NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
The Faussett Collection has, as our readers are probably aware, become the property not of the public, but of a private individual, Mr. Joseph Mayer, F.S.A., of Liverpool, who, with praiseworthy liberality, has resolved to make the Collection as useful as possible to the public. He has therefore determined to publish, under the title of Saxon Antiquities from the Kentish Tumuli, Mr. Faussett's copious MS. accounts of the opening of the Barrows, and of the discoveries made in them; accompanied by numerous illustrations of the more important objects themselves, especially of the world-renowned Gold Brooches, which exhibit such exquisite specimens of the artistic skill of our ancestors. The work will appear under the editorship of Mr. C. Roach Smith, who will illustrate Mr. Faussett's discoveries by the results of kindred investigations in France and Germany. The subscription price is Two Guineas, and the number of copies will, as far as possible, be regulated by the list of subscribers.
A few months since The Athenæum announced the discovery at Lambeth, some time previously, of a number of documents of the Cromwellian period. This announcement attracted the attention of some French literary man, probably M. Guizot, who appears to have made some inquiries on the subject, which resulted in a paragraph in the Journal des Débats, not, indeed, contradicting the fact of the discovery, but denying its importance. Can any of our readers throw light upon this matter? Had our valued correspondent Dr. Maitland still held office at Lambeth, there would probably not have been any doubt left as to the value or worthlessness of any MSS. discovered under the archiepiscopal roof,—albeit, found as we have understood these to have been, not in the department of the librarian, or, indeed, of any of the officials, but in some out-of-the way tower. Have these documents been examined? If so, what are they? If not, why does not the Society of Antiquaries send a deputation to the archbishop, and request his permission to undertake the task. Probably their labour would
not be thrown away. At all events, the doubt which now exists, whether valuable but unused materials for a most important period of our history may not be mouldering at Lambeth, would be removed; and future Carlyles be spared useless journeys and wasted hours to rediscover them.
A publishing Society, somewhat similar to the Camden, has been established in the United States, under the title of The Seventy-six Society, for the publication and republication of books and papers relating to the American Revolution.
Books Received.—Gibbon's Rome, with Variorum Notes, Vol. III., Bohn's British Classics. The third volume of this cheap and excellent reprint of Gibbon extends from Julian's expedition against the Persians to the accession of Marcian.—The Book of the Axe, containing a Piscatorial Description of that Stream, &c., by George P. R. Pulman. A pleasant semi-piscatorial, semi-antiquarian, gossiping volume, welcome at this season, when the May-fly is looked for on the waters; illustrative of the fishing spots and historical localities of the far-famed Axe.—Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, translated into English Spenserian; with a Life of the Author, by J. H. Wiffen, the new volume of Bohn's Illustrated Library, forms a fitting companion to Wright's Dante, so recently noticed by us.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE.
Lingard's England. Foolscap 8vo. 1844. Vols. I. To V., and X. and XI.
The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift. London, printed for C. Bathurst, in Fleet Street, 1768. Vol. VII. (Vol. VI. ending with "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift," written in Nov. 1731.)