of life, that the eldest rarely attain to that immense knowledge, and the youngest enter not into the world with more innocency." Reading was in repute under the Saxon kings, and is, at present, a place of extent and population. The streets are wide, and the houses handsome. The river Kennet runs through it in five separate streams, and falls into the Thames about a mile below it. The country by which it is surrounded is diversified by gentlemen's seats, woody hills, and land in high cultivation. The town is divided into three parishes, each having its church; there are, likewise, meeting-houses for the dissenters, and one for the quakers. A neat little chapel has been lately erected by the Unitarians, and is on the whole well attended by some respectable inhabitants of the town. Malt is its article of trade, and is chiefly sent to London. The town was besieged in the time of Charles the First, by the parliament, to whom, at last, the royal garrison yielded, marching out with the honours of war. Reading abbey was long an ornament to the town; parliaments have been held in it, and in the reign of Henry the Seventh, some laws were enacted beneath its roof. The gate-house is still a picturesque ruin-its walls have run to decay ever since its dissolution. Reading gave birth to Archbishop. Laud, who, though a patron of learning, was a bigot; his exultation in the sufferings of the Puritans, through means of the star-chamber, cannot easily be reconciled with religion or humanity. 320 DR. RICHARD VALPY. Some say that the patriotic Judge Holt was a native of this town; he flourished during the reign of King William, and was distinguished for his distribution of justice. His uprightness in his judicial capacity is panegyrised under the noble character of Verus the Magistrate, in the fourteenth number of the Tatler, which cannot be read without admiration. Dr. Richard Valpy, who lives here, and presides over Reading School, is well known for his classical productions. The theological pieces, particularly his Sermons, which have proceeded from his pen, also are marked by the liberal and manly spirit of Christianity. This gentleman has published the Poems which have been spoken on different occasions at Reading School, and they are highly creditable to his seminary. His own introductory poem, entitled the Progress of Science, has some beautiful lines in it; the Address to Science, with which it closes, is admirable: O bid ambition cease to lust for power, Bid frowning vengeance thirst for blood no more! So while along the stream of life mankind Through doubtful ways their various course shall wind, His Poetical Chronology, combining the principal facts, is a most useful book for schools, and I have used it for years past with considerable advantage in my own seminary. MAIDENHEAD. 321 At a little distance from Reading, to the west, is a rising ground, called Cat's-Grove Hill, which is composed of oyster-shells, on a bed of green sand, with a chalky bottom. When these oysters are taken out of the heap, they are said to have the appearance of reality, the opposite valvesbeing closed, and possessing the usual form. Indeed some have insinuated that when opened the animal appears perfect, and the shell not in the least petrified, though, upon being exposed to the air, it crumbles into atoms! This phænomenon has been deemed a vestige of the universal deluge: the hill is forty miles from any part of the ocean. Maidenhead, a small town, was the next place at which we arrived; it has some good inns, being a thoroughfare to the metropolis. Near it stands the village of Bray, famous for the incumbent belonging to its church in the sixteenth century. The story is thus related-At the time Henry the Eighth shook off the papal supremacy, the Vicar of Bray preached in favour of the church of Rome. In the reign of Edward the Sixth, when Protestantism was established by act of parliament, the vicar renounced his former principles, and became a strenuous advocate for the Reformation. On the accession of Queen Mary, he again vindicated the church of Rome, and became a zealous Papist, inveighing with acrimony against all those who abhorred the Romish religion. He enjoyed his benefice till the reformed religion was established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when he once more changed with the times, and enjoyed his vicarage till his death! Hence his conduct P 5 gave rise to a proverbial expression that has been ever since preserved; that when any time-serving person complies for the sake of emolument, he is compared to the VICAR of BRAY. Such characters reflect no honour on human nature; but, alas! they are not unfrequent among mankind: Religion thus removed, the sacred yoke For what would man have left on earth to fear, WALLER. After leaving Maidenhead, on the right, the stately towers of Windsor rise to view, the residence of his present Majesty. The town itself has little to attract notice; but the Castle has been occasionally, for 700 years past, the abode of the kings of England. When THE KING is here, the flag waves from the Round Tower; and on the TERRACE his Majesty and his numerous family often walk, and converse with familiarity. Long may this august group continue to enjoy these recreations! I could not help remarking, that in surveying this palace, and also those gentlemen's seats which are decorated with paintings, our SAVIOUR'S portrait generally presents itself to view, and that between most of them, though executed by different hands, there may be observed a similarity. How far they may be pronounced representations of the original, it is impossible to say, nor can I ascertain whence the artist derives his ideas on the subject, I indeed lately met with the following passage in an old author of the last century, which deserves transcription:-" Lentilus, the pro-consul, in that epistle written to the Roman senate, which goes under his name, who resided at Jerusalem at the time of the death of our Saviour, gives this description of him-At that time there was one JESUS, who was called of the nations the Prophet of Truth. A man goodly to behold, having a reverend countenance, his stature somewhat tall, his hair after the colour of the ripe hazel-nut, from his ears somewhat crisped, parting itself in the midst of his head, and waving with the wind, after the manner of the Nazarites; his face without wrinkle, mixed with moderate red; his beard somewhat copious, tender, and divided at the chin; his eyes grey, various, and clear. He was in rebuke severe, in instruction wonderful-cheerful with gravity. He sometimes wept, but was never seen to laugh; in talk full of understanding, sparing and modest." Such is the description given by Mr. Thomas Grantham, in his book entitled the Ancient Christian Religion. But it is to be regretted that this author does not inform us where this epistle is to be found, and whether we may rely on its authenticity. Dr. Lardner is silent on the subject. Certain it is, however, that the usual portraits of our blessed Saviour exhibit features expressive of solemn thought, in conjunction with consummate meekness and humility! * * Of Windsor and Eton, with its College in the vicinity, the reader is referred to a copious account in the author's Excursion to Windsor, containing 400 pages, including a sketch of Richmond through Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, and Hampton Court. |