an enlightened collector of materials, and a sagacious judge of evidence, has never been surpassed. In spite of his ardent love of libery, no man has yet presumed to charge him with the slightest sacrifice of historical integrity to his zeal. That he never perfectly attained the artof full, clear, and easy narrative, was owing to the peculiar sty of those writers who were popular in his youth, and may be metioned as a remarkable instance of the disproportion of particular talets to a general vigour of mind.' JIN PINKERTON (1758-1826) distinguished himself by the fierce contiversial tone, of his historical writings, and by the violence of his ejudices, yet was a learned and industrious collector of forgotten fragents of ancient history and of national antiquities. He was a nati of Edinburgh, and bred to the law. The latter, however, he soofforsook for literary pursuits. He commenced by writing imperet verses, which, in his peculiar antique orthography, he styled Ries,' from which he diverged to collecting 'Select Scottish Ballad: 1783, and inditing an Essay on Medals,' 1784. Under the name of ron, he published some Letters on Literature,' and was recommed by Gibbon to the booksellers as a fit person to translate the mcksh historians. He afterwards (1786) published Ancient Scottis hems,' being the writings of Sir Richard Maitland and others, exaced from a manuscript in the Pepys Library at Cambridge. B Pakerton was an unfaithful editor.. His first historical work w ́A Dissertation on the Origin and Progress of the Scythians, or Ges,' in which he laid down that theory which he maintained thigh life, that the Celts of Ireland, Wales and Scotland are savag and have been savages since the world began! His next impont work was an Inquiry into the History of Scotland precedinhe Reign of Malcolm III., or 1056,' in which he debates at great len, and, as Sir Walter Scott remarks, with much display of learninn the history of the Goths, and the conquests which he states thto have obtained over the Celts in their progress through all Ebe. In 1796 he published a History of Scotland during the Re of the Stuarts,' the most laborious and valuable of his works, Iso compiled a 'Modern Geography,' edited a O Collection of cges and Travels,' was some time editor of the 'Critical Review,' e a Treatise on Rocks,' and was engaged on various other littasks. Pinkerton died in want and obscurity in Paris. 6 R JOHN FENN, MR. GAIRDNER, AND THE PASTON LETTERS. umes were issued from the press, containing original letters written by various persons of rank and consequence during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III.' In 1789 a third and fourt volume were published; and in 1823 a fifth and concluding volune appeared, bringing down the correspondence to the end of Heny VII.'s reign. A very complete edition of these Letters was published in 1872-45, containing upwards of five hundred letters previouly unpublished, and edited by MR. JAMES GAIRDNER of the Public Record Office: vel. i. comprising the reign of Henry VI.; vols. ii. and iii. Edward IV., Edward V., Richard III., and Henry VII.* Mr. Gairdner prefixed a valuable Introduction to this new edition, and added illustrative notes. The genuineness of the letters is undoubted. It appears that, in the village of Paston, about twenty miles north of Norwich, lived for several centuries a family which took its surname from the place, the head of which, in the reign of Henry VI., was William Paston, a justice of the Common Pleas, celebrated as the good judge.' The last representative of the family was William, Baron Paston and Earl of Yarmouth (second baron and earl), who died in 1732. The correspondence of this family supplies a blank in English history during the Wars of the Roses, but is chiefly interesting and curious for the light it throws on the social life of England at that periodthe round of domestic duties and employments, dress, food, entertainments, &c., pertaining to a good county family. As a specimen, we quote a paper of instructions addressed by Mrs. Agnes Paston to some member of her household in London:" Erands to London of Augnes Paston the xxviii day of Jenure, the yer of Kyng Henry the Sext, xxxvi (1458). To prey Grenefeld to send me feythfully word, by wrytyn, who Clement Paston hath do his dever in lernying. And if he hathe nought do well, nor wyll nought amend, prey hym that he wyll trewly belassch hym, tyl he wyll amend; and saded the last maystr, and the best that ever he had, att Caumbrage. And sey Grenefeld that if he wyll take up on hym to brynge hym in to good rewyll and lernyng, that I may verily know he doth hys dever, I wyll geve hym x marcs for hys labor; for I had lever he wer fayr beryed than lost for defaute. Item, to se who many gownys Clement hathe; and the that be bar, late hem be reysyd. He hath achort grene gowne, and achort musterdevelers gowne, wer never reysyd; and achort blew gowne that was reysyd, and mad of a syde gowne, when i was last in London; and a syde russet gowne, furryd with bevyr, was mad this tyne ii yer; and a syde murry gowne was mad this tyme twelmonth. Item, to do make me vi sponys, of viii ounce of troy wyght, well facyond, and dubbyl gylt. And say Elyzabet Paston that she must use hyr selfe to werke redyly, as other jentylwomen done, and sumwhat to help hyr selfe ther with. Item, to pay the Lady Pole xxvis, viiid. for hyr bord. And if Grenefeld have do wel hys dever to Clement, or wyll do hys dever, geffe hym the nobyll. ACNES PASTON *The publisher of this work. Mr. Edward Arber. Queen Square. Bloomsbury. don, deserves the thanks of all lovers of our early literature, for his series of cheand correct reprints of works previously scarce or only attainable at high prices. enterprise and literary taste, many of the choice and rare Elizabethan poems and gats sre now within the reach of all classes of readers. s [To pray Greenfield to send me faithfully word, by writing, how Clement Paston hath done his devoir (or duty) in learning. And if he hath not done well, nor will not amend, pray him that he will truly be-lash him till he will amend: and so did the last master, and the best he ever had, at Cambridge. And say (to) Greenfield that if he will take upon him to bring him into good rule and learning, that I may verily know he doth his duty, I will give him ten marks for his labour: for I had liefer he were fair buried than lost for default. Item, to see how many gowns Clement hath; and they that be bare, let them be raised(1). He hath a short green gown, and a short musterdevelus (2) gown, were never raised; and a short blue gown that was raised, and made of a syde (3) gown, when I was last at London; and a syde russet gown, furred with beaver, was made this time two-year; and a syde murry (4) gown was made this time twelmonth. Item, to do make me (get me made) six spoons, of eight ounce of Troy weight, well fashioned, and double gilt. And say (to) Elizabeth Paston that she must use herself to work readily, as other gentlewomen (hath) done, and somewhat to help herself therewith. Item, to pay the Lady Pole 26s. 6d. for her board. And if Greenfield have done well his duty to Clement, or will do his duty, give him the noble (5). AGNES PASTON. The following affecting farewell letter (the spelling modernised) possesses historical interest: The Duke of Suffolk to his Son, April 30, 1450. MY DEAR AND ONLY WELL-BELOVED SON-I beseech our Lord in heaven, the Maker of all the world, to bless you, and to send you ever grace to love Him and to dread Him; to the which as far as a father may charge his child, I both charge yon and pray you to set all spirits and wits to do, and to know His holy laws and commandments, by the which ye shall with His great mercy pass all the great tempests and troubles of this wretched world. And that also wittingly, ye do nothing for love nor dread of any earthly creature that should displease Him. And thus as any frailty maketh you to fall, beseecheth His mercy soon to call you to Him again with repentance, satisfaction, and contrition of your heart never more in will to offend Him. Secondly, next Him, above all earthly thing, to be true liegeman in heart, in will, in thought, in deed, unto the king our aldermost high and dread sovereign lord, to whom both ye and I be so much bound to; charging you as father can and may, rather to die than to be the contrary, or to know anything that were against the welfare of prosperity of his most royal person, but that, as far as your body and life may stretch, ye live and die to defend it, and to let his Highness have knowledge thereof in all the haste ye can. Thirdly, in the same wise, I charge you, my dear son, alway, as ye be bounded by the commandment of God, to do, to love, to worship your lady and mother, and also that ye obey alway her commandments, and to believe her counsels and advices in all your works, the which dreaded not, but shall be best and truest to you. And if any other body would stir you to the contrary, to flee the counsel in any wise, for ye shall find it naught and evil. Furthermore, as far as father may and can, I charge you in any wise to flee the company and counsel of proud men, of covetous men, and of flattering men, the more especially and mightily to withstand them, and not to draw nor to meddle with them, with all your might and power. And to draw to you and to your company good and virtuous men, and such as be of good conversation, and of truth, and by them shall ye never be deceived, nor repent you of. Moreover, never follow your own wit in no wise, but in all your works, of such folks as I write of above, 1 A new nap or pile raised on the bare cloth, Thus in Shakspeare: Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the coinmonwealth, and turn it. and set a new nap upon it.'-Hen. VI. Part II. 2 A kind of mixed gray woolen cloth. which continned in use to Elizabeth's reign. -HALLIWELL. 3 Syde gown-a low-hanging gown. See Sir David Lindsay, ante. 4 Murry or Murray colour was a dark red. 5 The noble, a gold coin, value 6s. 8d. asketh your advice and counsel, and doing thus, with the mercy of God, ye shall do right well, and live in right much worship and great heart's rest and ease. And I will be to you as good lord and father as my heart can think. And last of all, as heartily and as lovingly as ever father blessed his child in earth, 1 give you the blessing of our Lord and of me, which of His infinite mercy increase you in all virtue and good living. And that your blood may, by His grace, from kiudred to kindred multiply in this earth to His service, in such wise as, after the departing from this wretched world here, ye and they may glorify Him eternally among His angels in heaven. Written of mine hand the day of my departing from this land. Your true and loving father, HENRY HALLAM. SUFFOLK. The greatest historical name in this period, and one of the most learned of our constitutional writers and critics, was MR. HENRY HALLAM, son of Dr. Hallam, Dean of Wells. He was born in 1778, was educated at Eaton and Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the bar by the Inner Temple. He was early appointed a Commissioner of Audit, an office which at once afforded him leisure and a competency, and enabled him to prosecute those studies on which his fame rests. Mr. Hallam was one of the early contributors to the Edinburgh Review.' Scott's edition of Dryden was criticised by Mr. Hallam in the Review for October, 1808, with great ability and candour. His first important work was a View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages,' two volumes quarto, 1818, being an account of the progress of Europe from the middle of the fifth to the end of the fifteenth century. To this work he afterwards added a volume of Supplemental Notes.' In 1827 he published The Constitutional History of England, from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II., also in two volumes; and in 1837-38 an 'Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries,' in four volumes. With vast stores of knowledge, and indefatigable application, Mr. Hallam possessed a clear and independent judgment, and a style grave and impressive, yet enriched with occasional imagery and rhetorical graces. His Introduction to the Literature of Europe' is a great monument of his erudition. His knowledge of the language and literature of each nation was critical, if not profound, and his opinions were conveyed in a style remarkable for its succintness and perspicuity. In his first two works, the historian's views of political questions are those generally adopted by the Whig party, but are stated with calmness and moderation. He was peculiarly a supporter of principles, not of men. Mr. Hallam, like Burke, in his latter years lived in an inverted order: they who ought to have succeeded him had The duke embarked on Thursday the 30th April 1450 having been sentenced to five years' banishment from England. He was accused of having. in his communications with the French been invariably opposed to the interests of England. and in partea at that he had been bribed to deliver up Anju and Maine to Frauce. The pinnace in which he sailed was boarded off Dover by a ship called Nicholas of the Tower, the mast or of which sainted him with the words. Welcome trator.' and he was barbarously murdered, his body brought to land, and thrown upon the sands at Dover. gone before him; they who should have been to him as posterity were in the place of ancestors.' His eldest son, Arthur Henry Hallam-the subject of Tennyson's 'In Memoriam'-died in 1833; and another son, Henry Fitzmaurice Hallam, was taken from him, shortly after he had been called to the bar, in 1850. The afflicted father collected and printed for private circulation the Remains, in Verse and Prose, of Arthur Henry Hallam' (1834), and some friend added memorials of the second son. Both were eminently accomplished, amiable, and promising young men. The historian died January 21, 1859, having reached the age of eighty-one. Effects of the Feudel System.-From the View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages.' It is the previous state of society, under the grandchildren of Charlemagne, which we must always keep in mind, if we would appreciate the effects of the feudal system upon the welfare of mankind. The institutions of the eleventh century must be compared with those of the ninth, not with the advanced civilisation of modern times. The state of anarchy which we usually term feudal was the natural result of a vast and barbarous empire feebly administered, and the cause, rather than the effect, of the general establishment of feudal tenures. These, by preserving the mutual relations of the whole, kept alive the feeling of a common country and common duties; and settled, after the lapse of ages, into the free constitution of England, the firm monarchy of France, and the federal union of Germany. The utility of any form of policy may be estimated by its effects upon national greatness and security, upon civil liberty and private rights, upon the tranquillity and order of society, upon the increase and diffusion of wealth, or upon the general tone of moral sentiment and energy. The feudal constitution was little adapted for the defence of a mighty kingdom, far less for schemes of conquest. But as it prevailed alke in several adjacent countries, none had anything to fear from the military superiority of its neighbours. It was this inefficiency of the feudal militia, perhaps. that saved Europe, during the middle ages, from the danger of universal monarchy. In times when princes had little notions of confederacies for mutual protection, it is hard to say what might not have been the successes of an Otho, a Frederic, or a Philip Augustus, if they could have wielded the whole force of their subjects whenever their ambition required. If an empire equally extensive with that of Charlemagne, and supported by military despotism, had been formed about the twelfth or thirteenth centuries, the seeds of commerce and liberty, just then beginning to shoot, would have perished; and Europe, reduced to a barbarous servitude, might have fallen before the free barbarians of Tartary. If we look at the feudal polity as a scheme of civil freedcm, it bears a noble countenance. To the feudal law it is owing that the very names of right and privilege were not swept away, as in Asia, by the desolating hand of power. The tyranny which, on every favourable moment, was breaking through all barriers, would have rioted without control, if, when the people were poor and disunited, the nobility had not been brave and free. So far as the sphere of feudality extended. it diffused the spirit of liberty and the notions of private right. Every one will acknowledge this who considers the limitations of the services of vas salage, so cautiously marked in those law-books which are the records of customs; the reciprocity of obligation between the lord and his tenant; th consent required in every measure of a legislative or general nature; the security, above all, which every vassal found in the administration of justice by his peers, and even-we may in this sense say-in the trial by combat. The bulk of the people, it is true, were degraded by servitude; but this had no connection with the feudal tenures. The peace and good order of society were not promoted by this system. Though private wars did not originate in the fendal customs. it is impossible to doubt that they were perpetuated by so convenient an institution, which indeed owed its universal establishment to no other cause. And as predominant habits of warfare are totally irreconcilable with those of industry, not merely by the immediate works of |