent person in each college, kindly undertook to revise and correct them.

The number of plates, it seems, in this part of the second volume, is greater than in the two others which are forthcoming; in consequence of the numerous remains of Gothic architecture, which are to be found in Cambridgeshire. Beside those we have mentioned the most interesting are, the ancient cup of silver at Pembroke Hall, and the design for the tower of King's College Chapel, from an, original drawing in the British'

Museum.

FOR the seventh and eighth volumes of this interesting work it appears we are entirely indebted to the pen of Mr. Brayley. For the ninth volume, to that of Mr. Britton.

The seventh volume, contains the Topographical Delineations of Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and the first portion of Kent.

The eighth volume comprises the remaining part of Kent, including the Isles of Shepey and Thanet. And

The ninth volume comprises the Delineation of the Counties of Lancaster, Leicester, and Lincoln.

St Albans forms the most important article in the account of HERTFORDSHIRE; and is so curious, that we could almost recommend the circulation of it in a detached form. On the history of ancient Verulam, the progression of St. Albans from its ruins, the foundation of the monastery by Offa, and the increase of the buildings, privileges, and possessions, under the different abbots, Mr Brayley is minute. Under the second abbacy of Whet

hamsted, we have an account not only of the two battles which were fought in the town and neighbourhood in the time of Henry the sixth, but of the introduction into the monastery of the art of printing with fusile types, which but a few years before had been brought into England by Caxton. The richness of the church, as a specimen of architectural grandeur, has in some measure given rise to a deviation from the plan which Mr. Brayley has usually followed; in detailing not only the particulars of its exterior and interior form, but even of its screens, monuments, and more particular inscriptions.

In p. 64, we observe an error. Speaking of the different works which were printed at St. Albans in the fifteenth century, Mr. Brayley says,

"The celebrated book since entitled, The Gentleman's Recreation,' which was partly compiled by the Lady Juliana Berners, Prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, was also printed here in 1486; this work consists of three treatises; one on Hawking: another on Hunting and