On the Self-Government of Small Manorial Commamities. 146 
British birds; as well as to that one for which our county was so 
notorious, as the principal stronghold of what once stood at the 
head of the game list. ALFRED CHARLES SMITH. 
Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, June 4th, 1856. 
ON THE 
Self-Guuermment of Small Manovial Communitivs, 
ag exemplified tr the Mawar of Castle Combe. 
By G. Povrerr Scrorr, Esq., M.P. 
Those who have paid any attention to the Constitutional History 
of our country need not be told that to the Municrpat privileges 
exercised from a very early period by the citizens of its townships, 
we are in a great degree indebted for those political liberties of 
which we are justly proud, and which by securing to us the 
blessing of domestic tranquillity, form the main source of our 
national wealth, power, and greatness. 
The origin of these privileges is obscure. Nor has much light 
been hitherto thrown upon the subject, however interesting, by 
constitutional historians. That they existed long before the intro- 
duction of the feudal system is as certain as that they formed the 
most effectual barrier against the oppressive and tyrannical influence 
of that remarkable military institution. It is known that the 
provincial cities under the Roman empire enjoyed a municipal 
constitution, securing to the citizens a magistracy of their own 
appointment, and important rights of internal regulation and 
self-government, together with much common property. And in 
France and Germany, as well as in this island, claims to privileges 
of this character were more or less successfully maintained by local 
communities throughout the period of the occupation of these 
countries by their Teutonic invaders, with whose native institutions 
such rights assimilated readily, and became closely incorporated. 
U 
