DEATH OF W. A. GUNNELL.

the same paper, there is a long "leader" on Mr. Gunnell. He was buried at the Hull General Cemetery, Spring Bank, on the 10th inst.

THE readers of the "The Johnson MSS. Correspondence," in The Hull Quarterly, will be sorry to hear of the death of Mr. W. A. Gunnell, the editor of Sketches of Hull Celebrities, at the age of seventythree. The Eastern Morning News, of April 8th, gives the following account of his death:-" On Monday, Mr. William Anderson Gunnell, well-known from his connection with the famous Johnson Manuscripts, died at his residence, 23, Cavendish-square, Margaret-street, Hull. He was the son of Benjamin Gunnell, a baker, who was in business in Prospectstreet, Hull, and who for some time represented North Myton Ward in the Hull Town Council. The son was born on the 23rd March, 1812, and was brought up as a medical practitioner, being for some time dispensing chemist at the Hull Infirmary. Subsequently he opened a chemist's shop at the corner of Walmsley-street and Leonard-street. He devoted his leisure time to various works of literary and industrial art, and in these matters displayed immense industry and perseverance. Amongst other things, he worked a tapestry carpet, every panel of which displayed a separate and distinct bouquet of flowers, showing marvellous ingenuity and artistic design. But the work which chiefly brought him into notice, was the publication, in 1875, of a mass of ancient manuscripts purporting to have been written by a family of Johnsons, who formerly resided in Hull. The publication of these manuscripts occasioned much controversy amongst the literati of the town, some denying the genuineness and authenticity of the MSS., and others as stoutly defending them. In his private life Mr. Gunnell was of a humorous and genial disposition, but was generally regarded as being deficient in the literary and inventive faculties necessary to have fabricated the MSS He leaves a widow and several children." Also on p. 2, of

ON March 31st, is announced the death of Miss Jane Stratten, of Cottingham, and daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Stratten, who was appointed pastor of Fish Street Congregational Church, in 1832, on the resignation of the Rev. Joseph Fox, and died in 1854.

REVIEWS.

The Collector, Edited by Geo. W. Mortimer. Hull: A. Brown and Sons, Savile street. Nottingham: C. Hill. 49, Bridlesmith Gate. 8vo. 8 pp.

We have received the first four numbers of this very interesting little magazine, which is devoted to the study of Philately, Numismatics, The Fine Arts, Porcelain, &c. We wish Mr. Mortimer success with his magazine, which, we think, will prove a useful

medium to the collector of curiosities.

"

THE Battle of Brunanbyrig," by E. M. E. Welby, is the title of a paper which appeared in the Antiquary for February last, (pp. 68-69). The purport of the paper is to prove that the Battle of Brunanburgh was fought at Flamborough; but many of the readers will be in favour of the late Town Clerk's (C. S. Todd, F.S.A.) theory, that the site of the battle was in the neighbourhood of Little Weeton and Skidby. In the May number of the Antiquary, our esteemed contributor Mr. C. Staniland Wake, will give a reply to the above article, in defence of Mr. Todd and his views.

C. H. BARNWELL, PRINTER, SAVILE STREET, HULL.

HULL

ΤΗ

DURHAM.*

By M. W. Whitfield, M.A.

HE two northern counties of England are probably less known to dwellers in this district than they deserve to be. Indeed it must surprise many readers of The Hull Quarterly to be told that within three hours' ride of their own doors is to be found a city which for combination of natural scenery of rock, wood and water, with architectural grandeur and antiquarian interest may stand comparison with any spot upon even the classic Rhine. Yet those who have seen the city of St. Cuthbert,

"Where his cathedral, huge and vast,
Frowns down upon the Wear ".

need not travel across the German Ocean in search of relics of the romantic past. The long line of Prince Bishops and Golden Canons would hold their own among any assemblage of Feudal times, and have even to the present day left their mark upon the ancient walls and mouldering buildings of the old city on the hills that seems stranded like some

grim Viking's ship amid the bustle and progress of the populous county over which its prelates once reigned supreme.

Respecting the name Durham, authorities seem to disagree; some say the original name was Dunholme, whilst

* For the loan of the blocks to illustrate this article, we are deeply indebted to Geo. Walker, Esq., of Durham.

[Price 3s.

others consider it to be Deor-ham, the home of the wild beasts; anyone who has seen the city on pay-day," when the miners are leaving the public houses will be more inclined to agree with the latter interpretation. However that may be, the city owes its fame to the arrival of the relics of Saint Cuthbert, a Northumbrian saint who lived and died in the odour of sanctity about the latter half of the seventh century. The good saint, after a life of austerity and devotion, was buried in the church of Lindisfarne, and in due course stories arose of miracles wrought in his lifetime and performed at his tomb after his death. Amongst other remarkable facts, it was found that years after his burial his body remained uncorrupted and undecayed, and this tended in no small degree to increase the reverence paid at his shrine.

The years rolled on, and a new race appeared upon the nothern coasts, the fierce Danes or Northmen, worshippers of Woden and Thor and the wild gods of Scandinavia, whom our Saxon forefathers had renounced in favour of a milder and more humanizing religion. These rough sea-warriors, descending upon our shores, pillaged, burnt, and destroyed all that came in their way. But small respect had they for Saxon saint or sinner; and ill would it have fared with the monks of Lindisfarne had they encountered the savage Norsemen. But they resolved to anticipate attack; so, carrying with them the sacred body of their saint, they deter

seemed fastened to the ground, which circumstance naturally astounded and perplexed the people. They therefore betook themselves to fasting and prayer. Three days afterwards the saint appeared in a dream to one of the company, telling him that his resting place was not to be Chester-le-street, but Dunholme. Now the monks knew no place of that name, and so were in some distress; but after a time they overheard two women talking, one asking the other if she had seen her cow. The other replied that it was in Dunholme. Thus their doubts were soon set at rest. and the appointed place was discovered. To silence those who disbelieve, behold the north side of Durham cathedral, with the effigy of the Dun Cow, attesting the truth of the story! And also, though somewhat later evidence, the Dun Cow Inn, so often the quarters

of the Public Functionary who comes to "work off" those who have three weeks' notice to quit the Durham gaol.

At first a little church was reared; but later times were not contented with the humble structure of their forerunners. So Carileph, the sixth Bishop determined to erect a building worthy of so great a saint; and the ponderous pillars and Norman arches began to rise from their rocky foundations. Succeeding generations carried on the work, and the result is the noble pile that still dominates the winding stream.

About

The body of St. Cuthbert remains interred within the cathedral. sixty years ago the tomb was opened, and the remains of the saint were seen, whilst several relics were removed to the Dean and Chapter Library, where they are now preserved. The Roman Catholics have a tradition that the true position of St. Cuthbert's tomb is only known to three persons, sworn not to reveal the secret. But the last examination of the remains seems to have settled the question beyond reasonable doubt.

At the west end of the cathedral is a remarkable building known as the Galilee Chapel. This is conspicuo s for the elegance of its architecture, and also as containing the tomb of the Venerable Bede. Truly Durham with its ecclesiastical and academic repose seems a more suitable resting place for the pious and learned monk than his own monastic residences of Jarrow and Wearmouth, now swarming with industrial and commercial populations.

On the door of the northern porch may still be seen a grotesque figure which

The Sanctuary Knocker.

served as a knocker for those who claimed the right of Sanctuary. Night and day a monk was stationed in a chamber above the gateway to admit at once all who claimed the privilege of St. Cuthbert's protection. This was afforded for a space of not more than thirty-seven days. After that time had elapsed, should the offender not have succeeded in making his peace with his pursuers, he was conveyed to the sea coast, placed in the first ship bound for a foreign land, and it was his own fault if he came again within reach of his country's laws. Owing to a certain adventure with a lady in which the Saint only escaped with his life by a miracle, women were not allowed to approach the sacred shrine. There is a story told of two women who attempted to penetrate the sanctuary disguised in men's attire, but being discovered were condemned to public penance before the whole city.

The ancient custom of ringing the curfew bell is still observed in Durham. Every night of the week, Saturdays excepted, the bell is tolled at nine o'clock. It is said that one Saturday evening long ago the ringer went up the Tower according to custom, but disappeared mysteriously, and was never more seen. The Evil One, in fact, had carried him off. Since that time no Curfew bell has been rung on Saturday night.

We cannot now speak of the glories of the chapel of the Nine Altars. nor of the exalted Bishop's Throne, nor of the mighty Norman pillars unequalled between this and Egypt; we must proceed outside to the cloisters and the Convent buildings now partly used as a Library and Museum. Past these we go through the Crypt and emerge in the College, which is not an e lucational establishment, but the residence of the Dean, the Canons and other members of this cathedral church," as the Sunday bidding prayer has it. These poor men have been pitifully shorn of late years; instead of an income of five thousand a year they are obliged to be content with a modest thousand; the Dean, however, receiving three. The last of the "Golden Canons" died a few

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