The Journal of .Toachim Hans. Edited by C. H. Firth.
M.A. (B. H. Blackwell, Oxford.)—Joachim Hane was an engineer, born at Frankfort-on-the-Oder, who entered the service of the Common- wealth in 1649. (England had to resort, then and afterwards, to the services of German and Dutch engineers.) This journal is the record of adventures, mostly of the disagreeable kind, which he encountered in the course of a mission on which he was sent in November, 1653, by the Protector. The special object which he had in view is not clearly made out. Generally it had to de with the policy of playing off one Continental Power against another, which Cromwell, in common with English rulers before and after him, bad to follow. Mr. Firth sets forth the policy pursued by Cromwell in this respect, and his introduction is, to say the least, as valuable as the narrative which it introduces. This narrative is indeed semi-tedious. liane was hiding and starving, being taken into custody or escaping from it, during his. three months' sojourn in France. We do not get much insight into anything but his personal sufferings. Bane, who wrote the story of his adventures shortly after his return—the MS., which is in the library of Worcester College, is probably a copy from his autograph—was rewarded by a grant of lands in Scotland. He died at Dunkirk, whither he had gone to inspect the fortifications,. in August, 1658.
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