of those two books I recommended to you, Wilkins and Grotius: and if you have read any thing in them, the next question is, how you like them. I do not mean of a critical censure of the books, whether you think them well or ill writ; but how farr the matters contained in them gain ground upon you. There is an inward tasting of truth, which is very much different from a sort of assent which is only extorted by the force of argument; for, til our minds are so moulded and prepared, that truth and they are fitted one to the other, as it will not be easy to conquer one that has great store of witt and fancy by the force of reason (evasions and sleights being easily found out were the evidence to the contrary never so strong), so, if one is so overcome, it is rather like a prisoner's being bound or set in the stocks, than an inward victory over the soul; and upon such occa sions one is rather apt to conclude, that though they cannot answer such arguments, it flows rather from a defect of their own knowledge, than from the force of those reasonings. Therefore, the right way to make us capable of Divine Truth, is to bring our souls once into such a temper that we may be fitt to relish it. All the reasoning in the world cannot perswade one that is sick to relish meat; a little health, without any further dispute, does it effectually so the bringing the mind into a good temper, is the necessary preparation to niake us fitt for such impressions. But it may be here objected, that this bringing the mind into that temper, is too much to be asked at first, that it is to ask the whole thing before it is proved: to which may be added, that this is no more in one's own power than for a sick body to give themselves health. But this will vanish if it is rightly considered wherein this temper doth consist:-if it is a thing of itself desirable, and that which qualifys one for every thing that is wise and, great as well as good, then it is not too much to ask this at first. It is nothing but the bringing our mind to a habit of considering such things as are proposed to it, steadily, and of examining them carefully and slowly, before we give too precipitate an assent to them. It is the retiring ourselves from those vanitys that dissipate and dissorder our thoughts too much: it is the composing our minds, so as not to be in a hurry-this is not too much, I hope, to ask before-hand. Another part of this temper is, to bring ourselves to a habit of doing all the good we can, to a gentleness and evenness of temper, to be so kind to ourselves as to do what we can to make our own condition easy to us, and to make ourselves useful to others, not so much by sending ten guineas to one that needs it not, as by relieving those whose condition we can make easier and better in the world. When one has attained to some degrees of this temper, then they are in some measure prepared to examine Truth: so I ask nothing but what every wise and generous mind must easily acknowledge is to be desired of itself. Nor is the other part of the objec tion stronger, that this is not always in our own power. I acknowledge it cannot be done all of the sudden, bat it must grow on us by degrees. A great deal of it is in our own power, and it is reasonable, to carry it no higher, for us to implore the Divine aid for curing us of our inward distempers, and making us fit to delight in the best things. Frequent and earnest prayers to the Supreme Being are, in a great measure, in our own power. It is also in our power to retire from such things or persons as we find prove hurtfull to us. is in our power to do much good, and to fill up our thoughts with designs of doing more good. If we will for some time follow good rules, we will find, after a while's practice upon our selves, that things which are at first so irksome that we may conclude a continuance in them next to impossible; yet that teadiousness will 'certainly wear off with a little labour 3 and then, what is at first uneasy, will grow afterwards not only easy and pleasant, but be really a charm to most of our other troubles. And as in the study of all arts and sciences there are great difficulties at first, we must go through some principles and elements that are dry and ingrateful, which we conquer by the strength of our desire to attain those things; so, I dare say it confidently, the previous parts of a religious life, if rightly stated, are not near so dif ficult and unpleasant as those things are It are which are preparatory to any trade or sort of knowledge; and it were not reasonable to expect that Religion, upon which so much depends, should be easier than those meaner disciplines are. I know not if I have not gone too farr at first; but I shall be hereafter governed by the rules you set me, and the matter you cut out for me. I do confess, I look on you with a tenderness and a concern that I have for few in the world. I am confident, when Religion does truely conquer you, you will be in all respects a very wonderfull person :therefore I do not know any one thing in this world that I more earnestly desire, than to be some way instrumental in so glorious a conquest; as any officer would mightily desire to take a prince or a general prisoner. You know my hand, so I add only a most humble-Adieu. 14th July. Mr. URBAN, June 1. AM not aware, that the Reverend Miles Gale's Topographical Decription of the Parish of Kighley, in the Deanery of Craven, and West Riding of Yorkshire, has ever yet been printed and as it appears to me worthy of being preserved, you perhaps may be induced to give it a place in your Miscellany. It may not be improper to refer such of your Readers as may wish to see a further account of the very learned family of the Gales, to Mr. Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. IV. 536, and Whitaker's History of Craven, 146. (1st edit.) D. O. KIGHLEY PARISH. Described by Miles Gale, rector, 1713. Having some years ago writ an account of the town and parish of Kighley, and sent it to London, to Mr. John Nutt, a printer in the Savoy, to be inserted in a book he is about to set forth, called Britannia Nova et Antiqua; but fearing, amongst so many thousand informations, that of mine may escape the press, I thought it not improper to fix it in this place, as a standing monument to continue its memory to future generations. The parish of Kighley, in Craven, and West Riding of the county of York, is bounded on the East with Bingley parish; on the West with Colne, in Lancashire; on the North with Kildwick; and on the South with Hainworth, in the parish of Bingley: it is about six miles long from East to West, and two miles broad from North to South, 60 miles from the East and West seas, in the North latitude 54 degrees, and in Eastern longitude 23 degrees. In travelling, I observe at the West and bigh end of the parish, nigh unto Camel Cross, a rising ground; from the sides whereof all the springs on the East side run to the Eastern sea, and those on the West to the West sea. The feast of this town is kept on St. Peter's day, whence I conclude the church dedicated to that Saint. Upon my complaint to the Chancellor, Dr. Watkinson, that the seats of this church were both ruinous and inconvenient, an order from the Spiritual Court was granted in the year 1703, to turn those low benches into double pews, at the charge of such as pretended to any spot of ground, so that none were displaced or wronged of their antient rights, and with figures on the doors numbered to 56, according to which, a register of all the proprietors was made by me, and shall be recorded in this book, to be kept by the parson for the time being, who may add more of such like matters as he shall have occasion. Anno 1710. This church was made uniform as to the windows, the middie quire by the parson, and the body by the parish, and in the same year beautified with 15 copartments, which contain a short history of the lives of the blessed Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the 12 Apostles, and St. Paul, with the figures of each head set crest-wise; also old Time flying and running, a skeleton, and many Scripture sentences (besides the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments) fit for that holy place. The North aile, at the East end, belongs to Riddlesden Hall, the arms of the Pasleys being both on the main timber, and on the stone in divers places, and they having constantly repaired the same. The South aile, by antient writings, belongs to one Ramsden of Brathwait, who anno ..... ... consented to the making of a vestry, so the parish would make him a large pew adjoin 1 ing to it next the little South door, which was done. This living is in the gift of my Lord Burlington, its value in the King's book 211. Os. 6d. pays yearly tenths 21. 28. ob.q.; real value 1001. per an num. It is recorded in the last edition of Camden, that the antient family of the Kighleys hence had their name, one of which, called Henry, procured from Edward the First, for his manor here, these three privileges: 1st. For a market every Saturday: 2dly. A fair, October 27: 3dly. A free warren, so that none might come to chase in those grounds without his leave, or successors. The male issue ended in Henry of Inskip, in the memory of this age. The daughters, heiresses, were married, one to Wm. Cavendish, Baron of Hardwick, another to Tho. Worseley, esq. There are three manors in this parish; one belonging to his Grace the Duke of Devonshire; a second to the Lord Fairfax of Denton, within five miles of this place; a third to Michael Stell, yeoman; in all which are, or may be kept, Court Barons; though only in the first there is kept a three-week Court on a Friday, and two Head-court days in a year. In the year 1695, when an account was required to be taken of all the inhabitants, there appeared to be in this parish 1704, whereof 112 are freeholders, which catalogue is kept in the vestry. The town of Kighley contains 100 houses, and is pleasantly situated in a low valley, surrounded with hills, from one of which, above Hainworth, I have seen Penill, Penigent, and Ingleborrough, all which are within 25 miles. It is in the midway betwixt Bradford and Skipton, six miles from each, at the meeting of two brooks that running a mile further joins with the river Air, whose head is 12 miles N. W. at a place called Mawm Cove: it affords dares, oomers, menards, perches, eels, gudgeons, trouls, smelts; and salmons, when out of season, come up to this town. At Michaelmas, poor people begin to catch them with blazing and iron forks. Here are otters, which we suppose to feed on muscles, because the shells are generally found empty. 100 yards below, where the two brooks meet, is a stone bridge of one arch, which, from the basis to the crown of the battlement, is nine yards, and wide at the foot 22 yards. A spring, that never fails, begins a mile to the West above this town, and is carried in stone troughs through the chief street, so that almost every house has water at a small distance. Nigh this town, upon one of the brooks, is a king's mill, which by lease yields 447. 138. 4d. rent per annum to the Duke of Devonshire, out of which is paid a free rent of 31. 25. per annum to Mr. Tho. Layton of Rawden, in the parish of Guiseley, six miles from hence. A traveller through this parish shall not meet with half a mile of level ground; only at the East end of this town is a field of plane earth, containing 114 day-work and 4, round which horse-races are sometimes made. I have seen an old horse run with 10 men at certain distances, delivering of a handkerchief one to another; when the horse lost. At another time a horse with 20 men, when the men lost. At another time, a galloway being matched with a large horse to run this course round 10 times, without heats, the owner of the horse not daring to run, the galloway ran by itself, which was 15 miles, the course once round being a mile and a half. The poor of this parish are numerous, and maintained by a sess which sometimes amounts to 1407. a year, besides many private gifts, and some public benefactions, which are mentioned in a table set up in the middle quire of the church, over the vestry. Mr. URBAN, June 2. Literary Anecdotes are Letters addressed by Robert Nelson, esq. to George and Gabriel Hanger, whom he styles "Cousins." May I request a place for this enquiry as to the rela tionship? In the pedigree of Lord Coleraine (to which title the before mentioned Gabriel Hanger was elevated) the connexion with Mr. Nelson does not appear: a similarity only in Christian names (not usual ones) points out an affinity.-Robert Nelson was son of John Nelson, Turkey merchant, by Delicia, sister of Sir Gabriel Roberts, kut.—The first Baron Coleraine was named "Gabriel," and his sister " Delicia." G. H. W. Mr. |