SIR R. BAKER'S CHRONICLE of the Kings of England, from the time of the Romans' Government, unto the Death of King James; London, 1641, folio. First edition. With a frontispiece by Marshall, containing portraits of Charles I. and Sir R. Baker, and a plate by Cor. V. Dalen, of Charles II. when a boy, to whom this edition is dedicated.

This book is rendered familiar to every reader, by the circumstance of Addison having taken it, for the standard work always referred to by Sir Roger de Coverley in any question relating to the history of our country. "This work, so generally perused by our ancestors for more than seventy years, was carried down by its original author no lower than to the death of James the First; the writer in his peroration professing an expectation "to resume his style, when the storm, which he saw overcast the days of the successor, and which he hoped would be but a short fit, was past, and fair weather returned," but he died in 1645; and the second edition in 1653, is merely a reprint of the first. The third edition, the first in which Edward Phillips (the nephew of Milton) had a concern, was printed at a very critical period, bearing the date of 1660, having for the most part probably passed the press before the commencement of that year. It was therefore impossible that the continuator should unreservedly take part with the exiled family; but the love of the author to the family of Stuart is eminently shown upon every occasion where it could gracefully be introduced.

It was natural, however, writing under a government that seemed to be sufficiently established and firm, and just after the close of the prosperous and splendid admistration of Cromwell, that the continuator of

Baker should not perpetually display a bias to one party, but should hold an even march between the royalists and their adversaries, and accordingly, in summing up the character of the Protector, the author seems sufficiently disposed to look on the favourable side of the question. From somewhat of the same cause which rendered Phillips thus liberal in his estimate of Cromwell, he was also led occasionally to insert trifling circumstances and tales unfavourable to the royal party, which in the editions printed subsequent to the Restoration were carefully suppressed. In the mean time he proves his predilection for the royal party by the very title he has given to his continuation, which he calls, "A Continuation of the Chronicle of England, to the End of the year 1658 Being a Full Narrative of the Affairs of England, Scotland, and Ireland; more especially relating unto the Transactions of Charles, Crowned King of the Scots at Scone, on the First Day of January, 1650, (1651)." The account given in this continuation, of the imprisonment and death of the Marquis of Montrose, particularly deserves to be referred to. This pathetic tale is by no historian more skilfully and impressively told, than by Edward Phillips. Although the general character of the composition in this work, is the most censurable carelessness and slovenliness, and the printing (Edit. 1660) is not less shamefully defective, than a great part of the writing, yet, where the author feels himself animated by a particular interest in the subject, his narrative abounds in every grace, that a just understanding, susceptible feeling, an amiable temper, and an unaffected mode of expres→ sion can bestow upon it.

Another edition was called for in 1665, (the fourth), and the first that bears the name of Edward Phillips,

which is signed to the epistle to the reader. This edition is in a very different style from the former one; it now treats of the glories of King Charles the Second, as well as of the reign of Charles the First; is entirely rewritten, and contains many remarks calculated to gratify the favourers of the Stuarts. The trial of the Earl of Stafford occupies a very particular portion of our author's

care.

The fifth edition was printed in 1670; sixth edition, 1674; seventh edition, 1679; eighth edition, 1684; ninth edition, 1696; and the last edition in 1730; the title of which is,—

"A Chronicle of the Kings of England, from the Time of the Roman Government, to the Death of King James the First, by Sir Richard Baker Knight; with a continuation to the year 1660, by E. Phillips. Whereto is added, in this edition, a Second Continuation, containing the Reigns of King Charles the Second, from his Restoration, King James the Second, King William the Third, and Queen Mary the Second, Queen Anne, and King George the First, by an Impartial Hand, and others," 1730; folio.

This work is sometimes found with the date of 1733, being the same edition as 1730, with a new title.

We should, however, recommend our readers to purchase one of the earlier editions as well as the last, they contain (and more particularly the first,) many curious documents, and several interesting particulars, omitted by Phillips and subsequent editors. There is also an edition in the High Dutch Language, with portraits. Amst. 1649. folio.

The character given of this History by Bishop Nicolson, is of sufficient interest to merit the transcribing. Sir Richard Baker, who died in the Fleet,

A.D. 1644, was a person of those accomplishments in wit and language, that his Chronicle has been the best read and liked of any hitherto published; which looks as if almost every body in the kingdom, as well as himself, believed it to be collected with so great care and diligence, that if all other of our Chronicles were lost, this only will be sufficient to inform posterity of all passages memorable or worthy to be known.' His method is new, and seems to please the rabble; but learned men will be of another opinion." The learned prelate also animadverts upon the labours of E. Phillips, "Who," says he, " having the perusal of some of the Duke of Albemarle's papers, might have set that matter in its true light, had not ambition and flattery carried him beyond truth and his copy. Soon after these additions were published, the whole book was examined by Thomas Blount, who printed his animadversions upon it, and gave the world such a specimen of its many and gross errors, as ought to have shaken its credit. And yet, so little regard have we for truth, if a story be but handsomely told, the Chronicle has been reprinted since that time, and sells as well as ever, notwithstanding that no notice is taken of the animadversions, but all the old faults remain uncorrected."

The publication of Blount is entitled, " Animadversions upon Sir Richard Baker's Chronicle and its Continuation, wherein many errors are discovered, and some truths advanced by T. B. Esq., (Thomas Blount.) Oxon. 1672." small 8vo. 60 leaves.

A perusal of this volume will fully justify Bp. Nicol

* It should, however, be mentioned to the author's credit, that from his Chronicle it is probable a modern and deservedly esteemed Historian, partly took the plan of his own work,

son in all he has said of the once popular work of Sir R. Baker. Blount himself spent some years in writing an English Chronicle, but we believe his collections have never been discovered. This article has already extended beyond our limits, otherwise as the Animadversions of Blount are somewhat uncommon, we should have made a few extracts from them.

We are indebted for some portion of the above information to that curious and entertaining piece of biography, Mr. Godwin's Lives of E. and J. Phillips. London, 1805. 4to.

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS relating the Originals, Conversions, and Revolutions of the Inhabitants of Great Britain, to the Norman Conquest in a continued Discourse. London, 1706. 8vo.; 451 pages, besides preface, table of contents, and title.

This work is usually ascribed to that eminent scholar Dr. George Hickes, but the late Dr. Farmer wrote in his copy that he had seen another title-page in which the name of Thomas Salmon, M. A., of Bedfordshire, was inserted as the author.

These collections profess to be compiled chiefly out of Cæsar and Tacitus; Bede and the Saxon Annals; Camden, Archbishop Usher, the two Bishops, Stillingfleet, and Lloyd. The English authors are cited in their own words, and the rest translated. The conclusion of the volume is a vindication of the honour and government of this nation with respect to its original conversions, and revolutions, of which the following is the last paragraph.

"Thus have we as much advantage in our original as nature affords; and the circumstances of the world,