Miscellaneous.
NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
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.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
ISR. CLAUDERI DISPUTATIO DE SALE SUB PRÆSIDIO SAGITTARII. Jenæ, 1650.
TILLOTSON'S SERMONS. Vol I. First Edition. 1670-80. Edited by Parker, his Chaplain.