its moral strength," in some Wesleyan Methodist sense. He here only expresses the general opinion of the reading world that Mr. Kingsley is responsible, in some degree or other, for this singular new term.

For

"We have heard much of late," Mr. Kingsley says in the beginning of his first sermon, "about muscular Christianity. A clever expression, spoken in jest by I know not whom, has been bandied about the world, and supposed by many to represent some new ideal of the Christian character. myself I do not understand what it means. It may mean one of two things. If it mean the first, it is a term somewhat unnecessary, if not somewhat irreverent. If it means the second, it means something untrue and immoral." The first meaning may be "a healthful and manly Christianity, one which does not exalt the feminine virtues to the exclusion of the masculine." This is the good meaning. The other is expressed thus by Mr. Kingsley. "There are those who say, and there have been of late those who have written books to show, that provided a young man is sufficiently frank, brave, and gallant, he is more or less absolved from the common duties of morality and self-restraint." This is, of course, the evil meaning.

DIGNITIES AND DISTINCTIONS.

ORIGIN OF "KING."

It was an important remark of one of the most thoughtful etymologists, Jacob Grimm, that the old Norse word for king, Konungr or Kôngr, cannot, as was commonly supposed, be derived from the old Norse kyn, race, nor the AngloSaxon cyning, from cyn, kin, family. King is an old word common to the three branches of the Teutonic races, not coined afresh in Sweden, England, and Germany-nay, not even coined out of purely German ore. It did not mean originally a man of family, a man of noble birth, but it is in reality the same word, both in form and meaning, as the Sanskrit janaka, formed previously to the separation of Sanskrit from German, and meaning originally father, secondly, king.

ORIGIN OF THE CROWN.

The progress of the Crown, from being a mere circlet of gold to the present form, may be told in a few words.

There is no mention in Scripture of a royal crown, as a kingly possession, till the time when the Amalekites are described as bringing Saul's crown to David. The first Roman who wore a crown was Tarquin, B.C. 616.

It was at first a

mere fillet, then a garland, subsequently stuff, adorned with pearls. Alfred is said to have been the first English King who wore this symbol of high authority, A.D. 872. Athelstan (A.D. 929) wore a coronet like the modern earl's. Pope Damasus II. introduced the Papal cap. Thirteen years later, William the Conqueror added a coronet with points to his ducal cap. The Papal cap was not encircled with a crown till the era of John XIX. (1276). Nineteen years afterwards Boniface VIII. added a second crown. Benedict XII. completed the tiara, or triple crown, about the year 1334. In 1386, Richard II. pawned his crown and regalia to the City of London for 2,000l. The crosses on the crown of England were introduced by Richard III., 1483. The arches date from Henry VII. (1485). sceptre has undergone as many changes as the crown. Originally it was a staff, intended for the support of the monarch; they who shortened it sometimes turned it into a club, to lay prostrate their people."

ROYAL SIGNATURES.

The

There has been a good deal of discussion as to which of our English Kings was the first to sign his own name. From the fac-similes of national manuscripts, Richard II. would appear to be entitled to the distinction in a document bearing the date of 1386. The first holograph letter in the same collection is from the pen of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Henry V. (1413-22).-Seton's Gossip about Letters.

TITLE OF MAJESTY.

The title "Majesty" was constantly applied to Henry VIII., but without superseding other and earlier titles of English royalty. Thus (Froude, vol. iii. p. 53), July, A.D.

1536, Starkey, on behalf of Henry VIII., wrote to Cardinal Pole :-" His Grace supposed his benefits not forgotten, and Pole's love towards his Highness not utterly quenched. His Majesty was one that forgave and forgot displeasure, both at once." Here are the three titles of " Grace," "Highness," and "Majesty," evidently held to be equally consistent within the space of as many lines. Again, p. 272, Sir William Fitzwilliam writes to Cromwell : "The King's Highness knows," &c. (A.D. 1537; p. 276), the Duchess of Milan says of Henry (A.D. 1538);-"She knew his Majesty was a good and noble Prince;" p. 341 (same year)—"I submit myself to the will of your Majesty," Lambert said; and p. 342, Cromwell on the sentence upon Lambert, writes:-"The King's Majesty did sit openly in the hall. It was a wonder to see how princely, with how excellent gravity, and inestimable majesty, His Majesty exercised," &c. . . . "How benignly his Grace essayed . . . and how strong and manifest reason his Highness alleged. . . . his Majesty's high wisdom and judgment." The earlier volumes of Froude's History abound in illustrative passages, all of them quoted from original documents.

Shakspeare, in Scene 4, Act 1, of Henry VIII., the Queen says "Thank your Majesty;" a short time afterwards, Wolsey says—“ Please your Highness." Again, in Scene 4, Act 2, Wolsey himself says "I know your Majesty has always loved me."

It is believed Henry VIII. was the first English sovereign who was styled "His Majesty." The titles of English sovereigns have undergone many changes: Henry IV. was "His Grace;" Henry VI. "His Excellent Grace;" Edward IV. "High and Mighty Prince;" Henry VII. "His Grace," and "His Highness;" Henry VIII., as stated above. "His Sacred Majesty" was the title assumed by subsequent sove

reigns, which was afterwards changed to "Most Excellent Majesty."—Notes and Queries, 3rd S., No. 169.

A KING'S STATUE.

De Quincey, in a note to his article on Milton versus Southey and Landor, says: "Till very lately the etiquette of Europe was, that none but royal persons could have equestrian statues. Lord Hopetoun, the reader will observe, is allowed to have a horse in St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh. True, but observe, he is not allowed to mount him. The first person, so far as I remember, that, not being royal, has in our island seated himself comfortably in the saddle, is the Duke of Wellington." It is a fact, that in Europe none but royal personages have had equestrian

statues.

SUCCESSION OF ENGLISH MONARCHS.

There is a prediction preserved by the monkish annalists, which is said to have been delivered in the time of William the Conqueror, as an anathema, or curse; signifying, that no more than three monarchs should ever reign in this kingdom without some violent interruption. William IV. by his accession, was the first that broke the spell, as the following will clearly show. William I., William II., Henry I. Interrupted by the usurpation of Stephen.-Henry II., Richard I., John. Interrupted by Louis the Dauphin.-Henry III., Edward I., Edward II. Interrupted by the abdication and murder of Edward II.-Edward III., Richard II. Interrupted by the deposition of Richard II.-Henry IV., Henry V., Richard III. Interrupted by the usurpation of Henry Richmond.-Henry VII., Henry VIII., Edward VI. Interrupted by the election of Lady Jane Grey, and making King