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PREFACE.

In the "Historical Chronicle" of our present Volume, there are many subjects which press themselves upon our serious attention; but the most prominent, and certainly the most important, is the question of PARLIAMENTARY REFORM, which may be truly styled the new British Constitution for 1832. In the attainment of this object the whole empire has been convulsed, and society unhinged. Nobles have been arrayed against Nobles; the mercantile classes have been divided, and their interests paralysed, and popular phrensy has threatened the very existence of the state. "If you would reduce a great empire to misery and degradation (said Frederick the Great), place it under the dominion of philosophical theorists." "If you would grind a nation to powder (said Napoleon), submit it to the guidance of political economists." No general axioms could be more just than these; and no practical experience could more forcibly demonstrate their truth than the events of the last few years. Philosophical or speculative theorists, and political economists, have been so long experimentalizing and administering empirical nostrums to the naturally robust constitution of John Bull, that he is rapidly sinking from his once vigorous condition to weakness and decrepitude. With the experiments of free trade, restricted currency, corn laws, Catholic emancipation, &c. all of which, accompanied by the blessings of peace, were to diffuse the blessings of plenty over the land, we have, year after year, found the national resources on the wane, and every important interest, financial, commercial, and agricultural, gradually sinking to the lowest verge of existence. Bankers have stopped payment, though money was abundant, and thousands knew not how to employ it; Merchants have been ruined, though every port was ready to receive their commodities; manufactures have been paralysed; agriculturists have become insolvent; and labourers, starving in the midst of plenty, have been compelled to quit for ever their native land. What can be the cause of these manifold evils, unless it be the system recently pursued by our soi-disans politicians, of acting upon abstract political notions, without considering the relative circumstances of the national body politic, and its numerous co-relative dependancies? During a long and general war, we were enabled to raise treble the present amount of revenue, which was comparatively unfelt by the mercantile and industrious classes; but now the pressure of taxation, though so much reduced, is felt in a tenfold degree; and in the midst of peace, a frightful defalcation in the national income presents itself, which nothing, we apprehend, but additional burdens can supply. Under these theorizing principles our wealth and energies have for years been wasting, and will

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continue to waste, until some great practical statesman shall arise, and
once again call into action our native energies and our great national
resources. But, to restore us to our former greatness, which every poli-
tical theorist has been in vain attempting, we are now told that PARLIA-
MENTARY REFORM alone is wanting, and that it is to be the grand panacea
of all our ills! precisely as Catholic Emancipation was intended as a heal-
ing and "a final measure" for Catholic Ireland! though a final separation
of the two kingdoms is now the undisguised object of the popish agitators.
-That Gatton, Dunwich, Sarum, or the decayed boroughs of Cornwall,
should send Representatives to Parliament, in preference to Birmingham,
Manchester, or Leeds (though these great towns were always in reality
virtually represented by the County Members), certainly appears, ab-
stractedly speaking, a most ludicrous absurdity; and such a state of things
ought perhaps long ago to have been remedied; but still it must be ad-
mitted that we have for ages flourished, as a great and thriving nation,
under that system now so strongly deprecated; and to aver, that by the
mere transfer of Representatives from one place to another, we shall
recover our former national greatness, or remove the appalling distres
which has been long goading the industrious classes to disaffection and
madness, is utterly inconsistent with every rational or sound conclusion
Whether the same individual represents Middlesex or Aberdeen, Lam
beth or Stamford, a metropolitan or a close borough, it can by no pos-
sibility of reasoning alter the political aspect of things, or add to the
resources of our country; whilst perpetual innovation and experiment
on the constitution of the body politic, which injures many and benefits
none, may eventually lead to the most disastrous results.

Turning from the stormy ocean of Politics to the calmer regions of
Literature, we revert with satisfaction to the multifarious information
which, principally through the agency of our numerous and learned
Correspondents, we have been enabled to present to our readers in the
present portion of our Hundred and Second Volume. Whilst the lite-
rary world is deluged with ephemeral and oft-repeated trifles, or the
public taste nauseated by political and incendiary trash-be ours the
task to devote our attention to the more stable interests of British litera-
ture-to bring the hidden treasures of our ancient lore in a cheap form
before the public-to gratify the antiquary and the scholar with the
profound researches and classical disquisitions of the learned-to present
a just and impartial Review of the literature of the day-to give a
faithful and authentic chronicle of passing events-and to record, in our
deathless Obituary, the heroic actions of distinguished merit, or the
social virtues of private worth. To effect these important objects no
pains or expense shall be saved; and we feel confident that our efforts
will be duly appreciated by an enlightened public.

June 30, 1832.

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MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

With reference to the inquiries in vol. ci. ii. pp. 305, 488, relative to the family of HUYSHE of Sand, co. Devon, Mr. JAMES DAVIDSON, of Secktor, observes, "I should have little hesitation, notwithstanding the transposition of the colours, in attributing the fifth quartering of the arms of Rowland Huyshe, to the family of Lapflode of Sidbury, in which parish the estate of Sand is situated. (see Pole's Collections, pp. 166, 491.) The name of Lapflode occurs more than once as a witness in the transcripts of several ancient deeds now before me, relating to lands in Sidbury during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. The seventh quartering I should agree with the suggestion of Mr. Loyd, in assigning to the family of Burnell, of Cocktree; but rather in this case to that of Wike, of Binden, in Axmouth, which assumed the coat, (see Pole, 243,) where it appears that the heiress of Burnell was married to Richard Wike, whose son married the heiress of Avenell. Perhaps the pedigree of Wike in the Visitation of 1562, (Harl. MS. No. 3288, fo. 127) may state how that family was connected with Huyshe. It may be observed also in connexion with the subject, that Richards married the heiress of Avenell, (Pole, 217); and that John Sydenham married the heiress of Gambon (id. 197). The eighth quartering may, I think, be considered with great probability to belong to the family of Tremayle, the early owners of the estate of Sand. Sir W. Pole, at p. 466, blazons the arms of Tremayle thus, Argent, a fess gules, between three tramels Sable;' and at p. 505, he calls these charges tremeils.' Neither of the works of Heraldry, to which I have immediate access, define such a bearing, but the word trammel' is an ancient term for a pot-hook, an utensil which in form nearly resembles the figures in question. The coat of Tremayle was most likely brought in by one of the other matches, as the estate of Sand had passed from that family prior to the year 1447. According to Risdon, p. 34, the estate was a purchase by Huyshe, who was then there seated in a dainty dwelJing.'

ALVA is informed that "Erdeswicke's Survey of Staffordshire" was reprinted in 1820, with additions by the Rev. Thomas Harwood, F.S.A. and may be purchased of the printers of this Miscellany. Bishop Lyttelton's MSS. are in the library of the Society of Antiquaries; and were employed by Mr. Shaw for his "History of Staffordshire," as well as by Mr. Harwood.

Mr. R. F. HOPWOOD inquires for an account

of the ceremonies used by the Popes in consecrating the "Golden Roses," which they Occasionally presented to the sovereigns of Europe. Sleidan, in his History of the Reformation, notes that the rose was sent in 1518 to Frederick, Elector of Saxony, by Leo X. through Charles Militz, to serve as a bribe on that prince in the Pope's favour, as Frederick took great part in the religious disputations then in agitation. The same author also says that Pope Leo X. sent the rose in 1524 to our Henry VIII., as a token of his favour, that king having written against the doctrines of Luther. It would seem by these two specimens that the Pope knew well how to dispose of his roses to advantage; they were considered great gifts, for Sleidan says Frederick had long desired to have one.

An OLD CORRESPONDENT asks "at what time rings were first employed in the marriage ceremony ? It is known that the Heathen, long before the Christiau æra, used the annulus pronubus; and about A. D. 633, the episcopal ring was considered a pledge of marriage between the Bishop and the Church."

Mr. A. DAVIS, solicitor, Deptford, would feel much gratified by the communication of any information tending to illustrate the history of ancient Deptford. The loan of any old plans, or notices of local antiquities, and views of St. Nicholas' Church before its re-erection in 1697, and of Says Court at any period, are much desired: also information as to the contents of a pamphlet thus mentioned by Lysons: :-"An Account of a great inundation of Deptford is extant, in a small pamphlet published at the time."

A CONSTANT READER wishes for information respecting the Pedigree of the family of James Scaife, of Crosby Garret, in Westmorland, who, he believes, died about 1750, and was buried in Crosby church, at the entrance of the porch.

M. R. D. saya: "Will your erudite correspondent J. F. favour your readers with similar notices of the descendants of Daniel Meadows of Chattisham, to those of his elder brother, William Meadows, inserted in vol. xciv. ii. p. 218."

J. J. C. inquires whether there is any lineal descendant of Sir Thomas Hunt, Knight, (mentioned in March, p. 208) now living, and where.

C. would feel obliged for historical particulars relating to Leightonville Priory, co. Salop, noticed in vol. c. pt. ii. p. 411.

In p. 32, in the head-line, for Havec read Caudebec; and below, for Havec read Havre.

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