and also for the use of the cattle, Mr. Brooks dismantled the courtlage, the linhays, sheds, &c. and began to sink an extensive pond. When the workmen had sunk about ten feet from the surface, the strata appearing in a natural state, they came to a spongy matter; it appeared to be a very thick cuticle of a brown colour. They soon found bits of bones, and lumps of solid fat, of the same colour. Astonished at this discovery, one of them ran for his master, who, upon viewing the place, sent for Mr. Sharland, a person of great experience and practice as a farrier in the neighbourhood. It was then resolved cautiously to work round the carcase; and at last the complete body of a hog was found, reduced to the colour and substance of an Egyptian mummy: the flesh was six inches thick, and the hair upon the skin very long and elastic. As the workmen went on further, a considerable number of hogs, of various sizes, were found in different positions; in some places, two or three together; in other places singly, at a short distance. Upon the bodies being exposed in contact with the open air, they did not macerate nor reduce to powder, is is usually the case with the animal economy after lying two or three centuries divested of air: perhaps this may be occasioned by the mucilage of the bacon. This piggery continued to the depth of twelve feet, when the workmen stopped for the season, and the pond was filled with water. The oldest man in the parish had never heard that the ground had ever been broken; and, indeed, the several strata being entire, renders it impossible to conjecture from what causes this extraordary phenomenon can be accounted for. The family of Cruwys have a complete joural of remarkable events which have happened in the parish for three centuries; and not the least mention is made of any disorder which could occasion such a number of swine to be buried in such a situation."

Exeter, the capital of the county, is treated of at considerable length; and a very minute account is given of the cathedral. The description of this venerable and elegant structure is obviously derived from personal study and inspection, and as it contains many particulars hitherto unnoticed, we shall select a part as a favourable specimen of the style

and talents of the author.

The cathedral consists of a nave, with two side aisles; two short transepts, formed by the towers already noticed; a chapterhouse, a choir, with side aisles, and ten chapels, or oratories, with a room called the conistory court. The nave presents a magnifi cent and grand appearance on entering it from the western dor; though much of its grandeur is destroyed by the seats and pews in this part of the fabric. It measures seventy-six feet in width within the walls, and 175 in length from the western door to the

organ screen. The roof is supported by fourteen massive clustered columns, from which spring sixteen pointed arches; and above them are two tiers of small open arches. On the north side, over one of the arches, is a projecting kind of stone pew, called the minstrel's gallery, which is ornamented with some figures in alto-relievo, holding different musical instruments. The choir is of the same width as the nave, and measures 128 feet in length. St. Mary's Chapel is 61 feet in length, and between that and the altar screen is a space of 25 feet. The whole cathedral measures 408 feet from east to west, including the walls; the height of the roof, or vaulting, is 69 feet; and of the Norman towers, to the top of the battlements, 130 feet.

"The stones with which the walls of this noble edifice were principally built,' observes Bishop Lyttleton, came from Bere, near Cullyton, in Devon: the vaulting stone, of which the roof is composed, from Silverton, in the same county; the pavement of the choir from Kam, by sea to Toppesham: quere, if not Caen in Normandy? The vestry belonging to St. Mary's chapel, rebuilt in Henry the sixth's time, of Woneford stone: all which appears by the fabric rolls. The thin fine pillars which are seen in every part of the church, and idly supposed to be artificial composition, came from the Isle of Purbeck, near Corfe, in Dorset.'

"The towers, though very similar in shape and character, display some varieties in their ornaments; for the fascia, or intersecting arches, on the exterior of the north tower, are entirely different from any parts of those on the south; its upper story is more modern, and the turrets at the angles are later additions. The exterior appearance is massive grandeurs and though the architect has diversified the surface with shallow niches, numerous columns, and zig-zag mouldings to the arches, produced by these enrichments, are eclipsed yet the beauty and lightness intended to be by the style of architecture, which prevails in the windows and ornamental parts of the cathedral.

"The chapter-house is a large handsome room, of a parallelogramatic shape, and is said to have been built by -Bishop Lacy in 1430; but Sir H. Englefield thinks that this prelate only built the upper part of it; as

the lower part of this elegant room is so different from that of the superstructure, and so much resembling the architecture of the church, that it is highly probable that Bishop Quivil, who is recorded to have begun the cloisters, did also build, or at least begin, the chapter-house.'

The windows of the cathedral are very large, and many of them contain fine specimens of painted glass. They are all of the same shape, yet the architect has ornamented each with a studied variety of tracery, by which plan there are not two windows exactly similar on either side of the building,

though the windows which are opposite to each other correspond in almost every instance. Though all the windows are adorned with tracery and painted glass, yet the two large ones to the east and the west are more pre-eminently so. The former was repaired and beautified from the bequest of Henry Blackburn, a canon, in 1790, when an agreement was made with Lyon, of Exeter, gla. zier, to furnish the new glass at 1s. 8d. per foot; and that during the time employed, he was to have 3s. 4d. per week for his own work, and 2s. for his family. This window is still in good preservation, and contains nineteen whole length figures of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with some saints and other personages. Besides several painted figures, there are also various armorial bearings of the Plantagenet and Courtenay families, and different bishops of the see. The great west window, measuring 37 feet high by 27 feet broad, was fitted up with painted glass, &c. in 1766. The lower part is divided into nine compartments, seven of which are occupied with full length figures of as many saints, that of St. Peter being in the centre. Besides various crests, coronets, mottos, Mosaic work, and other ornaments, this elegant window is emblazoned with forty six coats of arms, properly adorned with their fields, supporters, quarterings, &c. The upper portion consists of two circular mouldings, including several cinquefoils, quatrefoils, and trefoils, each containing a complete coat of arms; and the centre is occupied with the arms of the king of England.

"In the north tower is a curious clock, given by Bishop Courtenay to the cathedral. This is worthy of notice from the singularity of its ornaments, and the ingenuity of its mechanism. On the face or dial are two circles, marked with figures. The interior circle is marked from 1 to 50, whereby is shewn the age of the moon, which is represented by an artificial ball revolving within the circle, and which changes its aspect with the varying phases of that satellite. In the centre is a globe, representing the earth; the figures on the outer circle mark the hours of the day and night.

a light pyramid of arches, columns, niches, pinnacles, crochets, and foliated ornaments. Its height is fifty-two feet. The screener rood-loft, which separates the nave from the choir, is supported in front by four Purbeckstone pillars, from which spring the groins of three flat arches; above these is a row of thirteen small arches, or niches, filled with some curious specimens of ancient paintings, These represent different events in sacred h tory. The screen supports a large and very grand organ, esteemed among the finest a struments of the kind in England. It was built in 1665 by John Loosemore, but har since received many improvements from J4dan and Micheau. This organ has one st gularity, which we never observed in a other. Independent of the pipes inclosed a the case, it has some lateral pipes, attached to the side columns of the building. These are said to be the largest in this country, and belong to a stop called the double-d pazon, which is an octave below the com mon pitch. The stops so well cover each other, that neither the reed stops, nor the false ones (sesquialtera, &c.) are distingui-be ed. This circumstance, perhaps, may count for that purity of tone for which the instrument is famed.

"The great bell of Exeter, given by Bishop Courtenay, is an object of much noteriers, It weighs 12,500 pounds, and is still sa pended at the very top of the north tow The weight of this bell has been strangev misrepresented by different persons who hare written concerning the cathedral; but as Izacke was living when it was re-cast 1675, his authority is to be preferred. In the south tower are eleven bells, ten of which are rung in peal.

"The following chapels have been erected at different periods within the cathedral, an have generally become the burial-places e the bishops who founded them. St. M at the east end, is appropriated to a librar St. Mary Magdalen's is to the north of it and St. Gabriel's on the south. St. Andrew's is used as a vestry by the canons and preber daries, and St. James's a vestry for the priest vicars. In each of the two last chapels were two altars. The chapel of St. John is under the south tower, that of St. Paul's under the north tower. Bishop Grandison's chapel » between his screen and the wall of the west front. At the south east corner of the choir is Oldham's, and at the opposite angle of the choir is Spektes' Chapel. Several of the little apartments are adorned with a great variety of sculptured ornaments.

In concluding the account of this fabre, we shall again avail ourselves of the sent ments of Sir II. Englefield, as being strict coincident with our own. It is not easy quit the subject of this celebrated cathedral. he observes, without noticing the gular felicity which attended its erect During the long period of fifty years, tasteless or vain prelate interfered with the

ley, the founder of the Bodleian library at Oxford: the Duke of Marlborough, Archbishop Wake, and Dr. Sy.

denham.

The latter part of the volume before us is occupied by an account of Dorsetshire; which, if not so interesting as that of Devonshire, is rather to be attri-, buted to the deficiency of important or curious objects of research, than to any want of industry and attention in the editors. Dorchester, the capital of the county, furnishes an entertaining article; it is singular, however, that no notice. is taken of the breweries in this place, the ale of Dorchester being its staple manufacture. We have also observed an inconsistency that calls for explanation or correction. In the general account of Dorsetshire, it is mentioned, that the number of sheep and lambs, kept within eight miles of Dorchester, amounts to one hundred and seventy thousand ; but in the description of Dorchester, it is said, that the number of sheep within six miles of the town exceeds six hundred thousand. The antiquarian remains in its neighbourhood, especially the Roman amphitheatre called Maumbury, Poundbury camp, and Maiden castle, are extremely well de scribed. A similar praise may be extended to Corfe castle, the residence of Queen Elfrida, rendered still more illus trious by its gallant defence in the civil wars, under the direction of Lady Bankes, wife of the lord chief justice, against the parliamentarians. A mo. nument to the memory of Mr. Henry Hastings, at Horton, gives an opportunity to the authors of introducing an account of this singular character, supposed to have been written by Lord Shaftsbury, which we shall extract for the entertainment of our readers.

"In the year 1638 lived Mr. Hastings, by his quality, son, brother, and uncle, to the Faris of Huntingdon. He was, peradventure, an original in our age, or rather the copy of our ancient nobility, in hunting, not in warlike times. He was low, very strong, and very active, of a reddish flaxen hair; his clothes always green cloth, and never worth, when new, five pounds. His house was perfectly of the old fashion, in the midst of a large pars, well stocked with deer; and near the house, rabbits for his kitchen; many fish-ponds, great store of wood and timber; a bowling-green in it, long but narrow, full of high ndres, it being never levelled since it was ploughed: they use round sand bowles; and it had a banquetting house like a stand,

a large one built in a tree. He kept all m ner of sport hounds, that ran buck, fox, hatt, otter, and badger; and hawks, long and she winged. He had all sorts of nets for fish. he had a walk in the New Forest, and the me of Christ Church; this last supplied him wi red deer, sea and river fish; and, indeed, * his neighbour's grounds and royalues ve free to him, who bestowed ail his time these sports, but what he borrowed to came his neighbours' wives and daughters, there be ing not a woman in all his walks, of ther gree of a yeoman's wife, or under, and unhe was not intimately acquainted with b the age of forty, but it was her own faul This made him very popular; always speing kindly to the husband, brother, or ther, who was to boot very welcome to house. Whenever he came there he for beef, pudding, and small beer, in great plez the house not so neatly kept as to him or his dirty shoes; the great hall str hounds, spaniels and terriers; the upper ed with marrow-bones, full of hawks, perc of the hall hung with fox-skins, of the the last year's killing; here and there a pro cat intermixed; gaine-keeper's and here's poles in great abundance. The parlour v a large green room, as properly furnishe On a great hearth, paved with brick, lay som terriers, and the choicest hounds and space Seldom but two of the great chairs had les of cats in them, which were not to be

turbed, he having always three or fourt 3tending him at dinner; and a little wh stick, of fourteen inches long, lying by las trencher, that he might defend such a as he had no mind to part with to the The windows, which were very large, sed for places to lay his arrows, cross-bows, stoue-bows, and such like accoutrement the corners of the room full of the best chose the lower end, which was of constant D“. hunting or hawking-poles; his oyster talde for he never failed to eat oysters all seasons both dinner and supper: the neighboun town of Pool supplied him with them. T upper part of the room had two tables and a desk, on the one side of which was a chu Bible, and on the other side the Book of Mar tyrs: on the table were hawke's boods, belo. and such like; two or three old hats, with crowns thrust in, so as to hold ten or a doz eggs, which were of the pheasant kiady poultry: these he took much care of and himself. Tables, dice, cards, and boxes, were not wanting. In the hole of the c were store of tobacco-pipes that had br used. On one side of this end of the ra was the door of a closet whercia stood tr strong beer and the wine, which never cok from thence but in single glasses, that les the rule of the house exactly observed, he never exceeded in drink, or permitted at others. On the other side was the Joor of 3a old chapel, not used for devotion; the pull, as the safest place, was never wanting a cold chine of beef, venison pasty, gammon

bacon, or a great apple-pye with thick crust, extremely baked. His table cost him not much though it was good to eat al. His sports supplied all but beef or mutton, except Fridays, when he had the best of salt fish, as well as other fish he could get; and this was the day his neighbours of best quality visited him. He never wanted a London pudding, and always sung in eating it, with my pert eyes there in a" (my part lies there in a, it should be.) He drank a glass or two of wine at meals, very often put syrup of gillyflowers in his sack, and had always a tenglass, without feet, stood by him, holding a pint of small beer, which he often stirred with rosemary. He was well natured but soon angry, calling his servants bastards, and cuckoldy knaves, in one of which he often spoke truth to his own knowledge, and sometimes in both, though of the same man. He lived to be an hundred, and never lost his eyesight, but always wrote and read without spectacles, and got on horseback without help. Until past fourscore, he rode to the death of the stag as well as any."

The account of Shaftsbury, celebrated in popish times for its magnificent ecclesiastical institutions, particularly the shrine of St. Edward the Martyr, and notorious in modern days for the venality of its representation, is both interesting and well drawn up. Sherborne also furnishes a remarkably curious article, both on account of the architec

tural details, and the insight which it affords of the enormous depredations which the courtiers of Elizabeth were allowed to commit with impunity, on the property of the church. Among the monuments of Sherborne church is one to the memory of the son and daughter of Lord Digby, for whom Pope wrote the best of his epitaphs, begin ing

"Go fair example of untainted youth," &c.

The island, or rather peninsula, of Portland, closes the volume: the account of its celebrated stone quarries is extracted without alteration from Mr. Smeaton's account of the Eddystone lighthouse; and an accurate description of the Chesil bank, a ridge of shingle seventeen miles in length, is given from Dr. Maton's tour.

We have derived, upon the whole, considerable pleasure from the perusal of this volume: too large a proportion, however, in our opinion, is occupied by antiquities, and too little notice has been bestowed on the proper topography and modern statistics of the counties. We would recommend also a greater degree of personal inspection, as essentially requisite for the permanent value of the work.

THE original plan of Dr. Aikin, was to condense in a moderate compass the most important objects in the natural and civil geography of England and Wales; together with such accounts of the cultivation, trade, and manufactures of the country, as might render the work both interesting and instructive to young persons in general. As an elegant epitome of the present state of England in these particulars, the volume before us is as yet unrivalled. The preceding edition (the 4th) was enriched.

and corrected principally from the county reports published by the Board of Agriculture in the present, the author has availed himself of the late enumeration of the inhabitants, and of some modern tours, to introduce various particulars which, without adding to the size, have enriched the work very materially. The plates of some of the maps. begin to be worn, and we would recom mend them to be re-engraved with corrections for the next edition.

IN the composition of this work, says the editor," an incredible number of publications have been consulted, and in no instance has the last edition of the

various local guides been neglected. The editor has been repeatedly induced to visit most of the places described, and made his observations on the spot;"