in St. Alban's market, on the previous December, at 48. 6. per bushel, fell in the spring of 1695 to 48. 2d., and remained at that price until the approach of harvest. In 1693, previous to the establishment of the Bank, it sold in the same market at 9s. 6d. per bushel; that is, 76s. per quarter; and the price of the 4lb. loaf was a shilling. After the surrender of Namur, the prosperous aspect lowered the price of foreign money; and in December 1695, the pound sterling was exchanged for 94 florins; but early in the following year, Mr. Mountagu's attempt to raise the value of our money by a recoinage, produced for some time a contrary effect, and threw our finances into the most appalling disorder. We shall perceive that this did not arise in the smallest degree from any misconduct or imprudence on the part of the Directors of the Bank.

Aug. 20.

Mr. URBAN, IN a new edition lately published of my "Picture of London," I have noticed a striking circumstance in the present condition of the Metropolis. Almost all the old buildings, and other vestiges of antiquity, have successively disappeared, to give place to modern improvements. Westminster Abbey Church and the Hall, with part of St. Stephen's Chapel, the Temple Church, part of the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, the Tower, St. Saviour's Church, and Crosby Hall, are the chief, and almost the only specimens of architectural antiquities, left to adorn and give interest to old London; and but for the zealous and praiseworthy exertions of a very few active and energetic individuals, some of these buildings would have been destroyed, or greatly reduced in dimension and character long ere this time. Subscriptions to a considerable amount have been collected to renovate and preserve the architectural features of the Lady Chapel of St. Saviour's, Southwark, and Crosby Hall. It is also proposed to repair and reinstate the beauty of the stone Cross at Waltham.

Iconoclasts have prevailed in diffe

rent ages and different countries; but their reckless and heartless misdeeds are now justly reprobated. Still the preservers and guardians of works of art and antiquity have not yet been enrolled as a body. It is time they were and in an age like the present, when the enlightened part of mankind either really feel or affect a regard for all works of antiquity, and more especially such as have either beauty or historic interest attached to them, it is thought that a Society may be formed in the British Metropolis, with agents or members in other parts of the kingdom, to watch over and endeavour to preserve the remaining ancient works from total destruction or mutilation. It may be said that Churches, Mansions, Tombs, &c. ought to be protected by their legal guardians; but it is lamentably known that these very persons are sometimes their wanton and mercenary spoliators. The zealous and high-minded antiquary has his feelings continually annoyed in travelling through the country, by the entire extinction of many fine buildings and monuments of remote ages, and of the merciless and tasteless disfiguration of others : he has, however, the consolation and pleasure of seeing and examining some which still remain, as memorials of

the science and talents of men and times far remote from our own. He has witnessed some of these carefully preserved from dilapidation,-others renovated after the decay of age or accident, but others left to moulder from weather, or suffer mutilation from mischievous and reckless boys and men. To guard such as remain from further deterioration and destruction, to advise and assist legal authorities, to be the means of preserving and conveying down to future ages those works of real beauty and interest, and which are neglected or doomed to annihilation-it is proposed to establish a Society, to be called "THE GUARDIAN OF ANTIQUITIES."

It will not be necessary at present to enter into further details. In the ensuing winter the Society will be organised, and placed under the management of a President, Vice-Presidents, a Council, &c. Yours, &c.

J. BRITTON.

Such is WALTHAM CROSS, a monument remarkable for the illustrious historical character whom it commemorates, and rendered still more precious by the beauty of its architectural design.

This elegant structure reminded the passenger, by a striking example, of that mortality which awaits the highest as well as the lowest, and of that future and eternal state of existence into which all must pass; while he was superstitiously taught to pray for the soul of her whom the rich monument commemorated; for a spirit fled beyond the reach of human intercession, and summoned before the just and merciful tribunal of God who gave it.

The act, it must be confessed, savoured of charity in him who performed it; but the doctrine had no foundation in Holy Writ, and held out a dangerous compromise for crime. What mattered it how worldly goods were spent or acquired, provided à portion of them should be left to procure a stipendiary priest, for the purpose of praying the soul of the defunct owner out of that dread "prison house," the secrets of which the poet has told us are unfit for mortal ear? The compact was indeed fraudulent; for payment was received for a benefit which no pecuniary bribe could purchase.

Eleanor, daughter of Ferdinand the third, King of Castile and Leon, the only child by his second wife Joan, daughter and heir of John Count of Ponthieu, was married to Prince Edward, eldest son of Henry the Third, when he was yet but fifteen years of age, in 1254, at Burgos in Spain, with the approbation of her brother Alphonso, who had succeeded to the kingdoms before named.

Alphonso was so much struck with the commanding stature and elegant deportment of the youthful prince, that he himself invested him with the GENT. MAG. August, 1832.

girdle of knighthood. Returning with his bride to his father's court, Edward was welcomed, says Matthew Paris, as an angel from God, with the highest demonstrations of joy, "quasi angelus Dei cum summâ suscipitur jubilatione."* Fabian tells us he brought his princess to London, where “she was honourably received of the citizens, the city richly curtained and garnished with divers rich cloths; the King (Henry III.) was present at her coming, and she was conveyed through the city to St. John's without Smithfield, and there lodged for a while, but after removed to the Savoy.”†

One of the prince's attendants on this matrimonial expedition, John Mansel, brought with him the charter of the King of Castile and Leon, sealed with a bulla of gold, by which he quit-claimed the whole of Gascony for himself and his heirs to the King of England and his successors. Henry, on recognition of this gift, more complimentary than substantial, immediately surrendered it to his son, with Ireland, Wales, the towns of Bristol, Stamford, and Grantham.

Edward, fifteen years after his marriage with Eleanor (during which interval he had distinguished himself in various chivalrous encounters and political events), was signed with the cross at Northampton by Ottobon, the legate of the Pope, at the same time with his brother Edmund and the Earl of Gloucester.

Two years subsequent to this ceremony, he set out on his expedition to the Holy Land, in accomplishment of his vow, accompanied by his wife, the faithful companion of his perils, who there gave birth to a daughter Joan, surnamed de Acre (Acon), from the place where she first drew breath. This Joan became the wife of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. While Edward was sojourning at Acre, a correspondence was opened with him by a certain Saracen Amiral of Joppa, who professed a high respect for his character, and testified a desire to become a Christian. The messenger employed by the Amiral was one Anzazim, a member of that extraordinary tribe called Assassins, whose elective * Matt. Paris, Hist. Angl. edit. Watts,

p.

890.

+ Fabian's Chronicle, reprint, p. 338. Matt. Paris, p. 1005.