to wear daiding strings. I have no time to enter into a particular detail of the fine things this country abounds with, let it suffice to tell you at present, that the artist finds here whatever may facilitate and improve his studies. The Antique remains of Art, as I said before, are wonderful. The natural scenes are beautiful and uncommon, with an atmosphere so pure and clear, that objects twenty miles distant seem not half the way. The women are in general handsome, they walk admirably, and have a gentility and ease about them peculiar to themselves. "Tis not in the costliness of their habits that they outdo the English, but in the form and manner of wearing them. Vast quantity of fine hair, elegantly disposed of, with sometimes a very small cap, with jewels, &c., are the ornaments of their head, and when they go out, instead of putting on a hat, they wear black gauze, wch is gathered behind and hangs from the upper and back part of the head over the face; of a beautiful woman or rather face, one sees so much as to make one wish to see more, of a plain one it partly conceals the defects. They all wear long trains to their gowns, however ordinary the stuff, wch has a grand effect. The common people dress in the same manner, tho' with worse materials, and from the mutual intercourse one with another, for in the summer months they sit in the streets and pursue their occupations, they have an easyness of deportment that is amazing; their dress, too, which is perfectly easy and picturesque, contributes much to it." "To Miss N. Wright. "Rome, August 14, /74. I am heartily sorry, my dear Nancy, so many uncouth circumstances have happen'd to embitter your life and ruffle that bosom which I know is so well formed for peace and sweet repose. The world, you know, is made up of good and ill, and would not exist but for contrarieties, every individual that helps to compose the whole, has his portion; and happy it is for him whose scale of good fortune makes light the adverse one. Minds there are, my Nancy, so fraught with fortitude, patience, and philosophy, as to blunt the edge of ills, and bear sharp fortune with a degree of composure as is astonishing, but this, my love, is a power, a faculty of mind few can boast of; yet, I flatter not, when I say you possess these virtues in a desirable degree, and now (sorry I am for the occasion), call them forth, and sooth as much as may be, your troubled breast. Well I know how grievous the indisposition of your lover must be to you, yet consider a little time may make a great change in him, he's young and has naturally a good constitution, wh doubtless will soon overcome the present malady. May I prove a good prognosticator, and may you both be happy." "Rome, Aug. 11. * A post or two ago I wrote to my Bro. by which letter you will learn my dear Nancy was safely delivered of a fine little wench, who is now seven weeks old, hearty and bonny, I watch with infinite pleasure its infant state, and slow advances to sensibility. I pray God it may prosper, it will make me happy-our mode of dressing it is so different to the Italian, it raises their admiration; for instead of the loose, light, and easy dress we have, they swaddle their children from head to foot, like so many Egyptian mummies, and have neither use of their hands nor feet, in hot weather it is filthy and intolerable, and I observe when the little creatures are let out of prison at night they discover a pleasure, which condemns the practice." “My pictures are in great estimation here, I am shortly to be introduced to the Pope, It is thought he will honour me with his medal." * * ** * "Mrs. Wright begs to be remembered to you and to your intended lady, with every good wish for your felicity. She is, thank God, well, and the little Roman is very bonny, and the admiration of all that see her" * * * "She's a fine little wench, an Italian gentn who who saw her in the street sometime ago said, what a fine girl she was, but was absurd enough to say at the same time, it was a pity the English shou'd have fine children, they used 'em so cruelly, mine goes almost naked. The Italians load theirs with dress." "A day or two before the time appointed for my introduction to the Pope, he was taken with an indisposition, which in a short time robb'd him of his life and me of my honours. * * Remember me with respect to all my friends, when you see Whitehurst, tell him I wished for his company when on Mount Vesuvius, his thoughts * J. Whitehurst, a celebrated Machinist, and Author of the "Theory of the Earth.” would have center'd in the bowels of the mountain, mine skimmed over the surface only; there was a very considerable eruption at the time, of which I am going to make a picture. 'Tis the most wonderful sight in nature.” Rome, April 13, /74. "What havock, my dear Nancy, does a little time make in the small circle of one's acquaintance, and how weak and tottering is the basis on which human happiness is founded. Poor Mrs. Van! I left her a happy wife, smiling amidst a joyous family, but now by one fatal stroke suddenly involved in bitter calamity, in deep affliction-a sad disconsolate widow. I hope to God Mr. Van has left her so circumstanced that she will feel no additional sorrow on that consideration. He was a good man, and has no doubt done what he could for his dear family. When you see them, or write to them, give my love to them, and say I let fall many a sympathetic tear. While I am in this gloomy scene, let me enquire after the afflicted, pray how does Mrs. Shelton? I fear from your expression, she's relapsed into her old malady. Our good friend Mrs. Fox, amidst the calamities of this world, with her usual good sense and fortitude, I hope keeps up her spirits and is tolerably happy. How does our friends at Chester, and to go a little farther, how is Mr. and Mrs. Clayton, is he got well of his indisposition? Remember me to all my friends, in terms agreeable to the esteem you know I hold them in." "I thought I should have dated this letter from Florence, but I am like all other artists that come here, who much outstay their intended time, and at last leave the noble and renowned city (Rome) with reluctance. Notwithstanding, I have been very industrious, more so perhaps than has been consistent with my health, yet shall I leave undone many things that I covet much to have. I have staid a month longer than I intended, to have an answer from Mr. Baxter, the Russian Consul, concerning the picture I have painted of Mount Vesuvius in a great eruption, 'tis the grandest effect I ever painted. If the Empress is to have it, it must be shipped from Leghorn to St. Petersburg, and I must wait here to see it off." "Here (Parma) is the famous picture of Correggio, of which how shall I dare to speak but in the current terms of exalted praise. If my opinion does not exactly coincide with the world's, it is not from any affectation of being singular in my opinion, but the result of such judgment as I have, divested of every thing that has been said for and against it. The picture is beautifully coloured, has surprising brilliancy without whiteness, and is very harmorious. The parts are very round and forcibly painted, but so laboured as to beget tameness, I had almost said woodenness in many parts. The trees are wonderfully soft, but they want those beautiful turns and expressions, those spirited touches we see in nature, and which keep high finished pictures from appearing heavy. The flesh is finely coloured, is very clean, and has a sanguine appearance that is very pleasing, but withal not so true as Titian's Venus. The draperies are neither very finely set nor painted, nor had Correggio the finest eye for shapes; yet after all the whole together is wonderfully sweet, and one can't help being charmed with the effects." FROM "THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE," JUNE, 1795. "When this celebrated painter (Wright of Derby) was at Rome, he painted that very fine figure, "The Captive," from Sterne, and consigned the picture to a friend in London, who having advice of its being landed, and deposited in the Custom House, presented a petition to the Board, stating that it was a portrait painted by an English artist, and praying it might be delivered duty free. In answer to this he received an order to attend on a given day, and was brought before their honours. The picture was produced, and the first question asked, was, 'Of whom is it the portrait?" The gentleman replied with truth, it was the portrait of a Roman (for it was copied from a Roman beggar), and the Board seemed inclined to let it pass; but an old gentleman who had long been a Commissioner, made a shrewd objection, and remarked that this was such a portrait as he had never before seen in bis life, and taken in a manner that he did not believe either Roman, Greek, Turk, Jew, or Infidel, would ever consent to 'sit.' 'If,' he added, any gentleman at this Honourable Board chose to have his picture drawn, would not he put on a clean shirt, and have his wig fresh powdered, and be clean shaved; answer me that? To be sure he would. Now, it is here pretended, that this fellow sat for his portrait, who had hardly a rag to cover his nakedness; gentlemen, if he could have afforded to have paid for painting his picture, he could have afforded to buy himself a pair of breeches!' He added by moving that the duty might be paid; and the duty was paid accordingly." On Soon after Wright's return from Italy, an Irish Bishop desired to have a large picture of Vesuvius, and on passing through Derby, called at his painting rooms to look at it. The mountain and burning lava were nearly finished, but the foreground being only laid in, there wanted the bold dark parts to give effect to the brilliant lights. seeing it, the Bishop literally addressed him in the language used by Hayley, in the following lines, and in consequence, Wright would not allow him to have the picture, nor would he ever sell it. It hung in his dining-room during his life-time, and is still in the possession of a member of his family. THE BISHOP AND THE PAINTER - A TRUE STORY. A Bishop who wish'd to be rank'd with a few "I wonder you think of employing your hand "On a branch of your art that you don't understand." "Hold meanness and pride, tho' you're mantled in lawn, Ye shall meet due contempt, and your masque be withdrawn, A Genius so modest, with insult so base. You black dilletante! hence learn to your shame, No mortal can give more expression to flame! If in flashes more brilliant your eyes wish to dwell, Your Lordship must go for your picture to From the plan I propose, tho' not much to your heart, Hayley intended these lines to be inserted in the newspapers, and sent them to Wright for his approbation, who thought them so very severe, that he objected to their being published, and only showed them to a few of his most intimate friends. The original copy (from which they are for the first time printed), is now in the possession of a member of the family, to whom they were given by one of Wright's executors, John Holland, Esq., of Ford House. (To be continued.) Rev. C. Collier deb L JEWITT SU NOTICE OF THE DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS AT BISHOPSTOKE, HANTS. BY THE REV. C. COLLIER, M. A., F. S. A., ETC. FROM Venta Belgarum (Winchester), runs a Roman road to Clausentum (Bitterne, near Southampton), passing through the station Ad Lapidem (Stoneham). We may remark, that the derivation of the Saxon term Stoneham, from Ad Lapidem, the Roman name, will be at once perceived. Along this line of road, which can be distinctly traced in many places, are found, frequently, relics of Roman occupation, in the shape of urns, coins, and domestic utensils. Not far from Ad Lapidem is a busy railway junction, called Bishopstoke, and immediately adjoining this spot labourers have been employed for some time excavating for ballast for the permanent way. Last week the workmen suddenly broke into a leaden coffin, containing the greater part of a skeleton. The coffin and its contents were removed to a shed adjoining, and a few days ago I had an opportunity of carefully investigating the entire remains. The lead which formed the cist was about a quarter of an inch in thickness. The cist had not been cast in a mould, but the lead cut so as to form sides. The lid appeared to be formed of one sheet, and had been bent or lapped over the lower part of the coffin. The lead was much corroded, and lime had evidently been placed inside the coffin. I saw none of the ornamentation on the outside, so common on leaden cists, viz.-the scallop shell and bead ornament. Nearly the whole of the skeleton remained. Whether the missing bones-the right leg bones and adjacent parts—had been destroyed by the workmen, or eaten by time, I cannot say. I recollect seeing the skeleton of a monk of S. Swithun's Priory in the same imperfect condition, although it had never been touched by man. The skull was broken, and the skeleton was injured in other respects. The teeth were perfect and good. After a careful examination, in connection with an archæologist of some repute, we felt convinced that the remains were those of a female. Inside the cist were the remains of small glass bottles, probably lachrymatories. The glass was thin, and of a very pale green colour. There was no appearance of handles to the glass vessels, nor were there any marks of ornamentation on them, except a faint line or ring marked upon one of the three necks found. I examined the dust around the head of the skeleton, and on the sides of the cist, but found neither relic nor coin. E On examining the spot where the remains were found, fortunately left undisturbed by the workmen, I found a quantity of pieces of wood, black and friable as if charred, proving clearly that the leaden cist had evidently been placed in a wooden shell. I found no nails, although, under such circumstances, they are generally found on the spot. The body lay from east to west: the head to the west. The depth of the grave was about 5 feet. As the excavations are likely to be continued in the neighbourhood for some time, we shall probably hear of more discoveries of the kind. I think there can be no doubt that the interment was by the Romans. It was by no means uncommon for that people to bury their dead in leaden coffins enclosed in wood. "Coffins of this character have been found," says Wright, "at Colchester, York, London, and elsewhere." Besides, as I remarked above, it was found near the Roman road, and on the flat low land where we might have expected to find Roman villas, and burial-places. The remains of the glass showed the material to be far more sparkling, and much purer, than that found with Saxon remains. The coffin measured 5 feet 6 inches in length, inside; and its interior breadth was 161⁄2 inches. Hants, January, 1864. EXTRACTS FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS OF YOULGREAVE, IN THE COUNTY OF DERBY. BY JOHN SLEIGH, ESQ. THESE Registers, beginning A.D. 1558, are in excellent preservation, and for the most part perfectly legible. Seeing that Lysons' notice of the great snow of 1614 is incomplete, I have thought well to give both the English and Latin versions of that remarkable occurrence, especially as in a very few years, owing to damp and abrasion, it will probably be utterly impossible to decipher the more clerkly entry. Stowe's account varies somewhat in dates, "The 17th Jany. 1614'5, began a great frost with extreame snow, which continued until the 14 Feb.; & albeit the violence of the frost & snow some dayes abated, yet it continued freezing & snowing much or little until the 7 March, whereby much cattel perished, as well old as young, & in some places, divers devised snow ploughes to cleare the ground, & to fodder cattel; this snow was very dangerous to all travailers." Briefs, of which the Youlgreave Registers contain an unusually full list, were abolished by Act of Parliament, 9th George IV., 15th July, 1828. 1558 Aug. 21. 1574 Oct. 3. 1575 Aug. 3. MARRIAGES. Thomas Creychloe & Grace Woad. |