We are much obliged to the Rev. John Graham, and to another Correspondent, who have both sent us Drawings of what they conceive to be a very curious Medal. We have before, vol. XCÍ. ii. p. 482, given our opinion of the Medal, in answer to H. R. D. who first sent us the notice of it, which appeared in a provincial journal.

J. O. may obtain the information he requires almost in any public Library.

A CONSTANT READER is referred to his Dentist.

ANTIQUARIOLUS says, "I am glad that A. C. R. has furnished an additional proof to the scene of Adam Gordon's combat, by placing Shortgrave in Bedfordshire: perhaps he can also identify Altun wood. Dr. Brady, in his History of England, relates that in 1265 the King being obliged by the rebellious Barons, sent letters, dated at Monmouth, June 28, "per Regem, comitem Leicestriæ,' &c. to Adam de Gurdun and others, commanding them to suppress the efforts made in his favour."

CLERICUS suggests to Mr. FRANK HALL STANDISH, the Editor of the Life of Voltaire, the propriety of correcting, in another edition, an uncharitable disposition towards a very respectable body of men, which, while it leads him into error, may bring down contempt upon him. He wishes to call Mr. Standish's attention to the following acrimonius and unjust attack upon the Clergy at large. Speaking of satire as a libel, he says, "It proceeds generally from an hireling author, or from some little, low, contemptible, and foolish man, of a bad disposition, with imaginary talents, who has neither sufficient courage nor good nature to suppress the paltry venom of his own conceptions. A libel is the natural offspring of a weak head and corrupt heart, and is sometimes to be found still emanating even from a Christian Teacher or Protestant Clergyman of the present Century." Our Correspondent then remarks, Now let Counsel, learned in the law, or let any man of plain understanding, say if this last charge be not a solemn and a cruel libel; and if it be so, see how the earlier part of the sentence characterizes its author, as an hireling, or as some little, low, contemptible man, of a bad disposition, with imaginary talents, who has neither sufficient courage nor good nature to suppress the paltry venom of his own conceptions'."

A. Y. Z. asks, "Was Sir John Clere of Blickling in Norfolk of the family of Clare, whose pedigree appeared in vol. LXXXIX. ii. p. 411? This Sir John Clere possessed Blickling in right of his wife, daughter of Sir William Boleyn, and received Queen Elizabeth there. He was descended from

Clere de Montè, a Norman Baron, who is described on a monument erected to his memory in the chapel of Blickling, as having 'come to England with William Duke of Normandy, to assist him in the Conquest of England.'-Blomefield's "Norfolk."

PUFF observes, "If there be in any chamber a recess, deep or shallow, above or below, it does not occasion any peculiar current of air to make one sensible of being in its vicinity; but convert this recess into a closet, and however well fitted and compacted the door may be, yet through every little crevice the air will draw and become painfully troublesome. Nay, have seen a candle nearly extinguished through the keyhole of a closet not six inches deep. Pray solve this problem."

W. F. C. observes, "I beg leave to point out what I consider a very material error in the new Coinage, inasmuch as it would mislead any person seeking information of the armorial bearings of our nation. I allude to the false heraldry of the shield, in which the whole field is made to appear Argent; neither does it, as a medal, look so rich and handsome, from the want of the usual distinguishing lines. I should be glad to learn the reason which led to this new mode of displaying the arms?"

A. Š. wishes to know whether the Charge given by the present Bishop of Winchester to his Clergy in the last summer at his primary Visitation in Surrey has been printed; and if it has, where it may be procured?

W. R. K. ARMIGER observes; " Inquiries having been made respecting the family of Knivett (XCI. i. pp. 286, 482), some of your Correspondents may probably say what became of the descendants of Sir Philip Knivett of Birkenham Castle, Norfolk, bart. whose sons were, Philip, heir apparent; John, of Leatherhead, Surrey; Thomas, who married, and had issue (query, of what family was his lady?); Sir Robert, the fourth son, bart. died in London, at an advanced age.Eleanor married, first, to Sir Henry Hastings; secondly, to Sir Thos. Waldron, of Chorley, knt.; Dorothy or Elizabeth, wife to James Erskine, Earl of Buchan, in Scotland. Catherine is said to have died unmarried."

The recommendation of the Thetford Spa can only be used (if paid for) as an Advertisement on our Cover.

T. B. expresses his disappointment at finding the Compendiums of County History discontinued; and hopes that BYRO will again favour us with his communications in this wish we heartily join with T. B.

The hints of "Clericus, M. A." (of Bury, L.) we adopt as far as is easily practicable. To the extent he mentions, they would alone fill the whole of our pages.

we are more indebted than Mr. Sharon Turner, who, in compiling his History of the Anglo Saxons, has explored so many before-hidden treasures, as to produce an abundant detail of events that, but for him, might probably have still remained unheeded and unknown; and although the transactions of that eventful portion of our history are yet so scanty as to hurry us over a vast period of time, through a quick succession of barbarous and revolting incidents, yet the events of those times are nevertheless worthy of our most serious consideration: in them, indeed, we see as it were the germ of our national civilization, struggling against the rude shocks of ignorance and barbarism, and yet increasing to a growing shoot; then assisted and nurtured by the introduction of the mild truths of Christianity, we see that shoot overpowering all barbarian obstacles, and expanding itself into a large and spreading tree, under whose full grown and shady branches we now enjoy the sweet repose of historic contemplation, counting the many blessings of the present, aud contrasting them with the miseries of the past.

Shocking as the detail may be, yet the violent usurpations of power, the murders and desolations committed with fire and sword, and the bloody contests that were continually taking place between one or other of the many Sovereigns of our Saxon ancestors, may truly be considered as having laid the foundation of our present National independence; and each greater contest that is recorded becomes doubly interesting to the present generation, by having some accompanying proofs of its locality.

Of the many invasions of Great Britain by the Northern barbarians, none Punty of Lincoln, a appear to have taken place within the

quest of Northumbria by Ivan, when (temp. 871) the Danes landed at Humberstone (on the Lincolnshire coast), and commenced that too successful irruption, which proceeding through the county Southward, destroyed the monasteries of Bardney and Croyland, and desolated the whole country; and being assisted also in its progress by the petty jealousies of the Anglo Saxon Sovereigns, triumphed over each kingdom, in detail, and in the end made the great Alfred himself a temporary fugitive in his own dominions.

From the period of this devastation, and during the subsequent struggles of Alfred in regaining his kingdom, and to the time of his final triumph over the Danes, none of the important events recorded give any local interest to the North of Lincolnshire, nor is any thing particularly stated, so as to place any military operations of consequence immediately on the banks of the river Humber, until the reign of Athelstan, when the great Battle of Brunnenburgh was fought.

Without giving you the full detail of Mr. Turner's history of the events which occasioned this great contest, it may be useful to premise, that almost upon every accession of our elective Anglo Saxon Monarchs to the sovereignty of their respective States, it was invariably necessary that they should have recourse to arms, in order to support or confirm their authority; and the submission that was made by the Sovereigns of Northumbria, Scotland, and Wales, to Edward, was but ill attended to, when the sceptre was conceded to his successor Athelstan ; the consequence of which was, that Athelstan soon added Northumbria to

Anlaf (who had been driven from Northumbria), assisted by Constantine King of Scotland, several of the Welsh princes, and the Anglo Danes, North of the Humber, and also augmented by fleets of warriors from Norway and the Baltic, formed an attack of such magnitude, it seemed a certain calculation that the single force of Athelstan must be thrown;" he so managed, however, as to gain time, and be prepared to meet the storm; and, finally, in the Battle of Brunnenburgh, he completely defeated their combinations.

over

In this battle the contending armies were so numerous, the circumstances so particular, the slaughter so great, and the consequences so important, that it may not inaptly be compared to

the modern Waterloo.

Every reader of Mr. Turner's History will no doubt be delighted with his description of the particular events of this most important period, and especially with his representation of this Battle; and it only leaves a regret that the scite of such events should not have been identified with his description.

In my edition (being the first) of Mr. Turner's History, with reference to the Battle of Brunnausburgh, he subjoins the following note:

"It is singular that the position of this famous Battle is not ascertained; the Saxon Song says it was at Brunnanburh. Ethelwerd, a contemporary, names the place Brunnandune; Simeon of Durham, Weondune or Ethunnanwerch, or Brunnan byrge; Malmsbury, Brunsford. Ingulf says, Brunford in Northumbria. These of course imply the same place. But where is it? Camden thought it was at Ford near Bromeridge in Northumberland. Gibson mentions, that in Cheshire there is a place called Brunburgh. I observe that the Villare mentions a Brunton in Northumberland."

Accidentally looking into Macpher. son's Geographical Illustrations of Scottish History, with reference to this same event, and under the title Brunnanburgh, I found the following observa

tion:

[Jan.

All authors, except Ingulf, give reason to believe that this famous Battle was

fought to the Southward of the Humber. The invading allies were on their progress from that river when they were met by Athelstan; and it is probable that Brunne, now Bourne, in the South part of Lincolnshire (near which is Witham, perhaps formerly Weondune), may have been the place."

To which is added the following

note:

Every one acquainted with the old English knows that Burn and Brun are the same, and the addition of Burgh might be dropt from it, as it has been from many others (e. g.) Lundenburgh or Lundenbyrig, now London."

Coupling these queries and observations with my own, I have ventured to presume that I am able to determine this hitherto doubtful point, and to lay down the exact position where this Battle was fought; in order to which, however, I must again refer to Mr. Turner's History for information, "that Anlaf commenced the warfare

by entering the Humber with a fleet of 615 ships;" and also, "that he soon overpowered the forces which Athelstan had posted in Northumbria." It does not appear how far Anlaf's force was personally engaged in producing these advantages North of the Humber; and from the silence of our Historians, we may infer that the magnitude of the invading force was such as made it necessary that Athelstan should withdraw his troops from the North, and concentrate them in a more Southerly position; although the ships of the period we are now speaking of were not vessels of large burthen, yet from the number which entered the Humber, it has been inferred that Anlaf had with him an army of 30,000 men, at the least; and in order to engage and divide Athelstan's attention from the North, he would naturally, and with as little delay as possible, debark and take up a position on the South bank of the river Humber.

My conjecture is, that Anlaf landed the main body of his army at Barrow, taking up a position at the head of the creek or haven there, about three quarters of a mile distant from the river, where he threw up entrenchments, and that he in a similar way posted his allies at Barton; which conjecture is founded on the natural positions these

two