Part 4 — FOOTNOTES. (continued 2)

The whole preface is very long, this being but a small part of it. But this is enough to shew that there was in this congregation a party that disapproved of his ministry, as well as another that highly approved of it, and that he experienced a great deal of discomfort from the former, who appear to have been very calvinistically or antinomianly inclined, and withal very contentious, as their descendants or successors have been almost ever since.

“Here lie the remains of the revd. John Rastrick, M.A. Born at Hackington near Sleaford in the county of Lincoln; and educated at Trinity-College in Cambridge. He was formerly vicar of Kirkton in the same county, fourteen years: And afterwards, as he could mot comply with some regulations of the Church of England with a safe conscience, Was an undefatigable preacher of the gospel in this town twenty-six years To a christian church in separation from the establishment. He was a man of eminent piety, charity, and modesty; of approved integrity, of remarkable study and pains; And an adept in almost every part of learning, But especially the mathematics. He was a pleasant companion, A truly christian divine, An eloquent and powerful preacher, A faithful and vigilant pastor, An intrepid reprover of vice And as warm an encourager of virtue. Having finished his course, Imbittered, alas! with many trials, He joyfully yielded up his soul to God, August 8, 1727. Aged 78.”

“My dear son William, I suppose you will be inclined when I am gone to publish the following Treatise called ‘Plain and Easy Principles, &c.’ If you do, I leave it to you to tell the world, that these are the notions that I am most inclined to; and that it was the division among the ministers at Salter’s Hall, that begat them, and put me upon a more deliberate perusal of Dr. Clarke’s and Mr. Jackson’s books, &c. as well as Dr. Waterland’s: and that my case was just the same with that of Mr. Peirce of Exeter, &c.—It’s probable that you may write an Epistle of your own to the Reader (and so stile it, as mine it stiled the Preface). In that Epistle you may account for my sentiments as now mentioned, and add what more of your own you please. But I would not have you publish my book till you have let some learned pious persons peruse it and give their approbation.—Mr. Sam. Wright’s thoughts you will find in his Letter, and my undigested notions in that matter, you will find in his said Letter before my book: if you can put them into order you may, and may punish them in the nature of an appendix: as also you may a great part of my last Thoughts about the Trinity and Son of God. Or let Mr. Wright put them in Order.”

N.B. The above words in italics have the pen drawn through them, and may therefore be considered as cancelled.

“Happy the man to whom the sacred Muse Her nightly visits pays, And with her magic rod Opens his mortal eyes: He nature at one glance surveys, And past and future, near and distant views.

I’m mounted on Fancy, and long to be gone To some age or some world unknown, Swifter than time and impatient of stay, To the west, to the uttermost limits of day, To the end of the world I’ll hasten away: Where I may see it all expire And melt away in everlasting Fire.

’Tis done! I see a flaming Seraph fly, And light his Flambeau at the Sun; Then hastening down to the curst globe His blazing torch apply— See the green forests crackling burn, The oily pastures sweat With intolerable heat: The mines to hot volcanos turn; Their horrid jaws extended wide, The sulphurous contagion spread.

Why do the aged mountains skip, And little hills like their own sheep, Like lambs, which on their grizzly head Once wanton play’d? Expanded vapours, struggling to the birth, Roar in the bowels of the earth.

And now the Earth’s foundations crack assunder, Burst with subterraneous thunder. Dusky flames and vivid flashes Reduce the trembling Globe to ashes Fiery torrents rolling down, The naked valleys drown; And with their ruddy waves supply The channels of th’exhausted sea.

Seas, to thin vapours boil’d away, Leave their crooked channels dry: And not one drop returns again, To cool the thirsty Earth with rain.

And must all Earth th’impartial ruin share? Spare ye revengeful angels, spare! Spare the Muses blissful seat: Let me for Wickham’s peaceful walls intreat. No, ’tis in vain: and Bodley’s spicy nest Of learning too must perish with the rest; —The Oracles of God alone An hasty Angel snatch’d away, And bore them high through parted flames To the Eternal throne.

Behold! fond soul, all thou didst once admire, The objects of thy hope and thy desire; Houses and lands and large estate; The little things that make men great: The empty trifles are no more, But vanish all in smoke, scarce lighter than before.

Was it for this the Statesman wrackt his thought? Was it for this the Soldier fought? While grumbling drums like thunder beat, And clanging trumpets rais’d the martial heat?

Now Nature is unstrung, The Spheres their musick lose, The Song of ages now Ends in a solemn close.”

“This place, heretofore famous for the arts and blessings of peace, is now entirely in the guise of war. Every thing has a military air. The ditch before the walls is scoured; but there are unhappily so many hay-stacks just by, that a few Highlanders, or French, by casting two or three of them into the deepest part of it, might be masters of the town in about four hours. The bridge of St. Germans and those above it are to be cut down, if we hear any of the rebels have escaped through the Fens, and are coming towards us. But the river is fordable in many places, and several of them are near the town. The body of the people are formed into 5 regiments, which are commanded by proper officers, chosen out of the body politic. Those whose spouses bear rule over them being disposed into one regiment called greys. Those heroes spend their mornings and evenings in the Guildhall, there learning the trade of war, under able and experienced masters. No merchant sells deals, salt, pitch or tar, without a weapon by their side. Shopkeepers have taken to the sword, and divide their cags of soap with their blades. You can’t purchase a joint of meat, or a loaf of bread, or a pound of candles but of an armed man. Even clergymen are engaged in these death-doing measures. One bears a captain’s commission. Another is a sutler. Most of the fair and timerous persons of the other sex, who had any wits a while ago, have very few remaining now. An ancient Lady indeed of the illustrious house of the R— commands a fortress adjoining to the town-wall, in which are some veteran troops, natives of Spain. [1074] With these she supports herself and wonderfully animates her neighbours whose courage fails; and let the enemy come when they please, ’tis generally believed she will be in a condition to make a sally.”

“My dear uncle, I return you my hearty thanks for your kind congratulation on my advancement to the see of C. and was proud of shewing my respect and veneration for you by doing a small piece of service to so worthy a young man as my C. P. [cousin Philip] I hope these cold winds will not set you back again and I may once more visit you and survey you as I did then, in the light of an ancient prophet or patriarch. Truly I have often wished that my fortune had permitted me to have enjoyed you more than I have done, to have sat at your feet and suckt in the true unpoluted streams of goodness and religion, which you have poured forth for so many years, so much to your own reputation and the welfare of others. Be assured you leave a Nephew behind you who is determined to support the cause of Truth and Righteousness, and has courage enough to attack the f. [false] principles both of gt, and rn. [government and religion] that universally prevail among ch. Divs. [church Divines] With my most sincere Benediction I am. Dear Sir. your affectionate Nephew 28 Mar. 1752.

E. C.”

“The late Dr. George Hepburn, who practised physic at Lynn upwards of 65 years, [1082] and whose medical ability, sagacity, and judgment, were equalled by few, and surpassed by none of his contemporaries, told me that he was so folly convinced of the great efficacy, as well as perfect innocence and safety of large doses of the Peruvian bark, that being attacked by an intermittent fever himself at an early period of his medical career in this town, and at a time when he had, in an epidemic season, a great deal of practice in the country, took at one dose an ounce of the Peruvian bark in powder, mounted his horse immediately after it, went to visit his patients, and had no more of his disease.”

“This church (says Mackerell) deserves to be taken particular notice of, as it is of no mean extent, being a very large, stately, and magnificient pile, built, as most cathedrals in England are, in the perfect form of a cross, and contains in length within the walls, by mensuration 240 feet; in breadth, including the cross, 118 feet, and in height from the highest battlements 52 feet. About the middle or cross isle it is graced with a very fair and lofty Lanthorn, all covered with lead, mounted on four main arches within the body of the church, in which hangs the Clock-Bell, which may be heard all over the town. The height of this ornamental fabrick is 132 feet. It was neatly painted within with several coats of arms and other decorations in 1621.—At the west end is a tower of stone 82 feet high; on the outside of which towards the street, is placed a Moon-Dial, shewing the increase and decrease of that planet, with the exact hour of the day to all that pass by, actuated within by clock work, and new beautified and gilt in 1710. On this tower is a very high and regular spire, of timber, all covered with lead, resembling a pyramid, in height 193 feet; [but] in all, from the superficies of the ground, it is 275 feet, including the spindle of iron with a cross on the top, and under it a vane in form of a hand, both gilt, which was new set up in 1630; the former one having continued full 70 years, being erected in 1568. [rather 1558.] The model of the spire is surprizing. Near this [and parallel with it on the north side] is the Bell-Tower, built of freestone 86 feet high, in which formerly were five very large bells, of which the biggest was called the Margaret, and was for her curious sound one of the fairest of that kind, and might be heard (the wind favouring, as I have been assured) full ten miles distant. Others had likewise their distinct names, as the Trinity, the St. Thomas, &c. So christened, I suppose, as was usual before the reformation. But the biggest and the least of these were purposely broken, and with some addition cast into others, to make a ring of eight, which was effected in 1663.—This noble structure is illuminated with above 70 arched windows, and others, all formerly of painted glass, representing the pictures of saints in sacred scripture, with other holy men and women, martyrs and confessors; of which that high and lofty one on the south side and cross isle is [was] very remarkable, [exhibiting] as I am informed, the whole history of St. Margaret, the patroness of this church; and that circular one over the altar [containing] the genealogy of the kings of Israel, is now to be seen almost all entire, where also underneath the same are depicted the Town-Arms, and on the south windows in the Quire are still remaining several coats of arms in lively colours, and very fair.”

[In the time of the civil wars most of the painted glass in those windows was, it seems, taken down and replaced with white glass, the former being looked upon, by those who were then in power here, as savouring too much of popery and superstition. See Mackerell, p. 8, &c.—Of its present state Mr. Britton writes as follows.

“The church was a large spacious structure, and though curtailed of its original dimensions, is still a noble pile. Internally it displays a nave, with ailes, which constitute the present place for service; a chancel or choir, with ailes; a transept and two towers at the west end. The roof is supported by 22 columns; of which those east of the transept are formed by a cluster of five shafts each. In this part of the building are some ancient carved stalls, and several flat monumental stones, with inscriptions; also some very large and fine brasses. At the east end is a circular window, with ten transverse mullions. This part of the church is divided from the transept by a wooden screen, which was erected in 1622. A lofty tower, or lanthorn, is said to have been originally at the intersection of the cross ailes; and a high spire to have surmounted one of the western towers. The latter display different styles of architecture, and the lower parts of them are very ancient. The buttresses of the angles to the southern tower consist of several small shafts of columns. The church formerly contained numerous brasses [1091a] and inscriptions, some of which remain.” [1091b]

This account, we presume, is pretty fair and correct as far as it goes, and our limits will not well allow us here to attempt any further enlargement. We will, however, just add, that the interior of this church is, for so large a building, kept in a style of uncommon cleanliness and neatness.

“He was a Greek, born in Attica. His parents were poor, and he had not learnt to read, or been bred to any trade. When he was eight years of age, his mother sent him out to take care of the sheep. From that time he began to sing aloud, Kyrie eleison, which he did night and day; and this act of devotion he performed all his life long. His mother not being able to make him leave it off, thought that he was possessed of the devil, and carried him to a neighbouring monastery, where the monks shut him up and chastised him, but could not hinder him from singing his song. He suffered punishment patiently, and immediately began again. Returning to his mother, he took a hatchet and a knife, and clambering up a mountain, he cut branches of cedar, and made crosses of them, which he stuck up in the highways, and in places inaccessible, praising God continually. Upon this mountain he built himself a little hut, and dwelt there sometime all alone, working perpetually. Then he went to Lepanto, where a monk joined himself to him and never forsook him. They passed into Italy, where Nicholas was taken sometimes for an holy man, and sometimes for a madman. He fasted every day until evening; his food was a little bread and water, and yet he did not grow lean. The nights he usually passed in prayer, standing upright. He wore only a short vest, reaching to his knees, his head, legs and feet being naked. In his hand he carried a light wooden cross, and a scrip at his side, to receive the alms that were given him, which he usually laid out in fruit, to distribute to the boys who went about with him, singing along with him Kyrie eleison. His oddities caused him to be ill used sometimes, even by the orders of the bishops. He performed, [as was said] various miracles, and exhorted the people to repentance. At last falling sick, and being visited by multitudes who came to beg his blessing, he died, and was buried in a Cathedral, with great solemnity: and according to custom (our author adds) a great number of miracles was wrought at his tomb.”

This is related under 1094, which we take to be the year of his death, or canonization. See Jortin Rem. Eccl. Hist. 5. 66. Such was our St. Nicholas: a more harmless and far better saint, without doubt, than Dominic and many others that might be mentioned; so that his memory, comparatively speaking, ought to be held in very high estimation.

“1585 Feb. 21. An order made III and IV Ph. and Mary conc. the derision of St. Margts. parish and the parish of St. Nic. and yt. of late yt. order notwithstanding prcell of the Checker-warde and of New Condutt-warde have been accounted prcell of St. Nic. Chap. ctrarie to the same order: yt. is ord. yt. those 2 wards aforesaid shall hollie be accounted of St. Margt’s parishe and shll paie clarcks wages and other charges, as prishrs. of the parish of St. Margt. according to ye sd. resited order.”

“1579, May 23. Controversye about the Tytle of St. Nicolas church yard. Opinion of the Recorder 19. June. Maior Ald. C. C. stand to their Tytle and Int. in S. N. ch. yd. and defend it by Law of Arms.”

A Memorial Dedicated to the singular merits of A faithful confessor, and laborious servant of Christ, Who with true christian fortitude endured persecution Through many perils, the loss of friends and substance, And ten imprisonments for conscience sake; The rev. Mr. Thomas Grantham, A learned Messenger of the Baptized Churches, And pious founder of this church of believers baptized, Who delivered to king Charles the second Our Declaration of Faith, And afterwards presented to him A Remonstrance against Persecution. Both were kindly received, and redress of grievances promised. He died Jan. 17. 1692, aged 58 years: And to prevent the indecencies threatened to his corpse, was intered before the west doors, In the middle aile of St. Stephen’s Church, in this city, Through the interest, and much to the credit of The rev. Mr John Connould By whom, with many sighs and tears, The burial service was solemnly read to a crowded audience: When at closing the book he added, “This day has a very great man fallen in Israel.” For after their epistolary dispute, in sixty Letters, ended, That very learned vicar retained The highest esteem and friendship for him whilst living, And was by his own desire buried by him, May 1703.

“I find 76 acres on the S. marsh; viz. Godfrey Hill, 5 acres; 7l. 10s.—Tho. Miles, 5 acres; 7l. 0s.—Jer. Ink. J. King, and J. Lay, 14 acres; 16l.—Widow Carleton, 16 acres; 18l. 2s.—R. Richmund, 36 acres; 39l.—Total 76 acres: 88l.—This I take to be the land to maintain this almhouse.”—A little after we find the following memorandum,—“Payd the Hoipital 1729, 19s. 8d. per week, for 52 weeks; 51l. 2s. 8d.—Mr. Quartereder, 5s.—Straw money, 6s.—9 Chald. coles, boatidge, and porter, 9l. 16s. 6d.—200 Sedge, 1l. 4s.—12 brooms, 1s. 4d. 4 Skeps 20d; 2s. 8d.—this is the fixt yearly pay, 62l. 16s. 10d. besides other incident charges, repairs, &c.”

On the whole therefore it appears, that the poor occupiers, or pensioners of this almshouse were much better off 80 or a 100 years ago, than they have been for many years past, as well as that our rulers were than better disposed towards them than they have been latterly.

“The Subscribers to the Stranger’s Friend Society, are, in general, already well acquainted with the nature, design, and excellency of the institution. It may not, however, be unnecessary to state once more, for the information of that part of the public, whose attention has not been hitherto duly excited towards this charity, that its object is, to visit, at their own homes, the SICK and DESTITUTE POOR of all countries and denominations, (the Methodists only excepted, in order to exclude even the suspicion of sectarian partiality,) and administer such relief and consolation as their wants and sorrows may appear to require.”

But how the exception, in regard to Methodists, could exclude all suspicion of sectarian partiality, we cannot clearly understand.

“1580. Sept. 26. Mr. Iverye recd. 4l. to buy books necessarye to be in the school for his scholars. This day he accounted for the bookes, and also repaid ye sd. moneye: 5l. allowed him for reparations and other necessarie charges by him bestowed about his house.”

Decr. 15. 1587, it was agreed in the Hall to provide an usher, with a salary of 8l. a year. The first usher was John Gybson, clerk, but after a few months he had 5l. given him, for the town to be discharged of him and family. His successor was Rich. Emott, B.A. whose salary was advanced to 10l. a year. He was succeeded in the spring of 1593, (or rather 1594) by John Man, B.A. of Bennet Col. Cambridge, with the same salary. It does not appear who, if any, immediately succeeded him; but 18 Decr. 1612, the Hall agreed to choose an usher, whose salary, (he boarding himself,) should be 16l. a year. The person chosen was probably Edwd. Labourne, who held that situation in 1617, and had 5 marks gives him towards his commencing M.A.—He appeared to be much approved and held his place in 1626, and perhaps much later. Of his successors we have no regular account.

“Serres [i.e. Sirs,] ye shall well and truiye, upon your discressions, without affection, favour, fraude, or male engyn, chese our mayster the Mayre for the yeear coming from Mighelmass forth, a burgess of the 24, abyll, sufficient, and profitable, for the worship and profitt of the commons; and also ye shall chese 4 sufficient burgesses to occupye the office of Chamberlein for the same yeear, a comon Clerke and two Sergeants, thereof one shall be clerke of the Markett and keeper of the East Yates, a porter for the South Yates, and anoder for Doucehille’s Yates: which officers chosen, theyr names with my mayster the Mayre that shall be, ye shall present; so God ye help at the holy dome.”

The oath tendered to the said four burgesses was worded thus.—

“Serres—ye shall well and trulye, upon your discressions, chese and call to you eight abyll burgeys, without any affection, fraude, or male engyne, of the most indifferent, and not suspect persones, for the election of my mayster the Mayre that is to come; so God you help at the holy dome.”

The oath tendered to the Gild alderman (or rather, as it would seem, aldermen) empowered to choose the above four burgesses, was thus expressed—

“Serres;—ye shall well and trulye upon your discressions, without any affection, favour, fraude, or male-engine, chese and call up four burges, abyll, of the most indifferent, and not suspect persons, for the election of my mayster the Mayre: so God you help at the holy dome.”

The oath tendered to each of the 24 Jurats was as follows—

“Serre;—ye shall be ready and buxom to my mayster the Mayre at all tymes when ye be called by him, or warned by the Sergeante, for the nedes and worship of this towne and the commonaltie thereof, and well and trulye councill him, for the proffitte and worshipe of this towne after your discression, and the counsell of this towne trulye kepe; so God you help at the holy dome.”

As to the 27 Common-councilmen, their oath ran in much the same strain, only referring to their particular designation, as overseers or superintendents of all taxes, tallages, dymes, fiftenes, loones, reparacions, amending of houses, walles, brigges, fletes, and dyches, &c.

That tendered to the Sergeant began thus—

“Ser; ye shall swere that ye shall be redy and buxom to my mayster the Mayre at all tymes, and truelye warne the 24 and 27 to come to the gild halle, or into any other place.” &c. &c.—

That tendered to the Keeper of the East Gate was expressed thus—

“Ser; ye shall well, duelye, and truelye kepe the East Yates, and the Gannock Yate, and lete out and in the pepyll in dewe tyme, and lete the Couses shake in dewe tyme, to scoure the fletes of this towne, and oversee the markett, that the vitalls that come to the towne by land or by water be not ferestalled, nor hydde in no prive place, and every day be attendant on your mayster the Mayre, and all other things truelye to do and use that belongeth or perteyneth to the office of the portership, and keper of the markett; so God you help at holy dome.”

The oath tendered to the keeper of the South Gate was in this form.—

“Ser, ye shall well and trewlye kepe the South Yates, and lete the pepyll in and oute in lawful tyme, and buxom be to my mayster the Mayre, and to his commandments, for the proffitte and worshipe of this towne; so God you help at holy dome.”

The oaths tendered to the rest of our officers and functionaries of those times are in a similar strain, and they are very curious, but are too long to be all inserted here. All the other officers being sworn by the town-clerk, the oaths are so expressed as to denote that circumstance; but the case in respect to his own oath being different, it is varied in its form accordingly, and thus worded—

“Ser, I shall be obedient to you as my mayster Mayre, and truelye write and trewe recorde make and trewe councell gyffe after my discression, when I am cleped thereto or boden, and all other things truelye do and use that perteyneth to the office of common clerk of this towne, and the councell of the towne truelye kepe: so God me help at holy dome.”

Such were our forms of swearing before the reformation.—As to a Lord High Steward, it does not appear that there was here then any such officer or functionary; which appears to have sprung up about the time of the first or second Charles: and it seems an empty insignificant office.—Quere, if its origin was not suggested or occasioned by the bishop’s High Steward of former times?

“Whereas by a charter granted unto this corporation by king Henry viii. in the 27th. year of his reign, that the mayor and burgesses of the burgh of King’s Lynn, and their successors, might from thenceforth for ever, have, hold, and keep, within the said burgh, one mart, or fair, to begin upon the day next after the feast of the purification of the blessed virgin Mary yearly, and to continue six days then next following, with all the liberties, jurisdiction, and privileges, there contained in the Letters patents, granted by the said king unto the said mayor and burgesses; any act of parliament before that time made to the contrary notwithstanding; as by the transcript of the said patent under the great seal of England, more at large appeareth:—Now Mr. Mayor, the Aldermen and Common-council-men of this burgh Do Publish and make Known, That the said Fair or Mart to be holden this year, doth Begin this present Day, and shall continue for the space of Six Days from hence next following, with the ancient liberties, jurisdictions, and privileges thereof, and of holding the court of Pie-Powder for the hearing, trying, and determining, of all accidents and suits incident thereunto.—Also the mayor commandeth all common victuallers, that they utter and put to sale no other victuals but such as shall be sweet and wholesome for man’s body, and that they do afford the same at reasonable prices; and keep all assizes according to law.—And that all weights and measures which shall be used, be lawful and sealed according to the laws and statutes in that behalf made.—And also that all persons do forbear to put to sale, or shew forth wares on the Lord’s day.—And further, that all such persons as may be justly suspected of evil behaviour, do avoid this burgh and the liberties thereof; and that all others do keep within their several lodgings from nine of the clock every evening until six of the clock next morning. God Save the King.”

Afterwards in the Common Stath-yard—

“All persons that have any Lastage, Wares, or Linen Cloth, to sell by wholesale, shall lay the same in the Common-stath-yard, or in Warehouses, Booths, or Chambers there, as heretofore hath been used, or as they or any of them shall be thereunto appointed. God Save the King.”

Lastly in the Custom House Porch [or rather at the Cross]—

“All manner of persons that have any Action, Suit, or Plaint, to enter or prosecute for any matter, cause, or thing, arising within the jurisdiction of the court of Pie-Powder, here to be holden for and during the time of this open Mart, or Fair, let them repair to this place, and the same shall be retorted. God Save the King.”

In the year Tons of Wine imported. Chaldrons of Coals imported. Quarters of Corn exported. Amount of Revenue.

1761 810 64,100 207,700 [1162b] £37,600

1771 1030 103,900 151,900 58,800

1781 350 69,400 118,800 36,900

1791 1030 90,600 183,200 56,600

1801 1280 79,100 195,600 74,800

1806 560 103,700 147,600 84,200

1811 450 115,500 212,500 75,300

The correctness of the above may be relied upon; and so it is supposed may also that of the following table, which has appeared in the Norfolk Tour, and is there said to have been extracted from the Lynn Custom-house books, and is to be considered as the yearly average which has been exported to foreign markets and coastways, for the years 1791, 1792, and 1793.

Quarters Per Quarter Amount

£. s. d. £. s. d.

Wheat 30,016 2 4 0 66,035 4 0

Wheat flour 3,138 2 16 0 8,786 8 0

Barley 112,944 1 4 0 135,532 16 0

Malt 10,703 2 0 0 21,406 0 0

Rye 12,298 1 5 0 15,372 10 0

Peas 3,855 1 8 0 5,397 0 0

Beans 4,708 1 4 0 5,649 12 0

Vetches 73 1 10 0 109 10 0

Rape Seed 2,423 1 16 0 4,361 8 0

262,650 8 0

“Friday next after the Feast of holy Gregory the pope, anno 25 Hen. 8. [i.e. 1534.] Lynn Bishop: the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com. Council have elected in to their Charnel priest William Leyton, Chaplain; he to have it from Lady Day next coming, during his life natural, except cause reasonable, and he to perform the testament of old Mr. Thorsby, and maintain a grammar school; and further to keep the house, and tenements, in sufficient repairations in all things as he can, as it has been used.”

“Every subscriber to this Library shall pay one guinea annually in advance, or in proportion to the time of the year when his subscription commences. And after the general meeting in 1798, each subscriber shall pay half a guinea on his admission, and the same annual subscription as above. The sum to be paid upon admission to be afterwards increased by five shillings and three pence every year, until it shall amount to two guineas. But the property which each subscriber has in the Library may be transferred to any other person, who shall subscribe and conform to these rules; in which case such new subscriber shall pay nothing upon admission.”

The 17th is as follows:—

“No book or pamphlet, except it be a duplicate, shall on any account be alienated from the Library, without the consent of every subscriber. But if ever the number of subscribers should be reduced to Five, and continue at or below that number for three years together, the whole Library shall be transferred to the Mayor and Burgesses, to be added to that of St. Margaret’s church.”

Thus the want of liberality in the Mayor and Burgesses, who neglect to contribute towards any augmentation of their own Library, will eventually be made up, probably, by this institution, most of whose members, it is presumed, are unconnected with the corporation. Had the latter shewed some liberality in furnishing this society with a convenient place for a library, there would have been certainly a more colourable pretence for this article, or proviso.