Pairs, Past and Present. By Cornelius Walford. (Elliot Stock.)— In
this volume, the paper and printing of which are appropriately suggestive of antiquity, Mr. Walford has collected a vast amount of curious information. He gives us a chapter about the origin of fairs, suggesting several causes, and probably coming very near the truth when he says that "fairs took their origin in passing events, without any special authority, and that upon later occasions charters were obtained." "Early Regulations concerning Fairs" supply the subject of another chapter. (Why, by the way, the eccentricity of "Magna Carter" ?) Then we have " Legislation for Fairs ;" then " Modern Legislation ;" and then, very properly, as things of the kind are best seen in the concrete, long accounts of the two chief fairs in England, or rather of what used to be the two chief fairs, Sturbridge and Bar- tholomew. Sturbridge fair still exists, though but the shadow of its former self. Bartholomew has passed away altogether ; except, indeed, that the Rector of St. Bartholomew the Great still receives the sum of 3e. Gd. for a proclamation which no longer takes place. Of all the curiosities which a book like this contains, nothing is more interesting than the lists of the prices. Here are some, for articles purchased at Sturbridge Fair in 1577 for the household of Lord North: —"A feather-bed, 19s.; a jack (presumably a meat-jack), 2s. 2d.; 20 lb. of missies,' 5s.; 20 lb. of corants,' 7s. ficl." Gunpowder was, it seems, about a shilling a pound, and sugar rather more.
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