that others, under the impulse of caprice or prepossession, exercise the responsible function of determining by their votes, the merits of those who are to be the Framers of Constitutional Enactments. To this unfavourable combination of circumstances, may be traced numberless errors, which have proved the abundant source of national misfortunes. If, however, these observations are generally true and important, it must also be acknowledged that, in no period of our History, have intelligence and correct information been more necessary, than in the days in which we live. At no previous moment, has the want of preparatory acquirements been more calculated to produce extensive mischief, than under the changes which have been recently introduced in the Political relations of the People. By the extension of their Privileges, they have been compelled suddenly to decide upon measures which very intimately affect their own welfare, and the common prosperity of the Empire. They have been called upon to express their sentiments on Public Affairs, and by their conduct, to determine the most influential consequences. It can scarcely excite surprise, that under these newly-acquired Powers, and labouring under some degree of unavoidable ignorance as to the nature of that Constitution, which they are bound to protect and support, they should sometimes commit errors of speculation and practice: or, that in the selection of those, who are to represent their unrestrained feelings and opinions, they should sometimes be disposed to seek, as the only security for the discharge of complicated and momentous duties, the pledge given to a particular Party, to pursue, at all events, a prescribed line of conduct, whether consistent, or otherwise, with the permanent and enduring interests of the Commonwealth. Can it, indeed, be fairly expected that Persons so circumstanced, should follow the advice of Lord Bacon, "Ut cum calculis suffragiorum, sumant magnanimitatem Reipublicæ;" put off private considerations, and raise their thoughts to the Public State; or, at the sacrifice of their imaginary interests, adopt, universally, "the scheme of policy which the Public interest requires?" That such a state of things may exist without any very heavy imputation on a numerous class of individuals, who are placed under great disadvantages, may, perhaps, be easily conceded. Neither can it be denied, that the removal of this twofold source of error would materially tend to the increase of political prudence, and to a caution more conservative of our valuable Institutions. It appears, indeed, sufficiently desirable that the presumption against Constitutional know.. ledge should no longer be tolerated, and that increased facilities for its attainment should be offered to those, who otherwise must often decide in ignorance of their actual position, and their relative obligations. That the Parliamentary History of England is, at present, a sealed Book to the Community of these Kingdoms, will not be disputed by those who, in the search after precise Constitutional information, have had occasion to refer to the voluminous collections of the original Records, or to those of the contemporary Historians, the only sources from which authentic materials for such an inquiry can safely be derived. The opportunity of consulting these documents, is extremely rare, and many advantages must concur to render such an opportunity available. Beyond the Metropolis, few Public or Private Libraries contain a series so extensive and costly; and presuming that a facility of reference does exist, our researches can only be prosecuted under an unlimited command of leisure, and by the application of an unremitting industry and attention. (a) To these impediments may be added, in many (a) The great advantages, with regard to literary pursuits, which result instances, a disregard of the pecuniary sacrifice which must attend the possession of many indispensable, but highly expensive volumes. A brief Review of the Authorities to which a reference must be made by those who would obtain accurate Parliamentary data, will shew that the difficulties are not exaggerated, under which investigations of this nature must now be conducted. Such a Summary will tend, also, to remove any wonder, that error should often occupy the place of correct knowledge, that assumptions at variance with the facts of History, should, sometimes, be adopted as undoubted truths, and that conclusions not sanctioned by a correct and comprehensive view of historical relations, should be maintained as legitimate and applicable rules of political conduct. The authorized Sources of all Constitutional information may be divided into Four Classes. First, the Original Records themselves, "the authentic and uncontrollable testimonies in writing, contained in Rolls of Parchment, and preserved in Courts of Record;" "Vetustatis et Veritatis Vestigia." Secondly, the ancient and contemporary Historians. Thirdly, the Collections derived from these Sources; and Fourthly, Separate Treatises, Manuscript or otherwise, of authority on these subjects. from a residence in London, cannot better be exhibited, than by a reference to the means and accommodations offered by that admirable Institution, the British Museum. In a note to the 12th and 13th pages of his Observations on the State of Historical Literature, Sir H. Nicolas has bestowed upon it commendations, the justice of which will be warmly acknowledged by all who have had occasion to avail themselves of its proffered benefits. "Any thing more delightful than that establishment cannot be imagined; and the important benefit which the Public derive from it, is irrefragable evidence in favour of rendering every other Repository of information, and above all every public Repository, as easy of access, as well arranged, as properly conducted, and as free from the disgrace of Fees and Perquisites.” I. The Originals of the several Documents, which are denominated "Records," are to be met with in various Public Offices and Depositories. An Index to these was published, anonymously, by Dr. Strachey, in the year, 1739. A full account was also given by Dr. Nicholson, late Bishop of Carlisle, in his English, Scotch, and Irish Historical Libraries, of which a second Edition appeared in 1776, and which was afterwards copied by Dr. Priestley in his "Lectures on History." The Reports from the Commissioners on the Public Records, published 1800-1819, in two Folio Volumes, give more ample and safe information on this subject. Observations, of Sir Harris Nicolas, on the State of Historical Literature," 1830, may, also, be consulted with advantage; as well as a valuable "Directory for searching the Public Records in the Metropolis," in the Companion to the British Almanack for 1838. (b) "The The following account is confined to the authorized Publications from the Originals, which have, at different times, been edited under the direction, and with the sanction, of Government. (1) The first Work, printed by Authority, was that en (b) See Quarterly Review, vol. xxxix., p. 41, for a valuable article on Records and Registration. It is said at p. 60, "anterior to the Reign of Edward I., our knowledge of Parliamentary Proceedings is derived either from the unsatisfactory narrative of the Monkish Chronicles, or from the incidental entries upon the Close and Patent Rolls." In the History of the ancient Palace and late Houses of Parliament by Messrs. Brayley and Britton, is noticed, at p. 25, the recent Publication of the Close Rolls. "The Records intituled, 'Rotuli Literarum Clausarum,' or Close Rolls, commence, 6 K. John, A.D. 1204, in which are recorded all Mandates, Letters, and Writs of a private nature. They are denominated Close, in contradistinction to another Series of Rolls called Patent. They are Letters, addressed in the King's name, to individuals for special and particular purposes, and were folded or closed up, and sealed on the outside with the Great Seal." titled the "Fœdera," the Conventions, Letters and Public Acts of every kind, between the Kings of England, and other Sovereigns or Communities. By Warrants from Queen Mary, Aug. 20, 1693, and of King William, April 12, 1694, Mr. Rymer undertook the Publication, and, in 1704, edited the First Volume, commencing with the year 1101. A third Warrant from Queen Anne, May 3, 1707, included Mr. Robert Sanderson as an Assistant. In the life time of Mr. Rymer, Fourteen Volumes were published, and Volumes 15 and 16, then prepared for the press, were afterwards published by Mr. Sanderson, who, himself, added Four others, thus completing the Work in Twenty-four Volumes, Folio, and embracing a Period of 553 years down to Charles I. Three several Editions of this Series, have appeared; the First in the years 1704 to 1717; the Second, in 1727 to 1735: and a Third, printed at the Hague, in 1738-9, in Ten Folio Volumes. In consequence of an Address from the House of Commons to his Majesty George III., respecting the Public Records of the Kingdom, it was resolved to publish a more extensive and correct Edition of this important Collection, and Dr. Adam Clarke and Frederick Holbrooke, Esq., of the Inner Temple, were appointed to superintend the Publication. It commenced in the year 1816, and was, by them, continued to the year 1821, and from Vol. II., P. II., by Mr. Holbrooke and John Caley, Esq., to the year 1830. Conjointly, these Gentlemen have edited Six Volumes, or more properly, Three Volumes and Three Parts, which commence with the year 1066, and extend, at present, to that of 1377; or from William the Conqueror to the Reign of Edward III., as follows: Vol. I. Part I. William I. to Henry III. 1066 to 1272 Part II. Edward I. Vol. II. Part I. Edward II. 1272 1307 1307 1327 |