62 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, 



the county of Worcester, has been published within the last fourteen 

 years. For want of such publications, how much local intelligence of in- 

 terest to the antiquary and inquisitive examiner is hidden from observation. 

 It is true that in most counties there are historical records on a large 

 scale, but from their bulkiness and price they are usually out of the 

 reach of the common reader. This *' History" well and fully supplies 

 the object required ; it is sufficiently minute, without being prolix, 

 embraces all necessary information, and in every point of view must be 

 considered a valuable addition to the chronicles of that part of the 

 county. 



To make extracts from this work will scarcely be necessary. Those 

 persons to whom the publication will be valuable, will not require a 

 detached portion for their perusal, and to the uninterested reader it would 

 be useless. It has been the writer's aim, he observes, to weave in one 

 continuous chain an authenticated history of events pertaining to his 

 subject — and in this laudable attempt we must allow that he has fully 

 succeeded. 



Amongst the author's introductory observations, there is the following 

 sentence, which we extract for its novelty : — 



" In continuation of his acknowledgments for the assistance he has received, the 

 author takes occasion to observe, that, toward such chartered antiquaries, resident 

 within the county, as he has had occasion to apply, he has no load of obligation to 

 bear : with the exception of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., F. S. A., whose readiness 

 in affording facility of reference to certain valuable works in his extensive library 

 at Middle-Hill, the author would duly acknowledge." 



This charge, we trust, has been made hastily, or under some un- 

 favourable impression which the writer had unthinkingly imbibed. 

 There are few gentlemen in this or any other enlightened county, 

 we are willing to believe, who would wilfully throw obstacles in the 

 way of an attempt to perpetuate a faithful record of the civil institu- 

 tions and remarkable events of the county, in which, as residents, 

 they must naturally feel a deep and solicitous interest. For our- 

 selves, we are bound in honour to declare that in no single instance 

 where inquiry was necessary to elucidate or adorn any subject, on 

 making application to the proper quarter, did we ever meet with other 

 than the most prompt, polite, and gentlemanly acquiescence — and not 

 only acquiescence, but in many cases the most courteous and valuable 

 personal assistance. If Mr. May, however, actually did meet with those 

 obstructions in his researches, at which he hints, and we are of course 

 bound to rely on his statement, he may rest assured that there was either 

 some informality in his mode of proceeding, or some mistake in the sup- 

 posed purport of his inquiry. 



It must be confessed that this is not an elaborate work — its great claim 

 to notice is its incontestible usefulness. Even in such a production, 

 however, we would recommend to the diligent and able compiler, a 

 careful revision of its pages, for we have detected errors in the con- 

 struction of some of the sentences, which slightly mar their consecutive 

 fitness. We are aware that it is only necessary to point out this 

 defect to see it duly rectified in a second edition. 



There are two well executed plates of the Evesham Parochial Churches 

 and Abbey Tower, and of the Bell Tower of Evesham Abbey, from 

 sketches made by the author, and engraved by J. C. Varrall. — The list 

 of subscribers, which is appended to the work, we are gratified to 

 observe, is numerous and respectable. 



