concerned. Under these circam- WESTMINSTER ABBEY. SIR,-Although I cannot exactly inform your correspondent C. J. C. (page 92) whether the site of this venerable edifice was ever formally consecrated, he may perhaps find the following particulars respecting the building of some use to him in prosecuting the enquiry. The dates, I believe, will be found pretty correct. Yours, &c. G. SNEYD. Highgate, March 22, 1824. PERIODS WHEN THE PRINCIPAL PARTS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY WERE ERECTED. "A portrait, with the name of Nixon, was engraved by Harding from a picture in the possession of Owen Brereton, Esq. which he picked up accidentally, in a very tattered state, from some children in Cheshire, who used it as a plaything; but its A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE The interior of this venerable pile has lately undergone much impove ment. Workmen have been actively engaged, not alone in repairing, but in cleansing the monuments and removing the obstructions which have hitherto excluded them from public view. Hence many beauties are displayed which before were bidden. A new regulation has been adopted, which will no doubt prove highly satisfactory to those who may be attracted to see the antiquities with which this edifice abounds. A gentleman of the choir accompanies the persons, whose duty it is to exhibit the curiosities; and to these persons the remuneration Ed. 3, Rd. 2. Hen. 4, George 1 and 2. George 3 and 4. to be given is fixed at two shillings for each spectator, and beyond this they are charged not to receive, as they are otherwise compensated for their trouble. It has often been a subject of deep regret, that so many of the monu ments had been permitted to be defaced; and it seems that those wanton dilapidations took place during the period when the cathedral was open as a public thoroughfare. A singular fact has lately been discovered connected with these injuries, which it may not be uninteresting to state. Soon after the interment of the remains of Major Andre, a gentleman who visited the Abbey remarked that the head of the figure of Gen. Washington, upon the tomb of that brave man, had been broken off; and immediately observed, that he had seen that head in America, where, he had no doubt, the head of Major Andre, which had shared the like fate, had also been conveyed. From this it would seem, that these thefts were committed from motives of a different character than had at first been imagined. Andre's is said to have been purloined by a celebrated poetical character, while at Westminster School, when he was an enthusiastic republican. The Monument of Master Carteret, representing him in the dress of the Westminster College, has been renovated. The history of this monument is very little known. It was customary, when a boy offended his playmates at Westminster school, to toss him in a blanket, and to continue tossing him till he could mark the ceiling of the room in which he was tossed with a piece of charcoal, which he held in his hand. The little Carteret was a very timid boy, and was tossed a considerable time before he could accomplish the marking, and when he had effected it, those holding the blanket missed catching him; the consequence was, he fell to the ground, and the injury he thus received was the cause of his death. From that time the cruel practice has been abolished. An exquisitely executed representation of a shipwreck, on the monument of Admiral Sir John Balchen, which has been completely hid by enclosures, as well as a very fine representation of an organ, in marble, on the monument of Dr. Croft, formerly organist to the cathedral, and numerous other beauties, have been discovered. Many of the inscriptions which had become nearly obliterated on the public monuments, have been newly cut, and no doubt those interested in preserving the private monuments, will follow so necessary an example, BRITAIN'S NAVAL REMEMBRANCER. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, TILL THE PEACE OF 1802. "Rule Britannia!" I. Destruction of the French fleet at Toulon, by Lord Hood, December 18, 1793. Brought away. One ship of 120 guns, one of 80, one of 74, one of 40, one of 38, one of 36, two of 32, one of 26, two of 24, one of 20, two of 18, and one of 14, guns. Burnt,in the Grand Arsenal.-One of 84, five of 74, one 76, one 36, one 34, and one of 24, guns. Burnt, in the inner Road.-Two of 74 guns. Burnt, in the Dock Yard.-One of 74, one of 36, one of 24, and one of 18, guns. Two of 32 burnt by mistake by the Spaniards; one of 32 burnt by the Sardinians on shore; and one of 32, one of 20, and one of 18, surrendered. II. Lord Howe's Glorious Victory, June 1, 1794, English Fleet.-Three of 110, four of 98, two of 80, seventeen of 74, one of 44, two of 38, four of 32, one of 28, and two of 14, guns. French Fleet.-Four of 120, ten of 84, fifteen of 74, two of 50, four of 40, one of 36, one of 30, one of 22, and one of 16, guns. This great and arduous contest ended in the capture of two ships of 84 and four of 74 guns, and two of 74 sunk. III. Admiral Cornwallis's brave defence against a very superior force, June 17, 1795. British Fleet.-One ship of 110 guns, four of 74, and two frigates. French Fleet.-Thirteen sail of the line, of 80 and 74 guns each, seven frigates, seven razees, and two brigs. This severe conflict was sustained from half-past eight in the morning till night, and at length our Brave British Tars obliged the enemy to sheer off. IV. Lord Bridport's Victory off Port L'Orient, June 23 1795. Le Tigre, 80' Taken, after a Alexandre, 74 long chase, by the Le Formidable, 74 Sfleet under Admiral Lord Bridport close in with port L'Orient. These ships composed part of a fleet, consisting of twelve ships of the line, eleven frigates, and some smaller vessels, more of which would doubtless have been taken, had they not been sheltered by the land. The British Fleet, thirteen sail of the line. Total of British killed 31 wounded 108. Lord St. Vincent's Victory off Cape St. Vincent, February 14, 1797. British Fleet. Two of 110, two of 98, two of 40, seven of 74, one of 64, one of 40, three of 32, two of 18, and one of 12, guns. Spanish Fleet. One of 136, six of 112, two of 84, eighteen of 74, twelve of 34, and one of 12, guns. Night put a period to this hard fought battle; but notwithstanding the vast superiority of the enemy, British valour deprived them of two ships of 112, one of 80, and one of 74, guns. VII. Lord Duncan's Victory off Camperdown, October 11, 1797. English Fleet-Seven of 74, seven of 64, and two of 50, guns. Dutch Fleet. Three of 74, four of 68, one of 67, two of 64, two of 56, two of 54, one of 48, two of 44, one of 32, one of 26, two of 24, three of 18, and two of 16, guns. The action of that triumphant day commenced about forty minutes past noon, and ended in the capture of two af 74, three of 68, two of 64, two of 56, one of 44, and one of 32, guns. VIII. Lord Nelson's Victory off the Mouth of the Nile, August 1 and 2, 1798. English Fleet.-Thirteen of 74, one of 50, guns, and a brig. French Fleet. One of Ï20, two of 84, one of 80, one of 78, six of 74, two of 70, two of 44, and two of 36, guns. It is needless to recount the innumerable instances of British bravery displayed in this action; suffice it to say, that the whole French fleet were taken or burnt, except two ships of the line, and two of 44 guns that escaped. IX. Sir J. B. Warren's Victory off the N. W. Coast of Ireland, October 12, 13, and 18, 1798. English Fleet. One of 80, two of 74, three of 44, one of 38, and one of 36, guns. French Fleet.-One of 30, one of 46, four of 40, one of 42, two of 36, and a schooner. To describe distinctly the various evolutions of the ships, or to expatiate on the conduct of the heroes who commanded them, would far exceed our limits, we need only remark, that out of the whole French squadron only three of their smallest ships escaped. X. Admiral Mitchell's Victory in the Texel, August 28 and 30, 1799. British Fleet.-One of 66, seven of 64, one of 54, two of 50, one of 44, one of 38, and three of 32, guns. Dutch Fleet. One of 74, one of 69, four of 68, one of 66, three of 54, eight of 44, two of 32, three of 24, and one of 16, guns. All of which surrendered, or were taken possession ef, under the orders of Admiral Lord Duncan, in the New Deep, and within the Texel. XI. Lord Nelson's Victory off Copenhagen, April 2, 1801. The Danish force, for the defence of Copenhagen, consisted of six ships of the line, eleven floating batteries, and one bomb ship; besides schooners and gun vessels, supported by the Crown-battery, with 88 pieces of cannon, at the mouth of the harbour; also four sail of the line, with batteries, on the Isle of Amack, off the harbour's mouth: these were com pletely vanquished, and the greater part destroyed, after four hours hard fighting. XII. Sir J. Saumarez's Victory off Algesiras, July 12, 1801. The English squadron consisted of five ships of the line and three frigates; and the combined Spanish and French squadron of ten ships of the line, three frigates, and many smaller vessels, under the command of Admirals de Moreno and Linois. The issue of this combat was, the San Antonia, of 74 guns, taken, andthe Real Carlos and San Hermenigeldo; of 112 guns each, took fire and blew up, with more than 2000 souls on board. Abstract of Ships captured and destroyed from the different Hostile powers to the end of the year 1800. FRENCH.-45 ships of the line, 2 fifties, 130 frigates, and 143 sloops. DUTCH.-25 ships of the line, fifty, 31 frigates, and 32 sloops. SPANISH. -8 ships of the line, 18 frigates, and 49 sloops. Total-78 ships of the line, 179 frigates and 224 sloops. CLIO. Che Wit's Nunchion. THE DEVIL AN ASS. Two women prating in a church, Would hold no more, it was so full, He knock'd his head against the railing, * We hope our correspondent will fayour us with a continuation of this article, down to the Peace of 1815. ED. As to think that a parchment, or even s skin, Would hold women's talk, when once they begin. THE TOOTH ACHE. Sore troubled with the tooth-ache, Lubin ran, To get the murd❜rer of his quiet drawn'; An artist, in an instant, whips it out; — "Well, master Snags, what's I to pay "A shilling.""Zounds! a shilling do you say... Lord, why I did not feel it'twas not in it, You know you wern't about it half a minute: To gie so much Ize cursedly unwilling, Lord, for a tooth! but yesterday, old Slop Did drag one by the tooth all round his shop Three times, and only ax'd a shilling." CALCULATION. C. F. Says Giles, my wife and I are two, Yet faith I know not why, sir.. Quoth Jack you're ten, if I speak true, She's one, and you're a Cypher. Compare page 152. TO CORRESPONDENTS. C. F. M. has our warmest thanks for his kind. ness, which we shall endeavour to evince our sense of. We do not often make public the encomiums we receive on the conduct of the Nic-NAC, but the observations of JUSTUS are really so gratifying to our vanity, that our selflove will not allow us to suppress them entirely. He says:-"Whenever I feet harassed, fatigued, or low-spirited, and disinclined to serious study, I take down your first volume, in which I am sure to meet with some article to dispel my spleen: sufficiently interesting to com mand my attention, without requiring too great a stretch of attention to comprehend it. I do sincerely believe that a more amusing miscellany cannot be met with." After this, our readers will readily believe that we stand at least three inches higher in our own estimation. RECEIVED. Clio(1 and 2)-F. M. L. and F. Summers. LONDON--Printed and Published by T. Wallis, Camden Town; and also Published by C. Harris, bow Street, Covent Garden, [Circumstances compel us to postpone the explanation of our cut: it will be given in a future Number.] HERALDRY, AN ANECDOTE. AFTER having made a considerable fortune by the exercise of his profession in the capitol, a certain tailor retired to the province in which he had been born, on purpose, as he hiraself declared, to enjoy OTIUM CUM DIGNITATE; for this tailor had been several years at a grammar-school, and still remembered some sentences of Latin. He resolved that the coach, in which he and his family arrived at the place of his residence in the country, instead of a cypher, should have in future for its ornament a coat of arms. He chose for a crest a large pair of scissars expanded: gratitude, he said, dictated this; because they were the chief instruments of his fortune. For his motto he chose the words "Vincere aut mori." On being told that those words might be thought more suitable to a soldier, than to a man of his profession; he said that he belonged to a military family; for his father had been hautboy to a regiment, and that he, himself, in his youth, had felt some inclination for being a soldier, which he was prevented from indulging by the unexpected breaking out of a war. When his wife understood what had been decided, she declared that a mere crest and matto was little better than a cypher, and would look scandalously naked, which was what she could not bear. The husband consulted the curate respecting some, additional device. The curate, who was somewhat of a wag, observed that although scissars were made of cold iron as well as swords, yet some people might |