Sir R. Walpole and Lord Chefterfield. 
ter from Archbifhop Cranmer to Lord 
Cromwell. ‘* Having had experience, 
both in times patt, and alfo in our days, 
how the fect of prebendaries have not 
only {pent their time in much idlenefs, 
and their fubftance in fuperfluous belly- 
eheer, I think it not to be a convenient 
ftate or degree to be maintained and efta- _ 
blifhed. Confidering, firlt, that commonly 
a prebendary is neither a learner, nor a 
teacher, but a good viander. ‘Then, by 
the fame name, they look tobe chief, and 
to bear all the whole rule and pre-emi-_ 
nence in the college where they be reii- 
dent; by means whereof, the younger, of 
their own nature given more to pleafure, 
good cheer, and paftime, than to abfti- 
nence, ftudy, and learning, fhall -eafily 
be brought from their books to follow 
the appetite and example of the fame pre- 
bendaries, being their heads and rulers. 
And the ftate of the prebendaries hath 
been fo exceflively abufed, 
learned men have been admitted unto 
fuch.room, many times they have defifted 
from their good and godly ftudies, and 
all other virtuous exercife of preaching 
and teaching.” As Bs 
er rE 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
b tere IT an admirer of your valua- 
ble Mifcellany, to furnifh you with 
an anecdote, which, from its originality 
and authenticity, joined to the celebrity 
ef the perfons to whom it relates, may 
claim the attention of your readers. Hav- 
ing ftrolled one day into the Houfe of 
’ Lords, I entered into converfation with 
the late well-known and much-efteemed 
yeoman-ufher of the black-rod, Mr. 
uarme. Our difcourfe, among other to- 
pics, fell upon the character and peculiari- 
ties of the late celebrated Sir Robert 
Walpole. As a ftriking proof of the per- 
fe&t command of temper and eafy plea- 
fantry, with which that minifter fre- 
quently rebuffed his moft virulent oppo- 
nents, Mr. Quarme mentioned the fol- 
lowing occurrence; to which he was both 
an eye and ear-witnefs. 
On fome occafion, when-it was expetted 
that a violent debate would take place in 
the Houfe of Lords, relacive to Sir Robert 
Walpole’s fuppofed. mal-adminiftration, 
that gentleman came early to the houfe, 
and requefted Mr. Quarme to give up his 
little recefs in a corner behind the bar, 
where he might hear the debates, unfeen 
by the members within the body of the 
houfe. The yeoman-uther readily com- 
plied. But, he good-naturedly confefled, 
that when- 
\ 
339 
that he repented of his compliance, wher 
he heard Lord Chefterfield hold forth one 
of the moft virulent Philippics againft the 
character, both of the minifter and man, 
which had ever flowed from the lips of 
even that nobleman, fo diftinguifhed for 
refined malice, wit and ingenuity. The 
minifter, during this harangue, preferved. 
the utmoft compofure, both in counte- 
nance and manner: upon his Lordfhip’s 
quitting the houfe (on a temporary occa~ 
fion), and fuddenly turning round as he 
pailed the bar, he f{pied, with mingled 
ihame and difinay, the minifter perched 
in his {hug recefs. Sir Robert, upon ob-' 
ferving his Lordfhip’s confufion, with 
great complacency and good-humour, yet 
mixed with a certain drollery in his tone 
and manner, addrefled his Lordfhip with 
a profound bow, and ‘¢ begged leave te 
thank him for the pleafure he had re-) 
ceived from his Lordfhip’s eloquent 
fpeech; and, at the fame time,-to con- 
gratulate him, on his having, upon this 
occafion, taken a flight beyond his ufual 
pitch of excellence.”” ‘This addres com- 
pleted his Lordfhip’s embarraffment ; 
and though prefence of mind, and quick- 
nefs in repartee, were his Lordthip’s pe- 
culiar qualifications, he flunk away from 
the minifter’s prefence, vifibly confounded . 
and chagrined. Iam, Sir, your humble 
fervant, 
Manchefter, 
Sc A.B. 
Feb. 20, 1797. 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, é 
Ne we refiect on the great pro- 
Y  grefs which has been made in 
natural hiftory, during the courfe of the 
prefent century, it will appear furprifine 
that the wonderful account given of the 
Bohan Upas, or poifon tree of Java, fhould 
be fo long credited. This account, which 
originated, I believe, from a Dutch fur- 
geon who attually refided {ome time in 
that ifland, has been publifhed in various 
journals and periodical works, in differ- 
ent parts of Europe; but it is now 
known, from good authority, to be en- 
tirely void of foundation. ‘This circum- 
ftance is mentioned by Sir. GEORGE 
STAUNTON, in his Account of Lord 
MACARTNEY’S Embafly to China; and 
the following extraét from the letters of 
Mr. Von Wurb, who was fettled at Ba- 
tavia, in the fervice of the Dutch Eaft 
India company, and who died there at 
an early period of life, feems to place the 
matter beyond all doubt, This gentleman, 
who was a member of the fociety efta- 
; blifhed 
