LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS TO THE VOLUME. Those marked thus are Vignettes, printed with the letter-press. Altar Window at St. Dunstan's in the West, London Frontispiece. *View of the Mansion at Puncknowle, Dorset; with the Representation Page. of an ancient Head in panel 38 39 *Ancient Cross in Puncknowle Church-yard Plan of the Close of Old Sarum; and of the Cathedral as restored by *Bird's eye view of the Ground-plan of Old Sarum Cathedral..... Kingston Seymour Manor-House, Somerset VHANELI MGUMATZ .... .......... ... 129 143 144 252 370 377 473 474 ... 585 ... 587 623 PREFACE. WE trust that we may infer the satisfaction of our readers in the conduct of the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, from the continued patronage which they afford it. Having arranged, when we commenced the New Series, the plan which we considered most suitable for the undertaking, and subsequently having seen no reason to depart from it, our endeavour has been to render the execution as perfect as we could. In the branch connected with Antiquities, many subjects of local and general interest will be found: and we speak with confidence of the satisfaction which the review of the works of the New Record Commission has given, and the interest it has excited. In the department which includes the Review of New Publications, our endeavour has been to judge of the works submitted to us, carefully and impartially; we have recommended no one to public notice without mentioning the grounds of our approbation; nor have we ever censured any publication without declaring the circumstances that called for animadversion. Sometimes our Reviews are later than we could wish; but authors must recollect, animo cupienti nihil satis festinari. Sometimes we are obliged to present them in a very abridged form; but as long as the Press is as prolific as at present, we can only meet its demands, by affording less space to each writer. It requires very superior powers in the present day, for an author to rise at once above his competitors, and, in the general cultivation of intellect and diffusion of literature, to bear away the palm of undisputed excellence; when such superior works appear, they receive from us, as may be seen, an attention proportioned to their eminence. On subjects connected with the Established Church, we have spoken openly, but we believe reasonably and temperately; and the same disposition shall continue to advocate her rights, defend her character, and promote all due amendment of her defects. The latter part of our Magazine has always been appropriated to the Obituary; a part that has been much esteemed by the public, and much consulted by literary persons: we can assert that the materials are collected with labour and investigation, and that they are arranged after very careful examination. But if in any department of our Magazine occasional mistakes or defects may be found, we are confident that a candid reader will attribute them not to the negligence of the contributors, but to the very nature of the publication, which cannot, like a common book, be laid aside and revised at leisure. Our appeal on this subject, shall be in the words of the Roman Poet: 'Da veniam subitis; et dum legis ista, memento |