as sufficient were illness, attendance at assizes, although, of course, never acted upon, which or the performance of other public duties was passed in the reign of Elizabeth, for the of a like nature, among which hunting with the encouragement of the brass button-trade of Birking was clearly not included, as we may judge mingham, which subjects to a penalty of forty by an entry which we have met with in the time shillings any person appearing in church with of James the First. covered buttons on his garments, and enjoins the churchwardens to prevent and prosecute such offenders.

Sir Robert Wroth hath leave to absent himself for a se'nnight, upon the kings hunting in the forest; hath leave, paying a buck to Mr. Speaker." (m)

In the later Parliaments of Charles the First and those of the Commonwealth, the usage of the House was to inflict a fine for absence, "not less than ten pounds nor over twenty," but the practice declined and ceased altogether towards the close of the seventeenth century. We have it on the authority of Chief Justice Treby, in the Qui Tam action, Birt v. Rothwell, tried in Easter Term, of William the Third, that the prorogation of Parliament commenced in the time of Edward the Fourth. (n)

The promulgation of our early statutes must have been beset by difficulties. Before the introduction of printing, at the close of a session of Parliament, the Acts which it had passed were engrossed on parchment, and made up into bundles, and, accompanied by a writ in the king's name, and under the Great Seal, sometimes in Latin and sometimes in French, were sent to the sheriff of each county to be proclaimed within his bailliwick. This afforded an opportunity to the chancellors and bishops, in the early times, to introduce into the bundles pretended Acts which had never passed the Parliament. Nevertheless, the system continued till the reign of Henry the Eighth.

The first Act which was passed to clear off objectionable laws to any great extent was one for doing away with "the Law of Treason," made capital after the passing of an Act of Edward the First, which had clearly defined the crime of treason, which we shall farther refer to in the chapter devoted to the law of treason. The next wholesale slaughtering of anything but the innocents of the great family of the laws was recommended to his Parliament, at the instigation of Bacon, by James the First, in the following terms:

"There be in the Common Law divers contrary reports and precedents; and this corruption doth likewise concern the statutes and Acts of Parliament in respect that there are divers cross and cuffing statutes; and some so penned as they may be taken in divers, yea, contrary senses; and therefore would I wish both those statutes and reports, as well in the Parliament as Common Laws, to be at once maturely reviewed and reconciled; and that not only all contrarities should be scraped out of our books, but even that such penal statutes as were made but for the use of time, which do not agree with the condition of this our time, ought likewise to be left out of our books. And this reformation might, we think, be made a worthy work, and well deserves a Parliament to be set of purpose for doing it."

It has several times become an act of necessity on the part of Parliament to undo at one fell swoop the work of its predecessors. Many Acts The most sweeping repeal of old and obsolete passed for a special occasion or a mere tempo- laws was made on the 21st July, 1856, in purrary purpose remained upon the Statute Book suance of a recommendation of a committee on many which had become obsolete from changes the Criminal Laws, which made its report in in manner, habits, and public feeling, or which 1844. By this statute (o) one hundred and sixwere not carried out on account of their severity teen Acts, or parts of Acts, were wiped out of and even barbarity-a few from the gradual the Statute Book-among them the Act of dying out of the offences they were provided to Edward declaring forfeit "all lands where crosses punish; and now and then the Parliament are set." (p) Several of the Laws of Proscripappeared to become cognizant of the fact, and tion, almost all the Archery Laws, many relating to clear as many as they decently could from to the woollen manufacture, the tanning and our written laws. But, whether from an imper- currying of leather, making of hats, pewter meafect investigation, or from a fear of making too sures, &c. &c. sweeping changes, a great many eccentric laws escaped these occasional weedings, and remained, dormant and obsolete indeed, but unrepealed, and have survived even up to the present age. Thus we believe a law is still in force,

m. Journal of the House of Commons, June 12, 1605. n. Raymond's Reports, vol. i., page 210.

Before closing the subject of the House of Commons, we must allude to the remarkable fiction by which it has been governed for centuries, the pretended seclusion in which the business is conducted. It is true that the House

0. 19 and 20 Victoria, chapter 64.
p. 13 Edward I., chapter 33.

is not protected by any law from the presence of strangers, but by an order of its own, which it affirms by its vote, but ignores by its practice. The order was in these words up till the year 1845:

"1. That the sergeant-at-arms attending the house do, from time to time, take into his custody any stranger or strangers that he shall see or be informed of to be in the house or gallery while the house or any committee of the whole house is sitting, and that no person so taken into custody be discharged out of custody with out the special order of the house.

much misinformed, the Duke of Argyll and the Prime Minister himself will want to know "the reason why" this lamentable miscarriage has occurred. They will very likely ask the question -and peremptorily, too, as becomes them-"Why the trustees were ignored in the course of the negotiation?"

I am content to let it rest in their hands till the meeting of Parliament, though it is sad to see the straw again thrown, and the tops of the cases nailed down, over those fine old statues, prior to shipment.

The collection, as I have said, numbers over ten "2. That no member of the house do presume thousand specimens, large and small. Of these, in to bring any stranger or strangers into the house round numbers, I may say that there are 200 peror the gallery thereof while the house is sitting." fect, or almost perfect, statues and statuettes, varyIn 1845, Mr. Christie succeeded in introducing ing from nearly six feet to one foot-980 heads after the word "gallery" in the first paragraph, the words "appropriated to the members of the house, and also any stranger who, having been admitted into the other parts of the house or gallery, shall not withdraw himself or shall not withdraw when strangers are ordered to withdraw."

The last sentence alluded to a practice which was entirely inconsistent with the pretended belief in the absence of strangers. Previously to any division of the house being taken, the speaker solemnly proclaimed that "Strangers must withdraw," although it was presumed that there were none present. Mr. Christie's addition, even, does not acknowledge the existance of a strangers' gallery, although such a provision for the accommodation of visitors had been in existence more than a century previously.

I

THE GREAT COLLECTION FROM
CYPRUS.

wanting bodies-more than a hundred tablet inscriptions, some of them forming the pedestals of the statues-7,000 vases and urns found in the tombs (not in the Temple), and some 2,000 terra cotta lamps, with and without inscriptions. The principal statues are of Hercules and the Cyprian divinity, Aphrodite; but there are many others of Egyptian, Assyrian, and, among the specimens of a later period, of marked Jewish type.

The story of this wonderful "find" may be briefly told, as I had it from the lips of the discoverer himself. The sites of the ancient Greek and Phoenician cities have been lost for ages, but some accidental discoveries of a minor nature set earnest inquirers to work. Among them were Mr. Colnaghi and Mr. Lang, British Consuls; Count de Vogue, of the French diplomatic service; and, lastly, General de Cesnola, the United States' Consul in Cyprus, an Italian by birth, but who fought with the army of the Potomac, General Luigi Palma de Cesnola comes of a family which from the thirteenth century held high rank in Piedmont, and was born in the year 1832, and when only sixHAVE just been present at an impressive, pain- teen years of age fought in the struggle for Italian ful, and, I may add, humiliating ceremony-for independence. He was subsequently attached to I cannot view it in any other light-the repacking the Turkish Contingent under General Beatson, in of General de Cesnola's magnificent collection of the Crimean War, and on its termination set out to statues, statuettes, idols, vases, tablet pedestal try his fortunes in New York. At first they apinscriptions, &c., from the island of Cyprus. peared almost desperate; ignorant of the English Through some quibbles, which will have to be language, he had to resort to the copying of music, explained to Parliament, this invaluable collection teaching the flute, and, as he acquired a knowledge of pre-historic relics, which were offered to our of English, giving instruction in French and national museum, has been secured by the Yan- Italian, and in 1861 married one of his pupils, Miss kees, and purchased in their splendid integrity- Mary Isabella Reid, daughter of Commodore ten thousand or more in number-for the New Samuel C. Reid of the United States' Navy. It is York Museum. Till the responsible parties give not my purpose to follow the military career to their promised explanation of the motives by which the alliance introduced him in the Army of which they have been governed in letting slip this the North-the result of it was the diplomatic splendid opportunity of acquiring a collection un- appointment which he now holds. Now the conrivalled in the world, I will abstain from making any statements which shall have the slightest appearance of being ex parte, for if I am not very

suls of several European powers had been delving and excavating in search of the ancient cities, but hitherto with small result. In fact, I think I may

have been a temple of great renown.
Of the urns
and vases many are of a dark cream colour ground,
with designs painted on them in black and red.

It is in the future that this wonderful collection will grow into importance. Herein the student, acquiring a mastery over the rude and defaced inscriptions, will learn to read the history of that remote past from which they have been summoned to testify to the truth, or to correct the errors of our hitherto imperfect knowledge-to settle many historic doubts, and probably to raise fresh ones. Here at last have we got a clue to the connection of the Greek, Phoenician, Egyptian, and Assyrian races, with jottings of their relations with each

the clue has slipped out of our hands, and the student will have to cross the Atlantic to follow it up among that ample store, which since July last was lying almost unknown to the learned world in a warehouse immediately opposite the gates of the British Museum, "pending negotiations." The negotiations have failed, by whose fault it remains to be seen-all we at present know is that there has been a grievous mistake somewhere, and that the great historic treasure is lost to the Old World for ever. YOUR REPORTER.

[Our readers will be happy to hear that General Cesnola (who as soon as he has seen his precious freight safely delivered at New York, will return to prosecute his search for his future discoveries through the pages of LONG AGO.— the ancient cities of Cyprus), has promised to make known EDITOR.]

say, the practical issue has been up till this grand discovery some ninety pieces found by Mr. Lang, the British Consul, and deposited in the east wing of the British Museum-one hundred and thirty vases, lamps, bronzes, and glass specimens in the Berlin Museum, and some thousand or so fragments in the Louvre, the result of the Count de Vogue's search. General de Cesnola had the peculiar good fortune of at last striking into the great temple of Golgos, and ransacking the tombs of Virgil's "Idalium." Golgos, be it noted, is near the modern Athieno, and Idalium is contiguous to the modern Dali. The General has been seven years at this work, and where previous investigations have produced pounds' weight of other for more than a thousand years; but alas ! fragments as the result of their labours, he has brought up tons of almost perfect statues. All honour to them as the pioneers-all glory to him as the finder of the quarry. These cannot be called in any other but a technical sense "marbles "they are of a calcareous stone still very common in the island. Working away under a firman from the Sultan, obtained through the medium of the United States' Minister at Constantinople, he opened some three hundred tombs-all Phoenician -in the Cemetery of Idalium, which had been sealed for at least 2300 years! He next came upon a place of sepulture, not Phoenician, but early Greek, where he found endless specimens of huge Sarcophagi in marble and stone, terra-cotta lachrymatories, lamps with bas reliefs, some of them of Roman pattern bearing the worker's name, &c., &c. All these magnificent "spoils of time" I have seen, picking my careful way over thousands of the lamps of the more than ancient temples, and on the 14th of December I cast my last glance at them,THE collection of civic antiquities brought magnificent statues, heads as perfect as if they had come from the sculptor's chisel only a hundred of opening the Guildhall Library, and which years ago, iridescent glass vessels, Archaic vases, have now been dispersed again among the several idols and all-as they disappeared under the owners who kindly lent them for the occasion, trusses of straw which were to preserve them from is recorded in a catalogue of 642 pages, of which injury in their transit to the New World! Can you only a limited number of copies were printed wonder if Your Reporter were troubled in spirit? for private circulation. It is edited by Mr. To give anything like a detailed description of Overall, the Librarian, and is appropriately prethem would be hopeless, and is a task from which faced by an historical account of the library, even the discoverer has at present shrunk. Here compiled by Dr. Sedgwick Saunders, the chairis a six-legged idol with an Egyptian inscription-man of the Building Committee, to whose long there a bronze patera, of Archaic type, with a de- and persistent efforts the public are mainly inlineation of the worship of Venus, with vases on debted for this worthy receptacle for the corporathe altar, priests, musicians with double pipes, tion books and records. Mr. Horace Jones, the a lyre and a timbrel. It is noteworthy that most of city architect, contributes a description of the the statues of Aphrodite have the dove perched on new building, and Mr. Hughes, of the stained the head, held in the hand, or nestling in the glass. To these introductory pages succeeds bosom; and also that the head-gear of many others the catalogue proper, which enumerates 998 display the Egyptian lotus-flower and the Assyrian engraved portraits exhibited by Mr. J. Anderson star combined. Some of the statues are of rude Rose; 367 portraits and engravings from the workmanship, others of highly-finished sculpture, collection of Mr. A. Morrison; 1,390 prints, and it is conjectured that they represent periods at water colours, sepia, and pencil drawings, carileast twelve centuries apart; so that Golgos must catures, &c., illustrative of the topography of

THE LATE EXHIBITION AT

GUILDHALL.

together to give interest to the ceremony

olden London, and of London manners and starting. Mr. Gardner deserves the thanks not customs, lent by Mr. J. E. Gardner; 57 paint- only of his fellow-citizens, but of the numerous ings, chiefly of the old masters, and upwards of visitors to the crypt for the rich treat he afforded a hundred antique gems, &c., exhibited by Mr. them; and I blush to record that on the strictly Francis Cook; 30 specimens of English plate privileged occasion of a private view on Lord and antiquities, by Mr. George Lambert, and Mayor's Day, one of his "exhibits" was meanly the same number of armour, antiquities, &c., by stolen! Shame on the wretched thief of whatMr. J. Walker Baily; 20 groups of Roman re- ever degree! Let us hope that, like the gem mains dug up in the city, fine specimens of abstracted from Chatsworth Conservatory, on early pottery, Venetian glass, &c., by the Rev. the occasion of the Queen's visit, when the S. M. Mayhew; a collection of 584 British, shrubs were decorated, like Christmas trees, Saxon, Roman, English and colonial coins in with jewels of priceless value, it will sting the all metals, by Mr. F. K. Glover; 108 medals larcenist's conscience till he is forced to restore connected with the art of printing, by Mr. Blades; it-of course anonymously! It affords me some 47 medals and seals, by Messrs. Wyon; 60 consolation to hear that, although the exhibition autograph letters of eminent personages, con- was visited by some four thousand persons on tributed by Mr. C. Reed, M.P.; 104 engravings each day it was open (and the crypt in which of the works of Philippus Wouverman, exhibited this collection was exhibited was perhaps the by Mr. Lissen; 50 articles of Roman and most frequented part of it), and although Mr. mediæval antiquities, exhibited by the Library Gardner's prints and drawings were open to the Committee; the plate of the Livery Companies, closest inspection and even handling, this is the to the number of 47 pieces; 80 microscopes, and only instance of theft or even of destruction or miscellaneous paintings, plate, busts, statuary, damage which I have heard of. &c., lent by various persons, to the number of a hundred specimens. In round numbers the magnificent collection may be stated to have exceeded four thousand specimens. I have made this analysis of the catalogue for the benefit of country readers, who may have been precluded from visiting the exhibition, to enable them to the series of City gates and public buildingsrealise its proportions, and diversified interest.

Mr. Glover's collection of coins was very well displayed, and every mintage and coinage of the later English reigns was represented. (By the way, I saw no collection of London tradesmen's tokens, either of the 17th or 18th centuries. I have Skidmore's and Spence's of the latter era

almost complete, and some of them "proofs," and if I had known they were admissible, would have been happy to have lent them.) I noticed a brass coin of Alexander in Africa, that looked

the profile. That coin I venture to aver was never in circulation; but as it was under glass I could not examine it closely; and even if I had had the opportunity, should have shrunk from handling, for fear of tarnishing it.

To my taste, the collection of Mr. Gardner formed a principal attraction. I spent many hours in the crypt (wherein it was exhibited) in contemplating those silent yet "speaking" me- suspiciously bright, and sharp in outline of morials of the past-many of which brought back to me vivid memories, long dormant, of the old buildings and street architecture which have been swept away by modern "improvements." The subjects are illustrated not by one print or drawing alone, but by a small col- The Rev. Mr. Mayhew, the vicar of Berlection in steel, copper or wood, or in water- mondsey, exhibited a collection, the variety of colour, sepia, or pencil outline-ranging from which was only exceeded by the interest which the Tower of London to "Dirty Dick's," and almost every specimen bore. From a splendid "The Old House in West-street." I made note candelabrum in old Venetian glass to a wine-glass of six different views of "Frost Fair" in 1683-4; belonging to Charles the First; from a broken two of the "Frost Fairs" of 1715-16; eleven of sword of one of Monmouth's adherents to a jug the "Frost Fair" of 1740; and seven of the of Fulham porcelain of the date of 1762; from "Frost Fair" of 1814; besides specimens of" Druidical remains" to "Relics of the Great cards, &c., printed on the Thames on each of Fire;' from a "Roman knife of the 22nd these occasions. The Tower of London had Legion" to a "fork" (17th century) found in forty-seven plates, &c., illustrative of its history; the wainscoat of Milton's House, in Barbican, Old St. Paul's, twenty-eight; Guildhall, thirty-two; 1864," it was full of groups of City curiosities. Billingsgate Market, ten; Old London Bridge, All great printers have become enthusiastic in twenty different views; London Stone, three; their trade. All honour to them, though it may Button's Coffee House, four; and, I must not seem to us but inky, mechanical work. Timperomit to mention, more than a score of drawings ley compiled a most laborious dictionary of of quaint old city innyards with their spectre- printers and printing. Nichols, Chalmers, and coaches in every stage of arrival, loading, or many other printers have become the classics of