448 
ceyal reminds us, complacently, of the 
respect which ‘‘ mankind have agreed in 
conceding to high birth;’’ and he more 
than once speaks with becoming indulgence 
of “the pride of ancestry”. But hear him 
discourse on democracy, and *‘ odi profa- 
num vulgus” is his key-note ; “ the dregs 
of the people,” and “the licentious popu- 
lace,” his changes. He cannot relate the 
famous sedition of the Ciompi at Florence, 
without being careful to inform us, in Shaks- 
pearian phrase, that their leader was “ an 
unwashed artificer ;” though he is after- 
wards reduced to hold up the man to whom 
he has applied this designation of contempt, 
as one of the purest and noblest examples 
of patriotism which the world ever bebeld. 
In a similar tone to that of which we com- 
plain, is the following note on the conduct 
of the Florentines to their enemies the 
Pisans, which was certamly inexcusable 
enough. 
«* The answer which the Florentines returned to 
some propositions of the Pisans for peace, aped the 
tone of sovereign command, and displayed all the 
pride and insolence of these merchant-tyrants. It 
was addressed ‘‘ Agli anzian) della nostra Citta di 
Pisa.”"—‘* To the elders (or magistrates) of our City 
of Pisa.” 
«© The conduct of the opposite parties of Florence 
on this occasion may serve for an example, among a 
thousand which history will furnish, of the little 
real connexion between political divisions and 
abstract principles of right. That the ambitious 
oligarchy of the Guelf faction, who swayed the 
counsels of the republic, should have few scruples in 
enslaving a neighbouring state, is intelligible enough ; 
but it must surprise the political tyro, that their 
opponents of the democratical party, the avowed 
champions of popular liberty in its widest extent, 
were perfectly agreed with them in this work of 
despotism. The voice of a few individuals who 
preached moderation wa: drowned in general cla- 
mour; and Gino Capponi, who was one of the ten 
commissioners of the war, and has left us an animated 
memoir of its progress, appears profoundly uncon- 
scious that he was an actor in a flagitious enterprize.” 
—Volii. p. 28. 
There is an evil tendency in these re- 
marks. | The belief in universal political 
immorality is the first step towards the 
abandonment of all principle. They who 
hate the name.of freedom may exult in the 
distractions and errors which are insepara- 
ble from the best republican constitutions. 
But the true lover of liberty should rather 
have been careful to remember, that even 
the most unjustifiable excesses of faction 
are far Jess destructive of human happiness 
and energy and virtue, than the moral deso- 
lation of despotism, and the stillness of ser- 
vitude. 
Having noted this unwise habit of rail- 
ing at democracy in the author before us, 
we can still have no quarrel with him, for 
the cast of his political opinions is other- 
wise, in the main, upright and generous. 
We are, therefore, contented to make fel- 
lowship with him, notwithstanding his dis- 
erepancies of prejudice ; and we shall 
honestly pronounce our opinion, that he 
Monthly Review of Literature, 
[June I, 
has produced a work of great value, for 
perfect fidelity, animated delineation of 
character and action, graceful language, 
admirable reflections, and for the striking 
historical moral which is inyolyed in its 
pages. 
The History and Antiquities of the Cathe- 
dral Church of Wells : illustrated by a Series 
of Engravings, of Views, Elevations, Plans 
and Details of the Architecture of that Edi- 
fice ; including Biographical Anecdotes of 
the Bishops of the See of, Bath and Wells (thin: 
large 4to.] by J. Britton, F.s.A-., &c.—2. 
The History and Antiquities of Bath Abbey 
Church : including Biographical Anecdotes 
of the most distinguished Persons interred in 
that Edifice ; with an Essay on Epitaphs, in 
which its principal Monumental Inscriptions 
are recorded. Iilustrated by a Series of En- 
gravings [large thin 8v0.]. By J. Brirron, 
F.s.A., fe. 3. Illustrations of the Public 
Buildings of London: with Historical and 
Descriptive Accounts of eack Edifice (Vol 1., 
with 72 Engravings). By J. Britton, 
¥. 8. A., and A. Puctin, Architect, 4to. imp. 
8vo. and med. 8v0.—Mr. Britton must at 
least be admitted to be one of the most 
industrious contributors to antiquarian and 
architectural bibliography of the present, or, 
perhaps, of any generation. If he have added 
little to the stock of original information or 
recondite discovery, contributed little to 
the stores of science, nor illuminated much, 
by the power and penetration of intellect 
and genius, the depths and darkness ef that 
profound of origins and causes in which the 
philosophical antiquary (no very commen 
character) delights to expatiate; he has, at 
any rate, not been negligent in making him- 
self acquainted with what has been disco- 
vered and accumulated by others. Adding 
to judicious compilation and arrangement 
appropriate splendour of embellishment, he 
has placed the generality of his publications 
among the enviable luxuries of the library, 
and rendered others of them no Jess amus- » 
ingly useful to the historian and the man of 
general literature. The “ Descriptive Cata- 
logue” (or Catalogue Raisonné) of his embel- 
lished works on architectural antiquities 
and topography (itself a splendid sample of 
circular advertisement) at this time before 
us, contains a list of no less than twenty- 
one splendid publications of this descrip- 
tion, now upon sale at Messrs. Longman’s, 
besides four others that are out of print ; 
and exclusive of the share which Mr. Brit- 
ton had in the compilation of several of the 
volumes of the Beauties of England and 
Wales, &c. The purse should not be a 
shallow one, that has to be dipped into for 
the accumulation of a complete set of the 
more splendid editions in super-royal, &c. ; 
with proofs on India paper and the like, of 
the labours of this fertile embellisher. Of 
the first of the three works above enume- 
rated, the price of the prime edition is six- 
teen guineas, though it descends by grada- 
tions as low as £2. 10s. The maximum 
of 
