From The Athenæum. THE FORTESCUE PAPERS.* 66 on one of the letters, to this effect, "Marq. of Bucks on State affairs . . useless." ; and IT was a lucky thing for society genMr. Gardiner has done wisely in editing erally that Mr. Upcott, theu Librarian at only a selection from these papers. They the London Institution, paid a visit to have little of the general interest which Wotton in 1817, and that he told Lady pervades Pepys, Evelyn, or even Boswell, Evelyn how dearly he loved autographs. and the editor might have eliminated more If you mean such things as these," said largely. The story of ship-building acthe lady, showing him a letter by Sarah cording to the invention of Robert Dudley of Marlborough, "you may be easily grati- is, for instance, fully told in Adlard's fied, for the house is full of them! It Amye Robsart and Leicester " was exactly what Mr. Upcott did mean, Dudley's own story is as fully told in the and he naturally referred to the honoured Athenaeum (No. 2231). Nevertheless there name of old John Evelyn. "Old Mr. is much in this volume which the student Evelyn!" exclaimed the poco-curante lady; of history will be glad to read and much "why, there is a clothes-basket full of his which will amuse those who open it merely letters and papers in one of the garrets! for traits of social manners. The editor I was so tired of seeing them about the has given 161 letters, from 1607, a letter house that I told the maids to light the from James the First to Henri Quatre, to fires with them." Mr. Upcott was soon 1614, a note from Charles the First to bending over this dignified clothes-basket, Prince Rupert. One of the most remarkaand found in it, nearly intact, that famous ble letters is addressed by James to the Diary, which has given nearly as much de- Commissioners for the examination of Sir light to the world as the Diary of ten years Walter Raleigh. Thus writes the King in of the life of Pepys. Even this latter October, 1618: Diary lay for generations, at Oxford, a "We have perused your letter touching the dead letter. Its shorthand character was proceeding with Sir Walter Raleigh, in both as undecipherable as an inscription from which courses propounded by you we find imNineveh. But keys to both have been perfeccion. As first we like not that there found; and the Rev. J. Smith constructed should be only a narrative sett forth in print the one which opened new scenes of the of his crimes togither with our warrant for his social life of the seventeenth century to a execution. And for the other course of a publik world of readers. Some MSS. go astray calling him before our Counsell wee think it not altogether, and turn up in the least-ex-fitt, because it would make him too popular, as pected places. Boswell's letters to Tem- was found by experience at his arraignement at ple, published in 1857, were discovered just hatred of men into compassion of him. SecondWinchester, where by his witt he turned the as they were about to be used for wrap-ly, it were too great honor to him to have that ping up groceries in Madame Noël's shop at Boulogne. There can be little doubt that researches among the papers in many old and noble houses at home would well repay its trouble. The discovery of these Fortescue papers is a case in point. Seven years ago, Mr. Fortescue caine into possession of Dropmore, the home of perhaps the noblest trees in the world. The estate, before Lady Grenville enjoyed it, had belonged to her ancestor, Governor Pitt, of Boconnoc. The originals of the papers now published by the Camden Society were found by Mr. Fortescue in an old box in the carpenter's shed. The contents, wholly or in part, had probably been considered as waste paper. There was an endorsement, in a handwriting of the last century, *The Fortescue Papers; consisting chiefly of Letters relating to State Affairs, collected by John Packer, Secretary to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Edited, from the Original MSS. in the Possession of the Hon. G. M. Fortescue, by Samuel Rawson Gardiner. (I'rinted for the Camden Society.) course taken against one of his sort, which we have observed never to have been used but toward persons of great qualitie.” James suggests a more private way of trying and condemning Raleigh, and adds: tion which hath been thus longe suspended, a "And then, after the sentence for his execudeclaration be presently putt forth in print, a warrant being sent down for us to signe for his execution. Wherein we hold the French Physitian's confession very materiall to be inserted, as allso his own and his consortes confession that, before they were at the Islandes, he told them his ayme was at the fleet, with his son's oration, when they came to the town, and some touch of his hateful speeches of our per "" son. James as clearly murdered Raleigh to gratify Spain, as Henry the Seventh murdered the princely boy the Earl of Warwick in order to win from Spain the hand of Catherine of Arragon for Arthur, his 2 802. After Raleigh's execution, Cotting- some demolished, others ruinous, the woods ton wrote from Madrid to Sir Thomas close shaven, and all like a See wherein I shall Lake: "His Majesties proceeding with Sir Walter Raleigh hath given here so much satisfaction, and contentment as I am not able to express it unto your honour, but all men doe much extolle his Majesties syncerity in it." comm the fifthe Bishopp in one fifteene yeares. But I love the last Bishopp soe well that I saye not more of the Bushoppricke. My Keeper's place is a great deale more closely poul'd and very much dismembered; and yet am I soe much envied by most, as I knowe not where to complayne but in my Lord's bosom. onelye." Among clerical letters of interest, there is one from Theophilus Field Bishop of Bacon appears in these pages, urging Llandaff (1619). Mr. Gardiner does not his elevation to the peerage. Buckingnote that the bishop was brother to ham replies that peerages were once to be Nathaniel Field, the Shakspearean actor. had more easily than at that present time The letter addressed to Buckingham has" when to my knowledg his Majesty canthis passage in it:— not endure to heare of making any for his Right Honorable. My ever acknowledged own benefitt, notwithstanding the great The most and (next to God and the King) most adored necessities wherein he is." best patron. I have presumed to write to the amusing comment on this text is in the King my master in the behalfe, of my poore la- | following petition, sent to Buckingham mentably ruined church of Landaffe, whose rev- soon after he wrote to Bacon: ennewes (being the very sinnewes of any sea) are shranke from a thowsand pounds a yeare to seven skore pounds. No part of that which is lost can be recovered without a commission, and that which is left is in danger of loosing with out a new charter." Gerrard and others the Corporation for the To"Your Lordship procured for Sir Thomas baccopipe makers, uppon which there is 4,000 called the grant, and therefore in equity ought li layde out and loste. His Majestie hath rein grace to geve recompence. Wee present to his Majestie one without exception to be made a Barron whoe will geve 10,000 li. Humbly craving out of this, such a somme as his Majestie shalbe pleased to grant in lieu of the 4,000 li loste, besids the long services of the Sutors and the overthrowe of Sir Thos. Gerrard's estate, being bownd for his father for 7,000 li, which if his Majestie vouchsafe not to releeve, his lands wilbe all seased uppon and utterly lost, to the undoing of him, his wife, children, and famyly." They are too long to be dealt with, and too diffuse to bear condensation, but we recommend them to all interested in matter of that tender nature. "Ever since I had your Lordship's letter, I have esteemed myselfe in possession of Salisbury, and more than Salisbury, of a place in your serFor other illustrations of historical charvice; for I tooke Salisbury as a seale of ytt. I acters and incidents, we refer our readers hear that my Lord Keeper finds reason to continue in Westminster, and I know that neyther to Mr. Gardiner's volume. We may add, your Lordship nor he knowes how narrow and for sentimental students, that some amuspenurious a fortune I wrestle with in thys ing love-passages enliven the volume. world. But I ame so far from dependinge upon the assistance of any but your Lordship, as that I do not assist myselfe so far as with a wishe that my Lord Keeper would have left a hole for so poore a worme, as I ame to have crept in at. All that I meane in usinge thys boldnes, of puttinge myself into your Lordship's presence by thys rugge of paper, ys to tell your Lordship that I ly in a corner, as a clodd of clay, attendinge what kinde of vessell yt shall please you to make of your Lordship's humblest and thankfullest and devotedest servant, J. DONNE.' From The Pall Mall Gazette. THE COMMUNISTS IN LONDON. A CORRESPONDENT, who signs himself "An English Officer under the Commune," sends us the following account of the Communal Association in London. It was written last week: When Williams got to Lincoln he was as discontented as any of his class. He writes to Packer, Buckingham's secreFree-thinkers though they be for the most tary part, the Communalists in London devote the "The Bushoppricke (the narrower I looke Sunday to a work of charity such as few believunto it) the more lamentable it proves: Howses,ers indulge in on the day of rest. At five 66 o'clock, a public-house in Soho opens its doors painful to note the eagerness with which several to them, and on the first floor a large room is of those present, evidently belonging to what is reserved to the use of the Red Benevolent So-called the better classes, pressed forward and ciety. As an ex-officer of the Commune tendered their services. Such sudden falls in though, being an Englishman, I can hardly the social scale are not rare among the Comcall myself a refugee I am admitted to these munalists. A French friend whom I knew in weekly gatherings, and have often been struck Paris as the influential agent of a large Lyons by the thorough manner in which they put manufactory is at present contentedly stitching into small practice their large theories on self- saddlery; and another, a physician, distributes government. Their purpose is earnest and hu- bread for a charitable institution at one pound mane it is simply one of mutual assistance. a week. This matter over, the Citoyen Clement Every effort is made to collect money or offers went on to inform us that last Sunday two Engof work, and these are distributed among the lish policemen had forcel their way into the assembly according to the requirements of each room, looked round and departed, not, howmember. To be a member it is necessary to fill ever, without having counselled the proprietor up a bulletin d'identité, whereon is stated the of the house to allow no more "communist name, profession, Paris and London addresses meetings." After this illegal interference the of the applicant, his employment under the committee wrote to Colonel Henderson, informCommune, and the nature of his services to the ing him of the nature of their meetings, and cause. Besides which, references as to his po- asking if they were contrary to English law. litical conviction are required, and a statement | This missive is yet unanswered. I myself am whether or no he needs material aid. The chief at a loss to account for the irruption of police, promoter of these precautionary measures was a but I know that such wanton attempts to take member of a similar society in Brussels num- advantage of a foreigner's ignorance of the law bering eleven persons, among which, it was produces a disastrous effect on the minds of subsequently discovered, five were police agents those who at least admire our so-called political in disguise. The constitution of the society is freedom. ideally democratic. A committee of nine is elected by means of the scrutin de liste and absolute majority. At the end of every month lots are drawn, and the three members they designate are obliged to withdraw. An election refills these posts, and thus an infusion of new blood is constantly secured and the society is guaranteed from the government of a clique. The séance of last Sunday was peculiarly characteristic of the operation of this constitution. Nearly eighty persons were present, the number of refugees having swollen enormously during the last two weeks. The President having called for order by means of a beer pot, the Citizen T., the preserver of the Paris Post Of fice, was requested to present the budget. I remarked that the assessors persisted in estimating the amount by shillings instead of pounds, which proceeding certainly gave apparent importance to the meagre sum (£7 8s.) of the receipt; the bulk of the money provided by the International Association, the rest by individual partisans. The whole was miserably insufficient. A formidable deficit had to be made up, and sixty members clamoured for assistance. Only 2s. could be allotted to each. This, with a few more shillings to be distributed on Thursday, constituted for many the whole week's subsistence. After the discussion of the budget, J. B. C., ex-member of the Commune and a species of Minister of Public Works to the Association, announced that the committee had received applications from a company for four navvies to be employed on a railway near London. It was More important questions having been laid at rest, the Assembly proceeded to give some time to discussions of a fantaisiste character. The puritan among puritans, Citoyen L., Dictator of Marseilles, rose to demand whether the committee had made inquiries into the truth of certain rumours current in Communalist society, which alleged that a Frenchman and a Republican had struck a woman! Here a little inordinately moustached man broke in, saying that the "orator" had no right to make public" secrets of the Alcove," which phrase testitified to the interrupter's intimate acquaintance with the late Paul de Kock. In answer to this, L. delivered a speech equal to the best I have heard fall from his lips. He maintained that Republicans could have no secrets. "Alcoves were relegated to feudal castles and had no place under the roof that covers a free man's head. Englishmen must know the real character of of the partisans of the Commune by the example we set now that we are in their midst. They must learn to appreciate that beside the petits crevés of the Empire and the pampered landowners of the Versailles Right, the working men who governed Paris are as an Ireton to a Buckingham. If the rumour in question was well founded, the man capable of so vile an act was no Republican, and could have nothing in common with the brave men gathered round the speaker. This was vehemently applauded, and after the electton of three new members for the committee. in which I noticed three women took part-the meeting dissolved. No. 1429.-October 28, 1871. CONTENTS. 1. EARLY ENGLISH LITERATURE, 2. THE MAID OF SKER. Part I.,. 3. A VICTIM OF PARIS AND VERSAILLES. 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