439 REVIEW.-Nicolas's Lady Jane Grey. at all melancholy, or less gay and in good or Italian of them all can teach with his fop-call and apish postures." pp, 700-702. We find from the Memoirs of Mrs. Frances Sheridan, that her father Dr. Chamberlaine with difficulty allowed his daughter to learn to read; and writing he considered as superfluous, tending to nothing but the multiplication of love-letters or frivolous female correspondence. (p 4.) We only quote this passage, not to vindicate it, but to show how different opinions our ancestors entertained from ourselves. The fact is, that our ancestors in the main lived in the country, and, being out of the world, educated their girls accordingly, as if for farmers' wives, though uneducated women are only fit for coarse men. Here we must leave this interesting volume. We have only given a sketch of one or two curious matters,-more was impracticable; and it must be sufficient for us to say that the revival of these tracts, and the execution of the work, do great honour to the judgment and editorship of Mr. Upcott. 78. The Literary Remains of Lady Jane TO be a saint, a philosopher, and a beauty, at the early age of seventeen, is a rare characteristic of females. The latter was a gift of fortune, and the two former were acquired in that excellent but unwelcome school of wisdom,- suffering. Had Lady Jane Grey been a spoiled child, it is probable that her character would have lost all its interest, and that she would have been no other than a mere prattling and tittering spinster, studious only of dress, balls, and lovers. Her parents oppressed her in order to support such an ascendancy over her, that she might be the passive instrument of their ambition; and though it is not likely that they, however fastidious, cared much about her accomplishments, except so far as they were necessary adjuncts to her station, and recommendatory of their object, yet Lady [Nov. Jane found in these a benevolent proviinto happiness; for this has ever been sion of nature for converting misery the effect of study and literature. That our opinions are correct, with regard to Lady Jane Grey, and that her parents unintentionally made her a saint and a philosopher, is clearly though not novel, is yet not so trite, as shewn in the following extract, which to render only reference sufficient. "In 1551, Roger Ascham, Lady Jane's early tutor, visited her at Bradgate, and his account of the interview affords interesting information of her pursuits and disposition: the Marquess and Marchioness of Dorset he states, that on his arrival he found that with their attendants, were hunting in the park, and that Lady Jane was in her chamber, reading the Phaedo of Plato in Greek and to his inquiry why she did not join in the amusement in which her family were engaged, she replied with a smile, I wisse [think] all their sport in the park is but a shadow to that pleasure that I find in Plato, -alas! good folk, they never felt what true pleasure means.' Ascham then inquired, And how came you, Madam, to this deep knowledge of pleasure, and what did chiefly allure you into it, seeing not many women, I will tell you,' she replied, and tell you but very few men, have attained thereanto?" One of the greatest benefits that ever God a truth which perchance you will marvel at. gave me is, that he sent me so sharp and severe parents, and so gentle a schoolmasther or mother, whether I speak, keep siter, for when I am in presence either of falence, sit, stand, or go, eat, drink, be merry, or sad, be sewing, playing, dancing, or daing any thing else, I must do it, as it were, in such weight, measure, and number, even so perfectly as God made the world; or else I am so sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea, presently sometimes with pinches, nips, and bobs, and other ways, bear them, so without measure disordered, which I will not name for the honour I that I think myself in hell, till the time teacheth me so gently, so pleasantly, with come that I must go to Mr. Elmer, who such fair allurements to learning, that I think all the time nothing whilst I am with him; and when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because whatever I do else but learning, is full of great trouble, fear, and whole misliking unto me; and thus my book hath been so much my pleasure, and bringeth daily to me more pleasure, and in very deed, be but trifles and troubles unto more that in respect of it all other pleasures me. P. xxi. Lady Jane Grey's descent from the Royal Family was this. She was daughter 1 1825.] REVIEW.-Nicolas's Lady Jane Grey. daughter of Frances, Marchioness of "At no period of our history (says Mr. 439 James I. At all events, even under the testamentary disposition, Lady Jane could have no title, during the lives of Mary and Elizabeth. This difficulty was to be overcome; and the modes adopted for so doing were, 1. The pretended illegitimacy of the two Princesses, on account of the annulment of Henry's marriages with Catherine of Arragon and Anne Boleyn, by Act of Parliament; and, 2, an instrument executed by the King_and Privy Council, in favour of Lady Jane. The ostensible plea was the security that such a succession would afford to the Reformation. All this is very clearly and elaborately displayed by Mr. Nicolas, pp. xxv-xxxiv. Such were the cabals of men of the world; but they did not calculate that their schemes were not practicable without military power. Cæsar, Croinwell, Napoleon, and Monk, secured this point before they showed their teeth as political agitators; and a paramount General may become a successful usurper; but certainly a mere factionist cannot, because the tie of party obligation is self-interest in the followers; and under military preponderance men see their way, but not under civil matters merely subject to opinion. Because Henry VIII. governed by caprice and tyranny (a circumstance owing entirely to the civil wars of York and Lancaster having made any suffering easy, compared with a renewal of such sanguinary conflicts, and to the certainty that the vengeance of a tyrant wreaks itself upon court favourites or court enemies), therefore the Government of Edw. VI. attempted to play the same game of politics. They had hold of a boy-king, who could not help himself, and cut off the heads of his two uncles (thus murdering the Royal connexions at pleasure, not for actual civil and political crimes, but mere party rivalry), and made the short reign of Edw. VI. a similar scene to that of Murat and Robespiere. Their plans were too mighty for their means; and, when rogues fall, a reasoning man thinks that honesty is the best policy." A House of Commons like the present would have nipped all these projects in the bud, and sent these ambitious nobles to their country seats, while the newspapers made fireworks of their reputation. Το 440 REVIEW.-Nicolas's Lady Jane Grey. To the purpose, however. Lady Jane Grey was guillotined; a term which we use, because it implies a conformity between ancient and modern political states and things. The memorials of this interesting girl are few. She was not old enough nor hacknied enough in the world to become artful. A strong mind, excellent principles, and beautiful simplicity, formed her character. Tormented all her short life, like a child in training for an actress or a public performer, she sighed for nature and happiness. She found the former only in solitude, and the latter only in books. Her parents made of her mere money to gamble with; and never thought that she was human or entitled to feelings, till they saw her and themselves dragged to the slaughter-house. But there may be glorious scenes in death. There was one when the sublimest of Beings in passive acquiescence only raised his divine eyes to heaven; and, like him, this meek martyr paid the tribute of a few tears to the imperfections of humanity, when she saw the headless corpse of her husband borne by; and then forgot human nature for ever. Murder a poor harmless girl of seventeen! bad as Mary was, she did not wish it; but the weak Suffolk, though he had just had a hair-breadth escape, would not be contented. He attempted a fresh rebellion, and, as he had never talent enough for a successful rogue, occasioned trouble, and suffered for so doing at a time when both he and his daughter would otherwise have withdrawn to happy retirement. When Sir Thomas Wyatt attempted to raise the county of Kent, and Sir Peter Carew that of Devon, "The Duke of Suffolk, whose unaccountable weakness neither danger nor experience could correct, seduced by the prospect of once more seeing the imperial diadem on his daughter's brow, joined the conspirators, and undertook to raise the midland counties." P. lxxix. The insurrection was founded on the unpopularity of Mary's attachment to Popery, and her projected marriage with Philip; but it was premature and badly managed: and, in consequence, the Duke, Lady Jane, and her husband, were brought to the block, quam celerrimè. Mr. Nicolas candidly informs us, "that no documents hitherto inedited [Nov. could be discovered, which were in any degree connected with her life." We have therefore confined ourselves to short developements of an illustrative kind, as to history; and of a philosophical kind, as to character. The work is an excellent dissertation on the political and private history of the times, and this pre-eminent lady. It is a book which elevates sentiment, and purifies the soul. Lady Jane Grey reading the sublime Phædo of Plato, was an ominous incident. The Almighty in the blessedness of His justice conveyed her holy and heroic spirit to heaven, even before death; and the scaffold of Mary was the fiery chariot of Elijah. In a supplementary sheet the Editor states, that since the publication of this volume, he was accidentally informed that two documents of consi-derable interest connected with Lady Jane Grey were preserved in the li brary of New College, Oxford. They are contained in the book of original warrants addressed to the keeper of the Palace of Westminster by Edward VI., by Lady Jane Grey whilst she usurped the Royal dignity, and by Queen Mary, for the delivery of silks, velvet, jewelry, clocks, the will of Henry VII., deeds, and other writings, &c. Many of these warrants are highly curious. Mr. Nicolas then adds: "So few of the documents signed by Lady Jane Grey whilst she exercised the Royal functions, are extant, that the following are of sufficient importance to demand the exertion which has been made by printing some extra pages immediately after the Editor had transcribed them, to give them a place in this volume. The first was signed on the day of her accession, and the velvet was evidently wanted to cover her temporary throne and its appendages. From the second, dated four days afterwards, we learn that the jewels which formed the personal ornaments of the Sovereign, had been previously delivered into Lady Jane's own hands, pursuant to her verbal commands. But perhaps the most curious fact connected with these documents, besides the rigid and tradesman-like attention with which, from the marginal notes, it is manifest, each article was compared with the list, is, that the words 'THE QUENE' have been lined that no public instrument of the unhappy over with a pen, from which we may infer Jane's bearing the title that produced her destruction was permitted to remain in its original state among the public Archives. The 1925.] REVIEW. Davy's' Discourses. The warrants themselves could not be destroyed, as they accounted for the expenditure and transfer of certain parts of the Crown property; but the loyalty of Mary's servants was of course too fervent, and their attachment to their Sovereign too jealous, to allow so hated an appellation to remain attached to her rival's name, even though the tomb covered that rival's mutilated remains!" 441 bours for inspection into their studies, for further appropriate Discourses, or improve-, ments on past labours:-no expense was withheld in purchasing, from public libra raries, every book that could give me assistance: and having, by close application, for years together, again exhausted (as far as I could find) every subject according to my plan; I applied to his Grace the Archbishop, who gave me my requested assist ance-the Bishop of London refused me, as did also the then Bishop of Exeter. 79. Divinity, or Discourses on the Being of "Thus discouraged, I dropt all further ap God, the Divinity of Christ, the Personality and Divinity of the Holy Ghost, and plication; and resolved to try my own abion the Sacred Trinity, being improved Ex-lity in the case: I purchased some old type, and made a press myself; and, in five tracts from "A System of Divinity." By months, with unremitting labour, produced the Rev. W. Davy, A.B. Curate of Lust328 pages, with prefatory matter, which I leigh, Devon. 2 vols. 8vo. Featherstone, distributed in part to such persous as I Exeter. pp. 630 and 660. thought best qualified properly to appre ciate the work, and to assist it, if approved.": THESE Volumes might suggest good hints to the fertile genius of Mr. Curiosities D'Israeli, either for the 66 of Literature," or the "Calamities of Authors," the fate of Mr. Davy's publications being remarkably unfortunate, and his personal history as remarkable for his unabated industry, as his Discourses are for personal merit. The First Edition of his Works in six volumes octavo, published by subscription in 1786, escaped our notice; but was favourably spoken of by the Critical, Monthly, and Edinburgh Reviews. Their sentiments are extracted by Mr. Davy, who thus proceeds: "The following Letter from the late Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, to the Editor, on his receipt of the first edition, as it must be of great weight with the public, in recommendation of this work, from so distinguished a seat of learning, is here wholly inserted; franked by his Lordship, the Bishop of Peterborough; whose judgment, therefore, in this case, may well be supposed to be united. "Rev. Sir, I am extremely obliged to you for the six volumes of the System of Divinity, which I received a few days ago: I heartily wish you success in so useful and laudable an undertaking. And, as I think it will best promote your intentions by making the work more generally known, I have ordered it to be deposited in the University library I am, Rev. Sir, Your obedient humble servant, Pembrook Hall, Sept. 27, 1786.' Favor Virtuti dat Vela. Having been favoured by the author with one of these in every way. extraordinary copies, the writer of this article lost no time in declaring his unbiassed opinion of it; as may be seen in our vol. LXV. p. 671. It bears the title of "A System of Divinity, in a course of Sermons, by the Rev. William Davy, B. A. (of Baliol College, Oxford). Lustleigh, Devon, printed by himself, pro bono publico, 1795." "As the Address is long," adds Mr. Davy, "and the design, for which it was given, is past away, I shall here only reprint that part of it which mentions the copies delivered, as it will manifest my endeavours to ascertain the real merit of the work, and to have it brought forward again in a proper manner by a generous assistance, if approved." Twenty-six copies were thus given away, leaving only fourteen in the author's possession. "At which limited number, the work will be proceeded on (God willing) in future, if not thought worthy of greater encourage ment. “The supernumerary copies, delivered to any, over and above a single one, are designed for their judicious distribution among the learned;-that, from a variety of judicious discussions on the work, its real value may be ascertained. "A copious Index to the whole is prepared, to be filled up as the work shall advance, assisted by an improved similar one, from the first edition." In addition to the short Review in the Gentleman's Magazine, Mr. Davy was gratified by the usual return of thanks of the Royal Society; and for "Recom 442 REVIEW-Davy's Discourses. Recommendations of the work from correspondents, who affirm that, indeed they cannot think too well of a plan that promises to exhibit proofs of the existence and attributes of the Deity,-and the truth of his Revealed Will, collected from the accumulated arguments of the most judicious writers on such subjects. "It seems also more peculiarly adapted to the present day, when we should use every weapon in our power, to oppose the attacks that are made from every quarter upon the fundamentals of our holy Religion: hoping that the apprehensions expressed for the success of the work were groundless, and that no want of encouragement may have induced to relinquish the undertaking, which promises to possess such evident utility-most cordially wishing to be possessed of the work,-to add their names to the list of my subscribers, and offering their assistance towards procuring others. "Though I was extremely obliged to these advocates in my cause: yet, as the head was without fruit (towards me at least), these lower branches were not of sufficient strength." Then follows the opinion of the writer in the British Critic; part of which shall be here copied : "We can scarcely conceive a more striking proof of honourable and laborious zeal, or, on the whole, a more extraordinary production than the present book. A Clergy man, desirous to diffuse the most important branches of sacred science, by compiling the sentiments of the ablest writers into a System of Divinity, attempts to publish his work by subscription, in 6 vols. 12mo. A tolerable List of Subscribers appears, but their number being thinned by desertion, he is left, at the end of his enterprise, 100l. out of pocket, out of about 270l. which he had expended. This happened in 1786. Not discouraged, though by no means in circumstances to sustain such a loss, he contracts his necessary expenses, and continues to labour assiduously towards improving his compilation, and preparing it for a second edition. That being effected, but the author equally unable to risk a second loss, and procure a second subscription, how does he proceed? By a mode the most singular that was ever attempted, and one that evinces the most indefatigable perseverance. -He constructs a press himself, he chases old types at a cheap rate, and by his own manual labour, pursued unremittingly for five months, he produces forty copies of a specimen, consisting of 328 pages, besides prefatory matter; and these he distributes to such persons as he thinks most likely to appreciate the work, and to assist it if approved. It cannot indeed be affirmed, that the typography thus produced is fit to rival that of Bulmer or Bodoni, or that it is free pur [Nov. from errors; but, though its imperfections are obvious enough, when the mode of production is considered, it appears a very extraordinary effort. Contractions, and a few awkward expedients are very excusable, and insufficient to remove the wonder of seeing such a volume executed by a single person, untaught in the art, and with implements so uncommonly imperfect." The learned Critic, after enumerating the contents of the eleven Sermons, and part of a twelfth, announced in this Volume, thus proceeds: "Such are the topics which this worthy and indefatigable Divine has, by his own personal labour, presented to a few, as a specimen of his whole work. It appears, though we have not an opportunity of comparing, that the whole is very greatly augmented since it was first published; and we do not hesitate to pronounce, that if it could fully be completed for general sale, it would form a very useful and excellent acquisition to the public. It has been, as the author informs us, the labour of thirty years, and certainly the labour has not been bestowed in vain. Though it is professedly a compilation, the parts are so blended together, that it is not easy to trace whence the writer has selected them: and we doubt not that he might, without much difficulty, have passed it as an original work.-Perhaps also, without much impropriety; for, if he has adopted only the sentiments in general of other writers, without their words, it may be altogether as original as many publications which are so announced. "Here follow some specimens of the production, in which (as the Review proceeds) the author appears throughout as a very able advocate for the doctrines and practice of our Church.'-But these may be seen either in the Reviews here referred to, or at large in the work itself.-Concluding thus, "We must here take our leave of Mr. Davy, and shall feel much satisfaction, should we be at all instrumental in procuring for him the great object of his long continued, peculiar, and meritorious labours, the power of producing his whole work, in a proper manner for the use and advantage of the public.' The Literary Panorama, in 1811, after giving an account of the whole work, according to the title-page, and prefacing, hath the following: "Mr. Davy has selected some good things, and his Compendium includes much information, not readily to be found in any other work. We commend the intention of the author, as he hath expressed it in his Preface:-we admire the spirit of perseverance, with which he is endowed ;-his courage in undertaking the work, and his |