This passage eminently exhibits Chaucer's power of description. A few sentences from the commencement of some of his Tales, or from his celebrated Prologue, would as forcibly shew his knowledge and just feeling of character; but want of room prevents my indulging myself in quotation as liberally as I could wish; I must therefore refer the inquisitive reader to the work itself. The language and the numbers of our old Poet, though certainly quaint and rough, appear to have been far superior to those of any of his predecessors or contemporaries; and extraordinary indeed must be that genius of whom more can be said. Among his lighter pieces we are often surprized by an air of elegance and taste, which even the barbarous language it is couched in cannot wholly disguise; a few detached passages in his more elaborate compositions have the same character, and fully prove that he possessed a soul capable of the highest cultivation. Take, as an instance, the following lines, which, like the former, are selected from the Knight's Tale: "The busy lark, the messager of day, Salewith in her song the morne gray; And fiery Phebus riseth up so bright, That all the orient laugheth of the sight; And with his stremes drieth in the has even been disputed in what species of heroic metre the greatest of his works was composed; some asserting that the whole is in lines of ten syllables, whilst others as strenuously contend for the addition of a final mute to the common heroic line. This subject has been ably and profoundly treated, in the elaborate essay of Tyrwhitt, on the versification of Chaucer; but in this particular, instance, I think, he was a little too partial to the venerable Bard. In fact, English verse is so greatly dependant on accent, and so little on quantity, that an early Poet would certainly have trusted almost wholly to the former, neglecting, along with the latter, the studied situation of the pause, the judicious distribution of the vowels, and all the refinements of modern prosody. But I have a worse fault to alledge against Chaucer; and it is one that his admirers could in vain excuse or soften down on too many occasions we find his pages sullied with disgusting obscenity, and the lowest ribaldry, conveyed in the most direct and coarse terms. To conclude, I shall briefly sum up the poetical character of a man who has survived the lapse of four centuries, and who is still thought of with respect, and mentioned with praise. As a Poet, Chaucer possessed a most minute observation, a fertile invention, a happy vein of humour, and an ear susceptible of harmony. But his genius was not of the highest class, nor can all the hyperbolical praises of the illustrious Dryden prove that he was gifted with one spark of the sublime spirit of the Grecian Bard. And it must in justice be observed, that, if some parts of his stories are exceedingly entertaining, many others are intolerably prolix. C. B. Note. Some months ago a writer in the Edinburgh Review, in reviewing "Nott's Surrey," took occasion to discuss the merits of Chaucer; and his quotations were the same as those I have given. I have only to add, in justice to myself, that this essay was written before that Review made its appearance. found, have traced my quotation into Statius, will be inclined to laugh at a commentator apparently so ignorant and unclassical. I have arguments by which I might perhaps be able to defend the justice of my choice; but the subject has been discussed by abler pens than mine, and neither the nature of this essay, nor my own inclinations, lead me into such an elaborate dispute. Mr. URBAN, Shrewsbury, May 11. 3 inches, at bottom 1 foot 6 inches, IN your vol. LXV. p. 13. appeared depth 1 feet 64 (exterior dimensions.) a North view of the Franciscan, or Grey Friary, in this town: you will probably not object to preserving a Southern view of the same building, as it appeared in 1794, before the alteration it underwent about that time, when it was made into small tenements. Leland, in his Itinerary, vol. IV. p. 100, says, "The Grey Fryers of Shrowesbury of the Charleton's foundation, and there laye the Lady Charleton, whome they tooke as their Foundresse. And this House stoode upon Severne banke a little aboue the Bridge of 5 arches." "One D. Francis, a Frere of late dayes, reedified almost a great part of this Fryer's House.” The remains of the Friary represented (see Plate I.) are supposed to be the Refectory: the window with an obtusely pointed arch remains, but the lancet windows have been ex," tended, and modernized. In an adjoining garden is a large stone coffin, discovered in 1747, length 7 feet 3 inches, breadth at top or head 2 feet In 1786 a silver Ring was found which contained the following motto, or posey, en bonn an, intended originally asa New Year's gift. In 1814, on removing some foundations of the outer buildings, several floor tiles were found, but none of particular note, the ornaments consisting of the Fleur de lis, the single rose, &c. St. Francis, the founder of this Order, was born at Assise in Italy, aud founded this sect about 1206.Through humility these Monks stiled themselves Friars Minor, and Grey Friars from the colour of their gar ments; their habit was a loose gown, reaching to the ancle, with a cowl of the same, aad a cloak when they went abroad; they girded themselves with cords, and went barefooted. This Order was at first remarkable for its severity and strictness; but it afterwards relaxed, and divided into what were called Conventuals, Observantines, and the Third Order of St. Francis. Yours, &c. COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY. NORFOLK. Norfolk and Suffolk near, so named of their sites, SITUATION AND EXTENT. 1 D. PARKES. DRAYTON'S Polyolbion. Boundaries. North and East, German Ocean. South, Suffolk. West, Cambridge and Lincoln. Greatest length 59; greatest breadth 38; circumference 210; square 2013 miles. Province, Canterbury. Diocese, Norwich. Circuit, Norfolk. ANTIENT STATE AND REMAINS. British Inhabitants. Iceni and Cenomanni. Roman Province. Flavia Cæsariensis.—Stations. Ad Tuam, Tasburgh: Branodunum, Brancester: Garianonum, Burgh: Iciani, Ickburgh: or Oxburgh: Sitomagus, Thetford: Venta Icenorum, Castor. Saxon Heptarchy. East Anglia. Antiquities. Encampments of South Creak, the Foss near Weeting, Narbury, and Wareham. Castles of New Buckenham, Castle Acre, Castle Rising, Castor, and NORWICH. Halls of Baconthorpe, East Basham, Fincham, Gaywood, Hunstanton, Intwood, Oxburgh, Oxwell, Scales, Stiffkey, Tacolneston, and Winwall. Gates of Lynn, Middleton, Norwich (particularly Erpingham's), and Yarmouth. Abbeys of Creake, Dereham, and St. Bennet's at Holme. Priories of Binham, Broomholme, GENT. MAG. October, 1818. Old Old Buckenham, CASTLE ACRE, Flitcham, Thetford, and Walsingham. Churches of Attleborough, Carbrook, Castle Rising, St. Margaret Lynn, CATHEDRAL and St. Peter Mancroft Norwich, Oxburgh, Walpole, Wymondham, and Yarmouth. Round towers of Bexwell, Bychamwell, Estratuna, Quiddenham and Witlingham Churches. Chapels of our Lady and St. Nicholas at Lyun, and Houghton le Dale. Doorway of Thwaite church. Tower of Grey Friars monastery, Lynn. Fonts of Binham, Burnham Deepdale, Croxton, East Dereham, Norwich cathedral, Sharnebourn, Walsingham, Walsoken, and Wymondham. St.Andrew's hall and Cow Tower, Norwich. Norwich Cathedral was founded in 1096 by Bishop Hubert Losinge, Lord Chancellor of England, who also built Lynn and Yarmouth Churches. Among the more eminent of its bishops who had sepulture in this cathedral were the founder 1119; John of Oxford diplomatist and historian 1200; Pandulphus Masca, a Cardinal (to whom as Pope's legate John surrendered his crown) 1226; John Salmon, Lord Chancellor, 1325; Walter Ayrmin, Lord Chancellor 1336: Anthony de Beck, poisoned by his servants at Heveningham 1343; Thomas Percy, youngest brother of the Earl of Northumberland, founder of the steeple (present height 315 feet), died at Blofield 1369; Henry Spencer, who was consecrated by Pope Urban VI. in person, commanded his army in France against Clement VII., and was the first prelate who quartered the episcopal arms with his own, 1406; James Goldwell (the only enriched monument with an effigies now in the Cathedral) 1498; Richard Corbet, wit and poet, 1635; and the learned Richard Montague, with the simple inscription, "Depositum Montacuti Episcopi," 1641. Here also was buried Robert Talbot, antiquary, friend of Leland, 1558. At Norwich was the only house in this Kingdom, of Friars of the Order de Pica, who wore black and white garments. Thetford was the metropolis of East Anglia, and an Episcopal see. Henry I. and Henry II. frequently resided here. In its monastery were interred its founder Roger Bigod, who came over with the Conqueror, and was created Earl of Norfolk, 1100; his descendants Hugh 1178; Roger 1218; Hugh 1225; Roger, first Marshall of England, 1269; Roger last of his family Earls of Norfolk, 1306; John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, son of the first Duke 1460; John his successor 1474; John Howard first Duke of Norfolk of his family, slain at Bosworth field, 1485; his son Thomas, Lord High Treasurer, 1524; and Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond, natural son of Henry VIII. 1536. St. Bennet's at Holme was a mitred abbey founded before 1020. The Bishop of Norwich sits in the House of Peers not only in right of his barony, but as titular Abbot of Holme, the only abbacy now existing in England. At Babingley was erected the first Christian church in East Anglia; it was dedicated to the Apostle of that nation, Felix the Burgundian. In East Dereham nunnery, which she had erected, was buried Withburga daughter of Anna King of East Anglia. North Elmham was an Episcopal See, In Wymondham abbey was buried its founder William de Albini 1156, and four of his descendants, all Earls of Arundel. Walsingham was celebrated for an image of the Virgin Mary, to which many of our Kings and Queens made pilgrimages. It was seized by order of Cromwell Vicar general, and burst at Chelsea. At Reepham was another image of "our Lady," of great but not equal celebrity. PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE. Rivers. Ant, Bariden, Bure, Great Ouse, Little Ouse, Nar, Nene, Stoke, Eminences and Views. Ashill near Swaffham: Docking near Burnham: Por |