is led to consider it as having been a Roman post of importance, and he follows that eminent antiquary Dr. Stukely, in thinking it to be the Sidnacester of those conquerors. Dr. Stukely's paper on this question, which Mr. D. introduces, contains much ingenuity.

But the chief importance that attaches to Newark is from the events of the civil wars. It always strongly favoured king Charles, and its castle held out on behalf of that monarch to the very last, nor did Lord Bellasyse the governor surrender it till repeatedly directed so to do by the king himself. This volume is chiefly composed of papers written at, or near, the time, to which they relate, and we consider their publication as an accession to the materials of our national history.

are

Among these is a copy of the secret instructions given by king Charles, to commissioners, authorizing them to require loans for his service from the wealthy inhabitants of the counties; and directing them to mark for the royal displeasure, such as refused. It is well known that the king issued public commissions under the great seal for levying "a free gift from the subject to the Sovereign, upon weighty and pressing occasions of state." -But these private instructions "pretty strongly illustrative of that, artifice and duplicity, which have been so commonly urged against the conduct of this ill-advised monarch." It should appear that the money borrowed in Nottinghamshire amounted to about £14,500. Another paper, being an historical account of the civil wars, in this (Nottingham) and the neighbouring counties, has evident marks of authenticity; but, that which shews how far the king and the Scots commissioners understood each other, by means of a French envoy, before the king delivered himself into their hands, in our opinion possesses greater interest than any other for which we are beholden to Mr. D. The history of his Journey is more particular than we remember to have seen it. The material facts are corroborated by the confession of Dr. Hudson, who was a principal agent in it.

A paper of coincidences, shewing what events happened on the same day, though after an interval of some years, is curious, as it shews with what attention oc

The day after his Majestic arrived att Southwell, walking about the town, as it was his practice to do, he went into the shop off one James Lee, a fanatical shoemaker. Finding his person was not known, he en, tered into conversation with Crispin, and in the end was measured for a pair off shoes. Lee had no sooner taken his Majestie's foot into his hand to measure him, than eyeing him very attentively, he was suddenly seized King, surprised att his behaviour, pressed with a panick, and would not go on. The him to proceed, but Crispin absolutely refused, saying, he was the customer himself had been warned off in his sleep the night before, that he was doomed to destruction, and those would never thrive who worked for him. The forlorn Monarch, whose misfor tunes had opened his minde to the impressions off superstition, uttered an ejaculation exProvidence, and retired to the palace, which pressive off his resignation to the will off was the place off his abode.

This reminds us of a circumstance, remarkable enough, that Charles II. after his escape from Worcester, should ride a horse shod with shoes made in four different counties: could the republican blacksmith who casually inspected him, do less than announce that this horse had lately been ridden by Charles Stuart? The king had not been safe a quarter of an hour when this happened.

A list of the Mayors, Vicars, &c. of Newark; also of the representatives of this town in Parliament, are comprized

in this volume.

Having given a general idea of the contents of these volumes, the fourth and last part of which is not yet published, we shall select a few particulars, partly because they are amusing and partly as specimens of the style and manner of the work. We have already hinted at our good will to works of this kind, and we should feel a pleasure in contributing to the encouragement of this gentleman before his undertaking fiually closes.

Mr. D. regards the basso-relievos on the front of Lincoln cathedral, as being "part of the ornaments of the old church, origi nally erected here by Paulinus." He also refers an ancient piece of sculpture preserv

ed in the church at Southwell, to the same date. He observes, "there are stronger marks of antiquity in this piece of sculpture, than in any I ever saw, not excepting even the celebrated ones in the west front of Lincoln cathedral." p. 81. We certainly have contemplated those at Lincoln with great interest, though without perceiving in them evidence of such original antiquity. But, as we have already expressed our opinon that the Saxons were forwarder in the arts than is usually supposed, we cannot object to these, or other, evidences in support of our sentiment. As to the subject of the Southwell bassorelievo, we suspect that one of the figures is Sampson rending a lion; and that the animal above is a kid. This differs greatly from Mr. D.'s explanation, which supposes it to be an allegory: but we would ask, whether allegory is not the offspring of refinement, and whether there be any instances of allegory in such early ages, and among such a people as the Saxons?

which with the already mentioned bells formed a wonderful harmony, neither was there any peal in all England that could equal it." We infer, that the musical chime of bells was known, and cultivated, at this time; and that it was reduced to principles of harmony. Our worthy correspondent from whom we have received sundry favours on this subject, will not be displeased with this reference. [Comp. Panorama, Vol. I. p. 1077, 1233; Il. p. 1049.]

Mr. D. supposes, p. 69, that our Saxon ancestors finished their churches with timber roofs covered with lead, because they did not know how to finish them with stone roofs: yet the crypts under some of their churches shew, that they had excellent ideas on similar subjects.

The church of Southwell had the privilege "that all the land belonging to the prebends of the church of St. Peter was so quiet and free, that neither the king's officer, nor any there, till the canon of that prebend was first other, could have law, nor take a distress required: and, if he refused, the dean should And if any person whatsoever shall take and set a day, and do right at the church door. detain any man, though guilty, and convict of any crime or wickedness whatever, from within the porch, he shall always be adjudg

some rich monasteries had them before.

The most decisive instance of the early introduction of them, is that mentioned by Ingulphus, who writes thus, among the transactions of the reign of Edgar. "Fecit ipse" (Egelricus, Abbot of Croyland, not Turketulus, as erroneously stated by Spelman, and, following his authority, by many subsequent authors,)" fieri duas magnas campanas, quas Bartholomeum, et Bettelinum cognominavit; et duas medias, quas Turketulum et Tatwinum vocavit; et duas minores, quas Pegam et Begam appellavit. Fecerat anteà fieri Dominus Turketulus, Abbas, unam maximam campanam, nomine Guthlacum, quâ cum predictis campanis composita fiebat mirabilis harmonia, nec erat tunc tanta

consonantia campanarum in totâ Anglia."

He caused to be made two great bells,

which he named Bartholomew and Bette lin, two of a middle size which he called Turketul and Tatwin, and two sinaller which he called Pega and Bega. The Abbot Turketul had previously caused to be made one large bell named Guthlac,

from within the church, by twelve; if from within the choir, by eighteen; every hundredth containing six pounds, and for every the said faults, or any, shall be enjoined penance, as for sacrilege. But if any should be so mad, and instigated by the devil, as to presume to take one from the stone-chair, by the altar, which the English call frithstol, that is, the chair of peace, for so wicked a sacrilege no judgment or sum of money can atone.' Many inferior privileges are then enumerated, as those of sac, soc, toll, with several others, in terms almost too barbarous for modern comprehension.

We had occasion lately to hint at the question of the prevalence of the various languages of our invaders and conquerors: something not foreign from our ideas is suggested by Mr. D. in a note, page 161.

I believe there is scarcely a county of Eng land which has not one or more places within it distinguished by this appellation [Wilthere are many. Much remains still to be loughby]. In those of Lincoln and Nottingham discovered respecting the power, influence, and possessions of our early invaders, Romans, Saxons, and Dancs, especially the last mentioned of these. After what has been advanced respecting a Roman itinerary, might not a similar attempt be made with a Danish one; and if

labours. If memory does not deceive us, we have perused by far the greater part of the work, many years ago in other publications; yet we are unwilling to accuse Mr. H. of having made up a book, containing a stipulated number of sheets, as an article of labour and traffic, not of liberal and genuine communication. The post which he occupied in North America, we know might have given him opportunities of beholding with his own eyes, cirQumstances and events descriptions of which we should have esteemed interesting; but, it so happens, that if Mr. H. did actually travel in the countries on which his volume treats, we have been unable to trace his course, or to ascertain the time of his passage. The accounts of places with which he favours us, are seldom marked by that particularity which characterizes observations made on the spot; and the general tone of his remarks is that of a person rather speaking by recollection than expressing the feelings of actual inspection.

The latter part of his book is particularly liable to this censure: it consists of comparisons between the customs and manners of the North American Indians with those of the South Americans, and those of European nations, as described by the writers of antiquity. If this be intended as a philosophical disquisition, it totally fails of that character; if it be intended as an article of amusement and information, we do but speak our sentiments when we say, that we should have preferred the actual observations of an intelligent traveller, without such accompaniment. If Mr. H. had visited Peru and Chili, if he had spoken from personal acquaintance with the manners of the Charaibs, we should have felt and confessed obligations to him as it is, we consider his volume as capable of improvement, by being diminished in bulk, in price, and in assumed consequence.

The same reasons which induce us to report unfavourably of the latter part do not so much apply to the former part, of this performance, and to this, therefore, we shall direct our principal consideration. The provinces of Canada present a very ample field for the observation of the intelligent. There are many parts of them which may be considered as unexplored: and those parts which are described as eultivated and settled, are capable of im

provements so very important and profitable, that the indication of them could not fail of being extremely advantageous, not to that country only, but also to Britain as the governing power and the parent state. The Canadas are favoured by nature with a soil and a temperature that enable them to supply other countries with sundry of the necessaries of life. Whatever connects with the corn trade, timber, iron, hemp, and other commodities of importance, these provinces could produce; and should circumstances dissolve the present dependence of our West India islands on America, it is not too much to say that very essential stores might be derived from the countries which border on the river St. Lawrence. Nay, if our information be correct, notwithstanding the imperfection of those attempts. which have been made to render Britain independent of Russia by means of Canadian hemp, that idea is completely practicable, and great advantages might be derived from such an undertaking. Prudence combined with perseverance may accomplish much; but a deficiency of previous information is not infrequently fatal to schemes, which are in some respects extremely well laid, and might be conducted to the happiest results.

Mr. H. has not indulged himself in such patriotic speculations. His volume commences with an account of the Azores, which is pretty enough: hence he visits the banks of Newfoundland; and his description of the fog, which distinguishes those remarkable shoals, and of the sterile country in their neighbourhood, is exact and satisfactory. He sails up the St. Lawrence, and describes some of the settlements, &c. in his progress towards Quebec; on this city he stumbles somewhat suddenly; but he describes it faithfully; as he does Montreal, and other settlements higher up the country. Mr. H. has attended more than most travellers, for which we thank him, to the picturesque scenes which present themselves in these regions of fresh water oceans, of forests, and of cataracts. The latter, especially, have employed his pen and his pencil to great advantage. We must, however, observe, that the water of his scenery has not that motion in it which denotes the touch of a master. His views of the frozen waterfalls, are excellent; but there is something of the same appearance (we

know not how better to describe it, than as an apparent defect of fluidity) in his other cataracts, where the falling of the stream is imperfectly expressed. Whether this is chargeable on the designer or engraver, we cannot tell.

Mr. H. proceeds up the St. Lawrence to the inland lakes; these he describes, with their rapids, and the countries around their shores. He reports very favourably on the general character of the inhabitants, on the progressive increase of population, and the improving state of society. He gives a slight history of the province, with its embarrassment under the French government; of its subsequent constitution, of the famous Quebec hill, and of the natural history, &c. of these regions. The Indian inhabitants have their share of attention, also; and much of their manners passes under review. The conduct of the fur trade, forms a material object. The very enumeration of these particulars, will convince our readers, that the work must comprize a variety of amusing and instructive matter. Where we have reason to conclude that Mr. H. speaks from actual observation, we attend to him with pleasure we are not equally satisfied, when he repeats what he has heard from others; and when he transcribes from former authors, we regret the labour and trouble it has cost him to prepare these materials for the present work, though we think they might well enough have formed the basis of a separate volume, expressly treating on such subjects.

North America appears to be peopled by numerous tribes of men, whose languages differ from each other, so considerably, if not totally, as to render it a question of great difficulty, though of some interest, from what stock they could be derived. If they migrated in one great body, from the west, across the narrow strait which divides Asia from America, were they then different tribes? if so, what tribes on that coast most resemble them? If they emigrated in smaller hordes at different times, by what power could those feebler bodies penetrate so far into the interior of the country? If formerly one language prevailed among them, by what means was it so completely broken and diversified? The absence of historical documents precludes a satisfactory answer to this inquiry, at present; yet the time may come, when a greater

familiarity with the languages in question, and clearer information as to their resemblances or diversities, may enable some competent philologist to establish inferences not unworthy of attention.

We may say the same of the religious rites and the prevailing customs among these people. Where religious ideas are similar, we may safely conclude a similarity of origin. Subjection to the wilder passions of human nature, or the indul. gence of ferocious inclinations unhappily is no distinct mark of any tribe, or kindred of men but positive institutions, deriv ing their validity from arbitrary appointment, lead to the same arbiter, as the original source, wherever they may be found, and although somewhat diversified by succeeding, or distant legislators.

:

Had Mr. H, by giving this or a like direction to his comparisons of the original American nations, enabled us to have made advances in the knowledge necessary to answer these enquiries, we should have freely confessed our obligations to him. Or had he pointed out by what means the importance of this colony to Britain might be encreased, or the advantages of civilized life, and of religious instruction, been more generally or more effectually communicated to the inhabitants of this vast continent, we should have applauded the intention, and have honoured the author. A knowledge of human nature in its savage state, is not wholly unprofit able, since it ought to lead us to set a greater value on the blessings with which Providence has endowed us. Whatever increases our thankfulness increases our virtue and every mean by which virtue may be encreased is deserving of attention, by the wise. We shall now transcribe a few extracts from this volume, by which our readers will perceive that its contents, though not dignified by philosophy, or aggrandized by politics, yet are amusing and entertaining, which was all the author designed when composing them.

We find a pleasure in relieving the character of some of the savages from those imputations which are, generally, but too well founded. Mr. H. thus describes a tribe of sober Indians.