tries, and are not ther amparave importance. Hence the time me of name arts and fragmentary documents, and vich Tranh ta tiks ng ber retired abode, when she avoids the more open and showy plans of History. The Antiquary also leams the mix i rompersia when be inds one mass of truth be apart from midher a vid originally belonged, and from which it had been inly separated: wille the parts of junction have been perhaps for ever bigred or destroyed. The study of Antiquity has ever been an important and a valuable part of our Magazine, and we have reason, we think, to be proud of our Antiquarian Zore. This as Scaliger observes, we ascend to general conclusives from particular enquiries- Observatione specialium ad generala ascendendo Our modern historians know the value of this science; and if the names (how illustrious!) of Robertson and Hume are ever superseded, and their light dimmed, it will be solely that they trusted to their eminent genius and great accomplishments to afford them those conclusions, which could only be safely drawn from a humbler but more authentic method of inquiry. We therefore exhort our Contributors to continue to us on these subjects their valuable and various support. June 24, 1837. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. THE Proprietors of the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE trust that the pledge has been redeemed which was made to their Readers on the commencement of the NEW SERIES; that, without altering the constitution of the Work-or withdrawing, in any degree, its attention from English antiquities and English architecture,it would embrace a larger circle of Literature, and enter upon a more varied and entertaining range of subjects. 1. It is on their constant regard to the standard and classical Literature of England, that the Proprietors rely as their chief strength. In the course of the New Series, the works of Milton, of Pope, of Gray, of Cowper, Byron, Coleridge, Crabbe, Bowles, Joanna Baillie, and Talfourd; the Biographies of Bolingbroke and Temple, of Walpole and Wraxall, of Mackintosh, Byron, Crabbe, Coleridge, Johnson, Goldsmith, Hannah More, Brydges, and Dibdin, have in succession passed under no superficial or hasty review; and in every Number, one recent Publication of the highest character, is made the subject of a lengthened criticism. 2. It is intended to continue the selections from the manuscript continuation of Mr. Green's learned and interesting "Diary of a Lover of Literature;" as well as to add further contributions to the illustration of Boswell's Life of Johnson, until that work shall have been accompanied to its close; for the original may be considered as a central point, round which, for the period of half a century, the Literature of our Country is collected. 3. The Proprietors speak with confidence of the satisfaction which the review of the several works published by both Record Commissions has generally given, and the interest it has excited. The examination of these works and these results of the late Parliamentary Committee, will be continued. 4. In the Communications and Correspondence such subjects are generally discussed as are recommended by their intrinsic and permanent value, or by those circumstances which invest inferior objects with occasional importance. In the recent numbers the Proprietors particularly refer to the many valuable articles on Philology, on Anglo-Saxon Literature, on Ancient Poetry; Dissertations on points of our National History, and illustrious characters; Antiquities and Architecture; Family History; and Original Letters and Documents illustrative of these several subjects. 5. The Retrospective Review will continue to present much that is curious in old English Poetry; and indeed it is a department of the Magazine to which the Reader's attention is particularly directed. 6. In the Review of New Publications, the endeavour is to judge of the works submitted to the Reviewer, carefully and impartially; no one is recommended to public notice without mentioning the the grounds of approbation, nor any one censured without declaring the circumstances that call for animadversion. 7. The Obituary of Eminent Persons, distinguished in the State, the Public Service, or Learned Professions; in Literature, Science, and the Arts; will be maintained with persevering care. 8. Literary and Scientific Intelligence. An account of the Transactions of Scientific and Learned Societies; and of the progress of the Arts, and Public Exhibitions. 9. Historical Chronicle. A Record of passing events; of Honours and Preferments in Church and State; and the Births and Marriages of the Nobility and Gentry. 10. The Embellishments comprise views of places remarkable for their architecture, or interesting from their history, and other objects of curiosity. Lastly, it may be mentioned, that on subjects connected with the Established Church, they have been treated openly, but still reasonably and temperately; and the same disposition shall continue to advocate her rights, defend her character, and promote all due amendment of her defects. Such is the outline of the Plan which the Proprietors of the Gentleman's Magazine offer to the public attention. Successfully to execute their design, the assistance of able and learned writers is secured, and the co-operation of their old Correspondents is confidently anticipated. The Gentleman's Magazine (price 2s. 6d.) is published by WILLIAM PICKERING, Chancery-lane; but Communications for the Editor are requested to be addressed, post paid, to the Printers, J. B. NICHOLS and SON, 25, Parliament Street. London: printed by J. B. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament-street. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1837. BY SYLVANUS URBAN, GENT. CONTENTS. PAGE MINOR CORRESPONDENCE-Ancient Almanacs.-Sir Thomas Brown's "Fragment on Mummies."-Alderman Rudge, &c.... 2 MEMOIRS OF SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE, BY THE RIGHT HON. T. P. COUR TENAY....... ON THE POPULAR CYCLE OF THE ROBIN HOOD BALLADS.. .... On the Poetic Character of the Early Greek Historians.. Bishops Murray and Bossuet on Papal Charity and Toleration. Owen's New Moral World, 62.-Rev. R. Polwhele's Reminiscences, 65.- ..... LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 3 17 28 36 42 46 48 52 55 57 58 61 New Publications, 77.-Learned Societies, Literary Institutions, &c. 78.Westminster Play, 82.-Scientific Experiments at the House of Commons ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES.-Society of Antiquaries, 84.-Coins found at Fakenham, Norfolk HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.-Foreign News, 88. Domestic Occurrences, 89 Promotions, Preferments, &c. 91.-Marriages. OBITUARY; with Memoirs of Charles the Tenth; the Countess Howe; Lord de Saumarez; Rev. John Pryce; Mrs. Rudge; J. L. M'Adam, Esq.; Charles Day, Esq.; John Bannister, Esq.; M. Raynouard... CLERGY DECEASED, 106.-DEATHS, arranged in Counties .... Bill of Mortality-Markets-Prices of Shares, 111.-Meteorological Diary-Stocks 112 ..... Embellished with an original PORTRAIT of JOHN STOWE, the Antiquary; 93 108 2 MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. URBAN,-A friend of mine hav.. ing recently presented me with an extremely interesting typographical relic, I think fit to apprise you thereof, as perchance the notice of it may induce some of your numerous able Contributors to provide your columns with a historical disquisition on Almanacs; a subject affording scope for many curious particulars, and which has been slightly disserted on by Beckman, History of Inventions, vol. iii. The gift of my friend is an "Almanacke for xii. yere," printed by Wynkyn de Worde, anno 1508, which, in so far as I am aware, has not been noticed by any bibliographer. It consists of 15 leaves, and, with the exception of a small portion torn off one of them, is in the highest preservation. It is a Lilliputian square tome, resembling the size commonly termed sixty-fours. There are neither red-letters nor wood-cuts in the "bookie." The matter introductory is as follows:-"¶This Almanacke and Table shall endure xii. yere, and is calked after the latytude of Oxe'forde, & it is taken out of the grete ephymerides or almanacke of xxx. yere, & sheweth the coniunccio's, that is to say, the metyng & fyrst lyghtnynge that the mone taketh from the sonne, the whiche is called the chaunge or the newe mone amonge, us. And the opposycyons, that is to say, the fuls mone, whan we se it full & rou'de. And ye shall alway begyn the day do not remember to have seen or heard of M. H. R. directs attention to the "Fragment on Mummies," which is attributed to Sir Thomas Brown, in the recent edition of his Works, at the 274th page of the 4th volume, He remarks: "On my first perusal, some doubts of its genuineness suggested themselves; and a further examination of the Fragment' greatly confirmed them. I am far from insinuating that Mr. Crossley, on whose authority it rests, was not a believer in its genuineness; but the manuscript from which he copied it might have been intended merely as an imitation of Sir Thomas Brown's style. It is one which we might suppose Charles Lamb to have written on some blank page of the MS. The thoughts and reflections of Sir Thomas Brown are slavishly copied ; perhaps there is not one of which the germ might not be found in his genuine writings; but they are not first thoughts which were afterwards to be wrought into his finished works; for the composition is methodical, and very elaborate. But while such is the nature of the thoughts, the flow of the language, the rhythm, and the texis of the sentences, all strike the ear as modern. Can any of your better-informed Readers contribute any argument either to authenticate it as Sir Thomas Brown's, or to prove demonstrably its spuriousness? On the latter supposition, the occurrence of some word used in a modern sense might be sufficient to determine the question. The subject, though capable of being made an interesting one, escaped my recollection, until I saw a part of the Fragment quoted in the Edinburgh Review, as an undoubted relic of Sir Thomas Brown; and yet it was a part that struck me as peculiarly suspicious." had J. G. N. would be glad to be referred to any copies, whether in print or manuscript, of a political Song, evidently written in 1623, beginning, When Charles has brought his Spanish girl. In answer to the inquiry of a Correspondent, Mr. GREGORY, of the Lord Mayor's Court Office, replies that Alderman Rudge was buried on the 18th Dec. 1640, in the chancel of Allhallows church, Broad-street; which may be found upon reference to the Parish Register. He served the office of Sheriff in 1637; but never was Lord Mayor of London. We beg to return the thanks of J. W. B. and our own, to Mr. S. HORSFIELD, and propose to adopt his recommendation. |