them. Now these were not the people at large, but the military tenants of
the crown, who are accordingly the only persons entitled to be present at
the great council to be holden for taxation. Very early, however,
talliages had been exacted by the crown from those who were not military
tenants; and this imposition daily grew in importance with the relaxation
of the feudal tenures, and the increasing opulence of towns. The attempt
of the barons to include talliage, and even the vague mention of the
privileges of burghs, are decisive symptoms of this silent revolution. But
the generally feudal character of the charter and the main object of its
framers prevailed over that premature, but very honest, effort of the
barons."

[3] "Legis habet vigorem, quicquid de consilio et consensu
magnatum et reipublicæ communi sponsione, authoritate regis,
juste fuerit definitum."--_Bracton_.

We recommend the reader to turn to the pages succeeding the above extract,
where the views of the enlightened author and statesman on the origin of
our parliament are set forth in perspicuous and masterly style.

* * * * *


VISIT TO CORFE CASTLE.

(_From a Correspondent._)


This is Corfe Castle! the celebrated structure, the date of which, and the
founder of which, are lost in antiquity: