But the spirit of the institution may still be traced. " The humanity which accompanies all the operations of war, the refinements of gallantry, and the point of honour, the three chief circumstances which distinguish modern from ancient manners," at once demonstrate its extensive and permanent influence, and the beneficial nature and effects of its principles.
The authors that treat on he subject of chivalry may he divided into two classes :-1st, Those who ha' c en deavoured to trace its origin and causes. Of these, sonic indulged principally in antiquarian research, and others ill general reasoning ; of the latter, the most celebrated ai•. Hurd, in his Letters on Chivalry and Romance, which are appended to his Morel and Political Dialogues, in 3 vols. 12mo ; Gilbert Stuart, in his View of Society in Europe; Robertson, in his View of the State of Europe, prefixed to his History of Charles V. ; and Herder, in his Outlines of the Philosophy of the History of Man. This author also in some degree unites antiquarian research with general reasoning. Gibbon, in his 58th chap. and 1 lth volume, has given a rapid, but masterly view of the origin and the principal features of chivalry. The anti quarian researches on this subject are to be found rather detached and scattered in different works, than in com plete and regular treatises. The notes of Warburton and Tyrwhitt towards the conclusion of Love's Labour Lost ; \Varton, in his first dissertation prefixed to his History of English Poetry, and occasionally and inciden tally in his History itself ; Mallet, in his Introduction to the History of Denmail,- translated by Percy ; Percy, in his 3d volume of the Reliques of Ancient Poetry ; Pin kerton, in his Dissertation on the Scythians and Goths; Dr Leyden, in the Introduction to the Complaynt of Scotland ; and an anonymous writer in the Monthly Magazine for February 1800 ; have been already refer red to, and supply curious and valuable information on the antiquarian branch of the subject. Notices on the
same branch are scattered in Selden's Titles of Honour; in Essais sur la Noblesse de France, by Boullainvillers ; in Histoire de l'Ancien Gouvernm•nt de France, by the same author ; in Les Recherches de la France, by Pas quin ; and in Ashmole, on the Order of the Garter.
2d, The last named authors may also be consulted respecting the institutions of chivalry. But the most copious, authentic, and interesting author on this branch of the subject, is Mons. de St Palaye, in his Memoires sur l'Ancicnne Chevalerie,* either in his work, or in the author whom he cites or refers to, almost every particu lar respecting the institutions of chivalry, especially French chivalry, may he found. This work has been translated into German by Klueber, who has added many particulars respecting German chivalry. Some addi tional information on the laws and manners of chivalry may be gleaned from Lyttelton's History of Henry II. vol. iii. Henry's History of Great Britain, vol. vi. (Svo edition) ; and especially from the ancient Ballads and Romances that have been edited by Percy, Ritson, Pin kerton, Ellis, and Scott, and in the notes by which they are respectively illustrated. It is hardly necessary to add, that Chaucer and Spenser, particularly the former, throw considerable light on chivalry : and that the notes of Tyrwhitt to this poet, and the observations of War ton and Tod on Spenser, may be read with advantage.