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In sculpture, we fancy the effect has been, even in this first year, to diminish one branch of the Royal Academy's Exhibition. But on the other hand, there is no doubt that the larger the collection offered for inspection, the less chance is there for the commercial success of the exhibitors; and if the sales at the International are insignificant, we may expect a rapid diminution in the number of the works offered. The number of visitors-about 8,000 a day-nearly insures its success as a speculation of this season.

Öther important matters in arthistory have taken place this year, which we must only momentarily notice. The collection of Dutch pictures (with a few English) formed by Sir R. Peel has been bought by the National Gallery, at a cost of 75,000l. It is understood that the funds unexpended by the trustees amounted to 20,000l., and that the Treasury has advanced five years and a half's annual allowance to complete the purchase of these pictures (about 75). Fewer would perhaps have sufficed to give the public all that was desirable of that kind.

The Slade Professorship at Cambridge, filled up by the appointment of Sir Digby Wyatt, has already resulted in the publication of a volume of lectures; and a second printed series has proceeded from the Oxford chair. When Mr. Ruskin was appointed, his friends feared he would use the opportunity to preach some abnormal and peculiar views about his favourite subject-Landscape. And the lectures lately delivered have verified their fears, by definitions and assertions startling in the extreme. Mr. Poynter has been appointed to the London Professorship, which is to be more occupied in actual practical teaching than in lecturing.

With a mention of the few deaths of the more eminent professors, we conclude. Mr. P. Hardwick, the architect of Marylebone Church in

his younger days, and of the great Doric arch to the Euston station in his later time, died just before the end of 1870, in his seventy-ninth year. On the 10th of January Alexander Munro, a sculptor of a delicate and graceful ability in the modelling of children, and in medallion portraits, died at Cannes, where he had been driven by bad health, and had built a villa. On the 18th Sir G. Hayter died in London—a gentleman who had been portrait painter to the Princess Charlotte and her husband, and had, since that time, painted many cele brities. Abroad, when Guillaume the sculptor required permission of Jules Simon, the Minister of Public Instruction, to place a bust of Henri Renault in the court of L'Ecole des Beaux Arts, the order was issued to record on the pedestal the names of all the artists who had died in the defence of their country during the siege, but we have not heard that any other of eminence has been killed.

We have said we have not recorded every Exhibition which has taken place in London this season. One in particular we think we ought still to mention, as it is the most singular venture of the kind ever made. At the beginning of June, Miss Houghton, the spiritualist, opened an Exhibition of about 160 Spirit Drawings.' To describe these is next to impossible, as they were not meant to resemble anything in this world. If the reader can imagine a thousand threads magnetised into erratic coils and seen by polarised light, he may approach an idea of these elaborate sheets, which the painter, disclaiming altogether the character of artist, asserts to be representative, some of good and bad deeds, others of the attributes of Deity! Certainly, Rationalism exists in some strength in our day, but have we not also Infallibility at Rome, Mormonism in the Far West, and Spirit Drawings in Bond Street? W. B. S.

RAMBLES.

BY PATRICIUS WALKER, ESQ.

ON THE WYE.

and taste. The very fine north window

B Hereford you are no longer in is filled with bad glass. The rich

a mountainous region, with rocks and barren summits, but still among hills, pastoral or woody, with many an orchard in their hollows. 'Ludlow' is a most tempting name

Sabrina fair!

Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wavebut I must on. The hills have sunk to a plain of woods, farms, and hedgerows, ere we arrive at Hereford. What is this ancient city like? Stepping from the station I find a wide road with several 'omnibii' (as a learned proprietor of those vehicles advertised them soon after they came into vogue); a timber and coal-yard on a canal; the roofs and chimneys of a flat city with a square fourpinnacled tower rising among them, and elsewhere two sharp spires. It is an agricultural city, of broad commonplace streets with here and there an old house, and to-day was full of market-folk and their belongings-market carts in every gateway, broad-shouldered farmers at windows, country women with baskets of fruit, fowl, and so on. I saw the cathedral too hastily. It did not please me much. The look of the Close, in which stand some fine elms, is ruined by a new deanery of disgraceful ugliness; and much 'restoration' (better called restauration, that is, modern cookery) has been applied to the cathedral. The east end, with its raw new stone, has no sweetness now. The west front and west window are very poor. Inside, the ceilings of the centre aisle and side aisles are painted in really execrable

tower, however, stands unspoilt, and many interesting bits of Norman work remain. On the whole it is the least delightful English cathedral I have yet seen, thanks mainly to the restaurateurs. There

is a story of a certain boatswain in the navy, a good officer, but who used to swear very hard at his men. Being ordered by a scrupulous captain to omit his strong language, Tom at first despaired of managing; but by-and-by hit on this harmless formula in speaking to an offender, 'Bless your eyes, you rascal-you know what I mean!' I wish I knew the name of the architect of the Hereford Deanery, especially if he be also the restaurateur of the cathedral: bless his eyes!

Having only an hour or two for Hereford, and wishing to make direct for certain points, it occurred to my mind, not for the first time, how convenient it would be if in every railway station were hung up a map of the city, town, or village for the new-born visitor (so to speak) to consult, with a scale and table of distances, and the chief objects marked say in red. If the map could include some of the neighbourhood, all the better. One cannot buy and carry about the world special maps of everywhere; yet even a glance at a special map is often a special benefit. Let some good Man, whether of Hereford, Ross, or elsewhere, set the example in the railway station of his own town.

The Wye at Hereford is but a little river; thrice our iron road crossed it, winding through the warm quiet fields. Evening sunset

gilded the tall sharp spire of Ross on its rising ground, and the meadows, hedgerows, and orchards which encompass the little town, as I rambled up the High Street, passing the Man of Ross's' house, and into the churchyard with its lofty poplar avenue leading down to the fields. Mr. John Kyrle's grave is in the chancel within: he died in 1724, ninety years old; but I had not come to see his house and grave. I own the title 'Man of Ross' rather bores me, and I do not particularly admire Mr. Pope's wellknown lines which have advertised the local philanthropist so prodigiously. There is nothing very noticeable in Ross till you come out at the upper part of the street, and find the Wye beneath you, with its lawny meadows and woods.

a

Ross is still a small town and likely to remain so, its chief traffic being of summer boating-parties on the Wye. The Irish town of Ross, in county Wexford, is also on beautiful river, the Barrow. Ros, in Gaelic and Kymric, means a 'wood'; and hence probably the name of both towns (the word also means a 'point' or 'promontory'). The name New Ross, as the Irish one is often called, was not given to distinguish it from its Herefordshire sister, but from an Old Ross, now a little hamlet, some three miles distant from New Ross. The two rivers are perhaps much of a size above tideway. But at Irish Ross the Barrow is a broad, deep tidal stream, with muddy borders and inlets at ebb; at English Ross the Wye is clear, shallow, pastoral, unsalted.

The inn I chanced to put up at was of the ancient, dusky, closesmelling, frowsy, feather-bedded kind. I do think we moderns are improved in the matter of bedrooms at least. I tossed, heated and un

happy, and (as people do in the Arabian stories) repeated some appropriate lines:

Sad is his fate who tumbles ill at ease On fusty feathers filled with furious fleas. But my essay on bedrooms and sleep must come in at another time. I must now (praying your patience, good reader) finish up with Prince Llywelyn, son of Griffith, and Edward Longshanks, sketching rapidly the annexation of Wales to England and how it came about.

Battle of Lewes (1264). Battle

of Evesham (1265).

King Henry and his son Edward (after having quarrelled and being reconciled) encountered in shock of battle at Lewes (May 14, 1264) the Barons, headed by Simon de Montfort, when both King and Prince were made prisoners. It is an ill wind blows nobody good. That year the Welsh enjoyed peace from the English, Llywelyn, son Griffith, being Prince of all Wales.' ?

of

Edward escaped from Hereford Castle, collected a great force, met Simon de Montfort and his force, including a body of northern Welsh, at Evesham (Aug. 4, 1265), and beat them; Simon himself slain, and his son, with a multitude more.

Llywelyn ap Griffith comes to terms (1267) with King Henry III.

Two years later, after many fightings and truces, we find Llywelyn coming to settled terms with Henry, under the arbitration of Ottobonus, the Pope's legate. The King of England and the Prince of Wales mutually agree not to aid, abet, or harbour each other's enemies or opponents. David, Llywelyn's brother, is to have his lands back. Out of gratitude for

1 See Fraser's Magazine for March and June, 1871.

2 Brut.

son

the concessions and 'largitions' accorded to him (it is thus politely put), the Prince agrees to pay 25,000 marks to Dominus Rex; 1,000 within the month, 4,000 more before Christmas, and afterwards 3,000 marks annually till all be paid. The King, with his Lord Edward, and the Prince of Wales with his brother and others, met ceremoniously at the Castle of Montgomery (Mons Gomeri) on Michaelmas Day, 1267; Llywelyn did homage to the King and swore on the Evangelists, and the treaty was sealed by the King, Prince Edward, Llywelyn, and David, to be kept in perpetuo in all its articles. Llywelyn is to give ap certain march-lands and castles, and to receive four cantreds elsewhere, for which he is to do the usual homage and service. Domi

nus Rex, with the assent of his son Lord Edward (described as 'Primogenitus'), wishing to magnify the personal position of the said Llywelyn, grants to Llywelyn and his heirs the Principality of Wales, and the title of Prince of Wales; ' and they shall receive the fealty and homages of all the Welsh Barons, and the said Barons shall hold all their lands in capite' of Llywelyn and his heirs. From this, Mareduc son of Rhys and his heirs are alone exempted, who are to hold direct from the King, at least for the present. There can be no doubt that this was intended on both sides for a final settlement between Wales and England. Even to the far-sighted Edward the absolute annexation of Wales to England appeared to be out of the question; yet it came about only sixteen years later, mainly from the misjudgment and mismanagement of the Welsh leaders.

Disputes and Disturbances.

(1268-1272.)

But if blood is thicker than water, so is it hotter than ink. During

the remaining five years of King Henry III. there were frequent breaches of the Treaty and countless complaints both on the side of Welsh chiefs and of the English Lords Marchers; mutual injuries, reprisals, commissions of investigation arose. In October 1270 Llywelyn took and burnt Caerphilly Castle, belonging to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester-the recognised way of punishing a great lord's offences; and their quarrel continued itself, both appealing to the King. About this time we find the men of Kery (in South Wales), great and small (majores quam minores), praying Henry that he will concede the laws of his kingdom to all parts of Wales and the March- -a desire in which doubtless many throughout those disturbed regions agreed in their hearts.

Death of Henry III.: Regency: King Edward Longshanks returns from the Crusade: Llywelyn ap Griffith still holds back his homage. (1272–1275.)

The cases between Llywelyn and De Clare and others were still pending when the long and feeble reign of Henry of Winchester came to an end (at Westminster, November 16, 1272). The Barons, -De Clare, Earl of Gloucester, first

put in turn a hand upon the corpse's breast, and swore fealty to Edward, now far away in the Crusade. The Earl of Cornwall (Edward's cousin), the Archbishop of York, and the Earl of Gloucester, (which bodes ill for Llywelyn!) were appointed joint Regents during the King's absence.

Llywelyn, repeatedly summoned to do homage to the representatives of the new King, as often makes excuses. Edward reaches England in August 1274, and is crowned on the 19th of the month. Llywelyn is summoned to do homage at Canterbury, but pleads that he cannot

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travel so far without danger; also that his fugitives and enemies are harboured at the English Court. Next year, Llywelyn (against whom his brother David is busily plotting and currying favour with Edward) is summoned to meet the King at Chester, but again makes excuses. The King writes angrily,2 Come to Westminster without further delay-you shall have safe and honourable escort.' Llywelyn appeals to the Pope: says he knows Edward is plotting war; guesses further that Edward intends to make him prisoner on some pretence, if he can get fingers upon him, and perhaps set up David in his stead; complains that the King will not name a safe place to receive his homage, or else, as he, Llywelyn, has supplicated, send commissioners to receive it. So the quarrel stands; in which by this time much personal acerbity has mingled.

Llywelyn ap Griffith and Eleanor

de Montfort. (1275.)

Meantime Llywelyn has also a love affair on hand; is troth-plighted with Eleanor de Montfort, daughter of the Earl Simon slain at Evesham; her mother being a half-sister of the late King Henry of England; Philip, King of France, is the maiden's feudal guardian, and she is now in the Convent of Montargis. Lly welyn writes urgently to King Philip: Send me Eleanor; and make friendship and alliance with us, offensive and defensive. Make no pact with the English, who are my enemies also; nor will I henceforth without you.' Eleanor, and her brother Amaury, with their company, set sail for Wales, but were intercepted by an English force

1 See Brut, p. 363.

(whether on sea or land is not quite clear) and made prisoners.4

Llywelyn ap Griffith at last declared a Rebel. (1276.)

Again (January 1276) Llywelyn is summoned, this time to Winchester, to do homage and take the oath of fealty to his suzerain, and again excuses himself. Once more he is summoned to attend, without fail, at Westminster, within three weeks after Easter; once more, excuses from Llywelyn, especially founded on his brother David's conspiracy, and confirmed by letters from certain of his clergy to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In October Llywelyn writes to the King, I will gladly meet you at Montgomery or Oswestry, if you will first confirm by letter the treaty of 1267; assure me of personal safety and freedom, send the Archbishop of Canterbury and certain of your highest nobles as escort, and give up my bride Eleanor de Montfort.' This letter, read before the King and Council Nov. 12, 1276, brings matters to a head, not favourably to Llywelyn. The Council declares him a rebel; the military tenants of the Crown are to meet for his punishment; all intercourse with him is forbidden.5 Further, he is to be excommunicated unless he makes full submission within a fortnight of notice received.

King Edward Longshanks invades Wales. (1277.)

Edward has now fairly entered on the enterprise of subduing Wales, though still, I should guess, without intending annexation or thinking that possible. The Welsh Prince, in refusing the feudal homage and

2 In Rymer, Sept. 10 (1275).

Rymer, same page (ed. 1745, i. 150).
Brut says: They were seized by the gatekeepers [porthmyn] of Haverford.'
Rymer (sub dato).

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