1822.] Isaac Pennington.-The Censor. I Mr. URBAN, S. T. B. Feb. 12. WOULD recommend "EBOR" (vol. XCI. i. p. 583), to purchase the "Memoirs of the Life of Isaac Pennington (son of the Alderman), to which is added a Review of his Writings, by Joseph Gurney Bevan," 1807. It is a thin octavo, and contains much interesting matter. It begins thus: "Isaac Pennington was born about the year 1616, heir, to use the words of his son-in-law William Penn, (*who married Gulielma Maria Springett, daughter of Isaac Pennington's wife by a former husband) to a fair inheritance. It would be gratifying to trace the steps of the childhood of a man in whom the simplicity of a child so long survived the weakness: but, until further search can be made, it must suffice to learn from the same author, that his education was suitable to his quality among men, and that he had all the advantages which the schools and universities of his own country could bestow, as well as such as arose from the conversation of some of the most knowing and considerable men of the time. He arrived at manhood at a period when England was agitated with the tempest of civil commotion, by means of the discord between Charles I. and his Parliament; and as the father of Pennington was himself a violent partisan, the son, had his temper inclined him to enter the lists, might probably soon have arisen to eminence in the Republic. But he seems early to have set his mind on another contest than the one for worldly power, and to have chosen a life dedicated to an inquiry after God, and a holy fellowship with his despised people. He chose, he sought, he strove, and he obtained; but had his choice been to follow the path which his father had entered, disappointment would most likely have been the ultimate consequence. "The elder Pennington had been chief Magistrate of the Metropolis; he had raised the forces of the City to join the Parliament's army; he had been intrusted with the charge of the Tower, and had been one of the Council of State. But the Restoration reversed the condition of public affairs; and he died a prisoner in the fortress which he had formerly commanded." 121 which is a very pathetic one. The historical part of this very interesting book fills 139 pages; the remaining 132 pages contain extracts from his writings, which were published at large in the two quarto volumes mentioned by "Ebor." Isaac Pennington's wife was a very much is said about her in these Mereligious extraordinary woman; and book would be perused with much inmoirs, and I am persuaded that the terest by those who are religiously inclined. I could add many striking extracts from this valuable Memoir, but they would probably occupy more space than the Gentleman's Magazine could allow. L. THE CENSOR. No. XII. (Continued from vol. XCI. ii. p. 419.) [Forster's "England's Happiness Increased."] 66 ENGLAND'S Happiness In creased; or, A Sure and Easie Remedie against all succeeding_dear Years; by a Plantation of the Roots called Potatoes, whereof (with the addition of Wheat Flower) excellent, good, and wholesome Bread may be made every year, eight or nine months together, for half the charge as formerly. Also, by the planting of these Roots, ten thousand men in England and Wales, who know not how to live, or what to do to get a maintenance for their families, may, of one acre of Ground, make thirty pounds per annum. Invented and published for the good of the poorer sort. By John Forster, Gent. "Natura beatis Omnibus esse dedit, si quis cognoverit uti.' For the Lord hath chosen Sion to be an habitation for himself.' Psalm cxxxii. v. 14. I will bless her victuals with increase, and will satisfy her poor with bread.' v. 16. London: printed for A. Seile, over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet. 1664. 4to. pp. 30." From our long disquisition upon Anecdote, we turn with pleasure to a subject which seems to admit of less prolixity. Of John Forster, or his In page 53, is a letter to his father, Treatise, we have not been able to This parenthesis is in a marginal note. GENT. MAG. February, 1822. meet with any account, and believe it to have lain dormant for upwards of a century, 122 : Forster's "English Happiness Increased." century, notwithstanding the qualifications of scarcity and intrinsic value. It is an evil (although in many instances an unavoidable one), in the history of private families, that few materials are extant for commemorating their actions, nor is the most assiduous research able to recover any thing further than their births, marriages, and deaths in this particular the Visitations, the preservers of early genealogy, convey little information, and the Baronetage of Arthur Collins cannot be called biographical. During the reign of Charles I. the Mercuries and Diurnals furnish much matter of this sort; bút,the author before us was too young to take any part in the troubles of his country, and his father died before their commencement*. He was a younger son of Sir Guy Forster, knt. of Wolf's-place, in Hanslape, Bucks, and baptised there the 6th of July, 1626 Of his education and early life nothing is known; but it appears that he was intimate with Judge Tyrrell, of Hanslape, to whose marriage he was a witness, February 22, 1654: but his acquaintance with so versatile a character cannot place him in an enviable light; it was in fact produced by their relationship. After the Restoration, we find him emerging into literary life, and bringing forward a plan of general utility, in endeavouring to provide food for the poor throughout the kingdom. The Dedication prefixed to the pamphlet exhibits a fair statement of his views : "To the high and mighty Monarch Charles II. by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. "Custom, not necessity (most dread Sovereign), seems to be the cause of most Dedications; 'tis otherwise in this; the subject and matter hereof being of publique utility, requires one of publique authority to patronize it. Leaving, therefore, the more subordinate, I have presumed to address to your Majesty as Supreme, humbly presenting this my weak endeavour, this new Plantation, this most profitable invention, to the view and consideration of your most sacRed Majesty; a meaner patron not befitting, not being of authority sufficient Captain Edmund Forster, a loyalist of repute, the only person of this family who was concerned in the civil wars, died soon after their breaking out. + A quibble on the letters C. R. is probably meant here. [Feb. to advance and set forward a work so gene- JOHN FORSTER." Of the author's reception by his Sovereign, we are altogether ignorant ; it is sufficiently probable that he was neglected, as no steps were taken to put his project into practice: it is not clear, however, that he could expect any different treatment. His views were extensive, perhaps too much so; and his expectations of general utility too hasty: nor had he any fair reason scarcely settled in the kingdom, and in to suppose that an administration, want of money to carry on their affairs, could enter upon a plan of so great trouble and expense. Beneficial as it was certain to prove, it was rather the work of some spirited individual, than the Crown, and for householders than licensed planters. Impressed, perhaps, with this idea, he admonishes his readers (in the preface) of the duty of every housekeeper to provide for his family; he says; "And since it hath pleased God to deliver such a talent to my keeping, I was willing (not to hide it in the earth, or wrap it up 1822.] Forster's "English Happiness Increased." up in a napkin, but) to improve it as well as I could, which I hope I have done, by publishing of it, that thou, loving reader, mayest know it, make use of it, and receive the benefit of it; desiring, from my pains and labour herein, but thy kind acceptation; which, if I shall perceive, I shall be the more encouraged hereafter (according to my powers and ability) further to serve thee, in whatsoever civility and humanity commands.-Thine assured friend, John Forster. From Hanslop, in Bucks, July the 10th, 1664." One thing is particularly remarkable throughout this Tract; the author speaks of potatoes as but little known in England: the following passage may serve to show his learning in the generic and specific names, and proves that he had received a genteel education. "Now there are divers kinds of potatoes, all which were originally brought from America. The first sort being those of the greatest request, are the Spanish potatoes, called of the latines, l'attata, camotes, amotes, ignanes, and inhames. The second sort are the Virginia potatoes, called battata, and battatas Virginianorum, papas, papus, and pappus. The third sort are the potatoes of Canada, called of the herbarists heliotropium indictum tuberosum, flos solis piramidalis, asper peruvianus tuberosus; and falsely in English, artechocks of Jerusalem. fourth sort (which are these I shall write of in this treatise, and are fittest for our purpose) are the Irish potatoes, being little different from those of Virginia, save only in the colour of the flower and time of flouring." P. 2. The He subsequently mentions that large crops of potatoes existed in Wales. We now come to the most useful portion of the treatise concerning bread. Aware that these roots were capable of being applied to various purposes, he attempted the making of bread from them, and succeeded according to his wishes. Had he stopped here, we think mankind would have derived sufficient benefit from his labours; but he was emboldened by success, and determined to proceed with his darling hope of rendering potatoes a substitute for corn. To carry on his projects, he increased his plantations; and, after two years' experience, "found that they might be put to divers other good uses." Of these we shall speak hereafter. He advises, in order to reduce potatoes to meal, to boil and afterwards rub them in a sieve, and then 123 "The roots being thus prepared, you may make bread of them after this manner: you must take as much wheat or barley flower as your half bushel of potato meal weighs, and mix them well together with your hands; then put to it as much warm water, mix'd with a little barme, as you think will make it into very stiffe dough, and as much salt as is convenient; which being done, kneed it well, until it be exactly mingled, which will quickly be, by reason of the dryness and mealiness of the roots; afterwards make loaves of it, and see that it be well baked." P. 6. From bread he proceeds to pastry; and gives receipts for making cakes, paste, puddings, custards, and cheescakes, of potatoes; most which are needless, after he had once shown how to make flour. His disposition was certainly congenial with that of King James I. inasmuch as he inveighs against "that narcotick Indian herb tobacco, which corrupts the breath, dulls the senses, makes many a good wit sottish and stupid, many a rich man beggarly and poor." P. 19. His project for raising plantations. throughout the kingdom seems to be the result of cool calculation and experience; but it is a question whether it would prove successful to a great extent: had it been taken up in some degree, the benefit would have been apparent to the present generation; but as it now stands, is merely speculative. He says, "My intention in writing and publishing have little or no estate, nor was ever brought of this treatise, was partly that those who up in any calling, should, by the planting of those roots, have a way to get a maintenance for their families, which cannot be, if every one should plant them." P. 20. John Forster died in December 1693, and was buried with his ancestors at Hanslape, on the 9th. His life was monotonous, as that of country gentlemen during peace must necessarily be; but a fate different to that of his more inactive contemporaries awaited him. Had his plan been taken up by the King, and put into motion by the people, he would have been commemorated as a benefactor by Poets and Biographers, not to forget the tributes of subsequent Horticulturists; and Buckinghamshire would have found a prouder boast in his birth-place, than in the sepulchres of Hampden or Russell. Mr. 124 Mr. URBAN, THE [Feb. slightly noticed by Mr. D'Israeli, in the Preface to his "Calamities of Authors." But some bibliographical information regarding it will, perhaps, not be unacceptable to that portion of your readers who have not abandoned the Ancients, or the Demi-ancients, as Le Clerc properly calls the Learned Authors at the revival of Literature. Valerianus de Infelicitate Literatorum. Jan. 30. HE Gentleman's Magazine has always been the depôt of the minutiæ literaria of Scholars, men, whose due and regular education for the learned professions has put them into a very different course of reading, and given them a very different estimate of books from those who now for the most part make up their tasks for sale, and supply the press which feeds the market with new publications for the people. We do not live in a learned age; and the clamorous force of popular opinion has gained entire supremacy over the still, meek voice of Genius, Taste, and Erudition. Men who are utterly unacquainted with the processes and results of other minds, set up to teach before they have learned; and mistaking their own ignorant conclusions for discoveries, are received as sages because they flatter vulgar passions and vulgar interests. Authors are no longer a class of men who write their own sentiments or their own matured conclusions, the fruit of cultivated talents, enriched by meditation, and controuled and polished by discipline; but men pursuing a mercenary occupation, whose business it is to produce goods, of which the sole end is vendibility. Now if it be admitted that there are twenty persons without taste or learning for one who possesses either of them, how must the author shape his compositions, if his object is sale? This pervades the whole mass of modern Literature, especially in the British empire: and the misfortune is, that for the same reason Criticism, instead of controuling it, follows it! He who sets up his voice in the way of appeal, is hooted down by numbers. Vox populi, vox Dei! this is what they believe; and this is the principle on which they act ! Thus in all ages the men of real genius and real learning are condemned to infelicity: not because every age offends against them in the same way, but because whatever fashion the age takes, it always turns against this unhappy tribe. They who are acquainted with books, know at least the title of a little work written by a very learned man on this subject, at the beginning of the sixteenth century-I mean the tract "De Infelicitate Literatorum," by Valerianus. This is Joannes Pierius Valerianus was born at Belluno in 1475, and died at Padua, 1558, æt. 83. The best memoir of him is given by Niceron, Homm. Illustr. XXVI. 345. This tract "De Infelicitate" was not published till 1620, at Venice, in small 8vo. It was reprinted at Amsterdam, in 1647, 12mo, with the tract of Cornelius Tollius; again at Helmstadt, 1664, 12mo; a fourth time, in the edition of the "Hieroglyphics" of Valerianus, which was printed at Francfort, 1678, 4to; and fifthly, in the "Analecta de Calamitate Literatorum" of John Burchard Menckenius, Leipsic, 1707, 12mo. (See Res Literaria, II. 54.) Notwithstanding all these editions, the book had become extremely rare. I am aware that this has been denied by those who might be expected to know; but I suspect that they were misled by an accidental oversight of a well-informed bookseller. A copy of the "Analecta," which contains this Tract, was marked in Payne's Catalogue, 1820, at 5s. The maker of the Catalogue did not notice this Tract. If a vain search for this Tract in catalogues and public libraries is a test of rarity, I can affirm it to be rare. If the authority of good judges is a test, I am equally fortified in this opinion; for I have the testimonies of Manckenius, Niceron, Volpi, &c. At length, I found all the editions, except that included in the Hieroglyphics, in the richly-furnished Angelica Library at Rome; and subsequently at the sale of the books of a princely house there, procured the original edition of 1620. Esteeming this Tract to possess great intrinsic merit, I have reprinted an edition, confined to 87 copies; of which 12 are on large paper. Of these 17 have been distributed among Scholars on the Continent; and only three have been hitherto sent to England. It may be well to cite the words of Niceron on the character of this book: "Je ne sçai pourquoi Tollius a mis Pierius 1822.] Original Letters from Dr. Richard Grey. Pierius Valerianus au nombre des Sçavans malheureux. Il est vrai qu'il est sorti d'une famille peu aisée; mais cela n'a pas nui à ses études; et il s'est trouvé pendant tout le cours de sa vie dans une situation assez agréable. Ce qu'il dit qu'il fut obligé dans sa jeunesse de se mettre au service de quelques Senateurs de Venise, pour fournir à sa mere et à ses sœurs de quoi subsister, est absolument faux; et il n'apporte pour garant de ce fait que quatre vers de Valerianus, qui ne signifient rien de semblable. "Valerianus a donné à son Ouvrage le nom de Contarenus, parceque le premier livre est un entretien de Gaspar Contareno, Ambassadeur de Venise, avec quelques gens des lettres de Ronie, et qu'il est parle de lui dans le second. On y trouve un grand nombre de faits curieux, qu'on n'a point ailleurs; et c'est ce que cet Auteur nous a donné de plus interressant. Il servit à souhaiter qu'il eût mis des dates aux faits qu'il rapporte; mais ce n'etoit point l'usage de son temps." Niceron again, in his Memoir of J. B. Menckenius, XXXI. 259, speaking of the edition of Valerianus, included in the "Analecta," 1707, together with Josephus Barberius de Miseriá Poetarum Græcorum,—says, "Tous ces Ouvrages meritoient d'être re-imprimés, à l'exception de celui de Barberius, qui n'est qu'une miserable rapsodie." See also Le Clerc, Bibl. Chois. vol. XIV. 136, 137; Vossius, de Hist. Lat. III. 623, &c.; and see "Moral Observations," suggested by this Tract, in "Res Literariæ," I. 214-221. How far I have done well or ill, in endeavouring to bring a work pronounced by Vossius and other great Scholars to be curious and interesting, again within the reach of those readers who are willing to extend their inquiries beyond the trash of a superficial and corrupt age, it is not for me to decide. Some of my friends seem to think that I am thus wasting my time; that nobody now reads the Demiancients; and nobody reads modern Latin. So much the worse for Mr. Somebody! Without modern Latin, all history, political and literary, before the middle of the sixteenth century, must be taken at second-hand. He who is content to read, yet not read the originals, must not set up for radition: and he who persuades himself that he has got at the substance, and that the Moderns have said all that their predecessors have said, and said it ally well, if not better, is an egretious self-deceiver ! B. ORIGINAL Letters to the REV. W. GREEN *. (Continued from vol. LXXXIX. ii. p. 608). 125 "To Rev. W. GREEN, Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. 66 "Sir, AT Hinton, Jan. 10, 1748. T my return out of Leicestershire, where I had the pleasure of seeing your friend Mr. Broughton in good health, I received the faglad if what I have lately published vour of your obliging Letter, and am has given you any satisfaction, or is in any degree acceptable to the learned world. I by no means deserve the compliments you are pleased to bestow upon me; nor do I pretend to any other merit than that of a sincere desire to promote the study of the Holy Scriptures in such a manner as is most likely to procure the veneration that is justly due to them; and to be as useful that way as is in my power. But you seem, Sir, to be sufficiently sensible that the general taste lies another way, and that very small encouragement is given to works of this kind. This indeed is a melancholy reflection, but there is no help for it. The world will go on in its own way. I am not, however, unmindful of what you say to me about an English Job; nor will I absolutely say that I have no inten. tion to go on with what I have begun, provided I can do it without damage to myself or my bookseller: otherwise I believe nobody will expect it from I am, Sir, me. Your most humble servant, "Dear Sir, Hinton. Aug. 3, 1756. "I did not receive the favour of yours dated the 13th of July, till last week; occasioned, as I suppose, by its not being directed, as it should have been, to Hinton near Brackley. I am obliged to you for your kind enquiries after me, and am sorry Mr. Broughton has left Leicester. As to the Sweet Singers, I am not determined whether I shall give myself or the world any further trouble of that kind in my life time. I may possibly leave them behind me in such a manner as, if there should be occasion, they may be published by any other person. You are too partial to me, when you tell me they can never be published to advan * See vol. LXXXIX. ii. p. 3. tage |
