The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-06 00:00:00

LIST OF SHERIFFS FOR 1841.

(From the Gazette of last Night.)
BEDFORDSHIRE—Arthur Nlacnamara,of Eaton Bray, Esq.
BERKSHIRE—John Jesse Bulkeley, of Linden-hill, Esq.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE—Thomas Newland Allen, of the Vache,
Chalfont St. Giles, Esq.
CANIBRIDORSHIRE AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE—Joseph Mar.
shall, of Elm, Esq.
CUMBERLAND—J. Robertson Walker, of Gillgarron, Esq.
CHESHIRE— John Ryle. of Henbury-hall, Esq.
CORN WA LL - Postponed.
DERBYSHIRE—J. B. Bowden, of Southgate House, Esq.
DEVONSHIRE—John C. BuF eel, of Fleet, Esq
DORSETSIIIRE—Sir R. P. Glyn, of Gaunts House, Bart.
DURHAM—. William Russell, or Brancepeth.Castle, Esq.
ESSEX—J. A. Houblon, of Great Hallinhury-place, Esq.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE—J. W. Walters, of Barnwood House,
Esq.
HEREFORDSHIRE—Robert Lane, of Ryelands, Esq.
HERTFORDsHIRE—R. W. Gaussen, of Brookrnans, Esq.
KENT—Dc La Mark Banks, of Sheppy Cuurt, Minster,
Esq.
LEICESTERSHIRE—Richard Mitchell, of Enderby, Esq.
LINCOLNSHIRE—Sir J. C. Thorold, of Syston-Park, Bart.
MoNsrouTristitirs—Ssmuel Homfray, of Bedwelty, Esq.
NORFOLK—Sir J. J. Buxton, of ShadwrALLodge, Bart.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE—Sir R. H. Gunning, of Horton,
Bart.
NORTHUMISEKLAND—Sir Matthew Whitc Ridley, of Blag-
Jon, Bart.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE—Henry Smith, of Welford, Esq.
OXFORDSHIRE —John Loveday, of E.q.
RUTLANDSHIRE—Joseph Tomblin, of Leighfield, Esq.
SHROPSHIRE—The Hon. G F. Hamilton, of Burwarton.
SOMER,RTSHIRE—W. F. Knatchbull, of Babington, Esq.
STAFFORDSHIRL--.ThOinag Cart-right, of Hill-Hall, Esq.
COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON—Horatio Francis Kingsford
Holloway, of Marchwood Lodge, Southampton. Esq.
SUFFOLK--Sir J. R. Rowley, of Tendring Hall, Bart.
SURREY—W. L. Gower, of Titsev-place, Oastead, Esq.
St•ssEx.---Sir Richard Hunter, of Pitching. Kilt.

WI RVIICK SlllRE—Kelysige Greenway, of Warwick, Esq.
WlLTAtira—Ambrose Hussey, of Salisbury, Esq.
WoneesrEitsittax—Thomas Charles Hurnyold, of Black-
more-park, Esq.
YORKSIITRE—Freder;ck William Thomas Vernon Went.
worth, of Wentworth-Castle, E.q.
WALES.

ANGLESEY—Richard Trygarn Griffith,of Garreglwyd, Esq.
BRECONSHIRE—WiIIiam Hibbs Bevan, of Glannaut, Esq.
C 4 RDIGANSIIIRE—David Davies, of Cardigan, Es i.
CARMARTIIRNSITIRE—J. W. Philipps, of Aberglasney, Esq.
CAKNARYONSIIIRE—David White Griffith, of Hafodydd-
Britir.n, Esq.
DENBIGHSHIRE —Henry Ellis Boa'es, of Rosehill, near
Wrexham, Esq.
FLINTEIHIRE—LIeweIy Lloyd, of Pontriillth, Esq.
GLAstoanassniax—Joseph Martin, of Ynistawe, Esq.
NIKRIONETHSIIIMI—John Williams, of Brun Eryri, Esq.
MONTGOMERYSHIRE—John Vau:;han,of Rhos Bt ynb wa, Esq.
PEMBROKESHIRE—George Roch, of Batterhill, Esq.
RaoNcasnittc— Postponed.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF A
ROMAN BASILICA UNDER BRIXWORTH
CHURCH.

Most of our readers are probably aware of what is
now the theme of discourse amongst the lovers of eccle-
siastical architectural antiquities—that the parish church
of Brixworth, in this county, exhibited the finest sp, ci-
men of the Roman or Anglo-Roman building in the
whole kingdom. Its antiquity was first suspected by
our townsman, Mr. George Baker, and was subse-
quently ascertained and carried higher in the scale of
centuries by the discoveries of his friends Rickman and
Britten, the latter of whose dicta have been acquiesced
in by numerous antiquaries who successively visited and
inspected the building, and compared it with other
authentic remains of the Roman era. Nearly all the
nave and square tower still subsist in their original state,
displaying the strong massive masonry of the Roman,
people, who seemed to design all their works for an
" eternal empire." The composition is of unhewn
stones, cemented with mortar harder than themselves,
and containing the characteristic deep brick or tiled•
arch for the doorways, cloister windows, and approach
to the aisles. The original aisles have long been re-
moved, but their ancient foundations have been dis-
covered, at least on the north side of the church,
though not yet followed out to any extent. But
though the most competent antiquaries were agreed in
assigning to the church a very high antiquity en these
ostensible data, it was, nevertheless, justly considered
possible that the church might have been built some
time after the Romans left the country, with the mate-
rials of a more ancient Roman building, notwithstand-
ing the brick tiles have no appearance of having been
used before. It, was therefore desirable to escertaiu
whether or not the ancient foundation was of the same
age with the present superstructure, and the existing
chancel being of later date than the nave and tower, it
was still uncertain whether there had ever existed in its
place the semicircular structure of the Roman basiiica
(viz., the east end of the building, where the prancr hell
his court.) Happily, this
.is no longer a matter of
doubt or uncertainty, for on Thursday last the Rev.
C. F. Watkins, the vicar, having gone into the chancel
to inspect the making of a new grave, perceiv_ed a
portion of ancient masonry at one corner of the excava-
tion, which seemed to verge in a gentle curve towards
the east. Immediately conjecturing that it was part of
the original basilica, he laid it open for four or five feet,
with every appearance of ultimate success, and there-
upon sent a message to the Rev. W. Hume, rector of
Scaldwell, who has an interest in the chancel, with
whom, and his brother the Rev. Charles Hume, rec-
tor of Stoke Moor. Hants, Mr. Watkins pursued the
investigation on Monday till they had the satisfaction
of discovering and laying open the whole circuit of the
original wall, which descends from the floor of the pre-
sent chancel to a depth of about four feet, where it
encloses an ancient floor of handsome cement, the sur-
face of which has somewhat the appearance
of stalagmite, probably occasioned by a slight deposit
of calcareous matter carded down through the super.
incumbent rubbish of lime and earth. This newly-
discovered wall descends still lower; how much deeper it
goes is not yet, but soon will be, ascertained. What is
most important is, that it is of the same thickness, com-
position, and age as the nave and square tower, which
leaves the antiquity of the whole with scarcely the sha-
dow of a doubt. It is Mr. Watkins's intention to ap-
peal to the country at large and to all who take an in-
terest in these antiquarian researches, which throw so
much light upon the history of the Church of this king-
dom, to enable him to rebuild the chancel upon this the
origiu al substructure, the grouted cement of which is
even now harder than the stones which it binds to-
gether ; and, by clearing away the encompassing
mould, to exhibit the most entire and best-pre-
served architecture of such high antiquity which
this kingdom is known to contain. When
it is understood that the present chancel is a
poor weak structure--that the lessee of the great tithes,
who has to keep it in repair, has just been enlarging
and re-building a part of his own parish church, at
great expense to himself—that 2001. would suffice for
carrying the plan into execution—it is hoped that this
moderate sum will not be withheld from an object
which is of real importance, of groat interest, and will
be open to the inspection of every one who chooses to
visit it from near and far, as many have already come
from the most distant parts of the kingdom. The
bankers at Northampton, and elsewhere, will be re-
quested to receive subscriptions, and several of the
neighbouring clergy and gentry be solicited to form a
Committee of Management and Superintendence.—
Northampton Herald.