ges of truth, which really to find they held not granted to any mortal. These few lineaments, (which I cannot here view as a hors d'œuvre) may give us some faint idea of those vivid re collections which crowded into the mind of Horace, when he thought upon the happy days of his youth, which he spent at Athens in the pleasant walks of the Academy. As a description of his former feelings or his present reminiscences, was here beside his purpose; he says it all, and a thousand times more, in only two words: but in order to enter into the true spirit of our poet, we should, as much as possible apprehend by his expressions what he apprehended by them and the earnest desire to procure my readers that advantage without much trouble on their part, is what alone could move me to be sometimes more circumstantial in my Illustrations than I should have been if I had solely consulted my own case and convenience.

In that calm and delightful seat of the Philosophic Muses it was, that Horace imbibed the Socratic mode of reasoning, which gives him such high pre-eminence over all the other Roman pocts. Here it was, where he provided himself as it were for all his future life, with that fine Attic salt, which, by communicating its agreeably-poignant volatile spirit to his writings, gives them so peculiar, and (1 fear, alas, too late!) inexplicable charms. -And here also it was, that he formed a connection with the noble-minded Brutus, which the Muses seemed to break; but in its consequences proved the most decisive circumstance of his life.

The proper date of the commencement of their acquaintance cannot be accurately ascertained. There can be no doubt, however, that it was in the year 711, when Brutus made some stay at Athens, and while he frequented the schools of the philosophers, and as calmly reasoned with them and the young Romans he met there, as Cicero was formerly wont to do in his Tusculanum, he was making the necessary dispositions for that open war against Antonius and Octavus Casar, to which be found himself at last compelled. Among these young Romans, our Horace also was; and whoever is acquainted with the character of Brutus from Cicero and Piu

tarch, and is able to guess what our Poet must have been in his youth, from all that we can gather from his works, will think it highly natural, that the young Horace needed only to see and to hear the most virtuous and amiable of all the heroes that ever did honour to humanity, for attaching himself to him with all the enthusiasm of a generous and high-spirited youth; and that the other in return discerned in the young man all that could render him worthy of his affection. Bru tus, at his departure from Athens, took these young people with him* of course our Poet also; who shortly after rose so high in his esteem, that the command of a legion (a corps consisting of about 6000 men) was confided to him. That Horace proved not unworthy of that confidence, notwithstanding the unfortunate terinination of the battle of Philippi, we may as safely presume, as it is certain that there is not the least reason for believing the contrary; and that, on more than one occasion, he gave proofs of his courage, may be inferred (although more accurate accounts are wanting) even from the Ode to Pompeius Varus, one of his comrades, which is generally quoted in disparagement of our Poet's valour. The address,

O sæpe mecum tempus in ultimum Deducte, BRUro militiæ duce, proves at least as much in behalf of his courage, as the strophe,

Tecum Philippus & celerem fugam Sensi, relicta non bene parmula, Cum fracta virtus, & minaces Turpe solum tetigere mento, could at any rate depose against him; unless it were made out that Horace, by the words relicta non bene parthe Greek poet Archilochus; and that mula, intended only a resemblance to at a time when it would have been no less hazardous than futile to exhibit the military part of his life in a fairer light, how much soever he might have beeu justitied in so doing. Resides, we are accustomed to see Horace, now from modesty, now from the humour of the moment, often speaking more disparagingly of himself than was just; and if we were to take his words always in the strict literal sense, we should, in spite of our

* Plutarch, in Bruts.

Own

unicæ filiæ D. Harvey Bagot de Blithfield

in agro Staff. Baronetti; Nepos Jo'is Skryinsher et Alicia D. Francisci Leigh, Barti, de King's Newn ha', filiæ.

Uxorem primam fœliciter duxit. Hesteram, filiam unica' & hæredem Georgii Taylor, de Darwent-Hall,

in agro Darb. armig.

subtus sepultam, 17 Octob. A. D. 1694, ex quâ suscepit tres filias,

Elis. Hest. Eleanor.

Francisca, uxore secundâ superstite,
Jo'is Noel, baronetti, filiâ.
Obiit 4to Martii,

A. D. 1708, ætatis 56.
Marmor hoc

Eleanor, filia et cohæres superstes, uxor Acton Baldwyn de Aqualat. arm. pietatis ergò posuit."

On each side of the tablet which bears the above inscription, is a handsome fluted column; which columns support an entablature, ornamented with three coats of arms. The middle coat, which is the largest, is, Quarterly, 1 and 4 Gules, a lion rampant Or, in a border vairy Argent and Azure; 2 and 3, a chevron Argent, between three butterflies; an escutcheon of pretence Ermine bears, on a chevron Azure, between three anchors of the same, three escalop shells Argent.

The small shield below the above, on the dexter side thereof, is the first quarter, impaling the arms on the escutcheon of pretence of the above.

The other coat was too much effaced to describe; but probably was the first quarter, impaling the second quarter of the first, or middle, coat.

Within a pointed arch, ornamented on its mouldings with divers small and fanciful figures, in the North wall of the Chancel, lies a male effigies, as large as life, clad in armour, with sword and shield; and within the rails of the Altar, on-the floor, have been three effigies, a male between two females, the male in armour. No inscriptions were near any of these effigies; but I take the one within the arch in the North wall to represent the Agitant-general Rupert, and those within the rails of the Altar on the floor, Sir Charles and his two wives. When I made the above remarks, some years ago, the effigies on the floor were much mutilated, and nothing of the male

remained entire but the bead and shoulders.

The armour belonging to one of the Skrymshers was formerly preserved in the Church; but nothing remained, when I saw it, but the helmet and part of a gauntlet.

The Living is a Rectory, situated in the Deanery of Lapley and Treizull, in the Archdeaconry of Stafford, and Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry; and valued in the King's books at £10. 2s. 6d. The present Incumbent is the Rev. Sambrook Higgins, A. M.; and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Stafford.

In High Offley Church on two mural monuments near the Altar, the first of marble and the second of stone, are preserved the memory of more of the Skrymshire family, viz.

1.

"Near this place lieth interred, the body of Gerrard Skrymsher, late of Woods Eaves in this parish, Dtr of Physick, a man of honour, probity, and piety. He was youngest son of James Skrymsher of Norbury Manour, in this county of Stafford, esq. He departed this life ye 24 of Oct. 1700, in ye 83d year of his age.

of Catherine, his dear and beloved wife, "Near this place also lieth ye remains who departed this life ye 27 day of July, 1725, in ye 75th year of her age. They had issue, four children: Hester, who was married to Thomas Boothby of Tooly, in ye county of Leicester, esq.; Charles, now at Woods-Eaves; Elizabeth, died an infant; and Mary, now wife to John Bromfield of Midgebrook in ye county of Chester, gent.; at whose charge, to ye pious memory of her kind and indulgent parents, this monument is erected. Ann. Dom. 1728."

Part II. p. 317, is the following pas- brated Act; most of which have

sage:

"I effectually closed the Alburnous tubes with a composition of calcined oyster-shells and cheese (which alone is capable of instantaneously stopping the effusion of sap from the vine, or from any other plants, in the bleeding season); and

this was covered with a mixture of bees'wax and turpentine, so as to exclude external air and all moisture."

Permit me to enquire from any of your Horticultural Correspondents, in what proportion and manner the ingredients specified are to be mixed and prepared. By so doing, you will oblige à constant Reader and occasional Correspondent. VULCAN.

LETTER LVII. ON PRISONS.
"Ingenium res adversæ nudare solent,
celare secundæ *."
HOR.
Sambrook Court, Dec. 9, 1808.
N perusing the subsequent excel-

is excited, from perceiving in the
Bridewell of Hertford, as well as in
many other Prisons, that no atten-
tion is devoted to the promotion of
habits of industry in the prisoners.

It is well known, that, after the dissolution of Monasterics under Henry VIII. multitudes who lived by mendicity on the alms of the Clergy, became burthensome and dangerous' to the community, in spite of the infliction of the most severe punishments; until the famous Act of the 43d of Queen Elizabeth was passed; which directed the supply of mate-, rials, and the employment of labour, as best calculated to prevent idleness, indigence, and mendicity; and happily it succeeded.

It would occasion too extensive a narrative, to trace the various alterations of, and additions to, this cele

proved subversive of the advantages derived from the original plan, which the great legislators of this Queen's reign had wisely adopted. It is, indeed, lamentable, that, under the bad policy of some of our laws, this object is never recognized. How often has Humanity raised her voice against the cruelty of empowering one man to enclose in a dungeon an unfortunate fellow-citizen; who, born in a country boasting of its general freedom, from its laws, finds none to secure his liberty! How often has the impolicy of excluding from the exercise of industry, individuals, whose labour might retrieve misfortune, and repay obligation, been in vain repeated +!

Scarcely ever have I entered a prison, without meeting with persons, whose talents and qualifications, unfettered by restraint, might be profitable to their families, and sometimes even honourable to their country. In the damp, dreary Clink, or Marshalsea Prison, I saw an Artist, who now exercises his useful

powers much to the gratification of the publick. On visiting the Surrey County Gaol with my friend Neild, and accompanied by Sir Thomas Turton, I found another ingenious person, whose talents are now exercised to amuse and instruct the community. That learned Naturalist, on whose judgment the value of Sir Ashton Lever's museum was determined by Parliament, languished in the King's Bench Prison, and long supported his family by the efforts of his genius, and the exercise of his talents; though compelled, at length, to raise that support, by painting ornamental designs for la dies' thread-papers! verifying, in

* In adversity those talents are called forth, which are concealed by prosperity. See Dr. Johnson's Remarks in the Idler, No. 38.

Perhaps the great North American Empire may trace its origin equally from persecution and the issues of the prisons; and New South Wales may lay its claim almost exclusively from the latter. I spent an evening, which agreeably continued till two o'clock in the morning, with the late General Oglethorpe, when this Veteran was in the 96th year of his age, who told me that he planted Georgia chiefly from the prisons.

Described in the Gent. Mag. 1907, vol. LXXVII. p. 211.

I hope it will not be deemed improper to add here, that soon after this ingenious person was liberated, and appointed to a respectable station under Government, he died, and left a widow and six children unprovided. A small fund, was however raised for their support; and they are now comfortably situated. The two eldest sons have risen to Lieutenants in the Navy; and lately one of these was appointed the Governor of a West India Island.

deed,

vial offences, and before a trial) are here immediately put in irons, and at night are pinioned (two together) down to the flooring of their cells, by a ponderous chain passed through the main link of their fetters, and padiocked to a strong iron staple; "and with this additional aggravation of their daily misery, are left to pass the hours destined by Nature to ease and refreshment, upon loose straw only, scattered on the floor. A man may thus suffer six months imprisonment, under the bare suspicion of a crime, from which, at the end of that dreary term, his country may perhaps honourably acquit him."

I saw no county furniture here, either in the infirmaries, or in any part of the Prison, except one rug in the felons' gaol, one in the men's bridewell, and one in the women's bridewell neither is any county clothing allowed to the prisoners.