the LORD of the Manor of GILLINGHAM, and the MAYOR and Burgesses of SHAFTESBURY, there is this annual Practice. The MAYOR is obliged, the Monday before Holy Thursday, to dress up a Prize Besom, or Byzant, (as it is termed,) somewhat like a May Garland in Form, with Gold and Peacock's Feathers, and carry it to ENMORE Green, in MOTCOMB, as an Acknowledgment for the Water; together with a raw Calf's head, a pair of Gloves, a Gallon of Beer, or Ale, and two penny Loaves of white, wheaten Bread, which the STEWARD receives, and carries away to his own Use. The Ceremony being over, the Byzant is restored to the MAYOR, and brought back by one of his Officers, with great Solemnity. This Byzant is generally so richly adorned with Plate and Jewels, borrowed from the neighbouring Gentry, as to be worth Fifteen Hundred Pounds. Many Persons get their Living by carrying Water, their Price is three half-pence or twopence, an Horse Load, according to the Part of the Town where carried, and a Farthing or a Half-penny a Pailfull, if fetched upon the Head.

The Lines inscribed upon the Free Stone

URNS, in the consecrated Ground, belonging to the Church of MELBURY SAMFORD, in this County, are so highly appropriate, as not only to deserve Perusal, but Remembrance.

"Here trace the Limits of MAN's last Retreat, Where Good and Bad, where Poor lie mix'd with Great, Each with his Share of SIN, but each alone

For MERCY trusting, to th' Almighty Throne."

"In this small Space, is mad AMBITION laid,
Who for itself alone, thought Earth was made;
PRIDE from her Pinnacle thus low is tost;
Here every Hope of VANITY, is lost;
To this coarse Bed is Luxury confin'd,
And Av'RICE leaves her darling Heaps behind.
Yet think not we encompass VICE alone,
VIRTUES trandscendant to their Rest are gone;
Bosoms that melted at each Tale of Woe,
And Hearts forgiving of their greatest Foe;
Hands open to each charitable Deed,

And doubly bounteous, where the Claim was NEED.
Then, heedless WAN D'RER, stay thy Steps, and learn,
To place in VIRTUE's Paths, thy great Concern;
Though all unwarm'd alike, come here to lie,

That MAN who best has LIV'D, knows best to DIE."

In NORTH'S Life, of Lord Keeper GUILD

FORD, after describing the Cobb at LYME, he proceeds, "The Vessels are laden and unladen, by HORSES going upon the Sand, between the Cobb and the Town. They have no Drivers, but are charged with Bales at the Warehouse, and trot away to the Ship's Side, and stand fair, sometimes above the Belly in Water, for the Tackle to discharge them; they then return to the Warehouse for more; and so perform the TIDE'S Work, and know, by the FLOOD, when their Labour is at an End.

Among other eminent Persons, born, or who distinguished themselves at LYME, were JOHN CASE, and THOMAS CORAM. The former, who lived in the Reign of JAMES II. was many Years a noted Practitioner, in Physic and Astrology. The Doctor is said to have got more by this Distich, than DRYDEN, by all his Works:

"Within this Place,

Lives Doctor CASE."

He was doubtless well paid for that, which he affixed to his Pill-boxes:

"Here's fourteen Pills for thirteen Pence:
Enough in any Man's own Conscience."

This Physician was living in the Reign of Queen ANNE, and at a Supper, where Dr. MAUNDY of Canterbury, Dr. CASE, and Dr. RATCLIFFE met together, RATCLIFFE drank to CASE, "Here Brother, to all the FooLs, your Patients." "I thank you, good Brother," replied CASE; "let me have all the FOOLS, and you are heartily welcome to the Rest of the Practice." The Doctor acquired a handsome Fortune by his Profession, and setting up his Carriage, under his Arms, appeared this quaint MOTTO, The Case is altered. GRANGER observes, that he was "looked upon as the Successor of the famous LILLY, whose magical Utensils he possessed. These he would sometimes expose in Derision, to his intimate Friends; and particularly, the dark Chamber and Pictures, whereby LILLY used to impose upon the credulous, under Pretence of shewing them, Persons who were absent."

THOMAS CORAM, to whom ENGLAND is indebted, for that benevolent and considerate Charity, the FOUNDLING HOSPITAL, was born at LYME about the Year 1668. During an occasional Residence in the Eastern Parts of LONDON, he had Opportunity of witnessing Scenes of Distress, but none affected him

more forcibly, than the lamentable Situation, of deserted young Children. His Zeal for the public Welfare, induced one of the most compassionate PLANS, that HUMAN NATURE ever devised; The Erecting of an ASYLUM, for the Succour and Education, of the neglected INNOCENTS. To accomplish this, the Patronage of the Great, and the Assistance of the Powerful was to be obtained, and that worst of all Difficulties, Popular Prejudice, was to be combated. He had to convince the PUBLIC, that the PLAN he suggested, instead of encouraging VICE, (as it was pretended,) would be a National Advantage, by preventing the many secret Murders, to which the Fear of Reproach, incited the Commission, and which disgraced the Policy, and stigmatized the Civil Economy of ENGLAND. The FEMALE NOBILITY of that Period, to their ETERNAL HONOUR be it recorded, seconded Mr. CORAM'S Exertions, and drew up a MEMORIAL, which ought to be held in lasting Veneration: thus assisted, the Nobility and Gentry, urged by the Endeavours of Twenty-one NOBLE FEMALES, obtained for Mr. CORAM, A CHARTER of Foundation; and after labouring seventeen Years, he lived to see his OBJECT accomplished. In a Vault