might well be doubted, but in photography there can be no mistake or misrepresentation; and there they stand plainly, two of the tall lancet windows on either side of the central triplet; that is to say, there have been originally seven lancet windows in the front, three of which remain open; the other four are blocked up in consequence of a change in the roofs of the aisles behind them, and it having been thought cheaper to fill them up with stone than to retain the glass and put black boards behind it, which would have retained the original effect of the windows in the front. It would not be difficult, nor very expensive now, to restore the passage behind these blocked-up windows, and thus again give reality to them. Our second engraving, "St. Augustin and his Mother," requires neither explanation nor comment.

DISCOVERY OF THE HEART OF CHARLES V. OF FRANCE, IN THE CATHEDRAL OF ROUEN.

It is known from records that the heart of Charles V. of France was, by his own direction, deposited in the cathedral of Rouen, but since the first French Revolution any inscription that might once have indicated the exact place of its deposit has disappeared.

The members of the cathedral chapter, regretting the want of so interesting a memorial, recently determined to restore the inscription which about 1737 replaced the alabaster statue of the King; but before they did so, they deemed it prudent to assure themselves that the cathedral, the tombs in which have been twice pillaged, still possessed the heart of Charles the Wise.

Accordingly an examination was made on the 26th of May last, under the authority of the archbishop, by the Abbé Cochet and several other antiquaries, which was entirely successful. A cavity was discovered about 3 ft. below the pavement, which was closed by two stones embedded in hard mortar. The cavity was about 2 ft. deep, 21 ft. long, and less than 2 ft. wide. It was secured by two iron gratings, within which were plates of lead, one to exclude humidity, and the other supporting a heart-shaped pewter box, formed of two metal plates soldered together. The lower portion, together with the royal heart, was reduced to a mere powder, but the upper part was in good preservation, and retained its metallic lustre.

A full account of the discovery will, we are informed, be given by the Abbé Cochet, in the next number of the Revue de la Normandie.

GENT. MAG. VOL. CCXIII.

G

LITERAL EXTENSION AND TRANSLATION OF
DOMESDAY BOOK.

THE Lords of the Treasury certainly did all that could reasonably be required of them when they gave their consent to the execution of a fac-simile of Domesday Book by means of the photo-zincographic process, and the act was hailed as a very acceptable concession to that spirit of conscientious research among original documents which is every day becoming more and more common. It is no reflection on any one to say that when the first portion of the work appeared there was some disappointment. Everybody had heard of the original, but very few comparatively had seen it, and when it was brought before the literary world in fac-simile, hundreds who would willingly have studied it, found it as undecipherable as a cuneiform inscription. Hence the absolute necessity for an extension of the text in printing letters, and whilst this was in hand, it was small trouble to give a translation also; that is to say, to the select few who had made the original their study for years.

This has just been done, in a way that leaves nothing to be desired, for the counties of Middlesex and Surrey; and for a very moderate sum any one may now master at his leisure all that William's commissioners thought necessary to put on record regarding the two counties. In a thin quarto, they have a literal extension of the Latin text, in modern type, line for line with the original, and an English translation. Thus every word can be identified, and the print will serve all the purposes of a reference to the MS. There is also an Index of Places, in which great pains have been bestowed on the identification of ancient and modern names. Some few notes are added, as to such words and phrases as seemed to require them, but the author has shewn true judgment in not encumbering the text with a mass of antiquarian discussion.

Other counties are announced as about to follow, and we only hope that they may all fall into as competent hands as Middlesex and Surrey have done.

a

"A Literal Extension of the Latin Text; and an English Translation of Domesday Book, in relation to the County of Middlesex. To accompany the Fac-simile copy photo-zincographed under the direction of Col. Sir H. James, R.E., F.R.S., at the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton." (Vacher and Sons: Longmans.)

The same for Surrey.

PRESERVATION OF ROMAN REMAINS.

We have been requested to reproduce a letter that has appeared in a local paper on the threatened destruction of the very interesting Roman Remains on Stanemore. We shall be glad if the matter is thus brought to the notice of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastleupon-Tyne, or the newly-founded Architectural and Archæological Society of Durham and Northumberland, or indeed of any persons who may have influence enough to prevent the wanton destruction of these fine historical monuments.

"SIR,-Visiting, as I occasionally do, the county of Durham, and being much interested in the antiquities of this country, I availed myself of the opportunity afforded by the line of railway from Barnard Castle to Tebay, to examine the highest Roman station on Stanemore. The train stopping for a moment at the summit level, allows a visitor to the moor to alight there, where he can enjoy sufficient leisure to examine the highest Roman station-that of Maiden Castle -on the line of Roman road, before the next train returns to take him back; and, if the day be fine, a walk of two hours on the moor, especially at this season, is most agreeable. Having some years since examined the station at Bowes, I was very desirous to see that of Maiden Castle, and found to my great gratification that an angle of the fort had been uncovered, and that the walling was perfect to the height of five courses of stone, and laid open for a space of about twenty feet, which sufficiently shewed the curve at the angle of the camp. The wall had been dug through apparently for the purpose of ascertaining its thickness, which was about six feet or a little more, as I had not my measuring-line to ascertain it correctly, but the section exposed the inner construction, which was rubble, mixed with lime and powdered brick or gravel. The mortar had, however, become decomposed. The wall round the camp remains perfect in all its lower courses, but the superstructure being ruined has covered it with débris; but it remains quite perfect underneath, and is an excellent example of Roman masonry. The area enclosed is a square of about forty paces each way, or it may be a parallelogram of about forty paces by forty-five, as I could not measure it very exactly. The Roman road passes straight through the station, and is worn into a hollow about eight feet wide, which may be traced to some distance on each side. The angles of the camp are rounded off, in the same manner as at Borcovicus, on the line of the Roman wall in Northumberland, and as appears to have been the case in most Roman stations where the walls are at all preserved.

"The walls of this fort being so perfect render it a point of great archæological interest, and I supposed that the section through the south wall, near the angle, had been made for the purpose of ascertaining if any wall existed, or if the rampart were constructed only of loose stones, as is sometimes the case. I have been informed, however, that the section was made only to obtain stones for other purposes, and that the whole fort may be destroyed with this object! I trust this is not really the case, but I am desirous to call attention to the subject that, if possible, so interesting an historical monument may be preserved. It is

only in remote places on moors that we still find Roman stations with their walls existing to a certain height, shewing the true structure of their forts, that they were not always earthen mounds with a palisade on the top, but regularly walled, and strengthened with towers where the wall from its extent required such additions.

"In the station at Bowes, which has been a very fine one, all the stones have been removed, either for the purpose of building the fine Norman keep, or else, subsequently, for building the houses of the town; thus we can only trace the earthen embankment on which the wall was built, and in the same manner at Greta Bridge, where the foundation-stones of the walls alone are perceptible; but on Stanemore you have the wall perfect to five courses of masonry. Surely where stone is so plentiful, as on the moor, there can be no necessity for destroying a relique to which such associations attach, and which still remains a monument of the iron grasp which the masters of the world held upon this island; while I think I may say their roads testify the pains they took to civilize and to benefit the regions they conquered.

"If I may venture to advert to another subject in connection with antiquarian remains, may I express my deep regret at seeing the shields containing coats of arms, which formerly marked the period at which portions of Mortham Tower were built, together with the effigy of a priest, from Eggleston Abbey, and other sculptured fragments, lying neglected near the wood, at some distance from the building? Should not some care be taken of these fragments, to which generally some historic interest attaches? Would it not be better for the owner to cause them to be placed out of the way of injury, and kept where they might be accessible to any enquirer interested in historical remains? We hope the day is passed when men will despise mediaval records, and surely a deep interest attaches to all that Scott has sung, and all that tends to throw the light of history on places which nature has so liberally graced.

"May 16, 1862.”

"I remain, Sir,

66

Your obedient Servant,
"H. M. SCARTH, M.A."

THE LATE Mr. BLAMIRE.-We some time ago

referred to the memorial that was proposed to be raised to the memory of this lamented gentleman. The subscription, we learn, progresses satisfactorily; the Land Improvement Society appears on the list for the sum of £50, which is a very suitable tribute to the worth and talent of the deceased, from a quarter well able to judge of his merits. Dr. Lonsdale has issued a memoir of his friend (London: Routledges), which we heartily commend to the attention of our readers, with the expression of our regret that other demands on our space oblige us to forego our intention of extracting some portion of it.

GENT. MAG., April, 1862, p. 470.