Agreeing with Mr. Lower, that they who desire to know the truth as to the
earlier periods of our national history, will do wisely to search for it
among the mists and shadows of antiquity, and rather collect it for
themselves out of the monkish chronicles than accept the statements of
popular historiographers, we receive with great satisfaction the addition
to our present list of translations of such chronicles, which Mr. Lower has
given us in _The Chronicle of Battel Abbey from 1066 to 1176, now first
translated, with Notes, and an Abstract of the subsequent History of the
Establishment_. The original Chronicle, which is preserved among the
Cottonian MSS., though known to antiquaries and historians, was never
committed to the press until the year 1846, when it was printed by the
_Anglia Christiana Society_ from a transcript made by the late Mr. Petrie.
Mr. Lower's translation has been made from that edition; and though
undertaken by him as an illustration of local history, will be found well
deserving the perusal of the general reader, not only from the light it
throws upon the Norman invasion and upon the {231} history of the abbey
founded by the Conqueror in fulfilment of his vow, but also for the
pictures it exhibits of the state of society during the period which it
embraces.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--_The Embarrassment of the Clergy in the Matter of Church
Discipline._ Two ably written letters by Presbyter Anglicanus, reprinted,
by request, from the _Morning Post_;--_Ann Ash, or the Foundling_, by the
_Author of 'Charlie Burton' and 'The Broken Arm.'_ If not quite equal to
_Charlie Burton_, and there are few children's stories which are so, it is
a tale well calculated to sustain the writer's well-deserved
reputation;--_Burns and his Biographers, being a Caveat to Cavillers, or an
Earnest Endeavour to clear the Cant and Calumnies which, for half a
Century, have clung, like Cobwebs, round the Tomb of Robert Burns._
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson, of 93. Wellington Street, Strand, will sell
on Monday next, and five following days, the valuable Library of the late
Mr. Andrews of Bristol, containing, besides a large collection of works of
high character and repute, some valuable Historical, Antiquarian, and
Heraldic Manuscripts.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--John Gray Bell's (17. Bedford Street, Covent Garden)
Catalogue of Autograph Letters and other Documents; John Alex. Wilson's
(20. Upper Kirkgate, Aberdeen) Catalogue of Cheap Books, many Rare and
Curious; E. Stibbs' (331. Strand) Catalogue Part III. of Books in all
Languages.
* * * * *