clear that considerable charges must have been incurred in maintaining him. No claim could decently have been advanced for the maintenance of an acknowledged impostor. It may admit of a question, whether the fact that the Regent neither asked nor received from the public treasury, any reimbursement of these expenses, may not afford an inference that he had retained his captive for objects of private and personal policy? Be that as it may, the position that he was not an impostor appears to Mr. Amyot to be no more established by the charges for his maintenance, than the opposite fact of the interment of the real king at Langley would be allowed to be proved by a production of the exchequer accounts of the funeral expenses. The Richard in England was buried, the Richard in Scotland was clothed and fed,—and no historical documents can be required to prove that expenses were incurred in both these services. To these acute observations Mr. Amyot adds various considerations, arising out of the politics and situation of the Courts of England and Scotland, from which he argues the improbability of Albany's detention of the real king. Such were Mr. Amyot's arguments, as far as we have space to exhibit them, and here the dispute has rested up to the present time. Mr. Riddell endeavours to add one more link to the chain. It will be observed that the question who was the Scottish Richard?' was not treated by Mr. Amyot —indeed, it scarcely lay in his way. All that he did upon that head was to prompt an inquiry as to whether the pretender could have been Thomas Warde of Trumpington, whom he was alleged to be by Henry IV., but whose pretensions had been summarily noticed and rejected by Mr. Tytler, upon grounds which Mr. Amyot proved to be insufficient. Mr. Riddell has reproduced the facts relating to this person, adding some little new matter, and endeavours to establish the identity of Thomas Warde and the Scottish Richard. We shall show how the argument stands. During the early years of Henry IV. many rumours were circulated respecting the existence of Richard in Scotland, and several conspiracies on his behalf were discovered and put down. In these conspiracies a person named Serle, who had been in the household of the late king, was especially conspicuous. In the year 1402, we find the earliest intimation of a connexion between Serle and a Scottish Richard, in the rumour that Richard was alive and well in Scotland, and that Serle who was with him had arranged every thing for his array and entrance into England. Two years afterwards Serle made his appearance in England, having, as he asserted, come out of Scotland, where he had been with Richard, from whom he brought letters under what he stated to be his privy seal, addressed to his friends in England. In this manner he won over many persons, but Henry's promptitude quashed the conspiracy, and Serle escaped again into Scotland. About the same time a general pardon was granted, out of the operation of which were excepted Serle, Amye Donet, and Thomas Warde de Trumpington, qui se pretende et feigne d'estre Roy Richard.' Of Donet nothing appears to be known. Serle was shortly afterwards entrapped by Lord Clifford, and after a confession, was drawn from Pontefract to London, and there executed. His confession, as given by Walsingham, is very contradictory to the account of the appearance of Richard given by the Scottish authorities, and, if allowed to have any weight, cannot go beyond a corroboration of the previous rumours of a connexion between Serle and a Scottish pretender. Warde is several times named in public documents during the reigns of Henry IV. and V., and, in one dated in 1409, to which Mr. Riddell is the first person who has attracted attention, it is stated, that as the son and heir of Joan Warde, he became entitled to a messuage and eight acres of land and meadow in Trumpington. This property was taken into the king's hands, on account of Thomas Warde's forfeiture, and was granted by the king to one John Edmond. He is moreover described in a letter of Archbishop Arundel to Henry IV. which Mr. Riddell has brought forward, as if for the first time, although it has been already printed by Mr. Amyot, as 'stultus,' and fatuus,' and, in a public document in the 3d Henry V. as ideota ;' descriptions which agree with that of the Scottish chronicler. As he bare hym like wes he It is also alleged in several English records that Thomas Warde bore a ' resemblance to the late king.' Stringing all these facts together, Mr. Riddell concludes it to be unquestionable that the Scottish Richard and Thomas Warde of Trumpington were the same person. Probably the proper inference is, not that Thomas Warde is proved to be the Scottish Richard, but that Henry IV. alleged that he was so, a fact previously well known, and that Mr. Riddell has added a proof that Thomas Warde was at any event not entirely a fictitious person, as Mr. Tytler seems to have thought, but that such a person did really exist, and that, for some cause or other, his property was forfeited to the crown. This latter circumstance certainly renders it not improbable that he was the Scottish captive. Here then the inquiry rests for the present. Probably some future publication of records will throw further light upon it. If Mr. Riddell had confined himself to the point as to Warde, his paper would have been shorter, but far more interesting. As it is, he takes up and presses many arguments which Mr. Amyot had exhausted before him, in fact, Mr. Amyot's reasonings constitute the substance of his paper. He is desirous, however, that his readers should not think he derived his arguments from any other source than his own mind, and therefore informs them that Mr. Tytler's publication upon the subject is the only one published since 1829 that had met his eye, although he had been told that there had been a subsequent discussion. If this assertion substantiates Mr. Riddell's originality, it also proves him to have been wanting in the first duty of an author, which is, to ascertain what has been previously written upon the subject of which he treats, in order that he may not burthen the public with an unnecessary book,-no slight evil; or interfere with the merits of preceding writers, no trifling injustice. Mr. Riddell adds, with some simplicity, that he had not read Mr. Tytler's paper, nor any other part of his history, GENT. MAG. VOL. III. until a few weeks ago. If he had been resident in London, we are sure he would not have remained so long ignorant of the works of his meritorious countryman; and even in Edinburgh, we should imagine that not to know such things argues something respecting Mr. Riddell, which we trust will not long continue, for with all his redundances he may become a useful auxiliary in the field of historical inquiry. Landscape Illustrations of Moore's Irish Melodies; with Comments for the Curious. Part I. 8vo. SO much has been done of late in the way of landscape illustrations of our most popular writers, that we had begun to think the point of perfection had been attained. We are, therefore, delighted in taking up the work before us, a new series of landscapes, and those illustrative of that beautiful and comparatively neglected country, Ireland, as its more prominent beauties are alluded to in the Melodies of Moore. The plates of this work are at least equal to anything that we have seen; the illustrative matter is infinitely superior to everything which has gone before it, and we need only say, to insure it favour in the eye of our readers, that it is from the accomplished and amusing pen of Crofton Croker. The present number presents a most delightful mixture of learning and wit, of antiquarianism and amusement, embracing four interesting subjects, the rich and beautiful Vale of Avoca, the sacred isle of Inniscattery, the bed of St. Kevin, and the Wicklow Gold Mines. In illustration of the first of these subjects, we have a curious and interesting disquisition on the true position of the meeting of the waters in that " valley so sweet," and on the spot which gave rise to the song by Moore which celebrates it. The meeting and mixing of waters, leads very naturally to the consideration of other mixtures, and we cannot forbear quoting a song with which the chapter concludes, in praise of that "strong water" so dear to the sister Isle, which is more commonly known by the name of whisky. "During one of those periodical visits 4 1 which the poet of all circles, and the idol of his own,' was wont to pay to his ghostly adviser the mountain hermitMy child,' did Prout say to him, 'believe me, all this metaphysics about blending of souls and all their reflections from looks that we love, must be resolved into You may talk about songs while the kettle is singing- Och! 'tis you're the bright angel, sweet Molly asthore !" I view the cruiskeen, full of stuff to my mind; Oh! 'tis all very well in the sunshine of summer To wander and ponder beside a bright stream, And to quaff some new milk with a small drop of rum, or And when mingling ingredients that banish the cholic, Inniscattery was formerly the residence of St. Senan, whose inhospitable treatment of the fair St. Canera, who had come to visit him in his holy island, has suggested the subject of one of Moore's lyrics. The stern hardheartedness of the Saint is the subject of a pleasant disquisition of some four or five pages. "A single act of rudeness, or indeed an isolated act of almost any sort, may by the mere exercise of human charity, be excused or accounted for. But when unkindness seems associated with our nature-to grow with our growth, and to strengthen with our strength,' it admits of no defence. We appear not, then, as apologists for Senanus, the first act of whose official career was an outrage upon the sympathies of nature: Qui ad abbatis imperium Disjuncti ab alterutrum." When so it chanced, one day while praying Another of our Saint's miracles was not much less cruel and unjust than this, upon which Crofton Croker suggests, with much appearance of reason, that the miracle arose more from the feeling of the Saint's staff than from its look, and that the Saint might actually have been pronounced guilty under Martin's Act. "There is no wish on our part further to investigate the conduct of Senanus. He is admitted to have been rude and inhospitable. We have advanced sufficient. to convict him of cruelty under the 3d Geo. IV. cap. lxxi. ; and we question if a most plausible indictment against the Saint could not be framed upon the following statement of the informal manner in which he empounded the horses belonging to a neighbouring prince, who, in a very quiet way (for an Irish prince) caused a few to be ferried over from Kilrush, or somewhere thereabouts, just to fatten a little upon the pasture of Senan's island. The Saint's mode of pounding cattle for trespass, was truly a summary proceeding. We will copy the poet's account of the transaction, which we recommend to the attention of geologists; prefacing it with what he says of the provocation : Jubet equos ad pascua Sed nihil contra Dominum Os suum, et absorbuit Caballos quos direxerat, "Which in our jingling way may be rendered: "Then horses sent he from the strand And gulped the horses at a swallow; One other miracle of St. Senan, and we leave him. A description of the isle of Inniscattery having been quoted from "Dr. Mac Slatt's Pilgrimage,' who wondered how sufficient light could have been admitted through the small apertures of a building said to have belonged to the Saint to serve his purposes, the Commentator proceeds "But the learned Mac Slatt's wonder, and the somewhat tedious train of reasoning into which he falls in consequence, might have been spared to his readers, had he studied more closely the metrical legend of Senanus preserved by Colgan, and from which he quotes, as, according to it, a brother belonging to the pious community, wondering, like the Doctor himself, at the Saint's power of reading in so gloomy a cell Per fenestram ædiculæ "Meaning, in plain English, that "Peeping through the narrow casement, He beheld, with great amazement, The Saint's left hand as five wax tapers, Each finger tipped with gas-like vapours. "How curious it is that this miracle, which seems to have escaped the notice of so grave a commentator, should illu minate the Comic Annual for the present year (1835), where it appropriately appears as a light-fingered illustration,for not one word is said in the way of acknowledgment; and an attempt, moreover, has been made to identify the Saint with a London pick pocket- one of the light-fingered gentry.' Let Mr. Hood look to this matter while he may; remembering what befel the original disco verer: Grus qui ibi fuerat, Ut Senanus prædixerat, Fecit in eum impetum,Eique avulsit oculum. "That is : 'So, as Senanus had foretold, A crane, who thereabouts was flying, Attacked the peeper, and behold! Poked out his eye to check his prying."" The third plate, a view of St. Kevin's bed, and the lake of Glendalough, introduces to our notice a Saint in every respect the reverse of the hard-hearted and inhospitable Senan : "To the stranger who converses with the peasant-guide whom he accidentally meets in the valley of Glendalough, various are the anecdotes told, illustrative of the affectionate spirit of St. Kevin. These traditions assume even greater beauty by to which they are attached the retreat contrast with the wild and rugged scene Like of wolves and the den of outlaws. the sunny moments of an April day amid the rigour of wintry showers, these gleams of the benignant heart appear more bright from the surrounding darkness. "Cessa la pioggia al fin e torna il sole, Ma dolce spiega a temporato il raggio, Pien di maschio valor siccome suole Trà il fin d'Aprile e il commenciar di Maggio." Covered with brown heath, or more sable peat,' to use the expression of Dr. Ledwich, the summits of the stupendous mountains, by which Glendalough is encompassed, reflect no light,' and, the sides being almost perpendicular, the gloomy shadows fling a solemn and broad repose over the Valley of the Seven Churches;-its ancient round tower, like the gnomon of a dial, marking to the pensive mind, by the motion of its shade, the quiet progress of days into the revo. lutions of centuries." Were it not that our time and space are decreasing, we would quote the amusing remarks, and the facetious conversation between Lord Norbury and his guide, with which the account of St. Kevin's Bed concludes. The same cause forces us unwillingly to pass over the interesting] history of the Wicklow Gold Mines, of the sin gular manner of their discovery, and of the sensation produced by the "auri sacra fames" upon the Irish peasantry, as well as the beautiful ballad by L.E.L. which is introduced in this concluding chapter of the present part. We have no fear of the success of this publication, and shall look out anxiously for the second part, a part by the way which promises us some most interesting matter. First there will be the Lake of Killarney, with the Castle of O'Donaghue, which we doubt not will be enriched by some of its legends told in Crofton Croker's best style. Then we shall have the Isle of Innisfallen, followed by the "extra Boyne Obelisk, illustrated by curious comments upon the celebrated battle which it commemorates, derived in part from original documents, which have not hitherto been consulted. And, lastly, the romantic Glengariff. Heartily do we wish success to Mr. Power, and his efforts to make us agreeably acquainted with "the land of song." History of the British Colonies, by R. THE volume before us comprehends Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, &c.; together with New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland. It contains, like those which preceded it, a great quantity of historical, fiscal, and general information, drawn from the best available sources, and condensed into a small compass; with a general map of the British possessions in North America, and separate maps of the different provinces, and of the townships in Upper and Lower Canada. Of these possessions the dates and modes of their acquisition are thus stated by Mr. Martin : Their total population is estimated at only 1,819,000 souls, while their area in square miles is stated at not less than 4,174,490; of which the N. W. Territory surrounding Hudson's Bay, contains about 3,700,000 square miles, with an estimated population of not more than 500,000 souls. This amazing extent of comparatively unpeopled territory in the possession of Great Britain, of course includes much that is barren, cold, and uninhabitable; but it also includes immense districts which are capable of being rendered very productive, and nearly as favourable to human life and social comfort, as the northern parts of our native country, and which offer an eligible retreat for some portion of our surplus population, to which subject, emigration, Mr. Martin has devoted his tenth chapter. It has almost ceased to be a question whether it be the duty of a Government to endeavour to relieve the State by encouraging and promoting, so far as the Government of a free country can promote, emigration. In every country, but more especially in a Christian country, vagrancy is a discredit to the institutions of society, and English travellers and writers, when they have observed vagrancy in other countries, have not hesitated so to designate it: but for this evil there appears to be no remedy, or at least no suitable and effectual remedy, except emigration conducted judiciously, on sound principles of political economy. By emigration so conducted, a portion, not of the infirm and helpless, but of the healthy, able-bodied, and efficient population of an overpeopled state, may, from time to time, be drawn off, in order to people colonies which offer space for improvement, and motives for industry and exertion. By a comparison of the geographical extent, and present population, of the American colonies of Great Britain, with the extent and population of Newfoundland A.D. 1583 colonized. European states, or of India, and more particularly of China, our readers will be enabled to form some judgment of the capability of the former to receive an additional population. |