180 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2nd s. NO 61., Feb. 28. '57. 



volume which is now before us, Edinburgh Essays by 

 3Iembers of the University, 1856. In this, as in the Ox- 

 ford and Cambridge Essays, there is no fixed standard in 

 matters of opinion, but each writer is responsible for his 

 own views and statements. In this respect the Essays 

 differ most essentially from the Reviews : whether this 

 publication of the writers' names is an advantage, it 

 is yet too soon to decide. The present volume contains 

 eight papers of great variety, some of deep interest : they 

 are — I. Plato, by Professor Blackie. II. Early English 

 Life in the Drama, by Jlr. Skelton. III. Homcenpathy, 

 by Dr. Gairdner. IV. Infanti Perduti, by Andrew Wilson. 

 V. Progress of Britain in the Mechanical Arts, b}' James 

 Sime. VI. Scottish Ballads, by Alexander Smith. VII. 

 Sir William Hamilton, by Mr. Baynes. And lastly, 

 VIII. Chemical Final Causes, by Professor Wilson. Here 

 is a diversity of subjects to please all readers, and many of 

 the papers are of great originality and merit. 



" The Master of the Rolls," says The Athena;um of Sa- 

 furda3' last, " whose exertions with reference to the Ca- 

 lendars of State Papers we have had recent occasion to 

 commemorate, has submitted a new and very important 

 literary proposal to the Government. Without interfering 

 with the works alread}' in hand, he suggests that the 

 nation should further take upon itself the publication of a 

 series of our national historical monuments. A scheme to 

 that effect, laid by him before the Lords of the Treasury, 

 has been favourably received. It is to be submitted to 

 the House of Commons, and a vote to be solicited for car- 

 rying it into execution. Of the propriety of such a series 

 of publications there cannot be two opinions. Our country 

 in this respect lags far behind many other nations of 

 Europe, and it is highly honourable to the Master of the 

 Rolls to have conceived the notion of setting us right with 

 the rest of the world. But before we join too loudly in 

 praise of this new design, we should like to know what is 

 tlie form which it is to assume. A contemporary speaks 

 of a special department as about to be created. We hope 

 not. If, unwarned by former failures, we are about to 

 institute for this purpose some separate and new ma- 

 chiner}- which will place power in the hands of a bod3' in 

 any degree analogous to the Record Commission or the 

 State Paper Commission, we cannot anticipate success. 

 Or, if it be designed to revive and carry out the expensive 

 and imperfect scheme of the Monumenta Historiw Bri- 

 tannicce, we shall have, as before, extravagant outlay, in- 

 ordinate delay, and ultimate disappointment. But from 

 what the Master of the Rolls has already done, and what 

 seems to be the tendency of his Record administration 

 generally, we augur better things. The creation of a se- 

 parate department will probably turn out to be mere 

 hast}' inference. The scheme of the publication of the 

 Calendars of the State Papers is pre-eminently simple. 

 Whatever comes from the same source will, we trust, 

 show a family resemblance. The business proposed to be 

 done is unquestionably of high importance. It may be 

 executed in such way as to do us great national honour. 

 But that object can only be attained by keeping it free 

 from the control of amateurs, who are necessarilj- go- 

 verned by cliques, and drive away right-minded literary 

 men by assuming the airs of patrons ; by publishing 

 works not of mere antiquarian, or of genealogical or local 

 interest, but of real general importance ; and by publish- 

 ing them in a useful form, and at prices which may bring 

 them within the means of literary students. If such turn 

 out to be features of this scheme — as we firmly anticipate 

 will be the case — we shall heartily wish it success, and 

 join in cordial thanks to the Master of the Rolls for 

 having set it on foot." We agree in every word ex- 

 pressed by our contemporary on the proposed scheme, and 

 especially in the hope that it will be found to bear a 



strong family resemblance to that " pre-eminently simple," 

 and therefore good, useful, and practical one" which is 

 producing the Calendars of State Papers. All our readers 

 interested in historical studies will, we are sure, agree 

 with us that the proposal does infinite credit to Sir John 

 Romilly ; and that its favourable reception by the Chan- 

 (;ellor of the I'lxchequer, at a moment like the present, 

 reflects no less credit on Sir G. Cornewall Lewis. Honour 

 to them both ! 



We learn from Tlie Times of Wednesday that the Arch- 

 duchess Sophia of Austria has presented Mr. W. B. Mac- 

 Cabe Avith a diamond breast-pin made in the form of a 

 shamrock, in token of the pleasure she has received from 

 his last historical tale, Adelaide, or the Iron Crown. 



BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES 



WANTED TO PURCHASE. 



Particulars of Price, &c. of the followjn? Booka to be sent direct to 

 the gentlemen by whom they are required, and whose names and ad- 

 dresses are given for that purpose : 



Lowndes's British Librarian. 



Tavlor's Plato. 5 Vols. 4to. 



QoARTFRLv Review. Sccond Index, or Vol. XL. 



GiLLy's WaLDENSES AND PlEDMONT. 



Wanted by Tlios. Millard, 70. Newgate Street, London. 



New and General Biographical Dictionary. Edition of 1798 

 Vol. XV. 



Wanted by Edward PeMcock, Manor Farm, Bottesford, Brigg. 



O'Brien^on Justification . Two copies. 



Wanted "by A. fy R. Milne, Booksellers, Aberdeen. 



D. Lloyd (Lampeter). Will our Correspondent state the title of the 

 old book referred to. 



T. G. The prints of Old London to which your^erare no doubt from 

 Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata, 2 vols. 4to., containing 207 plates, pub- 

 lished at the commencement of the present century. 



Karl, Threlkeld, F. O., N. J. A., F. R. K., H. G. D., are thanked 

 for their communications, which have, however, been anticipated by other 

 Correspondents. 



Eremite. Pickering's Diamond Classics comprised, in Greek, The 

 Nao Testament. Iliad and Odyssey ; in Latin, Virfiil, Horace, Catullus, 

 Tibullus, and Propertius, Terence, Cicero de Ojficiis ; in Italian, Dante, 

 Tasso, Petrarcn ; and in English, Shakspeare, Paradise Lost, Walton 

 and Cotton's A ngler, and Walton's Lives. 



E. Bront. We do not believe that any translation of Brongniart's 

 Traits des Artes Ceramiques into English has been published. 



G. W. Tlie play of The Hypocrite is a modem adaptation Q/'Colley 

 Cibber's " Nonjuror, which, on its appeal 



several controversial pamphlets. 



appearance in 1718, gave rise to 



Jones of Shrewsbury's ingniry will be found fuUy treated in the 1st, 

 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th Vols, of our 1st Series. 



Karl's Reply respecting Lollards is anticipated in a longer article by 

 another Correspotident, which is in type. 



Richard Borke's Query respecting Wolves in the Forest of Dean has 

 been anticipated ; see" N. & Q.," 2nd S. i. 336. We should be very glad 

 to receive information as to the extinction qf wolves in England. 



Sestus's Queries do not appear to have reached us. Will he repeat 

 themf 



B. B. must send the size of the type, as well as of the page, before a 

 reply can be given to the question. 



ERRATA._2nd S. iii. p. 74. col. 1. 1. 43., ./or '" bearing " read "lean- 

 ing J " col. 2. 1. 29., /or " near Torre Mozza " read " now Torre Mezza." 



"Notes and Queries" is published at noon on Friday, and is also 

 issued in Monthly Parts. The subscription for Stamped Copies for- 

 ivarded direct from the Publishers (including the Half-yearly Index) is 

 1 Is. id., which may be paid by Post Office Order in favour cf Messrs. 

 Bell and Daldy, 186. Fleet Street, E.G.; to whom aUo all Commdni.' 

 cations for thb Editor should be addressedi 



