164 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
their own. He next spoke of anchovies, and showed the amount 
of red earth mixed with almost every sample. The last article 
mentioned was sugar confectionery. He gave a list of poisonous 
and non-poisonous dyes. The last have many times proved fatal. 
Instances were quoted. 
Lastly, in reviewing the lecture, he showed how the luxuries of 
life contained more dirt and adulteration than the absolute neces- 
saries. He also spoke of a remedy for adulteration, viz., the 
examination of the articles of food and the advertisements of the 
results of the analyses in the local newspapers. 
LITEEATUEE FEOM THE EIGHTH TO THE 
TWELFTH CENTUEIES. 
ABSTEACT OF ME. ALFRED EOOKER's PAPER. 
(Read November 16th, 1871.) 
The names of illustrious men connected with each European 
country were mentioned, and reference made to the various Uni- 
versities which had sprung up during the centuries in question, 
and to the secular and ecclesiastical places of education. One fact 
was important, and that was, that there was very little profane 
literature. The lecturer enumerated some poets who had written 
pieces which had no quantities, and could not be divided into feet. 
The intellectual condition of the Continent during these centuries 
was exceedingly unsatisfactory, as the kings, dignitaries, and 
prelates were in a state of extreme ignorance. It was a rare fact 
for a layman to be able to read or write, and the clergy were as 
ignorant as the rest. Several instances were quoted in which 
monarchs stated that they knew no one prelate who could either 
read or write. Eooks were extremely dear in these centuries. In 
1471, even the King of England borrowed some books from an 
Egyptian, and as a pledge that he would return them gave him a 
large amount of plate, and, with a nobleman, drew up a deed 
providing for their safe return. Several instances were named 
tending to show the scarcity of books, which were to be found 
mostly in monasteries. In one instance, a monk condemned to 
death wrote a book, in consideration of which his soul, it was 
alleged, was brought back to his body after he had been executed. 
