office suggest no better employment for a really superior intellect than the tagging of such unimproving rhymes?

"Many of the old actors who were contemporary with Shakspeare were buried here. Some of the mimists of the Fortune and Globe theatres ended their revels under these stones; and perhaps the bard of Avon mourned here in the funeral train of some of his lost companions.

"Sir Martin Frobisher, a hero among the earliest of the Arctic voyagers, found a grave in this church, where also rests that singular being Henry Welby, the Grub Street hermit, whose exemplary charity more than atoned for his eccentric habits. The friend of the poor during his protracted life, few men excited more genuine sorrow at his death. The mighty Protector, Oliver Cromwell, has left a memory here, for the register records his marriage with Elizabeth Bouchier, August 20, 1620.

"A far more illustrious name than either of these-that of John Milton-is connected with this sanctuary, and with circumstances highly discreditable. According to Todd, the remains of Milton were attended to the grave by all his learned and great friends in London, not without a friendly concourse of the vulgar. He was buried next his father, in the chancel of St. Giles, Cripplegate. In August, 1790, the spot where his body had been deposited was opened, and a corpse, hastily supposed to be his, was exposed to public view. There was a tradition in the parish that his remains were laid under the spot where the clerk's desk had formerly stood in the chancel; and curiosity being excited on the subject, the vestry clerk, churchwardens, and others, opened the grave, in which they found a leaden coffin, lying over a wooden one, imagined to be that of Milton's father. The ground was immediately closed, but opened again the next morning, the overseers in the meantime having caroused over the discovery, and resolved to turn it to account. Cutting open the leaden coffin, they found a body in its shroud, and believing it to be that of the poet, they extracted the teeth, cut off the hair, which was six inches long, combed and tied together, and then left the scattered remains to the grave-diggers, who were permitted to exhibit them for money to the public.

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Mr. Neve, of Furnival's Inn, who published an account of the transaction, was satisfied that the body was that of Milton, while others contended that it was a female corpse, relying in part as a proof of this on the long hair; yet we know that Milton always wore his hair long. Stevens particularly lamented the indignity sustained by the venerable relics, though he doubted their identity.

"Mr. Lofft, one of Milton's editors, noticing the burial in St. Giles's Church, censures 'the sordid mischief allowed there, and the market made of the eagerness with which curiosity or admiration prompted persons to possess themselves of the supposed remains. It were to be wished that neither superstition, affectation, idle curiosity, nor avarice, should so frequently invade the silence of the grave. Far from honouring the illustrious dead, it is outraging the commoun condition of humanity. Dust and ashes have no intelligence to give, whether beauty, genius, or virtue informed the animated clay.'

"Whether the body thus found was really that of Milton or not, it is impossible to apologize for the scandalous outrage thus committed. It seems wholly inconsistent with the reverence due to the inspired author of 'Paradise Lost,' or, indeed, with any appreciative knowledge of his excellence."

So far for "London Scenes.' Of "London People," we would willingly, if space permitted, quote a sketch of Peter Stokes, the " Flying Pieman," who, swallowing pride, and selling puddings and pies, contrived to maintain his family in comfort and respectability when his own profession denied him that pleasure.

We commend the book as a very readable and pleasant one, and in doing so must give its publisher, Mr. Collingridge, a good word for the elegant and excellent manner in which he has issued it.

SCOTTISH HERALDRY.*

ONLY in our last number we took occasion, while speaking of two English works on the "noble science," to speak at some length on the value and importance of the study of Heraldry, and of the advantages which must result from an acquaintance with that science. It is unnecessary therefore, on the present occasion, to speak again upon that subject, further than to call attention to another, and truly excellent, addition to heraldic literature which has just been issued from the press. We allude to Mr. Seton's volume on the law and practice of Heraldry in Scotland-a work which is most acceptable to heralds and antiquaries on either side the Border-and is one of the best which has been issued either from the English or Scottish press. Mr. Seton, who evidently thoroughly understands his subject, and is an ardent lover of Heraldry as a science, opens his work with a cleverly written introduction, on the origin and history of Heraldry, its historical importance and symbolical character. This he follows by a chapter on the early jurisdiction of the Heralds in matters relating to armorial bearings, with especial reference to those of Scotland; and by others specially devoted to the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon, to the practice of his court, and to all matters relating to that high office.

An excellent chapter on ancient Scottish seals, as a source of heraldic knowledge, follows, and this we especially commend to notice, as containing more knowledge and more really valuable information on this important subject, than any thing which has yet been written. If for nothing else than this one chapter, we should heartily com

*The Law and Practice of Heraldry in Scotland. By GEORGE SETON, Advocate. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas. 1 Vol. 8vo. pp. 548, 1863. Illustrated with Plates and Wood Engravings.

mend Mr. Seton's volume to the notice of our readers. This is followed by chapters on the right to bear supporters; on Heraldic succession; and the succession of strange heirs to the armorial bearings of a family; on the assumption and change of surnames and arms; on the Royal arms of Scotland, and on odds and ends connected with every branch of the science. In an appendix, Mr. Seton has brought together notices of all the Lyon Kings, from the middle of the XV. century; and of Lyon Deputies from the XVII. century; together with Armorial Patents, Acts of Parliament, Lists of Scottish Heraldic and Genealogical MSS. preserved in the Advocate's Library, the Lyon Office, the British Museum, and in private hands.

The work, it will thus be seen from this very brief outline of its contents, is as full of information, and as complete as it is possible to make it, and the best thanks of every genealogist, and every student in Heraldry, whether English or Scotch, are eminently due to its learned author, Mr. Seton, for the labours he has bestowed over it, and for the immense amount of information which he has got together and presented to them in so well arranged a form. We must not omit to say, that the volume is profusely illustrated with wood engravings and lithographic plates, which add immeasurably to its usefulness and value.

ENGLAND AND DENMARK.*

THOSE who desire to know, and who does not? any thing about the different alliances which have taken place from the earliest to the present time, when so happy and auspicious an one has just been brought about, we refer to a little work just issued by Mr. John Gough Nichols, where they will find all that can possibly be gathered together on the subject. At a time when every body's attention is being directed to Denmark, and when every body is anxious to know something of the history of its Royal family, Mr. Nichols has very thoughtfully brought to bear his extensive genealogical and historical knowledge on the subject, and has produced as complete and reliable a history as it is possible to obtain from any source. We strongly recommend it as being the best two shillings worth of knowledge we have seen on this interesting matter.

GEOLOGY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LEEK.-In our last number, while reviewing Mr. Sleigh's History of Leek, we said "we must not omit to say that the history is accompanied by a paper on the Geology of Leek and the District,' by Mr. Thomas Wardle, and mainly derived from the labours of Mr. Carrington, of Wetton," &c. We have great pleasure in stating, at the request of Mr. Wardle, that it is the list of Limestone fossils only, which was "mainly derived" from the labours of Mr. Carrington, as acknowledged in the work, and not the information contained in the paper itself. We may take occasion now to say, what space denied us last time, that the chapter on the geology of this rich and interesting district, by Mr. Wardle, is by far the fullest and best which has yet been written, and forms an excellent addition to Mr. Sleigh's volume.

Notes, Queries, and Gleanings.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE RELIQUARY.

SIR,-I have just noticed in an article in No. IX. of the "RELIQUARY," entitled, "Chantrey and Norton," an allusion to the doubt which hangs over the sculptor's "claim to the origination of the design of the far-famed monument of "The Sleeping Children' in Lichfield Cathedral." May I give you a short note on the subject?

Exactly two years ago, this Midsummer, I was in London on a visit to my friends, and had frequent opportunities of conversing with a late eminent sculptor, who had been one of Chantrey's pupils. One day, when I called upon him at his house, our conversation turned on Chantrey, and I questioned the aged artist about the "farfamed monument." He smiled, and observed that the world in its blind adoration of a great name, is liable to be often much deceived. "Chantrey," said he, "had little or nothing to do with the 'Sleeping Children.' The order came in and was proceeded with in the ordinary way, and nobody in the studio looked upon the work as being at all marvellous, even when it was completed. The artist who really turned off the famous piece of sculpture was Legee; I and Legee," said my friend, "worked together at the same bench, and I know that he executed the whole thing from first to last."

*The Family Alliances of Denmark and Great Britain from the earliest times to the present. Illustrated by Genealogical Tables and a Plate of the Arms of Denmark. By JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS, F.S.A. London: Nichols & Son, 25, Parliament Street. 1 Vol. 8vo. 1863, pp. 46. Illustrated.