SIR,

On Painted Glass.

out of our churches; yet it was, in some measure, kept up in the escutcheons of the nobility and gentry in

OBSERVING, in your interesting the windows of their seats. Towards

ford.

Magazine for February last, the end of Queen Elizabeth, it was that, in describing the east window of omitted even there, yet the practice Guildhall, which has lately been fi- did not entirely cease. The chapel of nished with painted glass, you say our lady at Warwick was ornamented that this performance proves the anew by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicomplete restoration of an art so cester, and his countess, and the cyhighly esteemed, and which has been pher of the glass painter's name yet for so long a series of years lost to the remains with the date 1574; and, in world as to be thought irrecoverable.' some of the chapels at Oxford, the art Now, as that is not the case, (and if you again appears, under the date 1022, had enquired of Messrs. Anness & Co. by the hand of no contemptible maswith whose performances you appear ter. Many dates on Flemish glass well acquainted, I doubt not they will supply a chasm of forty-eight would have convinced you of your years; but, though the secret was not mistake, though the art of painting on entirely lost, yet it lay dormant till glass has sometimes lain dormant), I the latter end of the reign of James I. shall beg leave to shew, with your and that it has not perished since, will permission, that from the period of be evident from the following sethe reformation to the present day, ries reaching to the present time: there has been a regular succession of The portraits in the windows of artists, who have been in a continual the library at All Souls' college, Oxand progressive state of improvement. When painted glass was first intro- In the chapel of Queen's College, duced into this country, which is sup- twelve windows, the date 1518. posed to have been about the time of P. C. a cypher, on the painted glass King John, it consisted of different in the chapel at Warwick, 1574. coloured glass, joined together in some The windows of Wadham College; sort of design, the lead joinings form- the drawing pretty good, and the coing the harsh outline. The designs lours fine, by Bernard Van Linge, were either mosaic, legendary tales, 1622. This artist was a Fleming, or scripture histories, generally very and is supposed to have settled in ill chosen, and worse executed; which, England, though there is no proof of bad as it was, gave a solemn and ve- it, about the middle of the reign of nerable air to places of worship, and James I. He was the father of glass was much encouraged till the time painting, in its renewed and improved of Henry VIII. when many of the painted windows were destroyed or greatly mutilated. The best of this ancient work, now remaining, is supposed to be in King's College chapel, Cambridge. The adherents of Cromwell were no less inimical to the art, and from that time to the commencement of the present reign, painted glass was but little sought for; and, in consequence so little attended to by artists, that it was by many thought to be lost; but that the fact was not so, the following account of those artists who were painters on glass, and the places where their works are, or were within a few years past, to be found, will prove beyond all doubt.

The first interruption given to this art, as I have just observed, was by the reformation, which banished it

state in this country. The subjects at Wadham College exhibit the types and history of our Saviour, for which the donor, according to tradition, gave 15001.

In the chapel at Lincoln's-Inn, a window with the name of Bernard, 1623, probably the preceding Van Linge.

In the chapel at Wroxton, subjects from the Bible, by Bernard Van Linge, 1632.

In the church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, two windows by Baptista Sutton, 1634.

In Christ Church, Oxford, by Abraham Van Linge. He was probably the son of the former, and by his numerous and extensive works must have resided in England. It is fair to conjecture that we owe to him the

continuance of this fascinating art, unsuccessful experiment. His brounder the auspices of Charles I. who ther, Joshua Price, restored with gave a charter to the artists. At great success the windows at Queen's Christ Church he finished the sub- College, originally done by Abraham jects of Jonah, Sodom and Gomor- Van Linge, which had been broken rha, and Christ with the Doctors, by the Puritans. The present date is with the several dates, 1631, 1034, 1715. The chiaro-scuro figures of the and 1640. Philip and the Eunuch, at Apostles and Prophets in the chapel Baliol, in 1637; twelve compartments at Magdalen college are by his hand. of a window at Hatfield, and a win- William Price, the younger, was dow at Wroxton; Lord Guilford's in employed for the windows in WestOxfordshire; the Resurrection, at minster Abbey, which were voted by Queen's College, 1035; and windows parliament, and were put up in 1722 at University College and Lincoln's- and 1735. For the chapel at WinInn chapel, 1641; with another at ton College he stained a window of Peter House, Cambridge. This art- the Genealogy of Christ; and several ist leaving England, or dying, (for we at the New College, Oxford, which have no account of either) the secret he had procured from Flanders, oriof glass painting' again lay dormant; ginally taken from designs by Rufor those who were employed to refit the mutilated windows after the restoration were incapable of any original work.

bens and his scholars, were in a great degree made perfect by him. Bishop Benson procured by his hand the subject of the Resurrection for the winThe east window in the chapel at dow of his own private chapel, in the University College. Henry Giles, palace at Gloucester. But his chief pinxit, 1687. This is the first evi- merit was in his designs and arrange. dence that occurs of any good artist ment of mosaic, of which there are after the Restoration. The painter, many specimens at Strawberry-hill, Henry Giles, lived at York, and ap- which are examples of skill and taste. pears to have established a school of The Herbert family, in a closet at glass-painting in that city, which con- Wilton, after the costume of the ear tinued its reputation for more than a lier centuries, are by his hand. He century. Of this school were Wil- died at his house in Great Kirby. liam Price the elder and younger, street, Hatton Garden, July 16, 1705. and William Peckitt, all of whom will be mentioned hereafter.

He was esteemed the most ingenious glass painter in Europe, and was the only artist in this style for many years in England.

At Christ Church, Isaac Oliver, aged 84, 1700. This is a small window, and is a singular curiosity; it re- After him, a man of the name of presents St. Peter and the Angel. As Rowell, a plumber, of Reading, did a work of merit, it will attract notice, some things, particularly for the late and there are grounds for conjecture Henry Earl of Pembroke, but his cothat this artist was connected with lours soon vanished. At length, he the inimitable miniature painters, who were patronised by Lord Arundel, and who gave so much lustre to the age of Charles I.

found out a very beautiful and durable red, but he died in a year or two-and the secret with him.

Of the school established at York William Price, the elder, was the was William Peckitt, whose profimost able scholar and successor of ciency was inferior to that of his preHenry Giles; and he acquired fame decessors, and who produced only an by his paintings of the Nativity, after extreme brilliancy of colours. BeSir James Thornhill, at Christ Church, tween the years 1705 and 1777, he in 1696. He then stained the Life finished the windows on the north of Christ in six compartments, in side of the chapel at New College Merton chapel, in 1702, for which he with arbitrary portraits of the canonreceived 200l. This performance ized worthies of the church. loses much of its beauty and effect by having each compartment inclosed in a frame of glaring yellow glass, which was a mere conceit, and certainly an

1767, he put up at Oriel College a window of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, from a design of Dr. Wall of Worcester, a physician who

amused himself with painting. In beautiful of them, the Aurora of the library of Trinity College, Cam- Guido, is now at Arundel Castle. bridge, he painted a window from a Of modern proficients in this exdesign of Cipriani, the subject of quisite art, one of the most eminent which is the British Minerva present- was Mr. Francis Eginton, of Handsing Bacon and Newton to his present worth, near Birmingham. His exMajesty. It has one hundred and cellence was progressive, and his inforty square feet of glass, and cost 500l. dustry duly encouraged. Magdalen In this reign a new style of staining College, Oxford; Salisbury and Lichglass has originated, which is the boast field cathedrals; Arundel castle; St. and peculiar invention of our own Paul's church, Birmingham; Wanartists. The deviation from the hard stead church, Essex; and various outline of the early Florentine or Fle- others, contain specimens equally homish schools to the correct contour of nourable to his industry, to his taste, Michelagnolo, or the gorgeous co- and to his abilities. A catalogue of lours of Rubens, is not more deci- his works would fill several pages of dedly marked than the design and your Magazine; but, as I have already execution of the Van Linges and occupied more space than I intended, Prices, and the masterly performances you will probably spare me in some of Jarvis. This artist, who died about future number a little room for its inthe year 1800, was first distinguished sertion, especially as it will tend to for exquisitely finishing small subjects. make this account more perfect than At Lord Cremorne's villa, at Chelsea, it can otherwise possibly be. is the most complete collection of his early works, consisting of about twenty pieces. The interior of Gothic chapels and castles is exhibited with rays of sunshine, producing the richest effect.

Í am, &c.

J. S.

PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS.

[Continued from page 415.] N truth God In priority of excellence, if not of elements out of nighty made th time, the first of Jarvis's work is the other natural productions what they great western window of the chapel are, in his infinite wisdom and goodat New College, Oxford. This ad- ness; and they who curiously exmirable specimen of art was com- amine how, and with what particles, pleted in 1787, and the total expense and in what manner, they might be of the upper compartment was 110sl. made, &c. will find nothing, and will and of the lower 8201. The design be happy if they find out their own was made by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and is divided into two parts.

Another fine work of Jarvis, associated with his most successful pupil Forest, is the great eastern window in St. George's chapel at Windsor. The subject, which was designed by West, is the Resurrection; and it is disposed in three grand compartments.

ignorance, and it be not hid from them covered by their pride and presumption. I mean not, that chymical or other experiments are blameable in themselves, by which many things have been found out very useful, as well as some very pernicious; but if such experiments are used to the impious end for which Polignac says Beside this, Forest finished three Epicurus contrived his vacuum, viz. other windows, which add to the late that a cause might not be assignable embellishments of that singularly ele- to it. Indeed this doctrine of supposgant chapel; the designs for which are ing every natural body of every kind likewise by West, and are dated 1792, as composed of particles does not 1794, and 1796. please me; it certainly is a relique of In 1775, Pearson stained the chapel Epicurism; for as every particle of window of Brazennose College, Ox- matter, though ever so small, is infiford, from cartoons by Mortimer, of nitely more than nothing, and the Christ and the four Evangelists. His creation of the least of them therefore wife, Mrs. Pearson, discovered an an infinite effect; and an infinite efequal genius, and they jointly executed fect requires an infinite cause, therenumerous small pieces of very great fore less than Omnipotence could not merit. One of the most correct and create the least of them: it is thereUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII. 3 T

This

fore more worthy the dignity of Al- not elsewhere, was miraculously hasmighty God's infinite majesty, and tened by the divine power. inore consonant to the holy scriptures was indeed a miracle as the creation to believe, that he created the ele- of the world itself was; yet the forments as a whole, though of such a mation of the seed or germ of all nature as by their operations on each trees and plants; so that all trees and other, their divisions, and concretions, plants that have been, are, or might to accomplish the purpose of his di- have been in the world, or even innuvine wisdom; so that the particles of merable worlds, to the end of time, divided matter are the work of na- were all created in the first seed or tural causes, according as he has germs of each kind, is a consideration adapted them; yet by him, through which astonishes imagination, and him, and in him. The magnitude of seems like infinity multiplied, and to the works he performed as first cause exceed the power of numbers in a being sufficiently set forth in the first graduated minuteness far beyond our and second chapter of Genesis, and to comprehension. The same may be these the Aristotelians attribute a sub- observed in the generation of all that stantial form, since it is impossible lives. But all this is the ordinary that a man can be constituted a man, course of nature, at which nobody or a horse a horse, by any assemblage wonders. Yet, in truth, God Alof atoms whatsoever, unless perhaps mighty has made every thing in numby Democritus his rational and intel- ber, weight, and measure, according ligent atoms above-mentioned. They to its kind, all accidents considered; therefore expressed the nature and for one calf in a year is as sufficient constitution of the animals, vegeta- for the cow for preserving the species, bles, &c. created and made by the and even for increase, as perhaps ten particular agency of the first cause, or fifteen millions of eggs for the codeach in their several kinds, by the fish. Neither are these wonderful words substantial form, as all beyond provisions for the conservation and that exceeded the bounds of human increase of animals and vegetables to understanding. be deemed infinite, no more than the extent and number of the heavens and heavenly bodies: for, as the royal prophet says, The heavens tell forth the glory of God, and the firmament the works of his hands. But thou shalt change them and they shall be changed, and they shall all grow old as a garment, but thou art the self same and thy years shall not fail. When the heavens grow old and are changed, all things must end of course. Nor must the growth and attainment of perfection and subsequent decay of all things be attributed to any other efficient cause but to God alone. in him we live, we move, and have our being, as says St. Paul; and again, From Him all things, and by Him all things, and in Him all things. From Him all things-in their creation, production, formation. By Him ail things in their operations, motions, powers and faculties. In Him all things-in their subsistence, duration, or continuance during His good will and pleasure.

I request that it be noted, when I speak of any thing as being done or happening by natural causes, that I precisely understand by nature the mode and economy which God Almighty, in his infinite wisdom, power, and goodness, has established for the preservation of what he has created and fitted for the purposes of his divine will, either in themselves or the conservation and propagation in kind and species of every thing that lives or vegetates, with their proper acts and habits conducive to those ends.

For

It is said, in the history of the creation, that God made every twig of the field before it grew, and in the book of wisdom that he created all things at once. Thus the holy scripture informs us of what constant experience testifies that all vegetable nature was first created in the germ or seed, and therefore are only developed and unfolded,and attain their natural growth, and thence decay in succeeding days, years, and ages, till the end of time. We must therefore suppose, that as But to return to my intermitted man was created the sixth day, the subject; laying aside Descartes, his growth of the trees, &c. in Paradise, if hypothesis of elementary air and fire,

I shall, with due deference to him, lish; of Kaul Derey among the Irish, whom I esteem as well as Sir Isaac and Creighton among the Scots, are Newton, a man of great genius and instances. The most remarkable one, respectability, but yet but man, de- I ever heard, is one still current in scribe my own conceptions concern- Flanders, a story generally the first ing fire and its conservation in that the peasants tell their children, when fountain of light and heat-the sun. they tell them to behave like BidderFire is generally esteemed and num- man the wise. It is, by no means, bered as one of the elements, and is however, a model to be set before pocertainly worthy of as great honour, lite people for imitation; since, on the as being not only very useful in ge- one hand, if we perceive in it the steaneral but of absolute necessity to the dy influence of patriotism; we, on the existence of animal, vegetable, nay, other hand, find as strong a desire of and universal corporeal nature; at revenge. But to wave introduction, least to conserve it in its present state, let us proceed to the story. When it being also the only thing visible in the Saracens overran Europe with itself, and by which all other things their armies, and penetrated as far are seen. Yet it seems to be rather even as Antwerp, Bid-man was the result of the motion and collision lord of a city, which time has since of the other elements, either against swept into destruction. As the inhathemselves or each other, than a per- bitants of this country were divided manent and distinct element of it elf; under separate leaders, the Saracens but that it is an element universaily found an easy conquest, and the city distributed, as well in the frozen re- of Bidderman among the rest became gions of the poles as elsewhere, I see a prey to the victors.

no reason to believe.

Thus dispossessed of his paternal It seems most generally believed, city, our unfortunate governor was that heat is always caused by either obliged to seek refuge from the neighlatent or visible fire; but, on the con- bouring princes, who were as yet untrary, I am fully persuaded that heat subdued, and he, for some time, lived and air are constantly the cause of fire in a wretched state of dependence in its production, and, as all natural among them. productions are conserved and receive Soon, however, his love for his natheir growth and perfection from the tive country brought him back to his same causes that produced them, so own city, resolved to rescue it from fire also is continued and receives its the enemy or perish in the attempt. increase from the same causes of heat Thus, in disguise, he went among the and air. This plainly appears when inhabitants, and endeavoured, but in fire is caused by violent friction; as vain, to excite them to revolt. in the method of the Indians in kind- Former misfortunes lay so heavily ling their fire, by twistering a peg of on their minds, that they rather chose soft wood between their two hands, to suffer the most cruel bondage than within a hole of another piece of like attempt to assert their former freewood, till a heat being gradually pro- dom. duced by the violence of the friction at length is increased to a sufficient intensity to set them on fire.

E

VELLEIUS PROFUTURUS

A FLEMISH TRADITION.

As he was thus one day employed, whether from information or suspicion was not known, he was apprehended by a Saracen soldier, as a spy, and brought before the very tribunal where he once presided. The account he gave of himself was by no means VERY country has its traditions: satisfactory; he could produce_no which, either too minute, or not friends to vindicate his character. But sufficiently authentic to receive histo- as the Saracens knew not their prirical sauction, are handed down among soner, and as they had no direct the vulgar, and serve at once to in- proofs against him, they were content struct and amuse them. Of this num- with condemning him to be publicly ber, the adventures of Robin Hood, whipped as a vagabond. of Chevy Chace, and the bravery of Johnny Armstrong among the Eng

The execution of this sentence was accord ngly performed with the ut