tare of our Native Architectural modes,
and the then new importation of orna-
mental devices from the Roman and
Grecian Schools; the tooling, or
fculptured parts, betraying the like de-
parture from that true tale and exqui-
ite workmanship, which is fo demon-
firable in all our national edifices prior
to the above æra. Oppofite, on the
South fide of the Choir, is another
large monumental Chapel, covered
orer likewife with an unbounded dif-
play of embellishments; embellish-
ments as far exceeding the former fhew
as the luftre of the diamond doth the
factitious production of fome cryftal
glafs gewpaw. Permit me to obfèrve,
this Chapel prefents a chalie and una-
dulterated proof to what a height of
perfection our antient Sentpture and
Mafonry had arrived, in the formation
of every thing that was excellent and
charming. Here is much originality
in the parts, particularly fhewn by the
twified columns and the arched cano-
pies on their capitals. Within this
Chapel is an altar tomb, whereon is
placed a fecond tonib; brought, it
may be conjectured, from fome other
fituation; bearing fiatues of a male and
female, fuperbly arrayed. In the cen-
tre of the Choir, and directly before the
Altar, is a tomb entirely culptured in
alabafter. My encomiums exhaufted
on the foregoing fubject, how fhall I
in the prefent infiance call forth ade-
quate expreflions fufficient to give that
tribute of applaufe which this, another
mafter work of the chiflel, fiands for-
ward to claim in right of confummate
excellence? Defective hand, words
in expreflions fitting fly my pen. Deep
in the inmost receflès of my ima-
gination, live then the merits of this
tomb, too great for utterance though
not for conception. Friends in Anti-
quarian pleafires, let your thoughts go
with me; all then is understood. On
the four fides of this tomb are niches
filled with ftatues; in the entabla-
tures a multiplicity of fields are in-
ferted, and the flatues of the Lord and
Lady, lying under georgeous canopies
in their dreffes, give the most minute
and particular explanation of the ele-
gant coftume of their day. After a ne-
ceffary reduction of fentiment from this
fublime repaft, I paffed into a chapel
on the North fide of the Choir; where
were fome plain Stalls, and at the Eaft
end a Stone Altar like the one in the
Choir; and near it, in a centrical pofi-

tion an altar tomb unadorned, except-
ing by fome compartments containing
fhields, &c. Allowing that fimplicity
of defign in this latter arrangement is.
molt confpicuous, yet the appearance
of grandeur is not wanting, true it
is, our antient works, either of a pro-
feribed or expanded plan, are fill in-
trinic; ever commanding facred ob-
fervation, and an obligatory care and
protection.
AN AKCHITECT.
(To be continued.)

Mr. URBAN, Westerham, Nov. 23.
S vou have for feveral veirs fe-
quently honoured my lite com-
pofitions with a place in your reipecia→
ble publication, I am induced to draw
this conclution in their favour; that
although they are molly upon private
and domeftic fubjects, and confequent-
ly can be but little worth the atten-
tion of the publick at large, you have
notwithflanding confidered that, being
written from the heart, and on the
impulfe of the moment upon real events
in life, fome of which must occur in
every family, and others in many, they
might gratify the tafie and intereti, the
tender feelings of thofe who are poflefled
of a fimilar turn of mind; and I truft
they may do more. It is the province
of poetry, and the particular object of
all that I have ever written, either in
verle or profe, to footh and tranquil-
life the mind under the various evils
and inevitable calamities of human life;
to lead it from the painful fcenes which
this world prefents to thofe pure and
fublime pleafires which the imagina-
tion can fupply; ariling from truth
and nature, they are not to be rejected
as vifionary joys. In a well-ordered
mind they never fail to terminate,
where all our views fhould be directed,
in the fuperior objects of a future and
happier fate of being. How far the
following communications may have
a tendency to any of these purposes, or
be approved for the perufal of your
readers, I fubmit to your decifion: they
are connected with an event, of a nature
the most interesting and anxious of
any that a parent can experience, the
departure of a dear and only child to a
foreign country, on which fubject you
did me the favour to intert in May
fome lines addreffed to him the day be-
fore he was to embark. I now tran-
fcribe a letter which I previoufly wrote
and delivered into his hand at the water-
fide, when it was impofiible to utter a

word.

word. I am perfectly aware that there are thousands of letters now pailing on fimilar fubjects, in every relpect fuperior to this or any compofition of mine; and for the molt complete direction of youth on going out into the world, I might have referred him wholly to that admirable difcourfe of Dr. Blair on the Duties of the Young, which, for elegance of diction, perfpicuity and force of reafoning, powers of affeéting and perfuading, is perhaps the most perfect model of religious intruction that any country has produced; and I mult have been very deficient in my attention to this matter, if I had not availed myself of fo great an advocate in a caufe of fich important concern; but though I could add nothing to his arguments in point of general infiniction, yet I confidered it my duty to lay fomething for myself, which might particularly apply to the individual, and be ftill more impreffive as coming from me; having at fuch a period in fome measure the force of a last exhortation; which from the uncertain tenure of life it may eventually prove. In prefenting those papers to the publick which I have already fent you, and thole which I now or may in future tranfinit, I certainly am actuated by fome ambition to introduce them in a work, wherein the early compofitious of many diftinguifhed writers have made their first appearance; but, having no pretenfions to expect that I fhall ever be of that number, my principal objects are to put them into the poffellion of feveral of my particular friends, to commemorate the virtues of fome of those who are deccated, and leave to my furviving relatives a few memorials of the most interesting paffages of my life, connected with their own; truliing they may prove in fome degree conducive to their benefit, their comfort, or amufement.

deferve the approbation of thofe under whole authority you will be ftationed, by a firict and regular performance of whatever can be propeily required of you, and intent upon obtaining, by all' just and honourable means, the favour and friendship both of your fuperiors and your equals, and the good will or favourable difpoû ion of perfons with whom you are any way affociated or connected in every rank of life. This is the grand inftrument of all worldly wifdom; but it is not lefs the object of all virtuous men. The molines with which it is pursued, the means by which it is obtained, and the ge which is made of it when obtained, are however effentially different. May you purine it with the pureft motives, obtain it by the faire means, and ufe it to the bet of purposes; and you will find your acquifilinan me!timable treasure, whatever may be its temporal advantages. You have been inftructed to confider religious and moral principles as of the first importance to your happinets and welfare in every point of view; and we have no fear that you will ever be induced to make light of them. On your firm adherence to thofe principles depends your fafety and ficces in that dangerous period of life which you are now approaching, when our youthfiel pallions engage with the powers of Virtue in that great encounter which commonly determines the tenor of our lives. The forces of the latter are generally routed, too often overcome, and every precept he has infilled is fet afide as an abfurd prejudice of education, because it oppofes fome impetuous defire, or fome fashionable vice or folly the mofi idle fuggeftions of the weakelt counfellors are easily fuffered to direct us; a feeptical or diffolute and ignorant perfon, whofe judgment we should defpife on any other occafion, fhall have it in his power to

Copy of the letter to my fon on his de- perfuade us that the notions we acparture to the Eaft Indies.

Dated March 22, 1802.

"DEAR WILLIAM,

"The immediate profpect of parting from you at fo early an age, you will readily conceive, must fill our minds with inany painful apprehenfions, and our hearts with the moft tender folicitude.

"With regard to your appointment, I am affured you will diligently apply yourself to gain a compleat knowledge of its duties, and be very alliduous to

quired in our childhood are fit only to keep children in awe, or at mofi the illiterate common people in a convenient fubjection to their fuperiors, but that men of liberal and enlightened minds usually reject them when they come of age to judge for themfelves. Thefe arguments, extremely weak as they are, have unhappily the advantage of being corroborated by the practice of a very great part of mankind; they agree with our prefent temper, and are almoft infenfibly admitted.

We

We find ourselves pofietted of many Jocial difpofitions, and are inclined to think that the Creator who has given them and placed us in fociety, cannot poffibly intend we should be fingular in our conduct, and for ever counteracting its rules and manners; not confidering how far they deviate from thofe which he has preferibed, and that every deviation is in itself or in its confequences repugnant to fociaf happiness, or the true enjoyment of life; and that the mild and falutary refrictions which he has enjoined are purely intended, and abfolutely neceffary, to promote and maintain it. You are now about to be deprived for a while of that parental care, and all thofe fond endearnrents and attention which you have been accustomed to experience from ns. Whenever you feel your fpirits depreffed by this confideration, remember, what alone can give you any true and latiing comfort, that, although you are feparated from us your earthly parents, you have a Heavenly father, from whom you never can be separated but by your own milconduct; who will not forfake you until you have ut terly forfaken hiin; whofe ever watch-nuous mind, and the earnesi folicitude ful eye will continue to obferve you when you are far removed from our obfervation, and will be "as intently fixed upon you as if there was no other being in the creation to obferve;" who can difpofe the hearts of all with whom you are connected in your favour, or turn them against you; can difpel the gloom of every melancholy fcene, or cloud your faireft profpects in a noment; who, if you ferve him faithfully, will not indeed exempt you wholly from affliétions, but will comfurt, Support, and bless you all your days, whatever may be the changes they produce, and, when this tranfitory life is ended, receive you to a happier fiate of exiflence.

ordinances; and as confiantly as day and night return, let your devout acknowledgements be offered up for his favour and protection, and your fervent prayers for their continuance. In his favour and protection are life and all its bleffings; and it has been faid that we ought never to be particular in praying for any temporal good; but moit affuredly we cannot be too much fu to exprefs and remind us of our partieular as well as general depradence, unlefs we defcend to very minute and tzirial objećis (which are the rain repetitions our Saviour forbids), always forbmitting it to his unerring judgement and ever-bieffed aid whether to grant our petitions or refile them, and concluding our devotions with that comprehentive form which he hath taught us, and which will fupply all that is deficient, and correct all that we shall alk amifs.

Whenever you are tempted to of fend this powerful and gracious Bring, who alone can accomplish or defeat our happieft hopes, and is our only refuge from one generation to another," confider what you rifk; and when you have unhappily been feduced to do any thing that your confcience difapproves, you will feel how impoffible it is to be in peace or fafety under his difpleasure. Delay not an infiant to implore his forgiveness. Religioutly obferve the Sablath, and all his holy

I know you will at times reflect upon thofe little impetuofities of temper which have occationed us fonie tranfient vexations, but have been always more than counterbalanced by the candid acknowledgements of an inge

you have confiantly and immediately hewn to do away any unfavourable impreflions. Be affured they are completely obliterated; never, therefore, let them give you a moment's uneafinefs. It is the facred privilege of the abfent and the dead, to have all their virtues remembered, and all their faults forgotten.

April 10.-In what terms expreffive of our feelings can we bid you, our be loved William, our dear, dear boy, farewell! or how fufiain the shock of being feparated from you! In this trying moment no human aid can fupport us. He who formed thofe tender ties by which we are connected, can alone compofe the agitated powers of Nature. On him only we rely. Receivethe folemn benediction of both your parents. May the blefling of God defcend and reft upon you! May he evermore preferve and deliver you in the hour of danger, temptation, or diftrefs! infpire you with fortitude to meet, and patience to endure, the inevitable afflictions and calamities of life! confirm and firengthen you in all Chrifiiań virtues! give you health, profperity, and every caribly good! and rettore you, with a heart as uncor

rupted

rupted as it now is, to your native country, to cheer the declining days of your affectionate parents, W. B. A. B. The preparations for the voyage engaged us frequently in town for fome weeks; but, having finished them, we returned into the country with our dear boy, to pals a few more days together in domeltie quiet and comfort, before we accompanied him to Gravefend, where he was to embark; and, finding there would be time to go down to S――, I had the fatisfaction of conducting him to my native place, and re-vifiting once more the interefting fienes of my early days.” Of that journey you have already had my defcription and my fentiments; to which I have now only to add fome few particulars refpecting his departure, as a fequel. To fee a youth take leave of his Emily and friends, to embark for a foreign country, nutt be a painful and affecting fight to any indifferent perfon poffefled of the cominon feelings of humanity; but the hock which his parents iuft fufiain ou fuch an occafion can only be conceived by a parent, and that in a very imperfect degree by one who has not actually experienced it. The bufile and confufion of the inn where the intended paffengers are affembled, in momentary expectation of a fummons to the boat; the many inferiptions on the windows, which have been written at fuch moments by perfons in fimilar circumitances, who have long fince bid adieu to Old England, and of whom, unquestionably, there were numbers who never more returned; cannot fail to make a mournful impreffion on the minds of thofe who are about to part. To reprefs the emotions of tendernefs, and affime the appearance of fortitude, requires an effort to which nature is fekdom equal; and yet it must be made The unapprehenfive mind of youth happily feels nothing of that anguifh with which a parent's breaft is filled on fuch a feparation. When I committed my fon to the captain's care, under many affurances from him of favour and protection, and faw them embark together, I felt deprived of all that could render the continuance of life defirable. In that mement no other object, however dear or deferving, had power to gain admition to my heart; and I feemed to have arrived at a period when all its enjoyments, and even all its duties, were fufpended; and the moft earnett with prevailed that they might

alfo terminate; but that impatient wish was no fooner formed than it gave place to the will of the Almighty, and to the claims of other dear connexions. Much might yet remain to be done, or fuffered, or enjoyed, cre the days of my probation for eternity were cloted. I turned my folitary fteps from the crowded firand, and "fought where to weep." On my return homeward in the evening, I pursued my journey be moonlight, which, to a contemplative mind, is a feene inexpreflibly charming; but it must be a mind at eafe, or not fo deeply troubled. I found its inefficacy to relieve my afflicted hofom, but it led me to the Source of all confalation; a refort to which can never fail of its effect. That fentiment I have endeavoured to exprefs in the following lines; they were not, however, written precifely at the time, for it was then impoffible to arrange my thoughts. Sonnets to the Moon are without number. Every Votary of the Mufes addrefles the regent of the night.

Fav'rite of the penfive Muse,

To me thy foothing pow'rs impart!
Ah! thofe powers cannot reach

The feelings of my wounded heart.
Oft, when lighter forrows pain'd,
Or lefs anxious cares oppreft,
Thou hatt pour'd the sweetest balm,'
To compofe the troubled break.
He who form'd the glorious orbs,

Which o'er day and night prefile,
Can the tranquil hours rettore:

Oh my foul, in Him confide!
It muft unquestionably be a great
while before we can expect to recover
from the effects of that agitation of
mind which preceded, and that depref-
fion of fpirits which muft naturally fol-
low, the departure of our dear boy;
and we fhall, perhaps, be thought
have done very unwifely in going to the
fea coaft to fpend a part of the fummer.
where we were continually reminded
of him by the profpect from our wit-
dows, which muft excite many painful
ideas refpecting him; but they were
likewife of a nature fo extremely inte-
refting and tender, that it was the
higheft gratification to indulge then.
Yet, when I faw the diftant fhips appa-
rently reduced to a speck upon the fur-
face of the fea, and confidered that in
which my dear and only child was em-
barked as many hundred leagues mure
difunt, and that I knew not how he
fared, or what he might have to futler

before