the which did overrunne and spoil the Sarrazin’s country.”  And here is another:—­“Over common, then, in Spain, and elsewhere, which nevertheless chastise the world in such sort, but that this sinne is at this day more in use than ever it was, to the dishonor of our God, contempt of his laws, and confusion of all good order.”  Apparently, Mr. Wilson, besides writing in a singular style himself, is the cause of singularities in the writings of other men.  What is more worthy of note is the credulity with which he swallows the fabulous inventions of the “monkish chroniclers” when set before him in English earthenware.  We would undertake, for a very trifling consideration, to furnish him with the Spanish originals of the stories of “Hispan” and “Hercules,” and all the other absurdities with which his old folio has supplied him.  From what source does he imagine them to have been derived?  Does he think they belong to the stock of traditions in possession of the Anglo-Saxon race,—­that Grimshaw got them from Bagshaw, and Bagshaw from Bradshaw?

Our argument in regard to Mr. Wilson’s ignorance of most of the “standard authorities” will be strengthened by a review of the works which he actually has used,—­or, to speak more correctly, misused,—­and an examination of his reasons for selecting them.  They are two in number.  He can hardly be said to overrate the importance of one of these works,—­the celebrated Letters of Cortes.  For the events of the Conquest, and the first impressions made upon the minds of the discoverers by the aspect of the country, we could have no evidence of equal value with the dispatches written by the great adventurer from the field of his enterprises and during the course of the operations.  Mr. Wilson does not, however, consult the original letters.  His strong prejudice against everything Spanish would not allow him to do so.  He has studied them through the medium of a translation; and the reason he assigns for his preference of this version is, that “it is better than the original.”  We have no doubt that it is better for Mr. Wilson’s “purpose”; indeed, we fear, that, had it not been for the labors of the translator, Mr. George Folsom, the letters of Cortes would, like “most of the standard histories,” have been regarded by Mr. Wilson as “no better than so much blank paper.”  Lockhart, by translating the chronicle of Bernal Diaz, has saved it from similar condemnation,—­but only that it might incur a still more terrible fate.  Mr. Wilson’s theory in regard to the origin and character of this work is no less subtile than startling.  According to the common belief, Bernal Diaz was a soldier in the army of Cortes, accompanied him throughout his campaigns, and, at a late period of his life, composed a narrative of the memorable events in which he had participated as an actor or an eye-witness.  Writers who knew him in his old age have left us descriptions of his appearance and character.  Mr. Wilson, however, holds that he