BEING THE FIFTH NUMBER OF VOL. LXIII. PART I. Mr. URBAN, ***** Ochterlyre, April 1. N the courfe of a jaunt to England three years ago, in queft of health and intellectual food, a friend and I vifited Bamburgh Caftle; and though we had no introduction, Dr Sharp received us with his ufual courtesy and goodness. ! was fo much delighted with this fecond man of Rofs, and his labour of love, that, fome time after my return home, I expreffed my feelings in an infcription for that very interefting Castle. It is perhaps too long, but where the circumftances are equally appropriate, it is difficult to abridge. Measured profe is commonly applied to epitaphs; yet why fhould not the juft and good be told in the language of tenderness and truth what their contemporaries think of them? The Doctor's letter to me on that fubject breathes a dignified fimplicity which does honour at once to his head and heart. There is not a word in it that a friend would wish to fupprefs, or any thing of which malevolence could have laid hold,even in his own time. I am advifed by very good judges to publish the inscription, fo the fake of his letter. Itherefore fend you the infcription a little varied from its origi. nal form, with a copy of the letter. If thefe be thought worthy of publica. tion, they can no where appear with more propriety than in the Gentleman's Magazine. May I alfo request that you would add the inclofed icon, a portrait, of the father of my fellow-traveller, it being mentioned in Dr. Sharp's letter? I fent it him fix years before his death, which was as edifying as his life. Any body who has feen (as I often have) the love and affection with which his people regarded this excellent man, in public and in private, would have thought Goldfmith had him in view when he drew his picture of a country clergyman. The father tranflated the New Teftament into Galic; and the fon has the charge of publishing the rest of the Bible in that language. If this trifle meet with your approbation, it will afford me pleasure. And two men more amiable and ufeful in very different lines than he and Dr. Sharp are feldom to be found in the fame age and island. You will pardon the length of this communication, to which Iam prompted by my defire to pay fuch tribute as I can to departed worth. Yours, &c, Jo. RAMSAY. Copy of a Letter from Dr. Sharp to John Ramfay, Efq. of Ochterlyre, by Stirling, North Britain. "Sir, "YOU have fo overpowered me by the handfome things you have been pleafed to write, so far above any deserts of my own, that I am at a loss what answer to give, or how to thank you as I ought. And as you have to kindly interefled yourfelf in what has beca done here, perhaps a little hiftory of the gradual improvements will not be dif agreeable to you. "It was owing to the peculiar fitua· tion of this cafle, and accidental circumftances, more than to any other cause, From whatever quarter the wind has blown this month, except on a few occasions, the air has been sharp and chilly. Vegetation has made little progrefs. There is no grafs; and the feeds committed to the earth have lain under ground longer than their usual period. The foil feems not yet to have regained its ufual force and spring, an over faturavion of water, and want of a sharp frost, may have been the cause. The gooseberry bushes feem thinly hung with young fruit. A swallow faid to have been seen on the 18th, but not ou since. Walton, mar Liverpeel. J. HOLT. In caule, that fo many charities have been "I fucceeded him in the truft. The children of the roor wanted education; therefore schools were neceffary; and where fo poper as under the eye of the trustees? "The rights of the latter were fuffer ing, for want of manor-courts being held; to remedy which, a court 100m was fitted up, and other accommodations made for that purpote, where courts are held regularly twice a year. "There was no houfe belonging to the minifter of the parith; the trufices therefore (the living being in their gif:) confented to be at an equal expence with my brother, who was then the incumbent, in fitting up roms for that purpofe, 66 On my brother's death, I fucceeded to the living; and, as he had left me his library, I fold it to the trufces, in order to its being made a public library and applied the money, in part of a larger fum, to be laid out by me in land, by a deed enrolled in Chancery, as a fund for the perpetual repairs of the great tower. "The poor on this maritime coaft were frequently much dittressed for want of corn, owing to the convenience the farmers had of exportation. This grievance was alleviated by the erecting of granaries, and receiving a part of our rents in corn. "Once a veffel was wrecked behind the cattle, and the crew faved; but the unfortunate mafter, after having efcaped The perils of the fea, died of a damp bed in the village. That the like might never happen again, all hipwrecked failors (who come) are received here, and fupplied with every neceflary, "This was the beginning of our fitt e infirmary, which foon fuggefted the idea of a general dispenfary for the poor; which is particularly ufeful in this part of the country, as there is no' other charity of the kind between Edinburgh and Newcattle. plied to that pu pofe, which has anfwered our moft Cnguine expectation. "The accidental difcovery of the antien well pointed out the convenience of baths, and the infirmary required a variety of them. "The number of wrecks, on this particular coaft, of veffels that had run for Holy Island harbou: in a storm, and had failed of getting into it, and the melancholy fights from the cattle of perfons wrecked on the flands, and ftarving with hunger and cold, together with the fav ge plunde.ing of fuch goods, & as were driven on thore, induced the lords of the manor to try to give every affiftance to veffe's in difirefs, and premiums for faving of Ives. "But how are warlike preparations confiftent with charitable purposes? This requires tome explanation. The crews of veffels in time of war chafed by a privateer are glad to keep as near the fore as they can, and rather run upon it than be taken. Here we have fome uncommon local advantages. The deepnels of the channel between the thore and the islands, which is fufficient for the largest ships, and the narrow neis of that part of it oppofite to us, and the elevated fituation of the calle, which an enemy's thip cannot weil pals but within gun-fhot, demonftrate the utility of a battery, of which we have ancady had fome experience, and in cafe of a war fhall perhaps have more. "By refiding a good deal here, I had an opportunity of raifing the rents of the efiates confiderably, though thill with moderation, fo as not to diffiefs the tenants; this ralled a farther income for charitable purposes. But as [ can do nothing of myself in the truft, without the concurrence of my brethren, if any praife be due, they are entitied to their hare of it; for they readily agreed. to every proper plan of charity that was propofed to them. But as for those improvements which did not strictly come under the denomination of charity, but yet were neceflary for carrying on the repairs of the caftle, and making it habitable, com modious, and more extenfively useful, I have hitherto defrayed the expence of thefe, out of the clear yearly profits of the living of Bamburgh, together with fome afliftance from my relations and friends. The vicinity of the Fein lands, and the want of regular foundings without them, pointed out the conve "One charity naturally brings on nience of regular hring in a fog; and another; and, perhaps, there are few an old gun found in the fand was ap-fituations in the kingdom, where to many and different charities were practicable, and had fo peculiar a propriety, as in this place, and where every incidental circumstance was made fubfervient to the general plan. The wrecks (that is, fuch as were not, or could not be claim. ed) fupplied us with a confiderable quantity of timber, iron, ropes, &c and every thing that came afbore was applied to the purpole of the building, in the manner in would aufwer bot. But now, by means of the light-houfes (in which we have no concern) and our own inftitutions for the lafety of navigation, our coaft is fafer than it ever was betore, and very few accidents happen. "I cannot conclude without repeating my grateful thanks for your very elegant and claffical infeription for this place &c. (which thall be carefully preferved), and a.to for your well-drawn picture of what a min fter of the Gofpel ought to be. I am, with compliments to your fellow-tra el er, who, I hope, wil inherit his father's virtues, Sn, your much obliged humble fervant, (Signed) JOHN SHARP." BAMBURGH CASTLE, MDCCXC. Hanc arcem, Viator! Antiquitus unum & regni propu, naculis, Quâ totius mundi fudere, majeftate mitiffime, "Vcs beato cœlette manet regnum !” Sent in December 1783, to the Rev. Mr. JAMES STUART, Minier of Killin, Perthshire, whe died 30th Jan. 1789., V.vit. dinque vivat, Sive igitur in via loquitur, refurgent) Pro paftore pio ac fideli, Quantuli minuti chilosopti, Vel Cæfares, olim orbis terrarum Domini? Mr. URBAN, YOUR muft excellent May 6. bituary fcarcely ever fails to announce to us the particulars of the rives of thore whole fervices have endeared h m to us. I cannot but confider your mode of recor dig hele circumfiane as extremely bercficial to the caule of witve: for, it must act as a continual monitor to a ne kind, to confider that an ad wre Pr idence has to ordered hings, thet, u'u«.ly fpeaking, when a man' concott is jait he propers; and not unfrequent his defcendants alfo reap advantages due to the inerit of their wrthy progenitor. I am ledanto thefe reflexion: from the circumiance of the late M.. Anon, of Kew His life was too valuable to be contigned to the fhort anal ufually appropriated to the memory of infignificant 1 hopes therefore, you will pertht me to requel you to intert in your valuable Mi chan a few anecdotes relating to to goon and, in consequence, fo ruce: foi a naracter men Mr. Aiton was born in the year 1731, in a fmail village near Hamilton, in Scotland. Having been early initiated into the fcience of horticulture, he came, in the year 1754, to the Southern parts of the kingdom, well qualified to fup port port a refpectable station in his profeffion. Accordingly, in the year following, he attracted the notice of Mr. Philip Miller, the celebrated author of "The Gardener's Dictionary," at that time the fuperintendant of the first botanical employment in the kingdom, viz, the phyfick garden at Cheifca. The botanical inftruction which he received during his continuance with Mr. Miller was of molt fignal service to him, and, in a manner, led to all his future fortunes: for, the great fkill and readiness which he thewed in this branch of his profeffion caused him to be pointed out to the late Princess Dowager of Wales, and to his prefent Majefty, as a person the moft proper to form and arrange a botanic garden at Kew. He was honoured with this appointment in the year 1759. Here was an opening made for the exertion of his fingular talents. Plants were brought together from every quarter of the globe; and in their culture he fhewed fuch excellent judgement, that it may truly be faid, that Nature was rivalled by his art. In the pace of thirty-four years he collected and cultivated nearly 6,000 plants; the greatest number ever arranged in any one garden in the world. His ability and affiduity in executing all this were best known to those who can remember the ignorant times, the confined borders, the clumfy ftoves, which were in ufe when he made his rude beginnings, and can compare them with the enlightened cultivation, the fpacious parterres, and the convenient edifices (chiefly his own improvements), with which the palace at Kew is now adorned. By the aid of his Majesty's munificence, Mr. Aiton in this refpect has been inftrumental in advancing the national ho In the year 1764, Mr. Aiton began to be honoured with the very valuable and active friendship of Sir Jofeph Banks; a friendship which never experienced any interruption, or any flack nefs. But Mr. Aiton's excellence was not known to his private friends only; his Majefty was as fenfible of it as his warmeft admirers could wish. Upon the advancement of Mr. Haverfield in 1783, Mr. Aiton was appointed to the more lucrative fuperintendance of the pleafure and kitchen garden at Kew; at the fame time he was allowed to retain his former poft. How defervedly his Majefty's favours were conferred upon him, appeared in the year 1789, when he published his Hortus Kewenfis. The richness of the catalogue, the memoirs of the introduction of the feveral plants into the English gardens, and the fcientific execution of every part of it, caufed the whole impreffion, large as it was, to be fold off within two years. A fecond edition has long been called for. Although a man of conftant activity and remarkable temperance, Mr. Aiton was affected with that incurable com. plaint, a schirrhous liver. That fo temperate a man fhould labour under fuch a diforder is a phænomenon in the fphere of medicine. It put a period to his exiflence, notwithflanding the moft powerful exertions of medical affiftance. He died in his 62d year, on Feb. 1st, 1793, (fee p. 187) leaving behind him a wife, and three daughters. Mr. Aiton had to number amongst his friends fome of the most dignified of both fexes in thefe kingdoms; among others, the late Earl of Bute, once prime-minifter; yet no one ever faw in him the infolence of office, nor the leaft trait of a mind lifted up to vanity. He had the affiftance of fome of the firft scholars in the kingdom at his command; yet there was nothing in him that was affuming. It was his pride and pleasure to speak of the cordial friendhip and affiftance which he was continually receiving from Sir Jofeph Banks, and, through his means, from his learned coadjutors, the late Dr. Solander and Mr. Dryander; neither did he ever wish to conceal how highly he was indebted to thefe gentlemen for their aid in completing his celebrated work, the Hortus Kewenfis. The evenness and miidness of his temper, founded in real piety, were almoft beyond example: hence he became admirable in every fo cial office; a fleady friend, a molt affectionate husband, a kind father, and, to the meanest of his fervants and atten. dants, uniformly gentle and humane, He was buried in a vault, in the church-yard at Kew, amidst a large concourfe of most refpectable neighbours. His pall was fupported by Sir Jofeph Banks, the Rev. Dr. Goodenough, Mr. Dryander, Dr. Pitcairn, Mr. Dundas of Richmond, and Mr. Zoffani. The merits of good men are not forgotten in the grave. Soon after Mr. ufual attention and benignity to his Aiton's decease, his Majefly, with his faithful fervants, thought proper to hew one farther proof of his regard, by honouring honouring a worthy fon with all his father's appointments. KEWENSIS. TH Mr. URBAN, Winchefer, May 26. HE following is the copy of an infcription which the French clergy, now refident at the King's house, in this city, have cauf.d to be made, in teftimony of their gratitude to the British nation. Our prefent military commander, the most noble Marquis of Buckingham, whofe liberality to thefe confcious exiles has, on many occafions, been confpicuons, finding they were on the point of painting it on a pannel in their chapel, from an inability to employ more durale materials, took upon himself the exPence of caufing it to be engraved on a beautiful table of white marble, which he afterwards made them a prefent of, and caused to be placed on the aforefaid pannel. Yours, &c. Favente Deo Opt. Max. J. M. Diù fofpes et incolumis, in fuorum decus ac delicias, in exterorum admirationem & perfugium, vivat fovit tenerrimè. protexit ftudiofifimè, Nted's "Survey of Kent," or any OT being in poffeffion of Mr. Haf other book to afford me the information required, I beg the favour of any of your correfpondents to give me fome account of the ancestors and defcendants of Richard Waring, gent. fome years fince of Prefton, near Shoreham, in Kent. He married a fifter of Dr. Wall, rector of that place, and author of "Infant Baptifm," by whom he had a nu merous progeny. One of the fifters of Richard Waring was firft married to Sir John Twifleton, and afterwards to Sir John Platt, and was, I believe, interred in Dartford church, in Kent. Any information relative to this antient family will be very thankfully received, and acknowledged, by a great admirer of your useful Mifcellany, and A CONSTANT READER. Mr. URBAN, Beverley, Feb. 1. N the church of Tilton on, the Hill, IN in Leicester hire, of which my father was vicar feveral years, is the tomb (by tradition) of Sir Everard Digby, who was executed for the gunpowder-treafon plot. It is a plain ftone, without any infcription, as far as I recollect, as it is now many years fince 1 faw it. My father rented the antient houfe of Skef Voluntaria cun&torum regni ordinum fub- fington, a mile from Tilton, in the fcriptione aluit generofiffimè. Sit etiam longum felix præftantiffimus fenator Britannicus Joannes Wilmot, publicæ munificentiæ unà cum felectiffimis et integerrimis viris, difpenfator prudentiffimus. Hac ardentibus votis a Supremo rerum moderatore Britan. imperii plagas difperfus. Hæc imprimis, anhelanti pectore, ad aras fupplex provoluta, impetrare ftudet indefinenter ejufdem Cleri pars non exigua, regalibus iftis in ædibus, infigni munere collecta, drawing-room windows of which were painted the arms of the family of Skeffington, viz. a fheaf in a tun. I know not whether the Treatile of Bodies, by the famous Sir Kenelm Digby, the fon of the abovementioned Sir Everard, is now a book easily to be met with; but there is fomething fo ftriking in the conclution of it, that many, perhaps, who have nor feen it, may thank me for having pointed it out to notice. Yours, &c. W. M. |