On this Day in History ... 5th July

Rymer's Fœdera Volume 1. A rebuking Bull of Pope Martin IV, concerning the money collected for the aid of the Holy Land, and deposited in holy places, but seized by the King.

Martin, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his dearest son in Christ … the illustrious King of England, greeting and apostolic blessing. While the greatness of royal prudence, which, not without praise of renown, measuring the outcomes of things, is accustomed not to proceed inconsiderately in its actions, was long beheld by the gaze of our consideration; while the zeal of highest devotion, in which your royal highness has always shone toward the Roman Church, your mother, was brought before the sight of our mind; rightly indeed we hoped, firmly stored in the archive of our heart, that you would so prudently regulate your deeds, so discreetly direct the pursuits of your enterprises, so wisely walk in all your ways, that from thence no occasion of disturbance might arise to the same Church: that, having avoided every sting of reproach, you might be rendered more acceptable in the sight of the eternal King's Son, by whom you reign, with the abundance of merits; that with us and with the aforesaid Church, which bears you in the bowels of charity, you might appear ever more and more gracious; and that among the peoples of the nations you might be held more splendid in the brightness of your fame. But, if it be permitted to speak the truth, if it be lawful to utter what is true: you, long since, by too much indulging the unworthy affections of your heart, and by less prudently preferring the arbitrariness of will before the judgment of reason, have greatly detracted from the titles of royal praise, which you ought with watchful care to preserve. You did not attend nor consider how cruel he is found to be who neglects the loss of reputation. For lately, not only by rumours spread abroad from afar, but also by truthful report, we have, to our wonder, heard and, disturbed, understood, that, setting aside the praiseworthy manner of royal moderation, you, stretching forth your hands to unlawful things, caused the money of the tithe in your kingdom, granted by the providence of the Council of Lyons for the succour of the Holy Land, and which, by collectors appointed from the Apostolic See, had been deposited in sacred and safe places, preserved under faithful and constant custody, [you caused it] to be entirely removed from those places, the seals and locks by which they were secured having been violently broken, of your own motion (not to say rashly), the keepers of that money resisting and unwilling, and to be carried off to a certain place at the pleasure of your will, not without great offence of the Divine Majesty, and with much contempt of the said See, and with grievous loss to the same Land [the Holy Land]. But did it by chance belong to royal majesty, without the license of the aforesaid See, to do this? Did it befit its honor? Was it expedient to its dignity? Although, indeed, you have thought it should be cloaked beneath certain excuses or reasons, expressed in letters directed to us upon this matter, which, under the judgment of right reason, are not undeservedly adjudged frivolous. Surely it would have happened more cautiously if the diligence of your circumspection had altogether abstained from such things, if through you no proceeding had been made toward them. For what example, think you, in such a deed have you transmitted to the other Catholic kings, you, a Catholic king, and begotten of a Catholic king? What great, what abundant matter do you believe you have given to your rivals for speaking against you? How many, and how great tongues have you sharpened to the derogation of your name? And how much scandal and disturbance have you brought into the hearts of the faithful, who aspire to the liberation of the aforesaid Land, while those same faithful behold that you, who once for her sake, sparing neither costs nor toils, not shrinking from burdens, earnestly fulfilled the duty of a strong champion, who expended your very presence therein, compassionating her grievous distresses and continual oppressions, have now been seen to have done such things, have now been marveled at to have perpetrated such deeds? "But oh that, if only!, those whose counsel you use had shown with diligent care to your royal senses how great an error, and how grave a disgrace, almost necessarily followed from the aforesaid actions; for we do not doubt that, if your royal discretion had more attentively considered the effect of so unlawful a removal, you would not in any way have extended the desire of your mind thereto. Since, therefore, our fervent intention is directed to the liberation of that land [the Holy Land] from the hands of the cruel enemy, and because for this we wish its subsidy not diminished but rather increased, nor are we willing, as indeed we ought not, to endure so great a detriment to that land with equanimity, we do admonish, beseech, and earnestly exhort your royal highness that (diligently pondering how much in this matter you have offended your Creator, in whose cause this business is carried on; how greatly you have disturbed the aforesaid Church; and how deeply you have wounded your own reputation) you cause that same money, removed by the command of your order from the places in which it was stored, to be restored and replaced there in full integrity, every difficulty being set aside, and notwithstanding the excuses or reasons above expressed which we altogether judge frivolous. You must further abstain from like acts in future, and neither you nor any other through you shall bring molestation, harassment, or disturbance upon ecclesiastical or any other persons in whose custody that money was deposited, or might hereafter be deposited by apostolic authority for the benefit of the aforesaid land. And you shall employ such diligence and zeal in this matter that the speed of due restitution may redeem the audacity of the unlawful removal, and that the favor of the aforesaid See, which we gladly extend to devoted sons, may deservedly be increased toward you. Nor do we wish you to be unaware that, however sincerely we pursue your person with affection, and however willingly we defer to your royal honor, nevertheless we cannot suffer (for one must not defer to man more than to God) to refrain from applying another remedy herein, if need shall arise. Given at Orvieto, on the third nones of July [5th July 1283], in the third year of our pontificate. Under leaden seal, on hempen cord.

Bulla Martini IV Papæ objurgatoria, super pecunid in subsidium Terræ Sanctæ collectâ, & in sacris locis depositá, per Regem occupatá.

Martinus episcopus, servus servorum Dei, carissimo in Christo.... Regi Angliæ illustri, salutem & apostolicam benedictionem. Dum regalis prudentiæ magnitudo, quæ, non sine laudum præconio, rerum exitus metiens, in suis actibus non inconsultè procedere consuevit, nostræ dudum considerationis intuitu lustrabatur: dum summæ devotionis zelus, quo erga Romanam ecclesiam matrem tuam regia semper celsitudo resplenduit, mentis propria subiciebat aspectui; dignè, utique sperabamus, nostri pectoris archivo recondita firma credulitas permanebat, ut sic prudenter tua limitares opera, sic tuorum processuum studia discretè dirigeres, sic sapienter incederes in omnibus viis tuis, ut nullius exindè turbationis materiam eidem ecclesiæ contingeret exoriri: ut reprehensionis cujuslibet vitatis aculeis apud Regis æterni Filium, per quem regnas, meritorum cumulo reddereris acceptior; penes nos & prædictam ecclesiam, quæ te gerit in visceribus caritatis, magis ac magis gratiosus occurreres; & apud gentium populos famæ claritate splendidior habereris. Sed, si vera fateri liceat, si fas sit exprimi veritatem, tu pridem, indignis tui cordis affectibus nimis favens, & voluntatis arbitrium minus providè præferens judicio rationis, laudis regiæ titulis, curâ tibi vigili conservandis, quamplurimum derogâsti; non attendens neque considerans quam crudelis fore dinoscitur, qui negligit dampnum famæ. Nuper etenim, non solum, divulgatis è longinquo rumoribus, sed etiam assertione veridicâ, mirantes accepimus, & intelleximus perturbati, quod, laudabili temperantiæ regiæ more postposito, extendens ad illicita manus tuas, pecuniam decimæ in regno tuo, per Lugdunen' concilii providentiam Terræ Sanctæ concessa subsidio, quæ per collectores, à sede apostolicâ deputatos, in sacris tutisque locis deposita sub fidâ jugique custodiâ servabatur; de locis ipsis sigillis serisque violenter effractis, quibus loca eadem firmabantur, motu proprio, ne dicamus temerario, pecuniæ præfatæ custodibus renitentibus & invitis, totaliter amoveri & ad certum locum, pro tuæ libito voluntatis, non absque magnâ divinæ majestatis offensâ, multoque dictæ sedis contemptu, ac ejusdem terræ gravi dispendio, asportari fecisti. Sed numquid hoc, prædictæ sedis non interveniente licentiâ, regiæ magnitudini licuit? Numquid ejus decuit honestatem? Numquid expedivit honori, quamquam id quarumdam excusationum, sive rationum velamine, quas intuis, super hoc nobis directis, expressas litteris non immeritò frivolas recti judicii censura dijudicat, duxeris palliandum? Profecto agi cautiùs contigisset, si tuæ circumspectionis industria prorsus à talibus abstinuisset, si per te ad ea processus habitus non fuisset. Nam quod exemplum ad cæteros Reges catholicos tu, Rex catholicus, & de Rege catholico procreatus, in tali putas actione transmiseris? Quam grandem quoque, quam uberem, credis in hoc, contra te materiam æmulis dederis obloquendi? Quot & quantas, in tui derogationem nominis, linguas acueris? Quantumve scandali & turbationis intuleris fidelium cordibus, ad liberationem aspirantium dictæ terræ, dum fideles ipsi te, qui dudum pro eâ, non parcens sumptibus laborum, onera non abhorrens, exercuisti sollicitus athletæ fortis officium, qui tuam inibi præsentiam impendisti, ejus pregravibus, quibus indesinenter affligitur, compassus angustiis & pressuris, talia peregisse conspiciunt, talia perpetrâsse mirantur? At utinam! sensibus regiis eorum, quorum consilio uteris, studiosâ solertiâ demonstrâsset, quantus error, quamque gravis ex præmissis infamia quasi necessariò sequebantur; non enim venit nobis in dubium quod, si hujusmodi tam illicita asportationis effectum discretio regia diligentius attendisset, ad eam non extendisses ullatenus desiderium mentis tuæ. Cum igitur ad liberandum de hostis immanis manibus terram ipsam fervens nostra dirigatur intentio, & propterea illius non minui, sed potius augmentari subsidium cupiamus; nec velimus, sicuti nec debemus, tantum ejusdem terræ præjudicium æquanimiter tolerare; serenitatem regiam monemus, rogamus, & hortamur attentè quatinus (sedulâ meditatione recogitans quantum in hâc parte tuum offenderis Creatorem, cujus in hoc negotium agitur, quantum predictam perturbâris ecclesiam, quantùmve leseris famam tuam) pecuniam ipsam in locis, de quibus extitit, imperio tuæ jussionis, ammotâ, facias, sublatâ difficultate quâlibet, excusationibus seu rationibus non obstantibus supradictis (quas omninò frivolas reputamus) cum integritate restitui seu reponi; ulterius à similibus abstinendo; ac etiam ecclesiasticas, & alias quascumque personas, penes quas dicta pecunia est deposita, vel eam deponi contigerit per apostolicam sedem, pro terræ memoratæ commodis disponendam, per te, vel alium, seu alios nullis impetendo molestiis, nullis vexationibus perturbando; illam in hoc efficaciam & sollicitudinem impensurus, ut debitæ restitutionis celeritas asportationis indebitæ ausum redimat, & sedis prefatæ gratia, quam libenter ad filios devotos extendimus, circa te non immeritò augeatur. Nec latere te volumus quod, quantumcumque personam tuam sinceris affectibus prosequamur, regioque libenter deferamus honori, nequaquam pati poterimus (cum non sit deferendum homini, plusquam Deo) quin super hoc, si opus extiterit, aliud remedium apponamus. Dat' apud Urbem Veterem, tertio non' Julii, pontificatûs nostri anno tertio. Plumbeo sigillo sub filo canabeo.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. To all¹, etc., John, by the grace of God. Let it be known to all of you that we, etc., as stated above. We grant to the same persons, all of them, or any three, or even any two of them, general, full, and unrestricted power to bind us, our son, and the inhabitants of our kingdom; and to swear on our soul, on the soul of our son, and on the souls of the inhabitants of our kingdom; and to do and accomplish all and everything, etc. Given on the day above mentioned.

Universis etc. Johannes, Dei gratia, Noverit universitas vestra quod nos etc. supra. Dantes eisdem omnibus, tribus, duobus ex ipsis, generalem et liberam ac plenariam potestatem obligandi nos, et filium nostrum, et ipsos incolas; ac jurandi in animam nostram, filii nostri, et regni nostri incolarum, necnon omnia et singula faciendi et perficiendi, etc. Datum die quo supra.

Note 1. This abstract is all that is given in Guisborough's MSS. The complete form of the instrument, which follows, is taken from the contemporary copy in the Treasury of the Receipt of the Exchequer: "To all who shall see these present letters, John, by the grace of God, King of Scotland, greeting in the Lord. Let it be known to all of you that we do, by these presents, make, appoint, and ordain our beloved and faithful servants, the venerable fathers William, Bishop of St Andrews, and Matthew, Bishop of Dunkeld, together with the knights John de Soules and Ingram de Umfraville, as our attorneys, procurators, and special envoys to negotiate, arrange, carry out, and conclude all and every matter whatsoever that may concern us, our firstborn son Edward (heir to our kingdom), and the inhabitants of our kingdom, in any way and in any place within the kingdom of France, with any persons, ecclesiastical or secular, of whatever rank or status they may be. We grant to the same persons, all four, or any three, or even any two of them, general, free, and full power to bind us, our said son, our kingdom, and its inhabitants; and to swear on our soul, the soul of our son, and on the souls of the inhabitants of our kingdom; and to do and accomplish all and everything necessary or appropriate for the aforesaid negotiations, arrangements, and affairs; and to perform all and any acts which we, our son, and the inhabitants of our kingdom could do if we were personally present, even if such acts would require a special mandate. We consider, and shall continue to consider, valid and binding whatever shall be done, transacted, or procured by the said four, three, or two of them concerning the aforesaid matters or any part thereof. In witness whereof, we have caused our seal to be affixed to these present letters. Given at Stirling, on the third day before the Nones of July [5th July 1295], in the year of our Lord 1295, and the third year of our reign. In testimony of all these things, we have caused our seal to be affixed to these present letters. Done at Paris on the twenty-third day of the month of October, in the year of our Lord 1295."

Universis prasentes litteras inspecturis Johannes, Dei gratia Scotia rex, salutem in Domino. Noverit universitas vestra quod nos facimus, constituimus, et ordinamus per prasentes, dilectos et fideles nostros, venerabiles patres Willelmum Sancti Andreæ, et Mathæum Dunkeldensem episcopos, ac Johannem de Soule, et Ingeramum de Umfranvyl milites, attornatos nostros, procuratores, et nuncios speciales, ad tractandum, ordinandum, faciendum, et perficiendum omnia et singula negotia, nos, Edwardum filium nostrum primogenitum et haeredem regni nostri, et incolas regni nostri, qualitercunque tangentia et ubicunque in regno Franciæ, cum quibuscunque personis, ecclesiasticis et secularibus, cujuscumque conditionis existant aut status. Dantes eisdem omnibus, tribus, aut duobus ex ipsis, generalem et liberam ac plenariam potestatem obligandi nos, et filium nostrum prædictum, regnum nostrum, et ipsius incolas; ac jurandi in animam nostram, filii nostri, et regni nostri incolarum; necnon omnia et singula faciendi et perficiendi, quæ ad prædictos tractatus et ordinationes et negotia necessaria fuerint vel opportuna; et alia etiam et singula faciendi et perficiendi, quæ nos, filius noster, et incolæ regni nostri, facere possemus si præsentes essemus, etiamsi mandatum exigant speciale. Ratum et gratum habentes et habituri quicquid per dictos quatuor, tres, vel duos eorumdem, actum, gestum, procuratumve fuerit in præmissis et quolibet præmissorum. In cujus rei testimonium præsentibus litteris sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi. Datum apud Strivelyn, tertio nonas Julii, anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo nonagesimo quinto, regni vero nostri tertio. In quorum omnium testimonium præsentibus litteris nostrum fecimus apponi sigillum. Actum Parisiis die vicesima tertia mensis Octobris, anno Domini MCCXCV.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. To his most excellent prince and lord, and, if it pleases him, his friend, Lord Philip, by the grace of God, illustrious King of the French, John, by the same grace King of Scotland, sends greeting in the Lord. Let your royal highness know that we hereby make, appoint, and ordain, by these presents, our beloved and faithful servants, the venerable fathers William, Bishop of St Andrews, and Matthew, Bishop of Dunkeld, and the knights John de Soules and Ingram de Umfraville, as our attorneys, procurators, and special envoys, to negotiate with you, if it pleases you, concerning the betrothal and marriage to be contracted between your most serene niece or kinswoman and our firstborn son and heir, Edward. We grant to them full, free, and complete authority, with a special mandate, to contract, establish, and conclude the said betrothal and marriage, so far as the nature of such a contract permits it to be arranged and completed between parties who are absent, through procurators or envoys specially appointed for this purpose. We likewise empower them to do all and everything else that pertains to these contracts or agreements, or that in any way might pertain to them, and without which the said contracts or agreements could not properly be concluded. We consider, and shall consider as valid and binding, whatever these our procurators and envoys, all of them, or three of them, or even two of them, shall decide to do concerning the aforesaid matters or any part thereof. In witness whereof, we have caused our seal to be affixed to these present letters. Given at Stirling, on the third day before the Nones of July [5th July 1295], in the year of our Lord 1295, and in the third year of our reign.

Excellentissimo principi domino suo et amico, si placet, domino Philippo, Dei gratia regi Francourum illustri, Johannes, eadem gratia Scotiæ rex, salutem in Domino. Noverit vestra regia celsitudo quod nos facimus, constituimus, et ordinamus per præsentes, dilectos et fideles nostros, venerabiles patres Willelmum Sancti Andreæ, et Mathæum Dunkeldensem episcopos, ac Johannem de Soule, et Ingeramum de Umfranvyl milites, attornatos, procuratores, et nuncios nostros speciales, ad tractandum vobiscum, si placet, super sponsalibus et matrimonio contrahendis cum serenissima domicella nepte vestra seu consanguinea et Edwardo filio nostro primogenito et hærede. Dantes eisdem generalem et liberams ac plenariam potestatem, et mandatum speciale, sponsalia et matrimonium prædicta contrahendi, faciendi, et perficiendi, quatenus natura contractus hujusmodi sponsalia et matrimonium inter absentes contrahi permittit et perfici, per procuratores seu nuncios ad hoc specialiter constitutos; et omnia alia et singula faciendi quæ ad dictos contractus seu conventiones pertinent, seu quocunque modo poterunt pertinere, et sine quibus dicti contractus seu conventiones rite nequiverint expediri. Ratum et firmum habentes et habituri quicquid dicti procuratores et nuncii nostri, omnes, vel tres, aut duo ipsorum, in præmissis vel aliquo præmissorum duxerint faciendum. In cujus rei testimonium præsentibus litteris sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi. Datum apud Strivelyn, tertio nonas Julii, anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo nonagesimo quinto, regni vero nostri tertio.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 5th July 1660. This morning my brother Tom (age 26) brought me my jackanapes coat with silver buttons. It rained this morning, which makes us fear that the glory of this great day will be lost; the King and Parliament being to be entertained by the City to-day with great pomp¹. Mr. Hater' was with me to-day, and I agreed with him to be my clerk². Being at White Hall, I saw the King, the Dukes, and all their attendants go forth in the rain to the City, and it bedraggled many a fine suit of clothes. I was forced to walk all the morning in White Hall, not knowing how to get out because of the rain. Met with Mr. Cooling, my Lord Chamberlain's (age 58) secretary, who took me to dinner among the gentlemen waiters, and after dinner into the wine-cellar. He told me how he had a project for all us Secretaries to join together, and get money by bringing all business into our hands. Thence to the Admiralty, where Mr. Blackburne and I (it beginning to hold up) went and walked an hour or two in the Park, he giving of me light in many things in my way in this office that I go about. And in the evening I got my present of plate carried to Mr. Coventry's (age 32). At my Lord's at night comes Dr. Petty to me, to tell me that Barlow had come to town, and other things, which put me into a despair, and I went to bed very sad.

Note 1. His Majesty, the two Dukes, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, and the Privy Council, dined at the Guildhall. Every Hall appeared with their colours and streamers to attend His Majesty; the Masters in gold chains. Twelve pageants in the streets between Temple Bar and Guildhall. Forty brace of bucks were that day spent in the City of London. Rugge's Diurnal. B.

Note 2. Thomas Hayter. He remained with Pepys for some time; and by his assistance was made Petty Purveyor of Petty Missions. He succeeded Pepys as Clerk of the Acts in 1673, and in 1679 he was Secretary of the Admiralty, and Comptroller of the Navy from 1680 to 1682.

Stonehenge by William Stukeley. The year following, in order to prosecute this inquiry, by my Lord's order, I begun upon a barrow north of Stonehenge, in that group south of the cursus. 'Tis one of the double barrows there: and the more easterly, and lower of the two: likewise somewhat lefs. It was reasonable to believe, this was the sepulture of a man and his wife: and that the lesser was the female: and so it prov'd, at lead: a daughter. We made a large cut on the top from east to weft. After the turf taken off, we came to the layer of chalk, as before, then fine garden mould. About three foot below the surface, a layer of flints, humouring the convexity of the barrow. These flints are gather'd from the surface of the downs in some places, especially where it has been plow'd. This being about a foot thick, rested on a layer of soft mould another foot: in which was inclos'd an urn full of bones. This urn was of unbak'd clay, of a dark reddish colour: crumbled into pieces. It had been rudely wrought with small mouldings round the verge, and other circular channels on the outside, with several indentures between, made with a pointed tool, as depicted in Plate XXXII. where I have drawn all the sorts of things found in this barrow. The bones had been burnt, and crowded all together in a little heap, not so much as a hat crown would contain. The collar bone, and one fide of the underjaw are grav'd in their true magnitude. It appears to have been a girl of about 14 years old, by their bulk and the great quantity of female ornaments mix'd with the bones, all which we gather'd. Beads of all sorts, and in great number, of glass of divers colours, mold yellow, one blak. Many single, many in long pieces notch'd between, so as to resemble a string of beads, and these were generally of a blue colour. There were many of amber, of all shapes and sizes, flat squares, long squares, round, oblong, little and great. Likewise many of earth, of different shapes, magnitude and colour, some little and white, many large and flattish like a button, others like a pully. But all had holes to run a firing thro', either thro' their diameter, or fides. Many of the button fort seem to have been cover'd with metal, there being a rim work'd in them, wherein to turn the edge of the covering. One of these was cover'd with a thin film of pure gold. These were the young lady's ornaments. And had all undergone the fire: so that what would easily consume fell to pieces as soon as handled. Much of the amber burnt half thro'. This person was a heroin, for we found the head of her javelin in brass. At bottom are two holes for the pins that fastened it to the staff. Besides, there was a sharp bodkin, round at one end, square at the other, where it went into a handle. I still preserve whatever is permanent of these trinkets. But we recompos'd the ashes of the illustrious desunct:, and cover'd them with earth. Leaving visible marks at top, of the barrow having been open'd, to dissuade any other from again disturbing them: and this was our practice in all the rest.

Table XXXII. Female Celtic ornaments found in a barrow north of Stonehenge which I opened 5th July 1723 among burnt bones, all drawn as big as the Life.

Letters of Horace Walpole. Arlington Street, Jul 12, 1765.

If you knew with what difficulty and pain I write to you you would allow my dear sir that I have some zeal for your satisfaction I have been extremely ill for these last sixteen days with the gout all over me in head stomach and both feet but as it never budged from the latter it soon attracted all the venom from the upper parts Oh it is a venomous devil I have lain upon a couch for two days but I question whether I shall be so alert to day as I have had a great deal of pain in the night and little sleep Still I must write to you as it is both for your satisfaction and my own and as this is the first moment that I have enjoyed the liberty of the post for these three years We e may say what we will I may launch out and even you need not be discreet when our letters pass through Mr Conway's office He has already himself told you in form that he is your principal and I repeat how glad of it I am for your sake as well as for all others I told him last night that I believed the Duke of York had obtained the promise of a red riband for you and begged that promise at least of the late odious ministers might be fulfilled and that none of our new aspirants might be thrust in before you He readily with kind expressions towards you promised me his interest.

kind expressions towards you promised me his interest Well at last the four tyrants are gone undone by their own insolence and unpitied Their arrogance to the King and proscriptions of every body but their own crew forced his Majesty to try any thing rather than submit to such task masters Mr Pitt who was ready and willing to have assumed the burden was disappointed by the treachery of Lord Temple who has reconciled and leagued himself with his brother George In this distress the Duke of Čumberland has persuaded the Opposition to accept and form a ministry Without Mr Pitt they were unwilling but pressed and encouraged by Mr Pitt and fearing the crown should be reduced to worse shifts rather than again bend to the yoke they have submitted and every thing promises fairer than could be expected The Duke of Bedford, Grenville and the two secretaries are already dismissed and their places filled by Lord Winchelsea Lord Rockingham and Mr Dowdswell as First Commissioners of the Admiralty and Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer the Duke of Grafton and Mr Conway The list of ins and outs will be much more considerable by degrees though not rapidly nor executed with the merciless hand of late years for the present system is composed of men as much more virtuous in that respect as in every other than their predecessors Nobody has resigned yet but those immediately connected with the fallen as Lord Gower Lord Thomond and Lord Weymouth and who would not have been suffered to stay if they had desired it.

The crown of Ireland is offered to Lord Heriford All this sets my family in an illustrious light enough yet it does not dazzle me My wishes and intentions are just the same as they were Moderation privacy and quiet sum up all my future views and having seen my friends landed my little cock boat shall waft me to Strawberry as soon as I am able to get into it The gout they tell me is to ensure me a length of years and health but as I fear I must now and then renew the patent at the original expense I am not much flattered by so dear an annuity You may judge of my sensations when I tell you I reckon the greatest miracle ever performed was that of bidding the cripple take up his bed and walk I could as soon do the former as the latter .

Since I began to write I hear that this morning have kissed hands Lord Ashburnham (age 40) for the Great Wardrobe in room of Lord Despencer, Lord Besborough and Lord Grantham Postmasters in the places of Lord Hyde and Lord Trevor Lord Villierst as Vicechamberlain instead of old Will Finch who believe has a pension and Lord Scarborough who succeeds Lord Thomond in the Cofferer's office You will say that all this is strongly tinctured with peerage it is true but the House of Commons will have its dole though not yet as folks do not like a re election depending for six months.

The Duke of Bolton (age 47) the other morning nobody knows why or wherefore except that there is a good deal of madness in the blood sat himself down upon the floor in his dressing room and shot him self through the head. What is more remarkable is that it is the same house and same chamber in which Lord Scarborough performed the same exploit I do not believe that shooting one's self through the head is catching or that any contagion lies in a wainscot that makes one pull a suicide trigger but very possibly the idea might revert and operate on the brain of a splenetic man I am glad he had not a blue garter but a red one as the more plenty the sooner one gets to Florence.

This is a long epistle in my condition Pray unseal and decypher your lips now the tower has no longer the least air of the Bastille. Halifax, Sandwich (age 46) and General Warrants are sent to the devil though I believe Sandwich will contrive to return like Belphegor even though he should be obliged to marry his own wife (age 48) again but he can never get rid of the smell of brimstone Adieu.

Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire. In a plantation on the summit of Minninglowe Hill [Map] are two tumuli of large size, one being near fifteen feet high from the level of the ground. In the centre and in four places in the area of the circle are large cists, or, as they now appear from the soil being removed from them, large cromlechs, exactly of the same construction as that well-known druidical structure "Kit's-Coty-House [Map]" near Maidstone, Kent. They are formed of the large limestones of the country and have all had covers of the same only two of which now remain in their places. The other tumulus is of smaller dimensions and contains but one cist which is in the centre; it is situated about thirty yards distance from the larger one. The soil in the interior of the cists of the large barrow was removed down to the surface of the rock on the 5th of July 1843 when it was found that all the interments had been before removed, with the exception of one which was a skeleton laid at full length on the outside of the cist, unaccompanied by any weapons or ornaments. In the cell near which this body lay were found fragments of five urns, some animal bones, and six third brass Roman coins, namely, one of Claudius Gothicus, two of Constantine the Great, two of Constantine Junior, and one of Valentinian. An attempt to penetrate the substance of the mound was then made, which from want of time proved ineffectual. A few human teeth and a third brass coin of Constantine were the only relics found in this part of the excavation; but a far more interesting discovery was made of the manner in which this huge tumulus was built, a wall being found to encircle it in a manner precisely similar to the walls built round some of the Etruscan tumuli discovered in the south of Italy. In one part of this wall, which was exposed by the excavation, a gallery formed of stones set up edgeways, with others across the top of them, was found to have its commencement. This was not explored, owing to the roofing-stones having fallen in some places. There is a striking analogy between this tumulus and the great barrow at New Grange [Map], in Ireland, described by Dr. Ledwich, of which a more complete investigation of Minning Lowe would probably furnish additional proof. The following day was selected to be the time for extending the researches of the smaller barrow, the cist of which, as well as those of the larger one, was found to have been previously rifled of its treasures, a few human teeth being the only traces of the interment at this time found. Continuing the cutting through the entire mound, a simple deposit of burnt human bones was found, near one side, which had not been before disturbed.

Letters of James McNeill Whistler 1863. Upton & Britton, Solicitors. 51, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W. C.

5th July 1889.

Sir,

As you have taken no notice of our last letter to you of the 31st May last we beg to inform you that unless we hear from you by Wednesday next that you are prepared to come to some amicable arrangement with our Client Sir Henry Meux (age 33) regarding the unfinished Portrait of Lady Meux (age 37) [Probably Portrait of Lady Meux in Furs] for which you have been paid our instructions are to commence legal proceedings against you without further Notice.

Yours faithfully.

Upton & Britton

Mr. J. Mc. Whistler (age 54)

13. Tite Street, Chelsea.