The History of the Castle, Town, and Port of Dover.
By the Rev P. S. H. Statham. (Longmans and Co. 108. 6d.)—Mr. Statham's hook is excellent reading, even for those who do not know Dover The Cinque ports appear to have had from very early times a good deal of municipal independence. In the thirteenth century Dover was ruled by a Mayor and twelve Jurats. The Mayor was elected by the freemen of the city, and after his election he chose the twelve Jurats himself. The Mayor had power of life and death. By a system of criminal procedure peculiar to Dover a man condemned to death was always executed by his accuser. As well as a history of the municipal life of Dover, Mr. Statham gives an account of every public building in the town, and a little biography of every constable of the castle from the time of the Conqueror till now. He quotes at length the " Statutes of Dover Castle," of which Hubert de Burgo was the probable author. The reader will be astonished at the law and order which seem to have reigned in the garrison in the fourteenth century. Mr; Statham has found the following statistics as to the pay and rations of the soldiers in 1371. Every man received 11d. a day, half a pound of bread, half a gallon of biscuit, and five pinta of wine. Meat and fish were given out about every other day. The amount of meat is spoken of as half a "mess," one pig being reckoned as twenty-four messes. The fish ration consisted of five herrings or a piece of cod, together with some cheese and oatmeal. Certainly the Dover Castle garrison lived well. An immense amount of time and thought must have been spent in compiling this history of a corner of England,— very well spent, the reader will say, as he finishes the volume.
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