images of the holy Virgin and other faints are either solid filver, or clad in the richest garments.

"The outside of the cathedral of Mexico is unfinished, and likely to continue fo; they are afraid of increafing the weight of the building, which already begins to fink, as before noticed. I fhall fay nothing of the other churches; I believe there are as many as there are faints in the calendar.

The city of Mexico contains three fquares; the first is the Major or great fquare fronting the palace, the cathedral, and the market-place, which is a double fquare furrounded with buildings: this fquare is in the centre of the city. The fecond, adjoining to this, is the fquare called del Volador, where the bull-feafts are held. The third, is that of Santo Domingo. These squares are tolerably regular, and each has a fountain in the middle. To the north of the town, near the fuburbs, is the publick walk, or Alameda. A rivulet runs all round it, and forms a pretty large fquare, with a bafon and jet d'eau in the middle. Eight walks, with each two rows of trees, terminate at this bafon like a ftar; but as the foil of Mexico is unfit for trees, they are not in a very thriving condition. This is the only walk in or near to Mexico; all the country about it is fwampy ground, and full of canals. A few paces off, and facing the Alameda, is the Quemadero; this is the place where they burn the Jews, and other unhappy victims of the awful tribunal of Inquifition. This Que

madero is an enclosure between four walls, and filled with ovens, into which are thrown, over the walls, the poor wretches who are condemned to be burnt alive; condemned by judges profefling a religion whofe first precept is charity."

To this voyage, is added an extract of a letter from Dr. Anthony de Abrane, to the royal academy of fciences at Paris, relative to the Natural Hiftory of Mexico,

N.

Villare Cantianum, or Kent furveyed and illustrated. By Thomas Phillipot, Efq. Folio. 2d. Edition. Corrected. 11. Is. Baldwin.

Of this work fo much is faid in a former article of the prefent Review, as to render it needlefs to be farther particular. We fhall content ourselves therefore, with giving, for the entertainment of our readers and a specimen of the performance, the author's account of certain Roman urns, dug up at Newington.

At this parish of Newington, not long fince, were digged up many Roman urns, not far diftant from the high way or common paffage, it being agreeable unto Roman practice to inter in thofe places, where their monuments might be obvious almost

to every eye, memorials of themselves, and memento's of mortality unto living paffengers, whom the epitaphs of great ones were fain to beg to ftay and look upon them. Some of thefe were of a larger, and fome again of a narrower capacity, it being customary amongst the Romans, for the fervants and clients to obtain repofitories for their remains in urns of a leffer; for the masters and patrons to flumber in urns of a more wide and spacious dimenfion; and many were fo curious, that they contrived vaft family-urns to continue their living relations, wherein the ashes of their nearest kindred and friends, at least some parcels of them, might, as in fome common exchequer, be treafured up, that fo the union in life might be multiplied and inforced by an amicable correfpondence, even in the place of fepulture; thus the afhes of Domitian were mingled with thofe of Julia, and those of Achilles flept in the fame urn with those of his Patroclus. That this ufage or practice of the Romans extracted its pedigree from Greece is manifeft. For all authors that have taken a prospect of the Grecian rites of funerals, confent that those of Megara fhut up the bones of four or five perions in the narrow.confines of one repertory, or fepulchral urn. It is farther obfervable, that these urns difcovered at Newington, where several of them embroidered with particular infcriptions; one had Severianus pater infculped upon it, another was endorfed with Prifcian, and a third with Fulvius Linus; this alfo was ufual amongst the Romans, not only to fuperfcribe the names of those whose remains were lodged within, but likewife fometimes to devote their duft to thofe deities they called topical gods, fuch as we here, Deus Viterineus, Deus Morguntis, Deus Mounus, Deus Civitatis Brigantum, Camulus Deus Sanctus, Gadunus, &c. Sometimes they endorsed D. M. that is, Diis Manibus, and then we often meet with pateras, or facrificing dishes, lachrymatories, veffels of oils, and other aromatical libations, which age and a long date of time had condenfed into the confiftences of gellies; fometimes again their urns were placed or fituated near fome bound or landmark, and then their afhes inclofed, were confecrated to the peculiar protection of Deus Terminus, and were cloistered in a repofitory or veffel, much in figure or refemblance like a Roman urn, but only the cover was more wide and deep at top, and this they ftiled Arca Finalis. Befides thefe at Newington, there are many other examples of fuch endorsements amongst the Romans; I fhall cull out fome few, Marcus Plautius, who flew himself for the love of his wife Oreftilla, who deceased at Tarentum in her paffage to Afia, that fo he might accompany her in death, as he had done in life, had his afhes blended together with hers in one urn, whilst this fubfcription without, adorned their mingled duft, "The two lovers." Not many years fince there was digged up, near Coggeshall, in Effex, an urn, which offered up to the ipectafors view this infcription, Coccilli M. that is Coccilli Manibus, And not many years before at the Bath was represented to public infpection,

4

infpection, an urn, with this endorsement infculped. Vibía J cunda An. XXX. hic fepulta; I could difcover more of this na ture; but I return. In thefe Newington urns, as my intelligence infructs me, there were traced out many pieces of Roman coin, it being customary amongst that nation, not only to inclofe coin er money, both of confulary and imperial flamp, by which the date of their friends deceafe, might be hinted to an intelligent obfervation, but likewife fragments of thofe things the deceafed in his life time did particularly affect, as namely, fpearheads, pieces of darts and fwords, broken armour, the caffis or heimet, fields, goblets, berill-rings, befides a great number of gems, with heads of gods and goddeffes, and the portraiture of several creatures, fashioned out of agate and amber. Now if any will inquire of me, when this custom of burning the dead, and after depofiting their duft in fepulchral urns, became to be in ufe among the Romans? I confefs I am fatisfred the time is uncertain, though I dare pofitively aver, it was originally tranfported from Greece, where it was used, though with more formality, long before it was adopted into the ufages of this nation. For firft the Grecians burned only the bodies of thofe of more eminent account, but denied it to those who were of baser allay, or of obfcurer fame; as likewise they did to deceased infants; to those who were blasted or deftroyed with lightning, because they fuperftitioufly conceived them enemies to the powers above; to those who had impiously laid violent hands upon themfelves; and lastly, to those who had by a perfidious apoftacy, declared themselves to be deferters and betrayers of their country. Secondly, they burned only the flefl of the body, referving the bones to be laid up in chefts of repertories, which they called Thecæ, which amongst the Romans had the title of Offuaria, bestowed on them: Thirdly, they esteemed it fo great an honour for any perfon to fleep in his own native country, that if he deceafed in any foreign region, which was in amity with them, they there, after their customary manner burned his body, and with much folemnity tranfported his relicks to the place of his nativity, and at every crofs way had their appointed feafts, which were made at the expence of the relations and friends of the defunct, which they called their Compitalia.

"Laftly, they ftrewed flowers on the urns and repofitories of the dead, and adorned them with ribbands, as they did the urn of Philopoemen; but they more particularly affected the firewing of myrtle and amaranthus, on the afhes of their departed relations, as the Romans did that of the rofe; yet both of them did concur in the compofition of the funeral pile, which was furnished and made up of rofemary, larynx, yew, cyprefs, and fir, wherein it is probable were couched fome tacit hints of their furviving hopes; and in which myfterious hieroglyphics, as being trees which were perpetually verdant, were wrapped up in fome fecret inferences of a future refurrection. That this cuftom of burning the dead did atterwards by an univerfal imitation extend and fpread itself to

other

other nations. That the druids and ruling priests were accuftomed to burn their dead is expreffed by Pomponius. That they held that practice in Gaul, Cæfar exprefly delivers. That burning the dead was used in Sarmatia, is affirmed by Gaguinus. That the Swedes and Gathlanders did frequently commit their princes and more eminent perfons to the fire, is delivered by Saxo and Olaus, That this was the old German practice, is alfo afferted by Tacitus. And that it was customary among the Danes, feve ral urns, difcovered in Jutland and Slefwick, not many years fince, do eafily evince, which contained not only bones, but many other fubftances in them, as knives, pieces of iron, brafs and wood, and one of Norway a brafs gilded Jews-harp. When this cuftom of burning the dead languifhed into difafe, is uncertain; but that it began to vanish, upon the dawning of chritianity, as vapours and mifts fcatter before a morning fun, is without controverfy; but when the light of it did more vigorously reflect, like a meridian beam, on all the gloomy corners and receffes of paganifm and infidelity; then this ufe of urn-burial, was wholly fuperfeded, and found a tomb itself in the more fober and feverer practice of chriftianity. And thus much shall be said concerning these urns digged up at Newington."

In an Appendix the author has given the derivation of the names of almost all the towns and villages in Kent; which to those who have a tafte for etymological learning, will be no unacceptable performance.

The Lady of the Manor, a Comic Opera, in three Alls, as it is performed at the Theatre- Royal in Covent-Garden. Written by Dr. Kenrick. The Songs fet to Music by Mr. Hook. 8vo. Is. 6d. Davies and Wilkie.

To this performance is prefixed the enfuing Preface.

The outline of the following opera (written, about ten years ago, by way of relaxation from feverer ftudies) was taken from the Country Laffes of Mr. Charles Johnfon, particularly the pleafing and romantic Episode, borrowed from the Cuftom of the Country of Beaumont and Fletcher. The author, in accomodating his plan to the prefent tafte, was led of courfe, to reject the revolting abfurdity of fuppofing the custom in question ftill to fubfift.-The confiderable alterations and additions, alfo, which he found it expedient to make both in the plot and dialogue, have fo much di verfified the whole, that it has been as truly as ill naturedly ob, ferved" the piece refembles a coat, ftolen, a fecond time from a thief, fo metamorphorfed that the very taylor, who first cut it out, would not know the handy-work of his own fhears." It is no wonder that, in this age of originality, so many truly-original cri

tics, who never play at rob-thief themselves, fhould fufficiently rally him on fo artful and compleat a transformation. He cannot help thinking, however, that these very honeft gentlemen are a little unreasonable in expecting him to do fuch great things merely for his amufement, as are done by thofe who make play-writing their occupation-If therefore, this opera hath hitherto met with an approbation* more general than even the best of their most elaborate productions; the author cannot but impute it to the excellent acting of the theatrical performers, and the elegant taste of the mufical compofer."

If we did not know Dr. K. too proud to be vain, we should be apt to cenfure the depreciating manner, in which he here fpeaks of dramatic writers and writings, as a piece of affectation. True it is, that we entertain, with him, a much higher idea of his philofophical than of his poetical purfuits: but unlefs he fets up for a greater philofopher than fome of the moft refpectable of the ancients, he will not affect to despise fo elegant and refined an amusement as is that of dramatic poefy. One of the greateft fages of antiquity is faid to have diverted himfelf with his pupils, after fchool-hours, with playing at taw, and other puerile amufements; we do not think, therefore, any modern fage, however abstruse and profound his ferious ftudies, fhould bluth at being caught fometimes at romps with the Mufes. Nay, it is not improbable, that many people may think the Doctor never fo childishly employed as when got aftride his own bobby-horse, the perpetual-motion. Be this as it may, the performance before us, having met with fo favourable a reception on the ftage, becomes an object of criticifm. Left we, however, fhould be deemed partial to our colleague and editor, we fhall on this occafion beg leave to borrow, from one of the moft refpectable news-paper critics, the account of the piece, as it appeared in the Public Advertifer, the next morning after its first reprefentation.

"The story of the piece is fimple, although the incidents, naturally arifing from the characters and circumftances on which it is founded, are intricate and complica ed enough to afford a fufficient variety of occafional fufpenfe and furprife, to entitle it rather to the name of a comedy than that of an opera.

"Sir John Marly and Young Wildman, like Aimwell and Archer in the Beaux Stratagem, take a ramble into the country, to mend their fortunes by looking out for a wife for the former; the object in purfuit being the Lady of the Manor, a country coufin of the latter. Their carriage accidentally breaking down before

If it afford any confolation to the profeffional dramatifts, who envy him this approbation, they may reft fatished, he is by no means difpofed even to amuse himself any more the fame way.

they