fociation of architraves, on which are ornamented diagonals, frets, wreathed bands, and a fort of entwined branches, pleafing for their difpofure, and giving an uncommon embellishment. Doorway next the nave, entering from the North cloitter likewife. Great part of the columns in this defign are united after a method not generally to be met with; their shafts are overlaid with diagonal and diamond fhapes, flowers, &c. On the extreme architrave of the arch are at certain intervals rich pateræ, the other architraves being filled with diagonals only. Doorway next the nave entering from the North porch. The fhafts of the columns; fome are plain, and others highly ornamented, as are the feveral architraves which spring from their capitals. The ftyle of thefe doorways is Saxon; they are of large dimenfions, juft proportions, and their fculptures are of the most elaborate kind.

Tomb of Earl Neville and his lady. Little is left of the knight but the body; the lady is more entire, and the fides of the tomb are deprived of the fmall ftatues that once were placed thereon. Tomb of John Neville (his fon) and his lady. No more than the bodies of thefe ftatues are preferved: the finall ftatues, fhields of arms, compartments, and niches, on the fides of the tomb, are in tolerable order, fave each of thefe ftatues has loft its head. Thefe mutilations, they fay, were perpetrated by the Scots taken at the battle of Dunbar (Oliver Cromwell commanding in perfon), who after that overthrow were confined in this cathe dral as prifoners of war. This their rage was no doubt out of revenge for the defeat of their ancefiors by the two heroes whofe memorials we are deferibing. Tomb and throne of Bifhop Hatfield. The contour of the defign witnelfes the fplendour of the age he lived in, more efpecially confidered as connected with the arts. The feveral arches, mouldings, compart ments, pinnacles, ornaments, arins, the colouring, gildings, &c. run in the fame degree of confummate excellence as we of late witneffed in St. Stephen's chapel, Weftmintier; where alio we witneffed their havock, and their Tenants thrown out into the fireets, or collected by fome for pious prefervation or profeffional niockery. The * See vol. LXX. p. 736. GENT. MAG. May, 1802.

firft ftory of this object forms the tomb where under an arch lays the ftatue of the Bishop: in the return of the arch, near the head of the ftatue, are the veftiges of fome paintings of angels bearing up the foul of Hatfield, no doubt intended as an allegorical reprefentation how well fo roble and holy a man deferved a heavenly throne. The furrounding ornaments are enriched brackets for fatues, diamonded compartments, and fhields of arms without number. The head of this tomb ferves as the platform for the throne above, afcended to by flights of steps on either hand (thofe on the right deftroyed.) The feat for the bishop of the fee is in the centre; and there are two feats on each fide for his chief officers of ftate. These feats are backed by compartments, buttreiles, and canopies, giving the compleat finishing to this memorial of mortal and fepulchral magnificence. The whole is fo judiciously united, fo exquifitely wrought, and remaining fo perfect, that till

now Hatfield's name never feemed to have been forgot, or held other than the revered fhepherd of his fold, and the faviour of his country*, Among the, many fpecimens left us of the religioas decorations of Edward the Third's reign, I have often noticed that their reverfed fron's give a varied defign to the principal one; the maffes of each bore alike, it is confefled, but in their fubdivifions changing fill into new forms and new devices. If we view this tomb and throne of the great Hatfield from the choir, all is perfection; if from the South aile of the choir, delectable variety beams on our fight, thus ever by fuch feientific transformations avoiding that duli repetition of common-place objects which pervade the decorations of other ftyles of architecture.

The High-altar fereen. The fame expanfe of genius revealed in the foregoing defign is confpicuous in this alfo; which, among the few fubjects left us

* See his acts in the lives of the bishop $ of this fee.

this tomb and throne have been covered I have just received intelligence that over with a fione-coloured mixture; this I should rejoice exceedingly to hear contradicted: for if true, we have to regret at leaft the lofs of thofe emblazonrings which fo brilliantly told fome of the chief glories of Durham's hiftory.

of

of this nature, is evidently in my opinion the most fuperior work, and moft worthy of the caule that gave it exiftence. St. Alban's and Winchefter's high altar fcreens, from their affinity may continue to maintain the rivalry of excellence; the high altar fereen of Christchurch, Hampshire, in comparative embellishments, ftands without a competitor, as doth that of York. Salif bury's and Lichfield's high-altar fereens are no more; Durham's endures fiill, I am inclined to believe. Other high altar-fcreens of the like confequence I cannot call to remembrance any, therefore let us pay more regard to this unrepaired relict of Antiquity by attending to the beauties of its elevation. The firft tier is of folid work, fave the doors at each extremity of the defign entering into the feretory behind; made out by buttrelles, compartments, and fubpedetials. The second tier continues up the buttrelles, between which are pedeftals and perforated niches of every degree of proportion and embellishment to accommodate the infinity of ftatues once placed in every part of this fereen; the whole performance ending with pinnacles compleating the defign in high and appropriate ftate. On the Eat front of this fereen, its appearance, like the foregoing fubject, takes another turn in the fecondary parts, again to aftonifh, and again to charm. There are not any of the ftatues left in the niches; and we, as on other occafions, refer our readers to the Durham hiftory for their enumeration.

(To be continued.)

J. C.

Mr. URBAN, Lincoln, April 9. THE THE original letters, of which I fend you copies underneath, having been prefented to me by a defcendant of the gentleman to whom they are addreffed by the noble writer, the fon of the celebrated hiftorian Lord Clarendon, I could not difpofe of them more to my own fatisfaction than by communicating them to you for infertion in your valuable Mifcellany, in which I thall be happy to fee them at E. W. your convenience.

London, 7ber 29, 1688.

1. "GOOD DOCTOR, "This morning at Whitehall my Lord Dartmouth fpoke to me to lett you know that if you would come to towne you should goe to fea with him; I fuppofe you hear of the rumours of

an invafion which threatens us, and that my Lord Dartmouth commands the fleet which goes to meet the invaders; he defires much to have you with him. I would be moft glad to be inftrumental towards doing you good. I have fair promifes for preferment for you with good hopes of fucceile. Whether you will thinke this expedition for your advantage you can be judge; I will not advife, at lea not this way. If you thinke fitt to come to towne on Munday or Tuefday, you may confider of it; and I fhall be glad to fee you (if you come) before you fee any body elfe. I am, with great truth, your very affectionate ferCLARENDON. "For the Rev. Dr. Haflewood, at Oriel College, in Oxford." "London, Jan. 10, 1688.

vant,

2. "GOOD DOCTOR, "I have received yours of the 6th; you need make noe excules for writing to me on your own behalfe; and the truth is, there is nothing to be fayd to juftify your not being provided for, but my want of intereft; if that grows, the firit inftance that appears of it will be your finding yourfelle in a good fiation; for fixing you in which I will loofe no opportunity within my power. As to what you mention that feveral preferments are like to be empty by removing fome of the bishops, all I can fay is, that there will be noe likelyhood of any fuch vacancys till there be fome better fettlement of the government; and I pray God fome people doe not gett too much credite who are as ill friends to the Church as thofe we hope we are rid of. In good carneft, I am not without melancholy apprehenfions of that kind, for I doe not like fome things I fee, but hope they are only the effects of my fpleenatick vapours. God fend the approaching Convention may confift of men of moderation and temper, otherwife we fhall run into confufion before we are aware; a very little time will make great difcoverys. I am very glad your election for the University is fo well over; you could not have chofen two better men. I am very really, good Doctor, your very affectionate fervant, CLARENDON. "For the Rev. Dr. Haflewood, in Oriell College at Oxford."

"London, Feb. 9, 1688-9.

3. "GOOD DOCTOR,

"I returne you my thanks for yours of the 5th intant, and for the particu

Jar account y give me of the affairs
of University College; I hope they
have by this time chofen a new matter,
for they have been too long without a
head, at least with fuch an one as
Obadiah. I am foe farr from being
dead, as you fee, that I thanke God I
am in perfect health, and have not
been in the leaf ill fince I faw you:
but it be,
may 1 may be fayd to be
dead in one fence, that is, by my be-
ing of heterodox opinious in the Houfe
of Lords, which may poffibly caule me
to be knockt on the head. You can-
not but hear of the great things we are
doing, as changing the government,
fabverting the fuccellion, and making
the kingship elective. I have noe fio-
mach to mention the particulars, but
in these things I cannot comply; I
cannot forgett the oaths I have taken,
which were adminiftered unto me by
good and full authority, and from
which, by the religion I profeffe, no
man or power on earth can abfolve
me. I went in to the P. of O. upon
his declaration, in which he pretends
to reitore and fettle us, and not to alter
or pull down foundations; and beyond
what he himself made the ground of
his coming I cannot carry myfelfe.
God's will be done! He knows what he
defigns and that will be bet; but in
all humane probability we are but in
the beginning of our troubles. For
the prefent I fhall gain cale, for it will
not be needfull ere long for fuch as I
to trouble the Houte of Peers, foe that
I fhall have time to be in the country,
and to mind more innocent entertain-
ment, and to thinke of a better life
hereafter, for which a man of my age
ought to prepare. I thall be much
better plealed when I have been able
to doe fomething for you, in which I
think I cannot long inifcarry. I am,
in great truth, good Doctor, your very
affectionate fervant, CLARENDON,

"For the Rev. Dr. Haflewood,
at Oriell College in Oxford."

GRECIAN ARCHTECTURE. No. X. Mr. URBAN, Portfea, April 2. IT was the opinion of a very ingenious author, that all our ideas (and of courfe our knowledge) are derived from fenfation and reflection. Now though most people have the use of their fenfes, the number is not fo very great that duly reflect on what they fee and hear: hence it is that many pafs their days in an undisturbed con

tentment under the impofition of the grotlett errors, which are familiarized by habit, and deceive unfufpected for want of reflection on their oppofite truths. But to apply this obfervation to the bufinefs of Architecture: it is conceived, that were the design of a Grecian temple replete with falle fymmetries and errors in the difpofition, but neatly delineated and judicioutly fhaded, to be introduced to the notice of a promifcuous aflembly unacquainted with the rules of this art, though it might pafs with fuch (being habituated to the fight of thefe irregular forms) without criticifin or cenfure; yet, were they immediately prefented with another defign of a temple of the fame character, moft regularly difpofed in all its parts, its ornaments all appro priate, its fymmetries exact, exempt from every abuse and error, and equally well fet off by lights and fhades, they would be infiantly ftruck with its beauty, decide in its favour, and look back on the former defign with marked difapprobation. Before then the modes of difpofition are farther unfolded, it may be conducive to the general defign of thefe letters to expofe fome of the more glaring abutes that have been introduced into the Grecian architecture by the untkilful both of this and every age fince the era of the Grecian flates. The renowned buildings of antient Greece are, no doubt, the criterion of true talte and propriety in architecture; and although the means, by which the Athenians and other Grecians brought this art to fuch an admirable perfection, are open to this and every age fince their time; yet a a greater proportion of practitioners excelled in theirs, than in the Roman æra or in ours, not because Nature was more partial to their age, but becaufe they neglected not the talents the beftowed. The encouragements held out at Athens could not fail to difcover inen of real genius, and were fure to ftimulate them to exertion, and at the fame time abafh unqualified pretenders. When a perfon of the moft diftinguished rank and fortune amongst them was proud to difcover in his fon the feeds of architectural genius; when a proficiency approaching to excellence in that noble art was the fureft road to honours and preferment; their public buildings could but be executed in the highest talie and perfection, fince none but men of tried abilities, natural genius,

and

and refined judgement, concurred for the honour of conducting them. The glorions renown of their ftructures at length excited elation in the Romans: but true genius was not equally fought among them; the rigidity of their morals held out fome time again attempts at magnificence; and a Col fatius; born a Roman, went to Athens to difplay his talents. Thus at Rome this art was not, on its first introduction, encouraged by perfons of difine tion and merit; but gradually brought in by fome more affluent but lefs refpecied characters, who boldly broke down the barrier of parfimonious laws, exciting the furprife as well as the cenfure of the publick. No wonder then that Architecture, fo difcountenanced at firft, and patronized only by characters that were deemed extravagant, became not fo refpectable a profeflion at Rome as it had been at Athens. Men of enterprifing temper, rather than of natural genius, took the lead; and though Rome fwarmed with Architects in the Auguftan age, yet not thofe of mot kill but those of most interest were employed in conducting their public works, as Vitruvius lamented, and the accurate Defgodetzs has evinced, in whofe collection of antique remains at Rome, there are flights and abafes of the Grecian flyle equalled only by fome of the extravagancies of our days. And as a bad caufe is lamely fupported on the authority of precedents equally bad, fo neither is it an apology for obvious deformities, that fomething like them may be found among the antique remains.

both their ufc and beauty as to immure half their form in a dead wall, making them appear as if once entire, but now infulted by truding lumber, devouring half their fiately form! Pilafiers, called antæ by Vitruvius, fhould be ufed on fuch occafions. Another very prevalent abufes the fobfiituting, in place of Grecian capitals and entabla, tures, certain whimsical compofitions of caft putty; our metropolis abounds with there productions of ill-guided fancies, to the difgrace of the prefent age; and though mott of thefe inventions, like the fafhions of the day, will foon be fcouted with merited contempt, yet the mifchief their introduc tion has already occafioned is irrepa rable, by the ruin of a fet of ingenious carvers, of when feveral about 40 or 50 years ago went to America; others wandered from place to place feeking employment in vain, and a few, on the point of ftarving, dag their own graves as it were, by turning mouldcutters for thefe putty cafters. And admitting that this invention may anfwer fonie purposes, such as for mouldings where the pattern in fhort lengths is repeated, and certain leaves wherein the relievo is not bold, yet whoever are acquainted with the ftriking beauty of foliage fculpture, muft know that it can never be attained to in catt work, and inuft lament the lofs of that noble art: but more on this fubject hereafter.

A third abufe is, the blending of fragments of Grecian architecture with others of the Gothic in one defiga; and erecting, on diminished scales, Grecian columns, arches, and entablatures, by way of refioring decayed parts of Gothic buildings. The author of the Purfuits of Architectural Innovation, very feverely (but very jufily) cenfures this practice. The contraft is unnatural and indecorous. That gentleman, however, is clearly influ enced in his invective by his prepofieffions in favour of the Gothic ftyle, as if it were difgraced by Grecian affociations; but, without intending to enter into any content with this author, for there is no accounting for taste, it is conceived that all who are enamoured of the Grecian architecture, with to fee examples of it in better company' than amongst the mouldering remains of Gothic piles. "PHILO-TECHNON.

P.S. Mr. Urban, fince No. X. was fent you, your correspondent Obferval