1821.] Journal of a Literary Traveller-Lausanne. from Coventry, Warwick, Lichfield, and Worcester. And I have no doubt but some of the Parish Registers of the Towns through which she occasionally passed could supply at least some dates, and perhaps some facts. Such, for example, I have already had from Lambeth, Fulham, and Kingston-upon-Thames. Mr. Urban's pages having been at all times open to the similar requests of every respectable Correspondent, it is hoped this personal intrusion will be pardoned, when made by a Veteran whose whole life has been spent in endeavouring Prodesse et delectare; and who very early adopted for his motto, Labor ipse Voluptas. Yours, &c. J. NICHOLS. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF A RECENT LITERARY TRAVELLER ON THE CONTINENT. No. III. LAUSANNE-GIBBON. N the morning after our catastrophe on the Lake (of Geneva) we set out for Lausanne from our hotel, about ten o'clock, having previously agreed with the boatman for a passage for the trifling sum of five francs. The treacherous Lake, as yet but partially illuminated by the sun, shone beneath the unusually white sky like mother of pearl. There were no waves, but the whole body of the water heaved silently, and almost imperceptibly. The motion of the boat, occasioned by this gentle undulation, was to me inexpressibly delightful. It seemed like being rocked to a holy repose in the sky-curtained cradle of silence. We arrived at Lausanne (distant from Geneva 30 miles) about two o'clock, which may, on the whole, be looked upon as tolerably swift sailing. This town is said to be situated 430 feet above the surface of the Lake of Geneva. It is built on three hills, or rather it covers three hills, as well as the valleys between them. The climate is, I am told, considerably milder than at Berne. The Flin, which flows between the town and the hill of Monthenon, is a mere rivulet. The antient Lausinium was situated nearly half a league from the modern Lausanne. In the year 536, this town was much devastated by the overflowing of the Leman, occasioned by the mountain Tauretunum falling into it, between 391 St. Gingoulph and Meillerie, which caused such an overflowing of its waters, that all the towns upon its shores are described as having been more or less inundated. Many individuals lost their lives, and whole droves of cattle were swept away. Even the bridge at Geneva was destroyed by it, and numbers of the in habitants were drowned. What an awful sight it must have been to have seen the mountain tottering from its enormous base, and finally precipitated into the infinite Lake, for it is, in that neighbourhood, of almost unfathomable depth ;- and then to mark it lashed into madness in a moment by the violence of the concussion. There is a Church on each of the three hills which comprise the town of Lausanne. From the tower of St. Francis, on the Monthenon, there is a view of the greater part of the Lake, here at nearly its greatest breadth,-the embouchure of the Rhine, and the stupendous Alps, magnified by the numerous villages on the Savoy side of the Leman. The Cathedral is a noble edifice in the Gothic style of Architecture, and contains numerous tombs and inscriptions; but I had not time to make minute observations on them. The Academical Library, in which I spent half an hour, seems very extensive. Most of their Classics are the Amsterdam editions, which beyond the frontier you may purchase at almost any price. This institution was founded in 1549, as I learned from an inscription in its hall. The first books of any value or extent which it contained were bequeathed to it by Don Jocynthe de Queros, a Spaniard, who once occupied the Ecclesiastical History chair at Lausanne. I entered the Bailiff's castle, which is very large and antient; but, as there was little to my taste to be seen in it, I very speedily retired. There is a Lyceum for painting, and numerous libraries and printing presses. Two Newspapers are published at Lausanne; and many valuable editions of the Classics, as well as the French and German writers, have been printed there. There is a curious poem by one Martin Lefranc, canon of the town, entitled "Champion des Dames, ou l'estrif de la fortune et de la vertu." * Notre Dame. I looked 1 392 Journal of a Literary Traveller-Gibbon, I looked at a few lines of it, and found it a most facetious tissue of absurdity. From the Academical Library I directed my steps to the house in which Gibbon resided, from the terrace of which there is a sublime view. I was shewn the decayed summer-house in which this wonderful Sceptic composed the latter part of bis justly-celebrated History, and the acacias from which he looked out upon Mont Blanc, after baving finished his last sentence. He expresses his regret at having completed his task very pathetically in those few words. Truly this should have been a great man; but abstruse speculation, an overweening and presumptuous confidence in his own powers of perception, and a selfish supineness of disposition rarely to be met with in men of exalted genius, made him what he appears to have been through life, and especially in the later stages of it-cold, and in many respects an unfeeling Sceptic. I do not wonder at the regret he expresses in having concluded his History, since there are few employments to which we have been habituated by custom, so disagreeable, as for us to desist from them for ever without some feelings of pain; besides, an occupation which engaged the thoughts and attention of one who had but few aspirations beyond his actual existence, and the aggrandisement of his fame, must have been every way endeared to him-as a refuge from blighting thoughts, and as a consolation-though but a very inadequate one-in lieu of that Religion which he scoffed at and despised. As to the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," it is, in my estimation, the best-written and most comprehensive History ever penned. I never derived more pleasure from any prose work I have met with than I did from the perusal of these volumes. The style of the first, in particular, which, compared with the others, is as a delicate painting on enamel to fine pieces in oil, delighted me beyond measure. He invests the barbarous subjects, upon which he has to treat, with an interest, in the relation of them, that does not seem to result so much from the fact itself, as from his elegant and judicious manner of alluding to it. With respect to the etymology of [Nov. the name of this place, some have derived it from Laus Annæ; but the following curious inscription, discovered in 1739, proves it to have taken its origin from Lausonium. "Soli Genio Lunæ sacrum ex voto pro Salute Augus torum, P. Clod. Corn. primus Curator Vica nor Lausonensium II. Inn. I. Vir Augustæ C. Cr. Conventus Helv. D.S.D." The inhabitants of Lausanne, about the year 1536, were the most depraved set of beings in the whole of Switzerland. It was not until 1798 that it became the chief town of the Canton. Gessner, the author of the celebrated, but overrated German Idyls, and Haller, also passed some time here. The famous Dr. Tissot was resident in this neighbourhood from 1770 to 1796; and that prince of scoffers, Voltaire, after having quitted Geneva in 1757, took up his abode at Montrepos, a village in this vicinity, which he subsequently left for Ferney. Lausanne is very much frequented by strangers; the boarding-houses, which are very numerous, are mostly well filled. I was informed that they divided themselves into two classes. The most expensive were from 7 to 8 louis a month, for which a separate suite of rooms is allowed; the cheaper pensions ask from 4 to 5 louis per month. The grand advantage to be derived from choosing the dearestfor there is little difference in the accommodationis, that you are received from them, whether you have introductions or not, into the best society in the place. The village of Ouchi, which is about a mile and a quarter from Lausanne, may be considered as its port, for there people commonly disembark from the Lake. The situation of Lausanne has been compared to that of Jerusalem on account of the noble scenery by which it is surrounded. From the terrace you look upon the cliffs of Meillerie. Eastward, golden vineyards rise in groves or arcades, through which frequently appears rich and fertile pasturage, studded with neat and simple cottages. To this promenade the beau monde resort in an evening to enjoy the refreshing breezes from the water. We left Lausanne for Geneva at four the next day. Mr. 1821.] Account of Hodnet Church, Salop. Q 393. Richard II. Roger de Mortimer Earl of Marsh, was seised of the whole knight's fee of John de Ludlow in Hodnet. In the 19th of Henry VII, Gilbert Talbot did homage for this manor. In the 32d of Henry VIII. Thomas Madlicote, and Henry Townrowe didnt manerit." In the 14th homage and fealty, "pro silu de of Elizabeth, the queen gave permission to John de Vernon and Elizabeth his wife, to alienate this manor of Walter Earl of Essex, and his heirs. In the 2d of James I. Sir Robert Vernon, knt. makes an alienation hereof to Robert Needham, esq. and others. In the 12th of Charles II. Henry Vernon of Hodnet was created a baronet of this kingdom*. Henrietta Vernon, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Vernon of Hodnet, died in 1752, and bequeathed the manor and advowson of Hodnet, with other estates, to her cousin Elizabeth Heber, wife of Thomas Heber, esq. of Marton, in Yorkshire, in whose family they still remain; being now in the possession of Richard Heber, esq. M. P. for the University of Oxford. HODNET CHURCH, (see Plate I.) situated on a gentle eminence, is a handsome structure, of considerable antiquity, but like many of our old Churches, several of the windows are bereft of their tracery and mullions, and fitted up with modern glazing, which detracts much from its venerable aspect. It is a rectory in the deanery of Newport; dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. The Church consists of a North and South aile, divided by six pillars, five circular and one octangular, which support five circular and two obtusely pointed arches, with plain lined capitals. In the South chancel are three trefoil headed stone stalls: the North and South chancel, have the old pannelled oak ceilings, with flowered bosses. Betwixt the South aile and chancel the king's arms are placed, with the date 1660. Near the South door is a large octagonal stone font, and opposite, against the wall, a box, inscribed, "Remember the Poore." In the North chancel is an ancient readingdesk, on which are chained, in very old bindings, "Erasmus's Paraphrase upon the Gospells;" "the Booke of Martyres;" |