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teresting examples of the licensing system | pany for whaling on the English coast; in vogue in old days.

but very early in the last century, Arthur Says Glapthorne in his play "Wit in a Kemp, Robert Corker, and Valentine EnConstable: ""The Dutch yonder took her nys, believed they could make a good haul up into a what do you call it a sedan." that way. Accordingly, in 1707 they The word, like the thing, was then new to prayed for the royal leave and license to town's-folk, the sedan having just been fish and take whales, crampoes, bottleintroduced into London streets by Sir nosed whales, and other large fish belongSanders Duncombe, under a license he ing to her Majesty by virtue of her royal obtained in 1634, giving him the sole prerogative, on the north and south seas privilege of using, putting forth, and let-adjoining the counties of Devonshire and ting on hire, in London and Westminster Cornwall; her Majesty to retain the power and their suburbs, certain covered car- to cancel the license at the end of two riages, the like whereof being used in foreign countries, prevented the unnecessary use of coaches, with the multitude of which the streets were so pestered and encumbered, that many of his Majesty's subjects were exposed to much peril and danger; and the use of carts and carriages for the provisions of the two cities much hindered. Duncombe provided some fifty specimens of the sedan for the use of the public, who took quickly and kindly to the novel conveyances; although, when the Duke of Buckingham, a few years before, imported one for his own personal convenience, he was subjected to hearty vituperation for making beasts of burden of his fellow-creatures.

In 1671, Prince Rupert obtained the exclusive right of using an invention for converting into steel all sorts of iron wire, and all manner of edged tools, files, and other instruments forged and formed of soft iron; for preparing and softening cast and melted iron so that it might be filed and wrought like wrought iron; and likewise for tincturing copper upon iron in such a manner as seemed meet in his discretion. Supposing the processes Prince Rupert desired to employ were of his own devising, no injustice was entailed in so privileging him for fourteen years.

There was similar justification, too, for Queen Anne securing Robert Pease, of Kingston-on-Hull, against others reaping the fruits of his ingenuity in concocting a soft soap for bleaching linen, which had the additional merit of being eatable; as it may have been good policy to encourage native industry by giving William Corr the sole right of making "lamb-black, not made before in England, much cheaper and better than any brought from abroad;" and allowing Jane Tasker the monopoly of working her own invention for making flask-cases, and covering flask-glasses with flags, rushes, and straw, in imitation of those brought from Florence.

The pluckiest of modern promoters would flinch at attempting to float a com

years, if they neglected to carry out their
undertaking, or failed to succeed therein.
The sanguine three got their license;
whether they got their whales and other
large fish is not recorded.

In 1706, Robert Aldersey was licensed
to construct a floating dam to carry barges,
lighters, and other vessels over the great-
est flats and shallows of navigable rivers,
his dam having received the approbation
of several of the most eminent mathema-
ticians. At this period the provision of
lighthouses and beacons appears to have
been left to private speculators, for in 1711
we find James Everard and his wife Re-
becca the recipients of a license which
was to endure fifty years-empowering
them to newly erect, alter, maintain, and
improve certain lighthouses and beacons
upon Hunston Cliff, Norfolk, with lights
to be kept continually burning therein in
the night season, for the security of sea-
faring men passing that way. By way of
recompense, the Everards were authorized
to demand and take eightpence for every
twenty chaldrons of coals, and every twenty
tons of other goods in and upon all En-
glish ships; and one penny per ton of all
foreign vessels passing by their light-
houses, and trading to and fro between
King's Lynn and Boston.

In 1709 the readers of "The Tatler" were informed that a new sort of light, called a Globe Light, which enlightened the street and all parts near it with a bright, steady light, noway offensive to the eyes, was to be seen at St. James's Coffee-house, near St. James's Palace, where the person who contrived and set it up might be heard of, he having obtained her Majesty's patent for the same. Probably this was the new kind of light, quite different from any yet used, composed of one entire glass of a globular shape, with a lamp giving a clearer and more certain light, without any dark shadows or anything else confounding to the sight, for which, a year before, Michael Cole of Dublin obtained a license, with the proviso, that the inven

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tion must not be used within the city of to visit a country at war with England was London until the expiration of the year high-treason, unless the parties obtained 1715, to the prejudice of the proprietors a royal license. Collins obtained one, of the public lights then in use, called authorizing him to go to France and fetch convex lights. Whether this proviso a certain quantity of black Irish marble, handicapped the Globe Light too heavily, to be applied towards the rebuilding of or whether the patentee expired before St. Paul's Cathedral, he giving security the proviso, we do not know, but we can that all persons employed by him in the find no further trace of it. service should return to Great Britain Perhaps the most curious license issued within six months, bringing with them in Queen Anne's reign was the follow-only the marble, and no other goods or ing: "Anne R. Whereas we are fully merchandise whatsoever. sensible of the fidelity of John Ker, of Kersland, by and of the services he hath performed to us and our Government. We therefore grant him our Royal Leave and License to keep company and associate himself with such as are disaffected towards us and our government, in such way or manner as he shall judge most for our service. Given under our Royal Hand at our Castle of Windsor, the 7th of April 1707, and of our reign the sixth year.

Englishmen were not always free to go beyond the seas when inclination suggested a change of scene or climate. It was only by the favor of the lord chamberlain that Bulstrode Whitelocke, in 1634, obtained a license from the Privy Council to go to France, and this when the two countries were at peace. Even in time of war it was not, of course, possible to prevent people travelling in friendly lands from finding their way into France; but those who so ventured found coming home not so easy. William Stonor, Esq., having entered the dominions of the French king without leave from his own sovereign, had to sue for a license permitting him to return and abide in his "ain countrie." Wishing to reside in France, Lady Elizabeth Hatcher received the necessary permission conditionally that she did not pretend to the liberty of coming into any part of her Majesty's dominions again without first obtaining license to do so under the privy seal on pain of incurring the several penalties the law could inflict. In 1707, a merchant named Collins contracted to supply eight thousand feet of black marble "for the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral." He shipped six thousand feet at Dublin in the Unity of London, which ship was captured by a French privateer and taken to Havre. As soon as the untoward news reached Collins, he petitioned for permission to go to Havre and repurchase his property. His petition was referred to the attorney-general, who returned it with the declaration that the voluntary embarking in any vessel

From The Saturday Review. AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS.

IT is reserved for very few except the greatest after trying one kind of literature to take up an absolutely novel position with success. But it must be conceded that this is what Miss Edwards achieved. Well known as a novelist, and welcome in all circles for a social charm of manner and an untiring vivacity, fate led her to Egypt. It was in the days of the oppression, but before the famine caused by the extravagance and misgovernment of Ismail Pasha. To her eyes everything was sunny and delightful, though Lady Duff Gordon's letters had begun to reveal the cruelty and injustice of the Turkish government. On her return Miss Edwards wrote her book, “A Thousand Miles up the Nile," and from that day devoted herself to Egyptology. True, her most popular novel, "Lord Brackenbury," came out afterwards; but with the foundation of the Egypt Exploration Fund, of which she was the honorary secretary, all her time and attention were given to the one absorbing subject. She succeeded in making herself the prophet of Egyptology. No other writer did so much to render Egypt popular. Her clear, simple style, well practised in narration, was a strong element in her success. She found, too, rather to her own surprise, that she possessed the power of making a speech, and of doing so with remarkable effect. After a little time it became apparent that her gift might be turned to use in the cause she had so much at heart; and she lectured in the United States with excellent results for the awakening of widespread interest in her explorations. She spoke occasionally, but more rarely, in England; but her resonant voice, the energy of her manner, and the variety and brightness she always imparted to what would in other hands have been regarded as a dry ques

tion, rendered her utterances very effec. for a long time past, and which now, it is tive. She had a singular power of finding understood, goes to a public museum unout what would be interesting and popu- der the provisions of her will. It is much lar, and of making the most of it when to her credit that, in spite of strong views found. Her American lectures have been on certain subjects, as, for example, on published in a volume, entitled "Pharaohs, what are called "women's rights," she Fellahs, and Explorers." The fascination never became a faddist. She avoided of the subject as she treated it is undeni- extremes in Egyptology as in everything able. The book reads, as young ladies else; and this is the more remarkable say, like a novel, and every line deepens when we remember her enthusiastic temour regret for her loss. Miss Edwards perament. She contrived to import senwas never a very profound scholar. She timent into hieroglyphics; but her books took up the study too late in life. But she are deserving of special praise for the did more to make it popular than half-a- small percentage of error they contain. dozen greater scholars have been able to Any one may be entertaining at the exdo. Hers was pre-eminently the rôle of pense of truth. But Miss Edwards kept interpreter. Keeping herself informed of her warmth within bounds, and never" ran the latest and best opinions, she promul- away" with her subject. Pyramid inches, gated them to a wide circle of readers who the great time passage theory, the psalms stood wholly outside the pale, and one of of David as recorded on Cleopatra's her greatest merits was, that she knew to Needle a nicety how much her audience could take in and enjoy, and never overstepped the limit.

It is a matter for sincere regret, even among the more scientific students and discoverers, that she should have departed from her labors in the full maturity of her powers. She never quite recovered the loss of the old friend with whom she had visited Egypt, and who died only a few months ago. A period of anxiety was succeeded by one of overwhelming grief, and her sensitive, highly strung nature proved unequal to the strain. To the last she was interested in her favorite pursuit, and the first use to which she put the Civil List pension accorded to her at the beginning of the year, was to add to the collection which she had been gathering

none of these things attracted her even for a moment; but it will be long indeed before we have another such exponent of recondite learning. One other characteristic should be mentioned. Miss Edwards never fought. Living in the midst of controversies, she always kept herself aloof. The sweetness of her temper in this respect set an example to many who intellectually were her superiors. When, not very long ago, she had to translate and edit the work of a foreign Egyp tologist, many or most of whose opinions ran counter to her strongest convictions, she managed to do it in such a way as both to state plainly her own views and at the same time to avoid any adverse reflections on the author. The beatitude of the peace-makers assuredly belonged to her.

SIR PROVO WALLIS. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo Wallis has at length gone to join his old companions in glory. He died in his one hundred and first year. His birthday attracted becoming attention last year, and we were then reminded that he took part in the action between the Chesapeake and the Shannon in 1813. That was not all he did for his country by a very long way, but it was quite enough to make him conspicuous in his old age. He has not long survived his St. Martin's Summer of fame. If centenarians were wise, or, at any rate, if they were superstitious, they would keep their hundredth birthdays both by and to themselves. Death seems anxious to show that his memory is not at fault whenever he hears of these celebrations. The venerable French savant, M.

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Chevreul, was called to his account very soon after his age became the talk of Europe. Sir Provo Wallis must have had several distinct strata of memories or of associations, each suggestive of a very remote past. In 1791, the year of his birth, Abercrombie was defeating Tippoo Saib, and Burke was quarrelling with Charles James Fox. He could not remember these things, but the talk about them may have formed part of the first English speech that fell on his ear. For all effects of historical perspective, such events will serve just as well as the Norman Conquest. In that same year, 1791, the buckle-makers of Birmingham were petitioning against the use of shoe-strings. This gives an excellent effect of remoteness - both in the buckles and in the petition.

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A BACHELOR'S BALLADE. THEY haunt me at "drums” and at dances, They hunt me wherever I hic, Cold Clara, and frolicsome Frances, Mild Mary, and volatile Vi: Blue, brown, grey, and hazel-hued eye My rent-roll all lovingly scan, What care I? for "cast is the die," I am not a "marrying man." The spell of those eloquent glances, The charm of that murmured reply, The skill of those subtle advances, I do not attempt to deny; Yet harmless their arrows fly by, And vainly they plot and they plan; I'm young, and I'm wealthy, but I I am not a 66 marrying man.'

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