and judiciously applied, as by the institution of Exhibitions or Scholar, ships in the name of Mr. Pitt? To identify His Name, Character, and Principles, with the Education of fu ture Generations, will be attended with the most beneficial consequences to this Country. Therefore, to apply this surplus in the manner which has been mentioned, namely, in building an Office for the Meetings of the Commissioners for the Liquidation of the National Debt, in which it is proposed this bronze statue of Mr. Pitt shall be `placed, will be a violation of the trust reposed in the Committee. It is consequently to be expected, that before any definitive resolution is adopt ed by them in that respect, the Committee will take the sense of a General Meeting of the Subscribers upon it, they having at least fourteen days' notice of such Meeting, which when ever it takes place, there can be little doubt but that the surplus of this Fund will be more properly disposed of than in building an Office for Go vernment, which ought, if required, to be erected at the public expence, and not out of the subscriptions of private individuals, made for a widelydifferent purpose.

The situation in which Mr. Pitt's Statue is placed in Westminster Abbey, is universally condemned. It is too high, independent of the other objections to its being over the Western door of that Church. Part of this Surplus Fund would be well disposed of in removing this Monument to some other part of that venerable building.

Mr. URBAN,

Y.

Dublin, Sept. 15. A LTHOUGH your excellent Monthly Publication has for nearly a Century served as a medium of communication to the Literary World, it has seldom had an opportunity of announcing to the British Nation any researches into the History and Antiquities of this its most antient Colony, now, by the cement of a Legislative Union, become an integral part of the British Empire.

For a long period, both natives and foreigners have deplored the little progress made in the elucidation of the Historical and Topographical Antiquities of Ireland. The words of Sir Charles Wogan, the friend and

correspondent of Swift, are peculiarly emphatic, and express the ardour of a mind zealously patriotic ;

"While other countries," he exclaims, "are brightening up their story and character by the industry of their Wri ters successively labouring to adorn them; the newest accounts given all over Europe of the soil, genius, improvement, and customs of Ireland may be dated four hundred years ago. She is still reckoned as savage as she was under the oppression of the Danes, or after the first incursion of the English, who drove her, in spite of her voluntary submission, into wildness."-" On acIreland, all Europe looks upon her as count of this perpetual silence about under a constant fog, the seat of Dul ness, and the dismal mansion of Ignorance and Distress."-"The very dis tinction carries in the face of it a lessening, and strikes the fancy with the ungrateful idea of misery.”

Writer alludes, improvements in agriSince the period to which this culture and extension of commerce have introduced their concomitant blessings; wealth and population have increased with a rapidity unexampled in the history of Nations; and although the ardour with which the public mind is engaged in the investigation of the early history of this Country has been sufficiently manifested, by the avidity with which books professing to treat on that subject have been bought up; nevertheless, the stock of Antiquarian knowledge has been hardly increased; stories founded in fable, reiterated

through various publications, and vague speculations, from whence impossible conclusions have been hastily drawn, are what the investigator of Irish Antiquities is obliged to rest satisfied with.

To remedy these defects, and to give to the world a faithful representation of the Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Monastic Antiquities of this Nation, drawn from matters of Record, or other credible sources of information, are the ambitious views of the Writer of this letter: to communicate to the world the plan of such à work (already in a great state of forwardness), aud to solicit the assistance of the Learned, is the object of the present Address.

The uncertain duration of human life makes it requisite that, in an uadertaking of so great extent, and so

difficult

difficult of execution, such divisional arrangement should be made, as would leave each portion a perfect work. The general title of "Hibernia" will be annexed to that now proposed, it being intended to form a suitable accompaniment to the Magna Britannia of Messrs. Lysons, and the Cale donia of Mr. Chalmers. "The History of the Metropolis and its Environs" challenges, of course, the first place, and is that portion which I now propose to give to the publick, forming in itself a distinct and perfect work.

"The History of Dublin and its Environs" will therefore be comprized in three quarto volumes, whereof the Ecclesiastical History of the Diocese will form the first, comprizing the general history thereof, biographical sketches of the lives of its Archbishops; distinct and detailed accounts of the two Cathedrals, with lives of their respective Deans; and at the end of the volume, an Appendix of valuable original documents, consist ing of Papal bulls, letters patent, grants of land and immunities, and other important matters. This vo -lume will be illustrated with twelve beautiful plates, exhibiting views of the Cathedrals and Archiepiscopal Palaces, Monuments, &c. The second volume will comprize the History of the City of Dublin, and of all the several establishments within its bounds, whether Corporations, Guilds, Monasteries, literary and learned Societies, and likewise of its University. The Annals of this antient City will comprize in a great measure the history of the English Pale; and to the volume will be subjoined an Appen

letter a table of contents. That antient survey of Sir William Petty, known by the name of the Down Survey, will be incorporated into this volume. The best skill of the first Artists will be employed in illustrating the natural beauties of this romantic district, which includes the vale of Glen-da-loch, and of the picturesque bay of Dublin.

The Antiquities of a City whose foundation may be traced to times exceedingly remote, whose population entitles it to the fifth place, the beauty of its buildings to the third, and its picturesque situation to, perhaps, the first place, among European Cities, cannot fail of exciting an interest in the public breast. The native of Great Britain will here find a detailed account of the first people who, emigrating from that land, formed a settlement in the adjoining Island; some of those families still exist, and some still enjoy the honours and possessions of their early ancestors. The title of Insula Sacra, conferred on Ireland in the early ages of Christianity, will doubtless excite a desire to know somewhat of those ecclesiastical and monastic establishments, those fosterers of the Arts, which the rude exercise of arms had exiled from the other districts of Europe: the insular situation of this Country, however, afforded them, for some centuries, a security from the inroads of barbarian Sepis.

The Conditions on which the Work will be published are inclosed *.

Yours, &c. W. MONCK MASON,

Mr. URBAN,

Sept. 16. R. ALDERMAN JOSHUA JONA

An History of the Environs of the Metropolis, comprehending the whole county of Dublin, as far as it was considered as extending at any period of time, and therefore including the modern counties of Dublin and Wicklow, will supply subject matter for the third volume: herein will be comprized all matters which are considered as properly appertaining to the science of Topography; such as parochial and monastic history, descent of property, pedigrees of families, and other matters, which particularly to recount would make this

viously to his entering upon an examination of forly-five prisoners, charged for felonies, misdemeanours, assaults, &c. committed within the precincts of BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, addressed the Court, stating "that an unlawful and disgraceful extension had within these last few years taken place. The limits of the antient boundaries of the Fair had this year been particularly infringed upon; and it now extended itself into several of the adjoining streets, beyond Smith

* See the Advertisement on the Cover of our present Magazine.-EDIT.

field. He had particularly noticed this in St. John's-street, Clerkenwell, on the one side, and nearly half way down the Old Bailey, on the other."

The same Magistrate subsequently stated, that he was determined, with the aid of his coadjutors, to take such turther steps in the business, as in future would at least lessen the criminal extension which had risen, if not abolish the vicious and degrading system altogether."

SOUTHWARK FAIR, which had been unlawfully and viciously extended, was restrained to very narrow limits 1743. It continued to preserve a little decorum for a few years; but the Police being relaxed, its enormities grew to such a height, and its frequenters became so abandoned, that, after repeated complaints, it was, at length, totally abolished (1762), to the great joy of the merchants, traders, shopkeepers, travellers, and indeed of all the respectable part of the community.

We remember at that time there was some talk of the abolition of Bartholomew Fair also, whose inconvenience was proved to be far greater, and its morals worse, if possible, than the Fair of Our Lady in Southwark; but it was urged, that a CHARTER opposed its total annihilation.

This is, I believe, incorrect: FAIRS and MARKETS were, I know, introduced by ALFRED about 886; the former, upon the feast of the Dedication of the Church; and the latter, -weekly, for local convenience. They were granted, held, and regulated, by the Common Law, until nearly two centuries after.

WILLIAM I. who brought with him a number of foreign soldiers and foreign ecclesiasticks, seized the Crownlands, and the estates of those that had adhered to HAROLD, to reward his troops, and his priests; and consequently, the Crown-field (Smithfield) became, in right, it was said, of conquest, part of the possessions of our

Monarchs. It was a large and open place, with a pool of water; on the North side, low, wet, and miry; till the reign of HENRY I, who granted it, about 4. D. 1102, to a person of the name of RAHERE*, who, in consequence of a vision, founded a Priory thereon, and established a Market, which is now the largest in England, and a FAIR, which is at present of the most abandoned, the most profligate, and immoral description.

When Ruhere raised these fabricks, it appears, he cleared Smithfield, in some degree, of the filth which abounded, and made it smooth and level; whence it derived its name, Smoothfield, though the Saint had anticipated its present appellation. He also removed the gallows, which formerly bad stood near the Priory, to the Elms, on the West side, and drained the fens in the middle.

The LORD MAYOR was antiently obliged by his office to attend a wrestling in Smithfield on St. Bartholomew's day; and justs and tournaments were held there in the reigns of EDWARD III. RICHARD II. HENRY IV. HENRY V. HENRY VI. and ED WARD IV.

St. BARTHOLOMEW's Priory, thus established by Rahere, received a grant or charter from HENRY II. to the Brotherhood (such as was always concomitant to religious establishments) of a Market and Fair, the latter to continue three days: the criminal jurisdiction to be vested in the Mayor and Aldermen; small offences to be heard at the Court of Pied-poudre, before the Steward of the Hospital, or a Magistrate his deputy. The Fair, in the most ancient times, was never permitted to extend beyond the original grant, which were the possessions of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, and which included Smithfield and Bartholomew Close, that was then a paddock belonging to the Priory; nor at the Reformation, when the estate was granted by

HENRY