Ronningmead, from the horse-races annually held here on the fir of September, and the two following days. seat of Cooper's Hill, sung by Denham, is situated to the west of Egham. On this hill is Kingswood Lodge, the elegant Flounder, Esq. Near the house a late proprietar has placed a seat, which the votaries of the Muses will regard with veneration, as it is the very spot whence Sir John Denham took his view of the rich and varied scenery which he has so hap pily described in his celebrated poem.* An ingenious, but perhaps fastidious critic, has observed, that Cooper's Hill, the professed subject of this piece, is not mentioned by name; neither is any account given of its situation, produce, or history; but that it serves like the stand of a telescope, merely as a convenience for viewing other object, Dr. Johnson, a critic much too rigid to bow to popular opinion, has judged more favorably, we might say, more justly, of the merits of this pertaraance" Cooper's Hill," says he, is the work that confers upon Denham the rank and dignity of an original author. He seems to have been, at least among us, the author of a species of composition that may be termed kel poetry, of which the fundamental subject is some particular landscape, to be poetically described, with the addition of such embellishments as may be supplied by historical retrospection, or incidental meditation. To trace a new species of poetry has in itself a very high claim to praise; and its praise is yet more, when it is apparently copied by Garth and Pope. Yet Cooper's Hill, if it be maliciously inspected, will not be found without its faults. The digressions are too long, the morality too frequent, and the sentiments sometimes such as will not bear a rigorous enquiry.”—Praise thus extorted from a critic not unreluctant to censure, will contribute to secure the fame of Den ham, which the charming eulogy of the bard of Windsor Forest would alone have rendered immortal: Bear me, oh! bear me, to sequester'd scenes, At PIRFORD was a mansion-house built by Sir John Wolley, to whom the manor was granted by Queen Elizabeth. At this place, while in the possession of his son, Sir Francis Wolley, the celebrated Dr. John Donne for many years spent the greatest part of his time.* It was afterwards the residence of Sir Robert I seem through consecrated walks to rove, I hear soft music die along the grove : Led by the sound I rove from shade to shade, By godlike poets venerable made; Here his first lays majestic Denham sung: There the last numbers flow'd from Cowley's tongue. The Doctor, in the early part of his life, before he took orders, was secretary to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, and continued in that employment five years. Sir George More's daughter lived in the family of the Lord Chancellor, and was niece to his lady. Sir George having some intimation of the mutual passion of his daughter and Mr Donne, removed her in all haste from the Chancellor's to his own house at Loseley; and the friends on both sides endeavoured to extinguish their affection for each other, but to no purpose; for, having exchanged the most faithful promises, they found means to have their marriage privately consummated. The affair was broken in the softest manner to Sir George by his friend and neighbor the Earl of Northumberland. But Sir George was so transported with anger, that he prevailed upon his sister, the Lord Chancellor's lady, to join with him in requir ing Donne's dismission, and would not be satisfied till his suit was granted. The Chancellor, ou dismissing him, declared, that "He parted with a friend, and such a secretary as was fitter to serve a king than a subject." Sir George's anger was not satisfied till Mr. Donne, with Mr. Samuel Brooke who married him, and his brother, Mr. Christopher Brooke, who gave the lady in marriage, were all committed to three several prisons. Donne, who was first enlarged, never rested, till, by his solicitations and interest, he procured the liberty of his friends. He was afterwards put to the trouble of a long and expensive law-suit to recover his wife, who was forcibly detained. At length time and his extraordinary merit and engaging behaviour so far wrought upon Sir George, that he was prevailed upon to use his interest with the Chancellor that his son-in-law might be restored to his post; but his request was refused, the Chancellor returning for answer, that though he was unfeignedly sorry for what he had done, yet it was inconsistent with his place Parkhurst, his son and grandson, and then came into the pos session of Denzil Onslow, Esq. There was also a park wel wooded and stocked with deer; but after the estate became united with that of Lord Onslow, the house was pulled down, and the park turned into farms. A gateway, with I. W. the initials of the builder, and some of the garden walls, yet remain. An avenue of elms and birches a quarter of a mile long, and in Arbrey's time more than twice that length, led to the gateway. The decoy mentioned by Aubrey was suffered to go to decay; but being purchased with other property of Lord Onslow by the late Lord King, he restored it to its former state, and it is now kept up. place and credit to discharge and re-admit servants at the request of passionate petitioners." As for Sir George, he was so far reconciled to Ma Donne and his wife, as not to deny them his paternal blessing; bat would contribute nothing towards their support, though they had great need of i, Mr. Donne's fortune being much diminished by the expense of his travels, books, law-suit, and the generosity of his temper. The wants of his family were, however, in some measure supplied by the seasonable bounty of their kinsman, Sir Francis Wolley, who entertained them till bis death, at his house at Pirford, where several of his children were born. Sir Francis, a little before his death, brought about a reconciliation between Mr. Donne and hì father-in-law, Sir George, obliging himself to pay Mr. Donne on a certain day 8001. as a portion with his wife, or 201. quarterly for their mainte nance, till that portion was paid. On the death of Sir Francis in 1610 he took a house for his family at Mitcham in this county.—(Walton's Life of Dome-Biog. Brit. V. SS2.) A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKS, MAPS, AND VIEWS, THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN Illustration of the History, Topography, Antiquities, &c. of the COUNTY OF STAFFORD. SAMPSON Erdeswicke, of Sandon, Esq. whom Camden calls venerandæ antiquitatis cultor maximus, collected the antiquities of his native county 1603.* His original MS. or a copy, was in Wood's time in the hands of Walter Chetwynd, of Ingestre, Esq. who was himself long engaged in the same design, but did not live to complete it. Afterwards George Digby, of Sandon, Esq. had it, and lent it to Sir Simon Degge, who returned it with the letter annexed to the printed edition. This "Survey of Staffordshire, containing the antiquities of that county, with a description of Beeston Castle,† in Cheshire," was published from Sir William Dugdale's transcript of the author's original copy. To which are added, some observations upon the possessors of monastery lands in Staffordshire: by Sir Simon Degge, Knt. Lond. 1719. 8vo. Only the latter part of this inost incorrect edition was printed from Dugdale's copy; the other from a MS. in Thoresby's museum, No. 44, bought at his sale by John Wightwick, Esq. of Wightwick, in this county, which has some corrections in a different hand, and goes no farther than p. 201, of the printed book, resuming the history again in Degge's letter, which ends, but does not begin, in the epistolary form. Both parts were reprinted 1723, 8vo. Among the Harleian MSS. No. 1990, is a very correct copy of this Survey. VOL. XIII. Iiii Dr. Erdeswicke grew crazy towards the end of his life. Ath. Ox. I. 427. He wrote the true use of arms, published 1592, under the name of William Wyrley, Dugd. Ant. usage of arms, p. 4. ↑ Boydell engraved a large view of this castle, from an old drawing in the possession of William Cowper, Esq. F. R. S. Dr. Gower of Chelmsford was possessed of another correct copy of Erdeswicke; and Mr. Gough had a third copy of this book. A MS. of Erdeswicke, with additions, by John Hurdman of Stone, was in the hands of George Tollet, Esq. of Betley in this county, who died October, 22nd. 1779. He wrote many excellent notes on Shakspeare, and a Dissertation on the figures of Morris dancers in his window at Betley, which, with an engraving of them, is printed in the fifth volume of the last edition of that author, p. 425. "The Natural History of Staffordshire. By Robert Plott, LL.D. keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, and professor of chymistry in the university of Oxford. Oxf. 1686," folio. In the epistle dedicatory to his history of Oxfordshire, he seems to promise an account of the other counties; but closes his work, the result of nine years' study and travel, with a resolution to publish no more of these histories, (though I think, says he, 1 never was so fit as now,) unless commanded by a power that he must not resist; meaning James II. whose approbation of his Natural History of Oxfordshire encouraged him to compile this, which was published by subscription of a penny a sheet, a penny a plate, and sixpence the map, amounting to 10 or 12 shillings the copy. "Articles for delivering up Lichfield Close, July 16th. with a list of the officers and gentlemen of quality, who were in the Close at the surrender, 1646." 4to. "An address to the Gentlemen and inhabitants of the city of Litch field, on the expediency of uniting the several parishes of St. Mary, St. Michael, and St. Chad, into one district, for the better maintenance and employment of their poor. As also on the advantages which would arise from the building one commodious house for their reception. To which is added, the plan and elevation of a building, well adapted to that purpose; together with some remarks on the management and economy of poor houses in general. The whole attempted with a view to lower the poor's rates, and yet to afford them a more decent and comfortable provision than they have hither to enjoyed. By James Wickins, churchwarden of St. Mary's parish." “A true relation of the taking of the Close at Lichfield by Prince Rupert, with some arms and ammunition. With the whole of the proceedings of both armies at Reading, &c. Lond. 1643." 8vo. has not a word about Litchfield, but about Reading. "Joyful news from Litchfield, being the true copy of a letter sent from a captain in Litchfield to his wife in Lond. dated April 17, wherein is contained the proceedings of Prince Rupert, against the Parliament's forces in the town; containing the manner of Prince Rupert's assaulting Litchfield; his endeavouring to undermine the wall with pick axes, how he attempted to scale the walls of the close, and what men he lost in that attempt; how he was repulsed by the Parliament's forces, and how they rung the bells in defiance of him, &c. &c. Lond. 1643," 4to. "Honour advanced, or a brief account of the long keeping and late leaving of the close at Litchfield, being a full relation of all the passages |