The autumnal equinox, when day and I and beat; can any thing prevent their feeling night is again equal over the whole globe, the utmost averfion to fpending their Sunhappens about the twenty-third of Sep- days in this manner, or be more likely to tember. This, as well as the vernal, is injure their health and spoil their tempers, and give them a hatred to every thing ferious generally attended with forms, which for the rest of their lives. throw down much of the fruit yet remaining on the trees. By the end of this month, the leaves of many trees have their verdure impaired, and begin to put on their autumnal colours; which, however, are not complete till the enfuing month. Let us confider how small a part of the year the weather is comfortably moderate, and how indifferently the poor are fupplied with remedies against the intemperature of the feafon; but when at liberty, by active exercifes when cold, and enjoying quiet in the fhade, or rolling upon the grafs in the heat, they contrive to feel little inconvenience from them. Compare thefe indulgences to the condition of the poor little prifoners, nearly fuffocated in a little clofe room in the heat, Thofe fweet and mellow-toned fongfters, the woodlark, thrush and blackbird, now begin their autumnal music. The most useful fruit this country af- To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. and tarved for want of fire in the winter, fords, the apple, fucceffively ripens, according to its different kinds, from July to September or October; but the principal harveft of them is about the clofe of this month. They are now gathered for our English vintage, the cyder-making, which in fome counties is a bufy and important employment. Autumn paints Aufenian hills with grapes, whilst English plains Now, now's the time; ere hafty funs forbid PHILIPS. The apples are taken either fresh from the tree, or after they have lain a while to mellow, and crufhed in a mill, and then preffed, till all their juice is extracted. This is fet to ferment, whence it becomes cyder, which may properly be called applewine. Pears treated in the fame manner yield a vinous liquor, called perry. Thefe are the common drink in the counties where they are chiefly made. Another agreeable product both of our thickets and gardens, the hazel-nut, is fit for gathering at this time. Ye virgins come. For you their latest fong The acorns now begin to fall from the oak, and the nuts from the beech; both which have the name of mast. Thefe, in countries where there are large forefts, afford a plentiful food to fwine, which are turned into the woods at this feafon. SIR, MUCH has been faid upon the fubject of ties of the church to be as much encouraged were the children to be catechifed, and a fhort for fo many hours in the day as they might otherwife pafs in pleafant and profitable exerciles; for fuch as contribute to the health contented frame of mind, are certainly to be reckoned fo. But numbers forced and kept together in fuch ill humour as fo great a conftraint must occafion, what kind of difpofition is it likely to promote, but an averfion to religion; just like the fetaries of the lait age, who, by difguifing religion with their four manners and unamiable behaviour, made it appear odious, inftead of attracting, as it always is, when fhown in its true and native beauty. Befides this, the bringing numbers fo conftantly together will hardly fail to have by fuch injudicious constraint, who will be a full effect, especially with tempers foured apt to vent themfelyes in blameable expreffions, and an audacious behaviour. Modeity and innocence are certainly beft preferved among a few, and will have much fewer temptations to tranfgrefs in little parties of two or three children together, innocently walking out to enjoy the free air, or amusing themselves with more active and robust sports. I fhall conclude, Sir, with withing fuccefs to every judicious endeavour to promote refor mation, and that thofe which are otherwife right, the fooner the project in queftion falls may be fpeedily dropped. If my opinion is the better. I might add, that the proper obfervation of Sunday has often been remarked to be a great instrument of civilization, and and ftrength of the body, and chearful and preferving a fenfe of religion amongst us; but then after the duties of the church it has always been confidered (by the church of public nature as people, and efpecially chil- laft Magazine. A MAN, a WOMAN, and a CHILD. To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. left they offend the clergy, that there is no crime, however atrocious, which they may not commit with impunity. "I often (fays Abbe Reynal) fee priefs go to prifon, but SIR, never to execution." M. M. HE convent of the Minorities at Alcantara, in Spain, being lately burnt, the workmen, in clearing away the rubbish, found five dungeons filled with dead bodies. The Friars fay they are the remains of delinquents general there is lefs real devotion in the reP. S. I am perfectly convinced, that in who had been detected in brutal practices.ligious houfes of both fexes, in proportion, But after all, are they not the remains of than in the world at large. Every thing bodies who have been put there by monaftic brutes? I fear they are, and I will tell you within the walls of convents is done according to exact rule, hour, &c. but it is done, as why. During my continental excurfions, I plays are acted, every member has a part to was told the following tale by a Spaniard of perforin, and they perform it, but the Mind, probity, and a zealous catholic.-Being, he I fufpect, has little concern about the matter. faid, upon a long journey, and much fatigued, he arrived at his Pofada (Inn) rather early, and after ordering his Olio to be prepared for fupper, he went to vefpers at a convent hard by, and intended alfo to confefs. But having A RELATION OF eftate and reputation in the weft of England, was fo blafted, that either in that, or the following fhort reign of Queen Mary, he was fo impoverished as to be outlawed, and not able to get bail for ten pounds, against whom the fame Bifhop Capon, that had conveyed to the Protector, preferred his bill in Chancery, in the reign of Queen Mary, before Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York, Lord Chancellor, on whofe allegation well proved, that he had been overawed, by being put in fear of his life, to país that eftate to the Protector, it was by his decree refettled on the church. Shirbourne being fo returned unto, continued in the church of Sarum the remainder of Bifhop Capon's time, and (I prefume) Bishop Jewell's, his next fucceflor, till after the ftatute in Queen Elizabeth's placed himself in the confeffional box, he fell SHIRBOURNE CASTLE time, reftraining churches and colleges IN DORSETSHIRE. WH at afleep, and did not awake till towards midnight, when he was alarmed by feeing from making any laws longer than for 21 two Friars leading a female up the church, years, or three lives, except to the Queen with a handkerchief tied over her eyes. Such (From a curious MS. dated Nov. 18, 1675.) or her fuccellors (which claufe is fuppofed a fpectacle alarmed him too much on his own to have been inferted by Sir Walter Raaccount, as well as on the woman's, to make 7ILLIAM the Conqueror created leigh's means, then a prime favourite, with his appearance; but the confeffional boxes Ofmund, one of his Norman comare fo pierced, that it is easy to fee all that manders, the first Earl of Dorset, and be- after moft worthily expunged out of the a felfish eye to Shirbourne, and which was paffes in the church without being feen, and ftowed on him Shirbourne caftle, with the act of King James). After which ftatute, he faw to his utmost astonishment, a ftone great eftate appendant. He in his later Sir Walter Raleigh procured the then raifed from the pavement, and the woman fo years becoming devout, was confecrated Bishop (Gheaft, I imagine) to grant a long led over it as to disappear initantly, without bithop of Sarum, and gave to that fee the leafe to the Queen, which the forthwith having even time to implore mercy, or perfaid caftle and eftate, whose next fucceffor, reconveyed to him, of Shirbourne, on haps without having any previous knowledge that he was leading to certain death. Roger, (Lord Chief Juftice, Lord Chan-whofe attainder it returned to the crown, The Monks then relaid the ftone and dif- cellor, and Lord Treafurer) falling into and was by King James beftowed on Prince appeared, and the affrighted traveller was the difpleasure of King William Rufus, or Henry, who within a fhort time died in obliged to remain till the church doors King Henry I. Shirbourne was confifcated, the flower of his years, immaturely, and were opened for morning prayers, when and continued in the crown thence forhe got away without any one knowing wards, till King Henry III. all thofe Kings furmiles of violence; on whofe death King not without fome (I fuppofe groundless) where he had lodged. On his return to his inn he was belet by his hoft and hoft (with their heirs and families) being fig- James beftowed the fame on his favourite, cls, with a furious charge of having fe-nally unfortunate and calamitous in their Carr, Earl of Somerfet; on whofe attainduced away their daughter. He pleaded in- respective reigns, or deaths, or both. der his then Majefty granted the fame to nocence, and affured them that he had never Henry III. palied away the faid manor to John Lord Digby, the first Earl of Bristol, spoke to her, or even feen her, but that if they the noble family of the Montacutes, after, who died in exile for his loyalty; his fon would be quiet and prudent, he had reafon to in the time of King Edward III. created George, the next Earl, having not been believe he could give them a fad account of Earls of Salisbury. But in the interiin, any over profperous poffeflor of it; and her fate, and defired they would inftantly attend him to the nearest magistrate, where he came either to untimely ends, or were three of that family, pofleflors thereof, his fon, the prefent Earl, twice married, related what had paffed under his own eyes however otherwife very unfortunate. After yet childless. in the chapel belonging to the convent of which Robert Wyvill, in the reign of King Edward III. then Bishop of Sarum, challenged from the faid Earl of Salisbury, To the Editor of the COUNTY Magazine, Montacute, Shirbourne, and other lands Montacute, Shirbourne, and other lands MAGAZINE, alienated from his fee. The matter was ready to be decided by fingle combat; and when the Earl's and Bishop's champions, The magiftrate wrote to the prior, told him he had fomething of the utmost importance to communicate to him and his whole order, and defired they might be all affembled as foon as poffible in their chapel, where he would wait upon them at a fixed hour. They aflembled accordingly, when the traveller re SIR, HE Ilated what he had feen in the prefence of the ready armed, were entering into the lifts, following fmall sketch of the life whole fraternity; but though he examined the perfons and the countenances of all the members, he was unable to fix upon the two guilty Monks. The flone however was raifed, the girl was found dead in a pit beneath, and being opened, it appeared he was far gone with child; and as this convent was her conftant place of devotion, and fhe never confefed but to two particular Monks of that houfe, it is probable her confeffors were the debauchers and murderers of the unfortunate girl. I have no doubt but accidents of this kind are very common, efpecially in the fouthern parts of Europe; but fuch is the awe and fear of the commonalty of the people, on the King's interpofing and mediation, of that original genius, Sir William Petty, great grandfather of the prefent Earl of Shelburne, by his daughter Ann, Countefs of Kerry, it is hoped will be acceptable. As few inftances of a rapid advance to opulence and dignity have been more remarkable, the writer thinks it entitled to fome attention, and that it may be a means of inftigating others to fecond your withes of collecting whatever is curious or interefting in provincial biography, topography, &c. He fears that his own communica tions in this department can be but few, but affures your Readers, that his mite shall not be wanting, at all convenient opportunities, though he trufts that others, poffeffed of more variety of authentic materials, will freely beftow their talents liberally. His paternal inheritance probably was but fmall. His poffeffions in Ronfey, in 1685, were only a house with four tenements, and about eight acres of meadow and arable land, which were then valued only at 30l. per annum. Though his father, who was a clothier, found cans to give his fon a good education, his property could not be great, and the fon's views were interrupted, probably by his father's death, after his being entered of Oxford univerfity. He was afterwards in the navy, but left it in 1643, when the civil war became ferious, about five years from his leaving fchool. Having now faved 6ol. he retired, to the Netherlands, and ftudied phyfic more than three years, and in 1647 returned with about 70l. though cefs must have exceeded his most fanguine His treatife of political arithmetic, with HERE LAYES SIR WILLIAM PETY. About a year after his death, his relict was created Baronefs which fo far degrades the human character, as to impofe upon the weakness of our nature by falfe and bafe pretenfions. There are two ways in which fuch pretenfions are expofed: firft, in cafes when the cafualties of fortune happen to advance us in the fcale of fociety; and fecondly, when they inflict on us the fting of poverty. It too often happens in the theatre of life, that when we experience an inftance of the first kind, we are so puffed up with a falfe idea of our exalted station, that we look down with contempt on those whom before we welcomed as friends and companions; and our hearts are so fwoln with pride, that rather than acknowledge "multa confuetudine conjuncti fumus," we prostitute all fenfe of truth, by difowning all former acquaintance with them. In the next inftance, it is a modern practice, whenever fortune frowns upon a man, for imaginable friendship for him, to defert, those who in his profperity profeffed all he maintained his brother, who died about remainder only to her eldeft fon, Charles, and even difown him; and they all with two years after. Returning again to Oxford, in four years he obtained his degree of Doctor of Phyfic, and was immediately admitted of the College of Phyficians in London, at which time, his expences being paid, he had no more than 281. From this period we may date his good fortune. He became Fellow of Brazen who died without iffue. The title has been Aug. 15, 1786. SIR, J. M. Romfey, Aug. 22, 1786. IF you approve of the following Senti- Yours, True it is, that adverfity trieth friends; one voice exclaim, " eft afflictus, et jacens." for till then, all proffers of kindness, and other marks of diftinction, may arise from many motives befides thofe of real friendfhip-felf-love has too much the afcendant over us, not to be our chief dictator: this is the only time when a friend can ex Nofe, and was Anatomy Profeilor in Ox-To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. emplify his profeffions, and prove the juftford, and Reader at Grefham College, fo that in two years he was worth 400l. In September 1652, he arrived in Ireland as phyfician to the army, and alfo to the general and the head quarters, for which he had an advance of rool. and an allowance of zos. a-day. This continued near seven years, and he gained 400l. a-year by practice, exclufive of his falary. He was alfo one of the furveyors in Ireland for the forfeited eftates in confequence of the rebellion in 1641; by this, and a contract obtained in 1654 for that purpose, he gained goool. which, with two years falary as Clerk of the Council, and his other emoluments, amounted to about 13000l. CONSTANTIUS. "IN AUGUSTIS AMICI APPARENT." truth of this apothegin, I think, HE experience daily evinces. True friendship is a virtue rarely to be met with its profeffors may be juftly compared with When he came to Court, after the Re- thofe of the law; amongft whoin (though ftoration, he made himself perfectly agree- a numerous fwarm) few honeft ones are to able to the King, who, in 1661, conferred be found: where it exifts, it is an ineftiupon him the honour of knighthood. At mable jewel, and I think is finely defcribed the inftitution of the Royal Society, in by that learned divine, Dr. Blair; who, 1663, he was a Fellow, and afterwards one in his Grave, with a deal of ecftafy, fays, of the Council; in this year alfo he in-Friendship, myfterious cement of the vented the double bottomed fhip, of which foul!" It is certainly one of the pureft ima model, made by himfelf, is preferved in preffions the foul of man is capable of reGrefham College. In 1666, the fire of ceiving, and likewife the fublimeft feeling London, which brought the greatest di- of the human mind. So cordial is it in ftrefs upon thousands, deftroyed much of all its operations, that faith, harmony, and Sir William's property, which he had pur-love, may be truly faid to center all in chafed in 1659, on his return from Ireland. one. Surely that perfon who has the hapHe married, in 1667, the Widow of Sir pinefs to participate this focial paffion, Maurice Fenton, Bart. when he commen- ought to think himfelf fupremely bleffed. ced the iron works and pilchard fithery, How facred ought then its laws to be held; and opened the lead mines and timber how dire the offence to infringe thofe laws; trade in the county of Kerry. The fuc-and how criminal muft that conduct be, nefs of his title to fuch a name :-then it is this noble virtue breaths forth her fragrant balm, and fhews her difinterested views in acts of generofity. Gratitude, that fervent impulfe of the heart, difclofes itself, on the one fide, in the mantle of charity, and on the other, by a true fenfibility of paft favours. If this is a true delineation of fincerity in friendship, how glaringly contemptible will an oppofite conduct appear ;-odious even to those who practise it, and moft deteftable in the eyes of others. How neceflary therefore is it, firft to know our friends. Diogenes the cynic had a remarkable faying, "That honeft men fhould be fought for at noonday with a candle and lanthorn;" with greater reafon might I fay, that we should infpect our friends with a microscopic eye, that we may not be deceived in him whom we make the partner of our bofom. FAIR AIR as thou art, poffefs'd of every charm Deck'd as thou art with each inchanting grace, Not thus its every faculty controub! Thofe charms which will exist when these decay, Yet will poffeffion foon the paffions cloy, Since then, Maria, every charm must die, And Winter's gloom fucceed the Summer's ray! Bath. S. W. And whether the Tenure bee bounds or free,, To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. jefty's Court, carrying always about her SIR, a pair of piftols, one to kill the Queen, and the other herfelf, in order to escape juftice; but her defign happened fortunately Tie, verbatim, from a Head-through the crowd to come up to her MaHE following curious infcription was to mifcarry. One day as he was pushing copied, ftone in the Church-yard of Silton, near Merc, a few weeks fince. T. A. Aug. 20, 1786. a Vein of Gold, a China dish, Being upon the pious Woman Joan, jefty, who was then walking in her garden, the chanced to drop one of her piftols, which being feen by the guards, fhe was feized, in order to be immediately fent to prifon; but the Queen, not fufpecting her to be one of her own fex, had a mind to examine her firft. Accordingly demanding her name, country, and quality, Margaret, with an undaunted firmness, replied, "Madam, though I appear in this drefs, am a woman-my name is Margaret Lamburn-I was several years in the fervice of Queen Mary, my miftrefs, whom you have fo unjustly put to death, and by her death you have alfo caufed that of my husband, Queen perifh fo iniquitoufly. Now, as I who died of grief to fee fo innocent a in ancient Rhyme, fuppofed to have been had the greatest love and affection for both originally written as early as Judge Lit-my late royal miffrefs and husband, I retleton's Time, and tranfcribed from a Manufcript Book of 1585. For the County Magazine. Which long will bloom when these have dy'd away; Copy of a curious Caution to Purchafers, Thofe charms which decorate the nobler part, Which shine, fair maid! which center at your heart; These are the charms which captivate my mind, -Whoefoe wilbee wife in purchasinge, And that it stande in Dannger of noe Woman's folved, at the peril of my life, to revenge their death by affaffinating you, who caused them both to die. I confefs to you that I fuffered many ftruggles within my breast, and have made all poffible efforts to divert in force, but all in vain, I found myself my refolution from putting fo fatal a defign obliged to prove by experience the certain truth of that maximn, that neither reafon nor compulfion can prevent a woman from re venge, when the is ftimulated thereto by LE PHYSICIEN DU COEUR. love and esteem."However juftified the Queen might have been to have resented fuch difcourfe, fhe heard with coolness, and anfwered calmly: You are then perfuaded that in this defign you have done your duty, and fatisfied what you think was required of you in affection and regard to your mistress and husband; what think you now is my duty towards you? The woman replied with the fame intrepidity, "I will tell your Majefty my opinion frankly, and with candour, provided you will pleafe to let me know whether you put the question in character of my Queen or my Judge. To which her Majefty profeffing that he put the question as Queen; then, faid Margaret, your Majefty ought to grant me your pardon." But what fecurity or affurance can you give me, fays the Queen, that you will not take another opportunity to make the attempt, and effectuate your purpofe? Margaret replied, "Madam, a favour which is given under fuch terms is not a favour; and your Majefty would, by infifting on any conditions, act towards me as a Judge."-The Queen, turning to fome of the Council then prefent, obferved, that fhe had been thirty years a Queen, but did not remember to have been fo addreffed before, and immediately granted a full unconditional pardon as delired, and that too against the opinion of the Prefident of her Council, who faid, he thought her Majefty obliged to punish fo daring an offender. The Queen was pleafed not only to dif regard the advice, but her generolity carried her even one degree further; for upon Margaret's foliciting her Majefty to grant her a fafe conduct out of the kingdom, Elizabeth immediately complied with that alfo, and Margaret fhipped herself for the French coaft, on which the foon found herself safe, in health, and in fpirits. CHINESE ANECDOTE. AI-TSONG, Emperor of China, Tprohibited all magiftrates in his do minions from receiving prefents, under pain of death. To be convinced that his orders were enforced, he procured a man who undertook the delicate commiffion of tempting, with a confiderable fum of money, one of the Mandarins. The Mandarin received the prefent, and was condemned to death. The Prime Minifter waited upon the Emperor, and faid to him, "Great Prince, your decree is juft, and the delinquent deferves the fevereft punishment; but can you, who have laid the fnare for him, be confidered altogether innocent; and do you not in fome degree fhare his crime?" This noble reprefentation had its effect, and the Emperor pardoned the criminal. THE SICK MILLINER. but though I were, I am not certain that my paffion would be returned: for your comfort, however, I can tell you that yours is." "From a lover, Sir," cried the," are you become a conjurer? What a myflerious change!" pa"Nothing more natural," replied I, "Madam. What are so much alike as love and magic. Magic can transform a barren wafte into a fruitful field, a cottage into a palace, men into brutes, or brutes into fay that I was confcious of no fuch She gave me her hand, in token of for- with the anxiety of two lovers. At length, "What blunders you make!" cried fhe, "I admire your ideas," faid fhe, "doctor. You are delightfully fentimental. But what relation has all this to my cafe?" "The most intimate imaginable. By that magic art," continued I, "madam, merely by feeling your pulfe, I can tell what pulfe beats time to it." "How you teaze one !" cried fhe. "I teaze you, madam!" returned I, ther. In the mean time, get out of bed, no: that happiness is reserved for anofortunate hour, when teazing thall ceafe keep up your fpirits, and hope for the I to be a torment, and love a difeafe. Adieu. fhall fee you to-morrow. In uttering these words, I walked down ftairs fomewhat haftily, fenfible that I had already encroached too much both upon my own time and hers. My carriage was fill in waiting. I had entered by the hop-door, but I wifhed for another, turned a handle in the paffage, and difafraid of Mrs. B's ironical tongue. covered my dæmon in her thift. "Come in," faid fhe, "doctor," not in "It is better let alone," replied the,the leaft difconcerted. fimiling," fince you have fuch an appre- Decency has always appeared to me a faI would as foon have gone into the fire. henfion." Without Confcious of my own weakness, and em-cred thing, though I have fometimes been barrafled by fuch an obfervation, I was pre-fo unhappy as to violate it. paring to take my leave, forgetting the bu-making her any anfwer, I made boldly fr finefs on which I had come; when raifing pened to be pulling up the heel of her fhoe, the fhop. One of the young ladies hapherfelf on one arm, fhe faid pleafantly, "Have you nothing further to advife which had flipped, by fome accident; the me, doctor? Can you order me no medi- refted upon the other leg, which was cine?" fashionably fupported. My foot unluckily touched hers: the confequence may be gueffed. Recollecting my character, I turned about haftily and feized the arm which was difengaged. She checked my forwardness by a frown. It brought me to myfelf. "None," faid I, "madam, but the cor- "How wildly you talk," replied fhe, "Good heavens 1" cried fhe. I was too much afhamed to fay any thing. If by going forwards, I could have affifted her as readily as by going backwards, I fhould certainly have followed the example of the fons of Noah, but |