Star.
London, England, 1826-07-21 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OF DURHAM.

The folldwing is the account of the ceremony al-
luded to in yesterday's STAR:
It is probable the manor of Sockburn was granted
cut early to one of the Coniers for some valiant action,
as the following ceremony denotes, which is perfornied
at this day on the Bishop of Durham's first entrance
into the county. The manor of Sockburn is held under
the Bishop of Durham, by knight's service and the fol-
lowing ceremony :—At the first entrance of the Bishop,
the Lord of Sockburn, or his agent, meets him in the
middle of the river Tees, at Nesham, where the water is
fordable (oiherwise on Croft Bridge), when he presents
a falchion to the Bishop, as an emblem of his temporal
power, and repeats the following words : uMy Lord
Bishop, I here present you with the falchion, wherewith
the Champion Conyers slew the worm, dragon, or fiery
flying serpent, which destroyed man, woman, and
child; in memory of which, the king then reigning
gave him the manor of Sockburn, to hold by hi: tenure,
that upon the first entrance of every Bishop into the
county this falchion should be presented." The Bishop
takes the falchion in his hand, and immedia'ely returns
it to the person who presents it, wishing the L4d of
Sockburn health, and a long enjoyment of the manor.
In the ancient pedigree of the family of Coniers,
it is set forth that " Sir John Conyers, knight, who slew
the monstrous, venomous, and poysonous wyveron,
ask, or worm, which overthrew and devoured many.,
people in fight, and the scent of the poyson was
so strong that no person might abide it, and bee,
by p'vidence of Almighty God, overthrew it, and
lyeth buried at Sockbtirne before the Conquest.
But before he did enterprise, having but one childe,
v ent to the church in complete armour, and offered up
his sonne to the Holy Ghost, which monuments are yet
to see. Also the place where the serpent lay is called
theystones." How far the reader will give credit to this
relation is not inquired of, but. certain it is the family
was settled here about the time of the Conquest, and
were Barons of the Palatine, for Roger Confers then
held the tamei Conqueror,
and was, by the made con-
stable of Durham
,Castle, and keeper of all the soldiers'
arms therein : and.which office was settled on him and
his heirs male for ever, by grant under the great seal of
Wm. de Carilepho, Bishopof Durham. They continued
• to hold the manor till issue male failing in Sir John
Conyers, his daughter and heiress Anne niarried Francis
Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, whose daughter and heiress
married Stoner of Stoner, :in the county of Oxford,
who sold Sockburn, with the manor of iiisliopton, to
Sir Edward Blacket, in whose family those possessions
still continue.

S'r FRANCIS DURDETTiS stated in the Paris papers to
have al rived in that capital.
In the south of Ireland, there has been a decided im-
provement in the wheat crops during the. last three
weeks. The barley and oats are both very indifferent.
, .Several. fields of wheat are cut down in the county of
Kilkenny. The grain is small, but very sound.
About five o'clock yesterday afternoon, as,a number
of. children were playing on the Tower Wharf, a fine
boy about six years of age, the son -of an industrious
woman residing near Iron-gate Stairs, fell over the
',wharf into the river, and was drowned.
An Inquest was held at Newgate, on the body of
James Webb, aged 63, w ho was committed three weeks
since, on a charge of stealing a coat. Saturday, he
complained to one of the prisoners of a dizziness in his
Ae td. His companion asked him what it proceeded
from, and he in reply answered, with an oath, he did
MA know. At Chapel, on Sunday, while listening to
the Service, he again complained, and fell senseless.—
. • Mr. Boz's assistant bled him, but he died in a short time.
.Verdict—" Died by the visitation of GOD."

The Duke of MAIN It, while still a child, was one day
very noisy at his play. The great Coxiig, who was in the same
apartment, complained of IL " I wish to Goo, Sir," said the
child, " I could make as much noise as you do."
At Dulwich College are preserved some of BEN JOII•
sns's Memoranda, which prove that he owed much of
his inspisatii.n to good wine and the convivial hours he
passed at the Devil, a tavern then situated in Fleet•
street, near Temple-bar, on the site where Child's-place
now stands. " Mem. I laid the plot of my' Volpnne,'
and wrete most of it, after a present of ten dozen of
palm sack from my very good Lord T—; that play, I
am positive, will live to posterity, and be acted, when I
and Envy be friends, With applause."
" Mem. The first speech in my Catalina,' spoken by *files
. Chaste was writ after I paned with my friend at the Devil Tavern.
j had drank well that night, and had brave notions. There Is one
scene iq that play, which I think is flat. I resolve to drink no more
• water with my wine."." Mem. Upon the eotb of May, the King
(heaven reward him I) sent me 1001. At that time I went often to
the
Dyvil, and before I buidneni forty of it. wrote my' Alchymist."'
• na. The' Devil an Ao,' theofavub; and some
cater comedies, which did not succeed, written by me in the winter.
bobest Ralph died, When I and my boys drank bad wine at •the
Devil."