Notices of the Ellises of England, Scotland, and Ireland, from the conquest to the present time

23
The ' Curiosities of Heraldry,' 25 indicate a Philosophy of
Heraldry that has yet to be written. Like Philology, Zoology,
Ethnology, and other sciences, it illustrates the sublime law
of Development. Investigated in the spirit of Geology, com-
bining the discovery of isolated facts with speculations as to
their relation and common origin, it will render no small ser-
vice in contributing to prove the connection of families and
races up to remote and obscure periods, and thus throw a light
on the history of mankind that might be obtained from no
other source. 26 The studies and tastes of the age happily tend
to advance this kind of knowledge, and they could have
received no grander homage than is presented in that magni-
ficent temple of heraldry, the New Palace of Westminster.
25 The excellent and highly illustrated
work of Mr. Lower, ' The Curiosities
of Heraldry,' which enters more into
the philosophy of the subject than any
other, contains a very interesting appen-
dix, illustrating the causes and modes
of change in coat armour at early
periods. But unfortunately for the doc-
trines enunciated in the body of the work,
the heraldic genealogy of the Cobham
family there given, completely contradicts
them, and supports the views advanced in
this essay. The arms there given were
borne (though not so stated), it will
appear, from critical examination of the
document, assisted by a reference to the
Kentish historians, at the time of the Con-
quest, and for severalgenerations afterwards
unchanged. If not, the same singular coin-
cidence will appear, or the same wonderful
ingenuity of the heralds must have been
at work, as we have seen must characterise
the whole ancient blazonry of England and
Normandy.
26 The Scandinavians came from the
east, as their heraldry indeed would prove,
and moreover its extreme antiquity, for
the lion, which enters so largely into
their blazonry, would be unknown to the
aboriginal inhabitants of the shores of the
Baltic. Other barbarian races in the
same way may be traced to countries which
furnished the objects of their ensigns.
"Among the North American Indians
symbols are employed for the purpose of
distinguishing their tribes. The Shawanese
nation, for example, was originally divided
into twelve tribes, which were subdivided
into septs or clans, recognized by the
appellation of the Bear, the Turtle, the
Eagle, &c. In some cases individuals,
particularly the more eminent warriors,
formerly assumed similar devices, com-
memorative of their prowess. " And this,"
says Mr. Taylor, an American antiquary,
" is Indian heraldry ■" Gibbon considers
the Germans described by Tacitus as
aborigines ; this is doubtful, though their
shields, by their absence of any devices
drawn from the animal kingdom, do not
indicate their original seat. The rude
simplicity of their distinctions would im-
ply their inability to imitate, by drawing,
any expressive devices, and such plain
patterns on their shields were probably
the earliest ornaments on their surface,
and common to all barbarians in the
infancy of their civilization.
LONDON : E. TUCKER, PKINTER, PERRY'S PLACE, OXFORD STREET.