The Antiquities And Curiosities Of The Exchequer PDF Download

In this volume, Mr. Hubert Hall puts before the reader a succinct but comprehensive account of the Exchequer, more particularly its antiquities and curiosities. He discusses at some length the site of the ancient Treasury at Winchester, and of the old Exchequer buildings at Westminster. He also endeavors to re-construct the interior of the ancient Exchequer, its Treasury and Court-house, with their Chests and Rolls and Tallies; and gives an interesting account of the quaint Chessboard and Game of Counters, wherein the annual Budget was figured by rude and visible symbols, and describes all the chief appurtenances of its mediaeval existence. He has given special attention to the official establishment of the Court and Treasure-house, and has fully described the functions of the several officers down to the reign of George III. Several curious letters and accounts that are given in the volume, serve to throw light upon the domestic habits of many generations of officials. Illustrations of the Chests and Seals, Tallies, and picture-writings, are portrayed here with other famous emblems of a bygone era. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "This volume, the first of Mr. Stock's ' Camden Library, ' is decidedly fortunate in its author. Mr. Hall has long made a special study of the antiquities and curiosities of the Exchequer, and is probably as deeply versed in the 'Dialogus' and the subjects to which it relates as any writer in this country." -Athenaeum. "Mr. Hubert Hall has made a readable and even an amusing book of a theme which not many years ago was a mystery save to a handful of specialists. We can commend the book to all students of mediaeval English history, and to others who have any antiquarian taste." -Saturday Review. "Contains a mass of curious information, and by the help of the author the whole process of change in the financial operations of the country can be traced from the earliest times down to modem days. The book is a highly interesting one, not only to antiquaries, but to all persons who take an intelligent interest in the history of our country." -Standard. "These pages are by no means a dull and dry record of the past, but they abound in quaint and amusing stories." -Morning Post."