for

editor says in his preface he is well aware; and had he entertained any other opinion on the subject, he would only have proved his unfitness for his task, for in such a compilation entire accuracy is impossible. A notice of the prices at which the different books referred to have been sold, is extremely acceptable; and so far from injuring booksellers, it will materially promote their interests, for numerous persons in the country are deterred from ordering an old book from ignorance of the price they may be called upon to pay it. The critical notices have been chiefly taken from reviews or other authorities; and we wish Mr. Lowndes had always cited them. "The Bibliographer's Manual" will, the preface informs us, contain references to above 30,000 articles, and it is likely, we imagine, to become a book of constant reference for information on subjects connected with English literature. More than this it would not be proper to say until it is completed; and it would be injustice to say less, since we think highly both of the merits of Mr. Lowndes's plan, and of the research which his pages display.

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Calendar of Knights, containing Lists of Knights Bachelors, British Knights of Foreign Orders; also Knights of the Garter, Thistle, Bath, St. Patrick, from 1760 to the present time; and also of the Guelphic and Ionian Orders. By Francis Townsend, Pursuivant of Arms. 8voTo those who are interested in heraldic or genealogical pursuits, and acquainted with the distinguished professional and literary attainments of several members of the Heralds' College, it has been a subject of regret, that neither of the present gentlemen, with the exception of Norroy King of Arms, has given the public the fruits of his researches. The example of Dugdale, Vincent, and others of their predecessors, would doubtless have been imitated, but for the little encouragement which such works as theirs now meet with; since even in the best days of the history of that College, it was never richer in talents and learning than at this moment.

useful

It is, therefore, with very considerable pleasure that we are called upon to notice a publication by a "Pursuivant of Arms," who has modestly omitted any other designation after his name than his professional title. Mr. Townsend has the double merit of setting a laudable example to his confreres, and of producing a very us work on a dignity which has so fallen in public esteem, that no regular list of those who en enjoy it has been compiled for many years. The title-page states the classes of persons included in the work, excepting those knighted by the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland, who are also included. It commences with Knights-Bachelors: all the lists are arranged in alphabetical order, and from the following extracts it will be seen, that, though the information afforded of each Knight

We do not forget, however, that the name of Sir George Nayler, Knt. Garter, occurs in the title-page of the first part of a splendid work on the Coronation of his present Majesty in 1821.

Bachelor is not extensive, it is very useful in identifying parties, and hence is particularly deserving of the attention of Solicitors.

Ainslie, Philip, of Pilton, N. B. and Lieutenant-Colonel of Horse-Guards, 25th Feb. 1778, elder brother of the above Sir Robert Ainslie, died June, 1802.

“Gambier, James, Consul-General in the Netherlands; 27th April, 1808."

The next division embraces the British Knights of foreign orders, and, with the subsequent list of the Knights of the Bath', present the names of nearly all the English military and naval heroes who di stinguished themselves during the late war. After each Knight follows a notice of his rank, of the orders he has received, and of the services for which they were conferred. It is well known that, since 1800, no British subject can legally accept a foreign order without a licence from his Sovereign; and that such licence contains a clause especially commanding it, together with the relative documents, to be recorded in the College of Arms. Mr. Townsend states the dates of such licences, and marks whether they have been so recorded or not; and it is not a little remarkable that numerous instances occur of individuals, among whom is even the Duke of Wellington, possessing such distinctions without having obtained a licence to wear them, and not a few where the royal command for recording those warrants in the Heralds' Office have not been obeyed 2.

In the preface the Editor has given a very clear and satisfactory account of the manner in which English subjects have been permitted to accept foreign orders, and to which we shall allude on some other occasion. The general impression is, that before March, 1813, a licence to an individual to accept a foreign order was considered to authorise him to assume the title of " Sir," but that after that period, in consequence of a clause in such licences,

"That his Majesty's licence and permission doth not authorise, and shall not be deemed or construed to authorise, the assumption of any style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege, appertaining unto a Knight Bachelor of these Realms," he had no right to use that title.

We, however, entertain some doubts on this subject. As the licence authorises a man to accept and wear a decoration which to all intents and purposes renders him a Knight, we cannot imagine how the English title of knighthood, the appellation " Sir," can be withheld. The crown forbids "the assumption of any style, appellation,

Ir Mr. Townsend would have increased the value of his work, if he had shown, by some mark opposite the name of each Knight of the Bath, whether his pedigree is registered in the College of Arms.

* The number of licences which have been granted, but of which, according to this list, no record occurs in the College of Arms, are thirty-six, and the time which has expired since they were issued appears from Mr. Townsend's work to be as follows:one, three years; one, five years; one, six years; two, seven years; four, eight years; two, ten years; one, cleven years; nine, twelve years; five, thirteen years; two, fourteen years; five, fifteen years; one, sixteen years; and two, even seventeen years. Why these licences have not been registered we know not.

rank, precedence, or privilege appertaining unto a Knight Bachelor of these realms;" but the title "Sir" is not confined to Knights Bachelors of England, nor does it solely arise from the accolade, since it is used by baronets; and a man who is a knight of one country must, according to the principles of chivalry, and which were expressly recognized by the Court of King's Bench, be equally a knight in every other country, "the honour being universal1." In England a knight is called "Sir, Knight;" in France, "le Chevalier;" in Spain and Italy, "il Cavaleiro;" in Germany, "Ritter;" all names for the same rank; and as the licences do not expressly forbid the parties to use the title " Sir," we question whether each of them is not fully entitled to it, though they have no right "to the style, title, precedence, or privileges, of Knights Bachelors of England." Their precedence is probably immediately after Knights Bachelors of England, for they are manifestly not "Esquires ;" and if either of them was so styled he might, we are convinced, plead a misnomer.

Mr. Townsend has executed his task with intelligence, industry, and success. His work will be found extremely useful to many persons besides those who are mentioned in it; whilst, to those who are recorded in its pages, and their immediate friends, it forms a gratifying record of rewards of arduous civil and military services, or of the personal favour of our own and foreign sovereigns.

The History and Antiquities of the Chapel at Luton Park.—We have pleasure in noticing three numbers of Mr. H. Shaw's work. This chapel is an interesting specimen of the last stage of Tudor architecture, and is valuable to the architect and antiquary.

How much more profitably for its Fellows and the public would such part of the funds of the Society of Antiquaries, as could be devoted to architectural engravings, be employed in publishing subjects like the one to which Mr. Shaw has so successfully directed his attention, than in lavishing its money on the inconceivably silly trash that appeared in the last volume but one of the " Archæologia," wherein fifteen plates and two sheets of letter-press are expended in an attempt to show the mysterious use of the form of a fish's bladder in the architecture of the middle ages!!!

Should the historical equal the graphic part of this elegant work, we shall resume our observations on it.

Mr. Townsend thus alludes to the decision in question; and the only doubt is, whether the clause subsequently introduced into licences alters the case:

"It was a prosecution against William Dearsley, for an assault on the Rev. Sir Robert Peat. The Counsel for the defendant took an objection to the description of the plaintiff, urging, that as he had not been knighted by the king he had no right to the appellation Sir.' Lord Ellenborough overruled the objection, on the ground that knighthood was a universal honour, which there could be no doubt every sovereign could confer according to the laws or customs of his own state; and that there could be as little doubt that the King of England could ratify and confirm such creation by a foreign sovereign, and that having so done, the party was, to all intents and purposes, a Knight, and entitled to the appellation by which Knights are commonly distinguished in these Realmis."-Preface.

Isographie des Hommes Célébres, ou Collection de Fac-Simile de Lettres Autographes et de Signatures. Paris, 11 livraisons, 4to. Rolandi, Berners Street, 5 francs chaque numero.

Autographs of Royal, Noble, Learned, and Remarkable Personages, conspicuous in English History, from the Reign of Richard II. to Charles II., including some Illustrious Foreigners. Folio, Part I. Nichols and Son, 5s.; tinted paper, 7s. 6d.

As we partake of the general taste for fac-similes of the autographs of celebrated men, it is with satisfaction that we notice two works so well calculated to gratify it. The one published at Paris has already reached its eleventh number, whilst the English series has but just commenced. Every livraison of the " Isographie" contains twenty-four lithographed pages, each of which is occupied with the autograph of one person; and in most cases they present a facsimile of an entire letter, or at least of a long paragraph. They thus afford a perfect and most interesting specimen of the chirography of two hundred and sixty-four distinguished persons of all ages and countries, kings, statesmen, philosophers, divines, historians, and poets'; and it is seldom that we have derived so much pleasure as this highly valuable collection has given us.

The "Autographs" published by Mr. Nichols are very faithfully engraved on copper, under the direction of Mr. Charles John Smith, and are accompanied by slight but well-written biographical memoirs by Mr. Gough Nichols. The first number contains autographs of thirty-eight persons, including Henry VIII., Margaret and Mary, his sisters, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, James the First, Francis II. of France, of two Dukes of Norfolk, the Earls of Surrey, Wiltshire, Essex, Northumberland, &c. and of other eminent noblemen of the sixteenth century; but as there are only five plates, little besides the mere signature is, in most cases, given. It was scarcely possible to avoid drawing a comparison between the plan of the two publications, and the result is in favour of the French, because it contains so much fuller specimens of the writing of the parties. For the purpose of identifying a writer, an example of two or three lines, much less of his mere signature, is not sufficient; hence we should prefer having the five plates in each part of Messrs. Smith and Nichols's work appropriated to ten or fifteen, rather than to thirty-eight persons.

The biographical notices belonging to the "Isographie" are not yet published, but they ought not to be any longer postponed; for the want of them not only lessens the interest of the plates, but prevents their being bound up. From the very successful manner in which

Among them are the following names, which we select as being best known in England: Fontenelle, Molière, Turenne, Agnes Sorel, Marmontel, Robespierre, Lavater, Canova, Catherine de Medicis, Van Tromp, Talma, Berthier, Prince of Wagram, David Garrick, Bayle, Louis XIII., XIV., and XV., Queen Elizabeth, James II. of Scotland, and various other monarchs, Madame de Staël, Voltaire, Rollin, Montesquieu, Charlemagne, the Abbé Sicard, Benjamin West, Camden, Fenelon, Sir Joseph Banks, Diana of Poictiers, Rapin, Volney, Washington, Buffon, Corneille, Hume, Leibnitz, Madame de Maintenon, Elzevir, Racine, &c..

lithography is used for the fac-similes in the French collection, we recommend Mr. Smith to adopt it, and to give long extracts and more plates. By avoiding as much as possible the autographs inserted in the" Isographie," the two works will not interfere with each other, and be equally acceptable to collectors in both countries.

These works are highly deserving of encouragement, and we shall be exceedingly happy to learn, that sufficient interest is felt in this country in the illustrious dead, to render these memorials of them more generally known and patronized. Next to a portrait, the autograph of a great man is the most valuable notice of him, and, since either are rarely to be met with, the multiplication of both is desirable. There cannot be a more appropriate illustration of history and biography than these collections; and it is impossible to doubt that they will rank among the most popular, since they are among the most interesting, works of the day.

CREATIONS OF HONOURS, CHANGES OF NAME, &c.

From the London Gazettes, from 25th March to May 23rd, 1828. April-St. James's Palace, 27th March. The King was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon Lieutenant-Colonel John Macra, K. C. H., Military Secretary to the late Marquess of Hastings.

April 4.-Whitehall, 2d April.-The King has been pleased to give and grant unto Isaac Hart, Esquire, Captain in the Army, on half-pay of the 65th Regiment of Foot, His royal licence and authority, that he may, in compliance with the earnest desire expressed by his Majesty the Shah of Persia, accept and wear the insignia of the Persian Order of the Lion and Sun, of the First Class, with which his Persian Majesty has been pleased to honour him, in testimony of His royal approbation of his distinguished conduct while in the actual service of that Sovereign; provided, nevertheless, that his Ma jesty's said licence and permission doth not authorise the assumption of any style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege appertaining unto a Knight Bachelor of these

realms.

April 18.-Whitehall, 17th April.-The King has been pleased to give and grant unto Lieutenant George Read of the Royal Navy, late Lieutenant of H. M. Ship Lávely, His royal licence and permission, that he may, in compliance with the earnest desire expressed by his late Most Faithful Majesty, John the Sixth, King of Portugal, accept and wear the insignia of a Knight of the Royal Portuguese Military Order of the Tower and Sword, which that Sovereign was pleased to confer upon him on occasion of His Most Faithful Majesty's visit on board that ship in the Tagus in May, 1824; provided, nevertheless, that His Majesty's said licence and permission doth not authorise the assumption of any style, appellation, rank, precedence, or privilege appertaining unto a Knight Bachelor of these realms.

May 16,-Whitehall, May 14.The King has been pleased to give and grant unto John Fonblanque, of the Middle Temple, London, Esquire, one of His Majesty's Counsel learned in the Law, His royal licence and authority, that he and his issue may take and use the surname of De Grenier, in addition to and before that of Fonblanque,

ERRATUM.

Page 173. In speaking of the Baronetcy of CODRINGTON, it is said, that the gentle man to whom Mr. Burke has attributed the title is not a Baronet, the title being in fact vested in the eldest son of his elder brother." The dignity really belongs to Sir William Raimond Codrington, son of Sir William Codrington, who died in Brittany in 1816. The individual who has assumed it is the son of Edward, brother of Sir William, 2nd Baronet, who was grandfather of the party entitled to the honour.

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