The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-17
rHE FEDUAL SYSTEM ErAL.

measure any alleged benefit
Our esteemed contemporary the Eoeys
Ecensng asserts itself as having conferred
some such advantage uron us in the form OF
information. The courtesy is returned, con
amore.
In its issue of Monday last the EDery EUeninS
denies historic value 10 the WILMINGTON
IAN's statement that feudalism, or the feudal
! system was introduced into England by
William of Normandy in 1906. We must
simply reiterate our assertion, and on this
occasion cite authority. For the benefit Of
Eeery Ecentng, we refer that journal to
Delolme Con the Constitution of Epgland).
sit is at the era of the conquest (WiIliam
of Normandy temp. 1866 that we are to
look for the real foundation of the English
Constitution *# William of
Normandy having defeated Harold, and
made himself master of the Gro vn, ,subverted
the ancient fabric of the Saxon Legislation,
and established the feudal sys-
tenn of government, as better adapted to his
situation, and indeed the only one of which
he possessed competent idea, \ n
this form of government prevailed also in
all other par S of Europe, but, Instead of
being established by dint of arms, and all at
once as in Europe &C., &C."
Though THE WILMtNeToIAS's assertion
as to the date of the establishment of the
feudal system in England was made entirely
upon school memory of some 10 yea s. back,
without use of any reference whatever, we
ara happy now to afford the bent fit of De-
lolme in confirmation of the statement. Also,
should that acknowledged authority be dis
puted, the following, perhaps little inferior,
though only historian and not necessarily
peer in constitutional lore, David Hume,
says: Gle (Willam of Normandy intro
duced into England the feudal system which
he found established in France and Nor
mandy, and which during that age was the
foundation of the stability and Of the disor-
der in most Of the monarchical governments
of Europe"
Should our esteemed cotemporary wish still
further authority we invite the attention of
his doubling mind to dspassionats perus-
al of Knight, who says: 'It was with the
Normans that fsudalism came, in as sys-
ten1. II - 49,
In regard to our apprehension of the term
feud, in the connection, as it has been ac-
cepted by THE WILMINeToNIAN, and as it
would be by any historical student of CON
temporaneous history, we reiterate that ac-
ceptation, and take the opportunity to assert,
on authority, as follows, that the value of
the term as applied by us is the literal and
historical equivalent.
In defining the term 5enefcium Knight ex-
plains, giving his authorities "a. w. that it
is interchangeable with feudalism and,
continuing says: "beneficium is proved to
have designated the same thing which to-
ward the end of the ninth century received
the name of feodum, the origin of our
feud"
In making the above statement Knight
does not in the least contradict Delolme or
Hume, on the contrary he simply gives an
etymology. 1t is not denied either, that
some idea of the meaning of feudal tenure
either in practice or theoretically could not
but exist in Britain iii the reign of Edgar.
Normandy and southern Britain being sep
arated only bya narrow strip Of water, across
which OH fine day either shore can readily
be discerned. (The writer has seen the
towers of Calais from Dover clifs) Is il
strange then, that some apprehers sion existed
among the British as to the meaning of feu
dalism, and of the legislative system thai
obtained in the territory almost contiguous
| W tieiis anu Nibhih eyosiShb oubi as be
lolme says, simultaneously Saxon Legislation
existed in England Immediately previous tt
1866, and feudal tenure, the type of Norma!
legislation, (and in reality the only Legislation
of the Normans) existed in France and Nor
mandy together with other European count
res, contrastedly with Saxon or British.
Before leaving this point it may be adde
that Guizot refers to charter Of the En-
peror Frederic I. 1852, in which feodum an
beaeicium are used Interchangeable state
before, benefcium was the term representa-
the fealty of the vassal, and from feodur
comes on: word feud.
1t is to be hoped that the above may hay
some slis shtly drastic effect upon our esteem
: ed cotemporary's ven uresome assertion ths
the words ''feud and feudalism are not sy,
onymous.
u Erery Erening adds, referring to its ow
> statement, ''the photographed error W;
u the only one and that was attributable
: writing hurliedly &C., sc.
10 But why visit its neighbors with benefit
l. information when the cause of the msappr
u hension arose in its own ttrmirology ! Il
e word ''earldorman" originated this poi
Is in the discussion, and though its m re CO
rect form 'caldorman" may be more exactl