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In other departments of his work Sir Bernard had acted with the same ability and energy. In the discharge of the duties of Knight Attendant on the Order of St. Patrick he has done much to revive the pristine splendours of the Investiture. This illustrious Order originated at a memorable period in Irish history-the famous Dungannon Declaration in 1782. On the 5th of February, 1783, a Royal Warrant was issued commanding Letters Patent to pass under the Great Seal establishing the Order, which was intended as an act of conciliation and goodwill towards the more powerful of the Irish peers, and also with a view of promoting our native manufactures. The routine of an Installation, as fixed from the first, included a procession from the Castle to St. Patrick's Cathedral, an Investiture within the sacred edifice, and a grand banquet given by the Lord Lieutenant in the evening. Direction was also issued that the dresses, &c., should all be of Irish manufacture. As with genealogy, heraldry, and the public records, the Installations of the Knights of St. Patrick had been permitted to become very much shorn of their proper dignity; and it is one of Sir Bernard Burke's services that he has been instrumental in causing a revival of that lustre of the ceremony of Investiture which evidently was contemplated when the Order was founded. A notable example may be found in the installation of the Prince of Wales, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, April 18th, 1868, which was regarded with unprecedented interest. Previous Investitures-even that at which George IV. presided-fell short of the grandeur of this superb pageant. One circumstance alone imparted unusual attraction to the scene, namely, that the grand old Cathedral had been just rescued from impending ruin by the late Sir Benjamin Guinness. The magnificent aspect of this stately pile blended harmoniously with the glitter and varied colours which brightly flashed from the richly apparelled crowd that sat, tier above tier, within the hallowed precincts of this beautiful shrine. Peers, peeresses, bishops, baronets, judges, municipal bodies, military, naval, and civic officers, together with a large assemblage of the fair sex, decked in tints of every hue, occupied their several positions, so that everywhere the eye rested on splendour. Subsequently another Investiture, on the nomination of Lords Powerscourt and Southwell by Her Majesty as Knights, which the Prince and his brother witnessed as Members of the Chapter and Senior Knights present. The ceremony was not carried out in St. Patrick's Cathedral, owing to the Irish Church Act, and the consequent necessity of obliterating the ecclesiastical character of the Order itself.

But while vigilant in the immediate sphere of his duties in and about Dublin Castle, Sir Bernard Burke has made the influence of his office felt beyond the confines of Ireland, in an instance arising out of a struggle connected with Corporate precedence. This arose out of the presentation of addresses of congratulation at Windsor Castle, on the

occasion of the marriage of the Prince of Wales in 1863, the rivals being Dublin and Edinburgh. The conflict raged with alternations of victory until the Lord Lieutenant, the late Earl of Carlisle, placed the matter in Sir Bernard Burke's hands, and directed him to prepare a report on the subject. On the 14th of May, 1863, the report was laid before the Irish Government, and contained researches sufficient to show that Dublin was entitled to precedence-at all events, could not be ranked second to Edinburgh. As, however, Garter King of Arms was equally positive the other way, the matter was brought before the Lords of the Council at Whitehall. The judges being men whose "thoughts were turned on peace," gave it as their decision that Dublin and Edinburgh were equal. Were it not for Sir Bernard Burke's knowledge of anterior precedents, and his systematic statement of these as laid before the Council, it is almost certain that Dublin, always spoken of as the "second city" in the empire, would have been assigned a place lower than the Scotch metropolis. The subject is treated at large in the two Parliamentary Reports on the entire question, which were printed in the summer of 1863 by order of the House of Commons.

Not only in the discharge of his official duties has Sir Bernard acquired distinction, but by a prolific and graphic pen has established solid claims as a literary man. The list of his works, remembering their nature, and the size, intricacy, and almost endless ramifications of some of them, present an example of rare industry, system, mental energy, and capacity.

"The Peerage and Baronetage of Great Britain "-undoubtedly Sir Bernard's opus magnum-is a work which must bring its author fame, if even he had never written anything else. After leaving his college at Caen, and while therefore young, this fine work was begun in London under the auspices of Sir Bernard's father-a gentleman of taste and erudition in such matters-and of the well-known publisher, the late Henry Colburn. Even at so early an age, the subject of our memoir had become, through unremitting study, familiar with history, heraldry, and genealogy, and he therefore felt himself irresistibly drawn towards the work undertaken by his father, and both then and ever since became the life and spirit of the book itself-a remark equally applicable to "The History of the Landed Gentry." "The Peerage, &c. was not Sir Bernard's father's only book, as he published, with other works, two most interesting volumes on the celebrated female beauties of the English aristocracy, with a likeness of each. Upon his demise, the leading heraldic and genealogical works which he had commenced were handed over to the safe keeping of Sir Bernard, who has let none of their usefulness evaporate.

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It is very evident that a work of the same circumstantial character as that of Sir Bernard's "Peerage and Baronetage," may be regarded as a sort of vade mecum to one who treads the maze of British civilization and

wealth. The absolute want of a good work of reference of this description is best proved by the increasing demand at every fresh issue each year of Sir Bernard's dictionary. The sterling merit of this very useful and available work consists in its perspicuity and entire reliableness. Here the author's official experience and extensive knowledge of heraldic and genealogical history came powerfully to his aid. The result is that Sir Bernard, we believe, in these works has left no authority which could shed light over the labyrinth of his investigations unconsulted, while at the same time losing no opportunity of communicating with those who had the means of affording him correct and available information. Not only are facts sought for at the fountain source, but indefatigable industry is displayed in each pedigree, so that both the individual members of the existing present and of the immediate past are enumerated. In tracing out the line of succession Sir Bernard does not limit his research to the personage first dignified by an hereditary title of honour, but carries his investigations into the dark recesses of antiquity. But his labours in this mine have been extended, beautified, and we may add completed, by-perhaps in reference to the colossal erudition and minute research displayed-his best work, "The Dictionary of Peerages, Extinct, Dormant, or in Abeyance." The chronological order would have been to give this part of the subject first; but Sir Bernard has correctly followed the logical order, which places the knowledge of what is before that which had been. In any case, the importance of this work cannot be overlooked, because it is out of such forms that the glory of our existing aristocracy has emanated-or at least from this source have arisen the most eminent names upon the modern roll of nobility. Here the contemplative moralist beholds with delight a golden link between the illustrious living and the illustrious dead!

Besides completing such works of intricacy and maguitude, Sir Bernard has found leisure to step aside from the penetralia of his more technical knowledge to enrich belles lettres with choice volumes like "The Vicissitudes of Families," "Episodes in the Domestic Annals of the Aristocracy," and "The Rise of Great Families." These books possess singular merit-one chief source of attraction being that they centre in home life. Here is the hot hearth of true manliness, and it is here that virtue and genius are nourished and equipped for the after-conflicts of the world. No order, however, in our complex society has been more indebted for greatness to domestic influences than the aristocracy. Sir Bernard Burke has in these pleasant and instructive volumes strung together a collection of gems. The cloud of family reverse is with a most delicate pencil invariably encircled by him with a margin of silver, so that, to use his own words, he has "endeavoured to avoid the introduction of a single narrative or the expression of a single word which might possibly be painful to any one's feelings." His reflections on the vicissitudes that

have overtaken Irish families possess a very melancholy interest. The work itself, "The Vicissitudes of Families," has a permanent value, however, though tinctured with sadness:

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"Ireland is, indeed, the Tadmor in the desert of Family Vicissitude; time out of mind it has been the prey of the spoiler. Cromwell and William III. spared few of the aboriginal lords of the soil; the former may be said to have confiscated well nigh all Ireland, and the alienation of property under the Encumbered Estates Court, effected a fearful revolution amongst the landed gentlemen of English descent. Confiscation, civil war, and legal transfer, have torn asunder those associations between the local habitation and the name' which have for centuries wound round each other.

"The gentry of Ireland are now, in many cases, dispossessed; new manners and new men are filling the land, and the old time-honoured houses are passing rapidly away. Whoever collects instances of fallen families some thirty years hence, will have a fruitful field to gather in. No one will gainsay the beneficial influence of the Encumbered Estates Court exercised in a national point of view, or fail to trace to its introduction into Ireland the dawn of the prosperity which is now shining on that country. That it has worked infinite public good is undeniable; but it is equally certain that the general benefit has been effected at the cost of much individual misery. No cases of vicissitude could be so pathetic, no episodes of decadence so lamentable, as those that could be told in connection with the transfer of land in Ireland; but the wounds are too fresh, and the ruin too recent, for me to enter on so painful a theme." Vol. i. p. 16.

While on the subject, we refer our readers to p. 322, vol. i., of "The Vicissitudes," where the sad downfall is so graphically described of the Martin family, whose crushing calamity is still bewailed by the peasantry of the Far West. Sir Bernard, however, by no means confines himself to the delineation of Irish calamity, but ranges over a wide field. The sketches "Three Plantagenet Ladies," are conceptions much more after the model of Shakspeare's incomparable pictures of the fair sex than those distorted images of female character so clumsily, or rather so indelicately, drawn on the pages of the modern sensational novel. That Sir Bernard can paint good portraits where the originals come from abroad, is proved by his well told taie cf "The Bonapartes."

"Family Romance; or, Episodes in the Domestic Annals of the Aristocracy," is a most winning book, and steals on the imagination and senses like the gradually expanding beauties of a landscape by Kuyp or Turner. One might imagine that Sir Bernard, though unapproachable in the dry details of heraldry and genealogy, could not succeed in lighter topics. He might be safely trusted on the accuracy of dates, names, alliances, and pedigrees, but is this compatible with ability to depict sorrow or joy, or represent the fitful play of human passion? Sir Bernard, however, has crossed the Rubicon, and found himself on the opposite bank crowned with laurels. The source of his success is that in all his lighter moods there is in his facts a fundamental element of the

romantic. Nor is the skill of the artist insignificant who, out of the large repellent folios of county history, &c., has contrived to elicit such deeply interesting tales. Here is a great talent-fed by antiquarian and historical learning-of covering the crumbling skeletons of the past with flesh, muscle, and colouring. A magic wand is waved over departed heroes, and once more they revisit the "glimpses of the moon," just as when at eventide the dark motionless summit of some towering cliff seems to vibrate under the waves of golden light that flow from the setting sun!

"The Rise of Great Families" is more didactic in its structure than the preceding volume, and, though undoubtedly wanting in the thrilling interest and harrowing catastrophe of "The Romance," is still a book which shows its author's rare faculty of turning black letter knowledge into an instrument of public instruction. We like this volume because of its exact historical estimate of the true position which the aristocracy is entitled to hold as factors in social and mental progress. The annals of our patrician order, Sir Bernard tells us with an emphasis which cannot be explained away, abound in deeds of fame and in achievements of intellect, patriotism, and irrepressible loyalty which spread imperishable lustre over the combined history of England, Ireland, and Scotland.

We cannot close our catalogue without noticing the little volume published about four years ago, entitled "The Sovereigns of England." The preface is addressed to his children, so that the entire work, which is written in verse, is intended for the edification of those of tender years.

The following list comprises, we believe, nearly all of Sir Bernard's works:-"Peerage and Baronetage of Great Britain," "History of the Landed Gentry," "Dormant and Extinct Peerage," "Dormant and Extinct Baronetage," "General Armoury," "Visitation of Seats and Arms," "Heraldic Illustrations," "The Roll of Battle Abbey," "Report on the French Record System," "The Patrician," "The History of the Royal Families," "Royal Descents and Pedigrees of Founder's Kin," "Romance of the Aristocracy," "Family Romance," "Romantic Records," "Vicissitudes of Families," "The Rise of Great Families," "History of the Different Orders of Knighthood," "The Historic Lords of England," together with six volumes of "The Patrician" and two of the "St. James's Magazine," which he conducted and largely sustained by his literary fertility.

We have now enumerated the various claims which Sir Bernard Burke has to a niche in the Temple of Fame. He has now for nearly twentythree years held an office of considerable public importance, and discharged its duties with the most exemplary efficiency. He enjoys, besides, a great literary reputation, and on both sides of the Channel his mastery of all the practical details of heraldry and genealogy has raised him to a position of eminence. In the discharge of his official duties Sir Bernard has been materially assisted, by courtliness of manner and

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