3 OCTOBER 1846, Page 16

SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

Burrow!,

Original Leiters Illustrative of English History; including numerous Royal Letters, from Autographs in the British Museum, the State Paper Office, and one or two other collections. With Notes and Illustrations by Sir Henry Ellis, K.H., F.R.S., See. S.A., Principal Librarian of the British Museum. 'Third Series. Volumes III. and IV Bentley.

rHISIOLOOT.

Experimental Researches on the Food of Animals and the Fattening of Cattle. With Remarks on the Food of Man. By Robert Dundas Thomson, M.D., Lecturer on

Practical Chemistry, University of Glasgow. Longman and Co.

Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation. By Charles Dickens. With Illustrations by II. K. Browne. No I.

MISCELLANEOUS, Bradbury and Boars. Rome, Pagan and Papal. By an English Resident in that City.

Hamilton Adams, and Co.

ELLIS'S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

IT is very difficult to obtain a just and faithful impression of a living and neighbouring state, separated perhaps only by a river or an arm of the sea; but how much more so to summon up the dead, and catch a fac-simile glimpse of bygone times ! Traditional relations afford some knowledge of the past ; written histories, if any have been transmitted, still more complete and authentic information ; the civil and political in- stitutions of a people—their laws, public works, and monuments, the structure of their language and implements of war—all yield additional light : but these are mostly insufficient, and exclude many constituent elements that mainly gave the distinctive tone and features of a com- munity. Perhaps the most perfect and satisfactory memorials are the private letters of those who took an active share in the scenes they por- tray. Seen with intelligent eyes, these do miiror up the past bodily and spiritually before us. It is not the simple facts contained—they may be unimportant—that alone render such documents so fully instructive, but partly the mat&iel, east, and execution of the vehicle itself. Precious they may be for the correction of popular errors relative to eminent indi- viduals and occurrences ; but, aided by their visible presentment of cha- racter and expression, they enable us to form a comparative estimate of the literature and science of the period, of the taste and acquirements of the writers, and of the usages, forms, and social bearing, subsisting be- tween them and their correspondents.

Viewing judiciously selected letters under these aspects, we cannot help thinking that a valuable service has been rendered by the epistolary gleanings of Sir Henry Ellis among our national and private stores of MSS. In the present collection, there is no abatement of the interest remarked on a former occasion : indeed, we think the third series is of a more diversified character than its predecessors, and embraces a more eventful and stirring stretch of time. In arrangement, the author ob- serves chronological order. The first portion of the volumes is occupied with letters chiefly bearing on the great religious changes that marked the latter part of Henry the Eighth's reign, and on the reigns of his im- mediate descendants. In the Elizabethan term there is an interesting collection pertaining to Ireland. The Stuart reigns succeed; and the concluding division comprises a selection from the reign of William the Third to George the Third. The destruction of the religious houses was truly a wholesale execution at the instance of the State, directed against the delinquent clergy. It was -the wont of the Crown visiters suddenly to enter a nunnery or monastery marked for vengeance—summon the superior before them, and imme- diately proceed to make an inventory of every chattel, stock, and valu- able pertaining to it. The inmates were next turned adrift, and the building dismantled, lest they should return to it. Severe as such evic- tions were, ample evidence is afforded by these " Letters " that they were not wholly uncalled for ; and many incidental notices attest the gainful trade the monks had been carrying on with the deluded people in the "images of the Virgin Mary," in my " Ladye's milk," in the "blood of Hales," and other taking impostures. An enormous social evil was thus abated ; but fiscally the nation profited no- thing. A vast revenue was liberated for public uses; but it was lost in transitu, in direct embezzlement and plunder, in profligate grants, or the wasteful squanderings of the King himself. Augmented means do not usually induce to greater economy, and this was the case with Henry the Eighth ; for it is a fact, that while collecting the spoil of the dissolved houses he incurred a large debt, which greatly embarrassed both him and his descendants. He was not, however, the only absorbent. Contrary to what is generally supposed, the common people seem to have been not loath to share in the spoliation of the church ; and frequent com- plaints are met with, of their plundering the friars' houses and clandes- tinely carrying off the lead, doors, windows, or other moveables, of the sacred edifices. But the most edifying examples are afforded by their superiors in station. They certainly reveal no new feature of humanity ; but are curious and amusing from the various pretexts on which the parties grounded their application to Lord Cromwell for a share of the booty. One Richard Croke seeks compensation because he had preached three score sermons in favour of the King's supremacy; "not failing in every on off them to speke effectually ayenste the usurped power off the Busshoppe of Rhome." Sir Simon Harcourt asks for the grant in fee- farm of Bunton Priory. Some lords apply because the lands of the church are contiguous to their domains ; others because they are poor, and need a larger estate. There are several instances of bribes directly offered to the Lord Privy Seal to forward their suit with the King. Margaret Cecill and John Huse write to Cromwell for John Reignold, 4' one of the Princess's footmen, to have the farm of the lately-suppressed Priory of Bethekelert." Thomas Thacker sends a present of bay-salt; accompanying it with a petition for a cell or farm belonging to Repton Priory. There is one letter from Bishop Latimer to the Privy Seal, ask- ing for the demesnes of Borsley, recommending therewith the burning of pertain images of the Virgin; as " our grett Sibyll bath byn the Devylls instrument to brynge many (I feexe) to eternall tyre." The lawyers, however, were the chief gainers. " The dispersion of the abbey-lands," as Sir Henry Ellis remarks, " and the consequent forms of title so numerously acquired for the grantees, or for those who had abbey-lands alienated to them from others, brought an influx both of busi- ness and emolument to the men of the long robe of that period, of which we have hardly now a conception." (IY. 53.) Oh ! yes, we have, in our clumsy railway legislation. In consequence, the fees of the lawyers, as well as the salaries of the judges, greatly increased in the sixteenth century. We are tempted to make an extract on the subject ; it is from a manuscript treatise addressed to James the First, preserved among the old Royal MSS. in the British Museum.

" Yf two men contend for a hundred pounds land them per annum, the lawyers and attorneys eat up all the profit, and leaveth em both beggars. There are many offices belonging to the Courts at Westminster, and other Courts, that in Bing Henry the Eighth's days were not worth one hundred pounds per annum that are now worth 2,0001., 3,000/., or 4,0001. per annum. And many attorneys towards the law, that their offices in those days were not worth 401. per annum, that are now worth three, four, or 500/ per annum. There were many lawyers in those times that gained not one hundred pounds per annum, nor that purchased in the space of ten years a hundred pound land per annum. But there are now that, in one year, can gain three, four, or 5001. per annum, and purchase lands in less than ten years worth one, two, or 3,000/ per annum; and some that in that small time that have purchased seven or 8,000/ per annum. And yet these fellows do neither keep houses, men, horses, or relieve the poor, or yet make peace and quiet- ness in the Commonwealth."

It is curious to find precisely the same legal abuses set forth at this early period as are now rampant. Upon this another very sensible letter is addressed by a Mr. Francis Alford to Lord Burghley, " concerning the expenses and delays of lawsuits." We have underlined a few points that appear most applicable to the present. " My right honourable good Lord, God blesse you, and send you good successe in the most nedefull and most honorable reformacion of the most intollerable chardges and delaies in Lawe, wherewith aswell the riche as the poore finde them- selves oppressed in this Commonwealth. And as God bath put into her Majesties harte Ins holy Spirite to bende her princely mynde to the care of the same; so if by your honorable wisdome it may take effect, her Highnes shall bestowe upon her poore subjectes the greatest favour that ever Prince did upon this our Realme and Countrey, and shall most binds them to pray for her Ilighnes and Bache of her honorable Councell as shall further the same. And first tonchinge excessive churdge for councellors fees, there is one onely plott in my poore understandings which willbe the sole reme lie for that evresae- which is the sorting of the court- cellars of the lawe accordinge to her Majesties several( anirtes of Justice; wher- of I offered unto your Lordship privately a plott in Parliament; but by some oc- casion it was not offered to the House at all, which I am bould to present unto your Lordships wise consideration nowe againe, being° a thinge which may be donne by her Majesties regall aucthoritie, and nedeth no Parliament, and ahalbe moche more acceptable to the subjecte,s as procedinge from her great justice and mercie, in seeing her lawes executed with ease and expedition of her poore sub- jectes. And knowinge your Lordships great busines n the hole affaires of this common welthe, I have bin bold to offer unto your Lordship a draught or a forme of Edict in that behalf to be perfected by your honourable judgement and know- ledge. For the fees which the councellors take is not that whiche so mitche grxeceth the subjectes as that they are driven to retaine many councellors for one cause; and very often more then nedes; as to move orders, to alter orders, to amend pleas, to yustifie the plea, to respite judgment, to pray execution, to respite execution, and many suche like; and for every cause newe fee, and every date of attendaunce newe fees; wherunto they are forced by the confuse thronges of cowl- Cellars, shiftinge and ronningefrOM barre to barre, which is the chiefest cause of delaie, and greatest expence; and if they have not diverse of the councellors to supply the absence and defects of others, they may channee to have rules entered against them, and other peremptorie orders to there utter un- doinge; as also at there daies of hearinge to rnisse there councell to Hit lease of theire hole cause; where if the barrers were sorted, and councellors attend- inge allwaies at one barre, and theirs attomeis in Courte, the Lawe wold gee on with great expedition, and you shold heare litle complaint of councellors fees. And this benetitt shold the lawiers receave, that thoughe that some of them shold not growe so excedinglie riche, yet a farre greater nomber shold be ymploied Os mediocritie of good fortune; who deserve as well as those that carry away the canitie of the people by there perurianeye of win and boldness of tongue."

The inveteracy of palpable abuses is truly marvellous; but our wonder is lessened in remarking in another letter, that Gatton so long since as 1584 was without burgesses to nominate its representatives in Parliament, though it continued for almost three centuries longer to return them.

Notwithstanding the alleged backwardness of Ireland, it is not clear that she has not made as great a relative progress as the other divisions of the United Kingdom. We have before remarked on the interesting leash of letters in the series on Irish affairs ; they chiefly refer to cattle-lifting, the kidnapping of persons for sake of a ransom, and delicts of that class. It seems, in Henry the Eighth's time, that the sight of " wild Irishmen" was so rich a treat that Royalty did not begrudge 'a dole for the gratifica- tion. Among the Privy-purse expenses of 1540 is the following entry- " Item, to Henry Bradshaw, which brought two wilde Irishemen, xxs.; and to the sable Irishemen in the way of the King's rewarde, also xxs." The Irish letters are mostly in Latin ; many of them no doubt composed for the writers by their priests : but the editor remarks the fact that Latin was cultivated even among the wildest chiefs of the septa. Con- joined with this learning of the native grandees was a state of very primeval simplicity.

" Fynes Moryson, noting the visit of a Bohemian Baron, who went from Scot land to the Northern parts of Ireland, states his reception there at the house of a great lord named Ocane. He found the females of the family to a considerable number assembled at the door, young and old, with no dress but a loose mantle; and even that was dispensed with when they entered the interior of the house. 'Soon after,' he says, Ocene, the lord of the country, came in, all naked except a loose mantle and shoes' which he put off as soon as he came in; and, entertain- ing the Baron after his best manner in the LATIN tongue, desiring him to put off his apparel, which he thought to be a burden to him, and to sit naked by the fire with this naked company.' An invitation which the Baron declined."

We regret the brevity of the concluding division of the series from the Revolution of 1688. But probably Sir Henry intends to amplify this department. The original letters given are few and short ; but some of them very precious : there is one from the great Duke of Marlborough highly characteristic, exhibiting him, as he says, in a "very odd distress."

"Sr—I beg pardon for troubleing you with this, but I am in a very odd distress— too much ready money; I have now 105,000/ dead, and shall have fifty more next weeks: if you. can imploy it any way it will be a very great favor to me. "I hope you will forgive my reminding you of Mr. Sewell's memorial for ma- jority: if any vouchers are wanting for his °erecter, I believe Mr. Sellwin will give him a very good one.

"I am, with great truth, your most obliged and obedient servant,

"MARLBOROUGH."

There are several brief ones of' George the Third very creditable to him. But we prefer an extract from one of Admiral Rodney's, forcibly alluding to the deplorable state of naval discipline : it is dated Gibraltar, 28th January 1780, and written after the defeat of Langara.

"Providence has allowed me to be the happy instrument of restoring, in some measure, the honour of the British flag. To restore the old, good, necessary dis- cipline of the British Navy will be of much more consequence. 'Tis tests it shall, it must be restored. I avoid all complaints; many, many, I had the greatest rea- son to make; and if the fleet I am going to command should be as negligent and disobedient as part of that which sailed from England with me, you will hear of dismission upon dismission. I must, I will be obey'd. I will not tell you parti- cular men. Many, brave, excellent, active, good officers; others, negligent, slow, inactive, disobedient, and fit for nothing but preserve his M.'s ships and keep their men. 'Tis high time they retire, and leave the British ships to be commanded by none but those who are truly anxious to raise the honour of their country."

We have only room for one more extract from this valuable collection : it is from a letter of the father of the United States, dated from Philadel- phia in 1793, and addressed to the Earl of Buchan, whose endorsement apon it deserves to be quoted.

"On the 18th of June 1793, I wrote to Mr. Washington on the happy prospects America might entertain, if by any means it could abstain from mingling in European politics. I laid before him the vanity and folly of preferring the indul- gence of national pride, vanity, and resentment, to the slow but certain benefits to be permanently, obtained by peace and internal prosperity; and I flattered him with the view of the bankruptcy and misery of the old warlike system of nations, leading to a better order of political policy. I ventured also to recommend two great objects to the Executive of America,—peace and union with the Red natives, and attention to national education."

In reply to these enlightened suggestions, President Washington says-

" One mean to the contribution of which, and its happiness, is very judiciously portrayed in the following words of your letter—'to be little heard of in the great world of politics.' These words, I can assure your Lordship, are expressive of my sentiments on this head; and I believe it is the sincere wish of United America to have nothing to do with the political intrigues, or the squabbles of European na- tions; but on the contrary, to exchange commodities, and live in peace and amity with all the inhabitants of the earth; and this I am persuaded they will do, if rightfully it can be done. To administer justice to, and receive it from, every Power with whom they are connected, will, I hope, be always found the most pro- minent feature in the Administration of this country; and I flatter myself that nothing short of imperious necessity can occasion a breach with any of them. Under such a system, if we are allowed to pursue it, the agriculture and mechani- cal arts, the wealth and population cf these states will increase with that degree of rapidity as to baffle all calculation, and must surpass any idea your Lordship can hitherto have entertained on the occasion."

All that was here foreseen has been fully realized ; and the policy which President Washington so wisely marked out for America may be now said to have become the policy of Europe.