decessors, and which, if not precisely final, will always MSS. of the House of Lords.
deserve a place upon our shelves.

American Men of Letters-Washington Irving. By
Charles Dudley Warner.-Noah Webster. By Horace
E. Scudder. (Sampson Low & Co.)
THIS new series is edited by Mr. Charles Dudley Warner,
and fitly commences with a life of Washington Irving,
the first American writer who attained a European
reputation. Mr. Warner, who has undertaken the first
volume of this series, wrote the introduction to the
"Geoffrey Crayon" edition of Washington Irving's
works which was published some little time ago. So
abundant are the materials for this sketch that Mr.
Warner's difficulty has rather been how to avoid over-
crowding his little volume with interesting reminis-
cences. Of the charming style of Irving's writings the
readers of "N. & Q." have no need to be reminded; but
it is much to be regretted that his works should be
neglected by the rising generation. The amiability of
his character added an additional zest to the purity of
his style, and it would be difficult indeed to find a
better model for the young literary aspirant than
Washington Irving. Few nobler instances could be
found in literary history than the abandonment of his
long cherished scheme of writing the history of the Con-
quest of Mexico to Mr. W. H. Prescott. With such a
subject we need hardly say that Mr. Warner has not
failed to produce a very interesting book.

The subject of Mr. Scudder's sketch is that of a very different type of man. Noah Webster, who in this country is mainly remembered as a compiler of an American dictionary, was born in the little village of West Hartford on October 16, 1758. When at college he served as a private in the revolutionary army. During the earlier part of his career Webster supported himself by teaching. Unlike Irving, he was a typical American, with all the distinct individuality of his race. A man of indomitable will, extraordinary perseverance, and, above all, of unlimited faith in himself. Though without much depth of learning, there was no literary work that he did not think himself capable of undertaking. Whether he was writing on the decomposition of white lead paint or a cure for cancer, or revising the Bible, his confidence never failed him. Through the means of his SpellingBook, which was published in 1783, and his Dictionary, which did not appear until 1828, he exercised great influence on the formation of American orthography. He died in 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. We especially commend the attention of our readers to the chapter on the American dictionary of the English language, in which much interesting information will be found. The publishers of this series are to be congratulated upon having produced such readable and handy volumes, printed in a clear type and on excellent paper. If a complete list of the works of each "man of letters was added to each volume we think it would still further increase the usefulness of the series.

Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Eighth
Report. (Stationery Office.)

To write a review of a huge volume such as this is im-
possible within the lines at our disposal. To pick out here
and there a fact for comment, leaving a hundred other
things more important untouched upon, suggests un-
pleasantly that we have but opened the book at random,
and remarked on the first matter that caught the eye.
This would, in the present case, be a most unfair assump-
tion. We have read every word of the ponderous folio,
and are quite sure that it is of equal importance to
students with any of its predecessors. The only marked
falling off in interest is in the portion devoted to the

There the calendarers have got down to the reign of Charles II., and it cannot be pretended that that time of "evil days" and "evil tongues" is equal in fascination with the fierce struggle of the Civil War. Though containing far less that appeals to the imagination, we are not sure that, viewed in the white light of history, the disclosures are not as important. We yet but dimly realize what a sink of iniquity the men of the restored monarchy lived in. The papers here will help to fill out the picture. The records of the Corporation of Leicester have been carefully examined. They are probably as important as those of any borough in the three kingdoms. The series of royal charters opens with two documents dated in the first year of King John, and the mass of papers relating to the public matters of the town is simply enormous. The gild rolls begin in the same reign, and we should conjecture, from the evidence we have here, that they are so important that every line of them should be published with all convenient speed. In the 39 Henry III. we find a charter, printed in full, by which primogeniture was substituted for the custom of inheritance known as Borough English. It is said to have been given assensu et voluntate omnium burgensium." Among the letters in the possession of the Earl of Denbigh is a document written in November, 1648, from some place in the Netherlands, from which it appears that the writer, who was a Royalist, knew of a plot to murder Col. Thomas Rainborowe. The letter must have been written early in the month, for Rainborowe was killed in an inn at Doncaster by certain adventurers from Pontefract Castle on October 29. It has been the common opinion that this cruel deed was conceived and executed by members of the Pontefract garrison only. This letter, however, makes it not improbable that they had received instruc tions from the leaders of the party beyond the sea.

MR. KERSHAW, the librarian of Lambeth Palace Library, is engaged on Studies in Lambeth Library: a Manual of its History, Contents, and Literary Annals. An account of the building and its ancient surroundings will be given, together with a description of its principal treasures. Mr. Elliot Stock will be the publisher.

local government in the March number of the BiblioMR. G. L. GOMME will give an account of books on grapher.

Notices to Correspondents.

ENQUIRER ("Daniel Pulteney ").-He died Sept. 7, 1731, and was buried at St. James's, Westminster, Sept. 14, 1731. The body was removed to the east end of the south cloister of Westminster Abbey, May 17, 1732. See Col. Chester's Westminster Abbey Registers.

AUSTRALIAN HERALDRY (ante, pp. 104, 123).—A correspondent asks who authorizes or invents the arms for the various colonies.

A. G.-You shall hear from us.
MACADAM.-Initialled.

We can take no notice of anonymous communications.

NOTICE.

Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of Notes and Queries ""-Advertisements and Business Letters to "The Publisher"-at the Office, 20, Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.

We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception.

NOTICE.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

The VOLUME, JULY to DECEMBER, 1881, with the INDEX,

Every SATURDAY, of any Bookseller or News-agent,

Price THREEPENCE.

Each Half-yearly Volume complete in itself, with Title-Page and Index.

THE ATHENÆUM

REVIEWS of every important New Book, English and Foreign, and of every new English Novel.

REPORTS of the LEARNED SOCIETIES.

AUTHENTIC ACCOUNTS of Scientific Voyages and Expeditions.

CRITICISMS on Art, Music, and the Drama.

LETTERS from Foreign Correspondents on subjects relating to Literature, Science, and Art.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES of Distinguished Men.

ORIGINAL POEMS and PAPERS.

WEEKLY GOSSIP on Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, Music, and

Is so conducted that the reader, however distant, is in respect to Literature, Science, the Fine Arts, Music, and the Drama, on an equality in point of information with the best informed circles of the Metropolis.

OFFICE for ADVERTISEMENTS, 20, Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.

Published by JOHN FRANCIS, 20, Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.
Printed by E. J. FRANCIS, Athenaeum Press, Took's Court, Chancery Lane, E.C.; and Published by
JOHN FRANCIS, at No. 20, Wellington Street, Strand, W.C.-Saturday, March 4, 1882.

MR. L. HERRMAN'S Fine Art Gallery, 60, lished periodically and sent post free upon application. Books pur

Library of Dramatic and Miscellaneous Books, interesting SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES of LONDON.

HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.-In general debility, SALE.

mental depression, and nervous irritability there is no medicine which operates so like a charm as these famous Pills. A disordered stomach and a torpid liver are fertile sources of gloomy thoughts and dismal forebodings. These Pills elevate the spirits, and, in fact, make the patient sensible of a most delightful revolution in his whole system. They may be commended most unreservedly as the very best family medicine in existence. Though so powerfully eff cacious, they are singularly mild in their operation, and may be given with perfect confidence to delicate women and young children. They contain no mercury or any other noxious substance, and cannot do harm. Delicate females and all persons of sedentary habits will find these Pills a blessing.