events, my vote would clearly be, To make the rule absolute not to admit any one of these; at least not till I saw one that was other than an infatuated blotch of insincere ignorance, and a mere distress to an earnest and well-instructed eye! Since the time of Hollar, there is not the least veracity, even of intention, in such things; and for most part, there is an ignorance altogether abject. Wilkie's John Knox, for example: no picture that I ever saw by a man of genius can well be, in regard to all earnest purposes, a more perfect failure! Can anything, in fact, be more entirely useless for earnest purposes, more unlike what ever could have been the reality, than that gross Energumen, more like a boxing Butcher, whom he has set into a pulpit surrounded with draperies, with fat-shouldered women, and play-actor men in mail, and labelled KNOX? I know the picture only by engravings, always hasten-on when I see it in a window, and would not for much have it hung on the wall beside me! So, too, I have often seen a Battle of Worcester, by some famed Academician or other, which consists of an angry man and horse (man presumably intended for Cromwell, but not like him),—man, with heavy flapping Spanish cloak, etc., and no hat to his head, firing a pistol over his shoulder into what seems a dreadful shower of rain in the distance! What can be the use of such things, except to persons who have turned their back on real interests, and gone wool-gathering in search of imaginary? All that kind of matter, as indisputable 'chaff,' ought to be severely purged away.

3°. With respect to plurality of portraits, when you have the offer of more than one? The answer to that, on the principles already stated, will come out different in different cases, and be an affair of consideration and compromise. For the earlier (and more uncertain) figures, I should incline to admit all that could be got; certainly all that could be found genuine, that were 'helps,' as above said. Nay, such even as were only half-genuine, if there were no others ; marking well their doubtful character. As you come lower

down, the selection will be stricter; and in quite modern times when pictures are plentiful, I should think one portrait would in general be the rule. But of course respect must be had to the importance of the man, the excellence of the portraits offered (or their peculiar worth for your objects), the quantity of house-room you are like to have, etc. etc.; and the decision will be the summary and adjustment of all these considerations.

For example, during the Reformation period I would take of John Knox, and his consorts and adversaries (Lethington, Kirkcaldy, Regents Murray, Morton, and Mar, Buchanan, Bothwell, even Rizzio, and the like), any picture I could get; all attainable pictures, engravings, etc., or almost all, unless they be more numerous than I suppose,―might promise to be helps,' in that great scarcity, and great desire to be helped. While, again, in reference to The Forty-five, where pictures abound, and where the personages and their affair are so infinitely insignificant in comparison, I should expect that one portrait, and that only of the very topmost men, would well suffice. Yet there is a real interest, too, in that poor Forty-five,-for, in fine, we lie very near it still, and that is always a great point; and I should somehow like to have a Hawley, a Sir John Cope, Wade, and Duke of Cumberland smuggled in, by way of illustrative Notes,' if that were possible. Nay, I really think it should be done; and, on the whole, perceive that The Forty-five will be one of your more opulent fields.

The question, "Who is a Historical Character?” is, in many cases, already settled, and, in most cases, will be capable of easy settlement. In general, whoever lives in the memory of Scotchmen, whoever is yet practically recognisable as a conspicuous worker, speaker, singer, or sufferer in the past time of Scotland, he is a Historical Character,' and we shall be glad to see the veritable likeness of him. For examples, given at random :-George Buchanan, David Rizzio, Lord Hailes, Lord Kames, Monboddo, Bozzy, Burns, Gawin

Douglas, Barbour, Jamie Thomson. I would take in, and eagerly, David Dale (of the cotton manufacture), less eagerly Dundas (of the sufferage ditto), and, in general, ask myself, Who said, did, or suffered anything truly memorable, or even anything still much remembered? From Bruce down to Heathfield and Abercromby, the common History-books will direct you plentifully as to one class; and for the others, knowledge and good judgment will be the methods.

I

4. Lastly, as to the Catalogue. I am accustomed to conceive the Catalogue, if well done, as one of the best parts of the whole. Brevity, sound knowledge, exactitude, fidelity, ought to be the characteristic of every feature of it. Say you allow, on the average, not more than half a page to each, in by far the majority of cases; hardly more than a page to any historical, lucid, above all things exact. would give the essence of the man's history, condensed to the very utmost; the dates, his birth, death, main transactions,-— in short the bones of his history; then add reference to books and sources (carefully distinguishing the good from the less good), where his history and character can be learned farther by such as wish to study it. Afterwards in a line or two, indicate the actual habitat of the picture here exhibited; its history, if it have one; that it is known to be by such and such a master (and on what authority), or that it is only guessed. What value and excellence might lie in such a Catalogue, if rightly done, I need not say to David Laing; nor what labour, knowledge and resources would be needed to do it well! Perhaps divided among several men (with some head to preside over all), according to the several periods and classes of subject;-I can perceive work enough for you, among others, there! But, on the whole, it could be done; and it would be well worth doing, and a permanently useful thing. I would have it printed in some bound form, not as a pamphlet, but still very cheap; I should expect a wide immediate sale for it at railway stations and elsewhere while the Exhibition went on, and a steady and permanent sale

for it afterwards for a long time indeed. A modern Nicolson, done according to the real want of the present day; and far beyond what any Historical Library,' with its dusty pedantries, ever was before!

But enough now. Your patience must not be quite ridden to death, and the very paper admonishes me to have done. Accept in good part what hasty stuff I have written; forgive it at least. I must say, this small National Project has again grown to look quite beautiful to me ;-possible surely in some form, and full of uses. Probably the real "Crystal Palace" that would beseem poor old Scotland in these days of Exhibitions—a country rather eminently rich in men perhaps, which is the pearl and soul of all other "riches." Believe me yours ever truly, T. CARLYLE.1

1 Some efforts, I believe, were made in the direction indicated, by Gentlemen of the Antiquarian Society and others; but as yet without any actual "Exhibition" coming to light. Later, and for Britain at large, we have had, by the Government itself, some kind of "Commission" or "Board" appointed, for forming a permanent "National Portrait-Gallery,"—with what success is still to be seen.-(Note of 1857.)

THE PRINZENRAUB1

A GLIMPSE OF SAXON HISTORY

[1855]

OVER seas in Saxony, in the month of July 1455, a notable thing befell; and this in regard to two persons who have themselves, by accident, become notable. Concerning which we are now to say something, with the reader's permission. Unluckily, few English readers ever heard of the event; and it is probable there is but one English reader or writer (the present reviewer, for his sins) that was ever driven or led to inquire into it so that it is quite wild soil, very rough for the ploughshare; neither can the harvest well be considerable. "English readers are so deeply ignorant of foreign history, especially of German history!" exclaims a learned professor. Alas, yes; English readers are dreadfully ignorant of many things, indeed of most things;—which is a lamentable circumstance, and ought to be amended by degrees.

:

But, however all this may be, here is somewhat in relation to that Saxon business, called the Prinzenraub, or Stealing of the Princes, and to the other "pearls of memory" (do not call them old buttons of memory!) which string themselves upon

1 WESTMINSTER REVIEW, No. 123, January 1855.-1. Schreiters Geschichte des Prinzenraubs (Schreiter's History of the Stealing of the Princes). Leipzig 1804.

2. Johann Hübners, Rectoris der Schule zu S. Johannis in Hamburg, Genealogische Tabellen (Genealogical Tables, by Johann Hübner, Rector of St. John's School in Hamburg.) 3 vols. oblong 4to. Leipzig, 1725-1728.

3. Genealogische Tafeln zur Staatengeschichte der Germanischen und Slawischen Völker im 19ten Jahrhundert (Genealogical Tables for the State History of the Germanic and Slavic Nations in the 19th Century). By Dr. Friedrich Maximilian Ertel. I vol. oblong 12mo. Leipzig, 1846.