Minor Notes.

"Unwilling to outlive thegood mandid it;"

which, I submit, not only destroys all the poetry, but is decidedlynot English!

The next passage I would notice is fromMuch Ado about Nothing, p. 76. How, I would ask, can the phrase—

"And sorrow wag,"

be a misprint for "call sorrow joy?" No compositor, or scribe either, could possibly be misled by any sound from the "reader" into such a mistake as that! The words "and sorrow wag," I admit, are not sense; but the substitution of "call sorrow joy" strikes me as bald and common-place in the extreme, and there is no pretence for its having any authority. If, then, we are to have a mere fanciful emendation, why not "bid sorrow wag?" This would be doing far less violence to the printed text, for it would only require the alteration of two letters in the word "and;" while it would preserve the Shakspearian character of the passage. "Wag" is a favourite expression inthe comedies of the Bard, and occurs repeatedly in his works. The passage would then run thus—

"If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,Bid sorrow wag—cry hem! when he should groan."

"If such a one will smile and stroke his beard,

Bid sorrow wag—cry hem! when he should groan."

In p. 73. we find—

"Soul-tainted flesh," &c.

substituted for "foultainted flesh;" and we are told that the critics have been all wrong, who supposed that Shakspeare intended any "metaphor from the kitchen!" If so, what meaning can be attached to the line—

"And salt too little which may season give?"

If that is not a metaphor from the kitchen, I know not what could be? I still believe that "foul tainted flesh" is the correct reading. The expression "soul-tainted flesh" is not intelligible. It should rather be "soul-taintingflesh." Thesoulmay be tainted by theflesh: but how thefleshcan besoul-tainted, I cannot understand.

Turning further back, to p. 69., we find it asserted, quite dogmatically, that the word "truths" of the folios ought to be "proofs;" but no reason whatever is offered for the change. I cannot help thinking that "seemingtruths" is much the most poetical expression, while in "seemingproofs" there is something like redundancy,—to say nothing of the phrase being infinitely more common-place!

In the play of theTempest, p. 4., the beautiful passage—

"he being thuslordedNot only with what my revenue yielded," &c.,

"he being thuslorded

Not only with what my revenue yielded," &c.,

is degraded into "he being thusloaded," &c. Can there be a moment's doubt that "lorded" was the word used by Shakspeare? It is completely in his style, which was on all occasions to coin verbs out of substantives, if he could. "He being thuslorded," i. e.ennobled"with what my revenue yielded," is surely a far superior expression to "being thusloaded,"—as if the poet were speaking of a costermonger's donkey!

Again, in p. 10.:

"Whereforethisghastly looking?"

or, this ghastly appearance? Who will venture to say, that the substitution of "thus ghastlylooking" is not decidedly a change for the worse?

In the Merchant of Venice, p. 118.:

"and leave itselfunfurnished,"

is altered to "leave itselfunfinished!" I confess I cannot see the slightest warrant for this change. The words—

"having made one,MethinksITshould have power to stealboth his,"

"having made one,

MethinksITshould have power to stealboth his,"

distinctly show that the author was alluding to theeyeonly, and not to theportraitand how could the eye (alreadymade) describe itself asunfinished? Surely the sense isunfurnished, that is,unfurnishedwith its companion, or probably with the other accessories required to complete the portrait.

P. 119. has the line—

"And swearing 'til my veryroofwas dry,"

transmogrified into—

"And swearing 'til my verytonguewas dry."

Now, why "this lame and impotent conclusion?" What can be a more common expression than the "roof of the mouth?" and it is just the part which is most affected by a sensation of dryness and pricking, after any excitement in speaking, whereas thetongueis not the member that suffers!

InAs You Like It, p. 127., in the line—

"Mistress dispatch you with yoursafest haste,"

the last two words are made "fastest haste," which, to say the least, are tautology, and are like talking, of the "highest height", or the the "deepest depth!" Surely, the original form of words, "Dispatch you with yoursafest haste;" that is, with as much haste as is consistent with your personal safety—is much more dignified and polished address from the duke to alady, and at the same time more poetical!

In p. 129.,

"The constantserviceof the antique world,"

is converted into

"The constantfavourof the antique world:"

in which line I cannot discover any sense. If I might hazard a guess, I should suggest that the error is in thesecondword, "service," and that it ought to be "servants:"

"Whenservantssweat for duty, not for meed."

In theTaming of the Shrew, p. 143., the substitution of "Warwickshireale" for "sheer ale" strikes me as very far-fetched, and wholly unnecessary. There is no defect of sense in the term "sheerale." Sly means to say, he was "fourteen pence on the score for ale alone:" just as one speaks of "sheer nonsense,"i. e.nothing but nonsense, "sheer buffoonery," "sheer malice," &c. Why should Sly talk of being in debt forWarwickshireale at Wincot? If he kind been drinking ale from Staffordshire, or Derbyshire, or Kent, he might possibly have named the county it came from; but to talk ofWarwickshireale within a few miles of Stratford-on-Avon seems absurd. It is as if a man came from Barclay and Perkins's, and talked of having been drinking "Londonporter."

In p. 144., I submit, with great deference, that turning "Aristotle's checks" into "Aristotle's ethics" is the very reverse of an improvement. What can be more intelligible than the line—

"And so devote to Aristotle'schecks;"

that is, to the checks which Aristotle's rules impose upon profligacy? The idea is more poetical,and the line runs more smoothly; while the altered line is prosaic in comparison, and the metre is not correct.

My dwindling space warns me that I must very soon pause; but these examples can be extendedad infinitum, should another opportunity be afforded me.

The instances of alterations simplyunnecessaryare too numerous to be recorded here. I have already a list of forty odd, selected from only eight plays.

Cecil Harbottle.

Local Rhymes, Norfolk.—

"Halvergate hares, Reedham rats,Southwood swine, and Cantley cats;Acle asses, Moulton mules,Beighton bears, and Freethorpe fools."

"Halvergate hares, Reedham rats,

Southwood swine, and Cantley cats;

Acle asses, Moulton mules,

Beighton bears, and Freethorpe fools."

Z. E. R.

"Hobson's Choice."—I, the other day, in a paper of 1737, came upon the inclosed, if of interest sufficient for insertion in "N. & Q.:"

"Upon the mention of Mr. Freeman being appointed one of the four horse carriers to the university of Cambridge, we had the following paragraph:—'This was the office thatold Hobsonenjoyed, in which he acquired so large a fortune as enabled him to leave the town that ever-memorable legacy the conduit, that stands on the Market Hill, with an estate to keep it perpetually in repair. The same person gave rise to the well-known adage, 'Hobson's choice—this or none;' founded upon his management in business. He used to keep, it seems, hackney horses, that he let out to young gentlemen of the university, with whose characters being well acquainted, he suited his beast to its rider, who upon a dislike was sure to receive that answer from him, 'This or none.'"

J. W. G. G.

Khond Fable.—The following is a free version of a fable current among the Khonds of Oriosa, of whom a very interesting account is given by Captain Macpherson in theJournal of the Royal Asiatic Societyfor 1852:

"A mosquito was seated on the horn of a bull, and fearing that his weight might be oppressive to the quadruped, he politely accosted him, begging that, if he felt any inconvenience, he would mention it, and professing himself ready, in that case, to remove to some other position. The bull replied, 'O mosquito, so far are you from oppressing me with your weight, that I was not even aware of your existence.'"

The moral of this is common enough, but is the fable found elsewhere in a similarform?

J. C. R.

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart.—As those who have read the deeply interesting memoirs of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton are aware, he was placed at a school in Donnybrook in the year 1802, and shortly after "entered" the University of Dublin. His success in that seat of learning, where able competitors were many in number, was brilliant; for "on the 14th of April in the same year [1807], he received his thirteenth premium, and also the highest honour of the university,—the gold medal. With these distinctions, and the four silver medals from the Historical Society, he prepared to return to England." In fact, so high did his character stand, that a proposal was made to him by the electors (which, however, he deemed it prudent to decline) to come forward as a candidate for the representation of the university in the imperial parliament, and good grounds were given him to expect a triumphant return.

Now, this man was doubtless an honour to the "silent(?) sister" in Ireland; and, as an Irishman, I feel some little degree of pride in our having educated him so well for his subsequent career. With surprise, then, do I find, on referring to theDublin University Calendarfor the present year, the name of a "Mr.John PowellBuxton" in the list of gold medallists. The editor appears to be sadly ignorant of the proper person, and cannot lay the blunder at the printer's door, having very unaccountably repeated it from year to year. I have taken the trouble of examining many volumes of theCalendar.

Abhba

Anagrams.—I beg to forward the following:

"Antonius B. Magliabechius"

(He was the librarian at Florence, about the end of the sixteenth century). This name makes—

"Is unus Bibliotheca magna."

In the poems of some Jesuit father (Bacchusius, I think) the following rather offensive one is mentioned, on the celebrated father Costerus:

"Petrus Costerus Jesuita!"

i. e.

"Vere tu es asinus: ita!"

Philobiblion.

A few years since there was published aHistory of the Parish of Attleburgh, in Norfolk, by the then rector, Dr. Barrett. It is a very handsome volume in quarto, and reflects great credit upon the learning and taste of the reverend editor.

What I wish more particularly to allude to is an engraving of the seal of William de Albini, who was called "William with the Strong Hand;" of whom Dugdale records, that having distinguished himself at a tournament appointed by a queen of France, then a widow, she became so enamoured of him that she offered him marriage. But he, having plighted his troth to Adeliza, widow toKing Henry I. of England, refused her. In revenge for this refusal, the queen of France inveigled him into a den in the garden, where was a fierce lion. Being in this danger, he rolled his mantle about his arm, and putting his hand into the mouth of the beast, pulled out his tongue by the root; followed the queen to her palace, and gave it to one of her maids to present to her. Returning to England with the fame of this glorious exploit, he was forthwith advanced to the earldom of Arundel, and for his arms the lion given him.

Amongst the many illustrations in Dr. Barrett's book is the seal of this William de Albini, representing a knight on horseback, in the usual style of such knightly seals; but in front of the knight is a young lion, and under the feet of the horse some sort of animal of the lizard kind.

In elucidation of this seal, there is a long and elaborate note, with remarks by Mr. Hawkins of the British Museum, with a view of showing that the device on this seal alludes to the story of his combat with the lion.

The attempt to establish this point appears to me amusing; for there seems nothing on the face of the seal different from the usual seals of royal and knightly rank in ancient times.

It strikes me, that the true interpretation of this device, and the introduction of the lion and the lizard-like animal under the horse's feet, may be found in the 13th verse of Psalm xci.:

"Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet."

I should like to learn from some of your correspondents, whether this Psalm, or this portion of it, was used in the solemnities attendant on the installation of a knight, which would tend much to confirm my conjecture.

Senex.

The forms of an oath are different among different denominations of Christians. The Roman Catholics of the Continent swear by raising the hand; the Scotch Presbyterians follow the same practice. The Protestants of the Church of England are sworn on the Gospels; so also are the Irish Roman Catholics. The Quakers reject every form of oath, and confine themselves to a simple affirmation. Upon these points I beg leave to submit the following Queries.

1. What form of judicial oath was first sanctioned by the professors of Christianity as a body? It is stated in Haydn'sDictionary of Dates, that "oaths were taken on the Gospels so early asA.D.528." How were they taken before then?

2. Did the practice of swearing on the Gospels prevail in England before the Reformation? If not, at what period was it introduced?

3. When was that form of oath first adopted by the Irish; and was its adoption a voluntary proceeding on their part, or enforced by legislative enactment?

4. Was the practice of raising the hand in use in Scotland before the Reformation?

5. At what period was the latter form adopted by the Continental Christians, in lieu of the more solemn oath on the Gospels?

6. Are there now, or have there been at any former period, any forms of judicial oath in use among Christians, other than the forms above mentioned?

Henry H. Breen.

St. Lucia.

Passage in Boerhaave.—Will any of our readers kindly oblige me by theexact wordof a passage in Boerhaave, of which I cite the following from memory?—

"The only malady inherent in the human frame, is the decay of old age."

A Foreign Surgeon.

7. Charlotte Street, Bedford Square.

Story of Ezzelin.—Where is the story to be found from which Fuseli derived the subject for his remarkable picture of Ezzelin (Braccioferro) musing over the body of Meduna? It was engraved by J. R. Smith, and published by Jas. Birchel, 473. Strand, May, 1781. What has become of the original picture?

J. Sansom.

The Duke.—Can any of your readers tell me whether Sir Arthur Wellesley's speech in the House of Commons upon Mr. Paull's charge against his brother, was the first he made in Parliament?

Robert J. Allen.

Oxford.

General Sir Dennis Pack.—This gallant officer, who, in command of the light division of the Duke's army, distinguished himself in nearly every battle of the Peninsula, and finally at Waterloo, was descended from a younger son of Simon, son of Sir Christopher Pack, Alderman and Lord Mayor of London. The family was originally from Leicestershire. Sir Christopher, having advanced money for the reduction of theIrishrebels of 1641, received a grant of land in the county of Westmeath; and his younger son, Simon, settled in Ireland about that period. From this Simon descended Thomas Pack, Esq., ofBallinakillin the Queen's County, grandfather of Sir Dennis Pack.

As I have in the press aHistory of the Cathedral of St. Canice, Kilkenny, which latter contains a monument and a fine bust of Sir Dennis Pack by Chantrey, and of which his father the Rev. ThomasPack, D.D., was dean, any information which will enable me to complete the pedigree between Simon Pack and the above-named Thomas will be thankfully received.

James Graves.

Kilkenny.

Haveringemere.—Gervase of Tilbury, in the 4th book of hisOtia Imperialia, sect. 88., mentions a certain pond or mere lying near the confines of Wales, and named Haveringemere, of which the peculiarity is, that if a person passing over it in a boat utters, in a loud voice, certain opprobrious words, a commotion arises in the waters and sinks the boat. The words, as printed in the edition of Leibnitz (LeibnitiiScriptores Brunsvicenses, tom. i. p. 990.), are "Prout haveringemereautallethophe cunthefere;" which he explains to mean, "Phruttibi, mare, et omnibus qui te transfretant." He adds with great simplicity: "Et satis mirandum, quod aquæ hujus modi concipiunt indignationes." It is plain that we ought to read, "Phrut Haveringemere, and alle thai that on thee fere" (i. e.ferry).Phrutorprutis a word of contempt, of which Mr. Halliwell gives an instance,s. v.Prut, from an Harleian MS.: "And seythprutfor thy cursing prest." Is anything known of this mere at the present day, and is there any remnant of this old superstition? Gervase wrote his book anno 1211.

C. W. G.

Old Pictures of the Spanish Armada.—At Beddington Hall, famous for its fine banqueting-hall, in which Queen Elizabeth feasted, I have heard that there used to be one or more pictures of the Spanish Armada, presented by Elizabeth herself to the family resident there. Can any reader of "N. & Q." inform me whether these pictures (if more than one) are still in existence: if so, where they are, and whether they are to be seen? A large gilt lock, also presented by Queen Elizabeth, still remains on one of the doors of the said banqueting-hall.

J. S. A.

Old Broad Street.

Bell Inscription.—The following inscription occurs on two bells formerly belonging to St. Sepulchre's Church, Cambridge. I should be glad of an explanation:

"[DE]symbol like club sign[PVRI] SANTI EDMONDVS STEFANVS TOMMI ME FECIT [WL] 1576."

C. W. G.

Loselerius Villerius, &c.—I wish to know who was Loselerius Villerius, who edited an edition of the Greek Testament, with the Vulgate and Beza's Latin version (I think) in parallel columns. This edition seems to have been successful, as I have a copy of the third edition. The title-page of my copy is missing, but the dedication to Henry Earl of Huntingdon is dated "London, vi cal. Nov. 1573." Any information about Loselerius would be acceptable. I should also be glad to know whether the edition is considered at all valuable.

Whilst upon this subject, let me ask whether there is any list of editions of the Bible that can be looked upon as in any way complete? I have had occasion to refer to the Duke of Sussex's catalogue, but have there been unable to find all that I required. There is, for instance, in a friend's possession, a Bible which his family traditions maintain to be of great rarity. I find it catalogued nowhere, and should be glad to know if it is really so great a curiosity. It is a fine folio, profusely illustrated. I subjoin a copy of the title-page:

"The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, &c., with most profitable Annotations on all the hard Places, and other Things of great Importance; which Notes have never before been set forth with this new Translation, but are now placed in due order, with great Care and Industry. A Amsterdam, printed for Stephen Swart, at the Crowned Bible, on the West Side of the Exchange. 1679."

S. A. S.

Bridgewater.

The Vinegar Plant.—Is it indigenous or imported? Some botanists andsavanswho have examined the subject take the former view. I should be inclined to take the latter, for the following among other reasons:—First, because it is known that many specimens of ithave been so introducedfrom various quarters. Secondly, because in all the attempts to produce it that I have heard of, including some experiments made by myself, in no instance has a specimen been procured by means of any of the moulds that are of spontaneous growth in this country, which has entirely resembled the vinegar plant, or which has been so efficient in the production of vinegar. Thirdly, because in tropical and warm climates abnormal variations of vegetable productions are much more likely to originate, and to become naturalised, than in this country. If imported, perhaps some of your correspondents could say where it was originally brought from.

Fritz.

Westminster Parishes.—What are the names of the respective parishes in the city of Westminster in 1630; how far back do their records extend; and what charge would be made for a search in them? I wish to trace a family whose ancestor was born in that city, but in what parish I am ignorant. Were any churches inWestminster, as distinguished fromLondon, destroyed in the Great Fire?

Y. S. M

Dublin.

Harley Family.—Can any reader of your invaluable miscellany give an account of Thomas Harley, citizen of London, who died in the year 1670, ætat. fifty-six? The Thomas Harley referred to possessed good estate in the county of Leicester,particularly at Osgathorpe, Walton-on-Wolds, Snibston, and Heather. He founded a hospital at Osgathorpe, and endowed the same at 60l.for the maintenance and support of six clergymen's widows. Moreover he also erected a free-school, which he endowed with 60l.a year. He married Mary, widow of William Kemp, citizen of London. His daughter, and sole heiress, married into the family of Bainbrigge of Lockington Hall, county of Leicester; which alliance carried with it the estate of Thomas Harley into that family.

The arms of Thomas Harley are: Crest, a lion's head rampant; shield, Or, bend cotized sable.

Is the foregoing family a branch of that of Herefordshire, now ennobled; or does it come down from one of the name anterior to the time when such earldom was made patent, viz. from Sir Richard Harley, 28 Edward I.: whose armorial bearings, according to one annalist, is mentioned asOr, bend cotized sable?

Brian de Harley, son of Sir Robert Harley, in the reign of Henry IV., changed his crest; which was a buck's head proper, to a lion rampant, gules, issuing out of a tower, triple towered proper.

Aldrorandus.

Leicester.

Lord Cliff.—In 1645, James Howell published hisEpistolæ Ho-Elianæ; amongst the letters was one on Wines, addressed to the Right Hon. Lord Cliff. Who was he? The letter is dated Oct. 7, 1634.

Y. S. M

Dublin.

Enough.—Was this word always pronounced as at present,enuf? I am inclined to think not; for Waller, in his poem "On a War with Spain," rhymes it withbough:

"Let the brave generals divide that bough,Our great Protector hath such wreathsenough."

"Let the brave generals divide that bough,

Our great Protector hath such wreathsenough."

And again, in his "Answer to Sir John Suckling's Verses," he couples it withplough, in those anti-Malthusian lines:

"The world is of a large extent we see,And must be peopled: children there must be!—So must bread too; but since there areenoughBorn to that drudgery, what need we plough?"

"The world is of a large extent we see,

And must be peopled: children there must be!—

So must bread too; but since there areenough

Born to that drudgery, what need we plough?"

When did the change of pronunciation take place? Perhaps some reader of "N. & Q." can also give the etymology of the word.

Robert Wright.

Archbishop Magee.—In a committee of the House of Lords, 1825, Lord Holland asked Archbishop Magee: "Does your grace really think that there is any person capable of holding such a monstrous opinion, as that the Roman Catholic religion is idolatrous?" The Archbishop calmly fixed his eyes on Lord Holland's countenance, and replied "My Lord,some have sworn to it."—I only quote so much of the anecdote (which your readers will find in Archbishop Magee'sWorks, vol. i. p. 67., 1842) as my purpose requires.

As reported inThe Times, on April 18, 1853, Lord Lansdown, speaking of an old committee in the House of Lords, said:

"During those two days, a right reverend prelate was examined; and he was required to state upon oath whether the Creed of St. Athanasius was necessary to salvation. The reply was, 'He would not say whether it was that, but a great many persons had sworn that it was.'"

Some correspondent may be able to state whether these two extracts pertain or not to one and the same occurrence, and which is the true version.

Indagator.

Carpets at Rome.—In a cutting from a newspaper or periodical, apparently of the year 1790, narrating an accident that happened to Lady Augusta Clavering, daughter of the Duke of Argyle (whilst staying at Rome) by her muslin dress catching fire, it is said:

"Fortunately, the gentlemen did not lose their presence of mind; and there happening to be a carpet in the room,a thing very uncommon in that that country, they covered her with it," &c.

Can any of your readers oblige me by informing me whether it is a fact, that the luxury of a carpet wasvery uncommonat Rome at the period referred to; and when carpets were first introduced at Rome?

L. A. M.

Great Yarmouth.

Nursery Rhymes.—Can you or any of your correspondents tell me where I shall find an account of the origin of our common nursery rhymes? Is there not reason to believe that many of them are of great antiquity?

Oxford.

Gloves at Fairs.—I think that I have read that at some large fair it was customary to hang out on the town-hall a large gilt glove, as a token of freedom from arrest for debt during the period that the fair lasted. Can any of your correspondents inform me if such was the case, and where? In Halliwell'sDictionary, "hoisting the glove" is said to be practised at Lammas Fair, in Devonshire: but why? In the east of England certain village fairs are calledGants,—Mattishall Gant, &c. Forby derives this from A.-S.gan, to go; but may it not have some reference to the Frenchgants, gloves?

E. G. R.

Mr. Caryl or Caryll.—Every one knows that theRape of the Lockwas written at the request ofMr. Caryl, stated by Pope to have been private secretary to James II.'s queen before theRevolution. It also appears in the Prolegomena to theLife of James, that two royal warrants issued at St. Germains by the abdicated monarch and his son the Pretender in 1701 and 1707, are counter-signedCaryllas Secretary of State. Is there any doubt that this is the same person; and if not, is there any account of when and on what terms he returned to England? where he must have been again domiciled in 1711, and some years after, during which period he corresponded with Pope. His family was settled near East Grinstead, in Sussex.

Early Reaping-machines.—Have the former Numbers of "N. & Q." contained an account of the invention of a reaping-machine in the last century, similar in design and construction to the one lately invented in America? A friend of mine has in his possession a work, entitledThe Complete Farmer, or a General Dictionary of Husbandry; containing the various methods of improving the land, &c., together with great variety of new discoveries and improvements, the 4th edition, by a society of gentlemen. There is no date on the title-page; but from internal evidence, I am led to think that the work was not published before 1780. If it be thought desirable, I shall be happy to send an extract from the work, giving an account of the machine, or, if drawings be admitted into the pages of "N. & Q.," the work might be sent to the Editor.

H. D. W.

"Diary of a Self-Observer."—

"Augustine'sConfessionsmay be in some degree compared with thePrivate Diary of a Self-Observer(Geheimes Tagebuch von einem Beobachter seiner selbst) which has in our own days been read with so great eagerness and sympathy. Not as if the celebrated author of the latter work did not in many ways deserve a preference above the African bishop," &c.—Schröckh'sKirchengeschichte, xv. 376.: Leipzig, 1790.

What is the book here meant, and by whom was it written?

J. C. R.

[ThisDiaryis by the celebrated John Caspar Lavater, author ofEssays on Physiognomy. In 1769 he commenced it under the title ofSecret Journal of a Self-Observer. In the following year it fell into the hands of a stranger, and from him it was transmitted to Zollikofer, with such alterations, however, as to conceal the real author. Zollikofer, thinking that it contained much useful matter, had it printed; and among others, sent a copy of it to his friend Lavater, who was beyond measure astonished at the sight. However, as it was now before the world in a somewhat disfigured state, Lavater edited it with the necessary alterations, and with an additional volume: Leipsic, 1771 and 1773. In 1795, the German original was translated into English by the Rev. Peter Will, of the Reformed German Chapel in the Savoy, in two vols. 8vo. Prefixed to the second volume is a letter from Lavater to the editor, with the editor's reply. See Chalmers'sBiographical Dictionary, s. v., and Heisch'sMemoirs of John Caspar Lavater, pp. 58-60.]

Jockey.—Mr. Borrow, in his Introduction toThe Gypsies of Spain, says:

"The English gypsies are constant attendants at the race-course. What jockey is not? Perhaps jockeyism originated with them, and even racing, at least in England. Jockeyism properly impliesthe management of a whip; and the wordjockeyis neither more nor less than the term, slightly modified, by which they designate the formidable whip which they usually carry, at present in general use amongst horse-traffickers under the title of jockey-whips."

Can any of your correspondents give the derivation ofjockey?

Q. Q.

[Most etymologists derive it fromJackey, a diminutive of the Scotch termJock, orJack, John: primarily, a boy that rides horses.]

Boyle Lectures.—In that valuable and well-executed work, now publishing by Darling of Great Queen Street, called theCyclopædia Bibliographica, a list of the preachers of the Boyle Lecture is given. The list is very nearly complete, the preachers during the following years only being marked "Unknown:"—1729, 1733-5, 1746, 1753-5, 1764-5. With these few omissions, the names of preachers from 1692 to 1807 are given without exception. Will some of your correspondents kindly supply the hiatus above referred to? Possibly the lectures for those years were not printed, as was the case very frequently (see columns 405. 406.Cyc. Bibl.)—so there may be some slight difficulty in identifying the preachers.

W. Sparrow Simpson, B.A.

[The same omissions occur in theOxford Catalogue, 1837, so that it is a probable conjecture they were never printed.]

(Vol. iii., pp. 161. 261. 340.; Vol. iv., p. 282.; Vol. vii., p. 354.)

I am glad to see that a subject to which I have at various times attempted to turn public attention, has at least been responded to by one voice. When the "N. & Q." was first established, I felt that there was now at least one place where it was possible to print historical documents of various kinds, and no one can deny that at various times very interesting and important papers have been made publicly available, which might otherwise have escaped notice. I may instance a very interesting account of the inquest on Chatterton, which I have myself, in a sketch of that ill-fatedyouth's fate, been the first to make use of for biographical purposes.

It is still my conviction that at some time or other an association for such purposes will be formed, and I must attain earnestly entreat those persons whose position would command assistance, and whose learning and opportunities would aid the cause I am advocating, to give some sign of their favourable intention toward such a scheme. I must once more place this very important matter before the eyes of the public; I trust that my appeal may not be in vain.

See how in other cases, when something offers itself promising amusement and instruction, societies can be formed and spring into life and activity at once. For instance, I might adduce the beautiful and useful processes of photography; within the short space of a few months the art has been brought to a high decree of excellence: a Photographical Institute is, I believe, now in active working, there is a photographical journal, besides the continued and unwearying co-operation of "N. & Q." itself. Why may not historical documents have something of the same sort? For a slight sum (but a few shillings a year), if the reading public were willing, such a society might be founded, and many invaluable documents of every description placed where they would be available for the historian, for the archæologist, for the editor, and for the general inquirer.

Let me hope that something may be proposed; I have myself hunted through dusty MS. folios, quartos, duodecimos innumerable, and my investigations have not been wholly useless.

If there be any who look with a favourable eye upon these hints, I shall be glad to hear from them.

Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie.

68. Mortimer Street.

(Vol. vii., pp. 393. 417.)

Perhaps a few lines from a fellow-collegian of Reginald Heber, during his last years of residence at Brazenoze College, may throw light on this discussion.

My contemporary MS. copy ofThe Whippiadcontains Heber'sown notes, additional ones by myself, explanatory of places and persons mentioned, autographs of the latter, and Blackwood's printed copy (the subject of inquiry), No. 333., July, 1843.

Thenotessubjoined to Blackwood's printed copy areHeber's notes, varying only from my MS. copy in immaterial points.

As to theepigrammentioned in p. 417., the two first stanzas were by Heber, and written (as I think) after his election to All Souls. The third was attributed to Mr. Wilson, the learned High Master of Clithero School.

Very manyjeux d'espritby Heber, relative to convivialities and passing events in Brazenoze and All Souls, live in the memory and MSS. of his surviving friends; but their amiable author would doubtless have wished them to be forgotten, with the subjects to which they related. The forbearance of Mr. Halliwell made him vainly anxious for the suppression ofThe Whippiad.

I subjoin from Heber's autograph a Song for a Bow Meeting, near St. Asaph, in or about 1808. It has an airy freshness, and is (as I believe) unpublished.

Lancastriensis.

I.The Soldier loves the laurel bright,The Bard the myrtle bough,And smooth shillalas yield delightTo many an Irish brow.The Fisher trims the hazel wand,The Crab may tame a shrew,The Birch becomes the pedant's hand,But Bows are made of yew.CHORUS.The yew, the yew, the hardy yew!Still greenly may it grow,And health and funHave everyoneThat loves the British Bow.II.'Tis sweet to sit by Beauty's sideBeneath the hawthorn shade;But Beauty is more beautifulIn green and buff array'd.More radiant are her laughing eyes,Her cheeks of ruddier glow,As, hoping for the envied prize,She twangs the Cambrian bow.The yew, the yew, &c.III.The Fop may curl his Brutus wig,And sandy whiskers stain,And fold his cravat broad and big;But all his arts are vain.His nankeen trowsers we despise,Unfit for rain or dew,And, pinch'd in stays, he vainly triesHis strength against the yew.The yew, the yew, &c.IV.The heiress, once, of Bowdale Hall,A lovely lass, I knew—A Dandy paid his morning call,All dizen'd out to woo.I heard his suit the Coxcomb ply;I heard her answer—"No;"A true love knot he ne'er could tie,Who could not bend a bow.The yew, the yew, &c.

The Soldier loves the laurel bright,The Bard the myrtle bough,And smooth shillalas yield delightTo many an Irish brow.The Fisher trims the hazel wand,The Crab may tame a shrew,The Birch becomes the pedant's hand,But Bows are made of yew.

The Soldier loves the laurel bright,

The Bard the myrtle bough,

And smooth shillalas yield delight

To many an Irish brow.

The Fisher trims the hazel wand,

The Crab may tame a shrew,

The Birch becomes the pedant's hand,

But Bows are made of yew.

CHORUS.

The yew, the yew, the hardy yew!Still greenly may it grow,And health and funHave everyoneThat loves the British Bow.

The yew, the yew, the hardy yew!

Still greenly may it grow,

And health and fun

Have everyone

That loves the British Bow.

II.

'Tis sweet to sit by Beauty's sideBeneath the hawthorn shade;But Beauty is more beautifulIn green and buff array'd.More radiant are her laughing eyes,Her cheeks of ruddier glow,As, hoping for the envied prize,She twangs the Cambrian bow.

'Tis sweet to sit by Beauty's side

Beneath the hawthorn shade;

But Beauty is more beautiful

In green and buff array'd.

More radiant are her laughing eyes,

Her cheeks of ruddier glow,

As, hoping for the envied prize,

She twangs the Cambrian bow.

The yew, the yew, &c.

III.

The Fop may curl his Brutus wig,And sandy whiskers stain,And fold his cravat broad and big;But all his arts are vain.His nankeen trowsers we despise,Unfit for rain or dew,And, pinch'd in stays, he vainly triesHis strength against the yew.

The Fop may curl his Brutus wig,

And sandy whiskers stain,

And fold his cravat broad and big;

But all his arts are vain.

His nankeen trowsers we despise,

Unfit for rain or dew,

And, pinch'd in stays, he vainly tries

His strength against the yew.

The yew, the yew, &c.

IV.

The heiress, once, of Bowdale Hall,A lovely lass, I knew—A Dandy paid his morning call,All dizen'd out to woo.I heard his suit the Coxcomb ply;I heard her answer—"No;"A true love knot he ne'er could tie,Who could not bend a bow.

The heiress, once, of Bowdale Hall,

A lovely lass, I knew—

A Dandy paid his morning call,

All dizen'd out to woo.

I heard his suit the Coxcomb ply;

I heard her answer—"No;"

A true love knot he ne'er could tie,

Who could not bend a bow.

The yew, the yew, &c.

(Vol. vii., p. 286.)

Leaving the philosophy of this question for thesavans, I beg to add the following to the alleged cases already referred to. Dr. Lindsley has compiled a table of nineteen instances, from theDictionnaire de Médecine,—not, however, ofspontaneouscombustion exactly, but of something akin to it; namely, the rapid ignition of the human body (whichper seis not combustible) by contact with flame, as a consequence of the saturation of its tissues by alcohol:

No.

Works in which they are reported.

By whom.

Date of Occurrence.

Age of the Individual.

Extent of the Combustion.

Immediate Cause when known.

Habit of Life.

Situation of the Remains &c.

Actes de Copenhagen

Jacobeus

1692

—

The whole body, except the skull and last joints of the fingers

—

Abuse of spirits for three years

Upon a chair.

Annual Register

Blanchin de Verone

1763

Except the skull, a part of the face, and three fingers

Took fire through sitting near a lamp

Indulged in frequent fomentation of camphorated spirits

Upon the floor.

Ibid.

Wilmer

—

Except thigh and one leg

A light upon a chair near the bed

Took a pint of rum daily

Upon the floor near the bed.

Ency. Method.

—

Except a few bones

—

Habitually drunken.

Acta Medica

—

Except the skull and fingers

—

She drank brandy as her only drink

Mem. on Spon. Com.

Lecat

1744

Except a part of the head and limbs

A pipe which she was smoking

A drunkard

Near the chimney.

Ibid.

1745

—

Ibid.

A fire

Habitually drunken

Upon the hearth.

Ibid.

1749

A charred skeleton only left

Fire of the hearth

Drank brandy only for many years

Sitting on a chair near the fire.

Jour. de Méd.

—

1779

—

Except a few bones, a hand, and a foot

A foot-stove under her feet

A drunkard.

Ibid.

—

1782

Ibid.

A fire of the hearth

Ibid.

Upon the hearth.

Revue Médicale

Julia Fontenelle

1820

Except the skull and a portion of skin

A candle

Abuse of wine and Eau de Cologne

In bed.

Ibid.

1830

Except the right leg

Ibid.

In the same bed. Both burnt together.

—

Gen. William Kepland

—

Very old

Almost wholly consumed

A lighted pipe

—

Upon the floor.

Journal de Florence

Joseph Battaylia

1786

—

Skin of right arm and right thigh only burnt

—

Upon the floor. He lived four days after.

Revue Méd.

Robertson

1799

—

Combustion incomplete

—

Abuse of brandy

Upon a bench.

Ibid.

M. Marchand

—

Hand and thigh only burnt

—

Cured.

Journal Hosp. Hamp.

—

One finger of right hand only burnt

A candle

—

Cured.

—

Alph. Devengee

1829

Muscles of thighs, superior extremities and trunk burnt

A footstove

Abuse of spirits

Upon a chair.

Dic. de Médecine

—

Combustion almost complete

A footstove

Ibid.

Upon the floor.

The following case is related, on the authority of Dr. Schofield, Upper Canada, in theJournal of the American Temperance Unionfor March, 1837:—A young man, aged twenty-five, had been an habitual drunkard for many years. One evening at about eleven o'clock he went to a blacksmith's shop: he was then full of liquor, though not thoroughly drunk. The blacksmith, who had just crossed the road, was suddenly alarmed by the breaking forth of a brilliant conflagration in his shop. He rushed across, and threw open the door, and there stood the man, erect, in the midst of a widely-extended silver-coloured flame, bearing, as he described it, exactly the appearance of the wick of a burning candle in the midst of its own flame. He seized him by the shoulder, and jerked him to the door, and the flame was instantly extinguished. There was no fire in the shop, and no articles likely to cause combustion within reach of the individual. In the course of a short time a general sloughing came on, and the flesh was almost wholly removed in the dressing, leaving the bones and a few of the large blood-vessels standing. The blood nevertheless rallied round the heart, and life continued to the thirteenth day, when he died, a loathsome, ill-featured, and disgusting object. His shrieks and cries were described as truly horrible.

Some information will be found in Nos. 44. and 56. of an old magazine calledThe Hive,—a book which may be found in the British Museum. Two cases have occurred recently, one in 1851 at Paris,and one last year somewhere in the north. Both may be found by reference to the newspapers.

Shirley Hibberd.

(Vol. vii., p. 269.)

Lord Braybrookespeaks of atraditionof Major-General Lambert's having been imprisoned in Cornet Castle, in the island of Guernsey, after the Restoration. The following documents, copies of which exist in Guernsey, will prove that he really was kept as a prisoner in that island:

Charles R.Upon suite made unto us by Mrs. Lambert, for liberty for herself and children to goe to and remaine wthher husband Collonell Lambert yorprisoner, Wee, graciously inclyninge to gratifye her in that request, have thought fitt to signify our royall pleasure to you in that particular, willing and requiring you, upon sight hereof, to suffer the said Mrs. Lambert, her three children, and three maid-servants, to goe and remaine wththe said Mr. Lambert, under the same confinement he himselfe is, untill orfurther pleasure be knowne. And for soe doinge this shalbe yrwarrant. Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 17thday Febr., 1661/2.By his MatsComand,Edw. Nicholas.

Charles R.

Upon suite made unto us by Mrs. Lambert, for liberty for herself and children to goe to and remaine wthher husband Collonell Lambert yorprisoner, Wee, graciously inclyninge to gratifye her in that request, have thought fitt to signify our royall pleasure to you in that particular, willing and requiring you, upon sight hereof, to suffer the said Mrs. Lambert, her three children, and three maid-servants, to goe and remaine wththe said Mr. Lambert, under the same confinement he himselfe is, untill orfurther pleasure be knowne. And for soe doinge this shalbe yrwarrant. Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 17thday Febr., 1661/2.

By his MatsComand,Edw. Nicholas.

To our right trusty and welbeloved CounsellorSrHugh Pollard, Kntand Bart, Governorof our Island of Guernsey and Castle there, or to other our Governorfor yetyme beinge, and in his absence to his Deputy Governor.This is a true copie of his Mat'sWarrant.(Signed)Hugh Pollarde.

This is a true copie of his Mat'sWarrant.

(Signed)Hugh Pollarde.

[In dorso.]

The King's order for Lambert's children.

In 1662, Christopher Lord Hatton was appointed Governor of Guernsey, upon which the following warrant was issued:

Charles R.Our will and pleasure is, That you take into your custody the person of John Lambert, commonly called Collonell Lambert, and keepe him close prisoner, as a condemned traytor, untill further order from us, for which this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Hampton Court, this 25thday of July, 1662.By his Maty'sComand,Edw. Nicholas.To our trusty and welbeloved Councellor yeLord Hatton, Governor of our Island of Guernsey, and to the Lieutenant Governorthereof or his Deputy.Lambert to Guernsey.

Charles R.

Our will and pleasure is, That you take into your custody the person of John Lambert, commonly called Collonell Lambert, and keepe him close prisoner, as a condemned traytor, untill further order from us, for which this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Hampton Court, this 25thday of July, 1662.

By his Maty'sComand,Edw. Nicholas.

To our trusty and welbeloved Councellor yeLord Hatton, Governor of our Island of Guernsey, and to the Lieutenant Governorthereof or his Deputy.

Lambert to Guernsey.

Four months later the following order was issued:

Charles R.Our will and pleasure is, That from sight hereof you give such liberty and indulgence to Collonell John Lambert your prisoner, within the precincts of that our island, as will consist with the security of his person, and as in your discretion you shall think fitt; and that this favour be continued to him till you receive our order to the contrary, allwayes understood, that he the sayd Collonell Lambert show himself worthy thereof in his comportment, and entertaine noe correspondencyes to the prejudice of our service, for which this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Whitehall, November the eighteenth, one thousand six hundred sixty-two,By his Matscommand,Henrye Bennet.To our trusty and well-beloved Counsellor the Lord Hatton, our governrof our Island of Guernsey, to his Leiftenant Governour, or other officer commanding in chief there.Liberty of the Island to Mr. Lambert.[In dorso.]The King's order for Mr. Lambert's liberty.

Charles R.

Our will and pleasure is, That from sight hereof you give such liberty and indulgence to Collonell John Lambert your prisoner, within the precincts of that our island, as will consist with the security of his person, and as in your discretion you shall think fitt; and that this favour be continued to him till you receive our order to the contrary, allwayes understood, that he the sayd Collonell Lambert show himself worthy thereof in his comportment, and entertaine noe correspondencyes to the prejudice of our service, for which this shall be your warrant. Given at our Court at Whitehall, November the eighteenth, one thousand six hundred sixty-two,

By his Matscommand,Henrye Bennet.

To our trusty and well-beloved Counsellor the Lord Hatton, our governrof our Island of Guernsey, to his Leiftenant Governour, or other officer commanding in chief there.

Liberty of the Island to Mr. Lambert.

[In dorso.]

The King's order for Mr. Lambert's liberty.

In Rees'sCyclopædia, art.Amaryllis, sect. 27.,A. Sarniensis, Guernsey lily, I find the following statement: "It was cultivated at Wimbledon, in England, by General Lambert, in 1659." As Guernsey, during the civil wars, sided with the Parliament, it is probable that Lambert procured the roots from some friend in the island.

The exact date of his arrival as a prisoner in Guernsey is fixed by a sort of journal kept by Pierre Le Roy, schoolmaster and parish clerk of St. Martin de la Bellouse in that island, who says:

"Le 17ede 9vembre, 1661, est arrivé au Château Cornet, Jean Lambert, générall des rebelles sectères en Angleterre, ennemy du roy, et y est constitué prisonnier pour sa vie."

There is no tradition in the island of his having died there. I remember to have read, but cannot at present remember where, that he died a Roman Catholic.

Edgar MacCulloch.

Guernsey.

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