Buxton church. The third ran behind the mansion from east to west. Only two of the old oaks (as noticed in the plan) still remain; each measures, at six feet from the ground, thirteen or fourteen feet in circumference. The leaves appear in a very healthy state; but the top of one tree is gone. With these remarks I send a curious manuscript lately found among some old papers. It is a portion of an inventory, containing a catalogue of ornamental plate and other curiosities, and is supposed to have been written by one of the Pastons, before their elevation to the peerage, which was in 1673. Among the articles in the catalogue is "A shell standing upon three dolphins;" most probably an object of great beauty and taste. The ornaments of dolphins which prevailed about the reign of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. are often very graceful, and are frequently seen in arabesque work. Yours, &c. JOHN ADEY REpton. Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c. formerly at Oxnead Hall. [Note.-The MS. extends from fols. 2 to 9; the rest is lost.] One mother of pearle botle, each side the fashion of a sw[an? with a] silver and gilt foote, and a silver and gilt statue upon the top. One mother of pearle basin, with a silver gilt ledge on the......, with a silver dish in it, with a foot gilt about the edge of the topp, engraven all over in the midle. A mother of pearle ure. A mother of pearle dish, all set in scollops, with silver and gilt foot, a cristall ball standing upright in the midle, carved. A litle mother of pearle cup, with a silver and gilt ledge, top, and foot. Sixe mother of pearle dishes, which some of the shells stand upon. A paire of coaker-shell cups with covers, in the midle of the covers agate-stones sett in enamell, with a gold knob of the top. A paire of shell cups with covers, ivory feet and ledges. A shell cup, set in a frame, and handle and cover of silver and gold, the foote, frame, and cover being garnished with severall kinds of cutt stones. A shell cup set in a carved and silver gilt frame and foot and cover, a peice of crystall in the midle of the cover, set with a silver and gilt knobb in the midle. A greene shell-kan, set in a silver and gilt frame, with a cover. A litle shell cup with a silver and gilt frame. 2 shelles spoone-fashioned, with silver feet, and crinkle handles. A blew jar with knobbs, silver and gilt top. A cristall botle sett in silver and gilt. A cristall kan, with an enameld foote, ledge, and handle. A long cristall glasse, with a cover engraven, a silver and gilt ledge on the foot. A cristall cup 6-square, set in a silver and gilt frame, and enameld knob on the top. A silver and gilt carved cup, a cristall sides and cover with severall stones, with foot and bottome, garnished about the a statue upon it. A cristall cup, with a silver and gilt foot and ledge, a crystall cover with a silver and gilt knob in the midle. A cristall tankard, set in a carved and silver and gilt frame, with a cover and one handle. A cristall tankard with a cristall cover, set in a silver and gilt frame with 2 handles, a flying horse on the top. A paire of cristall candlesticks. A great cristall ball set upon an ebony pedestall, with 8 litle cristall balls round about the edges. An agate tanker set in a silver and gilt frame, with one handle, and cover.. Upon the creast over the doore, and so round. A round cup of a darke colour set in silver and gilt. A mother of pearle shell sett upon a figure, set in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup blacke about ye edge. A mother of pearle flower-pott set in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup blacke about yo edge. A speckle shell botle sett in silver. A black Indian botle set in silver, with a chaine. A rock, with branches of red corrall upon it. A speckle shell cupp. A red Indian shell, silver and gilt about the edge. A jessimy tankard set in silver. A mother of pearle shell set in silver, with a figure upon it. A greenish flower-pott set in silver and gilt. A black shell cup with a silver edge. A white shell in a silver frame, tanker fashion. A litle cup standing in a litle silver baskett. A browne botle, set in a silver frame, with a blackmoores head upon it. A greene cup set in silver frame. A mother of pearle ship shell engraven. A browne cup set in silver and gilt. A shell fashioned like a crane, silver and gilt. A red Indian cup with a white rim, and cover upon it. A knotted wood cup set in silver, with a cover upon it. A black shell boule sett in silver. A running horse, gilt. A shell set upon a silver figure. A speckle shell cup in a silver and gilt frame, with 2 handles and cover. A red Indian cup with a black rim. A browne speckle cup, silver and gilt foot and rim. A black cup with silver and gilt rim. A greenish flower pott sett in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup with a white rim, and cover upon it. A stone pott, silver and gilt top and chaine. A mother of pearle shell engraven, with a silver foot. A speckle bottle with a silver and gilt top. A white shell cup with 2 handles and A white egg pot, tanker fashion, in a silver and gilt frame. A horse gilded, in a runing posture. A mother of pearle botle, set in silver and gilt. A red Indian kan in a silver frame, handle and cover. A great stone flower pott in silver and gilt frame, with 2 syrenes upon it. A red Indian pott with a silver and gilt frame, cover and handle. A mother of pearle botle, set in silver and gilt. A gilded horse in a feeding posture. A white egg pott, tanker fashion, in a silver and gilt frame. A boy gilded, with a sockett for a candle in his hand. A mother of pearle flower pott, inlaid in'a silver and gilt frame. A shell standing on a dolphin, silver and gilt, with a silver and gilt figure upon the top. A gourd botle, engraven, with a silver and gilt top. A red Indian pott in a silver frame, handle and cover. A great browne cup in a silver and gilt frame, the handles ye fashion of snakes. A red Indian boxe. A shell standing on a dolphin, silver and gilt, with a silver and gilt figure upon the top. A red Indian botle with a silver frame. A black cupp with an ivory rim and foot. A gourd botle with a silver frame. A red Indian kan with black edge about it. A woodden cup with an ivory foot and REPORT OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN FRANCE, FOR THE RECOVERY OF A SHRINE IMPROPERLY REMOVED FROM A CHURCH. [Extracted from the Bulletin Archéologique published by the Historical Committee of Arts and Monuments, 2nd vol. 6 No. pp. 428 to 433. 1843.] THE Secretary announces that the affair relative to the shrine of La Guène (Corrèzze) is terminated. In the month of November 1841 the parochial minister (desservant) and the mayor of La Guène clandestinely sold the shrine of St. Calminius, the patron saint of the parish, to a brazier of Limoges. This shrine is one of the most precious in this country, which now possesses only one other of such great value. Having been informed of this misdeed by M. Texier, the curé of Auriat (Creuse), who is engaged in making researches respecting the ancient Limousin enamels, M. Didron drew up a protest against this illegal sale. On the 15th of December 1841 he published the letter which he had written to M. Texier on the subject, and denounced before the Keeper of the Seals the conduct of the mayor and the parochial minister of La Guène. On the 17th of December the Minister of Public Worship made known that he had requested of his Grace the Bishop of Tulle to furnish him with the requisite proofs, in order to attach as much consequence to the affair as possible. The receipt of these documents confirmed the fact of the sale having been unlawful. Meanwhile M. Minier, the person who had clandestinely purchased the shrine, hastened with it to Paris, asking 3000 francs of the virtuosi for that which he had bought at the unconscionable price of 250 francs. He made a great stir about this shrine. He exposed it to public view in the Hall of Sale in the Rue des Jeûneurs ; he made public his own shameful conduct; and, in fact, sold the shrine for 3000 francs to M. Joyan, a Parisian curiosity broker. Whilst this object was being thus openly exposed, not only to the veneration of the faithful as heretofore, but as well to the cupidity of the brokers, M. Didron went to see it, and drew up a description of it, which was published on the 15th of January, 1842. The government, who were watching the fate of the shrine in order to prevent GENT. MAG. VOL. XXI. its being taken out of France, pro- The accusation by the Council of Public Buildings of M. Lassalvanie, the mayor of La Guène, M. Laygue, the minister of the parish, (the two vendors,) and of M. Minier, the brazier of Limoges, (the purchaser,) came before the Civil Tribunal of Tulle. The cause attracted a much more numerous auditory than is usually seen in this court, and in the month of June last, after pleadings which excited the most lively interest, the following judgment was given. M. Lanot, the Advocate of the Council of Public Edifices of La Guène, spoke as follows: "Messieurs: The remonstrance of the Council of Public Buildings recommends itself to your attention by considerations of the highest importance. The lowly church of La Guène possessed a shrine which, according to tradition, contained the relics of St. Calminius. This monument drew the admiration of the artist on account of its figures in relief, the beauty and finish of its decorations, the richness of its jewels, and the beautiful concord of its parts, which appertain to the style of the Byzantine school. But, for the inhabitants of this quiet region, there is no price which in their estimation would compensate them for this loved relic of antiquity, for it connects itself with their memories by the most endearing ties, which are transmitted from age to age with all their religious feelings. "The Minister of the Commune, who, from the nature of his functions, is established as the chief and most vigilant guardian of all holy things, one day forgot * M. Lanot is in error here; the shrine is Roman and Limousin, and by no means Byzantine.-Note of the Secretary of the Committee. E himself. He has parted with this monument of piety to a broker, who has resold it at an enormous profit to M. Joyan, a curiosity dealer at Paris. The holy edifice, stripped of its glory without her knowledge, and in spite of herself, invokes the law, who defends her property. She asks for the restoration of this precious relic, which to the feelings of all the country around was a source of consolation and of hope. This pious disposition is readily justified by the recollections which it awakens of this holy personage. The chronicles and legends which have circulated throughout the country represent him as a grand dignitary of the Roman empire under the reign of the Emperor Justinian, invested with the government of Aquitaine, and there planting and establishing the immortal code which has so long governed the world, and which still remains the written law of the universe. But what is still more worthy to be remarked, it is related of him that, seeing the wretchedness which afflicted the population which he governed, he shook off, as if by divine inspiration, the burthen of public affairs, and, accepting the holiest of all missions, he deprived himself of his immense wealth and emoluments, and thenceforth employed himselfin relieving, comforting, and moralising a whole people, before plunged in the deepest barbarism. Should the chronicles be suspected of exaggeration on this subject, I can produce the most undeniable historical documents to attest their truth. Baluze, following Mabillon, tells us that St. Calminius flourished in the seventh century, and that he founded the monastery of Tulle. By establishing this monastery he laid the foundation of a town. The same author has preserved to us the records of a great number of endowments, of donations, and of vast benefits, of which, in the tenth century, La Guène was the object, and all in honour of St. Calminius. And one learns by historical data how considerable a person he was amongst the people of the period in which he flourished; and that his name should still continue to live in the memories of the inhabitants of La Guène, of which he was so great a benefactor." After these general remarks, the learned advocate gave a rapid exposé of the circumstances connected with the carrying off the shrine. He thus continued: "M. Minier is an ironmonger at Limoges; he traffics also in antiquities; he buys old candlesticks, cups, crucifixes, and generally all such articles as are used in our churches. For several years past he has travelled over the department in every direction, and there is not a church, however hidden and retired, nor a village, however poor you could imagine it, which has remained up to this time unknown to him, and escaped his self-interested investigations. "It is about three years ago that he made his first trip to La Guène. He put himself into communication with M. Laygue, who was then as now the minister of the commune. He saw the shrine of St. Calminius; but, as he offered only 100 francs for it, the curé refused to part with it. Some time afterwards he paid another visit to La Guène, always with the intention of obtaining the shrine; but he met with the same refusal. At last, on the 22nd of Oct. 1841, Minier made a third journey to La Guène; he went directly to M. Laygue, and again opened his negociation for the purchase of the shrine. "This time he advanced in his proposals by making an unconditional offer of 250 francs. The price was agreed upon, but the minister was in the first instance troubled with some scruples; he wished that the council of the commune might be consulted. They sought out the mayor, M. Lassalvanie, who hesitated also, and expressed a wish that the council might be informed of it, and that some deliberation might take place with them on the subject. But M. Minier was urgent; he said that the council had no right to look into this negociation, that it rested solely with the curé, and moreover that he could not possibly stay, but must have the bargain concluded that day. Upon this, minister, mayor, and assistant, betook themselves to the church, where they displaced the shrine, and delivered it over to M. Minier, who immediately bore it away with him to Tulle, having paid the cure the stipulated price of 250 francs. In a few days afterwards, M. Minier took the shrine to Paris, and offered it first to M. Du Sommerand, (who is well known in the scientific world by his rich museum of antiquities,) and then to M. Joyan, a dealer in antiquities, who purchased it of him for 3000 francs. these circumstances which have preceded or followed the disappearance of the shrine were published in the papers. prefect being put into possession of the facts by the minister of public worship, immediately took the necessary steps to recover possession of this precious monument. The "Conseil de Préfecture," by a resolution of the 28th of January, authorized the council of public buildings to institute a suit against M. Minier, and M. Laygue the minister, and to pursue the recaption of the shrine in the hands of any third party wrongfully detaining All The it. On the 21st of February, Messrs. Laygue and Minier were cited before the tribunal. The council of public buildings demanded of them the return of the shrine, or 10,000 francs, as damages of detention under sequestration. "On the 6th of April, a recaption was made of the shrine in the hands of M. Joyan, the actual possessor, and, by a decree of the President of the Tribunal of the Seine, it has been sequestrated and deposited in the hall of the "commissairespriseurs." M. Joyan has been summoned before the tribunal to hear the court pronounce on the validity of the recaption from him." After having thus exposed the whole affair, the learned advocate sought to establish, 1st, that the recaption was valid; and therefore that M. Joyan should be adjudged to return the shrine to the council of public buildings. 2ndly, That, failing in the support of his first proposition, Messrs. Laygue and Minier ought to be adjudged to pay the council 10,000 francs for damages of the detention by sequestration. The tribunal of Tulle, after having heard four other counsel on the part of M. Laygue, M. Lassalvanie, M. Minier, and M. Joyan, and their personal explanations. On the summing up of the representative of "M. Le Procureur du Roi," the court gave judgment as follows: "The court, taking into consideration the evidence adduced, by its unanimous judgment annuls the recaption made as against M. Joyan, and removes in his favour the sequestration upon the shrine of St. Calminius, which has caused this recaption; but the court does not see any grounds for awarding damages of detention to him on account of this sequestration. Adjudges the council to pay the costs of M. Joyan, fixed at the sum of 77 francs 10 cents. "Without determining upon the point of non-receipt offered by Minier, the court declares the sale which was consented to by Laygue and Lassalvanie null and void, and consequently doth order that Minier shall restore, in the course of two months, the shrine of St. Calminius, which was the subject of the sale. That the council shall account to him for the necessary expenses which he shall have been put to in the preservation and restoration of the shrine, according to an account which he shall be obliged to furnish, and which the council shall be at liberty to question. And in default of his rendering such account, within the prescribed time, the court doth now adjudge him, without further hearing, to pay the value, which the tribunal fixes at the sum of 2,955 francs, and adjudges him also to pay the costs of the council, ascertained at 183 francs 93 cents. "Without determining upon the point of non-receipt raised by M. Bardoulat on behalf of Lassalvanie, the court doth declare Laygue and Lassalvanie liable to the Council of Public Buildings of La Guène for the performance of the judgments passed in favour of the Council against Minier, and doth consequently condemn them to the payment of the aforesaid sum of 2,955 francs, saving to them, nevertheless, their right of redress over as against Minier. "Adjudges Laygue to reimburse Minier in the sum of 250 francs, by him paid at the time the shrine was handed over to him, and which was received by the said Laygue. Adjudges Laygue and Lassalvanie to pay the costs of Minier, ascertained at 97 fr. 58 cts.; and further adjudges them to indemnify him against the costs, for which he is directly liable towards the Council of Public Buildings of La Guène, and to pay him the sum of 100 francs, the whole of which being for damages of detention under sequestration." It At present nothing more can be done than to leave the matter to the natural course of events. M. Minier, without doubt, will appeal; he will be cast in his appeal as he has been on the first hearing, and the shrine will be restored to its home at La Guène, from whence it ought never again to be taken. This will serve as an example to mayors and ministers throughout all France, when they venture to sell such precious objects without authority, and dilapidate our religious treasures. will also be a useful lesson to our braziers and curiosity dealers, who impoverish our churches and reap their harvest all over France amongst our most beautiful and most ancient works of art. The Committee congratulates itself on the result of these proceedings, and requests that the same may be published in the Bulletin Archéologique. In future, Councils of public buildings and ministers will think twice before they dispose of works of art or historical monuments. MR. URBAN, Nov. 9. YOUR ingenious correspondent E. B. P. (whose careful details of Lon. |