More did not seek in this work to impose on the mind of man-his intent was alone to develope his own sentiments on the subject of government, &c., by the aid of a lively romance; and it was by the failing of human nature, not by his fault, or preconcerted craft, that his ingenious work, in any instance, raised deception. This, however, was not the case with a wonderful literary undertaking, which astounded the minds of men in the early part of the last century. A native of France, disguising himself, feigned, that he was a native of the Isle of Formosa. He took the name of George Psalmanazar, he ate raw flesh; and, successfully, imposed on the most learned men of the nation; he gained the knowledge of the English Language, and in the year 1704 published in 8vo. "An historical and geographical description of Formosa, an Island subject to the Empire of Japan," wherein he not only gives a fictitious account of the religion, customs, manners, laws, &c., but even, most ingeniously, frames an alphabet, and invents a language for the inhabitants. Prior to his death he was seized with remorse at his dissimulation, and left in MS. his "Memoirs," which were since published in 8vo. He died a sincere, and Christian, penitent. His published "Memoirs" are prefaced with his will, entitled thus, by himself: "The last will and testament of me, a poor sinful and worthless creature, commonly known by the assumed name of George Psalmanazar." When I add to these instances the successful forgeries of Rowley's Poems by the unfortunate Chatterton, and the fiction of the Shakspearian Manuscripts by Ireland, I am constrained, without meaning, you may well believe me, gentle reader, to impugn the great utility, and the ineffable delights, of learning, humbly to confess, that man is—a gullible animal.

The "Utopia" of More is a work of vast ingenuity, it conveys some excellent conceptions, and should be read by the Statesman of every age, and of every country. Its general scope is, however, deemed so impracticable, that the theories of visionary men are commonly, and proverbially, said to beUtopian!

NOTE 6-(p. 158.)

"Stinking goats." Ordericus Vitalis here, I doubt not, alludes to the epigram, (the author of which is unknown to me,) which appears in the previous page 148, and is as follows:

"Si prolixa facit sapientem barba: quid obstat
Barbatus fiat quin caper ipse Plato?"

On turning over my manuscripts, some time since, I, to my surprise, found amongst them, in the hand-writing of a juvenile poet, the following diversified translation of the above epigram:

1.

"If wisdom by the flowing beard is shown,
How can a goat from Plato's self be known?"

2.

"If beards mark wisdom, then a he goat may too
With his long beard pass off himself for Plato."

3.

"If length of beard gives depth of wisdom, why
With Plato's self may not a he goat vie?”

4.

"If in the beard lies wisdom, who can well

A bearded goat from sapient Plato tell?”

It is not for me to decide on the comparative merit of these respective translations-all that I can say, gentle reader, is,

"Frankelein." For the explication of this word I must extract the following note from Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, vol. iv. p. 150: "A Frankelein.] Fortescue de L. L. Ang. c. 29, describes a Franklain to be a Pater Familias-magnis ditatus possessionibus. He is classed with, but after, the Miles and Armiger; and is distinguished from the Liberi tenentes and Valecti; though, as it should seem, the only real distinction between him and other Freeholders consisted in the largeness of his estate. Spelman, in v. Franklein, quotes the following passage from Trivet's French Chronicle : 'MS. Bibl. R. S. n. 56. Thomas de Brotherton, filius Edwardi I. Mareschallus Angliæ, après le mort de son pere esposa la fille de un Francheleyn apelée Alice.' The Historian did not think it worth his while even to mention the name of the Frankelein."

• De Laudibus Legum Angliæ.

The foregoing extracted note from Tyrwhitt's Chaucer does not fully satisfy my mind, as to the precise meaning of the term frankelein, as applicable to a particular grade of life; and I, therefore, humbly offer these further suggestions of my own. The frankelein I suspect to be one of a class, which arose up towards the close of the feudal system, and strictly pointed out the independent Country Gentleman, whose landed property was franked, i. e. freed, from the exaction of feudal services who was no longer required to attend his superior lord to the wars in the barbarous ages; but yet, so honourable was the profession of arms in the barbarous ages, that the armiger, or squire, took precedence of the frankelein, who stayed "at home at ease." From this grade of society originated, obviously, the well-known name of Franklin.

NOTE 8 (p. 169.)

"John Taylor, the Water Poet." This votary of the Muses was born at Gloucester about 1580. He became a waterman on the Thames, and plyed the oars for his support. From thence he received the designation of "The Water Poet." He wrote in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, the First. His works are scarce, and of a high price. In the year 1623 this endowed Son of Nature took it into his head to make a voyage with his wherry, and five men, from London to Christchurch, and from thence up the Avon to the City of Salisbury; and he declares his object to be a survey of that river for the purpose of ascertaining what impediments, if any, existed to the rendering of it navigable from the Sea. The tract, which he wrote on this occasion, he entitled "A Discovery by Sea from London to Salisbury." He dedicated it, in a short address, "To the Nobility, Gentry, and Commonalty, who are Inhabitants, or well-wishers to the Welfare of the City of Salisbury, and County of Wiltshire."

After a short preamble in prose, declaratory of his purpose, the poetic furor seizes him, and he launches forth into a poem, in which he, in a pleasing manner, relates his passage from London to Christchurch Haven. The remainder of his tract is then completed in prose-he describes his passage up the River Avon: "As I passed vp the Riuer" (says he)

"at

the least 2000 Swans, like so many Pilots, swam in the deepest places before me, and shewed me the way. When I came to the towne of Ringwood (14 miles short of Salisbury) I there met with his Maiesties Trumpeters, and there my fellowes, Mr. Thomas Vnderhill, and Mr. Richard Stocke, Mr. Thomas Ramsay, Mrs. Randall Lloyd, with others which I name not, did walke on the banke, and gaue mee two excellent flourishes with their Trumpets, for the which I thank them in print and by word of mouth. At last I came to a Towne called Forthing Bridge, where, (not many dayes before) a grieuous mischance happened: For two men being swimming or washing in the Riuer, a Butcher passing ouer the Bridge (with a Mastiffe Dogge with him) did cast a stone into the water, and say, A Ducke; at which the Dogge leapd into the Riuer, and seazd vpon one of the men and kild him and the Butcher leaping in after, thinking to saue the man, was also slaine by his owne Dogge, the third man also hardly escaping, but was likewise bitten of him.

"From thence I passed further to a place called Hale, where we were welcomed by the Right Worshipfull Sir Thomas Penruddock, Knight, whom we carried there in our Boat, and who, I am assured, will bee a forward and a liberall benefactor towards cleering of the Riuer.

"So passing in our course by the Villages of Burgate, Breamer, Chartford, Downton, & Stonely, we came to Langford, where we were well entertained by the Right Honourable the Lord Edward Gorges (Lord Baron of Dundalk, and Captain of his Maiesties strong and defencible Castle of Hurst, in Hampshire) to whom in loue and duty we proffred the gift of our tattred, wind-shaken, and weather-beaten Boate, which (after our being at Salisbury, being but two miles from thence) his Lordship accepted. And though hee knew shee was almost vnseruiceable, yet his Noble bounty was such, that hee rewarded vs with the price of a newe Boate. I had some conference with his Honour, concerning the impediments and clensing of the Riuer, and I know hee is most forwardly and worthily affected towards it, and no doubt if it be pursued, that then hee will doe that which shall become a Gentleman of his Honourable calling and Ranke."

The poetic waterman then argues, at considerable length, on the advantages which would arise to the City of Salisbury

from the making of the river navigable, which, he gives his opinion, might be easily done. It appears, that he, with his five strong, and hardy, companions, did more than, I ween, our present local amateurs of the wherry, and the boat, could dothey made their voyage from Christchurch Haven e'en to the City of Salisbury in one day!-for thus saith Taylor: "So on the same Friday at night wee came to Salisbury, where wee brought our Boate thorow Fisherton Bridge, on the west side of the City, taking our lodging at the signe of the King's Head* there, with mine Host Richard Estman, whose brother, Thomas, was one of the Watermen, which came in the Boate thither from London." On the next day, Taylor relates, he walked over to Wilton House, with which, it appears, he was well pleased, as he breaks forth into a poetical eulogy on the occasion.

His scheme seems to have drawn forth the following pamphlet: "A modest representation of the benefits and advantages of making the river Avon navigable from Christchurch to the city of New Sarum. Humbly submitted to the consideration of the city afore-mentioned, and the counties bordering upon the said river," &c. By J. H. (James Hely) London. 1672. 4to.

The notion, that the rendering the Avon navigable from Christchurch to Salisbury would be highly advantageous to that City, so increased in strength, that a subscription for the purpose was raised. This was in the days of the beneficent, and learned, Bishop Seth Ward, who took a very lively interest in the cause, insomuch, that Dr. Walter Pope, in his "Life" of that excellent Prelate (when relating his "Acts of Charity" towards the Citizens of Salisbury) saith: "He also contributed largely towards making their River navigable, not only with his Money, but Advice, and dug the first Spadeful himself, when they began that Work. He also made several Journeys in their behalf to the King and Council, and answer'd the Objections, which several Hampshire Gentlemen made against it, as I have briefly mentioned in the Salisbury Canto, Part 1, Stanzas 12, 13." In allusion to these facts the jocund author (who was his Chaplain) thus addresses him in the Stanzas, above alluded to, of his celebrated "Salisbury Ballad :"

XII.

"You first made the Salisbury Men understand
Their River might easily be taught

This public-house still exists under the same sign.—E. D.