1807.] 
extent and labour, is deemed by perfons 
who poflefs the beft information refpeét- 
ing multifarious fubjects treated in it, to 
contain a confiderable number of errors 
and inadvertencies; fuch indeed as are 
fcarcely to he avoided in a compilation of 
this nature, and which that gentleman 
will, no doubt, be glad to correct. I 
fhall beg leave to point out a few which 
happen to come within the compafs of 
my own perfonal knowledge or immediate 
obfervation. 
Page 2. Edward the Elder is faid by 
Mr. Lyfons to have built a fortreis at 
Bedford, on the fouth fide of the river 
Oufe. In the fame page we are told that 
Bedford Cattle was built by the Beau- 
champs, probably on the feite of King 
Edward’s fortrefs. Neverthelefs, Mr. L. 
truly remarks, p. 46, ‘ that the veitiges 
of the Cattle are: to be feen at the back 
ef the Swan Inn. On the Keep is now a 
Bowling Green,” But the Swan Innis, and 
the Caltle was, not on the fouth, but the 
north, fide of the river Oufe. Mr. L. fub- 
joins “ that the {cite of theCaftle, with the 
Swan Inn, is now the property of the 
Duke of Bedford, and it is prefumed that 
it paffed from the Goftwicks, by purchafe, 
to the Marlborough family, and from 
then: withfeveral other eftates which had 
been in the Goftwicks, to the Duke of 
Bedford’s grandfather.” But why rifque 
random prefumptions in a work, whofe 
elfence it is to exhibit plain matter of 
fact? The Swan Inn and Caftle Clofe 
adjoining, were purchafed by the late 
Duke of Bedford foon after he came of 
age, of John Staines, efg. of Biddenham, 
a village near Bedford, who inherited the 
eitate from his father, to whom it was 
about half a century ago deviled by the 
will of Mr. Henry Horton, an attorney. 
of great eminence and refpectability, 
Many years refident in Bedford. 
P.3. We are informed that Sir Sa- 
muel Luke’s houfe was either Hawnes or 
Wood-end. But this was never before 
fuppofed to admit of a doubt. Sir Samuel 
Luke’s houfe was unqueftionably fituated 
at Wood-end, in the parifh of Cople, 
about five miles from Bedford. It is 
now a farm-houfe, belonging tothe Duke 
of Bedford, and contains many curious 
remains of antiquity. In his account of 
Cople, p. 71, Mr. L. exprefsly affirms, 
that Wood-end was the refidence of the 
family of the Lukes; to the memery of 
whom various monuments are erected in 
the parith-church. Mr.-L. obferves, 
p. 92, “that the manor of Hawnes is 
Juppojed to have pafied by purchafe from 
4 
in Lyfon’ Magna Britannia. 
@ 
the Newdigates to the Lukes of Cople, 
who appear from the parith-regifter, to 
have refided at Hawnes occafionally, from 
1626 to 1654.” Some of that family may 
poflibly have refided at Hawnes, but the 
ancient eftate and refidence of the Lukes, 
according to univerfal tradition, was at 
Wood-end, which is {till vilited as an ob- 
ject of hiftorical attention, and eltablithed 
celebrity. ) | 
P. 14. “ The eftates of the Duke of 
Bedford now form (Mr. L. affirms) 
what may be conlidered as by fur the 
largeft landed property in the County.” 
This is not perfettly correct. The Duke 
of Bedford is certainly the principal tant 
proprietor, but Lord St. John and Mr. 
Whitbread are not very fur inferior to 
him. ‘Their united pofleffions in this 
{mall County, of which the rental is, 
however, in proportion to the extent very 
large, (not lefs it is fuppofed than three 
hundred thoufand pounds per annum) are 
eftimated at more than forty thouland 
pounds yearly value; and are probably 
little inferior to thofe of any other tem 
proprietors. The Marquis of Bute, the 
Earl of Offory, Lord Ha ypden, Lady 
Lucas, Sir Philip Mono , Sir George 
Oiborne, and Mr. Pym, r_ak high in the 
fecond clafs. 
P. 16. Flitwick Houfe is not in the 
occupation of the Right Honourable Joha 
Trevor, who refides at Bromham, the 
Bedfordfhire Seat of his brother Lord 
Vifeount Hampden, but of Robert Trevor, 
eiq. a different branch of the fame family. 
P.18. The village of Lidlingten, 
where, occupying a farm of the Duke of 
Bedtord’s, lives the ruftic Poet Batchelor, 
author of ‘ Village Scenes,” &c. affords 
very pleafing proipects, as does the neigh 
bourhood of Houghton Conqueft, Hawnes 
and Harlincton; but for the moft beau- 
tiful and picturefque fcenery in the 
County, is te be found on the north-weft 
fide of it along the fertile and fecluded 
vale, through which the Oufe, fince the 
publication of Cowper’s charming Talk, 
a claflical ftream, winds its placid mean- 
dering courfe, occafionally fpreading inte » 
broad and inagnificent expanfes of water. 
From Chellinyton, Odell, and Felmerse 
ham, the views are particularly rich and 
{triking. ms 
P, 23. There is no turnpike-road from 
Bedford to Eaton Socon, on the north 
fide of the Oufe, The old and new roads 
join, not at Barford bridge, but at the 
foot of Wroxton hill, beyond the village 
of Great Barford. , 
P. 47. Caldwell priory near Redford, 
Was, 
