SIR,-Your "Senior Churchwarden" Correspondent (see Current Notes for August, p. 70), in asking for the definitions of what he is pleased to term "Architectural Slang," as also the difference between "the pieces of Saxon and Norman Architecture," shows such a want of knowledge of the subject he so unhappily endeavours to criticize, that in answer I would suggest to him, that the most effectual solution for the complained of grievances would be to consult your "Price Current," and from its notice of professional works purchase and carefully peruse such as may tend to enlighten him in matters of which he is now very ignorant; by these means he may also be able to serve a double purpose, in the further shape of being able to understand, and perchance appreciate the language and professional advice of "the Architect who has come down to alter our Church."

ECCLESIASTICAL MURAL PAINTINGS. SIR,-In the last number (XX.) of your Current Notes, the sporting season being at hand, you have allowed by way of practice a brace of Archæologists to pop like a double-barrelled gun at my observations upon Mural Paintings. Off they go at me bang-bang. rels have produced much effect in bringing me down at But neither one nor the other of your fulminating bartheir feet. And so C. M. J. discharges his single shot at me in the London Weekly Paper of 28th August, (p. 252.)

I

"AN ARCHEOLOGIST," No. 1, appears to be as ignorant of the meaning of fresco, as No. 2 supposes me to be. The mistake is so common an expression, that it can scarcely be called by the former name, and rests with whoever headed my communication to you, not with myself. If No. 1 desires to see sacred subjects caricatured, and moreover, feels obliged to you for inserting such specimens of barbarity in your Notes; go on and do so, and will assist you with the means of obtaining from him what your readers will consider to be the demolition of a further expression of his thanks-at however, I think his taste or your judgment. No. 2's drawing which you had the goodness to send me, and I return to you herewith, I admit to be very beautiful and artistic-but it is quite evident that he has not been looking at home at the Mural Paintings of St. Mary's, Guildford, or St. John's, Winchester; in preference to seeking after abroad and studying the works of Michael Angelo and

Raphael. Compare the feeling and beauty of his delineation of the Almighty Creator with this representation, and you will have Archæological cant and quackery at once placed in its true light before you, contrasted with true artistic dignity and power.

It

is exactly in the same spirit of cant that Archæologists cry up the log-house of an American savage, discovered in the back woods, or the Bog House of Drumkelin (see Archæologia, Vol. xxvi. p. 361), as a work of art worthy of preservation with the Pantheon. Is either of your Correspondents an Architect? I will admit from his drawing No. 2 to be an artist, and his defence of such monstrosities as are suffered to disgrace a few of our English Churches, I confess, surprises me. He is a dreamer-a very clever dreamer, I admit. Surely, the sooner such a composi

seriousness. Never was any letter that you have admitted into your columns so illogical, as the one from No. 1. What can public libraries by any possibility have to do with churches, unless we are to have one in the vestry-room of each, or require a new translation of the Sacred Scriptures? Let me tell him that the Protestant Religion does not require "the explanation of some ancient ceremony or superstition still extant." No, Sir. I denounce such cant-such Puseyitism-such hypocrisy-such humbug; and although professing a proper respect for my Church and the faith in which I was educated, I am not as your Correspondent pleases to consider me, "one of the Righteous over much.'" No. 1 again says-there is no "call for such declamation at the present period." But have not gangs of Fellows, to some of which, no doubt your Correspondents belong, made the call? Have they not been now for some years going the round of the country, swarming in begging troops-offensively poking their noses with prying spectacles and greedy stomachs beneath them, into the houses of respectable, good-natured, foolish people, to see if they can victimise them for a breakfast -a dinner-a supper-and a guinea?

It is high time that such objectionable proceedings as those carried on by Archæological Societies should be exposed and exhibited in their true light to soberminded and thinking people as neither more nor less than "mountebank" exhibitions (as the "Athenæum," however severely criticised by your Correspondents for a mere printer's error, termed such meetings.) They are worse even than those which occur in, and so frequently disgrace, our senate.

Looking at us from his quiet smoke-dried studio, a German friend of mine writes thus to me: "What have those Archæological Congresses done? Nothing. At every meeting there is a sky-rocket display of vanity and dress profoundest ignorance and vulgarity of manner-unrivalled personal folly. At them the professed students meet not to measure their reading, their thoughts or their conclusions with facts, local circumstances, and proofs, but to gratify their bodily, not mental, appetite for food and drink their personal vanity by the hereafter boast of having dined at Duke of this, or Lord of that's table (although it may have even amounted only to breaking bread in the servants' hall), and in driving about with inflated noddles from one place to another-the longest purse leading the way to the exclusion of the real student, who is always shoved aside; such has been my experience of Archæological Congresses in England, although among them may be as Herr Willis says in preface to his Notes, Vol. I.,

"Truthful and thoughtful students of the past
Who whirl along-not with-the whirling blast."
AN ARCHITECT.

I am, Sir,

P. S. If your brace of Archaeologists like to have another shot at me, I am still on the wing.

"The ordeal's fatal trumpet sounded,

And sad pale Adelgitha came; When forth a valiant champion bounded, And slew the sland'rer of her fame. "She wept, deliver'd from her danger :

A. K.

But when he knelt to claim her glove, 'Seek not,' she cried, 'oh gallant stranger, For hapless Adelgitha's love.

"For he is in a foreign far land,

Whose arm should now have set me free, And I must wear the willow garland,

For him that's dead, or false to me!'

Nay say not that his faith is tainted!
He raised his vizor-at the sight

She fell into his arms and fainted;

It was indeed her own true knight."
T. CAMPBELL.

AUTOMATON CHESS PLAYER.

IN 1784 was published in 8vo. Inanimate Reason, or a circumstantial Account of that astonishing Piece of Mechanism, M. de Kempelen's Chess Player, now exhibiting at No. 8, Savill Row, Burlington Gardens, illustrated with three Copper Plates, exhibiting this celebrated Automaton in different points of view.

In 1821 Mr. Booth published, 8vo. An Attempt to Analyse the Automaton Chess Player of Mr. de Kempelen, with an easy Method of imitating the Movements of that celebrated Figure, illustrated with Drawings.*

*This little work was by Professor Willis. G. W.

FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY DATES.

August 26, 1852. SIR,-Would you or some of your readers kindly inform me how the days of the week, months, &c. were called during the period of the French Revolution (at the end of the last century), in other words, how they computed time, changing the names with all else during that era.

I am unfortunately far away now from books of reference, which will, I hope, plead some excuse for one who is completely Q IN A CORNER.

Mr. G. Willis.

JOSEPH ASHBURY.

Lincoln's-Inn-Fields.

SIR,-Can any of your Correspondents favour me with any particulars relative to Joseph Ashbury, an old veteran on the stage, who was Master of the Revels to five monarchs, namely, Charles II., James II., King William, Queen Anne, and George I. ? I am, Sir, yours, &c.

66

Mr. Willis.

A THEATRICAL AMATEUR.

SIR CHARLES WILKINS.

28th August, 1852. SIR, -It would have afforded me sincere gratification to have found in your pages some reply to the letter of Orientalis" in your June number (page 53) with reference to the late Sir Charles Wilkins and his biography. Having enjoyed his acquaintance and friendship for some years, and I may add in a slight degree derived so much benefit from his truly cheerful conversation and richly stored mind, I can testify how truly interesting a more minute history of his life would be, considering the variety and extent of his great talents, as well as the great characters he was for so many years holding frequent intercourse with; such names Warren Hastings and Sir William Jones are sufficient to contrast it with the scanty memoirs that are daily published. I still hope his daughters will yet furnish such a memorial, as there must be ample materials in

as

ALDERMAN DOWDEN AND HIS BOTANY Of the
BOHEREENS.

SIR,-I can readily understand from your Correspondent's statement at p. 70 of your Current Notes for August, the mistake into which you have fallen in cataloguing this work under the name of Richard and not Dowden. But where is Bohereens? I suppose it must be some peculiar district in the neighbourhood of Cork. The Alderman is a clever but strange creature, I hear; in proof of which I send you his manifesto when Mayor of Cork, against the boyish custom of killing wrens and other small birds at Christmas.

Mr. Willis.

Yours truly,

T. H.

ARMS OF THE ISLE OF MAN.

Vicarage, Southwick, Sept. 2, 1852. SIR,-In your Current Notes for March 1852, p. 18, you obligingly inserted my paper on the "Arms of the Isle of Man." At that time I supposed the three legs to belong solely to that island; but since, I have discovered that the Panormite Sicilians also claim them as

a part of their arms. After proposing a drawing of the coin as seen in Spanhemii Numismata, c. 1. "De Capricorno in Nummis," I will attempt an explanation thereof, confirming more strongly my former conclusions, viz. that there were only three CHIEFS of the Magi (but accompanied with, probably, many others of that sect) who worshipped at the birth-place of our blessed Saviour; and that these coins were struck, some considerable time after the probable persecution of the Magi by Herod, to commemorate the event of

the birth of the Messiah.

I hereby request the intelligent and humane Citizens of Cork, to discourage the unmanly, absurd, and probably Superstitious practice of

Killing Wrens at Christmas,

By resolutely refusing the demands for money made by those turbulent BIRD BUTCHERS who annually disgrace our streets, and which money is for the most part misspent in DRUNKENNESS and GAMBLING.

Benevolent feeling need not be restrained at this Season, because it resists the importunities of the inconsiderate and vicious; it has scope enough in encouraging Virtuous Festivity and Social Happiness.

Let the people where they can enjoy all Moral, Rational and Healthful Amusements, Excursions with Temperance-Bands, Temperance Tea Parties, and such gratifications may be indulged in with advantage to mind and body; being innocent, they will not be tainted

DD

PROC

"Tertius vero nummus a Panormitanis Siculis signatus est, et quidem, sicut in eo inscribitur D D Procos, Decreto Proconsulis, cum addito consueto Sicilia typo, et radiato prætera Augusti capite."

66

We are here reminded of our school days and the Latin Grammar, when repeating the well-known rule, Imperante Augusto natus est Christus." Whatever the shield-like appearance between the thighs may mean, it is evident that the corn-like procedures are each put for the Spica Virginis (originally a stem of trefoil), and these are equivalent to the Cornucopia borne by the woman called EYOHNIA. Above this is Capricorn to denote the month in which the Messiah was born. In the coin preceding the present one, THE star is placed above the Capricorn, and underneath is written ArOYETANON. We find this to be the subject of prophecy in the Babylonian cuneiforms.

To complete the series, I shall, at some future period,

P.S. In your communication last month, p. 68, 69, you give a very interesting picture of a seal in your possession. If it is engraven on a precious stone, it probably refers to a subject connected with religion; and in my opinion the writing is Chinese. Look again -if there are, or have been, three dots under the horizontal line it will read thus: Receive under cover the perfection" (of Religion, viz. the Christian). If my conjecture be right, the gem probably belonged to one of the first preachers of Christianity in China, in the first century.

Whatever the reading may be, the dots must be accounted for.

SIR,-Your correspondent H. J. R. is very probably correct in his interpretation of the word "Strike," for I am informed that in the "Glossographia Anglicana Nova" is to be found "strikle, a stick to strike off corn in measuring;" and in our common Dictionaries "Strike" is designated "a Bushel." But I must protest against his giving to the word "light" the signification of "justly," which, I think, is a sense it can in no wise bear.

I am not, however, yet convinced that my own supposition is altogether groundless. Strike" has a variety of meanings; to "strike work" is to cease or leave off work; to "strike a loaf" is to withdraw it from the oven! Now if the loaf be light or slack baked, it will retain more moisture than if hard baked, and consequently more likely to "weigh right" than if rendered less heavy by too much evaporation; hence it seems a matter of self-interest to any "master of the rolls" to have his bread struck light. I am sure your worthy Correspondent will be sensible that there is no other object in this discussion than to elicit truth.

BOOTH FAMILY.

B. N.

William Booth, 58th Bishop of Lichfield, 1447, and 51st Archbishop of York, 1452; Lawrence Booth, 51st Bishop of Durham, 1457, and 53rd Archbishop of York, 1486; John Booth, 24th Bishop of Exeter, 1466, whose monumental brass exists in the village church of East Horsley, in Com. Surrey; and Ralph Booth, Archdeacon of York, 1478, have all monuments in the church of Sawley, in Com. Derby. The connection of Sawley Church with the see of Lichfield, might account for the monument therein to the Lichfield Bishop; but the monuments to the rest seem to indicate these Booths

correspondents give any information as to the family, and particularly as to the cause of a demi St. Catherine being assigned to it for a crest?

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

AN AMERICAN SUBSCRIBER to Halliwell's Gigantic Shakespeare (New York, 22nd August) suggests that the number of copies printed should be 250, instead of 150, and that he should call for a year's subscription in advance. One copy instead of two of G. W.'s Price Current shall in future be sent. For the desired figures G. W. will place the letters FREE, which, he hopes, will give no offence. C. E. would feel much obliged for any communication respecting Mr. Canning's poetry.

Literary and Scientific Obituary.

ALLEN, Joseph W. Landscape Painter, Lower Mall, Hammersmith. 26th August. Aged 49. Leaving a widow and eight children.

ARNOLD, Samuel James. Dramatist. Walton on Thames. 16th August. Aged 78.

CHAPMAN, John Kemble. Proprietor and Manager Sun-
day Times. 2nd September.
DUKE, Rev. Edward. Antiquary. Lake House, near
Amesbury. 28th August. Aged 73.

GRAINGER, Thomas (C.E.) President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, Stockton-on-Tees. By railway accident. 25th July. Aged 57.

MACGILLIVRAY, W. (Dr.) Professor of Natural History, Marischal College, Aberdeen. Science and Biography. Aberdeen, 5th September.

MAYO, Herbert (M.D.) Medical Writer. Formerly Senior Surgeon, Middlesex Hospital, and Professor of Physiology, King's College. Bad-Weilbach, near Mayence on the Rhine. 15th August.

MURRAY, Edward (Rev.) Theology and Science. 1st July. Aged 54.

PARRY, John (Rev.) Theology. Bayswater. 5th August. Aged 49.

PORTER, George Richardson, (Secretary Board of Trade.) Political Economist. Tunbridge Wells. 3rd September.

PUGIN (A. W.) Architect and Architectural Writer. St. Augustine's, Ramsgate. September. Aged 40. SMITH, John. Architect. Aberdeen. August. Aged 72. WAECHTER (Professor) M. E. de. Painter. Conservator of the Royal Cabinet of Engravings. Stutgard. Aged 90.

WELLINGTON, DUKE OF, (F.M. Arthur Wellesley), K.G., Commander-in-Chief. Walmer Castle, Kent. 14th September. Aged 84. Dispatches during his various Campaigns in India, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, the Low Countries, and France, from 1799 to 1818. "For his character as a Statesman," said Lord Brougham, "let every one read his wonderful Dispatches, which found a fame far loftier even than the triumphs of the warrior."