conse,

DOW

Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 1. beautiful and sequestered ruins of L

of Glamorganshire, and a city and ornaments closely resemble those of considerable extent and

so common in Somersetshire; and quence, now presents a place of little the reigo of Henry VII. may be conimportance; ibe decline of which was jectured as the age in wbich it was the commencement of the popularity built. The basement story contains and beauty of Caerdiff, a large and a low dvor, and over it a well-prorespectably inhabited town, situated portioued handsome window, which on the River Taffe., The Castle and ligbts the engine-house; this Church are the chief objects of ate part being entirely separated from traction wbich it possesses to the the body of the Churcb. Above this traveller. Of the former, exceptioy are two other stories of dissimilar the Keep, which stands insulated on a heights, each containing a window ; high mound of earth in the midst the lower on the West side having a of a large area or court, and a few niche: the compartments of every scattered vestiges, the other por. window are filled with perforated tions of these once noble buildings stone-work, a style of ornament, and retain very little of their antient a defence from the weather, introcastellated and substantial appear: duced in the buildings of this reign*. aoce, having been repaired and The lofty proportions of this beaumade suitable for a modern resi- tiful tower are well adapted to give dence, though it never was inbabiteds it that commanding appearance in the and excepting the tower of the latter; town and neighbourhood which apthere is but little to excite the intes pears to have been intended, and which rest of the Autiquary; so far do mo+ proves an object of so much interest dero dilapidations and alterations pre- from the surrounding level couatry. vail through these buildings.

Its decorations, therefore, have been The Church, to which the succeed disposed with correspondiog considering remarks will be wholly confided, ation, and in such a manner that stands nearly in the centre of the very few of them are lost ia consetowo ; and, from the appearance of queace of being closely surrounded the tower as you approach, follows by barrow streets and crowded houses. the expectation of seeing a noble The increase of ornaments upwards and regular edifice; instead of which, is very observable, aod the exquithe body is low, comprising two ailes, site parapet which crowns the whole, a chancel, and a chapel, all which, attaches the interest to that part; except the latter, are without battle- very little more than balf the height ments or parapets, and have not being seen till you nearly reach ils one handsome or unaltered window, base. The terminating pinnacle of a piopacle, or any kind of ornament the stair-case turret at the Northon either side. The only entrance is east angle is a specimen of design, through a low plaio porch in the South and exquisitely wrought masonry, aile leading to the body of the Church, very rarely equalled.

lo the sumwhich is as free of all elegant en. mer of 1815, the centre portion of richment as a Village Church, in tbe the Weat side of the parapet and batueighbourhood, and during the pro- tlements was blown down, but shortly sperity, of the city of Llandaff. The afterwards restored, through the joChapel on the South side, before no- defatigable and praiseworthy exer. ticed, belonging to the Marquis of tions of a gentleman of Caerdiff; to Bute, bas been recently converted whom we are chiefly indebted for the into a pew, and covered with a pro- preservation of this poble tower, a fusion of decorated wood-work' io sentence of coodemnation having been what is called the “ Gothic style."

passed against it by nearly all the The tower situated at the Western inhabitants, and almost carried into extremity of the building (see Front execution. This accident has occur. tispiece to this Volume) engrosses all * In the windows of the tower of the beauty and interest of this edi. Llandaff Cathedral are some of the most fice. It is less antiept than the ailes complex and beautiful specimens of this of the Church, aod coëval with the kind of decoration that are to be' met tower attached to the mutilated, but with. ' Gent. Mag. January, 1818.

red

as

re

red several times, but it was chiefly should be taken with me, and I was owing to the hasty manner in which baptized the morning after my birtb, it was restored ; thus incurring and immediately conveyed to my in a few years treble the expence father's shepherd's cottage in the vilthat it would have cost to be done Jage to be nurtured by his wife, who, well once.

It is no small addition fortunately for me, was in the same to the beauty of this tower that its situation

my mother. 1 state of preservation is as perfect as mained in this cottage under the care the delicacy of its enrichments, and of the good inhabitants until I was the period it has been built, can ad- nearly five years old, without once mit; indeed few buildings present a sleeping in my father's house. As soon more even surface, and few orna- as I was able to crawl about, I was ments and mouldings which have carried by the shepherd to his sheepbeen so much exposed to every change fold every morning, even in the very of season remain so sharp and com- depth of winter, by which I acquired plete. That such a beautiful build. that strength ofconstitution which has ing as this should have been threat- carried me on uninterruptedly to my ened with destruction, and that its eighty-sixth year. Before I was five fate should have rested upon the ex- years old I was taken from the cotertions of an individual for ils pre- tage to a school at Blandford, where servation, after baving withstood the I remained but a few months, the ravages of time duriog nearly four master of it having been elected to centuries, scarcely admits of reflection. a better-endowed one in SomersetIt is to be hoped, that good taste will shire. I was then removed to a always prevail when the safety of school at Milton. Abbas, where I reworks so valuable is wantonly en- mained nine years, aod in the fifteenth dangered.

3.1. B. year of my age I was taken home to

my father's house, a poor, raw, igno

rant youth, not having acquired any A short Sketch of the early part of classical knowledge whatever, whe

the Life of WILLIAM CHAFIN, ther owing to dulness of parts, idle-
Clerk, Author of “ Anecdotes of ness, or the want of a proper mode
Cranbouro Chase,” (see p. 47.) of instruction, I know not, but such
Y veracity having been ques-

was the case. And to add to these MY

tioned, and doubts having arisen deficiencies, I was kept at home one respecting the truth of some occur. whole year, which was spent in field rences which I had mentioned in con- amusements, and no classical book versation as baving happened to me ever looked into; so that a year at while I was a Meinber of the Uvi. the most critical time of my life was versity of Cambridge; I think in yself lost. I was then sent to Emanuel called upon to vindicate my own College, Cambridge, where I was the credit, in thus publicly relating all most fortunate of all youths who the circumstauces, if you can spare ever entered a College, for I fell into a space in your valuable Magazine, the very best of hands. Dr. Richardnot engaged in more interesting mal- son was the master; the good aod ters; and I will endeavour to render learned Mr. Hubbard, head tutor; Mr. that space as small as possible; but I Bickham, second; and the most amimust begin with iny birth to make the able of all men, Mr. Hurd, was the narrative intelligible, and to carry it Dean ; and it was my happy fate to on to the time of my leaving the Uni- come under his examination for adversity, which shall be done with the mittance into the College Books. He utmost conciseness. I was born, as immediately discovered my insuffiappeareth by the parish register of ciencies, and took compassion upon Chettle, on ihe firsi day of February, me, and made the most favourable in the year 1732-3, and was the ele- report he could possibly do, to the venth child which my mother had society, and I was admitted a penborne, three of whom only were sioner. At the same time, he desired then alive, one son and two daugh. me to come to his rooms every mornters, the youngest of which was niue ing for half an hour until Mr. Hubyears old. My father, attributing bard's public lectures began. What ibe loss of so many children to the the good Mr. Hurd discerned in me, nursing of them too tenderly, was a stranger, I know pot, but I was determined that a different course countenanced by him in the kindest

some

;

I was pre

mapper during the whole of my stay and was therefore at a nonplus, and in the College, which was seven years.

should in one mieute have been exBy bis kind assistance, which i dili posed, bad not at that instant the gently attended to both from grati. Esquire Beadle entered the schools, tude as well as inclination, I was and demanded the book which the enabled to attend Mr. Hubbard's Moderator carries with him and is Lectures without cutting any despi- the badge of his office. A Convocacable figure io the Lecture-room, and live was that afternoon keld in the in the course of a short time I was Sepate-house, and on

demur often called upon by my worthy tutor that happened, it was found requito construe some passages ia classical site to inspect this book, which was books when my companions could immediately delivered, and the Monot. But, besides these great helps, derator's authority stopped for that I had the advantage of being known day, and we were all dismissed ; and to Mr. Barford, a Fellow of King's it was the happiest and most grateful College, from my infancy, and he moment of my life, for I was saved introduced me to the good and learned from imminent disgrace, and it was Doctor Glyn, an eminent physician, the last exercise I had to keep in the Fellow. also of the same College. schools. By the perseverance of my These good friends were very indul- good friends in giving iostructions, geat to me, and I was invited to their I was enabled to take the degree of rooms two or three times in the week A. B. with the highest honour I could to afternoon tea-drinking, when they at that time acquire. examined me respecting my College , vented from attending and being ex. Lectures, and gave me, in the most amined in the Senate house, at the pleasing manner, such instructions as regular time, on account of the small. were of the greatest benefit to me pox; I could not therefore obtain the through all my exercises in the honour of being a Wrangler; but that schools. And to enhance my good of first Senior Optime was reserved, fortune, my friend Mr. Barford was and conferred upon me, as will apchosen one of the Moderators for the pear by a reference to the tripos of very year when it came to my turn to the year 1753. I was also presented keep exercises in the public schools; with a piece of plate from my own the other was Mr. Eliot of Queen's. College, which is annually given to Wben Mr. Barford presided, I was the best proficient in Arts in the Colgenerally classed with some of the lege for that year, in case he had obbest scholars of the year, particularly tained an honour in the University; when the questions for disputation a donation of a Dean of Durham, were such as he deemed not above the produce of lands left to the Cola my abilities, and in the course of lege for that purpose. It so happened these exercises I bad the honour of ibat po honour had been obtained being concerned in them, with Mr. for three years, so that the fund had Bell of Magdalen ; Disney, of Trini- accumulated; I had also held a Greek ty; Craven, of St. John's ; Deon, of scholarship for some years, and there Peterhouse; Preston, who was after. was an arrear due to me from it about wardsBishop of Killaia; and other eini- four pounds, which was added to the nent scholars. I must here mention cup, and made it much larger than an extraordinary occurrence, which in usual; the value of silver is, I bereality is the cause of this little nar- lieve, about twenty pounds—the cup, rative being at this time written, be- to me invaluable. The like circumcause the truth of it hath been doubt. stance happened to tbe celebrated ed. It happened whilst I was keeping Dr. Farmer, who was admitted into an Act as Respondent under Mr. Eliot Emanuel College in the year that I the Moderator, and Craven, of St. was a Questionist; he kept (the cant Jobo's, was my second Opponent. I word in those days for lodged) in bad gone througb all the syllogisms Bungay-court. He succeeded me in of my first, who was Disney, toler- gaining the cup, which had been unably well; one of the questions was a claimed two or three years; therefore mathematical one from Newton's it was much larger than it otherwise Principia, and Mr. Craven brought an would have been; and the Doctor argument against me fraught with prided himself much in tbe possession fuxions, of which I knew very little, of it, and it is preserved with the

greatest

WE

greatest care by the Doctor's family, we can well pardon Fairfax, in conand I hope mine will iu like manner sideration of the time when he wrote, be so by mine. Nothing material oc- and even admire him in that view, we curred to me alter that time; I re- cannot certainly wish to recall such sided in College occasionally uotil I lines as was of proper standing, and then

“ Thus her faire skin the Dame would took my M.A.,degree, quilted the cloach and bide, Universily, entered into Holy Orders, And that which hid it 'no lesse faire was and have resided in the country ever hold." since.

Nor this, Mr. URBAN,

Jan. 3.

“Her blush, her smiling; smiles her e allow an Editor to be par

blushing graced."
tial to his Author. The

:
liking

So much improved in, leads to the act, and the act increases “And her soft smile more lovely made the liking: and if the beauty of the

her blush, new edition may the more inflame Her blush more sweet * her smile.” the passion of ihe Editor, no one Whether Mr. Doyne's version is all can be more excusable than Mr. executed in this spirit or not, I canSinger, who bas produced so beauti- pot tell, not having seen it ; but if it fal and elegantly decorated a re is, I should not hesitate to pronounce pript of Pairfax's Tasso. But all it a valuable Work. The specimen, this will not excuse injustice ; and, at least, is extremely favourable. But in my opinion, he has been very un- Dow a new translation is announced. just to Mr. Hoole.-The man I well What will that be ?

Tasso. knew, and a more artless, modest, unpresuming Author I never met. Mr. URBAN, Dublin, Dec. 12.

OUR no cxaggerated idea : and they who sidered as containing much bistbought his modesly becoming, es- torical and moral treasuse : have the teemed him also for his worth as a goodness to add to it, by inserting

the enclosed account and character of . Mr. H. is tberefore treated un- Sir Michael Smith, to whom the late fairly, when he is suspected of affect. Mr. Curran succeeded as Master of ing to be ignorant of Fairfax, in his the Rolls in Irelaod; and you will first edition, and of calumniating him oblige A CONSTANT READER. in the second. Whether he judged On the Union between Great Briwell or ill is another question; but tain and Ireland, Sir Michael Smith, I will venture to say that he wrote Baronet, was appointed Master of the bis genuine opinion, and never af. Rolls. The character of this most fected to despise what he felt to be excellent man may be contemplated of superior merit. Neither would with pleasure and instruction, for it he have affected ignorance for any only requires a statement of facts ; sioister motive. Hoole was an ho- no varied shades of style, no colour. nest and a diligent' map, whose ing of language, are necessary for preideas of versification were entirely senting il to the Reader. He was formed on modern models. He had born in the King's counly, and at an not learned to see the beauty of an early age entered in the university of antiquated style, in the midst of its Dublin, where he distinguished him. defects. His censurer, on the con- self by his classical and scieutific knowtrary, seems, by habit, to have be- ledge, and which he retained to the come too indulgent to it; otherwise close of his life. He was called to he would not surely have so harshly the Irish bar in 1769, and though condemned the passage he has cited possessed of considerable legal infor. from Mr. Doyne's version, compared mation, he remained for some time with that of Fairfax. Mr. Doype uonoticed ; this may be accounted for seems literally to have done little more by his gentle and unassuming manners, than to remove the blemislies of the and from principles and feelings which old version, and to make it ruu bar- would not submit to any conduct inmoniously in blank verse. The passage is, in fact, harmonious and beau

* Fair, Orig, which I have ventured tisul, as be has given il; and though to alter.

consistent

Ipan.

.