496 Water Tower, Kensington. --Tabley Hall, Cheshire. (June, vided the legitimate bounds of criti- E. P. WATER, OR BELL TOWER, KENSINGTON. HE singular fabrick On the West side of the hall is a chimney-piece richly decorated with fanciful ornaments, date 1619; and opposite to it a large bay window, in which is emblazoned the Leycester pedigree in stained glass. The island on which the building stands is planted in a manner which exhibits the old hall, the lake, and Tin the annexed Engravirespted surrounding scenery, to the greatest Engraving (Plute II. No. 1.)* was built in the reign of Queen Anne, for the purpose of sup plying the Palace of Kensington with water, but the situation being found too low, it is not now used. Upon surveying it in the summer of 1820, the dimensions were found to be as follow: Height of the middle tower to the ft. in. stone fillet....... Above the stone fillet to the top... Height of the middle tower Height of the outside turrets above the middle tower 26 3 3 29 8 11 6 advantage. domestic chapel of brick, finished In the South-east part of it is a with large bay windows at the sides, a pointed East window, and a bell turret at the West end. The interior is neatly fitted up with oak desks, and precisely resembles a College Chapel. Over the door is the date 1675. On the East of this lake is the stately mansion of Sir John Leicester, who has rendered himself as celebrated by his princely patronage of the Fine 7 Arts, as his skilful predecessor did in Topographical and Antiquarian researches. This building stands on an easy elevation, within an extensive park, about two miles West of Knutsford. It is erected from the designs of Carr, and consists of a centre, with retiring wings, connected with the centre by corridors, the ground plan of which forms a segment of a circle. Behind the house are the stables, which are on a very extensive scale, and occupy three sides of a qua drangle. In the centre of the South Height of the outside turrets... 40 An accurate description of this Building has already appeared in our Magazine (vol. LXXXV. i. p. 423) from the classical pen of the late Mr. John Carter, whose exertions to preserve the spirit of our National Architecture, deserve, and have received, the highest commendations. TABLEY HALL, CHESHIRE. is an interesting view of the old Hall of Tabley, once the residence of the celebrated Antiquary, Sir Peter Leycester, of whom a biographical account was given in vol. XC. ii. 432. This venerable building is romantically situated on an island in the midst of an extensive lake. It appears to have been originally quadrangular; but the Eastern side only remains, the exterior front of which is completely covered with ivy: the other side being a part of the interior of the former quadrangle, is composed of timber and plaister. order, supported by four columns formed out of single blocks of Runcorn stone, and approached by a magnificent flight of steps. The principal living-rooms occupy the first floor; and the three apartments on the Western side have been thrown together to form a picture-gallery, which is upwards of seventy feet in length and thirty in breadth, and which certainly possesses an additional degree of variety and richness of effect, from the arches and projec tions which occupy the place of the partition-walls. this point and the portico is singe The general view of the park from larly pleasing, the elevation being sufficient to command a view over the wooded country around*. This brief description has been priscipally gleaned from Mr. Ormerod's valuable and elegant "History of Cheshire." 1821.] Progress of Anecdotal Literature. THE CENSOR.-No. VIII. AN INQUIRY INTO THE PROGRESS OF E return as quickly as possible pears more advisable to bring it to its own natural conclusion. In this we are aware that we shall incur the blame of several of our readers, who will turn Censors upon us, consider ing part of what is here set before them as neither old nor rare, and therefore as belonging to another department of our Miscellany; but, patience, gentle Sirs, we have a few reasons to state, although 66 upon compulsion," and if not "as plenty as blackberries," they may serve to conciliate some of you. The original design of these essays was to enter upon what might be termed, with a little exaggeration, A HISTORY or ANECDOTE, and the progressive system seemed to us the most eligible: it is true, we might with other intentions have given "analyses of, and extracts from," publications originally detached, and never as yet brought together in any united form; but such a plan would have produced nothing more than a list of books, with recommendatory paragraphs, equally well adapted to the pages of a newspaper or a catalogue: but our ambition looked higher-to connect a series of works hitherto disregarded, except in their individual capacity, to trace their progress from early times to the present, and to introduce names now forgotten, or scarcely remembered, was the wish of Sylvanus Urban: his readers must decide as to his performance. The series of which we speak has been at length brought down to a period not very distant; nor would it be just to class the residue with the ephemeral volumes now passing under review: such an arrangement would lead our readers to suppose that we despised every thing of recent date; and our view of what remains will not be very extensive, in which we shall, perhaps, meet their wishes. It would be an endless as well as an unprofitable labour, to "grub" thro' Little Britain or Chiswell Street, for such transformations of Joe Miller as bave appeared from time to time at those celebrated depôts for small 499 pamphlets. Since the death of that worthy Jester, the Press has groaned under anecdotal trash, more honoured in oblivion than remembrance; but the evil is not without its antidote, the merit of this species of collection nor has it shown itself unworthy the acknowledgment. In our last paper we mentioned several works to which Literature may proudly appeal, but which cannot come within our design as fugitive or neglected. One volume of this description lies before us, now scarcely known to exist, but which has a claim to notice, out of respect to the person whose name it bears: "Derrick's Jests; or, The Wit's Chronicle, &c. Also, a Collection of Poetical Pieces on various subjects. By Mr. Derrick and others. Dedicated to the Publick." London, printed for J. Fell, in Paternosterrow. 12mo, pp. 76. Samuel Derrick, one of those children of misfortune, who seem to be gifted with talents and an exquisite sensibility, that they may feel their situation more strongly, was born at Dublin in 1724, and followed the business of a linen-draper in that city. He came to London in 1751, with no better prospect than that of literary drudgery; and going upon the stage, attempted the character of Gloster in Jane Shore, with such ill success, as to prevent his obtaining any engagement, or even repeating the part. Penury introduced him to the society of Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose acquaintance he lived to boast of; as well as an intimacy with Boswell and other literati, but never emerged from the "res angusta domi," till the death of Beau Nash in 1761, when he was appointed Master of the Ceremonies (commonly called King) at Bath and Tunbridge; in which situation he obtained a comfortable, tho' by no means independent, livelihood, and died in 1769. He published the Life of Dryden, a volume of Poems, and several Pamphlets; and translated Sylla, a drama written by the King of Prussia. Like other collections, the one before us is spoiled by coarseness intolerable to a refined ear. The following, however, is adapted even to royalty: "Mr. Derrick used to say, that the 500 Progress of Anecdotal Literature. For nothing can be truer, Than that there never were of Verses more, We now pass to a Wit, whose memory enjoys a better reputation than that of poor Derrick,-Caleb Whiteford, a native of Scotland, of whom few particulars have reached us. He is well known by the appellation of Papyrius Cursor (the real name of an antient Roman), which he affixed to his ingenious Cross-readings, selected from the "St. James's Chronicle." Some lines addressed to him on this subject are usually appended to Goldsmith's poem of "Retaliation," to which we refer our Readers. From this period the features of Anecdote are familiar to every one; and in the works we lately enumerated will be found all that are important still, we have to notice a collection yet in progress, of a more voluminous appearance than any of its predecessors, THE PERCY ANEC DOTES. It is not our intention to specify the successive parts of which this work is composed; such as wish merely to know their titles, may become acquainted with them through the monthly advertisements which precede their birth; and in future years, when the book shall be of a decent age and rarity, information concerning it will without doubt be found in the Reviews, and in the "Literary Chronicle," a work at least co-durable. Still less is it necessary to fill our pages with extracts, except from one Part, entitled "Anecdotes of George the Third and his Family." We feel great pleasure in transcribing the following article, as it exhibits his late Majesty in the most favourable light, with regard to morality, and the prevalence of example: "Gaming proscribed at Court. "His Majesty very early exhibited that strong abhorrence of gaming, which he preserved during his life. It had been long a custom in the English Court, as well as every other Court in Europe, to [June, celebrate Twelfth Day, with religious ce remonials in the morning, and cheerful amusements in the evening. These his Majesty never attempted to restrain; but when he found that the game of hazard was indiscriminately played throughout the palace, and that many thousands were lost, under the appearance of the royal sanction, he was determined to correct the abuse. He first restricted the number of tables, then limited the hours of play, and, lastly, banished the game of hazard altogether from his palace. After this interdiction, which excited much discontent in the household, cards were substi tuted; but when his Majesty found that the evil had only changed its name and appearance, and that deep play was still issued, that no kind of gaming whatever carried on at St. James's, an order was should be permitted, under the penalty of the person offending forfeiting his situa tion." P. 72. Preliminary puffs, advertisements, and recommendations on the wrappers, state this collection to have been made "by Sholto and Reuben Percy, brothers of the Benedictine Monastery, Mont Benger." This statement is generally considered as of no authenticity, and report has attributed the work (we know not for what reason) to W. Hamilton, esq. Under Secretary of State. Although we do not approve of the form of publication, detached anecdotes, without cited authorities, we must pros nounce the labours of Messrs. Percy to be externally elegant, and internally amusing; and what similar works profess to be, "a cheerful fireside companion." But to us Anecdotes are of higher importance; for, unless they border on history or personal biography, the labour is lost that amasses them. A national collection might be formed after the manner of Camden, from printed works as well as the numerous MSS. yet unexplored in our public libraries, with authorities, and some slight information (which might be conveyed in notes) of the persons to whom they relate; such a work it may be our lot hereafter to examine; and should any spirited friend to the Literature of his Country commence such an undertaking, honour would be the certain reward. For ourselves, we assure our Readers, that whatsoever assistance or testimony in his favour old Sylvanus Urban could confer, should gratefully be given. |