252 Literary Intelligence.-Antiquarian Researches. marble statue of Eve at the Fountain (by Bailey). These form altogether a very interesting display of ancient and modern sculpture. The fine Bust (by Bailey) of the late Sir T. Lawrence has been placed in a conspicuous situation. ASIATIC SOCIETY OF CALCUTTA. At a meeting of the Society, on the 5th of May last, extracts from Mr. Gerard's letters, relative to the fossil shells collected by him in his late tour over the snowy mountains of the Thibet frontier, were read. The loftiest altitude at which he picked up some of them, was on the crest of a pass elevated 17,000 feet; and here also were fragments of rocks, bearing the impression of shells, which must have been detached from the contiguous peaks rising far above the elevated level. Generally, however, the rocks formed of these shells are at an altititude of 16,000 feet, and one cliff was a mile in perpendicular height above the nearest level. Mr. Gerard farther states, "Just before crossing the boundary of Ludak into Bussalier, I was exceedingly gratified by the discovery of a bed of fossil oysters, clinging to the rocks as if they had been alive.' LONDON UNIVERSITY. Feb. 24. A meeting of the Proprietors of the London University was held, when the annual report was read. It appeared [March, that the receipts had diminished to the amount of 600/. and that the number of students was only 510. It was announced that the warden had voluntarily given up 200 of his salary. In the course of the proceedings, Mr. Warburton said, that the receipts for the students were at present 3500l. and unless an increase to the amount of 1500l. took place, there would be a deficiency to that extent. The subject for the prize essay, to be written for by the students of English law, is-The illustrations which the history, opinions, and manners of the country, prior to the reign of George I. receive from the statutes of the realm." ASSOCIATION FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT March 15. A meeting of the founders, patrons, and members, met at the British Coffee-house, Cockspur-street, to elect officers, &c. It appeared that the society intend to raise a fuud of 10,000l. for the purpose of publishing works of merit, where authors and publishers cannot agree; to advance money in some cases to authors in progress of their labours; and to allow them a per-centage on the sale of their works. A committee was appointed, including the Duke of Somerset, Earl Dudley, and Sir Gore Ouseley. Sir T. Gates and T. Campbell, Esq. were named secretaries. ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCHES. SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. Feb. 24. Hudson Guruey, esq. V. P. The Rev. John William Mackie, F.R.S. Student of Christ Church, exhibited a brass plate, brought from Tours, containing an inscription, which records the dedication of a chapel to St. Eloy in 1446. It is supposed to have been formerly attached to the door of the chapel; the letters are very elegantly cut in relief, some of them having flowery terminations, slight varieties occurring in each line. A letter was read from Robert Smirke, esq. F.S.A. being a defence of his projected removal of the Screen at York Minster, and a reply to some points of Mr. Gage's letter, noticed in p. 163. Miss Waddilove, daughter of the late Dean of Ripon, presented a collection of drawings and prints, formed by her father when chaplain to the embassy in Spain, and chiefly relating to the palace of Alhambra, particularly copies of the inscriptions, coloured and gilt after the originals. March 3. Wm. Hamilton, esq. V.P. Edward Nelson Alexander, esq. of Halifax, solicitor, (from whom a History of that town is expected,) was elected a Fellow. Alfred Bartholomew, esq. architect, pre sented an arranged drawing of some tiles of terra cotta, found in May 1830, in digging for the formation of a cellar, under the house No. 11, on the south side of Clerkenwell Green. They were of three or four ornamental patterns, and are supposed to have been the pavement of some of the buildings belonging to the Priory of St. John. The Chevalier Bronsted, of Copenhagen, exhibited two bronzes, of the very best times of Greek art, found in Magna Græcia, on the spot where Pyrrhus fought his first battle with the Romans, and where Plutarch records that some fine arms were found in his time. Their designs were similar, a hero subduing an amazon; and had evidently been gilt. It was observed that Pyrrhus, in the contest alluded to, is related to have worn golden or gilt armour, and that he was on that account so conspicuous, that during the battle he changed it; which makes it possible that these fine relics of the arts of Greece might have been part of his armour. The fifth letter of the Rev. Johu Skinner, F.S.A. ou Camelodunum, concluded the readings of the evening. Mr. Britton exhibited some more of his large drawings,-Brixworth church and the Jury Wall, Leicester; Beverley Minster, Malmesbury abbey, and Warwick castle. 1831.] The Society of Antiquaries. March 10. Thomas Amyot, esq. Treasurer, in the chair. Charles William Packe, esq. exhibited a large square glass vase, fourteen inches high and six wide, which with four cups of red Samian ware was lately found in a stone chest at Harpenden, five miles from St. Alban's. The form of the vase, and the position of its handle, is similar to that found at Lincoln, engraved in the Archæologia, vol. XI. pl. xiii. fig. 3; and to that found near Avisford Place in Sussex, engraved (with the other curious contents of the chest, remaining as originally deposited) in Dallaway's Rape of Arundel, p. 367. William Knight, esq. F.S.A. exhibited some Roman coin-moulds (one with a very sharply impressed coin in it) found at Lingwell Gate, near Wakefield. Former discoveries of the same articles at that spot have been noticed in the 24th volume of the Philosophical Transactions; and there is an essay on the subject in the 14th volume of Archæologia. They were likewise noticed in the Archæologia, vol. xvII. p. 333, vol. XIX. p. 412; and in our vol, xcix. ii. pp. 32, 380. Indeed they appear to have been at all times found in such abundance, that there is great reason to suppose that this was a principal mint of the Romans in Britain. The reading of Mr. Skinner's letters on Camelodunum was afterwards continued ; and the chairman then announced that the gentlemen appointed Auditors for the present year were, Sir Alexander Johnstone, Gally Knight, esq. Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., and Robert Smirke, jun. esq. As March 17. Mr. Amyot in the chair. Henry Ellis, esq. Sec. exhibited casts of the seal of Waleran Comte de Meulan, on one side of which he is styled COMITIS MELLENTI, and on the other COMITIS WIGORNIE. there is no record of his creation to the earldom of Worcester, it is conjectured that he assumed that title without the royal authority, as he certainly maintained the castle of Worcester in defiance of king Stephen. This seal was engraved in Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. 1. pl. xi. William Knight, esq. F.S.A. resident architect at the London Bridge Works, ex-, hibited an interesting drawing, representing in one view the old and new bridges in their present state. William Walton, esq. Attorney-general of the Duchy of Lancaster, communicated the accounts of a Bailiff of the Savoy in 16 and 17 Richard II., showing the prices of building materials, wages, &c. at that period, when the palace was in the course of repair from the devastation committed by Wat Ty ler's mob. The following resolution of the Council, which had been read at three meetings, was submitted to a ballot: "A proposal for the publication of Anglo-Saxon and early English writers having been submitted to the 253 Council, it was resolved that it appears highly desirable that this measure be undertaken by the Society of Antiquaries; but, as its funds are inadequate to defray the whole expense without interfering with its other publications, on the ordinary terms of distribution among its members, it appears expedient that copies of the intended publications be sold to the Fellows of the Society at half price, and that an adequate price be fixed on copies for general sale, by which it is expected that a great proportion of the expense will be reimbursed to the Society." This resolution was carried by a majority of 31 to 8. The following are the reflections on this subject, circulated by the promoters of the undertaking: "While in France, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, much has been done of late for the cultivation of ancient native literature, it has been a source of mortification to the English antiquary and philologist, that in this country few have been the steps taken, during the last century, towards communicating to the world the literary treasures preserved among us, from the times of our Saxon and Anglo-Norman forefathers. Though Somner, Hickes, Wanley, and Lye have, by their learning and unwearied industry, been as lights in our path to this interesting department of English literature, it is a lamentable fact, that they have shone more for strangers than for ourselves; and that foreign scholars, profiting by the knowledge which they derived from the works of those indefatigable philologists, and prompted by a zeal as laudable as it was powerless in reviving a kindred spirit in England, have given to the world some of the most interesting monuments of EnglishSaxon literature. Of these, the first both in time and in talent was Francis Junius, who gave the only edition yet published of Cadmon, the Milton of our Saxon forefathers; and it is to Thorkelin, who was sent hither by some zealous patrons of Gothic learning in Denmark, for the purpose of transcribing the poem of Beowulf, that the literary world is indebted for its acquaintance with that extraordinary production. More recently, Mr. Schlichtergroll was sent from Germany to transcribe the Cottonian Harmonia Evangelica, (long ago made known to the world by Hickes,) commonly called Canute's Book, the text of which, as various readings to the Bamberg MS., has just been published by Professor Schmeller at Munich. These considerations have led to the idea of printing, from the MSS. in our public libraries, all works in Anglo-Saxon and early English which may be deemed worthy of publication; as well as to reprint such as have been unsatisfactorily edited, or are become exceedingly rare. It is proposed to publish Three Volumes annually, in large octavo; each work to be accompanied by a preface, notes, 254 Antiquarian Researches.-Select Poetry. and, where needful, with a translation and a &c. The Metrical Chronicle of Britain, by Layamon; from the Cott. MSS. Calig. A. ix. and Otho C. xiii; to be edited by F. Madden, Esq. F.S.A. M.R.S.L. and Assistant Keeper of MSS. in the British Museum. The Ormulum; from the Junian MS. in the Bodleian Library; to be edited by Richard Price, Esq. of Bristol, Editor of Warton's History of English Poetry. These to be succeeded by, Beowulf. This is nearly ready for the press; Thorkelin's edition having been twice collated with the Cott. MS. Vitell. A. ix. The whole of the Exeter MS. (See Conybeare's Illust. of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.) The Romance of Apollonius of Tyre; from the MS. at Ben'et College. (See Wanley, p. 146.) Elfric's Grammar and Glossary. The Gospels, in the following ancient Versions, in parallel columns. 1. The pure A.S. text, from the edition of Marshall and Junius, collated with the existing MSS. 2. The Dano-Saxon or Northumbrian Gloss, from the celebrated Cott. MS. Nero D. iv. 3. The Rushworthian Gloss, from the Bodleian MS. "It is intended to invite the communication of any notes or observations which may be suggested by an examination of the Works as they appear, with a view to their furnishing [March, materials for a body of philological illustrations, to be published in a separate volume." March 24. Henry Hallam, Esq. V.P. in the chair. Charles Okill, of Bootle in Lancashire, esq.; Philip John Salomons, esq., of York Gate; the Rev. Richard Rawlins, of Repton; Benjamin Thorpe, esq. Hon. Member of the Icelandic Literary Society of Copenhagen, translator of Rask's Grammar of the Anglo-Saxon tongue; and Francis Cholmeley, of Brandsby in Yorkshire, esq., were elected Fellows. Fred. Madden, esq. F.S.A. exhibited the matrix of the seal of the Priory of Southwick in Hampshire. Besides the usual two sides, it has a centre leaf of brass engraved on both surfaces. Four impressions are thus produced, on each side two pieces of wax; from both these impressions parts are to be broken out, forming the doors and windows of the churches represented in the designs; and in the apertures so formed, on the two parts being attached, appear figures and heads, stationed as it were within the building. The effect of this ingenious contriv ance, united to the excellence of the workmanship, is very pleasing; the only other seal which Mr. Madden has found to resemble it in structure is that of Christ Church, Canterbury (an impression of which, but without this peculiarity being known, was engraved in the Vetusta Monumenta). Their age is the same,-the latter end of the thirteenth century. The Southwick seal is circular, about three inches in diameter. It may certainly be considered one of the greatest curiosities of its kind now in existence. The first portion was read of an essay by the Rev. Henry Montagu Grover, on Classical Chronology; tending to elucidate the dates of some events in the early history of Greece and Italy, prior to the Cretan invasion and the Tyrrhene settlement. The Society then adjourned over the Easter recess to the 14th of April. POETRY. THE SOLDIER'S BRIDE. A Ballad by John Mayne. "HO!-who comes there?" the sentry cried, When, full of woman's fears, "Love brings me here!" a voice replied, Scarce audible with tears! "O! love is not the pass-word here, "I dare not let you pass, my dear, "Sir, I have come," she said, "this night, "To see before to morrow's fight "The hero I adore!" Sooth'd with her supplicating tone, THE WITCHCRAFT OF EYES. Dedicated to the Lancashire Witches; by the author of " Scotland's Blue-Eyed Fair." There are witches of daylight, of whom one faint glimpse "Tis the bright eyes of beauty whose glances I dread, No witchcraft I fear save the Witchcraft of Eyes! I have strayed on the banks of the calm-flowing Lune,* Her bark on the billows a water-witch row. With sweet syren voices our hearts to surprise; The witchcraft I fear is the Witchcraft of Eyes! 255 Bright visions have beam'd on my soul as I've slept, Yet, spirits or dreams, matters little to me, The danger I dread in reality lies; For tho' Necromancy may spell the young fancy, H. B. * The Lune or Lon; the river on the banks of which stands the city of Lancaster. The "Kelpie's flow' He shall stable his steed in the Kelpie's flow, " is alluded to by Scott in his Bride of Lammermoor; in our southron tongue the "Quicksaud of the Water Witch." HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. [March, PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 22. The Lord Chancellor brought forward a motion respecting the COURT OF CHANCERY, and its Jurisdiction in Bankruptcy cases. His Lordship dwelt at great length on the abuses of the Court, and on the general character of the remedies which he intended to provide. He said he contemplated, first, a change in the constitution of the Court; secondly, to keep apart the administrative Judges and the judicial functionaries; and thirdly, to substitute vivá voce evidence, where practicable, for depositions. One distinguishing feature of his plans would be, the payment of Judges, Masters, and their dependents by salaries, instead of fees. The evils of fees he considered as almost indescribable, especially as far as dependents were concerned. The fees to Masters and others, and particularly fees and "gratuities" to the Masters' clerks (which the public called "bribes "), his Lordship proposed wholly to abolish. In speaking of the abuses in the Masters' offices, his Lordship men66 grationed, that as much as fifty pounds tuity "had been given to a clerk for a report, where the usual fees did not exceed 71. His Lordship said, that his plan also embraced reform of the practice in lunatic cases; amongst other improvements he proposed to provide, that questions respecting the soundness of an individual's mind should be tried before the Judges and a jury in Westminster Hall, and not by a commission. Another reform was the extinction of the fourteen lists of Bankrupt Commissioners, and the providing in their stead ten Judges, consisting of one Chief Judge, who should preside over the whole, three senior and six junior Judges. Cases to be heard before them sitting in banco, or before the Chief Judge (or president) and juries; a power of appeal to lie to the Lord Chancellor on points of law alone. The noble Lord described the abuses of the country commissions as very flagrant; he should make some alterations in the mode of appointing the commissioners; and if the plan he had proposed should succeed, some of the Judges in bankruptcy might go circuits at fixed periods. By separating the bankruptcy business from the Court of Chancery, he calculated that the Lord Chancellor's annual income would be diminished between 7000l. and 8000l., and he would lose the patronage of 70 offices. There would also be a reduction of fees receivable by individuals from suitors, &c. to the amount of 78,000l. a year. The noble Lord concluded by laying before the House the first of his three bills, In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, the same HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 25. The Lord Chancellor introduced the second of the bills for the better administration of justice in the CHANCERY JUDICATURE. This bill related to cases of Bankruptcy, and all he should now ask of their Lordships was to permit him to lay it upon the table.Lord Lyndhurst, at great length, took a review of the whole series of measures proposed by the noble Lord, showing that all the leading points he (Lord Lyndhurst) had himself introduced to Parliament in a bill which was thrown out chiefly by the exertions of the present Lord on the woolsack. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 28. March 1.-Lord John Russell brought forward the important measure of PARLIA MENTARY REFORM. After some introductory observations, on the policy and expediency of effecting a Reform in the Representation of the House of Commons, the no ble Lord proceeded to explain the nature of |