secretary of state to Queen Elizabeth, and nephew to William Earl of Pembroke. Edward Dodington, Esq. son of the said Sir William Dodington, gave it to his nephew Philip Hoby, Esq. fourth son of Peregrine Hoby, Esq. of Bisham, in the county of Berks, who resided at the Abbey until his death, and so did his relict Elizabeth Hoby, daughter of Sir Timothy Tirrell, of Shottover, in the county of Oxford, Knt. and grand-daughter of the learned Archbishop Usher. At Mrs. Hoby's death the house was deserted and suffered to fall to decay. Philip Hoby, Esq. the last sole proprietor, died A. D. 1678, leaving three daughters co-heiresses, Elizabeth, Catharine, and Anne-the eldest of whom, Elizabeth, married Henry Compton, Esq. of Bistern, Hants; Catharine married Griffith Rice, Esq. of Newton, in the county of Carmarthen; · and Anne married Mr. Stanley, grand-father of the late Hans Stanley, Esq. The present proprietors are Lord Dinevor, a lineal descendant of the said Griffith Rice, Esq. John Compton, Esq. the Right Hon. Welbore Ellis, and Christopher D'Oyley, Esq. the two last-mentioned gentlemen having married each a daughter of the said Hans Stanley, Esq. There are no monuments of the dead remaining, either in the church or adjoining it. The solitary stump of an old yew-tree only marks the site of the church-yard; the figure of an ecclesiastic in a cumbent posture, and holding in his hand the model of a building (probably designed to represent the abbey) has been preserved from destruction, and is placed on the lawn, before Courtherbert house, à small distance from the monastery. The ruins are extensive, and the luxuriant mantling of ivy, in which they are enveloped, give them a very solemn and venerable aspect. Weeds and briers now cover the spot, where the priest discharged the solemn duties of his function, and the swelling note of the "organ" aided "the frequent praises of white-robed monks*. Jan. 1791. Yours, &c. * Lewys Morgannwg, W. D. VII. Druids' Temple, near Henley-upon-Thames, removed from Jersey. MR. URBAN, Henley Environs, April 21. I FLATTER myself that you will afford a place to the inclosed tribute of gratitude from the inhabitants of Jersey to their governor, the late Field-marshal Conway. The modesty of that truly great man prevented its being public during his life-time; but it has, since his death, been affixed, as originally intended, to a Druid's temple; which, in the form in which it was discovered, adorns a beautiful point of that charming spot, Park-place. The translation which accompanies it is at your service, if you should be of opinion that its insertion will not prevent the original receiving more justice from some abler pen. Yours, &c. Cet ancien temple des Druides, a été présenté, par les habitans, Pour des siecles caché aux yeux des mortels, M. S. Que, dans tous ses dangers, Césarée eut un pere, Et redira Conway aux siecles à venir Qu'en respect du à son souvenir, Elle te fit ce don acquis à ta veillance Comme une juste tribut de sa reconnoissance! This ancient Druid's temple was discovered the 12th of Aug. 1785, upon the mountain of St. Hellier, in the island of Jersey, and presented by the inhabitants to his Excellency Gen. CONWAY, their governor. Ages conceal'd from mortal sight, VIII. The Old Church of St. John, at Hackney, described. MR. URBAN, As the old church of St. John, at Hackney, has, in all probability, almost arrived at the period when it must be sacrificed to its successor, a few mementos of what it was will not be altogether unacceptable to your readers, when the materials of which it is composed are scattered as chance shall direct. I visited it on the 4th of this month, and could not but regret that so respectable a remnant of antiquity, as the inside certainly is, should be condemned to destruction. There may be many obstacles to such a plan (and I do not presume to decide on its practicability); yet I could not help wishing that it might be suffered to stand as it is, the parent church, while the new structure should be a chapel to accommodate the surplus of the congregation, which, I have no doubt, is sufficiently numerous to fill both. Were the outside of the building only considered, no one could entertain a wish for its preservation; for, it is an incomprehensible jumble of dissonant repairs, without a trace of the original building remaining, except the windows of part of it. I cannot help suggesting to persons concerned in making alterations, or adding to old Of superstitious ignorance, structures, that propriety requires there should be an uniformity of design throughout, or the additions will be infal libly looked on with contempt (however respectable, were they detached) by a man of any taste. There are two beautiful buildings at Derby; the tower and church of All Saints: the former, a most exquisite specimen of Gothic grandeur; the latter, as fine as a Doric building. Taken separately, they would be admired in any country of Europe; but, as they stand, the rich tall tower alone attracts admiration; the church is lost amidst a blaze of excellence. A Grecian building never can be added with propriety to one of Gothic architecture, the proportions are so different in each. The church at Hackney was once dedicated to St. Augustin. Its present patron, St. John, is supposed to have been such since the knights templars of St. John of Jerusalem had property in its vicinity. It has been presented to by that appellation since 1660. However, I shall not pretend to decide whether the present church is the same that, in 1292, was called St. Augustin, and a distinct rectory and vicarage. The Tyssen family have it in their gift, who are lords of the manor. There are two side aisles, and the pillars, twelve in number, are remarkably strong, good, and well-proportioned; the arches pointed. The galleries, of which there are se veral, are not made so convenient as they might have been; they appear to have been erected at different periods, and do not reach, as usual, from one end to the other of the church, nor extend to the pillars which divide the aisles. One is so slight, that it is as it were hung to the roof by iron hooks. If those galleries had been removed, and others erected, a vast number of seats might have been added. The roof of the old building is uncommonly good; the beams and rafters appear perfectly sound. The organ-gallery is spacious, the organ large and handsome. Along the frieze of the gallery there is an inscription, purporting that the church was repaired in 1720. Above, in the pannels, are three pictures, drawn with much taste and freedom in black and white, though very slight: the waves in one, and the trees and rocks in the others, have considerable merit. The subjects are, the miraculous draught of fishes, Christ in the storm at sea, and Elijah fed by ravens. The pavement in many parts of the aisles consists of slabs for the most part stripped of their brass. There is one, tolerably perfect, of a man in armour and his wife, under the organ-gallery; the arms and inscription gone. The font is modern; the cover, which is suspended, appears rather more ancient: neither are any way remarkable. There are several brasses let into the walls; which, as they have been already noticed by others, I shall pass, and only mention those that appear most to deserve attention. In the chancel, the monuments are mural, except one altar-tomb, with a recess over it, inscribed, ANNO D'NI 1519. CHRISTOPHORO VRSWYK Rectori. Ω MIA The lower part is shut up by execrable wainscot; the border to the recess is richly decorated with Gothic ornaments. What is to become of this monument if the church is to be pulled down? Not destroyed, I hope; though it cannot well be avoided, I am afraid. However, I intend it shall not be totally forgotten; for, I will draw it to grace my collection of tombs. Over Urswyk's tomb is one to the memory of David Doulben, Bishop of Bangor, a half-length figure, in his sacred vestments, 1633. To the left of the above are Henry Thoresby and wife, 1615. Opposite, in a chapel, are an altar-tomb and a beautiful monument, 1612, to Sir Thonias Rowe and his wife, whose effigies and six of their children kneel on it. It is of variegated red and white marble, richly gilt, very clean and perfect. Near the door of the chapel, a monument to Thomas Wood, Esq. has himself, wife, four sons, and four daughters, kneeling, 1649. The altar is a strong oak table. On the South wall of the church there is a monument, 1570, hid and defaced by a gallery, to the memory of Sir Thomas Rowe, Knt. alderman and mayor; his effigies in armour. Near it, between two windows, is a vacant nich. On the left a tablet to the memory of the Rev. John Lewis, M. A. lecturer of the parish, and of Christ-church, Middlesex, 1770. There is a curious figure cut in metal, of Hugh Johnson, vicar, 1618, in his pulpit, set in a pillar near the reading-desk. On a pew, loose and leaning against the wall, under a gallery, is a stone, apparently taken from an old tomb, containing this inscription: The right Honorable Baron |