Gents Mag 1841 part 2 p.53

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1841 part 2 p.53
book review   History and Antiquities of Leath Ward
	History and Antiquities of Leath Ward Book review. The History and Antiquities of Leath Ward, in the County of Cumberland; with Biographical Notices and Memoirs. By Samuel Jefferson. Carlisle, 8vo. pp.516. THE county of Cumberland is divided, not into Hundreds but into Wards, an arrangement which, according to this author, is owing, in common with the subdivision of other counties into hundreds, "to the wise policy of Alfred the Great." But had Alfred any jurisdiction over Cumberland? We rather imagine not. And if so, in what ancient record are the Wards first mentioned? This should be one of the first questions to be investigated by a Cumberland historian. Dr. Burn gives a more satisfactory account of this peculiar division of Cumberland and Westmorland. He says the Wards were "the districts of the like number of High Constables, who presided over the wards to be sustained at certain fords and other places, for repelling the plundering parties out of Scotland." (Burn's Westmorland, pp.12, 13.) A very recent alteration has taken place in the division of Cumberland. The five Wards of which it consisted have been formed into six. Leath Ward, however, remains unaltered (p.496.) It comprises the south-eastern portion of the county; is about thirty-five miles in length east and west, and in breadth north and south very irregular, in no part exceeding fourteen miles. It contains twenty-one parishes, of which that of the town of Penrith is first noticed in the present volume. The history of Cumberland has been described by a very competent judge, (Mr. Hodgson, the historian of Northumberland,) as "a wide and rich, but uncultivated field." It has only been surveyed, not cultivated, by Messrs. Nicolson and Burn, by Mr. Hutchinson, and the Messrs. Lysons. But we should not forget another survey made by the historian of Northumberland himself, and contributed to "The Beauties of England and Wales," - an early evidence of his love of topography, and his patriotic affection towards his native county. Mr. Jefferson discloses the circumstance, that "The History of Cumberland which bears Mr. Hutchinson's name is usually attributed to him; but that gentleman appears merely to have written a few parts, furnished notes for some parishes, and left the management and editorship to others. His Histories of Northumberland and Durham have established his fame as a writer, he lent his assistance and countenance to that of Cumberland, which now bears his name." And now we are called upon to give our opinion of Mr. Jefferson's own performance: We could not conscientiously give it the highest praise: for to bring it into a comparison with the erudition and taste of Mr. Hodgson would be extravagant. We think its compilation has been rather hurried; but life is short, and topographers are not immortal. On the tomb of too
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