Coronation of King Edward VII.: Cases and Evidence before the
Court of Claims. By W. Woods Wollaston. (Harrison and Sons. 25s. net.)—There are some important and many curious things in this volume. Mr. Wollaston deserves well of the authorities who may have to look after such matters in the future. If a similar record had been made of the proceedings before the Court in bygone times, the task of adjudicating on some very difficult eases would have been simplified. There were various classes of case, claims of rights anl claims of favours. On the whole, the petitioners did not get very much. The Barons of the Cinque Ports established their claim to carry a canopy, if the King wished it ; other 9w:toe3:if ul claimants had "no duties assigned to them." The Lord Mayor of London, however, established his right to bear the Crystal Mace ; but his fellow-citizens failed under the terms of the Royal Proclamation. These terms excluded many claims, the Championship among them. Chief Larderers, Herb Skewers, and so forth had no occasion to render their loyal service. But Mr. H. Seryrot,neour-Wedderburn was adjudged to be Hereditary Standard-bearer of Scotland as against the other claimants, Lord Lauderdale and the Rev. R. C. Scrimgeour, and the Lord High Constable of Scotland (the Earl of Erroll) actually got a silver baton of 12 oz. weight tipped with gold at either end. One Peer demanded a box, in the Abbey to hold seventy-three persons; but did not . get it. ." The cases in which no claims as of right were made !' are curious ; we notice among them the petition of our contemporary the Globe, who pleaded that his predecessors had been present at the Coronations - of George IV. and William IV." for the purpose,of describing the ceremony." The resultsef these petitions are not recorded. Two from India are given ; but one of them seems really a restatement. of old grievances.
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