Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-07-17
From the Rhode Island Gazette
Redwood Library and Athe-
mGulll.
NEWPORT, X. I.

\ ish Government, TO Columbia College
These Books are stated to have been
produced at cost Of 81 200; but al
though 80 valuable, they form only one
Of the twenty sets which England has
so literally presented to the different
public and collegiate Libraries in this
country. The Books, though thus cost
ly, possess from the nature of their con-
tents, an intrinsic value, which is still
further enhanced by their great rarity
They have hitherto been exceedingly
scarce in England, and have only now,
we believe, for the first time, been uni
formly reprinted by order Of the Com
missioners Of the Records, to obviate
the difficulty that has been experienced
by the historian, the statesman and the
legal student, in investigating the histor-
ical records, the public acts, and the Of
fetal deeds Of Great Britain. In rem
dering this laudabIe service to their own
country, the Commissioners have not
been unmindful Of Us; but have with the
greatest readiness ordered one copy OF
the whole to be prepared for every one
Of our public Libraries, which has been
pointed out to them as worthy Oftheir at
itention. The Books consist Of DoOmes-
day Book, ,""Rymer's Collection" "'The
Statutes Of tho Realm &c. SC.
The first, as our readers are aware,
was compiled by William the Conquer
or, in 1881, when he commanded sur
vey Of the landed property in England
to be made and recorded. The work is
exceedingly valuable from the many Gu
rious particulars which it contains, rs
well as from its historical matter.
The collection of Rymer, is work Of
the greatest importance both to the histo-
rian of the past, as well as to the future
Idiplomatist; its very title speaks it's con-
tents, being the Fedora Conventiones,
Littera ct Acta publica, inter Reyes,
Anglin ct alios Principles; or the Trea-
ties, Conventions, letters and public
deeds Of the Kings Of England, and 9TH
er Princes. These exceedingly rare
and valuable documents were collected
from the most authentic sources, and ed
tied by the learned compiler of Rymer,
who being historiographer TO the King,
had access to all the contents Of the
State paper office. OF this voluminOus
work, which extends to no fewer than
twenty volumes folio, Rymer lived 10
publish fifteen; some of the subsequent
were published by Sanderson.
The first edition which appeared in l7O4,
and successive years, was confined to
two hundred copies. There has since
been published another edition, under
the superintendent Of Holmes, which
was printed in London. Such was the
estimation in which the work was held
in consequence Of containing the pub
lie deeds and foreign relations Of
England, during the most interesting,
heroic and eventiul period of her histo-
ry, that third edition from the text Of
Holmes, with latin translation Of the
English acts, came out at the Hague in
l745.
The last and greatest Of the works is,
the "Statutes OF the Realm" These
show not only the form and pressure of
The times, but develope the progress of
leg islation, and exhibit q model Of juris-
prudence for the example Of the world.
BY this however, we do not pretend TO-
assert, that there are not some enact.
ments which are strongly tinctured with
he ignorance, prejudice and supersti-
ions of the times in which they were
passed: yet it must be admitted that they
n general bcspeak a state. Of civiliza-
ion far superior to that ofthe other coun-
ries Of Europe at the same period. Ev-
Try where we see an endeavor to curtail
he usurpations Of power, to curb the Ii
;entlousness Of vice, and TO establish lib
,rty upon the best and surest found aiions,
by placing il on the basis Of virtue and
religion. 1t is this noble enterprise, and
he success which attended its efforts,
hat has merited the appreciation Of Mon
esquieu, who has declared in speaking
af the English, that they are the freest
people that have ever existed on tho
earth, and that their government ought to
serve for a model to those people who
wish to be free. (C'ea k peupie le plus
ibre qui ait jamais erisie sur la ierre; leur
,orernement doi serrir de modeie aur peu-
,les qui reulem eire libres. Now, ifany
people in the world can derive advan-
age from tho wisdom Of ages, as it is to
De found in the laws Of England, it is
hose Of this country, descended from
hem, speaking the same language, pro-
essing the same relig gions, imbued with
he same notions, studying the same lit
'rature, and pursuing the same career,
With the same objects in view, the hber-
y Of the subject, and the advancement
# man, these hws must ever be an ac-
lnistion IN facilitating the "grand march
'f the human mind" Whoever would
advance the cause Of civil and religious
iberty, and avoid the errors, preju1ices
md debasement into which man has