The reader is referred to Dr Buckland's most interesting illustrations of these remains of a former world. The Bishop of Bath and Wells has built a picturesque and appropriate cottage near the cav
1
This poem, published in 1829, was dedicated to Dr Henry Law, the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
2
Of blank verse of the kind to which I have alluded, I am tempted to give a specimen: —
"'Twas summer, and we sailed to Greenwich inA four-oared boat. The sun was shining, andThe scenes delightful; while we gazed onThe river winding, till we landed atThe Ship."3
Baxter's "Saints' Rest."
4
The reader is referred to Dr Buckland's most interesting illustrations of these remains of a former world. The Bishop of Bath and Wells has built a picturesque and appropriate cottage near the cave, on the hill commanding this fine view.
5
The stupendous Cheddar Cliffs, in the neighbourhood.
9
Mr Beard, of Banwell, called familiarly "the Professor," but in reality the guide.
10
Egyptian god of silence.
11
Halt of the French army at the sight of the ruins.
12
The Roman way passes immediately under Banwell.
13
The abbey was built by the descendants of Becket's murderers. Almost at the brink of the channel, being secured from it only by a narrow shelf of rocks called Swallow-clift, William de Courteneye, about 1210, founded a friary of Augustine monks at Worsprynge, or Woodspring, to the honour of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and St Thomas à Becket. William de Courteneye was a descendant of William de Traci, and was nearly related to the three other murderers of à Becket, to whom this monastery was dedicated.
14
See the late Sir Charles Elton's pathetic description of the deaths of his two sons at Weston, whilst bathing in his sight; one lost in his endeavour to save his brother.
15
Called "The Wolves," from their peculiar sound.
19
Dr Henry Bowles, physician on the staff, buried at sea.
20
Charles Bowles, Esq. of Shaftesbury.
22
Young's "Night Thoughts."
23
Clock in the Cathedral.
24
Traditional name of the clock-image, seated in a chair, and striking the hours.
26
A book, called the "Villager's Verse Book," to excite the first feelings of religion, from common rural imagery, was written on purpose for these children.
27
See "Pilgrim's Progress."
28
See Rowland Hill's caricatures, entitled "Village Dialogues."
29
The text, which no Christian can misunderstand, "God is not willing," is turned, by elaborate Jesuitical sophistry, to "God is willing," by one "master in Israel." So that, in fact, the Almighty, saying No when he should have said Yes, did not know what he meant, till such a sophistical blasphemer set him right! To such length does an adherence to preconceived Calvinism lead the mind.
30
"And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." —St Paul.
31
Literally the expression of Hawker, the apostle of thousands and thousands. I speak of the obvious inference drawn from such expressions, and this daring denial of the very words of his Master: "Happy are ye, if ye do them!" —Christ. "But in vain," etc.
32
I fear many churches have more to answer for than tabernacles.
33
The long controversial note appended to this poem has been purposely suppressed.
34
I forget in what book of travels I read an account of a poor Hottentot, who being brought here, clothed, and taught our language, after a year or two was seen, every day till he died, on some bridge, muttering to himself, "Home go, Saldanna."
35
See Bishop Heber's Journal. Yet the Shaster, or the holy book of the Hindoos, says, "No one shall be burned, unless willingly!"
37
The English landlord has been held up to obloquy, as endeavouring to keep up the price of corn, for his own sordid interest; but rent never leads, it only follows, and the utmost a landlord can get for his capital is three per cent., whereas the lord of whirling wheels gains thirty per cent.
38
These lines were written at Stourhead.
39
The Bishop of Bath and Wells. Ken was one of the seven bishops sent to the Tower by James. He had character, patronage, wealth, station, eminence: he resigned all, at the accession of King William, for the sake of that conscience which, in a former reign, sent him a prisoner to the Tower. He had no home in the world; but he found an asylum with the generous nobleman who had been his old schoolfellow at Winchester. Here, it is said, he brought with him his shroud, in which he was buried at Frome; and here he chiefly composed his four volumes of poems.
41
The seat of the Earl of Cork and Orrery.
