And he that made and forc'd it broke it, Not he that for convenience took it ! * Had Butler Mr. Thos. Gewen in his eye, when he designed his Ralpho? Mr. Ellis tells us he was the same person who in 1657-8 moved that Cromwell should be invested with the title and dignity of a King. †

IV. Remarks upon the Coins lately discovered in the bed of the river Dove near Tutbury, Staffordshire, by Edward Hawkins, Esq. F.R.S. and S.A. Keeper of the Antiquities and Medals in the British Museum.

The discovery of these coins has already been noticed in our last volume, pt. i. p. 546, pt. ii. p. 552. Of the 1489 coins recovered by the Commission from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr. Hawkins gives very minute particulars; and observes, that if any considerable number of coins of the period should be henceforward discovered, which do not correspond with the deposit at Tutbury, they may be fairly concluded to have been struck at a time posterior to that deposit; much difficulty existing in the appropriation of the coins of this age to their respective monarchs.

V. Observations on the fashions of Hats, Bonnets, and coverings for the head, chiefly from the reign of Henry VIII. to the eighteenth century. By John Adey Repton, F.S.A.

This is an ingenious and amusing paper; but, brought down as its subject is to a period so closely connected with our own time, we cannot consider it as purely archæological.

The word Hat, we are told, was derived from the Saxon, Paet, German hat. Woollen or felt hats were known to the Saxons.

Passages from Chaucer are cited to show that the hat was well known in his day.

Mr. Repton appears to us in error, when he converts, in following an old paraphrastic translation, the whitehoods into the white hats of Ghent.‡ From a passage in Hall's Chronicle, we suspect the chapeau montauban to be a steel defence to the head; it would therefore rather come under the description of helmets than hats.

From the broad-brimmed hats of

Hudibras, part 2, canto 2, line 269, &c. + Burton's Diary, vol. II. P. 424. See Froissart.

the Cardinals, Mr. Repton turns to those of the Quakers. Barclay, in his Apology, complains,

66

Many of us have been sorely beaten and buffetted, yea, and several months imprisoned, for no other reason, but because we could not so satisfie the proud unreasonable humours of proud men, as to uncover our heads and bow our bodies. Nor doth our innocent practice of standing still, though upright, not putting off our hats any more than our shoes, the one being the covering of our heads, as well as the other of our feet, show so much rudeness, as their beating and knocking us, because we cannot bow to them contrary to our consciences."

In an account of Bartholomew Fair in 1740, there is a description of the renowned Tiddy Doll,

"Who was dressed in a very fashionable suit of white trimmed with gold lace, a lace ruffled shirt, and a large cocked hat, formed of gingerbread fringed and garnished with Dutch gold."

Clergymen formerly wore woollen

caps:

"The foule ille take me, mistresse, quoth long Meg of Westminster, if I misreck on the limmer lowne one penny, and therefore, Vicar, I tell thee, 'fore thou goe out of these doores, I'le make thee pay every farthing, if thy cap be of wool.”

formerly called castors; so they are in Beaver hats, Mr. Repton says, were slang language at this day.

Plumes of the larger sort in hats, we believe, were adopted towards the close of the 16th century, and were continued to the reign of Queen Anne. Of the three-cornered hats of the middle of the last century, we hear “that there is the military cock, and the mercantile cock, and while the beaux of St. James's wear their hats under their arms, the beaux of Moorfields wear theirs diagonally over their left eye." Seven plates, consisting of divers specimens of hoods, caps, and hats, from the time of Richard II. to the year 1760, illustrate Mr. Repton's paper. In the third illustrative plate we remark several specimens taken from the fanciful head-dresses designed in the Triumphs of the Emperor Maximilian, which are certainly no authority for real costume.

In his last plate Mr. Repton exhibits two figures of guardsmen with three-cornered hats, and tremendous queues; these sculptures are modern

additions to the staircase of Blickley Hall, Norfolk. He adds what is called a sketch of a young dragoon of twentyfive years since. The period is not beyond our recollection, and at that time military costume was familiar to us; any thing in his Majesty's forces, similar to this caricature of a bold hussar, we cannot recollect to have seen.

(To be continued.)

A History of Northumberland. In Three Parts. By John Hodgson, Clerk, M.R S.L. Part II. Vol. II. Newcastle. 4to. pp. 576. WE have perused this volume with considerable attention; and have been struck in almost every page with its fullness of information, its judicious arrangement and condensation, and, last not least, with the diffidence and modesty of its author.

In a sensible Preface Mr. Hodgson apologizes for the length of time that has elapsed since his subscribers received a volume of his work, and laments that he possesses not greater facilities in means, books, and situation, to proceed more rapidly with his labours.

Thus modestly, and even gratefully, does Mr. Hodgson speak of the results of his labours; at the same time that we are assured that the pecuniary expenses of producing the volume have been so large, that the sale of the whole impression will not repay him. To a person of Mr. Hodgson's turn of mind, however, the compilation of his History has, we can easily conceive, proved its own reward. It has also been the means of his attracting the notice of several valuable friends of congenial taste. It introduced him to the patronage of the late amiable and excellent Bp. Barrington (who presented Mr. Hodgson to his vicarage), and to the notice of the present Bishop of Durham. It obtained for him the kind approval of Sir J. E. Swinburne, Bart., who became a sharer with him GENT. MAG. July, 1832.

in the expenses of his work. It also led to effectual assistance from the generous and graphic hand of Edward Swinburne, Esq. who has contributed so largely to the embellishment of his "History;" and was the origin of numerous other acts of kindness from literary characters, which are handsomely acknowledged in the Preface to this volume. These were agreeable set-offs to the care, expence, and labour bestowed by Mr. Hodgson on a work, so varied, large, and profitless as this unfortunately is to its author. Indeed, when we reflect on the disadvantages under which it has been written, far from public libraries or even a post-town, we are perfectly astonished at the immense mass of amusement and instruction which it comprises. If the present age has not taste to appreciate so painful a task, yet we entreat Mr. Hodgson to persevere,-posterity will be grateful for his useful labours.

The district which Mr. Hodgson has undertaken to describe is one particularly interesting, as having been the theatre, from the days of Edward the First, the conqueror of Scotland, to the union of the two Crowns in James the First, of many battles, sanguinary skirmishes, and other important events, between the rival nations. To the honour of this district it may here be incidentally mentioned, that, instead of the rancour, robbery, burning, and rapine, that formerly distinguished the Borderers, the arts of civilization, concord, and peace have so far supplanted them, that this same district is now, according to the reports made to Parliament, become the most free from crime, and perhaps the most peaceful and happy, of any in the kingdom.

Among the fine old families which Mr. Hodgson has had the honour to commemorate, are those of Widdrington, Mitford, Howard, Bertram, Fenwick, Swinburne, and many others, his memoirs of which have gratified us much. His pedigrees are full and overflowing. They contain more reading than perhaps any pedigrees before given to the public; although this does not add to their clearness. The interest is greatly increased, from the perpetuity with which these truly ancient families have remained on their manorial estates; so different from the ever-changing nature of landed property around the metropolis. Mr.

Hodgson has, we doubt not, proved himself an honest chronicler of these family annals. He observes:

"With all its imperfections there is one thing which I can fearlessly venture to say of my book-if it does not sparkle with the bright jewels of genius and wisdom--if it does not captivate with the charms of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge'-if it is not robed in the elegant and costly attire of oratory-nearly the whole of it is original, and makes its appearance in the simple garb of truth. I have never sat down at my loom to weave into the web of any person or family's history, the airy visions of apocryphal history, or the flaring colours of adulation. Many a foul slander and dishonour have I suffered to glide silently by me, and to sink in its course."

Meldon is at present the rectory of another eminent topographer, the Rev. James Raine, author of the " History of North Durham," who has contributed to Mr. Hodgson the greater part of the materials for the history of this parish. p. 10.

The story of Meg, or, as some call her, the Maid of Meldon, is capitally told. This witch or miser, is the subject of many a winter-evening ghosttale. Mr. Hodgson shews the story to be founded on the history of Margaret Selby, mother of Sir. W. Fenwick, of Meldon. For her covetous disposition her spirit was said to be condemned to wander seven years and rest seven years. She was the terror of the county from Morpeth to Hartington Hall. The places of her resort were those in which she had hid her treasure; and many fortunes are attributed to the discovery of her bags of gold. She was often seen on Meldon Bridge in the form of a little dog. Proteus-like, she appeared in a thousand forms, lights, and colours, flickering over the Wansbeck, or under a fine row of beaches by the river. One of her most favourite forms was a beautiful woman.

Another of her haunts

was in a stone coffin on the site of Newminster Abbey. This coffin was called the trough of the Maid of Meldon; and water from it was a specific for removing warts, and curing many inveterate complaints.

We will close our review for the present with a few curious matters.

"Bacstandeene, or Baxtandene, had its name from sand stones fit for baking upon, having been got in it. Formerly yeasted or leavened bread was very little used in the

North of England; and the people lived principally on oaten cakes rolled out very thin, and baked on stones called bakstones or girdles. In farm-houses, the bakstone was often three or four feet in diameter, capable of holding two cakes, and fixed upon three or four low pillars: the girdle was less and lighter, and stood upon an iron tripod, called a brandreth. After iron plates began to be used for the same purpose, the larger was still called the 'bakstone,' and the smaller the girdle.' It is remarkable, that slatey sandstones are called girdles by the miners in Alston Moor."-p. 306.

"About sixty years since, a man was eight days shut up in a coal-pit in NewtownWest-Bank, opposite Ravenshaugh. He had nothing but a little water, which he collected in his shoe, to subsist on. Though faint when dug out, he soon recovered, and lived many years after."-p. 25.

"The mouth of the river Line was rendered remarkable, Aug. 8, 1822, by a spermaceti whale, Physeter macrocephalus, being killed there. It was 61 feet long, and 37 feet 4 inches in girth. Breadth of its tail, 14 feet; of his head, 10 feet 9 inches; space from the eyes to the nose 21 feet. His height 12 feet; and it produced 9 tons and 158 gallons of oil."-p. 192.

(To be continued.)

Analysis and History of the Currency Question, with an Account of the origin and growth of Joint Stock Banking. By T. Joplin. 8vo.

THIS work contains an account of Mr. Joplin's unwearied and highly meritorious exertions, during the last twelve years, to effect an improvement of our banking system. We hope that the issue of the now pending question concerning the renewal of the Bank Charter will enable him to meet with greater success. He reminds us, that in a state paper addressed to the Bank of England previous to the meeting of Parliament in 1826, it was declared, that

"With respect to the extension of the term of their extensive privileges in the metropolis and its neighbourhood, it is obvious Parliament will never agree to it; but there is no reason why the Bank of England should look at this consequence with dismay; they will, we trust, continue to be the sole bankers of the State. Theirs is the only establishment at which the dividend due to the public creditor can by law be paid."-p. 263.

Mr. Joplin has shown that the suppression of the small-note currency was inconsistent with the report of

the Bullion Committee, whose doctrines he has thus summed up:

"First, that a small note currency was preferable to a metallic as far as regarded the country circulation. Secondly, that, if banks were obliged to pay their notes in coiu upon demand, the trade of banking might be left perfectly free."-p. 42.

That the latter was the point of view in which Adam Smith considered the subject, he has shown by a quotation from him in nearly the same words, p. 27. Mr. Joplin has also pointed out to us the artfulness with which Lord Liverpool introduced, or rather renewed, a measure upon which he set a particular value because his father was the author of it.

"In 1816 an Act was passed stipulating that the Act of 17 Geo. III. which forbids the circulation of notes under five pounds, should become law two years after the return of the Bank to Cash payments."—p. 59.

This confirms the statement of Lord Liverpool's policy, given in our last number by our correspondent YLLOS. It appears that this Act, and another passed in the same year for abolishing

the ancient silver standard, were forgotten at the time of the passing of Mr. Peel's bill, by which they were brought into operation. Mr. Joplin has quoted passages from Lord Liverpool's speeches, to prove that his Lordship had not anticipated the effect he had secretly contemplated.

"Lord Liverpool observed, If he had been successful in bringing their Lordships to this conclusion, that they must return to the fixed and ancient standard of value.' p. 61.

Did his Lordship mean the silver standard which had been fixed by Queen Elizabeth, and had been kept unaltered to the year 1816; or the gold standard which, according to his father's notion, had crept into use, but had not been established by any previous Act of Parliament or legal precedent? Although it has been erroneously supposed that payments in silver coin beyond the amount of 231. were entirely prohibited by an Act which was passed in 1774, and expired in 1783, that Act only required that the silver coin should be of full weight.

Mr. Joplin has exercised great industry, and exhibited considerable talent, in his Chapter on the Panic; and

he lets us into the secret, that the course by which the Bank put a stop to it had been recommended by himself in the Courier; also that he had communicated to the Editor of that paper the fact of the Bank having stopped payment.

"I mentioned to him, in a private note, the fact that the Bank had been run so close on the Saturday night before, as to be unable to change fifteen of its own one thousand pound notes.'

It is made evident to us that no thanks were due either to the Government or to the Bank for their conduct during the crisis.

"Mr. Hume shrewdly enough observed, 'It appeared to him just as if an incendiary kindled the flame, he endeavoured to put were to be praised because, after he had

it out.

The panic was a speculation which had been for some time concocting, as may be seen from the letters of D. Hardcastle, published in the Times during the preceding winter, in which sending gold to pay for foreign corn, it was asserted, that the necessity of would compel the Bank to lessen the

amount of its notes in circulation. This cause did not come into operation; but in consequence of the revival of trade considerable purchases were made of foreign wool through the connexions of a great Yorkshire bankinghouse, and they had some effect on the course of exchange. As a speculation, the panic was beneficial, not only to the stock-jobber and others who were active in setting it on foot, but to the Bank itself.

"It ran the risk of stopping payment. But what was that risk? When the Bank pays in cash, it is obliged to keep a large unprofitable stock of gold. When it stops payment, it stops nothing else but the expense of keeping this large unprofitable stock."-p. 243.

A renewal of the Suspension Act would have been advantageous to the Bank, but not to the stock-jobbers; because it is probable the reaction would have been the same as in 1797. It was their interest to drive the Bank as near as possible to the necessity of stopping payment, but not to let that event take place. The Bank brought on the panic by acting in conformity with maxims upheld as axioms, by Mr. Joplin, in the present work. In the outset of it he sides with Mr. Ri

cardo, on the notion that excess of paper currency is the chief cause of the exportation of the precious metals, and that, whenever it takes place, the Bank ought to call in a part of its notes. He argues that every increase of paper currency creates a proportionate rise of prices in the market in which it is issued. If this were true, the merchants of London might easily raise the prices of their commodities by discounting largely at the Bank, for the sole purpose of increasing the stock of notes in the possession of their bankers. Mr. S. Turner, a bank director, oberved that, the stock of notes in the possession of the bankers having by way of precaution been increased in this manner, it was supposed the price of commodities had risen in consequence; but that the notes had been returned by the parties to whom they were paid without having been sent into circulation. If either bank notes or gold can have any influence on markets while they are locked up in an iron chest, the secret is as valuable as the philosophers' stone. Upon this subject we may theorize for ourselves, but we ought not to be allowed to make our theories a pretext for invading the rights of a community, or of any part of it. Experience must teach bankers the proper method of conducting their concerns for the benefit of the public as well as for their own. If the Bank had not discontinued the issue of its small notes, there would have been more gold in its coffers at the time of the panic; and it might have provided silver for the payment of them, since Lord Liverpool's restriction of silver payments did not extend to them. We ought to be able to spare the whole of our gold coin. It generally promotes our trade by going abroad, whether it is sent to pay for corn, or wool, or foreign loans; some of it will be kept for the countries to which it is sent, but a great part is generally repurchased by our manufactures, for which it facilitates the payment. We have seen how quickly our specie found its way back to us at the close of the war, and this return of it was retarded, not accelerated, by the diminution of our paper currency. Lord Liverpool effected this diminution in the year 1814, by admitting an enormous quantity of corn from France, which ruined our agricultural banks; the return of specie must have been

checked and slackened by the payment for the importation.

Believing with Mr. Ricardo, that prices are regulated by the quantity of currency, and not by the demand, Mr. Joplin is compelled to suppose, that lending money produces the same effect as spending it, p. 102. If this be true, increasing the stock of commodities must be the same thing as increasing consumption.

The national benefit of the banking system and of paper currency, consists in enabling us to increase the stock of commodities, and to keep the means of production constantly employed; these are the true elements of wealth.

The fabric of our national wealth has been undermined by the rival of the statesman under whose guardianship it rose so rapidly. Mr. Joplin is not aware that the awhile dormant Act of 1816, by which all debts are payable in gold only, has made it possible for a few stock-jobbers, aided by such paragraphs as he has quoted, p. 199, to compel all banks, and all persons trading upon credit, to stop payment; and this danger has been increased by Lord Liverpool's remedy for the panic, as Mr. Joplin acknowledges.

The main Principles of the Creed and Ethics of the Jews exhibited in Selections from the Yad Hachazakah of Maimonides, with a literal English Translation, copious illustrations from the Talmud, &c. explanatory Notes, an alphabetical Glossary of such particles and technical terms as occur in the Selections, and a Collection of the Abbreviations commonly used in Rabbinical writings By Herman Hedwig Bernard, teacher of languages at Cambridge. 8vo.

FEW of our learned and intelligent readers can need to be informed, that great exertions have for some time been making at both our Universities (especially at Cambridge) to further, what is of material importance to sound Theological science, the cultivation of the Hebrew language and literature. In the promotion of this valuable object, we thought it our duty, some time ago, to notice, as minutely as the nature of our Miscellany would permit, several publications devoted to that end, especially two masterly ones which proceeded from the joint labours of the highly talented persons who fill the situations of Master and Senior Tutor of Jesus College, Cambridge. Of those, however, who