1823.] [255] LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Ready for Publication. The Third Volume of Mr. SURTEES's valuable History of Durham. Dr. MEYRICK'S Work on Antient Armour, in three volumes, imperial 4to. This is the only work which acquaints us with the changes in armour chronologically. It will contain 70 coloured and 10 outline plates, 26 illuminated capital letters, engraved vignette and titles; with nearly 1000 pages of letter-press. A Dictionary of English Quotations, in three Parts. Part the First, containing quotations from Shakspeare. By the Author of the Peerage and Baronetage Charts, &c. A Translation of all the Greek, Latin, Italian, and French Sentences, Phrases, &c. which occur in Blackstone's Commentaries. The old Doctrine of Faith asserted, in opposition to certain modern Innovations, including Strictures on Reviews of the Author's Sermons on Repentance and Faith. By the Rev. J. CARLILE. Journal of a Ten Month's Residence in New Zealand. By Capt. A. CRUISE. The East India Military Calendar; containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army. By the Editor of the Royal Military Calendar. Letters to Marianne. By WM. COMBE, Esq. Author of "Doctor Syntax's Tour in Search of the Picturesque," &c. The English Flora. By Sir J. E. SMITH, President of the Linnean Society. Part V. of Whittingham's Cabinet Edition of Elegant Extracts; in poetry. By R. A. DAVENPORT, Esq. The Reading Guide and Berkshire Directory for 1823, including an enumeration of the principal Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, and their present occupiers. A neat Lithographic Map of the River Thames, from London to Margate. By Mr. WILLICH; who has also succeeded in obtaining a reduction in the duty on German lithographic stones imported into this country, from 20s. to 3s. per cwt. Preparing for Publication. The second and concluding Part of the Rev. Dr. YATES's Monastic History of St. Edmund's Bury, is now in such a state of forwardness, that, from an intimation we have received, we hope it may be published in the ensuing Spring it appears to contain a mass of antiquarian information, drawn from Papal Bulls, Royal Charters, and Monastic Registers, more numerous and various than we were aware could have been at present found respecting any single English Abbey, however rich and interesting. Having several times since the publication of the first Part, called upon the respected Author in our pages, not to suffer his other important avocations to exclude this second Part from his attention, we have great pleasure in making this announce ment. The History and Antiquities of the Town and Port of Hastings, illustrated with Engravings, from original Drawings. By W. G. Moss, Draughtsman to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The first Part of Historical and Monumental Antiquities of Devonshire, containing the Hundred of Teignbridge. By the Rev. J. P. JONES, of North Bovey. The History, Directory, and Gazetteer of the County Palatine of Lancaster. A similar work, published by the same author, of the County of York, has been well received. See Part i. of this Volume, p. 141. A Series of Essays, Sketches, and Readings, under the title of The Cameleon. By the Author of "The Picturesque Promenade round Dorking." Suggestions on Christian Education, &c. accompanied by two Biographical Sketches, and a Memoir of Amos Green, Esq. of Bath and York, by his late Widow. The literary veteran, Mr. Roscoe, is rapidly advancing with his variorum edition of the Works of Pope, to which he will prefix a new Life. The new edition of Shirley's Works, notwithstanding the severe indisposition of the Editor, Mr. GIFFARD, is in a state of great forwardness. We believe all the Plays are printed, and a portion of the Poems. The Life of Shirley only remains to be written. -A new edition of Ford's Plays are in preparation for the press by the same Editor. Mr. Giffard is said to have been stimulated to undertake the latter work in consequence of the slovenly manner in which the edition by Weber was produced. The Life and Times of Salvator Rosa, comprising much curious and original matter, illustrative of the history of the seventeenth century. By Lady MORGAN. A concise Description of the English Lakes, and the Mountains in their vicinity, with Remarks on the Mineralogy and Geology of the District. By JONATHAN OTLEY. Observations on the Oveston Caves, with their Animal contents; dedicated to Sir Humphrey Davy. By Mr. COTTLE, of Bris tol. Mr. WILLIAMS has it in contemplation to publish, as soon as subscriptions for indemnity can be obtained, Designs from a com 256 Literary Intelligence.-Royal Letters. complete Series of Antique Friezes, commonly known as the Phigalian Marbles; comprehending the celebrated contest between the Lapithe and Centaurs, and the Greeks and Amazons, which formerly or-namented the cella of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius, at Phigalia, in Arcadia, Greece; taken from those Marbles, now deposited in the British Museum, consisting of twentythree tablets. The designs are made by various young artists of rising eminence, of the British school; and are to be engraven in exact imitation of the original drawings, in the lithographic manner, by Mr. F. O. FINCH. The Life of Lieut.-col. Blackadder, of the 26th, or Cameronian regiment, afterwards Governor of Stirling Castle; who served with distinguished honour during the Duke of Marlborough's Wars, and during the Rebellion in Scotland in 1715. A Prose Translation of Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered. Respectfully inscribed, by permission, to the Right Hon. Julia, Lady Petre. By LOUISA PRINCEPS. Extracts from various Greek Authors, with English Notes, and Lexicon for the use of the junior Greek class in the University of Glasgow. A Geognostical Essay on the Superposition of Rocks in both Hemispheres. By M. de HUMBoldt. First Steps to Botany, intended as popuJar illustrations of the science leading to its study as a branch of general education. By JAMES M. DRUMMOND, M.D. The Star in the East, with other Poems. By JOSIAH CONDER, The Night before the Bridal, and other Poems. By Miss GARNETT. The Liberal, in spite of all puffing, and all the remaining influence of the name of Byron, is defunct. Four Numbers only have sufficed to satisfy the curiosity of the public, and to decide their vote. Captain Clifford has purchased, on the different islands in the Mediterranean, a number of Greek and Roman statues and busts, in the highest taste of art, and of the most renowned age; together with many valuable antiques, both in bronze and marble, which are to be added to the stores of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and deposited in Chatsworth or in Devonshire House. Immediately after the adjournment of Parliament, Sir J. Mackintosh attended the Marquis of Tichfield to Welbeck, to examine the archives of the family, which had not been opened for many years. Sir James, it is said, there discovered some invaluable letters and State papers, which will materially tend to illustrate that portion of his History of England, to which they belong. [Sept. The New Monasticon has given a correct view of the West front of Ripon Minster, as it appears at present, drawn and engraved by Mr. John Coney.-The towers of this Church were originally surmounted with lofty spires, as in the prints of the old Monasticon. These were long since taken down; but the lower part of this great West window could never have been as represented in the old print. Whatever appearances there might have been of small windows or blank arches, they have been covered by a wall raised upon the present three door-cases or porches, probably to add strength to the bottom of the large window. ROYAL LETTERS. The late and present Keepers of the Records in the Tower, pursuant to the direction of the Royal Commissioners on Public Records, have examined such bundles and rolls in the office as were not labelled or noticed in any of the calendars; and the immense mass of unsorted records dispersed about in every part of the Record Rooms. The result of those investigations has been, the discovery of many records and state papers, the existence of which was not even known, notwithstanding the enquiries directed by Parliament so late as 1800, and the consequent returns. A considerable number of returns to Parliament, from Henry VI. to Charles II. comprising great part of the returns to the three Parliaments, during the Usurpation, were found covered with filth, under the arch at the North-west corner of the White Tower; they have been cleaned, arranged, and placed in the Wakefield Tower. Also an immense quantity of petitions to Parliament, and several other detached Parliamentary Records, among which are the ori ginal articles exhibited in Parliament by John Duke of Bedford, 11 Hen. VI.; likewise a vast quantity of state papers, and royal letters, which now occupy eight large folio volumes. They are from the beginning of the reign of Henry III. to the end of Richard III. About 500 of those written during the reign of Richard II. Henry IV. Henry V. Henry VI. Edward V. and Richard III. which are written on paper, have been cleaned, arranged, and bound in volumes. All Richard II.'s letters are in French; as are those of Henry IV. The letters of Henry V. are all written in English. In one "To the Worshipful Fader in God oure right trusty and well-beloved the Bishop of Duresme, our Chancellor of England," the King encloses a petition from the Parson of Street, in Somersetshire, complaining that the Abbot and Convent of Glastonbury had taken away his plough, &c. and imprisoned his men, because he had sued them for tithes; and orders the Chancellor to call both parties before him," and their causes herd, that he do unto them both right and equite; and, in especial, that he see that the poorer party suffre no wrong." In another letter to the same, dated Lambhithe," the King commands the Chancellor to attend to the petition of Margery Daye, touching certain extortions and harms done unto her husband and her, by Johu Armesby, notary, of Leicester; and to see that right be done to the party complainant ; "and the more favourably, considering the poverty of the said Margery." We annex the monogram used by Henry V. copied from his original will in the Chapter-House at Westminster. The letters of Henry VI. are written in English, and most of them are signed with his initials R. H. at the top of the letter. The Royal signature, or initials, do not appear to any letter before this King's time.Edward IV.'s letters are all written in English, and most of them signed by the King, with a monogram formed of the letters R. E. and frequently with notes at the bottom in the King's own hand-writing. The letters of Richard III. are also in English, signed by him at the top with the letters R. R.; one of them is to the "Right Rev. Fader in God," the Bishop of Lincoln, or Chancellor of England, dated "the Monastery of Gloucester," in which the King orders the Chancellor to make letters of general pardon under the Great Seal for Sir Ralph Hastings, knight, late Lieutenant of the Castle of Guines, &c. HERALDS' COLLEGE. The Royal Commission appointed to examine into the state of the Public Records of the Kingdom has pointed out the insecure condition of the Heralds' Office or College of Arms. His Majesty's Commissioners, in their Report of 1819, declared that the Office required to be removed speedily into some public building, or that the present one should be rendered more secure from fire. Various proceedings have taken place, in correspondence, memorials, &c. between the Officers of the Heralds' College, Government, &c. but nothing was decided upon.-According to documents now published, by authority of Parliament, it appears that the Kings, Heralds, and Pursuivants of the College of Arms (by their Memorial in Chapter agreed to), represented that the building in which their records are preserved was not only falling fast to decay, but in constant and imminent danger from fire, inasmuch as a sugar-house, the timbers of which are actually inserted in the walls of the College, immediately adjoins the library, and there is no party-wall between the buildings. Though the Royal Commissioners, by personal inspection, ascertained that it was necessary to remove the College GENT. MAG. September, 1823. 257 into some public building, or to secure it against the extreme peril of fire, to whichr it was exposed, nothing could be done. The Chapter again memorialized the Government, representing that the decay of the building had increased so rapidly, as to render it even an unsafe residence to those Officers who inhabit certain parts of it; and, in particular, they had observed, that some of the Library Presses had sunk considerably, and that the books contained in them were suffering from damp. They searched for the cause, and they discovered that the North wall had become so ruinous as to render it necessary to lay a great part of it bare, by taking down three of the said presses; and they were in consequence obliged to remove some hundred volumes of manuscripts, which were contained in them, into the Hall, which is the public passage to the Office. They also forwarded memorials, with like representations, to the Duke of Norfolk, as Earl Marshal of England. The building remaining still the same, the Memorialists again directed their attention to this subject. They said, they hoped they had by their silence, under such severe pressure, shewn the desire patiently to await such measures as the Earl Marshal of England, or the Government, might recommend; but they add, that a circumstance had occurred which compelled them to implore attention to the dreadful consequence to which the public treasure of Records, of which they had the custody, were continually exposed by the erection and use of a steam engine of considerable force in the said sugar-house. Their anxiety and terror had been aggravated by the contemplation of that awful and instantaneous calamity which occurred in Goodman's-fields, by which at least 12 persons lost their lives in the application of such an apparatus to purposes precisely similar in a sugar-house. The Secretary of State for the Home Department hereupon had the condition of the College of Arms investigated by the Surveyor of the Phoenix Fire Office. He reports, that the apartments in which are deposited the Records abut upon the sugarrefinery of Alderman Smith, which is also an ancient building, &c.; and that if the depôt of Records in question is considered an object of national importance, the present building by no means possesses these security requisite for such purpose. Lord Sidmouth, previously to his quitting office, directed the case to be considered by the Lords of the Treasury, and the case is now under special consideration. The difficulty has been to select a good situation for the site of a building for the Heralds' College; and it is in discussion between the Treasury and the Crown Lands Revenue Department, to allot a piece of ground in the King's-mews for such College; the new build building to be in line with, and to accord with the great improvements in Cockspurstreet, Pall-mall, &c. A plan and elevation have been submitted for approbation. COTTONIAN MANUSCRIPTS. The Royal Commissioners appointed to examine the state of the Public Records, and to adopt such measures as they deemed advisable, to carry into effect the desires of Parliameut for the preservation of those valuable and ancient documents, amongst other proceedings directed the printing of the Catalogue of the Cottonian MSS.; and the Commissioners have prefaced such Catalogue with a long, but an exceedingly interesting "Account of the formation, contents, and catalogues of the collection of Cottonian MSS." It gives some impressive particulars of this memorable and learned Collector: they are too long for quotation, but some of the facts merit repetition. Sir Robert Cotton, who was a descendant from a very ancient family, which, in the reign of Edward III. flourished in the county of Chester, was born at Denton, Huntingdonshire, January 22, 1570. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he early imbibed a taste, and laid the foundation for his pre-eminent learning in the Antiquities and History of his country. On his leaving College this bias was greatly increased by free intercourse. He immediately commenced with those celebrated Antiquaries, Jocelin, Lambard, Camden, Noel, and several others, who about that time (although unsuccessfully) attempted the establishment of an Antiquarian Society. He neglected no opportunity to acquire Chronicles, Chartularies, and other original Muniments; and many presented themselves, as numbers of such documents at the late dissolution of the Monasteries had found their way into private hands, who were rarely aware of their importance. In 1599 he accompanied Camden in a journey to the north of England, where they joir ly explored the whole extent of the Picts Wall, and brought away several inscriptions and monuments, which he ultimately presented to his College at Cambridge, where they are now carefully preserved. After an active public life, this preface feelingly observes, it is no doubt greatly to be lamented, that a life so meritorious should towards its close have been embitterred by base calumny, and the arbitrary proceedings of those from whom he had an undoubted right to expect distinguished favour and protection. By order of the Privy Council, once in the reign of James I. 1615, and again in the reign of Charles I. 1629, his library was locked up, as not of a nature to be exposed to public inspection, and he was himself excluded from the use of it! Shortly before his death he caused to be signified to the Privy Council, "that their so long detaining his books from [Sept. him, without rendering any reason for the ANCIENT WRITINGS AND INKS. Jonathan Hewlett, Esq. (of the Common In the number of records you have examined in the different offices, have you observed that the ink has given way lately?— I have, in the records written in what I call this mercantile way, observed that it may be probably not owing to the badness of the ink, but owing to the very imperfect mode of writing now; certainly we do not know how to make ink; that I believe from ob servation. You conceive the ancient ink much more likely to last?—Yes; I have had charters and documents in my hands, for the purpose. of being translated, and the ink has been entirely chipped off, but I have been enabled to to make it out by the impression which was made at the time of writing on the parchment, by the pressure of the pen, in many cases; I do not know whether it is indigo, or what, but there was a blue tinge remaining, which has enabled us to make it out, though the ink was gone. Do you not think that it would be a very proper measure, if Government were to take some means of inducing Gentlemen of chemical science to prepare some ink for public documents? It would be an invaluable thing. My own opinion is, that if an infusion of oak bark were added to the common ink, that it would render it more stable than it is now. When the ink was obliterated, and you have been enabled to read the record from the marks which have been left by the pen, was it in the ingrossing or court hand?In the court hand; written before the Act o: Parliament of George II. Do you know whether the records in the Court of Exchequer, some forty or fifty years ago, were written with a much better ink than we now have in use?-I have observed that the records of the Court of Exchequer are certainly more black, and consequently more legible than others. Were you never led to inquire how that was?-No. Do you observe that to come down to the present day?—No; I speak of modern records-that is, within 60 or 70 years. Have you any knowledge of the ink peculiar to the Exchequer ?—No, I have not. Mr. William Tubb, examined. What office do you hold?-I attend for the Deputy of the Chief Usher in the Exchequer. It has been stated to the Committee, that there was in the possession of the Usher a receipt for making ink for the public offices; are you able to state to the Committee whether that receipt now exists ?-To the best of my knowledge or belief I do not believe that receipt ever existed. The Chief Usher procured the materials from a druggist, and they were given to an old man, who used his own discretion in making this ink; the Chief Usher only supplied the materials. Whenwas that?--Previous to the year1815. Who was the old man who used to make the ink?-A Mr. Brown, of Westminster, residing close by. I know the quantity of materials that were used, if that would be of any service. You know the quantity of materials used to make a given quantity of ink?—Yes; we continue now to supply the Court of Exchequer with ink; another old man now makes it. You know the materials of which the Exchequer ink was composed?-Yes. Will you state what you conceive to be the materials?-Forty pounds of galls, ten pounds of gum, and nine pounds of copperas to forty-five gallons of rain water. Do you conceive that those are the same materials which have, time out of mind, been 259 used in the Exchequer ?—I conceive they were used by this old man, whose ink is so very much prized; this receipt was taken from the mouth of this old man. John Bailey, Esq. examined. Do you consider the ink of the present day equal to that used a hundred years ago? It is not half so good; it is exceedingly bad. In the rolls of Chancery, in many instances, I have seen, from Henry the Eighth's time downwards, that the ink has chipped off; that was not the case anciently. Have no means been taken to secure a good ink for records?-Not that I am aware of; in rolls of Chancery there are lines frequently in which there are not more than a few letters perfect. Have you any knowledge of any ink now used in one office superior to that used in any other?-No, I am not aware of any distinction. How has the ink for the last hundred years been ?-It has been of a glutinous nature, which peels off; that has been the case from the reign of Henry the Eighth ; as to the earlier records, a piece of parchment might be put into water, and left for two or three days, and it would not be injured; that has been tried; for several years there have been attempts made to wash them with soap and water; that has not the least effect, but the ink remains brighter and firmer than it was; there was more iron used in the ink in former times than there is now, which has eaten more firmly into the substance. BEDFORD MISSAL. As the Library collected by the late King has now become the property of the publick, owing to the munificent donation of His present Majesty, every anecdote connected with the formation of it acquires additional interest. The following is from good authority, and is curious for more than one particular:-In 1786, when the Bedford Missal was on sale, with the rest of the Duchess of Portland's collection, the late King sent for his bookseller, and expressed his intention to become the purchaser. The bookseller ventured to submit to His Majesty, that the article in question, as one highly curious, was likely to fetch a high price." How high?"-" Probably two hundred guineas !". Two hundred, guineas for a Missal!" exclaimed the Queen, who was present, and lifted up her hands with astonishment." Well, well," said His Majesty," I'll have it still; but since the Queen thinks two hundred guineas so enormous a sum for a Missal, I'll go no further." The biddings for the Royal Library did actually stop at that point; and Mr. Edwards carried off the prize by adding three pounds more. The same Missal was afterwards sold at Mr. Edwards's sale in 1815, and purchased by the Duke of Marlborough for 637l. 15s. CRIMINAL |