sixteenth, and since that time they have served as a quarry for the building of the modern church of Brix. Little is known of its history. M. de Gerville conjectures that it was built about the middle of the twelfth century by an Adam de Bruis, from whom it derived its name of Chateau d'Adam. In May 1194 Richard Coeur-de-Lion passed a night at Bruis. In the beginning of the thirteenth century the Norman possessions of the Bruces were forfeited to the French crown, on the same grounds, it would appear, with those of the greater portion of the Anglo-Norman nobles; who, holding much larger domains in England, took part with that country against the French king. Besides the barony of Brix, the Bruces held in the same parish the barony of Luthumière, which after their forfeiture was conferred on the illustrious family of Du Hommet, the hereditary constables of Normandy, and the kinsmen of its duke. This house had intermarried with that of Bruce, and appears to have had a hereditary claim to its possessions in right of Luce, the heiress of Adam de Bruis. M. de Gerville adds, that Richard de Bruis was Bishop of Coutances from 1124 to 1131, and that the family were liberal benefactors to the neighbouring monasteries of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte and De Cessay. Most of these pious donations seem to have been made by that Adam de Bruis who died in 1162, and whose

name was given to the castle, and to a paved road or causeway in the forest of Brix.

The history of the English branch of the Bruces has been illustrated by Dugdale. Robert de Bruis, who accompanied William the Conqueror, obtained from him many lands, of which the barony of Skelton in Yorkshire was the chief. His son Robert inherited his father's ample possessions, and added to them the wide domain of Annandale in Scotland. The charter which David I. about the year 1124 granted in his favour still exists in the British Museum, and a literal translation of it may perhaps be not unacceptable.

"David by the grace of God king of the Scots, to all his barons, lieges, and friends, Norman and English, wishes greeting:

"Know me to have given and granted to Robert de Brus, Estrahanent [Strath-Annan, Annandale], and all the land from the boundary of Dunegal de Stranit [Strath-Nith, Nithsdale] to the boundary of Randulf Meschine. And I will and yield him to have and hold that land and his castle, well and honourably, with all its rights; namely, with all the rights which Randulf Meschine ever had in Cardville in his land of Cumberland, on the day in which he had them best and freest.

"Witnesses,-Eustace Fitz-John, and Hugo de Morville, and Alan de Perci, and William de

Sumerville, and Berenger Engain, and Randulf de Sules, and William de Morville, and Hervi FitzWarin, and Edmund the Chamberlain. At Scone."

XIII.

ACADEMIC QUESTIONS IN WITCHCRAFT. PERHAPS few of those who censure the credulity of King James VI. know that the most learned men of his time and nation occasionally discussed points of demonology in the solemn meetings of their universities. One of the theses disputed at St Andrews in 1599, under the auspices of the enlightened Andrew Melville, runs thus :-" An vi sortilega aut diabolica sagarum, aut strigum, corpora transportentur, aut transformentur, aut animæ corporibus solvantur ad tempus et hæc transportatio aut transformatio corporum, aut instar cadaveris projecti, sine sensu sine motu, quasi exulante aut saltem feriante anima, veternus et lethargia aspectabilis satis ne firmum et evidens sit istius execrandæ daμovoμavias argumentum ?" 2 There is little reason to doubt that the university determined in the affirmative.

1 Stevenson's Illustrations of Scotish History, p. 12. Glasg. 1834.

2 Scholastica Diatriba de Rebus Divinis ad Anquirendam et inveniendam veritatem, à candidatis S. Theol. habenda (Deo volente) ad d. xxvi. et xxvii. Julij in Scholis

XIV.

FEMALE SUFFRAGE.

AN intelligent Glasgow bookseller, examined by a committee of the House of Commons, declared that "the women in the lower class of life have better heads than the men!" I cite the observation for the benefit of the disciples of Mistress Mary Wolstonecraft, though perhaps few persons who have had means of judging in the matter will deny its truth.

Theologicis Acad. Andreanæ, Spiritu Sancto Præside. D. And. Melvino, S. Theol. D. et illius facultatis Decano σunov moderante, p. 14. Edinbvrgi, Excudebat Robertus Walde-graue, Typographus Regius, 1599. In enumerating Melville's works Dr M'Crie (Life of Melville, vol. ii. p. 510) has overlooked two rare tracts. 1. "De Justificatione Hominis coram Deo, Theses Theologicæ quas Spiritu S. præside, D. And. Melvino, SS. Theol. Professore, et ejus Facultatis Decano vrnow moderante, tueri conabitur M. Patricius Geddæus, in scholis theologicis Academiæ Andreanæ, Ad diem xxii Julij. Edinburgi, Excudebat Robertus Walde-graue, Typographus Regius, 1600.” 2. “Theses Theologica de Peccato, quas Spiritu Sancto Præside, D. Andrea Melvino, SS. Theol. Prof. &c. tueri conabor Joannes Scharpius ad d. iii. et iv. Julij in Scholis Theologicis Academiæ Andreanæ. Edinburgi, excud. R. Walde-graue, 1600."

First Report on Postage, p. 368. Parl. Pap. Sess. 1838, No. 278.

XV.

FUNERAL CUSTOM.

AN interesting funeral usage has long been observed in an old family in the north of Scotland. When the coffin has been lowered to its resting-place, fire is set to a torch placed beside it, and the doors of the vault are hastily closed, not to be opened until another tenant is given to the tomb.

XVI.

PRIVILEGES OF THE PEERAGE.

BURKE has drawn the character of "peerage-writers" with his usual felicity. "These gentle historians dip their pens in nothing but the milk of human kindness. They seek no farther for merit than the preamble of a patent or the inscription of a tomb. With them every man created a peer is first a hero ready made. They judge of every man's capacity for office by the offices he has filled; and the more offices the more ability. Every general-officer with them is a Marlborough, every statesman a Burleigh; every judge a Murray or a Yorke. They who, alive, were laughed at or pitied by all their acquaintance, make as good a figure as the best of