all would be clear: Thus, "They have rewarded me evil for good, saying, Set thou a wicked man over him," &c. I cannot, however, agree with your Correspondent, that David supplicates that his slanderous enemies may be themselves the victims of those calamities which they had imprecated upon him. If indeed the 20th verse be properly rendered in our Translation, "Let this be the reward of mine adversaries," it must be so. But our Translators were certainly mistaken. The verse should be rendered thus: "Such is the requital of those who falsely accuse me before Jehovah;" or "This behaviour of mine enemies is from Jehovah;" as David says of Shimei in the 16th Chapter of the 2d Book of Samuel, "Let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, curse David." And Let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him." All the antient versions support such a translation. Dr. Sykes (in his Comment on the Epistle to the Hebrews) was the first who proposed the above interpretation of the 109th Psalm; and it has since been adopted by several learned men; viz. Green in his translation of the Psalms; and Keate and Partridge in single Sermons. W. W.

Mr. URBAN,

Chelsea, July 15. N September 1806, the Rev. John

ous a Minister as yourself. I remain, dear Sir, yours, &c. J. HUTCHINS. "Rectory, Noble-st. July 4, 1814." WEEDEN BUTLER, Jun. Lecturer of Brompton.

Mr. URBAN,

July 19. GLADLY avail myself of the permission accorded to me in the very polite and instructive Letter of " Investigator," received in London yesterday; and with deference offer a few observations in reply.

The work on the Pleasures of Reading, which has been honoured by Investigator's notice, is very humble in all its pretensions: copiousness (which the subject invited) was designedly avoided in what I was pre-determined should be a concise volume; and to save it from the neglect to which gravity might have exposed it in the eyes of the young and gay, who are too apt to think it impossible to be pleased and serious at the same time, I have done no more than glance at religious reading; of all reading sure ly the most calculated to produce pleasurable effects.

Investigator has instanced the great Lord Mansfield as one of those who were inclined to maintain the authenticity of The Poems of Ossian.”—If he believed those poems genuine, Lord M. have been biassed in his

Correspondent, canvassed votes for the Lectureship of Chelsea; I was favoured soon by the clergyman who retained the appointment with a written assurance, that "it was not his intention to resign the duty."-In June 1814, the Rev. John Rush, Jas. Gibson, and your Correspondent, canvassed votes for the same office: I was again favoured, thus: "Dear Sir, From the repeated assurances of respect which I have frequently received from you, I should be very ungrateful indeed if I did not answer your Letter, to acknowlege that I gave you the earliest information of my wish to resign the Lectureship of Chelsea: consequently, no inhabitant can think you were premature in your canvas. I have been induced to give up the intention, in the hope that my poor services may be acceptable to a very large portion of the inhabitants. Had I retired, it would have been very grateful to my feelings, to have been succeeded by so able and conscienti

really had supposed the question decided by the result of recent inquiries; and, for my own part, I believe the Poems to be, strictly speaking, forgeries by M'Pherson, i. e. that he built his volume on the slight foundation of a few traditionary fragments of uncertain date: if so, the book thus made, ceases to be what it professes, namely, a curious specimen of antient manners, and actually the poetry of a very remote period.

I am unconscious of having consigned all kinds of Light Reading to contempt; in the Essay on that subject I have carefully excepted some works belonging to that class of books, and endeavoured to join my feeble voice to the loud applauses which most deservedly attend on the venerable name of Samuel Richardson. In the volume of Letters lately published, Richardson is introduced without the smallest intention of attempting to depreciate an author to whom his Country is under eternal obligation; and for whose genius

I

Mr. URBAN,

July 12. HAVE no wish to continue the discussion on the state of the Soul after death. The arguments have been laid before your Readers, and of the justness of them they will judge. A. H. (p. 548. b.) does not find himself "convinced of any error." Perhaps not; for to prove is one thing, and to convince is another. He is "surprised by" my "conceding to all he is arguing for, in the defiuition of Paradise as the state or abode of the soul, in rest and consolation, when separated from the body, between the hour of death and the day of resurrection." This does not surprise, but it does astonish, me. A. H. contends that there is no such state of rest to the soul, and I maintain that there is; and by thus maintaining the direct contradiction of his opinion, I" concede all that he argues for"!!!

Again, he says:-St. Paul's being "caught up to Paradise cannot be assumed as an authority for the future intermediate state of, the soul, because St. Paul afterwards lived on earth, and died." To any plain understanding, as seems to me, the reverse must be obvious. What was exhibited to St. Paul, in vision, was no delusion, but has a real existence in nature. Heaven and Paradise were so exhibited to him; and therefore Heaven and Paradise are no delusion, but have a real existence in nature.

A. H. says: "It is true, that a man who kills the body, kills the soul also for a season." On the contrary, he who knew both worlds, all things invisible as well as visible, says, they which kill the body, are not able to kill the soul." Matth. x. 28.

He says:- "Lazarus, and those who were visibly raised, left no light to shew what their soul had either enjoyed or suffered since their deaths." He should rather have said, No such light is recorded; though, at the same time, it is probable, that if they had attempted to describe what they had seen, the attempt would have been fruitless: the things of the invisible world, even in that part which is not the region of highest beatitude, being, as St. Paul assures us, "unspeakable," such as cannot be expressed in human language. 2 Cor. xii. 4.

GENT. MAG. July, 1814.

He thanks me (and T. V. likewise, p. 550.) for referring him to "the passages which he cited before." But the passages, to which he was referred, were those which had been alledged by others, in disproof of his notions, though some of them had perhaps been "cited by him" also.

There are many other things in this Letter of A. H. liable to just animadversion; but it is time to have done. Yours, &c. R. C.

Mr. URBAN,

July 14. WAS much gratified, when I read in your Magazine of June, the very just and sensible observations of A. S. respecting the late "Stipendiary Curates' Bill." As I am ignorant of the real author, I can only address him through you, or the medium of your Monthly Publication. In confirmation of the "judicious remarks of A. S. respecting the plurality of Curates," I will here recite a true copy of a Letter from a Curate addressed to a Rector, within these few days: "I refused a Curacy, pleasantly situate, with a good house and four acres, rent and tax free, and a stipend of 75 guineas, for one church and single duty. A few days before, I refused a neat house and field, rent and tax free, and 1101. salary, for two churches, within a mile of each other, and single duty alternately. I expect (he adds) beside a neat house, 1007. or guineas, for one church; and, if I serve two, I expect at least 50l. more. For less, I will never again be Curate!”

I wish to call the attention of A. S. to another subject, materially connected with the Established Church; I mean, the Curates of Lay-Impropriators.

Surely they ought to be compelled by the Legislature, in a similar proportion, to augment their stipends. I could cite many cases in point. I will content myself, at present, with noticing only two of them :-The Perpetual Curacy of Flamstead, Hertfordshire, appointed by the Master and Fellows of University College, Oxon. Their lessee (Sir John Sebright) occupies the great and small tithes; and likewise receives all the fees for vaults, monuments, tombs, not only in the chancel and body of the Church, but likewise in the

church

church-yard: there are 1200 inhabitants, and the Perpetual Curate has a stipend of 601. per ann. paid by the Lessee. The surplice-fees amount, on an average, to 81. per ann. — the tithes are estimated, I believe, at least at 1000l. per ann.-I have reason to think much more.

The Perpetual Curate of Miaster, Isle of Sheppy, has a stipend of only 401. per ann. paid by the Impropriator, William Hopson, esq. from the great and small tithes, which are let to Mr. Chambers for 12001. per ann. Sheerness is in the parish, and I believe the population is 3000. It is not only the most populous part, but distant four miles from the parochial church. In consequence, many Chapels, estranged from the Established Church, have been erected at Sheerpess, in the parish of Minster; and in consequence of that distance, the Chaplain of the Garrison has not unfrequently trespassed upon the rights and emoluments belonging to the parochial officiating Minister, by baptizing children at his Chapel, and churching women, receiving very considerable fees for the same.

Should the communication I have now transmitted bring forward any observation or comments in your Magazine, you may probably hear from me again. CLERICUS.

Hthe sight of, what I conceive AVING been lately gratified with

to be, the best esteemed of the Cyclopædias now publishing; and also of a System of Botany, which, as an elaborate, elegant, professional work, I confess, I viewed with more respectful eyes, though I somewhat wondered at finding it in company where it might be considered as an officious intruder; the reflections they naturally gave rise to, I imagine, I cannot dispose of better, than to tender them for your acceptance. Should they incur the censure of being old-fashioned notions, now grown obsolete, I can only plead their starting in an old head, and that I most willingly submit them to the correction of minds

formed in times I have now little concern with, being under no doubt of their receiving due reprehension. It is the collision of opinions that strikes out sparks of truth.

A compilation under the name of Cyclopædia 1 consider as a vain attempt to condense and compress all hunian knowledge into one book (using the word book, as what grammariaus term-a noun of multitude singular); and thereby to supersede all other elementary didactic compositious, and convert them into wastepaper. The expected advantage of so enormous a monopoly has given rise to growing competitions for its accomplishment: but happily, as the object of such illiberal endeavours is unreasonable, so the proposed interested selfish grasp is too mighty for human attainment! No one man, and no association of men, though the materials be all in readiness, cau collect a satisfactory uniform summary of human labours, through all ages, upon every object of intellectual and manual attention, into one view, so as to answer any valuable purpose. In such a universal hash of every thing, all conceivable subjects must be comprehended, and all ought to be exhausted for if any articles be omitted, or improperly treated, so

as to render a reference to other books necessary, the merit of such an expensive cumbrous compilation will be seriously impaired, by the loss of public confidence; and its laboured professions, and positive assurances, be treated as mere deceptions.

The obligation of brevity must press closely on the minds of the undertakers, in every step they take; under a precarious discretion, depending on their competency to the subject under hand: and such defects as they may chance to notice, originating in this obligation, creep forward, as matter of course, at the close of their labours, when all professions are worn out, in Addenda et Corrigenda, and in Appendixes; which are but clumsy patch-work remedies to soothe their subscribers with at parting!— Such an undertaking must be too superficial, at best, for any but superficial readers; must be too unequal and defective in execution, to be safely confided in; as time and occasion only may bring unobserved defects under notice, and can only gra

tify the vanity of those, who, by purchasing costly works under alluring titles, think they are to have all knowledge at their command, beside the credit of it, which they by no means neglect to cultivate.

It is worth pausing a moment to reflect, that it was not at this easy mechanical rate our forefathers sup plied the materials, now sliced and garbled for such specious purposes ! The recent productions of the press, loosely executed upon fine wave paper, carefully hot-pressed, and suitably decorated by the binder, may, in this age of foppish literature, serve the purpose of altracting admiration in a gentleman's library; while the actual student is contented to sit down in some convenient corner, among common editions, of easy purchase, the garniture of which does not divert his attention from the objects of his serious research.

In brief, close-thinkers are not found surrounded by prettynesses, which argue and cherish dissipation of the mind.

I am, Sir, though not often troublesome as a Correspondent, one of the oldest of your constant Readers,

A GOTHAMITE

P. S. My harmless well-meaning townsmen are reported to have once exposed themselves to derision, by raking in a pond to find the Moon they saw glittering on the surface! The tale is laughable enough, but is pregnant with a moral of more extensive application than Gothamites were then aware of. For, if they missed what they looked for, they at least night have gained what they did not look for, a conviction of the folly of trusting to appearances. During my residence among them, I have been labouring to rescue them from the dangers and reproach of credulity, and to restore their character to the level of common sense. Whether I do any good or not, I console myself in the rectitude of my intentions; though even these may expose me to the hazard of passing for a Gothamite in another manner.

*** E.J. asks, “Why does the Register-book, in its title, speak of Births, as well as Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials; whilst it contains no Schedule adapted thereto, nor any columns for them in the other Schedules ?

ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION.

No. CLXXXIV.

Progress of Architecture in ENGLAND in the Reign of WILLIAM and MARY.

(Continued from Part I. p. 560.)

We now find ourselves returning, in a certain degree, to the Wrenean school, not yet grown out of fashion, though the founder of it had, it seems, lost all countenance at the new Court of St. James's. Hence attention is directed to

St. Martin's-street, Orange-street, and Orange-court, Leicester-fields. In the first street, a stone compartment,

"St. Martin's-street M. H. M. 1692." In the second, ditto, on a large stone, basso-relievo, "Orange-streete, 1695," surrounded by palm and laurel branches, well sculptured. In the houses are found, among modern alterations, three distinct classes: kitchen, parlour, first aud second floors, and garrets. 1st class: plan; stairs, on one side, and rooms two deep on the other. Elevation: plain cornice over parlour, between the floors, strings without mouldings; general cornice, including a large hollow, or cavetto: dripping-eaves to roof. Door-way, plain pilasters, scrolls, and cornice: door itself in four pannels; over it a small sash-light: first appearance of such a conveniency. Windows: architraves, without mouldings. 2d class; distribution of parts nearly the same as the preceding, excepting, that in the general cornice are blockings, and to the door-way rich treblefoliaged scrolls; the door itself in two com,artments: There are likewise among the windows, which are of the ordinary proportion, others, in narrow and small oval forms, first appearances. Adjoining this house is a gateway (stone), leading to a stableyard; the design is uncommonly simple, yet pleasing; the architrave to arch (having no impost) has but one moulding, a fillet: on each side do. pilasters, without any decoration of plinth or cap; cornice, few mouldings. class: Sir Isaac Newton's House, St. Martin`s-street :-A single building, six stories; kitchen, parlour, first and second floors; garrets, and an observatory. Plau; passage to stairs, ou the right; on the left, rooms, two deep. Elevation: between each floor plain strings, general cornice

3d

destroyed,