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1829.]

REVIEW.-Foreign Review, No. IV.

"This discovery deeply embarrassed the Government, as some Bishops were involved in it; and the difficulty was to extricate itself without at once a religious and military explosion. It dissembled for a while, and was silent, whilst it sought the means of extinction. But it was compelled to active measures by the extraordinary circumstance of forty soldiers of the regiment of Bretagne presenting a paper to their Colonel, requiring that they should be allowed the necessary facilities for obeying their statutes; those statutes were enquired into, and it was found by them that the affiliated troops in all their garrison towns, and even on their march, were directed to form particular assemblages, that they had peculiar chapels, and that they formed in combination through the army, a distinct corps, united by a common bond, the whole being under Jesuit orders. The remarkable agitation of the entire military body of France, at the same time confirmed this discovery. It was now ascertained that the whole army had been practised upon; wherever there was a Jesuit house, the connexion was obvious, and where there was not, the assemblage of those military associates who unquestionably might be turned into military. revolters at the command of their spiritual Captains, gave evidence of a great conspiracy, against which all allegiance to King, aud obedience to officers, must in the time of trial be as dust in the scale." Pp. 311, 312.

III. The Chronicles of Germany. This article alludes to publications similar to our Foedera, those of the Record Commission, et id genus rebus.

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IV. Ancient Guipuzcoan dances. Guipuzcoa is a province of Spain, and the author of the work before us, author who can hardly write his name, or speak any other language than his provincial dialect,' is a man after the late John Brand's own heart, one who shows us that ancient popular customs and amusements may be intimately connected with national happiness and well-being. Now Mr. Bowles says ("Days Departed," p. 105), to make innocent things appear criminal, is the surest step to make criminal things appear innocent.

"The general class of peasants, distinct from the aristocracy, and composed of labourers, artisans, mariners, &c. forms the sinews of the small Basque province, governed in virtue of its particular laws and privileges, by a political constitution, which makes its subjects the most free and happy people in Spain, and perhaps in all Europe. Their admirable social existence is supported-not by a parade of strength, nor by the arts of policy, nor by the protection of any

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extraneous power-but by the popularity of its institutions and laws, in the administration of which all the citizens take part indiscriminately; enlivening the performance of their duties by singing, dancing, and public entertainments. These diversions form a constituent part of all meetings, convoked either for public or private interests; and, in the enjoyment of them, all mingle with the most perfect and cordial equality. As each solemnity or meeting has its particular song, dance, or other joyous ceremony, which has always been executed in the same manner from time immemorial; and as the couplets, the form of the dances, and the ceremonies, allude to some glorious recollection, or laudable usage, preservative of personal bravery, propriety, and the kindness of mutual intercourse; these diversions are intimately connected with the popular institutions and customs, and the preservation of the one is necessarily combined with that of the other." P. 335.

Mr. Slaney (M. P.) shows us, from the example of other countries, that persecution of rural exercises and amusements, connected with muscular exertion, music, and dancing, is a probable cause why a tendency to intoxication is so prevalent among the poorer classes. "In Tuscany," he says, "I have seen above five hundred of the middle and poorer ranks assembled at a great rural festival, where the revels were kept up to a late hour; yet of all these, only one appeared the least intoxicated. The same observation must have occurred to every traveller with respect to the meetings of the southern French peasantry." (Rural Expenditure, p. 25.)

In truth, inebriation is incompatible with amusements, in which fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, girls, and children participate.

V. The Works of Oelenschlager. He is, in our ideas, only an intermediate poet.

VI. Raspail-on the cellular Tissue -an elaborate experimental disquisition, which may lead to important medical results.

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REVIEW.-Foreign Review, No. IV.

criminal) whose situation may be better, but cannot be worse. Heyne was one of these; but by patience and perseverance arrived at very enviable eminence and prosperity. Superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est.

XI. Ehrenberg's Travels in North Africa. At Minutoli (supposed the Minocaminos of Ptolemæus), Dr. Ehrenberg "heard a noise, and soon after discovered a great rolling ball. He expected to find a hedgehog or tortoise, but it was only a ball formed of the excrement of the horse. Behind it was a great black Scarabæus, which was pushing on the ball with his hind legs. The ball, from its rolling in the sand, became soon so large, that from the juxta-position, the Scarabæus appeared most insignificant in size. It is well-known, that the Egyptians believed the Scarabæus to come forth from the excrement of a bull, which being hidden twenty-eight days under ground, was supposed to produce the xavfagos without the interference of a female. Hence the Scarabæus became a symbol of various import." P. 468.

Mehemed Ali (father of Ibrahim Pacha, the Greek expeditionist) has been deemed a sort of Peter the Great, as to Egypt. A native, however, said "that he gave with one hand, and took with two" (p. 467). So much for Turkish patriotism.

XII. Classification of Languages. This is a valuable paper; and the following rules for etymologizing are exceedingly useful.

"Does a philologist (observes M. Balbi) wish to ascertain the consanguinity of one nation with another: he examines their respective vocabularies, and if he finds that such words as express the principal parts of the human body, the first degrees of relationship, the stars, the principal phænomena of nature, and the first names of numbers are identical, he may safely infer that these two nations spring from a common origin; whereas, if they are entirely different, his conclusion ought to be, that the two nations spring from two different sources. Does he wish to ascertain from what people a particular nation received its civilization? he examines the words of its vocabulary for domestic animals, metals, the most useful fruits and plants, its agricultural instruments; those which express duties, the rites, &c. of religion; those which appertain to legislation, common literature, and the sciences; these he compares with corresponding terms in other languages, and if

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they are identical or very similar in the language of any particular nation, he thence concludes that from this nation it has received its civilization, religion, &c. It is in this manner, and no otherwise, that passing from one fact to another, one may without fear of being led astray, fill up the voids in the history of nations, and go back to remoter times than the most ancient traditions could safely conduct us to." Pp. 101, 122.

In application of these rules to our own country, the Critic observes, that rivers, hills, and forests have generally retained their Celtic names, as the numerous Avons, from Awon, a flow of water; and Esk, Usk, Ouse, Isis (two of that name existing), from the Celtic Usque, water, a term also retained in Whiskey and Usquebaugh, literally water, and the water of life;' and in Tanner's ooze, and the verb ooze. Arden, and many others, are applied to hills and woods. Towns and villages have almost all Anglo-Saxon names. We are therefore "justified in concluding from these etymological facts, that though the primitive population of this country was Celtic, yet that the secondary population was Anglo-Saxon; and that from this last source the present language and population of England are derived; and this is what history informs us."

It is from hence observable, that the benefit of etymology, if it be used according to the above rules, may be considerable; but the following exceptions must also be regarded.

"Where a few words not of the first

necessity, nor of a very primitive structure, are found to correspond in two languages, we should set it down to chance; we should be inclined to do the same in the case of one or two words of the first necessity and of primitive structure corresponding, while the rest did not for instance, if the word for father corresponded, but the word for mother did not; if, of the five or six lowest numerals, one or two corresponded, but the others did not; if the verbal word did not correspond, either by being regular in one language, and not regular in the other; or if, irregular in both, by the irregularities differing; or if the pronouns did not correspond, by being irregular. But when the reverse of all these circumstances is the case, nouns of the first necessity to a considerable number, very similar, the verb of existence similar in itself, and in its irregularities; the pronouns similar, and the lower numbers similar; we must draw the conclusion of admitting an Indo-European fa

1829.]

REVIEW. Beckington's Journal.

mily of languages, and consequently of nations." P. 500.

The Reviewer then says, that it is highly probable from language, tradition, and history, that the migration of the Gothic tribes was from Asia; and that, at some very remote period, the ancestors of those who now speak dialects of the Sanskrit, the Greek, and the Gothic, formed one nation, and spoke a common language.

A Journal by one of the Suite of Thomas Beckington, afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells, during an Embassy to negociate a Marriage between Henry VI. and a Daughter of the Count of Armagnac, A.D. MDCCCXLII. With Notes and Illustrations, by Nicholas Harris Nicolas, Esq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. pp. 128.

MR. NICOLAS observes, that materials for a History of the reign of Henry the Sixth, are [apparently] scanty; but that in reality there is no paucity of documents, though they are inaccessible, from being locked up in Record offices. The knowledge of this sterility of intelligence during the above period has induced him to publish this Journal, which he found in the Ashmolean Museum. The circumstance to which it refers is this.

In 1442 Henry the Sixth attained the age of twenty-one, and it was then thought fitting that he should marry prudently, to the interest of his subjects and his dominions. The Counts of Armagnac and Charles the Seventh of France having quarrelled, an alliance with the former was deemed eligible, for the protection of Guienne; but Charles having got scent of the business, invaded Guienne, and made the Count and his family prisoners. The result was, that the nuptial treaty was annulled.

Such being the simple story, we refer our readers to the work itself, for the diplomatic and biographical matters; and shall notice those curious things which are generally expected to be found in ancient manuscripts.

It is well known that noblemen, eminent gentlemen, and public functionaries, were expected to show hospitality to persons travelling upon the King's business. It appears that the Bishop started for Plymouth from Windsor on the 5th of June, did not reach Plymouth till the 27th, nor sail from thence till the 10th of July. Tak

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ing Plymouth to be on or about 200 miles from Windsor, his journeying, inclusive of stoppages and excursions out of the road, was on the average only nine miles a day. His route was from Windsor to Henley-Henley to Sutton-from Sutton to Abingdon, to "dinner with the Lord Abbot, where was the Bishop of Salisbury,"-back to Sutton to supper,-there two days, -thence to Bedwin, "where" it seems "the King was,❞—at Bedwin two days, -thence to Devizes, supping and sleeping at the Mayor's,-from Devizes to Beckington to dinner, "whither the Lord de Hungerford sent two flagons of wine in "bottles,"- -to supper at Wells,―the next day at Wells, dining with a Mr. J. Bernard,-drinking in the afternoon with the chanter, and installation in the choir for his prebend, -supper at Glastonbury with the Abbot, who lent his Lordship a horse,— dinner there. Sleeping at Taunton, there two days, sleeping on the third at Tiverton,-the next day dining at the castle of the Earl of Devon,-after dinner at one of his manors called Comb-Martin,-then drinking on the road of Exeter, and there supping and sleeping,-at Exeter, dining with the Dean one day, the next with the Chancellor, the third at the inn, where a buck was sent from Tiverton to his Lordship,-dining successively afterwards with various private persons, latterly with Sir Richard Hillier, “supervisore," to dinner, and J. Wadham, Sheriff of Devon, to supper,the day after to break fast with Sir Philip Courtenay at Powderham, to dinner with the Bishop of Exeter at Chudleigh, to supper at Ashburton,-the next and last day to dinner at Plymton, and supper at Plymouth, "at the house of Thomas Hill an innkeeper.” pp. 1-4.

Now it is remarkable, that not one of these places was in the ancient direct line of road from Windsor to Plymouth; that line was Windsor, Bagshot, Hartlerow, Basingstoke, Andover, Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Crookborne, Chard, Honiton, Exeter. (See Hopton's Concordancie of Yeares, p. 209.)

Thus it may appear how our ancestors travelled out of the road for the sake of hospitality, and want of accom

modation at inns.

* A steward, receiver of rents, &c. See Ducange, v. supervidere. REV.

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REVIEW. Beckington's Journal.

It appears that the King had not only his choice of any one of the Count's daughters, but liberty to dispose of the others; and the ambassador had orders,

"At his first commyng thidder in al haste possible, that ye do portraie the iij doughters in their kertelles simple, and their visages, lyk as ye see their stature and their beautte, and color of skynne, and their countenaunces, with al maner of features, and that one be delivered in al haste with the said portratur to bring it unto the Kinge, and he l'appointè and signe which hym lyketh; and therupon to sende you word how ye shal be governed." P. 10.

The superstition of crooked sixpences is not yet forgotten. During the voyage (on which by the way the ship was followed by a most importunate shark, who would not be repelled till he had been thrice struck with a harping iron,) a calm ensued, whereupon

"To obtain a wind, my Lord Secretary, with a devout and humble heart pledged and bent silver to the most blessed and glorious Virgin Mary of Eton; the rest in the ship at his bidding then did the same, and then they chaunted the antiphonale 'Sancte Maria. When it was ended the wind veered to the north, and blew steadily from that point until they entered the Garonne." P.11.

An amusing account of manners and customs on shipboard may be seen in Joinville, Erasmus's Colloquies, &c.

The Archbishop of Bourdeaux, "making a good and a right sturing collacion in his cathedral churche, redde and declared [the King's] letters translated openly in the pulpitte before al the pouple." P. 16.

A secret letter was sent to the King by the medium of an "old pilgrim."

"It was written in three lines on vellum, the whole length of the skin, and was sewed up in the border of his garment." P. 26.

Of this custom of sending letters by pilgrims, see" British Monachism." Turtle-doves were, it seems, edibles. P. 28.

The guillotin is known to have derived its name from the inventor. In pp. 28, 29, we find a Mons. Guillautine, to whom his Lordship, the Regent, sent some new wine, called "le

must."

The Chancellor of the Count of Armagnac, says (p. 39),

"From my inability to speak, and especially to write correctly in French, a fact which you well know, I have determined on

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this occasion to write in Latin, a tongue familiar to us both."

This may explain the cause why Latin letters are so numerous.

There was a functionary called a doctor, whether a medical man or not, we cannot tell, viz. "the doctor of the Archbishop of Bourdeaux." P. 53.

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A portrait painter for the ladies (of which before) was brought from England. He is called operator scieutificus." P. 62. Rosamond's Bower, modern boudoirs or dressing-rooms, meet with some elucidation, as to the decorations*, in the following passage:

"The paraphernalia or female ornaments, commonly called 'le chambre."" P. 62.

A pastoral staff was used for a disguise, or a mediuin of conveying secret letters. The portrait painter carried one with him, and answers were sent with the same accompaniment. Pp. 62, 74, 78.

The portrait was made upon canvas. P. 74.

The name of the artist was Hans (a Christian name), so that he was probably a Dutchman or Fleming, resident in England.

Among the new year's gifts made to the Bishop, "the lady of the inn [whence perhaps our land-lady] gave Temog fixed in a rod of corey, with a little book in the middle." Mr. Nico

las ingeniously presumes, p. 119, that it means a lemon and a sprig of laurel, with a thin sweetmeat called libellus.

The conjecture is happy, for at the present day in Herefordshire, on new of laurel, decorated with apples copper year's day, a present is made of a sprig gilt, in lieu of oranges. The conformity is obvious. It is supposed to be a relic of the Druidical hagmena. See Fosbroke's Ross, p. 70.

It was formerly the custom for a fleet of merchant vessels to appoint one among them for an Admiral, and to pay obedience as such to that ship's commander. Pp. 85, 105.

Oysters were eaten as a lunch.

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1829.]

REVIEW.-Bishop of London's Sermon.

In p. 90 we meet with "pull' cap' pen," given by the parish of Bedwin to the embassador and suite. Mr. Nicolas, after justly noticing that pull' cap' signified pullets, capons, thinks pen' an error for vin. (Gloss. 123.) We have our doubts. Pen' might be rabbits, but we do not speak positively, and refer Mr. Nicolas to the passages quoted in Ducange, v. Penellum.

Mr. Nicolas has edited this MS. in his wonted satisfactory manner. It is a valuable addition to our historical fasciculi.

The Christian's duty towards Criminals; a Sermon, preached in St. Philip's Chapel, Regent Street, for the benefit of the Society for the improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of Juvenile of fenders, on Sunday, June 22, 1828. By Charles James Bloomfield, D. D. Lord Bishop of London. 4to. pp. 20.

HIS Lordship takes it as a postulate, that the penal laws

"have looked more to prevent the increase of crime by a salutary terror, than to diminish its actual amount by reforming the offender himself." P. 11.

No

To this postulate no denial can be opposed; but it implies a duty upon so extensive a scale that it cannot be executed but by parents themselves. Society's funds can be equal to the expence; but, as it appears from the reports of the Warwick County Asylum for the reformation of juvenile offenders, that there were out of nearly two hundred offenders (we think) only six who were born of respectable parents, the rest being illegitimates, or orphans, or children neglected by worthless parents, we presume, that to the respectability of the parents is owing the virtuous distinction. The gross neglect of farmers and manufacturers to the morals of the poor children under their care, the inAuence of luxury among the poor and its consequent pauperism, and notions of religion which recommend faith without works, and of course destroy all its reforming influence; these, in our opinions, are great causes of the evils deprecated. We know that a very important thing is required to the improvement of Society, viz. the instillation of good principles, and a suspension of all patronage to parents who do not bring up their children properly. Wherever there are passions there will GENT. MAG. January, 1829.

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be vices, and we admit that offences will ensue. But we were tutored in our early years at the Universities in Lord Kaimes, Millar, Ferguson, &c. and thence have formed an opinion, that philosophical modes of preventing crime, are valuable adjuncts to the processes of prevention of it. We think, that farmers should not suffer their servants to sit up all hours of the night, courting, while they the master and mistress are in bed; we think that manufacturers should separate the two sexes in their employments, and should not patronize parents who neglect the moral conduct of their children; and that they should warmly support the educational institutions of the established clergy, because they are responsible men, and forced to act in support of the political good of the state, and by the modes devised by the educated and enlightened.

We have spoken thus because we think that the excellent object of the learned Prelate's sermon, "viz. the reformation of juvenile offenders," may be most usefully enlarged. Unfortunately this is an age, not of principles, but of theories; not of philosophical and incontrovertible consequences, of actions, but of projects, for he is an empiric who maintains that man can be civilized without education, both by precept and example. It was proved, by experiment, that the children of the London charity schools could not be reformed, if they were permitted to reside with their parents. The reform should therefore have begun with the latter, who should have been doubly impressed with a sense of their duties, both in a worldly and religious form. Let the children be deterred by witnessing the consequent misery of their vicious parents, especially through influencing the mothers; whose interests and affections are both deeply engaged in the preservation of morality. We have ventured these remarks because we studied at the University inves tigations of the history of man by our old moral writers, who reasoned from the effects of circumstances, and in the fulness of our affection for them have thought that the most probable step towards improvement is adaptation of means to ends. However, this is not the doctrine of the present day. Empiricism is sufficient per se.

Archbishop Secker says, "Think what man would be if he entered into

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