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1826.

Mrs. Mattocks. - Charles Symmons, D. D.

appear to have been a very happy one: infidelities on both sides led to an open rupture; and, if we mistake not, to a separation. Notwithstanding this, when Mr. Mattocks, some years afterwards, became manager of the Liverpool theatre, his wife performed there all the principal characters. The speculation proving unfortunate, Mrs. Mattocks re-engaged herself at Covent-Garden Theatre, where, we believe, she held an uninterrupted engagement, as an actress of first-rate celebrity in her walk, until her final retirement from the stage, now more than twenty years ago. Her's was the most affecting theatrical leave-taking we ever witnessed. She had played, with all the freshness and spirit of a woman in her prime, the part of Flora, in "The Wonder," to Cooke's Don Felix. After the play, she, having changed her stage dress for the lady-like attire of black silk, was led forward by Cooke in a suit of black velvet, with weepers, &c. Her feelings enabled her to utter only a few impressive words. There was scarcely a dry eye in the house she retired amidst the most heartfelt plaudits of the theatre. Mrs. Mattocks possessed a good stage-face and figure; and her broad stare, her formal deportment, her coarse comic voice, and her high colouring, enabled her to give peculiar effect to the characters in which she excelled. In the delivery of the ludicrous epilogues of the late Miles Peter Andrews, which always required dashing spirit, and the imitation of vulgar manners, she was eminently successful. She is understood to have been a great favourite of her late Majesty, Queen Charlotte. She has left one daughter, who married Mr. Hewson, a barrister. That gentleman, unfortunately, lived only a few years after the union. The portion which he received with his wife was laid out in the purchase of one of the City pleaderships; the precaution of insuring Mr. Hewson's life was overlooked; and, upon his death, after holding the appointment not more than a year or two, the purchase-money was, in consequence, lost to his widow. Mrs. Mattocks died on the 25th of June, where she had long resided, at Kensington.

CHARLES SYMMONS, D.D.

At Bath, the Rev. Charles Symmons, D.D. Rector of Narberth and Llampeter Velfry, and Prebendary of Clyday, Pembrokeshire. This gentleman was the younger son of John Symmons, M.P. for the town of Cardigan, which he represent ed in three successive Parliaments from 1746 to 1761; and was born in the year 1749. He was educated at Westminster under Dr. Smith. From Westminster he

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was sent to the University of Glasgow, where he contracted a great friendship with Mr. Windham, who was much attached to him, and to whose friendship he owed the living of Llampeter at a subsequent period, when Mr. W. was colleague in Administration with Mr. Pitt in the war of the French Revolution. From Glasgow, he entered at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B.D. in 1776, and was presented to the Rectory of Narberth by the King in 1778. His first publication was an octavo volume of Sermons. In 1789 he published in quarto, "A Sermon for the benefit of decayed Clergymen in the Diocese of St. David's;" and in 1790, "The Consequence of the Character of the Individual, and the Influence of Education in forming it," a Sermon preached in the parish Church of St. Peter's, Carmarthen, on Sunday, October 10th, 1790, for the benefit of a Sunday School, and published at the request of the managers of the charity. Early in the year 1794, when he was about to be presented to the Rectory of Llampeter by the interest of his friend Mr. Windham, he imprudently, in a sermon before the University of Cambridge, broached some Whig sentiments, which at the present day might have been preached with utter impunity before all the Ministers, being sentiments purely theoretic and of the old Whig school: but at that time, parties running high, a handle was made of the circumstance by some designing persons, one of whom, in particular, having begged for a perusal under the solemn promise of making no improper use of it, was strongly suspected of having sent up garbled extracts to the Lord Chancellor and others in Administration. Such extracts certainly were in their hands, and they occasioned Mr. W. considerable difficulty in having the presentation made out, which, however, at last his friendly perseverance accomplished, accompanied with this observation, "I could have obtained for another a Deanery with less difficulty than I have had to get this Welch living for you." Finding from the same cause obstacles thrown in his way in obtaining a further degree, he removed to Oxford, where, on the 24th of March, 1794, he was incorporated B.D. of Jesus College, and on the 26th proceeded D.D. In 1797 he produced " Inez," a dramatic poem; and in 1800 another, called "Constantia." In 1806 appeared his "Life of Milton," prefixed to an edition of Milton's Prose Works, of which he was not the editor. In 1813 he issued an octavo volume of Poems, partly his own, but partly those of a departed daughter, Caroline Symmons. INCIDENTS, ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL APPOINTMENTS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.

Subsequently he amused his leisure hours with writing a "Rhymed Translation of the Æneis," which was published in 1817; and only a few months before his death he composed a biographical sketch of Shakspeare's Life, of which he made a present to Mr. Whittingham, his neighbour at Chiswick, and it has been recently prefixed by that well-known Printer to a 12mo. edition of Shakspeare's Works.

G. A. LEE, ESQ.

At Manchester, G. A. Lee, Esq. This gentleman had a mind trained to, and highly susceptible of the delights and elegancies of literature. He became early imbued with a love of the sciences, and was remarkable afterwards for the extent and precision of his acquirements in them. He had a quick, and almost intuitive perception, of the advantages to be derived from applying to useful purposes the great inventions that distinguished the era in which he lived, and the rare faculty of directing them, with energy and perseverance to the fulfilment of extensive and important designs. Initiated, at an early period of life, in the art of cotton-spinning, which was then beginning to feel the impulse of the noble inventions of Sir Richard Arkwight, he gave to them, in the machinery constructed under his inspection, all the advantages of correct and excellent workmanship; and while he always bore a willing testimony to the great merits and originality of those inventions, he was prompt to adopt whatever amendments were suggested by subsequent efforts of ingenuity. But whatever partiality he had imbibed, from his earliest attempts, for the use of water as a moving power, he became fully sensible of the advantages of the steant-engine, soon after the improvements of Mr. Watt; and the energies of his powerful mind were successfully directed to render himself master of the abstrusest parts of its theory.

In this he was greatly assisted by his friendly and confidential intercourse with Mr. Watt, with his distinguished partner Mr. Boulton, and with other skilful members of their establishment. Under his directions, the steam-engines of Messrs. Phillips and Lee exhibited the finest specimens of perfect mechanism, conducted upon a well arranged system, and combining the essential requisites of regularity and constancy of motion, with a studied and wisely directed economy. Mr. Lee was the first to improve upon the fireproof mills of his friend Mr. William Strutt, by the employment of cast-iron beams; and he was also among the first to render the security still more complete, by employing steam for warming the mills in winter, and to enforce cleanliness, ventilation, and good order in the regulation of them. By his recommendation, the workmen raised among themselves a fund for mutual relief during sickness; and so great was the benefit derived from it, as to make it appear, in evidence given before the House of Commons, that among a thousand work-people, whom the establishment comprised, not more than five pounds had been distributed throughout one year in the form of poor-rates. Mr. Lee was pre-eminently distinguished by the clearness, the sagacity, and the systematic connexion of the arrangements by which he conducted the great manufacturing establishments over which he presided, and by which he was enabled, at any moment, to concentrate the results of all the operations, as well as to take a distinct view of any individual part. Mr. Lee was born in the year 1761. In 1803, he married Mary, the youngest daughter of the late Rev. John Ewart of Troquire. She died in 1811, leaving five children, three of whom still survive. Mr. L. was the brother of Mrs. Sophia and Mrs. Harriet Lee, two ladies well known to the public by their literary and valuable works.

Trade. According to the report of the best informed brokers, the situation of business in London, with the exception of very few articles, has very materially improved within the last six weeks. That improvement may be stated, on most of the principal articles of colonial produce, at about 15 or 16 per cent.; in some cases, perhaps more.

The New London Bridge. The erection of this public fabric proceeds with great rapidity. The centres for the second

arch are nearly finished, and are visible over the parapets of the old bridge. The mode by which these centres are constructed is very ingenious. The wood and iron work is formed and put together at Messrs. Jolliffe and Banks' establishment, at the Isle of Dogs, where the sections of the centre are finished ready for placing in position at the new bridge. These gigantic pieces of wood-work, forming a semicircle, are then floated to about fifty yards above the site of the new

1826.

Incidents. Preferments - Appointments.

bridge on the Surrey side, where two barges are moored to each other. The barges are so constructed as to admit, as the tide falls, a body of water, by which they are nearly filled, and thus brought almost to a level with the surface of the river; the centres are then, by the operation of powerful machinery, first brought horizontally on to the barges, and then, by the same agency, raised perpendicularly across the middle of them, and secured in that position. As the tide rises, the water is let out of the barges, and at high water they are floated down to the works where the arch is to be turned. The state of the tide at this juncture is such, as to bring the centres, thus temporarily fixed on the barges, almost even with the piers on which they are to be based; and, by the operation of powerful mechanism, these ponderous centres (each weighing nearly forty tons) are placed in their position at the new bridge.

Chancery Court. The following is the account in the Bank, standing in the name of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, at different periods during the last hundred years :

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d.

741,590 18 6

1,007,298 14 7

1,295,243 84

7,120,537 12 2

1726

....

1730

1740

....

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17,565,912 28

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1825

39,174,722 87

....

....

21,635,719 11 9

Paper and Bread. The effect which the late panic amongst the banks has bad upon the prices of agricultural produce, sufficiently proves the connection between the two; but the following table of the prices of wheat and demand for country bank notes, extracted from a work entitled "Joplin's Views on Currency," still more strongly shows the intimacy of that connection. The demand for stamps by the country bankers, it must be obvious, will naturally increase with an increase of their issues, and vice versa. The following is an account of the value in notes payable to bearer on demand, that would be circulated upon the stamps issued by the Stamp-Office to the country bankers, together with the average prices of wheat, from 1810 to part of 1825 inclusive:

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1810....10,519,519....105
1811.... 8,792,433.... 93
1812....10,577,134....125

433.

1813....12,615,509....107
1814....10,773,375.... 74
1815.... 7,624,949.... 94
1816.... 6,423,466.... 75
1817.... 9,075,958.... 94
1818....12,316,868.... 83
1819.... 5,640,313.... 72
1820.... 3,574,894.... 65
1821.... 3,987,582.... 54
1822.... 4,217,341.... 43
1823.... 4,657,589.... 51
1824.... 6,093,367.... 62
1825 for the half year ending 5th of

April 4,056,145.... 66

At the same rate of issue, which there cannot be much doubt has continued, the amount for the year 1825, may be thus stated :

1825.... 8,112,2901. say 66s. pr. quar.

ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS.

Rev. H. Rodney to the Prebendary in Hereford Cathedral. Rev. J. Barnwell to the Vicarage of Stoke Gursey with the Chapelry of Lilstock annexed, Somersetshire.

Rev. Mr. Beresford to the Rectory of Inniscarra, Ireland.

Rev. J. Carridge to the Vicarage of Nether Poppleton, Yorkshire.

Rev. W. E. Coldwell to the Vicarage of High

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George Hamilton Seymour, Esq. to be Secretary to his Majesty's Legation at Studgardt.

Married.] At St. Bride's, Fleet-street, Mr. А. Smith, of Dorset-street, to Elizabeth, only daughter of the late John Stevens, Esq.

At Leyton, Essex, John, son of William Davis, of Leytonstone, Esq. to Elizabeth Jesser, fourth daughter of John Coope, of Leyspring, Esq. At St. James's, Westminster, the Rev. W. Carmalt, of Putney, to Eleanor, relict of the Rev. Joshua Ruddock.

At Shiplake Church, the Rev. Horace R. Pechell, to Caroline Mary, third daughter of the Right Hon. Lord Mark Kerr.

At Birr, James Giles, Esq. of Grosvenor-place, to Katherine Maria, second daughter of the late Colonel Edward Macdonell.

At Hampden, the seat of the Earl of Buckinghamshire, the Rev. Augustus Hobart, to Maria Isabella, eldest daughter of the Rev. Godfrey Egremont.

At Bathwick Church, the Hon. H. B. Arundell, to Lucy, only child of the late H. P. Smythe, Esq.

Oct. VOL. XVIII. NO. LXX

3 к

434

Provincial Occurrences. - Berkshire-Cambridge.

Died. Mr. John Lee Sprague, of Cecil-street, Strand.

At Drayton, Bucks, General Sir Henry Calvert, Bart.

At Brent Ely Hall, Suffolk, Elizabeth, wife of Edward George Lind, Esq.

At St. George's-place, Canterbury, Richard Mount, Esq.

At Lee, Kent, Mrs. Mary Ann Moreland, relict of the late William Moreland. Esq. of Pall Mall. At Castle Rising, Norfolk, James Bellamy, Esq.

of Wisbeach.

Oct. 1,

In Lower Grosvenor-street, Mr. Cartwright.

At Brompton, Mrs. West.

George Stace, Esq. of Great Dunmow, Essex,

late of Romford.

At Shooter's Hill, Elizabeth, relict of the late General Sir Thomas Blomefield, Bart.

At Paddington Green, Sarah, relict of William Thomas Say.

Caroline Sophia, wife of E. Woods, Esq.
In Hamilton-place, Kennington, David Nisbett,

Esq.

At Dover, Lord Gifford, Master of the Rolis.

PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES

IN THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND, AND IN WALES, SCOTLAND,
AND IRELAND.

BEDFORDSHIRE.

In the course of the last twelve months very numerous donations and annual subscriptions have been received for the enlargement of the Bedford Infirmary, a thing much needed.

BERKSHIRE.

The Yucca Gloriosa, or Superb Adam's Needle, was lately seen in flower in the gardens of Messrs. Sigston and Vare, near Frogmore. It is by no means of rare occurrence, nor is it difficult of culture; but, like the aloe, it seldom flowers, and with scarcely any exceptions, has never been known to attain the size and beauty of the specimen possessed by Messrs. Sigston and Vare. The rapid growth of its flower-stalk has been most extraordinary. The plant has been about twelve years in its present situation, requiring little care, and constantly exposed to the atmosphere. It rose up to the height of twelve feet, having grown nine feet in twenty-four days. The flowers upon the stem amounted to twelve hundred. Altogether this may be considered one of the finest productions of the family of plants. This remarkable shrub is of the genus Hexandria, order Monogynia. Upon consulting some botanical authorities, we find that the plant has been rarely seen of the height and beauty of this specimen.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

Perhaps it is not generally known, that the chapel and other buildings of King's College, formed but a part of the original design of that foundation, which the royal munificence of Henry the Sixth had projected. The works now in progression exhibit a line of building running parallel with the chapel, at right angles to Trumpington-street, and reaching nearly to the river. These buildings consist of the lodge of the provost, the library, the hall, and chambers for the residence of the fellows and scholars; the whole presenting a front of five hundred and nine feet in extent. The provost's

lodge, which occupies that end nearest the river, is in every respect a most princely residence. Adjoining is the library, a handsome room, lighted by large Gothic windows, between which it is supported by buttresses: these are terminated with pinnacles in a manner somewhat similar to those of the chapel. Between the library and the hall is a part of the building appropriated to the residence of the fellows and scholars of the society. Adjoining this is the ball. The interior of this room is one hundred and two feet in length; it is thirty-six feet wide, and forty feet high; the roof, which is stue. coed in a very beautiful manner, is lighted by two Gothic lanterns of most exquisite workmanship. Joining the hall, and terminating at right angles

with Trumpington-street, is the remainder of the building, containing rooms for the residence of the fellows and scholars. The exterior of the whole which we have described is nearly finished; bat two years must elapse, from the present time, before the whole of the plan will be completed. The houses upon the western side of Trumpingtonstreet, which extend from the end of the new buildings to the end of the chapel, and which at present obstruct the view of the College from the street, are about to be thrown down, and the street rendered considerably wider. The ap pearance which King's College will then present to the street will consist of the east end of the new buildings terminated with large oriel windows, and profusely ornamented; a Gothic screen, about twenty-five feet in height, will be erected parallel with the street, joining the extremities of the chapel and the new buildings. In the centre of the screen will be a magnificent Gothic entrance under a tower, seventy-two feet in height, each corner of which will be ornamented with a pinnacle twentyfive feet high. This entrance will be completed at a considerable expense, and will exhibit specimens of the most elaborate workmanship; and it may be truly asserted, that, as an individual foundation or college, it will stand unprecedented for grandeur and magnificence.

CHESHIRE.

The long-projected new bridge at Chester is at length to be commenced under the superintend ance of Mr. Telford. The bridge will be of granite, one arch of two hundred feet span, being the largest stone arch in the world.

CORNWALL.

A considerable advance has taken place in the standard for copper, within the last three weeks, amounting to 112. 11s. per ton; from 94. 10s, to 1061. 1s. This is a most cheering and a most opportune alteration, as it is well understood, that many of the mines could not have continued work

ing at the former reduced price of copper, and the mining population were already suffering severe privations either from want of employment or in adequate wages.

An important improvement in the communication between Cornwall and Plymouth is about to be effected by establishing a steam ferry-boat to ply between Torpoint and New-passage.

The opening the Trebarwith Sand Road is de. layed for a short time, to remedy a few defects in the line of road. The completion of this road will be of great importance to agriculturists through a large district, who will be enabled by it to procure sand at any season of the year at a fourth of the price it has hitherto cost them.

1826.

Devonshire-Dorsetshire-Essex-Lancashire.

CUMBERLAND.

The proposed new road between Carlisle and Brampton, by way of Warwick Bridge, was lately surveyed. The distance will be shortened nearly a mile. Besides obviating the angle from the head of Botcher Gate to Bocherby Mill, there will be a considerable saving by carrying the road in a direct line into the village of Warwick, through a narrow lane which is now impassable except in dry weather, and which may be widened at a little expense. The road will then, instead of passing through the village, diverge a little to the right, and fall into the old road at the bridge which crosses the Eden. The next material deviation

is intended to be made near to Gelt Bridge; from whence it is proposed to carry the road through Lord Carlisle's property in a direct line to the Townfoot of Brampton.

DERBYSHIRE.

In this county there are 20,505 families in trade 14,582 in agriculture.- Total charge, 90,3361.75,068/. land-1797/. trade.

DEVONSHIRE.

A subscription is open for the purpose of extend. ing and improving the harbour at Axmouth, and forming a tram-road or railway from thence to Axminster. Of the utility of this scheme no doubt whatever can be entertained; and it appears from the printed report of Mr. Giles, the engineer, who has surveyed the harbour and proposed line of railway, that the expense of the undertaking is, comparatively speaking, inconsiderable, the whole amount, including the compensation to be paid (in shares) to the proprietor of the harbour, being under 40,000l. The practicability of obtaining a safe and accessible harbour at Axmouth has often been deemed problematical; but from the returns of the importations, and the statements of the masters and owners of vessels who frequent the harbour in its present state, accompanied with the decided opinion of an engineer, who has been employed in a neighbouring harbour, no doubt can remain as to the practicability and efficiency of the proposed extension of the harbour.

DORSETSHIRE.

A plan has been suggested by Mr. Alexander Lamb, of London, for converting Portland Roads into a harbour, by means of a breakwater. It is accompanied with charts, illustrating the object proposed; together with estimates of the expense, and a schedule of an Act of Parliament, in case the legislature should think proper to adopt the measure. That it would be of great utility to the naval interests of the kingdom appears probable; more especially as contributing to the preservation of the lives of mariners, as well as other sea-faring Four hundred thousand pounds, Mr. Lamb calculates, would fully meat the whole expense attending his plan, and the time requisite for its completion would be five years.

persons.

ESSEX.

Colchester Philosophical Society - An essay was lately delivered before the members of this Society and a respectable assemblage of visitors, on the "Origia, Frogress, and present State of Vaccination," by Charles Boutflower, esq. The occasional breaking out of small-pox in our cities and towns, and the propagation of that loathsome disease by inoculation, renders the subject of Vaccination of very general interest. It is, therefore, gratifying the having to report that the Essayist, in the present instance, took a comprehensive view of the subject, and established beyond a doubt, to every unprejudiced mind, the value of the Jenne. rian discovery, and the paramount importance of

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Vaccination to the whole human race, not only as matter of policy, but as a great and imperative moral duty.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The ceremony of laying the first stone of the intended new bridge over the Severn, at Holt Fleet, took place last month. Lord Foley officiated on the occasion, assisted by a great number of the proprietors.

HAMPSHIRE.

The anniversary meeting of the Hampshire Society for the Education of the Poor on the plan of Dr. Bell, lately took place at Winchester. The children of the schools in the city proceeded with their masters and mistresses to the cathedral, to hear divine service and an impressive sermon. Then the children returned to their school-rooms, and underwent an examination, which proved highly satisfactory. The secretary read the fifteenth annual report of the committee, which stated that the schools in that city continued to maintain their character for order and regularity. The number receiving education amounted to one hundred and seventy-four boys and one hundred and sixty-nine girls. Fifty-eight boys and thirty-three girls had left school during the year, many of whom had gone into good situations. It appeared that good effects had arisen from the establishing of a school library, and that 8566 children are receiving instruction in the county.

HERTFORDSHIRE.

The inhabitants of Hemel-Hampstead have presented a valuable piece of plate to Dr. Hamilton, on his retiring from their parish, where he had been minister thirty-five years.

RENT.

In several districts of the South and West of England, the poor-rates have either completely annihilated the income of the clergyman, or reduced it to a very small amount. It appears from the evidence of Mr. Hodges before the Emigration Committee, that in many parishes in the Weald of Kent, the rate either equals or nearly equals the reat. Thus, the parish of Bennenden, rent 31592. poor-rates, on an average of three years, 30111.; Biddenden, rent 32791. rate 27702.; Frittenden, rent 20241. rate 16291.; Sandhurst, rent 27171. rate 2443/.; Shadoxhurst, rent 8344. rate 630l. Mr. Curteis, member for Sussex, states that the parish burdeus for Winchelsea amount to forty shillings per acre!

LANCASHIRE.

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, instituted in 1781, was the first example in our provinces, of a large association of private individuals, for the purpose of contributing funds for the publication of literary and scientific memoirs. Nine volumes of their transactions are now completed. They are of higher merit than those of any other provincial institution, and are surpassed by few of our metropolitan societies. Those who are aware of the limited sale of scientific works, even of profound research, and who know the consequent reluctance of publishers to undertake the publication of them, at their own risk, even when proceeding from authors of acknowledged talents, will be able to appreciate the claims of Manchester to our gratitude, in providing funds for so meritorious an object; and will regret with us, that forty years had elapsed before any other town or county had the spirit to follow the example.

The Royal Manchester Institution has lately received a present, according to their printed proceedings, of the following casts and sculpture. from Mr. Hatfield, of Serge Hill, King's Langley, Herts:

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