the power of giving a green hue to the oyster. It cannot be copperas, as some have imagined; for although copperas is green in the lamp, yet when dissolved its colour is different; neither, were it not, is it easy to conceive such a dangerous mineral should be the food of an animal; or if it were, should not be easily discovered in the effects it would produce on those who had eaten of an orster which received its colour from so pernicious a substance. The cultch being so necessary for the osters to spat upon, it is made felony to carry it away after the month of May; and penilties are laid by the admiralty court upon those who destroy or carry it away at any time. Notwithstanding which, while by the payment of a fine of five pounds or ten pounds the fisherman can carry out of the river, as much cultch and spat as is worth one hundred pounds, which is not unfrequently the case, it is not likely that their honesty, either to those who are entitled to dredge with them, or to the corporation who grant them licence, will stand so much in their way, as to prevent a practice which, although descended from father to son, and has not yet met with its adequate punishment, can make no better claim to exemp tion from it, than many practices for which the culprit undergoes the severest rigour of justice.' ART. III. The Student's Guide; being a concise Account of the honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn: containing the Forms of Admission, keeping Terms, performing Exercises, Call to the Bar, Admission to Chambers, of leaving the Society, &c. By THOMAS LANE, Steward. 8vo. pp. 96. THE society of Lincoln's inn has long been celebrated for the antiquity of the foundation and the eminence of its professors; exclusive of the interest excited by magnificent buildings and large domains, disposed with the greatest effect. Indeed the importance of the fans of court throughout London, has frequently excited the attention of authors. Our excellent antiquary, Sir William Dugdale, followed the indefatigable Stowe in his researches, but as the diffusion of knowledge was infinitely greater in the time of Sir William, be found more would be required than mere repetition from his predecessor, and therefore commenced his Origines Juridiciales, which was published in folio, 660. This work goes to the very pring-head of law, and from that head has followed the course of the stream all its meanders, till he accomplisha beautiful plan, which has been and so correct and excellent that his successors in the pursuit have dopted it as an unerring guide. Every blication treating of London, silentacknowledges this fact, discerned roughout all the veils afforded by the ansposition of words. His information ay be perceived lurking in "The story and Antiquities of the Inns of Court," 8vo. 1780; and Ireland's "PicPresque Views, with an Historical Acat of the Inns of Court in London Westminster," large 8vo. 1800, stains whole pages extracted from the es Juridiciales. The object of Mr. Lane was far dif. erent: he perceived, from his official uation, that many inconveniencies arose from ignorance of the preliminary steps in applying for admission to the society, and ascertaining the precise duties required from its members. The rules were certainly before the public in a variety of publications, but in every instance encumbered by matter totally irrelevant: his little work was compiled, therefore, to bring into one view all that the student should know; and this he appears to have done concisely and clearly, as the following extracts and analysis of the contents will shew: formation for students, its utility only has "In the arrangement of the following inbeen consulted. "Had the work required superior intelligence, or profound ingenuity, the writer is too conscious of his own deficiency in either to have attempted the task. “Indeed, the rules, regulations, and customs, here introduced, require only that plain language, of which this work consists; nor interest, without, in proportion, detracting could they be interspersed with anecdote to from the main object in view. "At the conclusion will be found a consi derable list of persons, entered at Lincoln's Inn, whose names are illustrious in the page of history, or venerable in the volumes of jurisprudence. To detail the signal benefits conferred on their country by those eminent charaction as it would surpass his humble capacity; ters, would as far exceed the writer's intenbut to enumerate the high stations awarded to their talents and virtues, may prove a stimulus to honourable exertion, and awake emulation in the mind of the student desirous of aspiring to similar distinction." Authors so rarely estimate their own abilities in this humble way, that we are often under the necessity of checking their vanity; but Mr. Lane is too fearful of presuming, and perhaps permits his fears to overcome a wish of extending his account of this honourable so ciety. Such an account from a person of his abilities and peculiarly favourable situation, accompanied with biographical anecdotes, would undoubtedly be very acceptable to the public, who certainly would amply remunerate him for his expences and labour. Mr. Lane enters into a short but satisfactory history of Lincoln's Inn, which is composed of the old buildings, the garden, Serle Court or New Square, and the stone building. "It is situated in a street anciently called New Street, or Chancellor's Lane, (from the rolls office being situate there) but now called Chancery Lane." The order of black friers had a monastery in Holborn, which having fallen into decay, that and the palace of Ralph Nevil, bishop of Chichester, built on a piece of ground granted to him by Henry III. were converted into Lin coln's Inn. "Afterwards Henry Lacy then Earl of Lincoln, became possessed of it, and resided thereon, and from thence it derived its name; for we learn, that about the beginning of the reign of Edward II. being partial to the study of the law, he first engaged its professors to settle here. "The succeeding bishops of Chichester, whose inheritance it was, let leases to law students, reserving a rent and lodgings to themselves on their coming to London. "Francis Syliard, a bencher in the time of Henry VII. had a lease thereof, when Robert Sherborne, then bishop of Winchester, granted a new lease to William Syliard his son, then a student, for ninety-nine years, at 61. 13s. 4d. per annum, which ended in 1634. and heir, by deed of the 22d of Elizabeth, conveyed to Richard Kingsmill and other benchers, this house, garden, &c. in fee, whereupon a fine was levied by the said Edward and his wife. "Thus far relates to the whole of the Inn, excepting what is denominated Serle Court, known by the name of the New Square." The buildings of which this is compos ed were erected by the person just men tioned, on Fickett's Field, or Little Lincoln's Inn Field. Disputes having subsisted between this Henry Serle, Esq. and the then masters of the bench, articles were entered into by the parties, 34th Charles II. which set them at rest for ever: of those Mr. Lane gives an ab stract. quire particular mention are, the chapel- "The cloisters underneath are much ad "The roof and Gothic window at the east end of the chapel, were completely newed about ten years since, and other pairs added, under the direction of M Wyatt. "In 1658, Henry Colfer, Esq. of th Inn, devised 121. per annum for ever, for sermon to be preached in Lincoln's Ir chapel, the first Wednesday in every mon:i (which is regularly performed), and 8. annum for certain charitable purposes. 1768, a lecture in the form of sermons, was "Richard Simpson, a succeeding founded by the bishop of Gloucester (Dr. bishop of Chichester, in 1536, passed Warburton), late preacher to the society, to the inheritance thereof, and of the gar- proving the truth of the Christian religi den called Cotterel garden, at Coney. from the completion of the prophecies in tim garth, to the said William Syliard and Old and New Testament. To be preache Eustace his brother, which grant was confirmed by the dean and chapter, William being then one of the ushers of Henry VIII.'s bed-chamber. "Éustace, surviving Edward his son the first Sunday after Michaelmas term, and annually, (which duty is regularly performe the first Sunday before and after Hilary tec pursuant to the directions of the founder A preacher and chaplain are appointed by society, and divine service regularly perforu "So called from the quantity of rabbits, for we find in the 8th of Edward IV. the 1% Henry VII. and 24th Henry VIII. strict penalties on the students hunting the same, w bows, arrows, or darts." Sundays, as well as on the usual days pointed by the church. The hall, sixty-two feet long and thirtyo feet broad, was built in the time of Henry II. The interior is spacious and well-prortioned. At the upper end is a fine picture Hogarth, (14 feet by 10 feet 6 inches) resenting Paul before Felix; and on the ndows and pannels round the hall, the is of the various law dignitaries (a list of sch is subjoined) former members of this iety. fis exterior has lately been repaired, and mpletely covered with patent stucco comition, in imitation of stone. The stone building forms only part of more spacious design, by Sir Robert Taylor, o was the architect, and under whose dition it was built in 1780. These chamrs, from their magnificence, let and sell at h prices; but very good chambers may tad in different parts of the Inn, (by aping to the steward) on very reasonable Las, either on purchase or to rent. The ambers in the stone building are held upon Les, dated June 1780, for 99 years and te lives named at the time, with power to nate a fourth at the death of the last, nsferable during life on payment of a fine ul. for each set of chambers. "The rooms in the stone building comad a noble view of Lincoln's Inn Fields, e of the largest squares in Europe, conting about eight acres of ground, forming size of the base of one of the Egyptian ramids, and is now laid out upon a very proved plan." in which it now stands ; but No, no, no! has proved the invariable reply to every plan, till the auspicious year 1802 introduced a thousand diminutive bushes, and a number of circular and right-lined gravel-walks, which a singular fatality in the surface prevents the passenger from beholding, except in partial glances. "The whole of Lincoln's Inn is extra parochial except a part of Serle court, and most (if not the whole of the chambers) entitle the proprietor to a vote for the election of a member of parliament for Middlesex or Westminster." The library occupies an elegant suite of apartments on the ground floor of No. 2 in the stone building, and is open from ten o'clock until two every day for the use of members of the Inn. The collection of books is extensive, containing about eight thousand volumes, and which are increasing anally. It has many valuable MSS.; is ornamented with a few very good pictures, among which are landscapes on copper by Brughel, and portraits of Lord Chief Justice Hale, and Lord Chief Justice Rainsford; there is also a fine marble bust of Cicero." Furnival's Inn is an Inn of Chancery, and an appendage to Lincoln's Inn: it was purchased by the society 1st Edward VI. and let on a lease which is now nearly expired. Thavies Inn belonged to Lincoln's Inn, but was sold in 1769, afterwards burnt, and rebuilt like a street. After giving a general account of the place, Mr. Lane proceeds to the principal object of the work, which is too dry for amusement, but extremely useful to any person wishing to enter the society. The commons, or public dinners, are provided every day during term in the hall, where students may dine for 1s. 9d. each, who receive a black gown from the porter in the lobby, paying 2s. 6d. for it the first term, and 1s. each term afterwards. The meat and vegetables are served in messes for four persons. The students sit at the side tables, and the benchers and barristers at the cross tables. It is a singular circumstance, marking th the antient and modern history of is square, that every attempt suggested r its improvement, by public spirited in ividuals, has been rendered abortive by varice, or want of taste in the trustees. more dreary blank never disgraced an pulent city than the area of Lincoln's an Fields. This seemed to invite a buildg of magnificent proportions, and such as proposed more than one hundred ars past, to serve as a parish church; at failing, Drury-lane play-house might ive been transferred there, or St. CleRent's church, from the strange situation ART. IV. The History and Antiquities of Plesby, in the County of Essex, the Seat of the High Constable of England. By RICHARD GOUGH. 4to. pp. 195. Appendix 152. WHEN we take up the production f an author, whose life has been princirally devoted to one particular branch of mudy, and also know that he possesses the combined advantages of an ample fortune, a learned education, a profuse bhrary, and all the desireable adventias requisites to produce an excellent, and nearly perfect book, our expectaANN. REV. VOL. II. tion and curiosity are greatly excited; we eagerly anticipate an intellectual feast, and prepare the mental appetite for a rich repast. But, if instead of the anticipated treat, we become nauseated, our disappointment and displeasure excite complaint and reprehension. The former of these sentiments was excited upon our first view of Mr. Gough's his C ter. tory, and, we are sorry to acknowledge, that a tedious perusal provoked the latThis learned author possesses all the advantages above enumerated, and the public are entitled to expect greater excellence from him, than from the generality of topographers: but when an author sacrifices his public duty, to his private partialities, then his writings abound with theory instead of fact, and dissertation instead of description. The works of Stukeley, Rowland, Borlase, King, Gough, and a few others, are notorious examples of this. In the writings of the latter antiquary, are displayed an extensive knowledge of his subject, much reading and research, but a deficiency of that taste and judgment which adorns and enhances works of genius and talent. Like many enthusiatic antiquaries, Mr. Gough has been often the dupe of imposture, and given currency to fabricated stories. Some of these have been confuted in the Gentleman's and European Magazines; and others will be detected by future topographers. Though we wish to guard our readers against the fallacious statements of Mr. Gough, yet we readily and gladly allow him much merit in the execution of his "British Topography," and his splendid, ponderous, and expensive " Sepulchral Monuments." The latter will prove a lasting memento of his perseverance and research, and also of his excentricity and credulity. In the History and Antiquities of Pleshy, we expected a long account of some curious, or important remains, which characterize this part of Essex; but the reader will readily judge of our disappointment, when we inform him that not forty pages are strictly appropriated to local description. Nearly the whole of the volume is occupied with anecdotes of, and observations on the life of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, sixth son of Edward the third, high constable of England, and who occasionally resided at Pleshy castle. This noblemen is made the hero of the voiume, and as all heroes are generally drawn with every advantage of light and shade; so is this of Mr. Gough's. Contrary to the evidence of all our English historians, he is here represented as a "patriot, a magnanimous and generous councillor," &c.; and his merits and virtues are the theme of 144 quarto pages. In the small portion of this work which bears any relation to the title, it is stated that Pleshy was "no inconsider able roman station." Unfortunately for the antiquarian discrimination of its author, neither the character of the cas trametation, the discoveries made, the roads, or remains, will justify the asser tion. If antiquaries thus indiscriminately appropriate encampments, or fragments of antiquity to the Romans, we may as well give up research and investigation, and unequivocally pronounce the cha racter and era of all ancient remains. Having said thus much of our author in general terms, we now bring him be fore the reader in the following extracts from the preface, which is the best part of the work, being written with more care, and containing more unequivocal information than all the subsequent part of the volume. 66 It is impossible," says Mr. Gough, to view the site of PLESHY, or to trace its hisand the history of THOMAS OF WOODSTOCK tory, without entering into that of its lords; is a history of the first twenty years of the unfortunate reign of his nephew," (Richar II.) and a key to the misfortunes wh. à overwhelmed him in the two last. We be hold, in Gloucester, a stern inflexible patra's who, if he panted for the fields where so his father and brother, was far less blame much glory had been won from France by able thin those whose ambition engaged the country in expeditions of conquest again Portugal and Aquitaine, and wasted the har gotten treasure in unjustifiable claims t other sovereignties; while the war with France and Scotland was still on their hard and rebellion advanced in the centre of the capital. The minor king's high conceit flattery of favorites, and drowned in e; his own abilities, were heightened by These favourites were Alexander Nevik, parade, which swallowed up his reveaur archbishop of York; Robert de Vere, of Oxford, a young man of spirit, misapp in debauchery; Richard de la Pole, son a rich merchant of Hull; and judge Tr lian, who never wanted reasons to counte nance the king's wishes. These pres upon the king's liberality, and were a those who managed public affairs, and b rewarded for their insinuating counsels, wh the weight of government, were lightly compensed. Not that Richard wanted libe rality whenever it was called upon, but. was inspired with jealousy against his b friends, and recurred to the basest expedicn to deliver himself from their remonstran with the people, while the firm patriotism Lancaster's couduct had not ingratiated Gloucester, recommended him powerfully them, and while he, on the other hand, sp ported their remonstrances. It is ea & conceive how such a man must be lockel on in the fippant, unsteady court of Rich 1, in which French counsels gained a comLete ascendancy. "That we have few historians of Richd's reign, is ascribed by Hearne, to the Huence of the House of Lancaster in the n of Henry VI. A monk of Evesham is principal writer of his life taken singly; it enough will be found in the general hisries of Walsingham and Froissart, to jusy the opinion of the weakness and folly, it to say the wickedness of his conduct. at he might have been trained by Sir mon Burley and the Earl of Warwick, to the most accomplished prince of his time, d that his person rendered him the pret#gentleman, is allowed on all hands: but at he wanted stability, understanding, and nciple, is too notorious to be denied; at he would have been easily led, had he den into good hands, is confirmed by the cendancy which evil counsellors gained er him. Holinshed is almost the first hishan who speaks favourably of him; but was reserved for those superstitious idoTs of kingly power, Hearne † and Carte, extol his understanding, sagacity, and peration, at the expence of his uncles and "Perhaps no contemporary historian has I bis actions in a truer light than the lively dinquisitive Froissart, who omitted no portunity of satisfying his curiosity, and Lose impartiality has been proved beyond utradiction.§ In this view large extracts ave been here made from his history, which I am sorry to say, has been so disfigured in all the editions hitherto printed, that it was necessary to have recource to a beautiful manuscript copy of it, in the Royal Library now in the British Museum, in six volumes, folio, marked 14 D. I-vi., and illustrated with several beautiful illuminations, (of which two are here engraved from drawings made by the late Mr. Joseph Strutt, when he was selecting his Royal Antiquities from that valuable collection,) and from another beautiful manuscript, marked E. 11. in the same library, bound in green velvet. It is by no means improbable that these volumes were part of the antient library of the king of France, in the Louvre tower, collected and augmented by John, Charles V. and VI., and in 1425, when the English made themselves masters of Paris, purchased for 1200 francs, by the duke of Bedford, regent, to be carried into England. This manuscript deserves to be carefully collated with the latest edition, by Sauvage, Paris, 1574, folio; where among many other inaccuracies, the proper names of persons and places in Great Britain, are grossly misrepresented, and equally so those of other nations. "The original orthography is retained in the manuscript, and the only difference is in the division and titles of the charts, a difference which Le Carue observed in the different manuscripts in the French king's library. The hope of seeing a correct edition of this historian from his countrymen, and a faithful translation from one of our own, forPreface to the Monk of Evesham. + Ibid. History of England, ii. 640. De la Carne de St. Palaye, Memoires on his writings, particularly his judgment on history, p. 322. Mem. de l'Acad. des Insc. and Belles Lettres, xx. p. 288. 340. 360. See Abbé Bignon's Memoires on the ancient library of the Louvre. Mem. de l'Acad. Inse. and B. L. iii. 508. 511. 120. Froissart's History was first published by Anthony Verard, at Paris, without date, ree volumes, folio; by Michael le Noir, Paris, 1505, two volumes, folio; by Galleont du re, Paris, 1530, three volumes, folio; by John de Tournes, Lyons, 1559, 1560, 1:61, ree volumes, folio; revised and corrected by Denys Sauvage This last was exactly copied yone at Paris, by Gervais Maillot, 1574, three volumes, folio. To these editions, Mr. nes adds others in his own possession. 1. By Guill. Eustace, Paris, 1514; 2. an inion by Denys Sauvage, printed by Michael Sommes, Paris, 1574. This I have, but the mes are rather books making one sizeable volume. 3. Another edition, by D. Sauvage, rinted for Michael de Royney, Paris, 1574. Sauvage acknowledges that he printed from the three first black letter editions, and two anuscript abridgements, making some alterations from better historians, "to give a meanto passages which were in want of it," placing the original reading in the margin, and ving names of persons and places unaltered; from the impossibility of correcting them th success." With regard to the language, besides his intention never to change any ing of the antient words, he accompanies them with an explanation whenever he thinks not sufficiently intelligible, not always indeed successfully, but illustrating his chroLogy, geography, and facts, in notes from historians, maps and records. In the public rary at Paris, are upwards of thirty folio volumes, containing separately, some one of the Dar books into which this history is divided; some illuminated with miniatures. Many aunscripts have been written in England, or destined for that country, since the author is presented as offering his book to its king and queen. Mr. Johnes observes, p. 206, M. de S. Palaye is ignorant how rich this country is in mascripts of Froissart. There are many magnificent ones in the British Museum, at ford, Cambridge, and in other public and private libraries. I have in my library not less Lan six, but not one is a complete history." |