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the building, and the accidents, repairs, transformations and additions to which it has been subjected, that we seem to have been eyewitnesses of every change in its structural history, from the noble efforts of its early architects to render it the most perfect work which the means at their disposal would permit, down to the miserable dilapidations and patchings which mark the course of the latter half of its existence. Some of the early changes are most difficult to unravel, especially those arising from the early fall of the central tower, and the subsequent injury of the fabric by an earthquake, both within the first half century or so of its existence. The changes arising from these accidents, differing in reality but little from the date of the original structure, and also imitating its details even while altering its design, are of necessity perplexing, and at the same time highly interesting.

The sixth chapter relates to the “Subordinate Buildings and Minor Antiquities.” The principal of these are St. Mary's College, adjoining the Cathedral on the north side, and now a noble ruin; the magnificent and unrivalled Episcopal Palace, perhaps the noblest purely domestic work of the fourteenth century in the island; the walls and gates of the Cathedral Enclosure; the curious octagonal Tower in the Church-yard, supposed by our authors to be a detached Campanile; also the Prebendal Houses, detached Chapels, &c., &c.

The seventh chapter is only commenced, and will treat of the “ General History of the Church and See.”

It would appear at first sight as if this last mentioned chapter should have taken an earlier place in the work:-as reviewers, to say the least, we wish to be placed in the same position as our authors, who must have had the materials, at least, for this “General History” in their hands before they commenced their “ Architectural History.” We therefore defer any detailed observations on the latter till we have had the advantage of examining the former. We have also felt all the way through the want of the ground plan of the Church, which is unfortunately still delayed, a want which involves considerable inconvenience and loss of time in reading an architectural description. We trust, however, that this may not be the only plan furnished us, but that a general plan of the whole Cathedral Enclosure may also be given, or at the least a plan including the Cathedral, St. Mary's College, the Bishop's Palace, and the Power Gate. This seems necessary to render the general descriptions readily intelligible.

The illustrations, by Mr. Le Keux and Mr. Jewitt, are beautifully executed, but want a few more general views of the leading portions of the Church to bring them into one connected whole. Some additional illustrations of the Bishop's Palace might also be acceptable.

With these brief observations we will now defer our consideration of this most important work till its completion, and we most sincerely congratulate both the public and those gentlemen to whose labours they are so much indebted, on the fact that we have now arrived

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within one step of this happy event, though we trust to see the labours of our authors from time to time renewed in throwing, light upon, and drawing attention to, others of the too long neglected Antiquities of Wales.

ESSAYS AND REVIEWS. By R. W. CHURCH, M.A., late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. London. 1854.

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We are induced to call the attention of our readers to this volume,which in all respects deserves it,—by a brilliant and graphic article on “Brittany," reprinted from the Christian Remembrancer for January, 1846. The writer describes most vividly and eloquently the physical features of that province, and enters deeply into the moral characteristics of the population. The following extract is a favourable specimen of his descriptive power, and will serve to recall to those who have travelled in the country, some of its more salient peculiarities. Speaking of the gradual intrusion of nineteenth-century France into old-world Brittany, Mr. Church says,- —

“ The contrast is grotesque:—for instance, when the modern government machinery for improvement is at work amid the old Breton customs. The feast of the patron saint comes round,- the people naturally collect, as they have done for centuries, to a wake, - as they call it, a pardon,-to gain an indulgence, to worship, to make merry. They collect from various parishes and in various costumes, nowhere else seen in the world,-men as well as women, long-haired, dark-vested, wild-looking men, talking gravely their old Celtic dialect and a little bad French, and sounding their bag-pipes. French civilization meets them ; M. le Maire and M. le Souspréfet issue their programmes; there shall be a ' Fête patronale, a * Fête Agricole.' Government and agricultural societies are full of encouragement; there are horse-races, matches between ploughs of the country and ploughs perfectionées,'--cattle shows for the improvement des races chevalines, bovines, ovines, et gallinacées ; ' prizes are given, purses of francs, model ploughs, * Bodin's Elémens d’Agriculture.'— Fortunati si bona nôrint,-if instead of telling old-world stories, they could seize the opportunity and study. Bodin. Meanwhile in the midst of enlightened civic authorities with tight pantaloons and peaked beards they herd together, a wild crowd of Celts, thinking a good deal more of the pardon, and the dancing and wrestling, and the grand opportunity of getting drunk, than of improving themselves in agriculture. The same contrast meets you on the face of the country. You are tempted to turn aside from the road to look at an old parish church; there it is, open, and empty, and silent, except the invariable ticking of the clock; there is its charnel house and shelves of skulls, each with a pame and in a box by itself; its granite Calvaire,' with its hard Egyptianlooking figures; there is the votive lock of hair, or the holy spring ; or the picture of a miracle of the last few years in the neighbourhood; or the rude weather-beaten image of the village saint, carved from the tree as it grew in the churchyard, about whom the peasant boys will tell you stories, if you can understand them. You cross the ridge, full of the thoughts of old Brittany, and you come upon modern industry and enterprise at work ;-smuggling merchants of some unheard of little port building upaccountably extravagant basins and jetties,—the engineer hanging his light and beautiful suspension bridge high over the large blue oily eddies of one of the tide rivers which tear the jagged coast-line, pushing his communications over the obstacles which annoyed Cæsar pedestria itinera concisa æstuariis.' Or you come to a chosen stage of innovation and modern fashion,-the modern race-course,

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-the 'Hippodrome,'—which is the pride of Landerneau, and the envy of Quimper; here are all the appliances of the French turf, the course marked out, the seats for the Préfet, and the seats for the musicians ;--and in the midst, a gaunt weather-stained stone cross, to which the peasant, as he passes it, pulls of his hat.” - pp. 232, 3.

Doubtless the juxtaposition of contraries is more strange and grotesque than anything to be found in this country; but in other respects the Welsh reader will find a good deal to remind him of home.

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PROCEEDINGS AND PAPERS OF THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCA

SHIRE AND CHESHIRE. Session Fifth. 1852, 53. Liverpool,

1853. The above volume has just come to hand; and, like its predecessors, it is full of interesting matter, and extensively illustrated. The Table of Contents is arranged under the following sections or classes :—1.History and Antiquities. II.-Architecture and Topography. III.Literature and Criticism. IV.-Genealogy and Biography. V.Trade and Commerce. VI.-The Fine Arts.

The papers that would interest us most as Cambrian Archæologists are arranged under the first class, and are respectively entitled, "An account of Excavations made at the Mote Hill, Warrington;" by Dr. Kendrick, ( Illustrated). “Historical Notes on the Valley of the Mersey, previous to the Norman Conquest;" by Thomas Baines, Esq. “The Materials for the History of the two Counties, and the mode of using them;" by John Robson, Esq.

The following extracts from the last named article throw out a hint which well deserves the earnest attention of topographical antiquaries :

stations ; but these changes scarcely authorize us to assign the reign of Theodosius as the date of the Itinerary (the middle of the fifth century), because a town appears uuder a name which was then first introduced. Continual allusions are made to these Posts in the classic authors, especially in such works as the epistles of Pliny and Symmachus. But we have in the Theodosian code, which dates about 430, most minute directions and instructions issued by various Einperors, with reference to the service of the Cursus Publicus—which I venture to translate — The Imperial Post.

“ About a century later we have the following remarkable account from the Anecdota of Procopius :—' The Roman Emperors of former times devised a plan by which whatever was doing amongst their enemies, any sedition in states, anything connected with the governors, or whatever else might happen, should be told them and come to their knowledge as soon as possible. The conveyance of the annual tribute was also safely and rapidly managed by the same means, which was a public course. They appointed stations-eight-never less than five-as a day's journey for a well girt man. In each station or stable were forty horses, and stable men in proportion, and thus the couriers, having a constant change of trained horses, at times go ten days' journey in a single day. He proceeds to speak of the profit which the neighbourhood made out of these establishments.

The great object of these posts was to convey regular and sure intelligence to the seat of government, and officers called agentes in rebus, and curiosi, who seem to have combined the functions of high police, postmasters and imperial messengers, had the superintendence of them. They included horses, mules, asses and oxen ; with the farriers, smiths and hostlers, requisite for such establishments; carriages of various sorts, both light and heavy, the weight allowed for each being fixed by Imperial rescript. Certain officers (in the fourth century), the Prætorian Prefect, and the Master of the Palace, were, besides the Emperors, the only persons who could grant warrants for the use of the Imperial Posts, and then merely to the highest officers. Any attempt to abuse this privilege was severely punished. These stations or stages were fixed only upon certain roads, very few, indeed, compared with the number of military ways we have in the kingdom, and seeming to bear the same relation to them, as the later mail-coach routes to the highways." 3-pp. 200, &c.

2 Anecd. p. 131.

3 Cod. Theod. Tom. ii. Art. Cursus Publicus.

Cambrian Archaeological Association. .

The following official changes and appointments have taken place :

Frederick Richard West, Esq., M.P., of Ruthin Castle, has accepted the office of President of the Association for the year 1854,5.

The Members of the Society, those of them especially who were present at Ludlow, will have learned with sincere regret the decease of the Hon. R. H. Clive, M.P., Vice-President of the Association, and President for the year 1852, 3.

George T. Clark, Esq., being on the Continent, has resigned his place on the Committee; and George Ormerod, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., of Sedbury Park, Chepstow, has retired from the office of Local Secretary for Gloucestershire.

We are sorry to be obliged to announce the resignation by the Rev. John Williams, M.A., (of Llanymowddwy,) of the offices of General Secretary and Editor, which he had held from the first establishment of the Journal, and from the formation of the Society. As it is improbable that any permanent arrangement can be made by the General Committee before the next Annual Meeting, the General Secretaries have undertaken the management of the Journal in the interval.

It is particularly requested that all Articles, Correspondence, and Minor Notices intended for our pages, be addressed to the Rev. W. Basil Jones, University College, Oxford.