66 66 continued: All these regulations and "establishments I have had the honour, as a single member of this society, with the joint assistance of a much respected council, to bring forward; and to have seen "carried into execution, during my being "in my present office, of which, but for "the sake of effecting these purposes, I "have ever deened myself most unworthy. "But, gentlemen,” added he, “all this were little; did I not in the end endeavour, moreover, to secure effectually the continuance of these advantages, and the means of your attaining still greater, The dignity of this society, and the lustre "with which (considering the usefulness and "importance of the institution) it ought to and indeed has appeared in the appear, eyes of Europe, requires that in order to "give proper life and support to the whole, there should be placed at its head, a man of eminent and distinguished learning, of worth and respectability of character; of zeal and activity to promote its objects; of high and ancient dignity, capable of commanding every degree of respect, that not only the partiality of friends may wish to "bestow, but to which the most prejudiced foreigners may also be compelled to yield. "It is not every age," continued Mr. King, "that affords by means of a concurrence of "such qualifications, such an ornament to a country, when most wanted; but I am "fortunate to be able without flattery, and merely in pursuance of a conscientious discharge of my duty, to declare to you, that such a distinguished character is at “ hand: and, I esteem it as fulfilling most faithfully the important part of the trust reposed in me, as well as the happiest circumstance attending all my labours for the "service of the society, that I am empowered, by virtue of my office, to name and propose to you on the house list, and to "recommend to you for election as your future president, Lord de Ferrars."-After doing justice to the services of the late Mr. Topham, who had for a time voluntarily performed the duties of secretary, and having proposed that most indefatigable antiquary, the Rev. J. Brand,* recently deceased, as the resident secretary, he closed his speech with some admirable sentiments respecting the nature of those pursuits, which it was the object of such a society to promote. Duing the presidency of Mr. King, an unusual number of learned and distinguished men offered themselves for admission into the society. Some disagreement having occurred between him and the noble president in 1785, the name of Mr. King was in the following year, left out of the house list of council. From this time, Mr. King ceased to be an attending member of the Society of Antiquaries. He was succeeded as a member of council and V. P. by Dr. Douglas, the late much lamented Bishop of Salisbury. he never sat in parliament, though at the Mr King was formerly recorder of Lynn ; general election in 1784 he was strongly invited to stand for Norwich, the capital of his native county. 66 " He died April 16, at his house in Mansfield Street, Portland Place; and his last moments were in perfect consistency with the tenor of his exemplary and religious life. He was prepared for death, for he had “served "God in his generation,” and “ came to his grave in a full age; like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.' He had been in a valetudinary state several weeks previous his friends. to his decease, so as not to be able to see which he died, he breakfasted with Mrs. The morning of the day on King, and, as was his usual custom, read the newspaper. He then returned to his study. Mrs. King thinking him far from well, soon followed him, and on asking him how he was? he said, "I am very ill. I am not "like myself. I cannot compose my mind tion soon after, he felt the symptoms of ap"to attend to any thing." Upon an exerproaching dissolution; and, in the most solemn and impressive voice, exclaimed, “ Oh gracious God be merciful unto me, even me the most unworthy of thy servants. "Pardon my manifold iniquities for the sake "of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator.--And, "O God! if any thing that I have said, any "thing that I have written, any thing that "I have spoken, can have been the cause "of offence or injury to any one, pardon it, "and forgive me, for the sake of my blessed "Redeemer, Jesus Christ of Nazareth." Mrs. King was kneeling by his chair, his tenderly, and affectionately, saying, "Pray hand in her's he pressed her hand most Mr. and Mrs. Windsor also by him, he "God bless you and keep you;" and seeing said, minutes, with prayers and praises in his God bless you all,”—and in a few backwards in his chair, without one sigh or mouth, he ceased to breathe, while sitting struggle, or even moving hand or foot-literally resigning his breath to God who gave imagination could picture. it, and with the most placid countenance COMMEMORATIVE USE OF BELLS: EXCOM- CANDLE. To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. [Comp. Vol. I. p. 1233.] SIR,-1 do not know whether you admit Postscripts to the letters which you favour with insertion in your valuable work; but if it be not contrary to your general regulations, indulge me so far as to complete the letters which I formerly sent you on the subject of bells, by the following additions, derived from authorities to which I had not then adverted. the Camperdown; the Saint Vincent; the Nile; the Trafalgar; what sweetness would. accompany every note which revived those memorable events in our minds! and why should not a set of bells bespeak national gratitude, as well as any other monument? We are told that Pope Calixtus the Third, on the appearance of a comet, ordered the bells to be rung precisely at noon, for several days, that by virtue of their clangour the mischief with which this comet was charged might fall on the Turks, and not on the Christians. (Vide Platina in Vit. Cal. iii.) What connection there might be between cause and effect in this case, I cannot preSince the days of popery, bells, I presume ringing merrily the peals known to commesume to explain; but, that a set of bells have not borne the names of saints: but, a set at St. Helen's Church at Worcester, cast in the days of Queen Anne, bears names which record the victories of that Queen's reign. They are as follow. 1. Blenheim. First is my note, and Blenheim is my name; Let me relate how Louis did bemoan Deluged in blood, I, Ramilies, advance, Let Menin on my sides engraven be; When in harmonious pea! I roundly go, morate the victories of which they bear the names, might contribute to the exhilaration those who know the patriotism which glows of our British heroes, will need no proof to in their hearts. It may, perhaps, be agreeable to some of your readers to receive additional information on the use of bells in excommunication, I therefore beg your permission to enlarge my hint respecting this fulmination, by an ex tract from an ancient festival, and the articles of the general great curse, found at Canterbury, A. D. 1502, as it is set down by Thomas Becon in the Reliques of Rome. This was solemnly thundered out once in every quarter, that is, as the old book saith, "The Fyrst Sonday of Advent, at comyng "of our Lord Jhesu Chryst: The fyrst Sonday of Lenteen: The Sonday in the Feste "of the Trynyte: and the Sonday within "the Utas of the Blessed Vyrgin our Lady "St. Mary." At which action the prelate stands in the pulpit, in his aulbe, the cross being lifted up before him, and the candles lighted on both sides of it, and begins thus, By Authority of God, Fader, Son, and HolyGhost, and the glorious Moder, and May"den, our Lady St. Mary, and the Blessed Apostles Peter, and Paul, and all Apostles, 66 My joyful note records that victory And tell my joy in many a merry peal. I sound the victory won on Afric's shore, or for wrongfull covetyse of himselfe with"holden rightful Tyths, and Offerings, "Rents, or Mortuaries from her own Parish Chirch, and by way of covetyse falslyche taking to God the worse, and to hemself "the better, or else torn him into another use, then hem oweth. For all Chrysten "Man and Women been hard bound on pain of deadly Sin, not onlyche by ordinaunce of Man, but both in the ould Law, and alsoe in the new Law, for to pay trulyche to God and holy Chirch the Tyth part of all manner of encrease, that they winnen truly che by the Grace of God, both with her travell, and alsoe with her "craftes whatsoe they be truly gotten." And then concludes all with the curse itself, thus, "And now by Autoritie aforesaid we De"nounce all thoe accursyd that are so found 66 en guyltie, and all thoe that maintaine "hem in her Sins, or gyven hem hereto "either help or councell, soe they be de parted froe God, and all holi Chirch: and "that they have noe part of the Passion of "Jhesu Chryst, ne of noe sacraments, ne 46 no part of the prayers among Christen "Folk: But that they be accursed of God, "and of the Chirch, froe the sole of her "foot to the crown of her hede, sleaping "and waking, sitting and standing, and in "all her Wordes, and in all her Werkes; "but if they have noe Grace of God to amend "hem here in this Lyfe, for to dwell in the pem of Hell for ever withouten end: "Fiat: Fiat. Doe to the Boke; Quench "the Candles: Ring the Bell. Amen, "Amen." And then the book is clapped together; the candles blown out; and the bells rung, with a most dreadful noise made by the congregation present, bewailing the accursed persons concerned in that black doom denounced against them. The horrors of this ceremony are certainly well calculated to strike the superstitious mind; ut whether they would induce any one to relinquish his ill-gotten prizes, as Paulus Grillandus (Tract. de Sortileg.) relates of some mischievous devils, who having caught up certain women, let them fall at hearing a bell ring, exceeds the determination of Yours, &c Q. A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS KINDS OF WINE MADE IN FRANCE, THEIR QUALITIES, FLAVOURS, ETC. ETC. WITH A SKETCH OF THE EXTERNAL COMMERCE OF THE FRENCH NATION IN REGARD TO THAT VALUABLE ARTICLE. [Translated from the French of J. Peuchet.] Burgundy, which by many is accounted the choicest of French wines, is of a lively colour, possesses an agreeable flavour, and is of a very superior quality it is by all nations esteemed an exquisite wine, and is looked upon as a most powerful support to man, whether he although it raises the spirits, it does not inbe relaxed by toil, or rendered feeble by age; flame the understanding; its effects are not very sudden, but they are lasting; in short, it is a salutary, and at the same time, a delicious beverage. The best Burgundy is made in Beaune, Nuits, Romanée, Premeau and Vougeot. The wines of Beaujolais keep extremely well; a great quantity of these wines are sold under the name of Mâcon.-The wines of Anjou and Orleanais are thick and heady. Auvernat, commonly called CasseTelle, is made at Orleans; and is a full bodied, good wine; but when kept for the space of two or three years, it becomes truly excellent. Orleans wine, however, not un frequently becomes thick and ropy. Another white wine made at Orleans is that called Genetin. At Epernay in Champagne two thirds of the surrounding countries, such as, Ay, Cumieres, Pierry, Disy, Haut-Villiers, &c. are laid out in vineyards; and here it is that the celebrated wines of Champagne derive their growth. Champagne is of a brisk nature, its flavour partakes somewhat melancholy, is highly palatable, and inspires of acidity; it has the effect of dispelling gaiety. It quickly intoxicates; but its effects are not of long duration.-We here subjoin the principal classes of Champagne Wine: First Class. Ville Domage. Pargny. Sapicourt. Villes Allerans. This class comprises the wines which are most commonly used in France, and when well chosen prove proper for ordinary drinking. Poitou produces a tolerably good white wine, which resembles Rhenishi -The wines, of Haute Guyenne and of Gascony under the name of Bordeaux wines, are much esteemned, being of a very good quality. The red, called Vins de Grave, sustain a sea voyage extremely well they have the peculiar property of bracing the stomach, without deranging the head; their flavour is rather tart and rough, but a voyage tends in a great measure to correct this fault.-Wine is in itself a source of incalculable riches to Bordeaux; the red wines, which hold the first rauk in the exports of this thriving and populous town, are known by the general name of claret, and are distinguished by the dealers under the generical titles of Medoc, Hantbrion, SaintEmilien, De Grave, &c. The most esteemed wines of Medoc are Lafitte, Latour and Chateau Margaux; those of Vins de Grave are Hautbrion, Haut-Talence, Merignac, Pessac, Langon, Villenave, &c. All these wines are delicious they are neither like the wines of Burgundy nor of Champagne; they have a peculiar goodness of quality, which renders them truly valuable to the province. There are other sorts of wine in the various districts, such as, Canterac, Saint Julien, Saint Mambert, Pouillac, Saint Estephe, Saint Laurent, which without enjoying an equal reputation, are frequently in no wise inferior to the first mentioned as to quality. Those which hold the first rank among the white wines are Carbonnieux, Serons, Barsac, Prignac, Santerne, Baume and Saint Croix du Mont-Languedoc produces excellent dry wines, as well as some of a luscious kind. Hermitage is a red wine: it grows upon the banks of the Rhone, between Valence and Saint Valliere; this wine, although rough, is nevertheless of an agreeable flavour and accounted very wholesome. Luscious Wines. The most esteemed wines of this description are those of Ciotat and Saint Laurent, in Provence; they are sweet and extremely palatable.-Frontiuiac is of all the luscious wines of Languedoc the most perfect, and the best adapted for keeping, with this advantage, that its value increases with its age. It is pure and much esteemed, both at home and abroad, and is not, as has been erroneously asserted, a compound wine.-The Muscadine of Lunel is of a more delicate and agreeable flavour, but it will not bear keeping like Frontiniac.-That of Rivesaltes is richer than either Frontiniac or Lunel; it comes very near the Cape wine: there is no red wine of Rivesaltes. In general, the red Muscadine is much more scarce, and dearer than the white.-The Muscadine wine Besires is of a quality inferior to that of Frontiniac, of Rivesaltes and of Lunel. Of the Exportation of Wines. The exportation of wines forms one of the most considerable branches of French commerce. The general good qualities of French wines, and above all their standing the test of time, have acquired for them a superiority over those of other countries, and a marked preference in all foreign markets. Their sale is uncommonly rapid in the northern countries, in Holland and in England, and were it not for the oppressive duties to which they are subjected, it would be still more so. The wines of Burgundy, Beaujolais and Nivernois are conveyed by means of the Loire river, to Nantes, where the English, Dutch and North country vessels are in readiness to recieve them, and carry them to their own countries, and to the principal commercial cities scated on the Baltic.- -Burgundy will not bear a long voyage in the wood, it is therefore most commonly made up for expor tation in bottles, the mouths whereof are closely capped, and strongly sealed; thus secared, wines of the most delicate quality will stand a voyage even through the northern seas.The wines of Quercy, Guyenne, Bordeaux, and the provinces watered by the Garonne, are shipped at Bordeaux. Those Bordeaux wines distinguished by the name of Medoc, find their principal market in England; those called Palus, are sent to the Indios, the Colonies, &c. The Dutch consume vast quantities of the last mentioned article. With regard to the wines of inferior qualities, the greater part of them passes into Germany; the remainder serves for i ome consumption or for the manufacture of biandy or vinegar. It is computed that 100,600 tons of wine are annually exported from Bordeaux. The Dutch purchase nearly four times as great a quantity of wines of Bordeaux as all the other nations who frequent that part.The consumption of the English in time of peace is computed at 6000 tons annually. The Danes and Swedes seldom take away more than 3 or 4000 tons in the course of a year; the cause of this apparent slackness on the part of these nations is, that, they are enabled to procure supplies of French wines at any time from their neighbours, the Dutch, and nearly upon as advantageous terms as if they actually imported them from France.The wine commerce of Bor deaux, with the French colonies in America, seldom employs less than from 24 to 28 vessels, burthen from 50 to 250 tons each, viz. 2 or 3 vessels to Quebec, 3 or 4 to Cayenne, 4 or 5 to Saint Domingo and 12 or 15 to Martinique, and the other Antilles. The cargo of a vessel freighted for the islands, of 120 tons burthen, is generally composed of about 43 tons of wine, and completed with assorted articles of merchandize. The best time to quit Bordeaux for the islands is about the latter end of November, or the beginning of December, in order that the voyage may be completed by the succeeding February. Nevertheless many vessels do not commence before May, or accomplish them before August; even in this case, the voyages often turn out well, particularly if the cargoes be composed of good wines of the after-season, and that the weather, previous to the arrival of the vessels at the islands, has proved more than usually sultry, whereby the wines brought by the early ships are generally turned sour, and those which come last consequently experience a very quick sale.————The Dutch procure the wines of Champagne and Burgundy through the Low Countries, and thence take occasion to supply Brussels and Austrian Flanders. - -The French merchants not unfrequently make consignments of wine to foreign countries on their own ac their count. voyage The merchants of Rouen send the best Burgundy to England, to Holland, to Denmark and to Russia; but when they send it to those last mentioned places they take care to put it into bottles well secured. The French merchants engaged in the export of wines have for the most part agents in the different foreign markets, whose business it is to receive and dispose of the consignments. Dutch vessels are commonly employed for the purpose of conveying the wines, first because their charges for freight are infinitely lower than those of other vessels; and secondly, because they are in general (in the naval phrase) in every respect, sea worthy.-The consumption of French wines in England is certainly less considerable than it otherwise would be, if those of Spain and Portugal did not (in consequence of the comparatively low duties imposed upon them) find a readier sale.-By some writers it is asserted that the annual importation of French wines into England, is 18,000 tons, exclusive of what is illegally imported. Wines imported in English bottoms, are not subject to pay such high duties as those brought to England in foreign vessels: in the former case, that is to say, when wines are imported in English bottoms, they pay, at the port of London, a duty of £135 7s. 6d. per ton, and at all the other English ports, 127 7s. 6d. per ton. The very same wines, if brought into the port of London in foreign vessels, would pay a duty of £143 17s. 6d. per ton, and in the other ports, £135 17s. 6d. per ton.-Drawbacks on French wine if re-exported to America, £133 17s. 6d. ; East-Indies, £133 17s. 6d ; any other place, £128 12s. 6d. It appeared by the balance of trade in 1784, that wines to the amount of 22,958,800 livres tournois, about £950,000, were exported from France; and in 1787, subsequent to the signing of a treaty of commerce between England and France, the exports of that article amounted to the sum of 28,276,300 francs, nearly £1,200,000, thus exhibiting the very great influence which the commerce with England alone might have over the wine exports of France, if the enormous duties were in some degree reduced. The reflections of a sane politician would lead him to conclude, that the export of the natural production of any kingdom under heaven was much rather to be promoted and encouraged than those of which the raw taining of which is liable to many interrupmaterial is of foreign growth, and the obtions, and subject to the humour or power of others. "" All grasp, all lose," is a maxim both in politics and commerce. Bonaparte will not sell his wines to England: why?because he cannot rival her in cottons: he will not extend his direct dealings in brandy, -because, Britain vexes him by her commerce in sugar and coffee. Through despite at what he cannot accomplish, he cramps those exertions which his dominions might and would make, and rejects those benefits which he might accomplish with case. After all, in contradiction to whatever mandates Bonaparte can issue, British manufactures find their way into France, and in contradiction to what is thought by most the true interest of these kingdoms, French brandies find their way into Britain. We are not certain, whether Nature does not in these, as in other instances, counteract the perverse and selfish passions of man, for the general welfare of the human race. Nevertheless, while the chief of the French nation enforces restrictions new in their kind and intention, it will surely bear a question, worthy of serious consideration, whether all genuine Britons ought not to abstain from wines, brandies, and other French productions, til! France be convinced that we can do without her, and be willing to admit of reciprocal commerce. |