THE NORTHERN STAR. No. 14.-For JULY, 1818. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF LANCASTER CASTLE. LANCASTER, (from Lon or Loyne, now Lune, and castra, a camp,) has long been noted for the extent and variety of its prospects, and for the striking features presented by the town, from whatever quarter it is viewed. If any thing were wanting to prove the correctness of the taste and judgment of the Romans, in the selection of beautiful and convenient situations for their camps, the fact of their having chosen this spot on the banks of the Lune would be amply sufficient. The protection afforded by a proximity to a place of strength, would naturally induce the inhabitants of the surrounding districts to transfer their residence to its immediate neighbourhood: consequently we find that the garrison, at a very early period, consisted entirely of the townsmen, a proof that the population of the place was not inconsiderable. The building to which Lancaster owes its present dignified appearance is the Castle, erected upon the site of the old Roman station. The greater part, however, is of very late construction, not much more than the four old towers being in existence thirty years ago. Of these, only that which has received the name of Adrian's Tower can possess any title to be Roman architecture, and that only in the lower part, which is now completely buried. The whole tower, indeed, has within a few years received a coating of free-stone, which gives it all the appearance of a modern erection. It is a circular building, and situated at the southwest corner of the new Shire-Hall. A tower, similar to Adrian's, was taken down to make room for the new erections; and on digging the foundation of the boundary-wall on the north, the ground-work of another was discovered. upon The Well-Tower has most probably been built by the Saxons, though some antiquaries have ascribed it to the Romans. It is a square structure, situated to the north of the Gateway tower, and may have been built one, destroyed by the Scots on the departure of the Romans, originally erected by Constantius Chlorus, to whom, by mistake, the present tower has been attributed.* "The Gateway consists of two large octagonal towers, connected by a curtain and the gates, over which is an opening for a portcullis: the en * Constantius Chlorus, who reigned conjointly with Galerius, died at York, A.D. 306. VOL .III. B Per. 533. trance is defended by over-hang ing battlements, supported by a triple range of cerbals, cut in the form of boultins, the intervals pierced through for the descent of missiles. On each of the octagonal towers are two small turrets or watch-towers. Over the gate is a niche," probably intended to have contained a statue of its founder. This tower is upwards of sixty feet high. The date of its erection is also involved in uncertainty; it bears the outward marks and signs, however, of having been built in the reign of Edward the Third, and it has been given to his son, John of Gaunt. On the curtain which connects the two towers, are two shields, one on each side of the niche: that on the left contains the arms of France, quartered with those of England; the other contains the same arms, with a label ermine of three points, the distinction of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. Edward the Third was the first king of England who used the arms of France quartered with his own. The large square tower commonly called the Lungess Tower is evidently of Saxon architecture: the original windows are small and round-headed, and ornamented on each side with plain short pillars. The upper part of this tower has been demolished upon some occasion, and the demolition has been ascribed, by some historical wíseacres, to Oliver Cromwell, whose cannon, they tell us, were planted upon the hill on the opposite bank of the river. It is certain, however, that underneath the battlements, on the north side of the tower, is the following: ER 1585 R A This plainly proves that historians, like other people, may now and then be deceived with their eyes open. At the time of the threatened invasion of England by the Spanish armada, our "good queen Bess" ordered that all the castles and fortresses in the kingdom should be repaired, consequently Lancaster Castle, as is proved by the above tablet, was not over-looked in the crowd. This tower is nearly eighty feet high, and at the western corner is a turret, long since christened John o'Gaunt's Chair, which is ten feet higher. This commands a most extensive prospect of Morecambe Bay, the Cumberland and Westmoreland mountains, and the Irish Channel, and is, on this account, honoured with the company of almost every stranger who passes through the town. The tower which has always been considered the oldest, the Dungeon Tower, has just been taken down. It had long been remarkable for a curious protuberance of one of the walls, apparently caused by the wall giving way before the mortar was dry. This tower was situated at about an equal distance between Adrian's and the Gateway tower, on the south side of the Castle. In the interior of the walls, which, like those of the other old towers, were enormously thick, not being less than nine feet, were found a number of passages, for what purpose constructed cannot now be known. The floor was formed most substantially of hewn stones, about two feet long and six or eight inches square, set on their ends, and bound together with iron bars, thus forming a solid and impenetrable pavement. This stonework rested on a bed of marl, about three feet thick, which had evidently been removed thither out of the Castle-ditch, or from a greater distance. Beneath the marl, which the workmen have just removed, a number of 1 horses' teeth of a very large size, were almost daily discovered. The Dungeon Tower, from its external features, was apparently of equal antiquity with the Well-Tower, whether constructed by the Saxons or at an earlier period. The Ditch, which is now merely a reservoir for water, to be used in case of fires, about twenty yards in length on the south side of the Castle, was originally made by the Romans, when they first established a garrison here; and it was afterwards enlarged by the Emperor Adrian, soon after the commencement of the second century of the Christian era. In the vicarage-field, between the north side of the Castle and the river, and about three or four hundred yards from the former, are plainly to be perceived the foundations of some old buildings, now overgrown with verdant pasture, which probably have been some of the outworks of the Castle. A few years ago a well was accidentally discovered in this field; and there still remain the traces of the old road which led from the Castle to the ford over the river. W. Lancaster, July 21, 1818. [To be continued.] CONVERSATIONS: Containing Opinions on passing Occurrences, Biographical and Descriptive Sketches, Critical Remarks on popular Works, the Arts, &c. Miss Willis.—I now claim, my dear madam, the account of our Yorkshire artist, Mr. Ibbetson, which you promised me. Mrs. Mortimer. I will give it you most willingly, my dear, but you must take it in my own desultory way; so far as it goes, it may be relied on, but it refers rather to generals than particulars, to character than incident; to the man than his history as an artist. Miss W.-I will take it in any way you are pleased to give it, only observing that I wish you to begin with his birth, for I have been told there was something singular in it. Mrs. M.-There was, indeed, a distressing singularity in the mode of his entering life; for his mother, a young and lovely woman, having the misfortune to fall when far advanced in pregnancy, was thrown into a situation which, after a short period of dreadful suffering, occasioned her death, and her child being brought into the world by the Cæsarian operation, thence received the name of Julius, but not that of Cæsar also, as mentioned in several newspapers; this was in 1756; he died in his 62d year. The father of Ibbetson was one of the United Brethren, and although his marriage with a person of a different persuasion in some measure disunited him from that society, yet I understood that the education of Ibbetson took place at their seminary of Fullneck, near Leeds, of which he ever spoke in the highest terms of praise, and with all that warm affection which minds of sensibility ever retain for those objects which have called into early action the most endearing feelings and generous emotions of which our nature is capable. It is also very probable, that the fine scenery of Fullneck and Kirk stall (in its vicinity) might lay the foundation of that taste for landscapepainting, in which he afterwards exhibited such decisive taste. He was apprenticed to a painter in Hull, and there obtained the mechanical knowledge, without which, taste and talent are inefficient, but of course in a very slight degree compared to that which he eventually exhibited; but so much of genius was developed even at this early period, that he was induced to venture to London, in the hope of attaining more solid advantages. I do not recollect hearing any particulars of this eventful period of his life; but I know that for a considerable time he was employed in copying, or rather parodying works of the old masters, many of which were sold by picturedealers for originals, at high prices, whilst their victim, the painter, labouring in obscurity for a very inadequate recompence. was Miss W.-But surely, madam, he enjoyed great patronage at one time we find Ibbetson's pictures in numerous collections. Mrs. M.-Undoubtedly he did, my dear, but at the period of which I spoke he was working his way up to that patronage, which, when attained, however, produced no great benefit. "I was," said he," patronized by dining with Lords and men of talent, till I had not a coat on my back, nor a shilling in my pocket." This was an effect very likely to take place with a man of great vivacity, gentlemanly manners, conversational powers of the first order, excellent temper, and that fondness of conviviality which draws out all the perceptions of a rich imagination and the stores of memory for the entertainment of those around him; all the charm, and much of the error imputable to men of genius at this time, attaches to his character. He was now married to a wife who brought him a child every year; he loved them all most tenderly; and at times pursued his profession with as much zeal as ability, but to the steady attentions required by his situation he was not equal. Indeed his sensibilities, as the father of a numerous family, militated against him; the delicate state of his anxious partner's health, the sickness and death of seven infant sons, made dreadful havoc in the mind of a man of acute feelings, who, from ever witnessing with all the cares of a nurse the scene of sorrow passing under his roof, was too frequently led in the agony of the hour to seek relief and temporary oblivion of pain with soothing friends and a renovating glass. Miss W.-Did not Ibbetson go to China as draughtsman to Lord Macartney's embassy? Mrs. M.-He did, and I was to blame to omit so material an epoch in his life, as it was undoubtedly an event of the last importance to him, and introduced him to the employment which enabled him to support his family: amongst his best patrons, Sir George Beaumont must be named; for after the death of his wife, that gentleman took his only daughter into his family, and for some time supported her entirely; among his numerous admirers and friends, I do not recollect hearing of any others who actually assisted him in the day of his distress. Miss W.-Poor man, how would he suffer when torn from a tie so dear! for although not perhaps a prudent, he appears to have been always a tender husband. Mrs. M.-I believe he was ever a most constant and affectionate one; and when we consider that he was a handsome and attractive man, courted by gay society, and often moving in a circle to which his wife (confined to |