A Note on the coins of Edward III. by PROFESSOR VAN DER CHŸS, director
of the cabinet of coins and medals in the University of Leyden, in a
former part of this Number, reminds us to inform our readers that the
Teyler's Society in Haarlem have just published the treatise on the
coins of the ancient duchies of Brabant and Limberg from the earliest
times to the pacification of Ghent, referred to by the professor, who,
has been several years occupied in making drawings and descriptions of
coins in his own collection, in the cabinet under his care, and in other
public and private collections in the Netherlands and neighbouring
countries. His work, comprising more than 400 quarto pages of
description and historical research, with 36 well-executed plates
containing 470 specimens of coins from original drawings, supplies a
want long felt, and will be equally welcomed by the lover of coins and
the student of history. It is not less remarkable for its cheapness than
for its beauty.
Since the days when Teofilo Folengo, who has with some propriety been
regarded as the forerunner of Rabelais, gave to the world, under the
name of Merlinus Cocaius, the "Libriculum ludicrum et curiosum, partim
latino, partim italiano sermone compositum," which may be said to have
called into existence that burlesque style of composition which is now
understood by the term Macaronic, not only has he found many imitators,
but his and their works have always found a numerous class of purchasers
at least, if not of readers. In 1829, Genthe gave to the literary world
of Germany an excellent history of the works of this peculiar class. He
was followed in this country in 1831 by Mr. Sandys, who then gave us his
interesting _Specimens of Macaronic Poetry;_ and we have now to thank M.
Octave Delepierre for his _Macaronéana, ou Mélanges de Littérature
Macaronique des différents Peuples de l'Europe_--an agreeable and
amusing work upon the same subject. M. Delepierre, while busied in its
preparations, has had the advantage of consulting the library of M. Van
de Weyer, which appears to be as rich in this peculiar branch of
bibliography, as it is known to be not only in every department of the
literature of the Low Countries, but in everything that relates to the
general history of literature.
When we consider the unwearied zeal and well-directed perseverance
manifested by Mrs. Cowden Clarke in her admirable _Concordance to
Shakspeare_, and the unvarying good taste and great ability with which
she has shadowed forth the infant life of those female characters which
Shakspeare has drawn with such mastery,--we feel that we have scarcely
done justice to _The Girlhood of Shakspeare's Heroines_ in allowing this
graceful and interesting series of Tales to draw to the close, to which
it has now been brought by the publication of _Viola the Twin_ and
_Imogen the Peerless_, without having directed the attention of our
readers to the various tales, as they were from time to time presented
to the world. The press has been unanimous in commending the plan
proposed to herself by Mrs. Clarke, as well as her execution of it; and
although at the eleventh hour, we join most heartily in a commendation
as well deserved as it has been universally bestowed.
If Authors have their peculiar calamities, they may console themselves
by the reflection that Editors have also some which are peculiarly their
own. Is it a small matter to receive a book (with a title which alone
would occupy nearly a column) containing upwards of a thousand
closely-printed pages, and be expected to give, in the short space which
we can allot to such notes, an account of its objects, merits, &c.? And
yet, when one reads in the opening of _The Grammar of English Grammars,
with an Introduction, Historical and Critical; the whole methodically
arranged and amply illustrated_, &c., by Goold Brown,--that it is the
fulfilment of a design formed upwards of a quarter of a century
since,--one feels pained at being merely enabled to announce that it is
a work obviously the fruit of much reflection on the part of its author,
and as obviously deserving of the attention of all whose duty it is to
discover the most advantageous system of inculcating the rules of
English Grammar.
We understand that several very important publications will shortly be
issued from the Oxford University Press. We may first mention the _Fasti
Catholici_, or _Universal Chronology_, by the Rev. Edward Greswell,
author of the _Harmony of the Gospels_, _the Parables_, &c. It is stated
that the present work, which contains the result of the indefatigable
labour and research of the Editor for several years, is a still more
learned and elaborate production than any of his previous publications.
Another, which will excite great attention, is a _Catalogue of the
Manuscripts contained in the Libraries of the Twenty-four Colleges and
Halls of the University of Oxford_, which has been prepared by the Rev.
Henry Octavius Coxe, ore of the sub-librarians of the Bodleian Library,
editor of _Roger of Wendover's Chronicle_, and of Lewis's _Collection of
Forms of Bidding Prayer_, from the manuscript in the Bodleian Library.
And, lastly, we may mention a reprint of Bishop Burnet's _Lives of the
Dukes of Hamilton_, which is usually considered as a supplement to
Spottiswoode's _History of the Church of Scotland_.