before Christ, and says that the Romans changed its name to the City of Legions, when they placed their troops there."

In his illustrative accounts, Sir Richard has constantly and most judiciously, we think, quoted Leland, wherever the latter has noticed the same objects. The descriptions of this early luminary of antiquarian science, are at once comprehensive and just; and however the shallow witling may attempt to deride the homeliness of his phraseology, there is a strength and discrimination in it, which cannot be exceeded, if even equalled, by the more polished diction of modern times. For evidence of these facts we need only refer to the accounts of Newport and Caerdyff, in the annotations to chap. vi of the work now under review. The description of Llandaff cathedral, which is full and interesting, is accompanied by an ichnographical plan, in which the situations of the monuments, &c. which differ very widely from the positions assigned to them by Browne Willis, are correctly inarked. Sir Richard's account of the curious little church at Ewenith, which was erected in the time of King Stephen or Henry the First, by Morice de Londres, Lord of Ogmore, whose tombstone still appears in the pavement of the chancel, should be transcribed if our space would admit; we must remark, however, that it is somewhat erroneously described as a "cathedral in miniature-consisting of a nave, one aisle, two transepts, and a choir:" we believe that a cathedral was never built with one aisle only, though we are acquainted with one on the Continent which has two aisles on each side of the nave. The account of Margan, now, alas! most woefully dilapidated and fast verging to utter ruin, is hardly less interesting than that of Ewenith.

In his eighth chapter, Giraldus tells a marvellous story of a youth of twelve years of age, who in the neighbourhood of Swansea became a resident in the country of the Pigmies, to which he had descended by a dark and subterraneous passage, and found that they conversed in a language "very conformable to the Greek idiom!" Sir Richard's account of Dinevor Castle, in the additions to the tenth chapter, is enlivened by the beautiful description of that fortress, written by the poet Dyer. In his account of Ros (now Pembrokeshire) Giraldus relates more wonders, and tells us that the Flemings who were settled here in the time of Henry the First, "from the inspection of the right shoulders of rains, which have been stripped of their flesh, and not roasted but boiled, can discover future events, or those which have passed, or remained long. unknown." He also gives various instances of this singular. B

NO, CXXIII. VOL. XXXL

kind of prescience; and in his next chapter, when discoursing on Penbroch (Pembroke) he gravely repeats several tales of demons living in friendly community with man! His description of Manorbeer Castle, his native place, is more to the purpose, and worth all his prodigies: it merits quotation.

"The castle called Maenor Pyrr is distant about three miles from Penbroch. It is excellently well defended by turrets and bulwarks, and is situated on the summit of a hill, extending on the western side towards a sea-port, having on the northern and southern sides a fine fish-pad under its walls, as conspicuous for its grand appearance as for the depth of its waters, and a beautiful orchard on the same side, inclosed on one part by a vineyard, and on the other by a wood, remarkable for the projection of its rocks, and the height of its hazel trees. On the right hand of the promontory, between the castle and the church, near the site of a very large lake and mill, a rivulet of never-failing water flows through a valley rendered sandy by the violence of the winds. Towards the west, the Severn sea, bending its course to Ireland, enters a hollow bay at some distance from the castle; and the southern rocks, if extended a little further. towards the north, would render it a most excellent harbour for shipping. From this point of sight, you will see almost all the ships of Great Britain, which the cast wind drives upon the Irish coast, daringly brave the inconstant waves and raging sea. This county is well supplied with corn, sea-fish, and imported wines; and what is preferable to every other advantage, from its vicinity to Ireland, is tempered by a salubrious air. Demetia, therefore, with its seven cantreds, is the most beautiful, as well as the most powerful district in Wales; Penbroch, the finest province of Demetia; and the place I have just described the most delightful part of Penbroch. It is evident, therefore, that Maenor Pyrr is the pleasantest spot in Wales; and the author may be pardoned for having thus extolled his native soil, his genial territory, with a profusion of praise and admiration."

The account of Pembroke Castle in the annotations to this chapter, is very particular and curious. In the church of Manorbeer is the sepulchral effigy of a knight cross-legged, in a shirt of mail, with a surcoat, and plate greaves in front of his legs. This, according to Sir Richard, represents a knight of the Barri family, "perhaps a brother" of Giraldus himself. The last chapter in Book I, which concludes this volume, relates principally to the discovery of the trunks of trees under Niwegal sands, when the sea shore was laid bare by the extraordinary violence of a storm, in the reign of Henry the Second. They were standing in the very sea itself, the strokes of the hatchet appearing as if made only yesterday: the soil was very black, and the wood like ebony." Sir Richard appears to surmise that these trees were firs, and

remarks in opposition to these words of Cæsar, "Materia cujusque generis ut in Gallia est, præter fagum et abietem;" that "many of the names of the firs are purely British." [To be continued.]

Libel: Sir John Carr against Hood and Sharpe. Report of the above Case, tried at the Sittings after Trinity Term, before Lord Ellenborough and a Special Jury, on Monday 25th July, 1808: taken in Short-hand by Thomas Jenkins: To which are added, several Letters on the Subject, written by the Earl of Mountnorris, Sir Richard Phillips, and the Author of " My Pocket Book." Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe. Pp. 43. 8vo, 1s; 12mo, 6d.

THIS Trial appended to the third edition of " My Pocket Book," with various additions, is also printed separately. We are glad to see every means adopted to facilitate the circulation of the important doctrine laid down by Lord Ellenborough, his Majesty's Attorney General, and a British Jury, on this occasion. The cause of action is too recently and generally known, to call upon us, in this place, for any elaborate or minute account of it. Of the wit and humour of the work called "My Pocket Book," we have already spoken fully, in two instances (see vol. xxvi, p. 375; and vol. xxix, p. 406). For that publication, Sir John Carr, whose "Stranger in Ireland" had been so forcibly ridiculed by it, brought his action against the publishers, and laid his damages at 20001. His principal witness, Sir Richard Phillips, was to prove that, but for the publication of " My Pocket Book" he would, for a "Tour in Scotland," have given him 6001, and a conditional 100 more on the second edition. This was what he modestly sought from the Jury in the first place, with the remainder, to make up the 2000l, for the injury done to his character as an author. The Jury, however, without hesitation, found a verdict for the Defendants; and a verdict of greater moment to the Liberty of the Press, and the honour of good letters, has not been brought in for a series of years. If it had gone the other way, the axe would have been laid at the root of all that is praiseworthy in literature.: we should have stopt in the very threshold of incipient science. If nothing could have safely been contradicted or exposed to ridicule (and nothing, let it be recollected, suffers from contradiction or ridicule but falsehood and folly), we must have remained in false philosophy and ignorance to the end of time. Quackery, all the noblest pursuits of intellect, would have reared its

audacious front, and defied suppression or the attacks of truth. The profoundest blockhead might, fearless of the lash due to his merits, have filled the town with the vapid effusions of his brain; and folly stalked through the land with a noli me tangere, which insulted wisdom and common sense would not have dared to prophane. Such a league of stupidity as the friends of Sir John Carr (who, as we learn, drove him into court) exhibit in this instance, against genius, wit, and all the better qualities of the human mind, has never, we believe, been before formed.

The opinions, so honourable to the learned and enlarged mind of the Lord Chief Justice, which appear in the following extract, will be read with pleasure, and long remembered.

Lord Ellenborough." We must really not cramp observations upon authors and their works. They should be liable to exposure, to criticism, and even to ridicule, if their works be ridiculous; otherwise, the first who writes a book upon a subject will maintain a monopoly of sentiment and opinion upon it.--You must never shew the absurdity of it, although it be absurd; that is, you can never do it with effect. This would tend to the perpetuity of error.. A bad book might appear; it would propagate error; and so we should go on to the end of time. How any body could conceive that an action is maintainable for publishing a work exposing another to ridicule is to me surprising. Reflection upon personal character is another thing."

Mr. Garrow." I am not contending that the defendants may not endeavour to shew that the plaintiff's book is a ridiculous one; but, they must not endeavour to destroy the plaintiff altogether, as an author."

Lord Ellenborough." I do not know that. Suppose a person publishes a book containing sentiments that are injurious to public morals; of infinite mischief to public taste; or bad maxims of government; or any thing else that ought to be decried; are we not to be at liberty to expose that work? aye, and expose the author of it too, as far as he is connected with that work, and that in the most pointed language of wit, humour, or ridicule ? the more pointed and forcible, the better. He who does so, if the work be ridiculous, or a bad one, confers a favour on, by producing a benefit to, the public. That it destroys the reputation of an author, and puts an end to the circulation of his works, is nothing, if his works be worthless. Mr. Locke published an answer to Sir Robert Filmer ; would any body give two-pence, after that, for the works of Sir Robert Filmer? What then; was Mr. Locke to be made the subject of an action, for destroying the reputation of Sir Rober Filmer? Not at all. It was a reputation that ought to have been destroyed, and was destroyed, for which the world has been greatly indebted to Mr. Locke. I really do not know where we are going to. To talk of the Liberty of the Press, if one man may not write freely on the

work of another, lest he should destroy the reputation of that other, would be idle. Shew me an attack on the moral character of this plaintiff, or any attack on his character, unconnected with his books; and I shall be as ready as any man who ever sat here to protect him in that character: but I cannot hear of malice, on account of turning his works into ridicule."

In the course of the examination of witness, his Lordship frequently uttered sentiments so truly worthy of an English Lord Chief Justice, that we could wish them to be taught with the A, B, C, to every infant throughout the widely extended dominions of his Britannic Majefty, convinced as we are that not only all our national prosperity, but even the happiness of mankind, depends on the unshackled Liberty of the Press. "WE MUST," said his Lordship, "ALLOW A

ALLOW A LATITUDE TO THE FREE DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF AUTHORS AND THEIR WORKS; OTHERWISE WE MAY talk INDEED OF THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS, BUT THERE WILL BE IN REALITY AN end OF IT." While such exalted sentiments of liberty and justice are maintained in our Courts of Judicature, Englishmen need not fear the security of their political constitution; and notwithstanding the fiery efforts of an inflammatory bookseller, even though a new fledged Knight, the proud pre-eminence of Britain in arts, in arms, and in letters, must continue unimpaired to the latest posterity.

After the examination of Sir Richard Phillips, who was often kindly reminded by the Chief Justice that his unseemly warmth was leading him to convict himself, and on whose evidence the Attorney General made this remark:

"I say, it appears from his own testimony, either that he has given us false evidence, or that he is the greatest fool that ever walked upon the face of the earth--without a guide.

"Lord Ellenborough (interposing).-eakest, perhaps.

"Attorney General.---(Weakest!) The weakest man that ever walked upon the face of the earth without a keeper.--Erasmus would have given any thing for him when he wrote his Encomion Moria-or Pope, when he wrote his Dunciad."

After this, we say, the Earl of Mountnorris was called on the part of the plaintiff, and his evidence went clearly to prove the goodness of the criticism in "My Pocket Book," since after comparing both the works together, his Lordship had been convinced that he should be laughed at if he became a purchaser of the "Stranger in Ireland." The comment of the Attorney General, on this part of the testimony, is exceedingly acute and just.

"My Lord Mountnorris," he observed, “ had like to have reposed