9* s. viii. OCT. 12, low.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
315
characteristic note on Jonson's scene in which
he unconsciously pays him a high compli-
ment, the "hurly-burly" having evidently
been strong enough to arrest his attention-.
CHAS. A. HEEPICH.
New York.
DELAGOA BAY (9 th S. vii. 407, 430, 478). The Athenaeum of 5 October (p. 452) contains a review of 'The Growth of the Empire, a Handbook to the History of Greater Britain,' by Mr. Arthur W. Jose (Murray), in which appears the following : " Although the state- ments of the author are bold and sweeping in their condensation, they are for the most part accurate. Of Delagoa Bay, at some time between 1869 and the MacMahon award, it is indeed asserted that Portugal ' was willing to sell' for 12,OOOZ. This," the reviewer adds, " is a precise statement with regard to a matter which has often been the subject of controversy. We doubt the accuracy of Mr. Jose upon this point, and should be greatly interested in his evidence."
AUTHORS OF QUOTATIONS WANTED (9 th S. viii. 85, 154).
The following lines appeared in the Mangalore Magazine for last Easter, from Ralph Waldo Emerson. They are slightly different from those quoted by PERTINAX at the first reference : So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man, When Duty whispers low, Thou must, Brave youth replies, I can.
M.
NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.
History of the Conquest of Mexico. By William H.
Prescott. Edited by John Foster Kirk. 3 vols.
(Bell & Sons.)
WERH Prescott still alive, we should unhesitatingly congratulate him upon the approaching inclusion of his works in "Bohn's Standard Library," the first step to which is taken in the appearance of the ' History of the Conquest of Mexico.' Not absolutely an ideal Parnassus is the " Standard Library," but it is the nearest approach to one we possess. It is with regard to the literature of yesterday what the Tauchnitz collection is to that of to-day ; and though some few of the works are out of date, it is the best collection of which we can boast. Not unworthy of the position assigned them are Prescott's historical works. In their day they had a great reputation ; and if their authority is now impaired, it is because know- ledge has advanced and sources of information not accessible to Prescott have since his day been opened out. The introduction to the present work, which is by Mr. George Parker Winship, M.A., librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, puts the matter very clearly : " Prescott's ' Mexico ' is really a great
historical romance, with few equals in all literature.
Read as fiction, but as fiction very true to the
facts, no one need ever regret the hours spent with Prescott's romance of Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico." Exemplary in diligence was Prescott in his search after materials, and his prosecution of his task, regardless of the gradual loss of sight, was heroic. Not his fault is it if his work is no longer the authority it was once held to be. Official documents were consulted by him, though largely at second hand, and in his darkened room he considered and reconsidered their worth and significance. To this close study are attributed the admirable proportion and sequence of his narrative. He knew nothing, however, ab9ut Spaniards except what Spaniards said concerning each other. Of the natives of Mexico he knew still less, never probably haying seen an American Indian. Thus, though his book obtained at once remarkable popularity the American edition being exhausted within five weeks and an English edition within five months and although it has been regarded as an authority for more than half a century, it " must inevitably be supplanted by some future work, which will be recognized as more accurate in detail and as a more correct repre- sentation of the conditions and the characters with which it deals." The edition now reprinted is from the posthumous edition issued in 1874 by Mr. John Foster Kirk, who was Prescott's secretary. Kirk's additions are distinguished by being placed within brackets. When all limitations are made, Prescott's 'Mexico' is a book which may be read with pleasure and advantage, and one which in its present convenient form is sure of a warm welcome.
A Register of the Members of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, from the Foundation of the Col- lege. New Series, Vol. III. Fellows, 1576-1648. By William Dunn Macray. (Frowde.) MR. MACRAY is not only an enthusiastic antiquary, but a hard worker. The volume before us contains a large body of facts, gathered in many cases from forgotten sources such as no one but an antiquary of the more intelligent sort would ever have thought of exploring. The period which this volume of the Register covers is an important one in the history of Oxford. The times were unsettled, and there was much of evil as well as of good in the university life of those days. The volume ends before the com- pulsory revolutionary changes that were forced upon the college after the triumph of the Parlia- mentarian party. We are very anxious to see the next volume, which, we imagine, will contain an account of the men who ruled therein when Puritanism was in the ascendant. Of some of these very little is at present known.
It is commonly thought that James II. 's conduct in forcing his nominees upon Mag- dalen was a usurpation for which there was no precedent to be alleged in excuse. This, however, is a mistake. The act was undoubtedly a violation of justice as well as of legal right, but, as Mr. Macray points out, there were several former examples which are almost exactly parallel. In- stances of this sort occurred in years covered by the volume before us. The Crown now and again exercised the right of filling up vacancies, but dis- guised the usurpation under the specious term of "recommendation." Like the benevolences which kings were in the habit of calling for when they wanted money, the term was courteous, but the
