The little MS. volume, which has been laid before the Society by Mr. Aucher Taylor, is “a short treatise concerning things needful for this present state,” by John Mountgomery, of London, 1562. It is a good specimen of the political pamphlet of the time, and contains much that commends itself to us as sound common sense, while some of the writer's views bring with them more amusement than conviction. As a scheme for the better defence of the realm it serves to illustrate the popular ideas upon internal military matters at a time when standing armies were unheard of, and when the long-bow was still a rival of the new “fiery weapons ”; while there are many remarks in its pages, pointing to shortcomings in national character, which might be as truly applied to us at the present time as they were to our forefathers in the days of Elizabeth.