supplies which enabled them to support themselves without what they had been sed to receive from America, in (to use a Quaker phrase)" a measurable share of content."

Collection of Tracts, &c. particularly from the late Lord Somers' Papers. Se. cond Edition revised, augmented, and arranged, by Walter Scott Esq. 4to. Vol. I. Price £3. 3s. Cadell and Davies, &c. London. 1809.

The following extracts are from a letter red Barbadoes, July 15, 1808, addressed by Thomas Mackenzie, Esq. to the Lords of the Treasury: which is given among the evidence annexed to this Report. After the expedition of General Miranda to that part of the Spanish Main which is guous to Curaçoa, the Government of Carracas prohibited, under severe penalties, all mmunication between the inhabitants of Province and the Island in question, which a very considerable degree deprived it of its l abundant Supplies of various kinds of food, drawn from that Coast previous to this ibition; this being followed by the Emargo in America, a measure in itself tending nately to distress all the West Indies, left hat Island nearly destitute of all resource, cepting what could for a time be drawn from anta Cruz and St. Thomas, which was so ir drained by the month of April, as to inuce their respective Governors to prohibit the anther exportation of dry Provision, and to efuse a demand specially sent from Curaçoa Flour, although the bearer was anthorised pay thirty-two Dollars per Barrel for it. The Embargo in America, I considered, says Mr. Mackenzie, a matter of secret arrangeBeat between the Party presiding in that cuntry and the Rulers of France; an opinion n which I was somewhat confirmed by the Governors of Martinique and Guadaloupe, aking forcible possession of nine months suplication. As there are but few tracts Wy of Flour, for their respective Garrisons, prior to the reign of Elizabeth, these from the Merchants, a measure which appearare thrown together, without any other si to me not consistent with the general con- subdivision, than that of the respective dust of Vilaret Joyeuse, without express or- reigns; as a preliminary collection. From ders from his Court. I possessed myself of the time of Elizabeth, downwards, the almost the whole stock of Flour in the West tracts of each reign are divided, accordladies, which at the utmost extent did not exceed two months supply for the Troops... heads of ecclesiastical, civil, military, ing to their subjects, under the distinct A: Antigua and St. Vincent, upwards of eleven hundred Barrels of Flour laid unemployed, and miscellaneous. The last division while this Island (Barbadoes) has been recontains all those pamphlets which do Luced to its last week's Supply, while St. Lunot naturally belong to any of the prea has been without a morsel of Bread, and ceding branches of history. It must be while the few Barrels which could be picked obvious, that although the lines of disup at St. Thomas and Santa Cruz, have been tinction drawn, are, generally speaking purchased for the Garrison at forty-eight Dol-plain and decided, yet some tracts, from Jars per Barrel.

This Collection was first published, in four divisions, of four volumes each, in the years 1748, 1750, 1751, 1752. The high credit it has maintained ever since its first appearance, and its having become extremely scarce and high-priced, have been the editor's inducements to present it to the British Public in its present improved state.

The merit of such historical collections, and this of Lord Somers, in particular, is too generally acknowledged, to render it necessary, or even adviseable, for us to expatiate on their utility. In the present instance the original interest of the work has been greatly enhanced, by the editor's industry and attention. The tracts, in their first publication were given without order or arrangement; but, in this edition the editor has adopted a chronological classification of tracts, according with the reigns of the different monarchs of England; the precedence of the essays, being regulated by the date of the subject, rather than by that of pub

the variety of the subjects on which they treat, might be referred without impropriety to more than one class. Where such occasions of doubt occur,

the

This urgent state of things did not long continue.The exertions made by France, in consequence of the embargo, to supply her islands, have cost her seve-choice, of course, must be decided by ral of her finest frigates, and smaller ves. sels, in captures: we might add, several other men of war of the line.

the editor's judgment. A Table of Contents and an Index (necessary appendages to publications of this kind) enable the

reader to correct any mistake that he | relating to the reign of King John, a of Edward II. in this collection. may discover.

They are both written in Latin: b we have translated them, for the mo

The tracts in each subdivision are arranged, either with reference to their subject; or, those which are totally un-ready comparison of them with the stat connected, in the order of chronology.

Besides the advantages of this luminous arrangement, we find in this edition, valuable introductory remarks, and notes, added by the present editor. The object of the introductions is to present such a summary view of the circumstances under which the historical and controversial tracts were respectively written, as to prevent the necessity of reference to other

works. Such, therefore, as refer to events of universal notoriety, are but slightly and generally mentioned: such as concern less notorious points of history, are more fully explained. The notes are in general illustrative of obscure passages; or they are brief notices of authorities, whe. ther corroborative of, or contradictory to, the statements in the text.

ments of writers of British history. Inventories of Chattels in King John's tim by which the price and value of an C a Cow and other articles, in that age m be known.

has

CHATTELS OF HAKELINTUN. The lord of the manor ... oxen, each worth 5 shillings; and 2 you steers (bovetos) worth 6 shillings; 1 cow, shillings; two young heifers, 5 shillings horses 8 shillings; 1 hog 128; 20 quan of wheat, each at 4 shillings; 16 quarter malt each 2 shillings; 10 quarters beans, and peas, each 2 shillings; T £8 16s.

Henry son of Herbert has 2 cart he 5 shillings; 2 heifers 5 shillings; I co shillings; ewe 6d; 1 hog 6d; 2 pigs half a quarter of wheat 2 shillings; 1 bo of beans 6d; half a quarter of malt A Total-18s. 10d.

The Editor informs us, that the enlargement of this edition has been a favourite object with him; and that he has added to the present volume, tracts, either of intrinsic curiosity, or suitable companions by their subject, to those included in the first edition. Queen Elizabeth's "Injunctions concerning the Clergy and Laity of the Realme in 1559," the Memoirs on the wars in the Low Countries, by the gallant Williams; and the very singular poetical Account of Ireland, by Derrick, are the most interest-horse 2s. 6d-Total 7s. Od. ing and most curious, of those now pub lished for the first time.

Humphred Carpenter, has 2 horse shillings; 1 cow 4 shillings ; 1 heifs shillings; 2 calves 124; halt a quarter wheat 2 shillings-Total 15s.

Simon Loni, has 1 cow 4 shillings young beast 2 shillings; 1 horse 3 s lings; half a quarter of beans 128-T 10 shillings.

Randolph, son of Edmond: 1 he 2s. 6d; 1 cow 4 shillings; 2 young be 3 shillings-Total 9s. 6d.

Richard Huile: 2 heifers 5 shillings

Geoffrey 1 horse 2 shillings; 2 you bulls 5 shillings; a young ox 2s. 6d;

sheep, each 6d; a bushel of wheat 124 Total 19 shillings.

Adam Sire: 1 horse 2s. 28; 1 at shillings; heifer 2 shillings-Total 8s. ( Roger Cuthelne: I horse 3 shilling

Total 15s.

horse 3 shillings-Total 7s.
William Dredegol: 1 ox 4 shillings;

Having thus given a description of the work before us, all which its situation, beyond the limits of criticism, allows, we shall present our readers with a few samples of the historical lore it contains.ox 4 shillings; 1 heifer 3 shillings; The tracts relative to the times anterior calf 12d; a quarter of wheat 3 shillings to Queen Elizabeth's reign, are the same as those which have already appeared in the first edition, and this circumstance might, perhaps, have justified our passing them unnoticed, but, in the earliest of these documents, we have discovered such an unaccountable variation in the price of -several articles of home production, during the short period of a century, as we thought well worthy of remark.

Both documents are taken from the Cotton library; and are the only tracts

Bridget, Widow: 1 horse 2s. 6d; heifer 2s. 6d.-Total 59.

Eda, Widow 1 bullock 2s. 6d; 2 your bulls, 5 shillings; 1 calf 12d; I bor 3 shillings; 6 sheep, each at 6d; 3 you pigs, each at 4d.-Total 15s. 3d. &c. &

Under Edward II. we find the pri of these commodities greatly enhanced for the parliament, assembled in Londor in the eighth year of his reign, thoug

cer, as appears by the next document
the collection, to publish the following
zes of provision:

We, &c. have ord ained, -that, a good
saleable fat live ox, not fed with grain,
enceforth sold for 16 shillings; and no
re; and if he have been fed with corn,
be fat, then he may be sold for 24 shil-
p, at the utmost; also, a good fat live
, for 12 shillings; a fat hog, of two
of age, for 40d; a fat sheep, with the
bo on, for 20d; a fat sheep, shorn of its
a, for 14d; a fat goose, in our
foresaid, for 3d; a good, and fat,
, for 24d; a fat hen for 14d; and two
acns for 1d; and three pigeons for id;
Beggs for id.

It is

of Britain might be encreased.
possible, that some epidemic distemper
might have diminished the number of
the larger cattle, yet have spared the
sheep, &c. Or, the numbers of sheep
might have been augmented; and thereby
individuals might remain in value nearer
to the prices of their fellows in former
days, than oxen.

Whatever might be the cause, we recommend an inquiry into it to the attention of antiquaries and political writers. We cannot at present, ourselves, engage in the discussion. Will the progressive encrease of price for the necessaries of life, which appears to have taken place in those w, we learn from Stowe, that wheat, early days, (and which no doubt, must s and peas, sold for twenty shillings have been sensibly felt, by the purchasers) quarter, malt for a mark (13s 4d) a continue, without any remission or li inter, &c. We know that great allow-mitation? It is surely a phenomenon in te ought to be made for the scarcity politics; and perhaps, the tracing of its bacoes by the misfortunes of Edward's existence and effects, during so many cengu; which Stowe describes as aug- turies, may contribute towards its solution. ated by the very regulation intended to Bely the evil; yet a national assembly, ng the maximum of provisions, would rally keep as near to the fair, and al market prices, as the circumstances the times could allow. Under king we find oxen estimated at four or shillings in value; but under Edthey are raised to sixteen or even wenty four shillings; this is a fouradvance on inferior beasts; and arl five-fold on those of superior quaYet it will be remarked, that all d of meat did not rise in the same portion. A sheep which is generally ed at six pence under king John, is the statute of Edward ordered to be for fourteen-pence only, when fat, shorn; but if unshorn for twentywhich shews too that the price of wool was nearly one third of that of animal, even after the expence of tening it.

If it may be thought, that the value of articles, was apparently raised (as are in our own time) by the diminishalue of money: but we are not aware any such sudden extension of cur comce, as could have introduced the cious metals into our island, so ray, and in such abundance, as to be adequate cause for this effect. Neither we any knowledge of new mines ned, or old mines rendered more protive, whereby the circulating wealth

We shall conclude our observations on the tracts prior to the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by remarking, that "the Manner of holding Parliament under king Richard II. copied trom an ancient maBuscript," is almost throughout, verbatim the same, as "the olde and ancient order of keeping Parliament in England, used in the time of Edward the Confessor," inserted in the civil tracts of Queen Elizabeth; as having been collected under her reign by John Vowell. This last appears to be only a more correct copy of an ancient record. This, we think, the editor should have remarked. He might even have instituted a comparison between the two copies; and by so doing, he would, perhaps, have avoided what we consider as an erroneous conjecture. One of the articles of the tract given under the head of king Richard's reign runs thus:

Of the five Clerkes belonging to Par

liament.

Also, the king shall assigne v clerks, wise and approbate, of whom the first shall attend the bishops, the second the proctours of the clergy, the third the earles and barons, the fourth the knights of the shire; the fifth the citizens and burgesses; and every of them shall have ijs a-day unlesse thei be king's huantis and have a sufficient liveing by the king, then they shall have xijs. a-day. The which clerks shall write all doubts and answers bettween the king and parliament, &c.