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OKEHAMPTON : ITS ANTIQUITIES AND INSTITU

TIONS, a new edition, with additional chapters. By W. H. K. Wright, F.R.H.S. William Masland, Tiverton. Crown 8vo., pp. xviii., 242. This work was originally published in three parts in 1839, but not completed, and was chiefly due to the labour of Rev. H. G. Fothergill, Rector of Belston. In the present volume the old material has been given in its original form and arrangement; but the last half of the book, dealing chiefly with the ecclesiastical antiquities, is the work of Mr. Wright. The chief interest of the older part lies in the reproduction of the brief journals of Messrs Rattenbury and Shebbeare, burgesses of Okehampton, from the 21st James I. to the death of William III. The Orange Revolution is thus recorded:

"19 Feb., 1688. This day William and Mary, prince and princesse of Orange were proclaymed king and queen of England, France, and Ireland, and effigies of the Pope burnt in this towne."

The volume is well-illustrated, and is exceptionally interesting for the antiquary who may have no acquaintance with this little Devonshire borough; by residents and Devonians it is sure to be much valued.

ENGLISH GOLDSMITHS. By Robert Charles Hope, F.S.A., F.R.S.L. 8vo., pp. 76. Price 5s. To be had of the author, Albion Crescent, Scarborough. Only 100 copies printed. All those who are interested in English plate will thank us for drawing their attention to this small but valuable work. It is a list of all who have been or still are members of the Goldsmiths' companies in the cities and towns where plate was or is assayed. The lists, which are arranged in alphabetical order for the different towns, and which have the date of entry, or the earliest date found attached, together with the latest date or year of death, have cost Mr. Hope an infinity of trouble. They have been obtained from original sources, either from the books of the old Goldsmiths' companies, or from the Freemen's lists (usually beginning in Elizabethan times) in the various cities and towns where the Assay Offices formerly existed. The book includes the goldsmiths of London, York, Norwich, Exeter, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Chester, Hull, Shrewsbury, and Sheffield. Birmingham has to be omitted, as, strange to say, this newest of cities could not grant permission to copy the names.

A CALENDAR OF WILLS RELATING ΤΟ THE COUNTY OF KENT. Edited by Leland Lewis Duncan, F.S.A. Printed for the Lewisham Antiquarian Society. Imp. 8vo., pp. 93, and interleaved with stout writing paper. Price IOS. 6d.

It is not long since we drew attention to a beautifully got-up book on the monumental inscriptions of Lewisham church and churchyard issued by this small but energetic society, and now Mr. Duncan, the hon. sec., has produced this valuable volume. It is a calendar of Kentish wills proved in the Prerogative County of Canterbury from the commencement of the series, in 1384, down to 1559. The arrangement is as follows: (a) name of deceased, in alphabetical

order; (b) parish; (c) date of probate, the letter F attached signifying that there is a filed will extant, in addition to the copy in the will-register; and (d) reference to the first forty-two will-registers of the court. This calendar cannot fail to be of the greatest possible service to the genealogist, as well as to those engaged in drawing up histories of Kentish parishes. The volume can only be obtained of Charles North, printer, Blackheath, S. E. Early application should be made, as only 150 copies have been printed.

THE MONUMENTAL HISTORY OF THE EARLY BRITISH CHURCH. By J. Romilly Allen, F.S.A. (Scot.). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Pp. xvi., 225, with sixteen illustrations. Price 35.

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge are to be congratulated on the issue of this useful and much-needed volume, and upon having secured so competent an author as Mr. Romilly Allen, the now well-known writer of Early Christian Symbolism in Great Britain and Ireland. It was high time that some sound and reliable compendium of the archæological, as distinct from the documentary evidence of the Early Church in Great Britain, should be put forth. This book is divided into four sections, which deal respectively with the archæology of the RomanoBritish Church before 400, of the early Celtic Church 400 to 600, of the later Celtic Church 600 to 1006, and of the Saxon Church 600 to 1066; and each section is sub-divided into parts that treat of the structures, of the sepulchral monuments, and of the portable objects. The illustrations form a valuable feature of the work; seven of the sixteen plates are taken from Mr Romilly Allen's rubbings. It is a book that everyone interested in British ecclesiology will be bound to consult, and it will correct many of those fallacies into which popular lecturers on our Early Christianity not infrequently fall. There might possibly be a few advantageous minor corrections in subsequent editions, but the book, as a whole, can be recommended with much confidence.

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One of the signs of the times is assuredly to be found in the printing of arrant nonsense, such as never used to degrade the printing press. It is a complete puzzle to us how a brain could be formed capable of compiling the arrangement of terms and expressions found in these closely-printed pages ! Another puzzle is, provided such stuff was written, how any sane publisher can be found to print it! Even if we were able to answer both these conundrums, yet a third one would remain-why, when it has been published, is such a book sent to the editor of the Antiquary? All that we can do for the nameless author of this hopeless imbecility, which has not even the merit of being unconsciously amusing, is to give the full title, and to quote a single sentence, and then, if there are any lunatics among our readers, they may like to possess themselves of a copy of the work. The title is: Geometry in Religion, and the Exact Dates in Biblical History after the Monuments; or, the Fundamental Principles of Christianity; the Precessional

Year, etc., as based on the Teaching of the Ancients by the Cube, Square, Circle, Pyramid, etc.

As a quotation, taken honestly at haphazard, and just as intelligent or the reverse as all the rest, this. must suffice: "What the races expect in the New Age. The theory of retributive justice in sexual and parental relations leads to expectations for the time of the second existence, which, together with the rites (a rite is a system), form the expression of the 'hope' by customs, transmitted from father to son"!

THE PASSION PLAY AS PLAYED AT OBERAMMERGAU. By W. T. Stead. Review of Reviews Office. Quarto, pp. 130, illustrated with sixty photographic reproductions. Price Is. paper; 2s. limp cloth.

When Mr. Stead arrived at Ober-Ammergau on June 7, he asked for the text of the play in German and English. "In a short time," he says, "I was furnished with a small library in both languages, official guides, authorised texts, the only authentic version, complete descriptive accounts, illustrated editions, and so forth. Armed with specimens of the best, I made my way to the Passion Play on Sunday, June 8. Imagine, then, my astonishment on discovering that not one of all the versions sold has the faintest claim to give an account of the Passion Play as it is played to-day; that all of them describe the play as it was presented ten years ago; that in all the mass of Ober-Ammergau literature there is not a single German-English edition, with the German text printed in parallel columns to the English translation, and that none of the published books of the play contain any illustration, either of the play as it is played or of the performer as they appear. Nothing is more pathetic than to witness the vain attempts of the audience to follow the play by the aid of books which describe tableaux which have been dropped, give the dialogue of scenes which have been suppressed, and illustrate their text by portraitures of players who are no longer on the stage, or who are playing different parts.'

Óf this discomfort we had practical experience on Sunday, June 29. Our so-called Libretto of the Songs and Dialogue: Ober-Ammergau, 1890, bought at the place, is scored with corrections as to omitted or inserted parts and tableaux. The English, too, is eccentric, as may be judged from directions on the opening page: "Pouse to take a lunch. Don't forget an opera glas"! Mr. Stead, has, however, most admirably and thoroughly supplied this remarkable deficiency. The introductory, explanatory, and historic chapters are excellent, whilst the main part of the book is taken up with the German text, as now being acted, with an English version, happily interspersed with brief descriptions, in parallel columns, The very numerous photographic plates are reproduced by express permission from the copyright originals of this year. Mr. Stead's book has made us long to go again, and, as this is out of the question, the next best thing is to strongly recommend every English visitor, who purports going to this marvellous and soul-stirring drama during August or September, to be fore-armed with a copy of this work.

BOOKS RECEIVED, of which notices are reserved.— Annals of the Brber-Surgeons, Newspaper Reporting, Lostara, History of Holbeach, The Days of James IV., The Testimony of Tradition, Gentleman's Magazine Library (Architectural Antiquities), and The Corporation Records of St. Albans.

Among the pamphlets and magazines that have reached us may be mentioned, in addition to those usually received, the South Australian Cornish Association; Struggles in Africa; The Studio, a New York journal devoted to the Fine Arts; A Cursory Relation of all the Antiquities and Familyes in Cumberland, a reprint of a pamphlet by Edmund Sandford, c. 1675, edited by Chancellor Ferguson; Condover Past and Present, a sixpenny historical pamphlet compiled to further the ends of a local industrial exhibition; The Library Journal, the official organ of the American Library Association; the first quarterly part of Berkshire Notes and Queries, edited by G. F. Tudor Sherwood, price Is. 6d. ; and Thenks Awfully, sketches in cockney dialect (Field and Tuer), price Is.

Correspondence.

WROXETER.

GENERAL PITT-RIVERS, in a recent letter to the Times, strongly urged the desirability of carrying out further excavations at Wroxeter and Silchester, etc., instead of sending money abroad to Greece, Palestine, Cyprus, or Egypt.

As regards Wroxeter, the portion that has been explored is a mere fragment. When the season is dry and the corn ripe, the outlines of Roman buildings underneath the surface can be traced most distinctly in the cornfields which surround the already explored portion. A rich harvest of Roman antiquities may be expected when further excavations are carried out.

Unfortunately, the local society has not funds for the purpose, its excellent Transactions swallowing up most of its income. And a recent appeal to the Society of Antiquaries to help has resulted in a negative answer, on account of lack of funds.

If only, as General Pitt-Rivers urges, we had an English Exploration Fund, Wroxeter and similar sites might speedily be thoroughly explored.

Shrewsbury.

F.

[Silchester is now absorbing attention; the work of definite exploration has already been begun by the Society of Antiquaries. The response to the appeal for funds for this work is fairly good. The town of Wroxeter should come next. Meanwhile, we venture to think that all special aid should be given for the present to Silchester. Both these excavations are of national, and not merely local, importance.-ED.].

ST. LAWRENCE'S WELL, ISLE OF WIGHT.

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Mr. Hope mentions St. Lawrence's Well, in the Isle of Wight, as still there. I see, however, that it is now cleared away, vide Cathedrals, Abbeys, and Churches of England and Wales, Cassell, p. 636, where it says: Gone, too, with the opening of a new road is the St. Lawrence's Well of ice-cold water, of which thirsty travellers drank." It is a pity, for it was a very picturesque little affair with a gate, so that it could be shut up. There was an old man there, if my memory serves me, who supplied glasses of the water. GEORGE BAILEY.

32, Compton Street, Derby.

dates from the era of Hengist and Vortigern; it is quite possible that this place was Pretorium of the Romans.

The direct distance from York to Lincoln is about fifty-five miles, but the iters mount up to seventy-two miles, by taking a circuitous route through Nottinghamshire to avoid the Humber. The iter distance from York to Pretorium is given at forty-five miles, which agrees exactly with Caistor, involving the transit by Barton ferry. We have no real evidence as to the true site of Pretorium, but this thong" incident may be a modern survival from prehistoric times. A. HALL.

13, Paternoster Row.

THE CAISTOR GAD-WHIP.

With reference to the description quoted at p. 17 of the Antiquary, I would suggest that the proceedings there recorded of the "Caistor Gad-Whip" have an older origin than the accredited feudal tenure ascribed to Broughton. It appears that Caistor in Lincolnshire had the Saxon name of Thong Ceaster, with a local tradition to account for the origin of this name; but, connecting the words "thong" and "whip," I` am inclined to identify these Broughton tenure proceedings with the name, and the name "Thong Ceaster" with the proceedings.

Caistor was a Roman station, and the Saxon name

Intending contributors are respectfully requested to enclose stamps for the return of the manuscript in case it should prove unsuitable.

During June, July, and August, the CONFERENCE will be suspended.

It will be resumed in the September number, subject: "Suggestions for the better Management and Usefulness of Archæological Societies."

The "Low Side Window" discussion can be continued in the Correspondence columns.

NEW VOLUME JUST READY.

Tastefully printed on antique paper, and bound in cloth, price 7s. 6d. ; hand-made paper, Roxburgh, 10s. 6d. net; Large Paper (50 only), The Roxburgh and Large Paper Editions of this work are only sold in sets.

21s. net.

ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.

PART I.

Being the tenth volume of "THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE LIBRARY." A classified collection of the chief contents of "The Gentleman's Magazine" from 1731 to 1868. Edited by GEORGE Laurence GOMME, F.S.A. The following are the Volumes which have been already published in the Series:

Manners and Customs-Dialect-Proverbs, and World-lore-Popular Superstitions and Traditions-Foreign Customs-Geological and Prehistoric Archæology-Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian Archæology-Romano-British Remains, in 2 vols.-Literary History and Curiosities-Bibliographical Notes.

Now Ready. In Handsome demy 8vo, cloth, price 10s. 6d.

THE

SURNAMES AND PLACE-NAMES OF THE ISLE OF MAN. By A. W. MOORE, M.A.,

With an Introduction on the Phonetic Relation of Manx to Irish and Gaelic,

By PROFESSOR RHYS.

This work on Manx Names aims at giving a complete account of the personal and topographical nomenclature of the Isle of Man. As it contains much incidental information with reference to Manx history and antiquities, it is believed that it will be of interest to general readers, while those living in the Island, or knowing something of it, will find much that is new to them. The Introduction by Professor Rhys, and the Indices, containing Manx roots and words with their cognates in Irish and Gaelic, will render it valuable to philologists and students generally.

LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

THE AUTOTYPE FINE ART GALLERY,

74, NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W.C.

(About 20 doors West of Mudie's Library).

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The various Galleries have separate Albums, easily looked over and of great interest. Visitors are welcome to come and study them, and they will not be solicited to make purchases.

For further particulars send for the new Pamphlet, 40 pp., and four illustrations, entitled "AUTOTYPE: a Decorative and Educational Art." Free per post to any address. The Autotype Fine Art Catalogue, 186 pp., free per post for Sixpence.

THE AUTOTYPE COMPANY, 74, NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON, W.C.

ART WORK BY THE AUTOTYPE COMPANY.

The Illustration of Books, the Copying in facsimile of Ancient Deeds, Charters, MSS., Papyri, etc., the Reproduction of Paintings, Drawings, Etchings, and Old Engravings, etc.

The Illustrations being printed on paper to bind with the Book, require no mounting, so that the disagreeable curling of ordinary mounted photographs is avoided, whilst the Autotypes are as permanent as pictures or engravings.

For small editions up to 500 copies, the process known as Sawyer's Collotype gives most admirable results, at a moderate cost; for larger editions, the Autogravure process yields almost any number of uniform impressions. This latter is a method of producing upon a Copperplate a photograph which (unlike the Collotype) can be altered or amended by the skilful engraver. When completed the plate is faced with steel, and will yield in the Copper-plate press thousands of impressions of uniform excellence.

Amongst the works executed lately have been Wyon's Great Seals of England; Fasciculus of the Palæographical Society for 1888; Reproductions of Early Italian Drawings, in the Print-room of the British Museum (by order of the Trustees); Famous Monuments of Central India, for Sir Lepel Griffin, K.C.B.; Photographs of Bacteria for Dr. Crookshank, etc.

Specimens of the various processes may be seen at the AUTOTYPE FINE ART GALLERY, and full information, with prices and estimates, will be given on application to

MANAGER, The Autotype Company, 74, New Oxford Street, London, W.C.

On antique paper, cloth, price 4s. 6d. ; hand-made paper, Roxburgh, 7s. 6d. net; large paper, 215. net.

NEWSPAPER REPORTING IN OLDEN TIME AND TO-DAY.

By JOHN PENDLETON, Author of "A History of Derbyshire," etc.

REPORTING IN OLDen time.

THE REPORTER IN PARLIAMENT. INCIDENTS AND TRADITIONS OF THE "GALLERY."

REPORTING TO-DAY IN THE "HOUSE."

CONTENTS:

A GOSSIP ABOUT SHORTHAND.
THE REPORTER'S WORK.

SOME EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES OF

REPORTERS.

WRITINGS ON NEWSPAPERS AND REPORTERS.

In the same Series, price 4s. 6d. and 7s. 6d., SECOND EDITION of

HOW TO CATALOGUE A LIBRARY.

By HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A., Author of "How to Form a Library."

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION ON CATALOGUING GENERALLY. THE ARRANGEMENT OF A CATALOGUE.
THE BATTLE OF THE RULES.
PRINT v. MS.

HOW TO TREAT A TITLE-PAGE.
REFERENCes and suBJECT INDEX.

SOMETHING ABOUT MSS.

RULES FOR A SMALL LIBRARY.

A LIST OF LATINIZEd names OF PLACES.
A LIST OF CLASSICAL NAMES.

AN UNUSUALLY COPIOUS INDEX IS ADDED.

"Mr. Wheatley's volume confers lustre upon the series in which it appears. Not only does it contain a large amount of bibliographical information, all conveyed in the pleasantest way, it is a practical treatise upon cataloguing. To all in control of libraries, to the collector as much as the librarian, the book directly appeals, and the information under the head of How to Treat a Title-page' is of supreme value. For the benefit of his readers, moreover, is issued an abridged list of the Latin names of places, which to those who do not possess the two series of the invaluable 'Typographical Gazetteer' of Cotton will be of highest importance. Under the head of 'Dates,' information which, though known, of course, to bibliographers, is anything rather than a general possession, is furnished. In whatever light this little volume is regarded it is a prize. Its size is out of all proportion to its worth."-Notes and Queries.

FIRE.

WATER.

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THE ENEMIES OF BOOKS.

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GAS AND HEAT.

DUST AND NEGLECT.

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IGNORANCE.

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OTHER VERMIN.

BOOKBINDERS.

COLLECTORS.

SERVANTS AND CHILDREN.
CONCLUSION.

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The other Volumes in the BOOK-LOVERS' LIBRARY are

FOREIGN VISITORS IN ENGLAND, AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF US.

EDWARD SMITH.

By

THE BOOK OF NOODLES: Stories of Simpletons; or, Fools and their Follies. By W. A.

CLOUSTON.

THE STORY OF SOME FAMOUS BOOKS. By FREDERICK SAUNDERS.
GLEANINGS IN OLD GARDEN LITERATURE. By W. C. HAZlitt.

THE DEDICATION OF BOOKS. To Patron and Friend. By HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.
MODERN METHODS OF ILLUSTRATING BOOKS.

THE LITERATURE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. By G. L. Gomme, F.S.A.

OLD COOKERY BOOKS AND ANCIENT CUISINE. By W. C. HAZLITT.

HOW TO FORM A LIBRARY. BY HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.

LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

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