The first volume issued to the members of the Camden Society in return
for the present year's subscription affords in more than one way
evidence of the utility of that Society. It is an account _of Moneys
received and paid for Secret Services of Charles II. and James II._, and
is edited by Mr. Akerman from a MS. in the possession of William Selby
Lowndes, Esq. Of the value of the book as materials towards illustrating
the history of the period over which the payments extend, namely from
March 1679 to December 1688, there can be as little doubt, as there can
be that but for the Camden Society it never could have been published.
As a publishing speculation it could not have tempted any bookseller;
even if its owner would have consented to its being so given to the
world: and yet that in the simple entries of payments to the Duchess of
Portsmouth, to "Mrs. Ellinor Gwynne," to "Titus Oates," to the
Pendrells, &c., will be found much to throw light upon many obscure
passages of this eventful period of our national history, it is probable
that future editions of Mr. Macaulay's brilliant narrative of it will
afford ample proof.
_The Antiquarian Etching Club_, which was instituted two or three years
since for the purpose of rescuing from oblivion, and preserving by means
of the graver, objects of antiquarian interest, has just issued the
first part of its publications for 1851. This contains twenty-one plates
of various degrees of merit, but all of great interest to the antiquary,
who looks rather for fidelity of representation than for artistic
effect.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--G. Bumstead's (205. High Holborn), Catalogue, Part
LI., containing many singularly Curious Books; James Darling's (Great
Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields) Catalogue, Part 49. of Books chiefly
Theological.