1824.] Anecdote of a Native of the East Indies. strength or their embellishment. With equal propriety and effect ornaments of wood were added to fabrics of stone; as for example, in the monuments of the Confessor's Chapel, and, among many others, in the tombs of Edward the Black Prince, and King Henry IV. in Canterbury Cathedral. In all these instances, the canopies are perfectly independent of the tombs to which they belong; and in those of Westminster Abbey in particular, these elegant appendages are crooked and broken from age and neglect, notwithstanding which, however, it is to be hoped that they will not, like the iron screens and ornaments, be deemed unnecessary and unsightly, and consequently be removed. It is gratifying to know that one Royal tomb has escaped mutilation-that of Henry VII.; but I can discover no reason why the sumptuous metal screen should in this instance be more entitled to preservation than any other; or rather, why all the ancient monuments should not have been preserved with as much care as this. The noble monuments of Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth, in the South aile of Henry the Seventh's Chapel, are considerably impaired by the violation they have suffered. The rails by which they were encompassed were of wrought iron, massy, and handsomely ornamented, having lofty and elegant banners at the corners and sides, bearing the Royal arms and badges, richly emblazoned. The relics of some of the monuments thus denuded, were sold, and again purchased by a gentleman well known for his taste and knowledge of antiquities; but the greater part of the iron work, among which was numbered the very ancient and handsome pieces from the monuments in Edward the Confessor's Chapel, are irretrievably lost. I. Mr. URBAN, as a single instance, has a pointed ment. A gentleman, whom I well knew, a man of powerful intellect, of clearest integrity and courage, who served in the East Indies about forty years ago, 391 brought home with him a native of those parts, a boy about fifteen or sixteen years old, who spoke English well, and possessed a quick and shrewd understanding. The Rector of the parish where my friend lived, was a divine of deep and extensive learning, of consummate talents, of transcendent piety, and incomparable judgement, matured by large experience and knowledge of the world: "qui mores hominum multorum et viderat urbes." As a con firmation was to be holden in the parish, of which the young alien was then an inmate, the worthy Rector judged it right to endeavour to instruct and baptize him, that he might be confirmed, with other young people, who were under his care. With these hopes and intentions, he sent for the youth, and when he had conversed with him some time, finding or fearing that he made little progress, he thought he would bring the matter to a short issue; and addressed him thus: "You know we are all subject to death. Now after death you must go either to a place of happiness, or to a place of misery: to which would you wish to go? to the place of happiness, or the place of misery?" The answer is memorable, not to say appalling. With the utmost simplicity, totally free from intentional rudeness or levity (for he was indeed a civil boy) he said, "to both!" It is needless to say, the worthy Clergyman did not presume to baptize him. The conclusion of the tale is truly melancholy. Whether his master found it necessary to dismiss him, or whether he ran away, I am not now certain; but after he had, whether voluntarily or reluct antly, quitted his master, there was reason to fear he perished with hunger in the streets of the metropolis. Without some previous knowledge of God, of creation, and of providence; of a future state, and of sin, on which the doctrine of redemption is founded, it is impossible to teach the Gospel; ignorant of these preliminary and fundamental principles, is at once madness and impiety. You might as well baptize an idiot, or, I had almost said, a stone. The Ethiopian eunuch, Cornelius the centurion, and the jailor at Philippi, with his family, men who had lived in civilized society, were not See Heb. vi. 1, 2. destitute 392 Singular Custom at Burford.-Portrait of Shakspeare. destitute of the requisite elementary knowledge; and therefore they were, one and all of them, admitted, by the appointed, form of baptism, into the Church and faith of Christ, after a single discourse or conversation, had with them respectively. But, as has been lately well observed, when the great Apostle of the Gentiles was shipwrecked at Melita, though he continued three months in the island, and performed many great miracles, he did not, so far as appears, baptize any one of "the barbarous people," whom he found there. Acts xxviii. 2. I have said it is impious to baptize an uninstructed adult. Is it necessary, in a captious age, to add, that the baptism of infants, the children of Christian parents, rests on a totally different foundation; on the corresponding custom of admitting infants, by the express command of God, into his ancient covenant; on the declaration of our Lord himself, that his kingdom consists of little children; on the known practice of the Apostles; on the universal practice of the Church, and in all countries, during fifteen hundred years from the birth of Christ; and on the stipulated condition, that they shall be taught, as soon as they are able to learn, all the great articles of Christian faith and obedience. Yours, &c. R. C. in all ages Mr. URBAN, T April 17. [May, another village in the vicinity, is said to have recollected, when a boy, taking an active part in the scramble; when he who was so fortunate as to possess himself of a white loaf, and bore it off in triumph. The author of the "Convivial Antiquities" thus describes the rites at marriages, in his country and time: "Antiquum eatur in Templum: jentaculum Sponse et invitatis apponitur; Serta atque Corolla distribuuntur. Postea certo ordine Viri primum cum Sponso, deinde Puella cum Sponsâ, in Templum procedunt. Peracta re divinâ Sponsa ad Sponsi Domum deducitur, indeque Panis projicitur, qui a Pueris certatim rapitur*? tion of what took place at Barford, with this difference only: in the latter case, the theatre of action was the Church and the Church-door; in the former, with much greater propriety, the bridegroom's house. Here we have an exact representa It may be probably conjectured, that one of the Shepherds (an opulent family, once great proprietors and residents at Barford) was the founder of this charity, on the happy event of his marriage, and took this strange method perpetuating the memory Yours, &c. of of it. H. D. B. Mr.URBAN, Little Chelsea, May 14. IN a recent publication, entitled an Inquiry into the authenticity of various Pictures and Prints offered to the Public as Portraits of Shaks peare, &c." written by Mr. Boada, I find some very invidious remarks concerning the publication of a portrait of that author, in the year 1811, and the original portrait now in my possession. The liberal subscription then received, induced me to give it publicity, and with each print were also delivered printed particulars of the different amongst possessors into whose hands this original portrait has been traced. It appeared when an account was very much The unintelligible allusions in Mr. Brand's Antiquities, note, p. 334. |