petition was complied with, there dence, the collection is particularly is every reason to believe that it rich. It contains a beautifully was soon after granted ; and that illuminated manuscript of “ Harsir Thomas, to whom the property dyng's Chronicle," as it was prohad devolved, continued to the sented by its author to Henry 6th, day of his death, which happened which deserves especial notice. It in the year 1662, in quiet posses- was formerly sir Robert Cotton's, sion of his library." Stukeley re- and it differs from the printed copies lates that the high sheriff for Bed- of the Chronicles(which come down fordshire (Bramstall), in 1650, to Edward 4th's time) so much, as was greatly instrumental in pre- not even to admit of collation. serving this inestimable treasure, There is in it, also, a fair transcript during the convulsions of the civil of the “ Chronicle of Andrew of wars, in which, remarks the pre- Wyntown ;” and three volumes of face, “ all documents of a consti- original correspondence, the first tutional or legal nature were in- containing letters written by royal, dustriously sought after, in order noble, and eminent persons of to be destroyed."

Great Britain, from the time of The Lansdown Manuscripts. Henry 6th to the reign of his A catalogue of the “ Lansdown late majesty. The most important Manuscripts,” likewise has been document in the other two volumes printed by authority of the com- is, the memorable letter of lady mission on public records. This Jane Gray, as queen of England, collection of manuscripts was pure to the marquis of Northampton, chased in 1807, by a vote of par- requiring the allegiance against liament, of the representatives of what she calls “the fayned and the then late marquis of Lansdown, untrewe clayme of the lady Mary, for the sum of 4,9257.

bastard daughter to our great uncle The catalogue is divided into Henry th' eight of famous Me two parts: the first consisting of morye.” There is likewise a valuthe Burghley papers only; the able “ treatise on the court of star second comprehending the remain- chamber, written in the time of der of the manuscripts in general, king James 1st, and king Charles including the Cæsar and Kennett 1st, by William Hudson, esq., of papers. Of the Burghley papers Gray's Inn." In biblical learning one volume contains copies of char the collection contains two volumes ters, &c. of an early period ; but of particular interest. One is a the remainder, amounting to 121 fine manuscript of part of the old volumes in folio, consist of state Testament, in English, as trans. papers, interspersed with miscel- lated by Wicliffe ; the other is a laneous correspondence during the volume elegantly written on vellong reign of queen Elizabeth; lum, and illuminated, containing and among these is “ the private part of a French Bible, translated memorandum book of lord Burgh- by Raoul de Presle, or Praelles, at ley."

the command of Charles 5th of Exclusively of the larger series, France -- a version of extreme this collection of manuscripts com- rarity even in that country. There prehends many valuable works on are also some fine classical manudifferent subjects. In British His scripts; amongst them a fac-simile tory, Topography, and Jurispru- of the celebrated Virgil in the

Vol. Lxv.

Vatican library, made by Bartoli, thority of parliament, it appears in 1642. In poetry, besides two that the kings, heralds, and pur beautiful manuscripts of the 15th suivants, of the college of Arms century, on vellum, one contain- (by their memorial in chapter ing the “Sonnets of Petrarch,” agreed to), represented, that the the other the “Comedia of Dante," building, in which their records there is a very fair and perfect are preserved, was not only falling copy, also on vellum, of the fast to decay, but in constant and “ Canterbury Tales” of Chaucer, imminent danger from fire, inas. written about the reign of Henry much as a sugar-house, the timbers 5th; in the initial letter of which of which are actually inserted in is a full-length portrait of the the walls of the college, immeauthor. Likewise a volume, partly diately adjoins the library, and on vellum and partly on paper, there is no party-wall between the being “a collection of the poems buildings. Though the royal comof John Lydgate, monk of Bury," missioners, by personal inspection, many of which have never been ascertained that it was necessary printed; and an unpublished poem, to remove the college into some by Skelton, intituled “ The Image public building, or to secure it of Ypocresye,” believed to be the against the extreme peril of fire to author's autograph. There is also which it was exposed, nothing a volume containing 20 very inter- could be done. The Chapter again esting “ treatises on music," of memorialized the government, re.the 15th century, originally be- presenting that the decay of the longing to John Wylde, precentor building had increased so rapidly of Waltham Abbey, and after- as to render it even an unsafe resi. wards to Thomas Tallys, organist dence to those officers who inhabit to Henry 8th; a manuscript vo- certain parts of it; and, in parti. lume that has been particularly cular, they had observed, that some .noticed and commented upon by of the library presses had sunk sir John Hawkins and Dr. Burney, considerably, and that the books in their respective histories of music. contained in them were suffering

Heralds' College. The Commis- from damp. They searched for sion for examining into the state the cause, and they discovered that of the public records of the king- the north wall had become so dom, has pointed out the insecure ruinous as to render it necessary condition of the Heralds' Office or to lay a great part of it bare, by College of Arms. His majesty's taking down three of the said commissioners, in their report of presses, and they were in conse

1819, declared, that the office re- quence obliged to remore sore quired to be removed speedily into hundred volumes of manuscripts some public building, or that the which were contained in them, present one should be rendered into the hall, which is the public more secure from fire. Various passage to the office. They also proceedings took place, in corres- forwarded memorials, with like re pondence, memorials, &c., between presentations, to the duke of Northe officers of the Heralds' college, folk, as Earl Marshal of England. government, &c., but nothing The building remaining still the was decided upon. According to same, the memorialists again didocuments now published by au- rected attention to this subject.

1

They said, they hoped they had, by presented to parliament, and or-
their silence under such severe dered to be printed, the day before
pressure, shown the desire patient, the close of the session. The fol-
ly to await such measures as the lowing is an abstract of its con-
Earl Marshal of England, or the tents:-It commences by a brief
government, might recommend ; recapitulation of the report made
but, they added, that a circumstance in the preceding year, from which
had occurred which compelled it appears that in the interval be-
them to implore attention to the tween the two, ten new churches
hazard to which the public trea- had been completed capable of
sure of records, of which they affording accommodation to 4,081
had the custody, were continually persons in pews, and to 9,949
exposed, by the erection and use poor persons in free seats. Six
of a steam-engine of considerable of these ten had been already con-
force in the sugar-house.

secrated. The report then pro-
The Secretary of State for the ceeds to detail what progress had
home department hereupon had been made since the preceding
the condition of the College of year. From this and the schedules
Arms investigated by the surveyor annexed, we learn that nine
of the Phoenix Fire-office. He churches had been consecrated;
reported that the apartments, in that the number already built can
which are deposited the records, afford accommodation to 7,116 per-
abut upon the sugar refinery of sons in pews, and to 14,399 in
alderman Smith, which is also an free seats. The number of churches
'ancient building, &c.; and that if or chapels, the building of which
the dépôt of records in question is is now in progress, is 44. Of
considered an object of national these the far greater part will be
importance, the present building of the Gothic order; some with
by no means possesses the security tower and pinnacles ; some with
requisite for such purposes. tower and spire ; and some with

Lord Sidmouth, previously to tower only. There are to be
his quitting office, directed the few of the Doric, Corinthian, and
case to be considered by the lords Ionic orders. The whole will be
of the Treasury, and the case is capable of affording accommoda-
now under special consideration. tion to 34,563 persons in pews,
The difficulty has been, to select a and to 39,842 in free seats. The
good situation for the site of a contracts for building them (in-
building for the Heralds' College; cluding incidental expenses and
and it is in discussion between the commission) amounts to 498,6811.
Treasury and the Crown Lands 18s. 4d., or, in round numbers, to
Revenue department, to allot a half a million sterling. Specific
piece of ground in the King's grants have been made for 4 of
Mews for such a College, the new them amounting to about 30,000/.
building to be in a line with, and Of the 44 thus in progress, it is
to accord with, the great improve- stated that 12 will be finished in
ments in Cockspur-street, Pall- the course of the present year; 27
mall, &c.

in the year 1824, and 5 in the year
New Churches. --The third an. 1825. In addition to these, it ap-
nual report of the commissioners pears that plans for churches or
for building new churches was chapels in nine parishes have been

approved of, but the works have ditional churches were not indise
not yet commenced. These will criminately complied with, the
be capable of affording accommo- commissioners add to their report
dation to 5,542 in pews, and to a list of 25 parishes or parts of
5,125 in free seats. The estimated parishes, from which application
expense is 42,040l. 7s. 8d. Speci- for further church accommodation
fic grants have been given towards had been made, “but which," to
the erection of 3 of them, to the use the words of the report,
amount of 8,5551. 11s. 1d. Plans “owing to the engagements made
for the erection of 16 new churches on the parliamentary fund, his ma-
or chapels were before the board jesty's commissioners have been
of commissioners, and not decided under the necessity of rejecting;
upon when the report was laid be- and a great many other parishes
fore the House. These, it is said, have been deterred from making
will, if adopted, afford accommo- similar applications, being aware
dation to 11,321 persons in pews, that for the same reason they must
and to 14,139 in free seats. The prove unsuccessful.” The present
estimated expense will be 206,2001. church accommodation afforded in
13s. 5d. Grants have been made the 25 places from which these
by the board for 5 of them amount- applications have been received, is
ing to 34,553l. There are besides enough for 39,986 persons, but
12 places in which it is intended the population amounts to 311,588.
to build new churches or chapels, The Exchequer bills, which have
of which the plans had not been been issued by the commissioners
received by the commissioners at up to the present time, amount to
the date of the report. These, it the sum of 257,4571. The sd-
was thought, would be able to ac- vances consist of specific grants in
commodate 9,900 in pews, and cases which require it. In other
8,600 in free seats. The probable instances, advances are made to
expense will be about 90,000l. If the parishes by way of loau, to be
the 44 churches now in progress, repaid without interest in a givea
and those decided upon and in con- time, varying from two to seren
templation, be finished, they will years.
be capable of affording accommo- Paris in its Civic relations.
dation to 68,442 persons in pews, Somestatitiscal researches regarding
and to 82,105 in free seats.- the city of Paris and the depart.
Total, 150,547. The estimated ment of the Siene, have been pube
expense of the whole is 834,9211. lished by order of M. de Chabrol,
118. 9d. The dioceses in which the prefect. The following cir-
these new buildings will be situat- cumstances are some of the most
ed, and the number in each, are interesting that they contain :-
thus given: In the diocese of The city of Paris pays annually
London, 24; in that of Chester, to the state 81,000,000 francs-
19; York, 15; Winchester, 9; sum equal to half the revenue of
Litchfield and Coventry, 6; Wor- the whole kingdom of the Nether.
cester, 2; Durham, 2; Bristol, lands. Of this sum 28,000,000
Lincoln, and Rochester, 1 each. are paid in direct, and 19,000,000
(This does not include the churches in indirect taxes ; 16,000,000 sre
Already conipleted.) In order to received for crown property, acts
show that the applications for ad- of registration and stamps;

6,000,000 are derived from the September, October, November, lottery; 5,000,000 from the gaming- August, and July. houses, and 4,000,000 from the The number of deaths in April post-office. Each individual, taking is in comparison to that in July as the population at 713,000 souls, 16 to 11. pays 114 franks; and without the The following numbers establish gaming-houses, 106 francs. the estimate of the difference be

Paris under the principal rela- tween the months, as regards the tions of finance and political eco- mortality of each ; viz.:-April, nomy, is a tenth of the whole of 163; March, 158; February, 153; France.

May, 149; January, 147; DeThe number of houses and chim- cember, 130; June, 129; Sepneys on fire in Paris is as follows: tember, 125; October, 123; No

Chimnies on fire. Houses on fire. vember, 122 ; August, 120; and
In 1818-514.... .133 July, 116.
1819-524.. . 148

According to the estimate of 1820-631......170 the deaths during the years 1819 The value of the different build- to 1821, in which the distinction ings insured by the company for of age and sex was established, it mutual insurance is 860,000,000 is remarked that mortality among francs. There are five other com- males, up to the age of 25 years, panies. The corps of firemen con- is greater than among females, and sists of 568 men. The damage that from this age up to 50, there sustained by fire every year is upon die more women than men. It is an average one twenty-three-thou- reckoned that more women than sandth part of the value of the men arrive at advanced age. houses. Paris contains 560 bakers, In the year 1821, 348 suicides 355 butchers, 265 pork-butchers, were effected or attempted : in 927 restaurateurs, innkeepers,cooks, 244 of these cases, death ensued. and chophouse-keepers, 325 pastry. Of this number, 236 were men. cooks, custard-makers, and confec- The presumed motives for suicides tioners, 2,333 retail dealers in wine, 1,466 retail grocers, 1,767 fruit- Amorous passions

35 erers, many of whom are also Alienation of mind, domestic gardeners, 281 corn-chandlers, 787

troubles, and painful affliclemonade-sellers, 416 brandy-mer- tions

126 chants, 52 milkmen, &c. In all, Debauchery, losses by gam9,761 dealers in articles of susten- bling, the lottery, &c..... 43 ance for human life. There are Indigence, loss of place, debesides 1,749 milk-women, stand

rangement of affairs 46 ing in the public streets. The Fear of reproach and punishwomen who have sheltered stalls ment

10 in the market-places and public Unknown motives

88 streets are about 3,000 in number. Thirty-three suicides have been

The month in which most deaths effected by severe voluntary falls, occur is April ; that in which the 38 by strangulation, 25 by cutting least occur, July. In the order of instruments, &c., 60 by means of mortality, the calendar will run fire-arms, 23 by poison, 42 asthus:-April, March, February, phyxies by charcoal vapour, and May, January, December, June, 127 by drowning.

were