WORTHIES SINCE THE TIME OF FULLER. 237 Sir Philip FRANCIS, political writer, and presumed author of N. HARDINGE, clerk of the House of Commons, Latin poet; born at Canbury 1700. Edward LOVIBOND, scholar and poet; died 1775. Rev. T. R. MALTHUS, author of the celebrated "Essay on Population;" born at Albury 1766; died 1835. Israel MAUDUIT, political writer; born at Bermondsey 1708. Richard MOUNTENEY, lawyer, and classical editor; born at Putney 1707. John PARTRIDGE, the celebrated astrologer; born at East Sheen; died 1715. Charlotte SMITH, elegant poetess; born at Stoke near Guildford, or Bignor Park, Sussex, 1749. Augustus Montague TOPLADY, champion of the Calvinists; born at Farnham 1740; died 1788. Robert WOOD, mathematician, and parliamentarian; born at Pepperharrow; died 1685. Basil WOODD, divine and author; born at Richmond 1760. The county of Surrey has been admirably illustrated by the pen of the historian and the pencil of the artist. John Norden, who made a complete survey of the county, was among the earliest of its topographers. Mr. Aubrey also made a survey, and perambulated the whole county; and his labours were revised and published by Dr. Rawlinson, under the title of The Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey; the work being commenced in 1673, and completed in 1719. In 1736, Mr. N. Salmon brought out his Antiquities of Surrey, collected from the ancient records. These works, however, were in a measure superseded by the labours of the Rev. O. Manning, which were continued by the indefatigable exertions of Mr. W. Bray, and completed, in three vols. folio, in 1804. In addition to these we have various Works of a local nature; the principal of which are, the Histories of Croydon, by Dr. Ducarel (1783), and by the Rev. D.W. Garrow (1818); of Lambeth, by Dr. Ducarel (1785), by J. Nichols (1786), by the Rev. S. Denne (1795), and by T. Allen (1828); History of St. Saviour's, Southwark, by Concanen and Morgan (1795); Promenade round Dorking (1824); Sir W. Chambers' Account of Kew Gardens, &c.-ED. SUSSEX. SUSSEX hath Surrey on the north, Kent on the east, the sea on the south, and Hampshire on the west. It is extended along the sea-side three-score miles in length, but is contented with a third of those miles in the breadth thereof. A fruitful county, though very dirty for the travellers therein, so that it may be better measured to its advantage by days' journeys than by miles. Hence it is, that, in the late order for regulating the wages of coachmen, at such a price a day and distance from London, Sussex alone was excepted, as wherein shorter way or better pay was allowed. Yet the gentry of this county well content themselves in the very badness of passage therein, as which secureth their provisions at reasonable prices; which, if mended, Higlers would mount, as bajulating them to London. It is peculiar to this county, that all the rivers (and those, I assure you, are very many) have their fountains and falls in this shire (though one may seem somewhat suspicious) as being bred, living (though not to their full strength and stature of being navigable), and dying therein, swallowed up by the sea. It is sufficient evidence of the plenty of this county, that the toll of the wheat, corn, and malt, growing or made about and sold in the city of Chichester, doth amount yearly, at a halfpenny a quarter, to sixty pounds and upwards† (as the gatherers thereof will attest); and the numbers of the bushels we leave to be audited by better arithmeticians. It hath been said that the first baron, viscount, and earl in England, all three have, and have had for some term of time, their chief residence in this county; and it is more civility to believe all than to deny any part of the report, though, sure I am, this observation was discomposed at the death of the earl of Essex, since which time viscount Hereford is the first person in England of that dignity. Hence Badgers. † So was I informed by Mr. Peckham, the recorder of Chichester.-F. Lord Abergavenny, Viscount Montacute, and the Earl of Arundel. NATURAL COMMODITIES. IRON.* Great the necessity hereof; some nations having lived in the ignorance of gold and silver, scarce any without the use of iron. Indeed we read not of it in making the Tabernacle (though from no mention no use thereof therein cannot infallibly be inferred), which being but a slight and portable building, brass might supply the want thereof. But in the Temple, which was a firmer fabric, we find "Iron for the things of Iron,”† and a hundred thousand talents of that metal employed therein. Great the quantity of iron made in this county; whereof much used therein, and more exported thence into other parts of the land, and beyond the seas. But whether or no the private profit thereby will at long-running countervail the public loss in the destruction of woods, I am as unwilling to discuss as unable to decide. Only let me add the ensuing complaint, wherein the timber-trees of this county deplore their condition, in my opinion richly worth the reader's perusal : "Jove's oak, the warlike ash, veined elm, the softer beech But it is to be hoped that a way may be found out, to charke sea-coal in such manner as to render it useful for the making of iron. All things are not found out in one age, as reserved for future discovery; and that perchance may be easy for the next, which seems impossible to this generation. TALC. Tale (in Latin talchum) is a cheap kind of mineral, which this county plentifully affords, though not so fine as what is fetched from Venice. It is white and transparent like crystal, full of streaks or veins, which prettily scatter themselves. Being calcined and variously prepared, it maketh a curious whitewash, which some justify lawful, because clearing not changing complexion. It is a great astringent, yet used but little in physic. Surely Nature would not have made it such a hypocrite, to hang out so fair a sign, except some guest of quality were lodged therein; I mean, it would not appear so beautiful to the eye, except some concealed worth were couched therein; inclining me to believe that the virtue thereof is not yet fully discovered. Sussex has for some time ceased to be the county from which iron is principally obtained.-ED. Ibidem, xxix. 7. 1 Chronicles, xxix. 2. WHEAT-EARS. Wheat-ears is a bird peculiar to this county, hardly found out of it. It is so called, because fattest when wheat is ripe, whereon it feeds; being no bigger than a lark, which it equalleth in the fineness of the flesh, far exceedeth in the fatness thereof. The worst is, that being only seasonable in the heat of summer, and naturally larded with lumps of fat, it is soon subject to corrupt, so that (though abounding within forty miles) London poulterers have no mind to meddle with them, which no care in carriage can keep from putrefaction. That palateman shall pass in silence, who, being seriously demanded his judgment concerning the abilities of a great lord, concluded him a man of very weak parts, "because once he saw him, at a great feast, feed on chickens when there were wheat-ears on the table." I will add no more in praise of this bird, for fear some female reader may fall in longing for it, and unhappily be disappointed of her desire. CARPS. It is a stately fish, but not long naturalized in England ;* and of all fresh-water fishes (the eel only excepted) lives longest out of his proper element. They breed (which most other fishes do not) several months in one year; though in cold ponds they take no comfort to increase. A learned writert observeth, they live but ten years; though others assign them a far longer life. They are the better for their age and bigness‡ (a rule which holds not in other fishes); and their tongues by ancient Roman palate-men were counted most delicious meat; though, to speak properly, they have either no tongues in their mouths, or all their mouths are tongues, as filled with a carneous substance, whilst their teeth are found in their throats. There is a kind of frog which is a professed foe unto them; insomuch, that of a hundred carps put into a pond, not five of them have been found therein a year after. And though some may say perchance two-legged frogs stole them away, yet the strict care of their owners in watching them disproved all suspicion thereof. Now as this county is eminent for both sea and river fish, namely an Arundel mullet, a Chichester lobster, a Shelsey cockle, and an Amerly trout; so Sussex aboundeth with more carps than any other of this nation.§ And though not so great as Jovius reporteth to be found in the Lurian lake in * See hereafter, under the MEMORABLE PERSONS in this County. Sir Francis Bacon, in his "History of Life and Death." Hea Gesnar and Janus Dubranius. Mr. Isack Walton, in his "Complete Angler." * Italy, weighing more than fifty pounds, yet those generally of great and goodly proportion. I need not add, that physicians account the galls of carps, as also a stone in their heads, to be medicinable; only I will observe that, because Jews will not eat caviare made of sturgeon (because coming from a fish wanting scales, and therefore forbidden in the Levitical lawt); therefore the Italians make greater profit of the spawn of carps, whereof they make a red caviare, well pleasing the Jews both in palate and conscience. All I will add of carps is this, that Ramus himself doth not so much redound in dichotomies as they do; seeing no one bone is to be found in their body, which is not forked or divided into two parts at the end thereof. MANUFACTURES. GREAT GUNS. It is almost incredible how many are made of the iron in this Count Gondomer well knew their goodness, when of king James he so often begged the boon to transport them. A monk of Mentz (some three hundred years since) is generally reputed the first founder of them. Surely ingenuity may seem transposed, and to have crossed her hands, when about the same time a soldier found out printing; and it is questionable which of the two inventions hath done more good, or more harm. As for guns, it cannot be denied, that though most behold them as instruments of cruelty; partly, because subjecting valour to chance; partly, because guns give no quarter (which the sword sometimes doth); yet it will appear that, since their invention, victory hath not stood so long a neuter, and hath been determined with the loss of fewer lives. Yet do I not believe what soldiers commonly say, "that he was cursed in his mother's belly, who is killed with a cannon," seeing many prime persons have been slain thereby. Such as desire to know the pedigree and progress of great guns in England may be pleased to take notice, 1. Anno 1535, John Oaven was the first Englishman, who in England cast brass ordnance, cannons, culverings, &c.‡ 2. Peter Baud,§ a Frenchman, in the first of king Edward the Sixth, was the first who in England cast iron ordnance, falcons, falconers, minions, &c. 3. Thomas Johnson, covenant-servant to Peter aforesaid, succeeded and exceeded his master, casting them clearer and better. He died about 1600. Some observe, that God hath so equally divided the advan • Mr. Pennant notices, from Jovius, that they were sometimes taken in the Lacus Lurius, of two hundred pounds weight, but of his own knowledge could speak of none that exceeded twenty. Others are reported to have been taken in the Dneister, that were five feet in length.-ED. f Leviticus xi. 12. VOL III. Stow's Annals, p. 572. § Idem, p. 584. R |