ART. IX. The Blue Laws of New Haven Colony, usually called Blue Laws of Connecticut; Quaker Laws of Plymouth and Massachusetts; Blue Laws of New York, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina; First Record of Connecticut; Interesting Extracts from Connecticut Records; Cases of Salem Witchcraft; Charges and Banishment of Rev. Roger Williams, &c., and other interesting and instructive Antiquities. Compiled by an Antiquarian. 12mo. Hartford. 1838.

THIS volume, as appears from its title, is very miscellaneous; yet the most prominent part of it is a collection of the early laws, some real and some fictitious, of the English colonies in America. The laws here brought together are denominated "blue"; but no satisfactory reason is given for this general appellation. The compiler seems to have been aware, that some explanation of the title of his book would be expected by his readers; and, accordingly, he has stated in his preface, that "it has been generally supposed, that the laws enacted by the New Haven colony previous to the code by Governor Eaton, in 1655, formed the code of Blue Laws, so highly celebrated in this country." Of the truth, however, of this supposition he has produced no evidence; except that Peters is referred to, as saying, respecting this same colony, "that many of what have been termed 'Blue Laws' were not suffered to be recorded, but were to be made so familiar with the people, that recording them would be unnecessary; until the laws of that colony were systematized by Governor Eaton, and printed in 1656, at which time many of the laws previous to 1656 were expunged." Where Peters says all this, we are not told. This writer, indeed, asserts, in his "History of Connecticut," that the blue laws of New Haven "were never suffered to be printed," but he nowhere, in that work, denies that they were all recorded; nor does he say, that these laws were to be made "familiar with the people"; language which, we fully believe, Dr. Peters never employed. And as to the "expunging" of laws, which were never "recorded," though we think very unfavorably of Dr. Peters in many respects, we shall consider this absurdity as unjustly charged upon him, till the passage of his History, which contains it, is produced. Governor

Eaton's code is nowhere even alluded to by Peters; nor does this historian appear to have known, that such a collection of laws ever existed.

We cannot but express here some surprise, that a professed antiquarian" should have investigated this subject so imperfectly. If it was worth his while to say any thing about the early laws of New Haven, it was certainly incumbent on him to exhibit the facts of the case. We are assured, on what we consider good authority, that the records of that colony are full and entire; and that there is no reason to believe, that any thing important, either legislative or judicial, to the time of Governor Eaton's code, was transacted there, which was not distinctly recorded, and which is not now open to the inspection of any one, who wishes to ascertain what was really done in that jurisdiction. An investigator of antiquities, if his object was the truth, should have gone to the highest source of evidence, rather than have published a story so incredible on the face of it, as that the New Haven legislature enacted laws, which were never put on record, referring it to an author notoriously of no credit, and who in fact has said no such thing as is here ascribed to him.

On the same page, we find another story of a similar character. This "antiquarian" here affirms, that the term "blue," as applied to the New Haven code, is said to have originated from the fact, that the first printed laws in the New Haven colony were enveloped in blue-colored paper. But in this case, as in the former, we in vain look for even the semblance of proof, that what "is said" has any foundation in truth. If there is, in fact, such a tradition, and it deserves notice, why are we not told where it exists, and what is its character, that all may judge of its claims to be considered authentic? Within a few sentences of the passage just quoted, we find it asserted of Governor Eaton's code, that, strange as the fact may appear, but two volumes of the five hundred printed in 1636, are to be found in this country." We are not disposed to interpret this language too strictly. If all the unrecorded laws, which this antiquarian " supposes Governor Eaton to have "expunged," had been in fact printed, no one would ever dream of their being so voluminous as is here represented. What is meant undoubtedly is, that, of the original edition of five hundred copies of the New Haven code, but two are known to the writer to exist in this country. Taking this then to be matter of fact, that two

66

copies remain, why are we not informed whether these are still in "blue covers," or whether any thing in their appearance indicates, that they were ever arrayed in such a dress?

If we supposed it of the least importance, we could report a tradition, entitled to some credit, that one copy at least of these laws was formerly so "enveloped." But admitting, either that what "has been generally supposed," or what "is said," rests on a proper foundation, what reason hence arises for applying the epithet "blue" to the laws of New York, of Virginia, and of the other colonies mentioned in the title of this volume? Is it to be understood, that these laws were likewise unrecorded? or, if recorded and printed, were they also bound in "blue-colored paper"? If this "antiquarian' has made any discoveries here, he should have announced them. As the case stands, he has wholly failed to explain the principle, on which his collection has been made.

But we see no mystery in this matter. The epithet "blue" was, certainly, used in England after the Restoration, as a term of ridicule and reproach. It is so used in Butler's "Hudibras."

in war,

،، Can fetch in parties (as,
All others heads of cattle are);
From th' enemy of all religions,
As well as high and low conditions,

And share them, from blue ribands, down

To all blue aprons in the town."

Part III. Canto II. 1. 870.

In Grey's edition of this poem, the words ،، blue aprons are explained, as alluding to the preachers in blue aprons, in those times; persons being then admitted to preach, who wore blue aprons in their trades. Grey refers to a passage from the Mercurius Rusticus, which speaks of a "blue apron committee " at Reading. This was a committee acting under the Parliament; from which it would appear, that "blue apron" was a term of reproach applied to the Parliamentary party, as consisting of men in humble situations of life. In support of his illustration of the phrase, the commentator, among other quotations, has the following ;

"And first, to tell you must not be forgot

How I did trot,

With a great zealot to a lecture,
Where I a tub did view

Hung with an apron blue,

'Twas the preacher's, I conjecture;
His use and doctrine too

Was of no better hue,

Though he spake in a tone most mickle."

Loyal Songs.

This species of ridicule was of course introduced into New England by those who wished to bring the institutions of the early Puritan colonists into disrepute and contempt. The epithet "blue" probably was applied here more extensively than in the parent country; and was employed particularly to characterize the laws as over-strict, and withal somewhat whimsical. This is the sense, in which our "antiquarian" uses the word; though he seems not to have been aware of the import of his own language, or, at least, has neglected to explain it. In applying the word "blue" to laws beyond the limits of New England, the author might plead analogy in justification.

The execution of the editorial part of this volume is most deplorable. Mistakes and blunders meet the reader at every turn. We will notice two as specimens. The first of them occurs where the "antiquarian" is treating of the affairs of his own State, in which he ought to be, if anywhere, well informed. He gives, page 119, an extract from a Journal of a Dutch traveller up the Connecticut River, in 1638, to Hartford ;" the Dutchman, however, seems, from the Journal itself, to have been in Hartford, in 1640. On his way, he arrived on [at] Rhodabergh, a fine haven, and found that the English were building a fine town, having already erected upwards of 300 houses, and [a] fine church." This Rhodabergh could have been no other than New Haven. Three hundred houses would allow it at least two, for every man, woman, and child, at that time, in the colony. There could not have been half this number of houses in New Haven, a century after this Dutchman's visit. This extract must have

suffered greatly in the hands of the editor. The other passage is on page 64, in the account of the charges against Roger Williams at Salem. One allegation was, that he held the dangerous opinion, "that the magistrate ought not to punish the breach of the first table, otherwise than in such case as

did disturb the civil peace." To aid his readers in understanding what is meant by the first table, the editor has subjoined a note, "First commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart." Things must have got to a strange pass in Connecticut. This " antiquarian" ought immediately to take some lessons in the New England Primer.

It would be easy to show, that a large portion of this volume is prepared in such a manner, as to make a very incorrect impression on the minds of those, who are not well informed in the history of the country. Some of the colonial laws, as well as the proceedings under them, were without doubt highly objectionable. Others, compared with our present standard of judging, are of a questionable character; but were, in truth, a great improvement in the legislation and general policy of the age. Much the larger part of these laws might be shown to be highly creditable to the early colonists. But we do not suppose, that the public generally need, at present, any discussion of this subject. The great object of the compiler was, obviously, to make a book which would sell among a class of readers, with whom matter of fact is of secondary importance.

ART. X. Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature.
Edited by GEORGE RIPLEY. Volume III., containing
Select Minor Poems, from the German of Goethe and
Schiller, with Notes; by JOHN S. DWIGHT. Boston:
Hilliard, Gray, & Co. 12mo.
12mo. pp. 439.

WE approach the present volume in the blandest of critical moods, with the maximum of honey and the minimum of gall, which can possibly enter into the composition of a reviewer; not only on account of the good wishes which we entertain towards the project which Mr. Ripley has undertaken, but also on account of the difficulties which the translator has overcome in the prosecution of his task; we should rather have said, translators, as Mr. Dwight has received considerable assistance from his literary friends. We hold it to be a very difficult thing to translate well, especially