432 REVIEW-Gorham's Supplement to St. Neot's. truth and reason an acquisition of high value. Referring our readers to the book itself for details, we shall extract for circulation a very latent part of science, -a delineation how the nervous acts upon the material part of our frames : "According to the very important physiological experiments of Dr. Philip, it appears that the nervous system consists of parts endowed with the vital principle, yet capable of acting in concert with inanimate matter; and that in man, as well as in certain well-known animals, electricity is the agent thus capable of being collected by nervous organs, and of being universally diffused for purposes intimately connected with the animal economy throughout every part of the human system. The agency, therefore, of the nerves in contributing to produce numerous changes on the blood, and with them equally numerous states of the mind, must be very great; and it is for this reason, that throughout every part of the human body they accompany the vessels in their course. One set of nerves takes a direction from the surface of the human body, or from its cavities; also, agreeably to the impressions received from external matter, as well as to the differences of animal structure which occur in sensible organs, corresponding sensations and renovated feelings * are excited. Hence, when we take into consideration the effect of certain gases on the blood in inducing definite qualities and degrees of vividness in our mental feelings, the conclusion is inevitable, that the nerves belonging to the sensitive organs of our frames cannot generate any mental affections, without first producing those peculiar sanguineous effects, to which the immaterial principle of the mind seems in some unknown manner to be related. It may be also observed, that the mental feelings thus excited by the nervous influence on the circulation, bear a further relation to a set of nerves proceeding from small portions of the brain and spinal cord, which supply the muscles of voluntary motion; each distinct state of mind stimulating with a definite degree of force particular muscular fibres. But besides the class of nerves concerned with voluntary motion, there is another and far more extensive description, which exercises through the medium of the blood an influence on the states of the mind. Nerves of this kind, consisting of a chain of ganglions, to which communications from all parts of the brain and spinal marrow are sent, form the cause of the processes of secretion. The healthy exercise of these functions is attended with a temperature consi By this term Dr. Hibbert and other writers designate ideas. [May, derably raised above that of the surrounding medium, and hence the different sensations liable to result from salutary and morbid assimilations, or from the moderate, intense, or languishing circulation of the blood. It is then from these causes that various degrees of vividness may be imparted to our feelings." pp. 55-57. It appears from p. 71, in further elucidation of the above account, that the class of nerves which merely obey the stimulus of the will in inducing muscular motion, have no immediate connexion with our mental states. 97. THIS Supplement consists of welldigested abstracts of Chartularies, an Anglo-Saxon Homily of St. Neot†, and various other particulars usual in Appendices. Under circumstances, i. e. disputed or forgotten claims, such documents may be very valuable; and in prudence should always be preserved. Among these abstracts in pages 161– 166, is an account of the ancient benefactions for the repairs and decorations of the church. In these are five and some of 13s. 4d.; thus proving the benefactions of the precise sum of 6s. 8d. ancientry of these sums as fees—a fact which we could corroborate from other authorities. Among these benefactions also appear pewter dishes, pans, sheep, lamb, corn, table-cloths, contributions out of the proceeds of sales, all for the purpose of being prayed for. The lively interest which our ancestors took in the decency and beauty of their parish churches, is a good reprimand of their degenerate descendants. In our able fabrics had more of the intrinsic judgment the poorest of these venercharacter of holiness, than the finest of the preaching-houses now erected, fitter for auction marts in construction, than for exciting sentiments of piety. It is certainly strange that there is no taste for the imitation of ancient In this Homily (p. cii.) mention is made of Doomsday being nigh. It has es-caped Mr. Gorham, that from mistaking the thousand years of St. John, the termination of the world was placed on or about A. D. 1000; and the effect of this notion upon society is noticed by (we believe) Mosheim ; certainly many familiar authors. churches, 1824.] REVIEW-William Wyrcestre Redivivus. churches, when the most beautiful window mullions and tabernacleworks can now be cheaply imitated in cast-iron. This Supplement, however useful and well-executed, contains no novelty which requires further notice; and we shall therefore here leave it, with expressing our satisfaction with the judgment of Mr. Gorham shown in this compilation. 98. Report of the Incorporated Society for the Conversion and religious Instruction and Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West India Islands, from July to December, 1823. 8vo. pp. 48. THIS Society is instituted for the purpose of sending out Ministers of the Church of England who may promote the education, catechising, and introduction of Christianity among the slaves. The Ministers proceed only under permission of the masters, and exercise no compulsion; for so we judge by the Report, which is reasonable and modest, and, unlike other Reports of similar institutions, uses no pious frauds. The following is the statement of Mr. Curtin, who observes, that, according to his belief, the Negroes would prefer the Established Church to any other, if the Ministers could attend to them (p. 17); and so we be lieve also, for we see nothing in the intimidations and absurdities of Calvinism likely to induce a love of God. The amiable and philanthropic ecclesiastic adds, "It may also be worthy of notice, that of the slaves which I had baptized in the town of St. John's, during the first ten or twelve years of my ministry, more than one fourth, or perhaps a third part, are now free people, some off the island, some sea-faring people at sea." From all this I infer, that slavery would gradually die away by a steady uniform perseverance in the performance of all the sacred duties of Christianity, which, by its own action, would imperceptibly produce more certain and lasting effects than all the speculative theories which can be devised for. emancipation. A venerable Bishop of the English Church, with a conscientious and efficient Clergy, and a few pious catechists, would do more toward the general improve ment of the religious and moral state of our colonies, than all the laws that could be enacted for the purpose." pp. 17, 18. GENT. MAG. May, 1824. 433 That all this may be the ultimate result we heartily pray; but it is a rule with us on political topics to consider the possible worst, not the possible best, and therefore we decline committing ourselves, till time and experience produce sound data. We wish for two things in particular, the creation of an adequate population to supersede slavery, and Anglicism of habits among the Negroes, in the Roman modes of civilizing. See our Mag. for April, p. 350. 99. William of Wyrcestre Redivivus. (Concluded from p. 340.) THE second object of Mr. Dallaway's attention is the celebrated Church of St. Mary, Redcliff, certainly one of the most beautiful parish churches in England. We shall therefore enter rather at large into the early history of this elegant fabric; having already, in a former volume, given very full ac counts of its present state, from the elegant works of Mr. Britton and Mr. Malcolm. Nor can we mention Mr. Britton without observing that gratitude is due to him for his admirable portraits of this Venus of Gothic-architecture. Rivals and imitators may have succeeded him, but the works of Buck and Grose still exist to prove that application of the powers of fine chalcography to Gothic buildings, and, of course, a superior powerful influential effect in regard to public_taste, have been created by Britton. Before, things of this kind were valued as an tiquities only; for their beauties we did not form an affection, because we did not perceive them. From Mr. Malcolm's entertaining work we shall copy a distant view of this interesting Church, in its present state, taken from the river. (See Plate II.) Mr. Malcolm regrets that it should be so surrounded with buildings as to render it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain an uninterrupted view of the general outline of the Church. "It appears very certain," says Mr. Britton (in his Account of Redcliffe Church, page 4), “that an ancient religious edifice was standing on See vol. LXXXII. ii. 252, 429, 545, 569, 570. or 434 REVIEW.-William Wyrcestre Redivivus. or near the site of the present church anterior to the erection of the existing fabrick, the initiation of which is as cribed to Simon de Burton, who was Mayor of Bristol, not only, as Britton says, in 1292, 1293, 1294, and again in 1304 and 1305; but in 1302 also. (Hist. of Bristol, MS. penès the Rev. T. D. Fosbroke.) In this MS. are passages which throw light upon the history of this first unknown church. The first entry is taken from the confirmation charter of Henry III. to the Priory of Bradenstoke, printed in Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 210, old edition : Ex dono Johannis filii Willelmi Capellani de Radeclive, totam terram suam, quæ fuit Ricardi de Merâ, quæ est contra clochurium Ecclesiæ S. Maria de Radeclive," i.e. from the gift of John, son of William, all his land, which was Richard de Mere's, [and] which is opposite the Belfry of the Church of St. Mary de Radeclive. That this was no relation to the Nottinghamshire Radeclives is, in our opinion, evident from the following further passages in the same MS. which show an intimate connection of the De la Mares, Meres, or Mores, with Bristol and the vicinity. In the year 1290, a Ralph de la Mare held the castle and town at a yearly rent (Originalia 19 Edw I. rot. 23); and a Richard de la Mere held lands in Milborn port in this county. (Id. 8 Edw. II. rot. 34.) Moreover, Isable de Kenefeg gaye to the Abbey of St. Augustine all her land in Redclive Street, which was Matilda de More's, relict of Adam de Kerswelle. (Regist. Abbat. S. August. Bristol. f. 176.) It is further to be recollected, that Redcliff was a distinct manor, in private hands, at the early periods alluded to, and seemingly belonging, once least, to a family of the same name; for another extract from the same Abbey Register (fol. 188) says, that Hugh de Bloedune, by assent of his Lord, John de Radcliff, gave to Nicholas, son of Horwin, &c. the angular land upon Trivele, &c. It is certain, too, that Robert Lord Berkeley (the third) died seised, 4 Hen. III. in 1219, of a manor of Radeclive Street (Berkeley MSS. p. 90); and that, in fact, Bristol was parcelled out among various great landed proprietors, and divided into the Old and New Town. These points are distinctly exhibited in the MS. quoted. The old Stone-house, inhabited at [May, by Rob. Fitzharding, has been recently discovered; and an account of its remains was published in the Bristol Observer of Sept. 3, 1823; and the testamentary regulations of this Robert give some account of this house, as well as of the hold of certain great Barons in Bristol, whom he bought out. Robert, son of Harding (says the Abbey Register, fol. 34 a.), gave to Maurice, his son, the land which he had in Bristol of the Barony of Rich. Foliott, which Boso held; and the land which he had of the Barony of Rich. de St. Quintin, in the Great Street; and the land which he had of the Barony of Gilbert de Umfraville; and the land which he had in Broadstreet, where he first dwelt, et totum managium*, which he had there; besides the great Stone-house which he built upon the Frome; and this land he gave to his son, "Ita quod Eva [his wife] tute meam terram illam teneat in vitâ suâ, et post mortem ejus ad Maur. fil. meum et heredes ejus liberè et quietè revertetur, &c.; together with the land, in which I had a bakehouse, towards the wall, as you go to St. James's, &c." As to the second point, the New Town, in the confirmation charter by King Henry II. of the Priory of St. James's, Bristol, is the following item: "Et unum burgagium in Novo-Burgo Prati, et quod totum Novum burgum de Prato, apud Bristold, quod est situm inter castellum et eandem ecclesiam sancti Jacobi, sit' de parochia ejusdem ecclesiæ." (Dugdale's Monasticon, i. 513). The object of this digression is to show, that there was probably a Church, situate upon the same spot as the present, founded by and for the use of some manerial proprietor. The distinction of St. Mary Redcliffe is obviously accounted for. There was another Church of St. Mary at Bristol, which William Earl of Gloucester gave in the time of Henry II. to the Priory of Keynsham (Dugdale's Monast. ii. 300). All this is explained in the following further extract from the MS. under the year 1247. "This year the mayor and commonalty of the town of Bristol concluded to build a bridge over the river Avon, with the consent of Redclyft, and the Governors of Temple fee, thereby minding to incorporate them * Familia-Menage-Demesne farm. Ducange, v. Menagium. |