ous passion to Hippolytus; several tragic and comic scenes; the fable of Ætra and Ægeus; Apollo, with Daphne changed into a laurel. There is a little niche, or sacrarium, in the garden, from which we pass into a third peristyle. Among the moveable articles found in this mansion, a casket is particularly mentioned, enriched with elegant ornaments in bronze, and deposited in a corner of the gynæceum. It contains forty-two pieces of imperial gold money, and six of silver."-Paris paper.

FEBRUARY.

2. YORK MINSTER BURNED. -Early on the morning of Monday, the 2nd, York Minster was discovered to be on fire. On the preceding evening there had been service in the Minster, as usual, and all appeared to be left safe. About four o'clock on Monday morning, a man, passing through the Minsteryard, saw a light in the building; but as it was not very considerable, he supposed that there might be workmen preparing a vault, or otherwise engaged, and he passed on without inquiry. Between six and seven, the discovery was made by a boy, one of the choristers, who, when passing through the Minster-yard, accidentally stepped upon a piece of ice, and was thrown on his back. Before he could recover himself, he saw a quantity of smoke issuing from several parts of the roof. He lost no time in going for the man who kept the keys. When they entered, a dense mass of smoke pervaded the whole building, and the beautiful wood-work of the choir was extensively on fire. The

workmen, connected with the Minster, were immediately called up; and fire-engines were procured. At first it was not apprehended that the fire would communicate with the roof; but, the pillars being of lime-stone, and the roof of the choir being very dry wood, it was soon involved with the other woodwork in one general conflagration. All the fire-engines in the city were on the spot, but they were found insufficient; and expresses were sent to the barracks, and to Tadcaster, for others. Notwithstanding every exertion, the flames made their way through the roof of the choir about half-past eight; and about nine o'clock the roof fell in, and then was presented another and more distressing scene. The pillars, which had divided the choir from the two side aisles, now stood alone, the whole being one open space, with the roof burning on the ground, and reduced to a shapeless mass. Of the pews, &c. which were on either side of the choir, not a vestige remained. There were sixty-six stalls in this part of the church for the dignitaries, all executed in oak, and carved in most cunning workmanship; they began with the dean's on the right hand, and the precentor's on the left, the scat of each turning up, and the under part enriched with a device cut in alto relievo. All this wood-work was of the same date as the choir-the fourteenth century. The screen, however, on which the organ stood, admired as a specimen of ornamental Gothic architecture, consisting of the most delicate tracery work, sustained but little damage. The effigies of the monarchs of England, which make so conspicuous a figure in front of this screen (fifteen in number), to the right and left of the

entrance to the choir, remained perfect. Some of the monuments in the north and south side aisles, received partial damage; but generally, from their having remained covered by the roof, escaped entire. The large pillars on each side the choir, as far as the altar, suffered greatly. These columns are composed of magnesian lime-stone, and the action of the heat detached large pieces from them, particularly near their base. On the east side, against which the flames raged with great fury, no material damage was sustained, farther than where the roof of the choir extended. The tower served to arrest the progress of the flames; for when they reached this part (after consuming the organ), nothing remained that was combustible. The light and elegant stone screen separating the communion table from the Lady's Chapel, suffered much less than might have been anticipated. In the Lady's Chapel it was impossible to ascertain the extent of the mischief, for the whole space was chiefly occupied by monuments of the highest value. These tombs, statues, &c. being directly under the roof, were covered with rubbish. The great east window, emphatically styled "the glory of the cathedral," and for the fate of which the most painful anxiety was manifested during the conflagration, suffered comparatively little. One large square was entirely demolished at the bottom, and several others perforated near the centre. The frame and tracery-work, also, suffered but little, although the roof, in its downward course, ranged within a few inches of the window. Neither did any of the stained lights, in any part of the cathedral, suffer materially. In the course

of clearing away the rubbish out of the choir, it was found that the hollow under the stalls had been filled up with a composition of sand and oak sawdust, and, amongst this, between 60 and 70 coins of different reigns and countries were found, some of them very curious, and of remote dates. A large silver thimble, and several smaller thimbles, some round pieces of coloured glass, &c. have also been taken out.

It

The fire was not accidental. was traced to be the work of a deranged fanatic, of the name of Martin, who was subsequently tried for the crime at York, and found to be insane.*

3. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN. -GUILDHALL.-Mr. Hume's Combination Act (5 Geo. IV. c. 95) not only repealed all the previous statutes relative to combinations among workmen, but took away the right of proceeding by common law against such conspiracies. This act was amended in the next session (by 6 Geo. IV. c. 129); and, the restriction against proceeding at common law being omitted, any individual again became competent to prosecute, who should find persons confederating to impoverish him. The first proceeding of this nature, by the common law, since the repeal of Mr. Hume's act, occurred at this office to day, before sir Peter Laurie.

A journeyman bookbinder, named Wilkinson, in the employment of Mrs. Chip, of Ivy-lane, attended upon a summons, at the instance of Richard Painting, for unlawfully conspiring and confederating with divers other persons in the city of London, to prevent him from following. his employment, and getting his living as a journeySee infra, p. 43.

man bookbinder, against the peace, &c. &c. The complainant said, he had followed the trade 22 years, and there was a society among the journeymen, which had a law, that only persons who had served seven years should be accepted as members. He had applied to be admitted so lately as a fortnight ago, and had been refused. On the 24th of December he applied for employment at Mrs. Chip's, found they wanted a hand, was desired to come to work on Saturday, and went there accordingly. However, Mrs. Chip then referred to the defendant, who said, "We object to him, because he does not belong to the society;" and he was thrown out of work, and continued unemployed till Monday last. He had been hindered from obtaining employment on the very same ground four times, and remained unemployed from one to four months in every instance. The defendant said, he was alarmed upon finding himself charged with combining with other persons, because he was not himself a society man, nor was any one present, except Mrs. Chip, when the complainant was spoken with. Mrs. Chip never engaged a new hand without consulting him. She would ask "Shall we take on another man?" and would listen to any objection to the person offering. He called Mrs. Chip to show, that there was no society men present, when she declined hiring the complainant. Mrs. Chip, on being asked why she refused to employ any but seven-year-men, said, because the men refused to work with them. If she were to hire a person who was objected to by the society, the other men would leave, and throw her business into a state of confusion. The defendant said, that, unless it was known that a

person had been regularly apprenticed, he could not be depended upon as capable of doing the work. It was his duty to give his mistress the best advice he could. The reason for not employing persons who had slipped into the business was, that by their incompetency they might do great mischief. A tramper of this kind had nearly spoiled a 36s. book, in a case within his own knowledge. Complainant. --You know I had worked as journeyman at Mr. Smith's. Mr. Smith, on being called, said, he had employed the complainant at a guinea a week. He could not call him a workman, because he did not understand binding in sheep as well as boards. He discharged him, because, during his (Mr. Smith's) absence in the country last August, the complainant charged for the work done in the breakfast half hour, although he came an hour or so behind the regular hour in the morning. Complainant obtained his charge at the Court of Requests, because it was not objected to the first week it was made. He employed whatever men he pleased, without fear of the society.

Sir P. Laurie said, the defendant had acted properly in preventing his mistress from engaging the complainant, if he considered him incompetent; but he must allow his mistress the right to employ whomsoever she thought proper. He dismissed the complaint.

4. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.

Gaetano Starrabba, prince of Giardinelli, and eldest son of Peter, prince of Sicily, was brought up this morning from the King's-bench prison, to be heard in the matter of his petition and schedule, when his discharge was opposed by Mr. Stannard, tailor, of Pall-mall. The prince's schedule contained debts

corated, are of great interest. Among other mythological subjects there is a picture of Perseus, who, assisted by Minerva, is killing Medusa; Mercury laying Argus to sleep, that he may carry off the beautiful Io, a subject very rare among monuments of art; Jason, the Dragon, &c. But the most remarkable objects in this mansion are some bas-reliefs in silver, fixed on elliptical tablets of bronze, and representing Apollo and Diana. There are numberless other articles of curiosity in furniture and household utensils. But as to ancient pictures, it appears that none approach in merit to those discovered at a house in Pompeii. It is now certain, that the quarter, in which the excavations are going on, had been the finest in the city. The Tuscan Atrium first presents itself in the mansion we are speaking of. This Atrium is surrounded with small rooms very prettily decorated, from which we pass into a garden, round which are disposed apartments appropriated to visiters. To the left of the Atrium there is a passage leading to large porticos supported by red pillars, and embellished with a profusion of beautiful paintings; among which the following compositions are particularly remarkable-1. Medea meditating the murder of her children, who are innocently playing at dice, whilst their tutor, at a short distance, conscious of Medea's intention, is lamenting the fate which impends over them. 2. The sons and daughters of Niobe assailed with the arrows of Apollo and Diana. This is a picture full of pathos. 3. Meleager departing for the chase of the wild boar of Calydon. 4. Perseus delivering Andromeda. 5. A Bacchante. 6. The Muses.

There are also some grotesque designs; such as a pigmy teaching an ape to dance, as well as paintings of fruit and animals, beautifully executed. These porticoes were devoted to promenading. They inclose a little garden, in the centre of which there is a basin for fish, and at the bottom was found a large triclinium, or diningtable, and seats for reclining. The gynæceum, or apartment appropriated to females, consists of a peristyleum, surrounded with porticoes leading into the apartments, where there is a luxurious display of pictures, executed in first-rate style. Castor and Pollux, the household gods, are on each side of the entrance; the other principal subjects are-Echo and Narcissus; Endymion; the infant Achilles plunged into Styx by his mother Thetis; Mars and Venus; Saturn; Orpheus; Ceres; Mars Pacific; Jupiter Hospitalis; and a classical group of a Satyr and an Hermaphrodite. The exedrum, or study, is decorated with some admirable pictures, representing Bacchantes of incomparable beauty; also a picture of Achilles drawing his sword against Agamemnon, and restrained by Minerva. on this subject, but indifferently executed, have been before discovered among those in the Temple of Venus. There is here, likewise, Achilles disguised as a woman, and detected by Ulysses; Ulysses, begging and receiving alms from the faithful Eumæus, &c. The style of these paintings is said to be superior to any thing that has yet been discovered of ancient art. From the exedrum we pass into a third garden, also surrounded with red columns, and adorned with pictures on the following subjects:

Pictures

Phædra, revealing her incestu

ous passion to Hippolytus; several tragic and comic scenes; the fable of Etra and Egeus; Apollo, with Daphne changed into a laurel. There is a little niche, or sacrarium, in the garden, from which we pass into a third peristyle. Among the moveable articles found in this mansion, a casket is particularly mentioned, enriched with elegant ornaments in bronze, and deposited in a corner of the gynæceum. It contains forty-two pieces of imperial gold money, and six of silver."-Paris paper.

FEBRUARY.

2. YORK MINSTER BURNED. -Early on the morning of Monday, the 2nd, York Minster was discovered to be on fire. On the preceding evening there had been service in the Minster, as usual, and all appeared to be left safe. About four o'clock on Monday morning, a man, passing through the Minsteryard, saw a light in the building; but as it was not very considerable, he supposed that there might be workmen preparing a vault, or otherwise engaged, and he passed on without inquiry. Between six and seven, the discovery was made by a boy, one of the choristers, who, when passing through the Minster-yard, accidentally stepped upon a piece of ice, and was thrown on his back. Before he could recover himself, he saw a quantity of smoke issuing from several parts of the roof. He lost no time in going for the man who kept the keys. When they entered, a dense mass of smoke pervaded the whole building, and the beautiful wood-work of the choir was extensively on fire. The

workmen, connected with the Minster, were immediately called up; and fire-engines were procured. At first it was not apprehended that the fire would communicate with the roof; but, the pillars being of lime-stone, and the roof of the choir being very dry wood, it was soon involved with the other woodwork in one general conflagration. All the fire-engines in the city were on the spot, but they were found insufficient; and expresses were sent to the barracks, and to Tadcaster, for others. Notwithstanding every exertion, the flames made their way through the roof of the choir about half-past eight; and about nine o'clock the roof fell in, and then was presented another and more distressing scene. The pillars, which had divided the choir from the two side aisles, now stood alone, the whole being one open space, with the roof burning on the ground, and reduced to a shapeless mass. Of the pews, &c. which were on either side of the choir, not a vestige remained. There were sixty-six stalls in this part of the church for the dignitaries, all executed in oak, and carved in most cunning workmanship; they began with the dean's on the right hand, and the precentor's on the left, the seat of each turning up, and the under part enriched with a device cut in alto relievo. All this wood-work was of the same date as the choir-the fourteenth century. The screen, however, on which the organ stood, admired as a specimen of ornamental Gothic architecture, consisting of the most delicate tracery work, sustained but little damage. The effigies of the monarchs of England, which make so conspicuous a figure in front of this screen (fifteen in number), to the right and left of the