Queries.

"Stranger! to whom this monument is shown,Invoke the poet's curse upon Malone!Whose meddling zeal his barbarous taste displays,And smears his tombstone, as he marr'd his plays.R. F.Oct. 2, 1810."

"Stranger! to whom this monument is shown,

Invoke the poet's curse upon Malone!

Whose meddling zeal his barbarous taste displays,

And smears his tombstone, as he marr'd his plays.

R. F.

Oct. 2, 1810."

This has just now been brought to my mind by reading, in page 155. of the second volume of Moore's Journal, the following account of a conversation at Bowood:

"Talked of Malone—a dull man—his whitewashing the statue of Shakspeare, at Leamington or Stratford (?), and General Fitzpatrick's (Lord L.'s uncle) epigram on the subject—very good—'And smears his statue as he mars his lays.'"

"Talked of Malone—a dull man—his whitewashing the statue of Shakspeare, at Leamington or Stratford (?), and General Fitzpatrick's (Lord L.'s uncle) epigram on the subject—very good—

'And smears his statue as he mars his lays.'"

I cannot but observe that the doubt expressed in the Diary of Moore—whether Shakspeare's monument is "at Leamington or Stratford (?)"—is curious, and I conceive my version of the last line, besides being more correct, is also more pithy. It is incorrect, moreover, to call it astatue, as it is a three-quarters bust in a niche in the wall.

The extract fromMoore's Diary, however, satisfactorily explains the initials "R. F.," which have hitherto puzzled me.

Senex.

Archbishop Leighton and Pope: Curious Coincidence of Thought and Expression.—

"Were the true visage of sin seen at a full light, undressed and unpainted, it were impossible, while it so appeared, that any one soul could be in love with it, but would rather flee from it as hideous and abominable."—Leighton'sWorks, vol. i. p. 121.

Vice is a monster of such hideous mien,As to be hated, needs but to be seen."—Pope.

Vice is a monster of such hideous mien,

As to be hated, needs but to be seen."—Pope.

James Cornish.

Grant of Slaves.—I send you a copy of a grant of a slave with his children, by William, the Lion King of Scotland, to the monks of Dunfermline, taken from theCart. de Dunfermline, fol. 13., printed by the Bannatyne Club from a MS. in the Advocates' Library here, which you may, perhaps, think curious enough to insert in "N. & Q."

"De Servis."Willielmus Dei gracia Rex Scottorum. Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre me, clericis et laicis, salutem: Sciant presentis et futuri me dedisse et concessisse et hac carta mea confirmasse, Deo et ecclesie Sancte Trinitatis de Dunfermlene et Abbati et Monachis ibidem, Deo servientibus in liberam et perpetuam elemosinam, Gillandream Macsuthen et ejus liberos et illos eis quietos clamasse, de me, et heredibus meis, in perpetuum. Testibus Waltero de Bid, Cancellario; Willielmo filio Alani, Dapifero; Roberto Aveneli Gillexio Rennerio, Willielmo Thoraldo, apud Strivelin."

"De Servis.

"Willielmus Dei gracia Rex Scottorum. Omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre me, clericis et laicis, salutem: Sciant presentis et futuri me dedisse et concessisse et hac carta mea confirmasse, Deo et ecclesie Sancte Trinitatis de Dunfermlene et Abbati et Monachis ibidem, Deo servientibus in liberam et perpetuam elemosinam, Gillandream Macsuthen et ejus liberos et illos eis quietos clamasse, de me, et heredibus meis, in perpetuum. Testibus Waltero de Bid, Cancellario; Willielmo filio Alani, Dapifero; Roberto Aveneli Gillexio Rennerio, Willielmo Thoraldo, apud Strivelin."

G. H. S.

Edinburgh.

Sealing-wax.—The most careful persons will occasionally drop melting sealing-wax on their fingers. The first impulse of every one is to pull it off, which is followed by a blister. The proper course is to let the wax cool on the finger; the pain is much less, and there is no blister.

Uneda.

Philadelphia.

In Hasted'sHistory of Kent, vol. iv. p. 172., folio edition, we have as follows:

"Walmer, probably so calledquasi vallum maris, i. e. the wall or fortification made against the sea, was expressed to have been a member of the port of Sandwich time out of mind," &c.

Again, p. 165., notem, we find:

"Before these three castles were built, there were, between Deal and Walmer Castle, two eminences of earth, called 'The Great and Little Bulwark;' and another, between the north end of Deal and Sandwich Castle (all of which are now remaining): and there was probably one about the middle of the town, and others on the spots where the castles were erected. They had embrasures for guns, and together formed a defensive line of batteries along that part of the coast," &c.

To the new building of these castles Leland alludes, in hisCygnea Cantio:

"Jactat Dela novas celebris arcesNotus Cæsareis locus trophæis."—Ver. 565.

"Jactat Dela novas celebris arces

Notus Cæsareis locus trophæis."—Ver. 565.

There are clear remains of a Roman entrenchment close to Walmer Castle. (SeeHasted, vol. iv. p. 162., notes.)

Any of your correspondents who could give me any information tending to show that an old fortification had existed on the site of Walmer Castle, previous to the erection of the present edifice—or evenalmostupon the same site—would do me a very great kindness if he would communicate it, through the columns of "N. & Q.," or by a private letter sent to the Editor.

C. Waymor.

Can any of your readers throw any light on this passage in Dr. Johnson'sLife of Sir John Denham?

"He [Sir John Denham] now resided in France, as one of the followers of the exiled king; and, to divertthe melancholy of their condition, was sometimes enjoined by his master to write occasional verses; one of which amusements was probably his ode or song upon the Embassy to Poland, by which he and Lord Crofts procured a contribution of ten thousand pounds from the Scotch, that wandered over that kingdom. Poland was at that time very much frequented by itinerant traders, who, in a country of very little commerce and of great extent, where every man resided on his own estate, contributed very much to the accommodation of life, by bringing to every man's house those little necessaries which it was very inconvenient to want, and very troublesome to fetch. I have formerly read, without much reflection, of the multitude of Scotchmen that travelled with their wares in Poland; and that their numbers were not small, the success of this negociation gives sufficient evidence."

The title of Denham's poem is "On my Lord Crofts' and my journey into Poland, from whence we brought 10,000l.for his Majesty by the decimation of his Scottish subjects there."

Peter Cunningham.

In the library at this island, which formerly belonged to the Knights of Malta, there is an edition of Walton's Polyglott Bible, which was published in London in 1657. This work is in a most perfect state of preservation.

On the title-page of the first of the eleven volumes, there is written, in a bold and perfectly legible manner, the following words:

"Liber Coll. Di Joannis BaptaOxon Ex dono Reverendiss. in XtoPatris GviliJvxon Archiep. Cantvariensis. AoDni1663."

Just below, but on the right of the above, there is written in a clear hand as follows:

"Ex Libris domus Abbatialis S. Antonij Viennensis, Catalogo Inscript an. 1740. No. 11."

That the question which I shall ask at the end of this Note may be the more easily answered, it will perhaps be necessary for me to state, that in the year 1777, Rohan, the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, succeeded in annexing the property belonging to the Order of St. Antonio de Vienna to that of Malta. In accepting of these estates, which were situated in France and Savoy, Rohan bound himself to pay the many mortgages and debts with which they were encumbered; and so large an amount had to be thus defrayed, that for a hundred years the convent would not be reimbursed for its advances, and receive the 120,000 livres, at which sum their annual rental would then be valued. Of the foundation of this Order a recent writer (Thornton) thus remarks:

"In 1095 some nobles of Dauphiny united for the relief of sufferers from a kind of leprosy called St. Anthony's fire, which society, in 1218, was erected into a religious body of Hospitallers, having a grand master for chief. This order, after many changes in its constitution, having been left the option between extinction and secularisation, or union with another order, accepted the latter alternative, and selected that of St. John of Jerusalem."

Among the moveable effects which came to the Knights of Malta by this arrangement, was a small and well-selected library, and in it this edition of Walton's Bible.

Without, therefore, writing more at length on this subject, which might take up too much space in "N. & Q.," I would simply add, that my attention was called to this work by the Rev. Mr. Howe, chaplain of H.B.M. ship "Britannia," and for the purpose of asking, At what time, by whom, and in what manner, were these volumes removed from St. John's College at Oxford, and transferred to the library of the Order of St. Antonio de Vienna in France?

W. W.

La Valetta, Malta.

Was Andrew Marvell poisoned?—I have just been reading the three ponderous quarto volumes comprisingThe Worksof Andrew Marvell, as collected and edited by his townsman, Capt. Edward Thompson of Hull. In the "Life," near the end of vol. iii., we are told that the patriot died on Aug. 16, 1678, "and by poison for he was healthful and vigorous to the moment he was seized with the premeditated ruin." And again, in a summary of his merits, we are told that "all these patriot virtues were insufficient to guard him against the jesuitical machinations of thestate; for what vice and bribery could not influence, was perpetrated by poison." This heinous crime, so formally averred against the enemies of Marvell, may have been committed by "some person or persons unknown;" but, as not a tittle of evidence is adduced or indicated by the zealous biographer in support of the charge—Query, had it any foundation in fact? In the court, and out of the court, the anti-popish, anti-prelatical Puritan had enemies numerous and bitter enough; but is there really any other ground for the abominable imputation of foul play alluded to, beyond his actually sudden death? Is the hypothesis of poison coeval with the date of Marvell's demise? If so, was there any official inquiry—any "crowner's quest?" Surely his admiring compatriots on the banks of the Humber did not at once quietly sit down with the conviction, thatthus"fell one of the first characters of this kingdom or of any other."

Anonymous Pamphlet by Dr. Wallis(Vol. vii., p. 403.).—WillMr. Crossleyhave the kindness to give the title of the anonymous pamphlet which, he informs us, was published by Dr. John Wallisin defence of the Oxford decree of 1695, on the subject of the Trinity?

Tyro.

Dublin.

Mrs. Cobb's Diary.—Can any of your readers give me any information as to the following book,Extracts from the Diary and Letters of Mrs. Mary Cobb: London, printed by C. and R. Baldwin, 1805, 8vo., pp. 324.; said to beprivately printed?

John Martin.

Roxfield, Bedfordshire.

Compass Flower.—

"Look at this delicate flower that lifts its head from the meadow—See how its leaves all point to the north, as true as the magnet;It is the compass flower, that the finger of God has suspendedHere on its fragile stalk, to direct the traveller's journeyOver the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the desert."Evangeline, Part II.IV. line 140., &c.

"Look at this delicate flower that lifts its head from the meadow—

See how its leaves all point to the north, as true as the magnet;

It is the compass flower, that the finger of God has suspended

Here on its fragile stalk, to direct the traveller's journey

Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the desert."

Evangeline, Part II.IV. line 140., &c.

Where can I find a description of this flower, and what is its scientific name?

In Abercrombie'sIntellectual Powers, p. 49. edit. 1846, I find the following passage:

"The American hunter finds his way in the trackless forests by attention to minute appearances in the trees, which indicate to him the points of the compass."

Can any one tell me what these "minute appearances" are?

A. H. Battier.

East Sheen, Surrey.

Nuns of the Hotel Dieu.—What is the religions habit of the nuns at the hospital of the Hotel Dieu in Paris at the present day?

M. L.

Purlieu.—Some of your correspondents seem afraid that an attempt to repair the deficiencies of our English dictionaries, by research into disputed etymologies in "N. & Q.," would tend to produce too much and too tedious discussion, and fill its space too much. Couldthis, at least, not be done without much objection? Could we not co-operate in finding the earliest known mention of words, and thus perhaps trace the occasion and manner of their introduction?

At any rate, this wordpurlieuis certainly in want of some examination. Johnson has adopted the wretched etymology ofpur, Fr. for pure, andlieu, Fr. for place; and he defines it as a place on the outskirts of a forest free of wood.

The earliest record in which this word occurs, so far as I have seen, is in an act of Edward III., quoted by Manwood, and it is there speltpuraley; and it relates to the disafforested parts which several preceding kings permitted to be detached from their royal forests.

Might I ask if any of your correspondents find an earlier use of the word; and can it be gifted with a probable paternity?

The tracing of the earliest known mention of disputed words is a task capable of being finished, and might perhaps be attended, in many cases, with happy results. It would rid us probably of many puerilities which degrade our current dictionaries.

M. C. E.

Jennings Family.—Some time since I requested as a great favour that your correspondentPercuriosuswould kindly inform me where I could get a sight of the Spoure MSS. I repeat that I should feel greatly obliged if he would do so: and as this is of no public interest, I send postage envelope, in the event ofPercuriosusobliging me with the desired information.

J. Jennings-G.

Latimer's Brothers-in-Law.—In Bishop Latimer's first sermon, preached before King Edward VI., we find the quaint martyr-bishop magnifying the paternal prudence for having suitably "married his sisters with five pounds, or twenty nobles, apiece;" but neither the editors of the sermon, nor the writers of several biographical notices of Latimer consulted by me, and in which the extract appears, give any account of the fortunate gentlemen whom the generous parent thus doubly blessed with his twofold treasure.

Can you, or any of your readers, oblige by furnishing thenamesof Bishop Latimer's brothers-in-law, or by giving some references or brief account of them?

* *

Autobiographical Sketch.—A fragment came into my possession some time ago, among a quantity of waste paper in which books were wrapped, which, from the singularity of its contents, I felt desirous to trace to the book of which it forms a part, but my research has hitherto proved unsuccessful. It consists of two leaves of a large octavo sheet, probably published some twenty years back, and is headed "Autobiographical Sketch of the Editor." It commences with the words: "The Commissioners of the Poor Laws will understand me, when I say, that I was born at Putney, in Surrey." The pages are of course not consecutive: so after an allusion to the wanderings of the writer, I have nothing more up to p. 7., at which is an account of a supposed plot against the lord mayor and sheriffs, concocted by him with the assistance of some school-boy coadjutors; the object of which appears to have been, to overturn the state-coach of the civic functionary, as it ascended Holborn Hill, by charging it with a hackney coach, in which sat the writer and certain widows armed with bolsters in pink satin bags. The word having been given to "Charge!" this new kind of war-chariot was driven down the hill at full speed, gunpowder ignited on its roof, and blazing squibs protrudedthrough its back, sides, and front. The ingenious author declares that the onslaught was crowned with complete success; but here, most unfortunately, the sheet ends: and unless you, Mr. Editor, or some of your correspondents, will kindly help me to the rest of the narrative, I must, I fear return unexperienced to my grave. I have omitted to mention, that the date of this event is given as the 4th of July, 1799.

Cheverells.

Schonbornerus.—Can any of your readers give me information about a book I became possessed of by chance a short time ago, or tell me anything respecting its author, for whom I have vainly sought biographical dictionaries? The volume is a duodecimo, and bears the following title-page:

"Georgii Schonborneri Politicorum, Libri Septem. Editio ad ipsius Authoris emendatum Exemplar nunc primum vulgata. Amsterodami: apud L. Elzevirium, anno 1642."

It is written in Latin, and contains as many quotations as theAnatomy of Melancholy, or Mr. Digby'sBroad Stone of Honour.

H. A. B.

Symbol of Globe and Cross.—Can any one oblige me with an explanation of the mysterious symbols on a seal not older than the last century? It contains a globe, bearing a cross upon it, and a winged heart above, with the legend "Pour vous."

C. T.

Booth Family.—Can any of your Lancashire correspondents afford information bearing on the families of Booth of Salford, and Lightbown of Manchester? Is any pedigree extant of either of these families, and what arms did they bear? Humphrey Booth founded, I believe, a church in Salford about the year 1634, the patronage of which still remains, as it might seem, in the family, theClergy Listdescribing it as in the gift of Sir R. G. Booth.

There is a Booth Hall in Blackley, a small village lying by the road side, between Manchester and Middleton; and from theinquisitio post mortemof Humphrey Booth, 12 Car. I., it appears that he died seised of lands in Blackley as well as Salford.

Is there any evidence to connect him with this hall, as the place of his residence?

A Jesuit.

Jesus College, Cambridge.

Ennui.—What is our nearest approach to a correct rendering of this expression? Some English writer (Lady Morgan, I believe) has defined it "mental lukewarmness:" but, if it be true, as La-Motte Houdart says, that—

"L'ennui naquit un jour de l'uniformité."

the above definition would seem to indicate rather the cause ofennuithanennuiitself.

Henry H. Breen.

St. Lucia.

Bankruptcy Records.—Where can I search for evidence of a bankruptcy, probably about 1654? The Chief Registrar's indices do not go back nearly so far.

J. K.

Golden Bees.—Napoleon I. and II. are said to have had their imperial robes embroidered with golden bees, as claiming official descent from Carolus Magnus. Query, what is the authority for this heraldic distinction, said to have been assumed by Charlemagne?

James Graves.

Kilkenny.

The Grindstone Oak.—Can any of your topographical correspondents state what is the earliest mention made of an oak tree well known in this part of the country, and the destruction of which by fire, on the 5th of November, 1849, was the subject of regret to all who had seen or heard of it? It was called theGrindstone Oak, and had been a denizen of the forest of Alice Holt, as many suppose, since the days of the Confessor. It measured thirty-four feet in circumference, at the height of seven feet from the ground; and is mentioned by Gilbert White, in hisHistory of Selborne, as "the great oak in the Holt, which is deemed by Mr. Marsham to be the biggest in this island."

L. L. L.

Near Selborne, Hants.

Hogarth.—About the year 1746, Mr. Hogarth painted a portrait of himself and wife: he afterwards cut the canvass through, and presented the half containing his own portrait to a gentleman in Yorkshire.

If any of your numerous readers are in possession of any portrait of Mr. Hogarth, about three feet in length, and one foot eight inches wide, or are aware of the existence of such a portrait, they will confer a favour by addressing a line to

J. Phillips,5. Torrington Place, London.

Adamsons of Perth.—Can any of your Scottish correspondents inform me what relationship existed between Patrick Adamson, titular Archbishop of St. Andrew's, and the two learned brothers, Henry Adamson, author of theMuses' Threnodie, and John Adamson, principal of the college at Edinburgh, and editor of theMuses' Welcome; and whether any existing family claims to be descended from them? They were all born at Perth. Henry and John were the sons of James Adamson, a merchant and magistrate of the fair city. Probably the archbishop was a brother of this James Adamson, and son of Patrick Adamson, who was Dean of the Guild when John Knox preached his famous sermon at St. John's. Mariota, a daughter of the archbishop, is said by Burke to have married Sir MichaelBalfour, Bart., of Nortland Castle Orkney. Another daughter would appear to have become the wife of Thomas Wilson, or Volusenus, as he calls himself, the editor of his father-in-law's poems and other publications.

E. H. A.

Cursitor Barons of the Exchequer.—Will you allow me to repeat a question which you inserted in Vol. v., p. 346., as to a list of these officers, and any account of their origin and history? Surely some of your correspondents, devoted to legal antiquities, can give note a clue to the labyrinth which Madox has not ventured to enter. The office still exists—with peculiar duties which are still performed—and we know that it is an ancient one; all sufficient grounds for inquiry, which I trust will meet with some response.

Edward Foss.

Syriac Scriptures.—I am very anxious to know what editions of the Scriptures in Syriac (thePeshito) were published between Leusden and Schaaf's New Testament, and the entire Bible in 1816 by the Bible Society.

B. H. C.

(Vol. vii., pp. 206. 435.)

Having long felt a great respect for this person, and a great interest in all that concerns his history, I am induced to mention the grounds on which I have been led to doubt whether the letter in theGentleman's Magazine, to whichMr. Crossleyrefers, is worthy of credit. When I first saw it, I considered it as so valuable an addition to the information which I had collected on the subject, that I was anxious to know who was the writer. It had no signature; but the date, "Sherdington, June, 1704," which was retained, gave me a clue which, by means not worth detailing, led me to the knowledge that what thus appeared in theGentleman's Magazinefor February, 1765, had issued from "Curll's chaste press" more than thirty years before, in the form of a letter from the person now known in literary history as "Curll's Corinna," but by her cotemporaries (see the index of Mr. Cunningham's excellentHandbook of London) as Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, sometime of Dyot Street, St. Giles's, and afterwards of a locality not precisely ascertained, but within the rules of the Fleet, and possibly (though Mr. Cunningham does not corroborate this) at some period of her life resident in the more genteel quarters which Curll assigns to her. To speak more strictly, and make the matter intelligible to any one who may look at it in the Magazine, I should add that the first paragraph (seventeen lines, on p. 78., dated from "Sherdington," and beginning "I dined," says the letter writer, "last Saturday with Sir John Guise, at Gloucester") is part of a letter purporting to be written by her lover; while all the remainder (on pp. 79-81.) is from Corinna's answer to it.

The worthless and forgotten work of which these letters form a part, consists of two volumes. The copy which I borrowed when I discovered what I have stated, consisted of a first volume of the second edition (1736), and a second volume of the first edition (1732). The title of the second volume (which I give as belonging to the earlier edition) is:

"The Honourable Lovers: or, the second and last Volume of Pylades and Corinna. Being the remainder of Love Letters, and other Pieces (in Verse and Prose), which passed between Richard Gwinnett, Esq.; of Great Shurdington, in Gloucestershire, and Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, Jun., of Great Russel Street, Bloomsbury. To which is added, a Collection of familiar Letters between Corinna, Mr. Norris, Capt. Hemington, Lady Chudleigh, Lady Pakington, &c. &c. All faithfully published from their original Manuscripts. London: printed in the YearM.DCC.XXXII.(Price 5s.)"

The title-page of the first volume (second edition) differs principally in having the statement that the book was "printed for E. Curll" (whose name does not appear in the earlier second volume, though perhaps it may have done so in the first of that earlier edition), and an announcement that the fidelity of the publication is "attested, by Sir Edward Northey, Knight."

The work is a farrago of low rubbish utterly beneath criticism; and I should perhaps hardly think it worth while to say as much as I have said of it, had it not been that, in turning it about, I could not help feeling a suspicion that Daniel Defoe's hand was in the matter, at least so far as that papers that had belonged to him might have come into Curll's hands, and furnished materials for the work. It would be tedious to enter into details; but the question seemed to me to be one of some interest, because, in my own mind, it was immediately followed by another, namely, whether Daniel had not more to do than has been suspected with theHistory of Formosa? Those who are more familiar with Defoe than I am, will be better able to judge whether he was, as Psalmanazar says, "the person who Englished it from my Latin;" for the youth was as much disqualified for writing the book in English, by being a Frenchman, as he would have been if he had been a Formosan. He acknowledges that this person assisted him to correct improbabilities; but I do not know that he anywhere throws further light on the question respecting the help which he must have had. Daniel would be just the man to correct some gross improbabilities, and at the same time help him to some more probable fictions. Under this impression I recently inquired (see "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 305.) respecting the authorship ofPylades and Corinna, and the possibility that it might be the work of Defoe; but I believe that my question has not been answered.

I have already trespassed unreasonably on your columns; but still I must beg, in justice to a man whose character, as I have said, I very highly respect, to add one remark. When his imposture is referred to, it is not always remembered that when he came to this country he was not his own master. It seems that he rambled away from his home in the South of France, when about fifteen years old; that he spent about two years in wandering about France and Germany, and astonishing people by pretending to be, at first a converted, and afterwards an unconverted, Formosan; that when performing this second, pagan, character, he arrived at Sluys, where a Scotch regiment in the Dutch service, under Brigadier Lauder, was stationed; that the chaplain, named Innes, detected the fraud, but instead of reproving the lad for his sin and folly, only considered how he might turn the cheat to his own advantage, and render it conducive to his own preferment. The abandoned miscreant actually went through the blasphemous mockery of baptizing the youth as a convert from heathenism; named him after the brigadier, who stood godfather: claimed credit from the Bishop of London for his zeal; and was by the kind prelate invited to bring his convert to London. The chaplain lost no time in accepting, was graciously received by the bishop and the archbishop, snapped up the first piece of preferment that would answer his views (it happened to be the office of chaplain-general to the forces in Portugal), and made off, leaving his convert to bear the storm which was sure to burst on him, as best he might. That a youth thus tutored and thus abandoned, before Johnson was born, should have lived to attract his society, and win from him the testimony that he was "the best man" whom he had ever known, gives him a claim to our respect, which seems to me to be strengthened by everything which I have been able to learn respecting him.

S. R. Maitland.

Gloucester.

(Vol. vii., p. 407.)

Had G.'s Query referred solely to the consecration ofThe Golden Rose, I might have given him a satisfactory answer by referring him to Cartari's essay on the subject entitledLa Rosa d'Ora Pontificia, &c., 4to. 1681, and to the account (with accompanying engraving) of theRose, Sword, and Capconsecrated by Julius III., and sent by him to Philip and Mary; and to Cardinal Pole's exposition of these Papal gifts, which are to be found in the 1st volume of F. Angeli Rocca,Opera Omnia(fol. Rome, 1719). In the authors to whom I have referred, much curious information will, however, be found. I take this opportunity of saying, that as I am about to submit a communication on the subject ofThe Golden Roseto the Society of Antiquaries, I shall feel obliged by any hints which may help me to render it more complete; and of putting on record in "N. & Q." the following particulars of the ceremonial, as it was performed on the 6th of March last, which I extract from theDublin Weekly Telegraphof the 9th of April.

"On Sunday, the 6th [March, 1853], the Benediction of the Golden Rose, was, according to annual usage, performed by the Pontiff previously to High Mass, in the Sistine Chapel, celebrated by a cardinal, at which he assists every Sunday during Lent. To the more ancient practice of blessing, on the fourth Sunday of 'Quaresima,' a pair of gold and silver keys, touched with filings from the chains of St. Peter (which are still preserved in Rome), the Holy See has substituted that of the Benediction of the 'Rosa d'Oro,' to be presented, within the year, to some sovereign or other potentate, who has proved well deserving of the Church. The first positive record respecting the Golden Rose has been ascribed to the Pontificate of Leo IX. (1049-53); but a writer in theCivitta Catolicastates that allusion to a census levied for its cost may be found in the annals of a still earlier period. The Pontiffs used formerly to present it annually to the Prefect of Rome, after singing Mass, on this Sunday, at the Lateran, and pronouncing a homily, during which they lifted the consecrated object in one hand whilst expounding to the people its mystic significance. Pius II. (1458) is the last Pope recorded to have thus preached in reference to and thus conferred the Golden Rose; and the first foreign potentate recorded to have received it from the Holy See is Fulk, Count of Anjou, to whom it was presented by Urban II. in 1096. A homily of Innocent III. also contains all explanation of this beautiful symbol—the precious metal, the balsam and musk used in consecrating it, being taken in mystic sense as allusion to the triple substance in the person of the Incarnate Lord—divinity, soul, and body. It is not merely a single flower, but an entire rose-tree that is represented—the whole about a foot in height, most delicately wrought in fine lamina of gold. This being previously deposited between lighted candelabra, on a table in the sacristy, is taken by the youngest cleric of the camera, to be consigned to his Holiness, after the latter has been vested for the solemnity, but before his assuming the mitre. After a beautiful form of prayer, with incense and holy water, the Pontiff then, holding the object in his hand, imparts the Benediction, introducing into the flower which crowns the graceful stem, and is perforated so as to provide a receptacle, balsam of Peru and powder of musk. He then passes with the usual procession into the Sistine, still carrying the rose in his left hand; and during the Mass it remains beneath the crucifix over the altar. If in the course of the year no donation of the precious object is thought advisable, the same is consecrated afresh on the anniversary following. Some have conjectured that the Empress of France will be selectedby Pius IX. to receive this honour in the present instance; but this is mere conjecture. On a former occasion, it is true, the Golden Rose was conferred by him on another crowned head of the fairer sex—one entitled to more than common regards from the Supreme Pastor in adversity—the Queen of Naples."

William J. Thoms.

(Vol. vi., p. 505.)

It is curious that two of the passages pointed out byMr. Breen, as containing borrowed ideas, are those quoted by Alison in his recent volume (Hist. Eur., vol. i. pp. 429, 430.) to support his panegyric on Campbell, of whose "felicitous images" he speaks with some enthusiasm.

The propensity of Campbell to adapt or imitate the thoughts and expressions of others has often struck me. Let me then suggest the following (taken at random) as further, and I believe hitherto unnoticed, illustrations of that propensity:

1. "When front to front the banner'd hosts combine,Halt ere they close, and form the dreadful line."Pleasures of Hope."When front to front the marching armies shine,Halt ere they meet, and form the lengthening line."Pope,Battle of Frogs and Mice.2. "As sweep the shot stars down the troubled sky."Pleasures of Hope."And rolls low thunder thro'the troubled sky."Pope,Frogs and Mice.3. "With meteor-standard to the winds unfurl'd."Pleasures of Hope."The imperialstandardwhich full high advanc'd,Shonelike a meteorstreamingto the wind."Milton,Par. Lost, i. 535.4. "The dying man to Sweden turn'd his eye,Thought of his home, and clos'd it with a sigh."Pleasures of Hope."Sternitur infelix alieno vulnere, cœlumqueAspicit,et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos."Virgil,Æn., x. 782.5. "... Red meteors flash'd along the sky,And conscious Nature shudder'd at the cry."Pleasures of Hope."...Fulsere ignes, et consciusæther."Virgil,Æn., iv. 167.6. "In hollow winds he hears a spirit moan."Pleasures of Hope.

1. "When front to front the banner'd hosts combine,Halt ere they close, and form the dreadful line."Pleasures of Hope.

1. "When front to front the banner'd hosts combine,

Halt ere they close, and form the dreadful line."

Pleasures of Hope.

"When front to front the marching armies shine,Halt ere they meet, and form the lengthening line."Pope,Battle of Frogs and Mice.

"When front to front the marching armies shine,

Halt ere they meet, and form the lengthening line."

Pope,Battle of Frogs and Mice.

2. "As sweep the shot stars down the troubled sky."Pleasures of Hope.

2. "As sweep the shot stars down the troubled sky."

Pleasures of Hope.

"And rolls low thunder thro'the troubled sky."Pope,Frogs and Mice.

"And rolls low thunder thro'the troubled sky."

Pope,Frogs and Mice.

3. "With meteor-standard to the winds unfurl'd."Pleasures of Hope.

3. "With meteor-standard to the winds unfurl'd."

Pleasures of Hope.

"The imperialstandardwhich full high advanc'd,Shonelike a meteorstreamingto the wind."Milton,Par. Lost, i. 535.

"The imperialstandardwhich full high advanc'd,

Shonelike a meteorstreamingto the wind."

Milton,Par. Lost, i. 535.

4. "The dying man to Sweden turn'd his eye,Thought of his home, and clos'd it with a sigh."Pleasures of Hope.

4. "The dying man to Sweden turn'd his eye,

Thought of his home, and clos'd it with a sigh."

Pleasures of Hope.

"Sternitur infelix alieno vulnere, cœlumqueAspicit,et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos."Virgil,Æn., x. 782.

"Sternitur infelix alieno vulnere, cœlumque

Aspicit,et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos."

Virgil,Æn., x. 782.

5. "... Red meteors flash'd along the sky,And conscious Nature shudder'd at the cry."Pleasures of Hope.

5. "... Red meteors flash'd along the sky,

And conscious Nature shudder'd at the cry."

Pleasures of Hope.

"...Fulsere ignes, et consciusæther."Virgil,Æn., iv. 167.

"...Fulsere ignes, et consciusæther."

Virgil,Æn., iv. 167.

6. "In hollow winds he hears a spirit moan."Pleasures of Hope.

6. "In hollow winds he hears a spirit moan."

Pleasures of Hope.

Shakespeare has thehollow whistlingof the southernwind.

7. "The strings of Nature crack'd with agony."Pleasures of Hope."Hisgriefgrew puissant. andthe strings of lifeBeganto crack."—Shakspeare,King Lear.8. "The fierce extremes of good and ill to brook."Gertrude of Wyoming."... And feel by turns the bitter changeOffierce extremes, extremesby change morefierce."Milton,Par. Lost, ii. 599.9. "His tassell'd horn beside him laid."O'Connor's Child."... Ere th' odorous breath of mornAwakes the slumbering leaves, ortassell'd hornShakes the high thicket."—Milton,Arcades.10. "The scented wild-weeds and enamell'd moss."Theodric.

7. "The strings of Nature crack'd with agony."Pleasures of Hope.

7. "The strings of Nature crack'd with agony."

Pleasures of Hope.

"Hisgriefgrew puissant. andthe strings of lifeBeganto crack."—Shakspeare,King Lear.

"Hisgriefgrew puissant. andthe strings of life

Beganto crack."—Shakspeare,King Lear.

8. "The fierce extremes of good and ill to brook."Gertrude of Wyoming.

8. "The fierce extremes of good and ill to brook."

Gertrude of Wyoming.

"... And feel by turns the bitter changeOffierce extremes, extremesby change morefierce."Milton,Par. Lost, ii. 599.

"... And feel by turns the bitter change

Offierce extremes, extremesby change morefierce."

Milton,Par. Lost, ii. 599.

9. "His tassell'd horn beside him laid."O'Connor's Child.

9. "His tassell'd horn beside him laid."

O'Connor's Child.

"... Ere th' odorous breath of mornAwakes the slumbering leaves, ortassell'd hornShakes the high thicket."—Milton,Arcades.

"... Ere th' odorous breath of morn

Awakes the slumbering leaves, ortassell'd horn

Shakes the high thicket."—Milton,Arcades.

10. "The scented wild-weeds and enamell'd moss."Theodric.

10. "The scented wild-weeds and enamell'd moss."

Theodric.

Campbell thinks it necessary to explain this latter epithet in a note: "The moss of Switzerland, as well as that of the Tyrol, is remarkable for a bright smoothness approaching to the appearance of enamel." And yet was no one, or both, of the following passages floating in his brain when his pen traced the line?

"O'er thesmooth enamell'd greenWhere no print of sleep hath been."Milton,Arcades."Here blushing Flora paintsth' enamell'd ground."Pope,Winsdor Forest.

"O'er thesmooth enamell'd greenWhere no print of sleep hath been."Milton,Arcades.

"O'er thesmooth enamell'd green

Where no print of sleep hath been."

Milton,Arcades.

"Here blushing Flora paintsth' enamell'd ground."Pope,Winsdor Forest.

"Here blushing Flora paintsth' enamell'd ground."

Pope,Winsdor Forest.

W. T. M.

Hong Kong.

(Vol. vii. p. 206.)

An Essay on Irish Bullsis said to have found its way into a catalogue of works upon natural history; with which precedent in my favour, and pending the inquiries ofnaturalists,ratcatchers, andfarmersinto the history of the above-named formidable invader, I hopeMr. Hibberdwill have no objection to my intruding a bibliographical curiosity under the convenient head he has opened for it in "N. & Q."

My book, then, bears the appropriate title,An Attempt towards a Natural History of the Hanover Rat, dedicated to P***m M******r, M.D., and S——y to the Royal Society, 8vo., pp. 24.: London, 1744.

The writer of this curious piece takes hiscuefrom that remarkable production,An Attempt towards a Natural History of the Polype, 1743; in which the learned Mr. Henry Baker, in a letter to Martin Folkes, of 218 pages, 8vo., illustrated by a profusion of woodcuts, elaborately describes this link between the animal and vegetable creation, and the experiments he practised upon the same: commencing with "cutting off a polype's head," and so on through a series of scientific barbarities upon hislittle creature, which ended only in "turning a polype inside out!"

Following the plan of Mr. Baker, the anonymous author ofThe Hanover Rattells us, that, after thirty years' laborious research, he hadsatisfied himself that this animal was not a native of these islands: "I cannot," he says, "particularly mark the date of its first appearance, yet I think it is within the memory of man;" and finding favour in its originalmine affaméestate with a few of the most starved and hungry of the English rats from the common sewer, he proceeds to show that itdidextirpate the natives; but whether this is the best account, or whether the facts of the case as here set forth will satisfy your correspondent, is another thing. According tomyauthority, the aboriginal rat was, at the period of writing, sorely put to it to maintain his ground against the invading colonists and their unnatural allies theproviders; and the present work seems to have been an effort on the part of one in the interest of the former to awaken them to a sense of their danger. In his laudable attempts to rally their courage, this advocate reminds them of a similar crisis when their country was infested with a species of frog calledDutch frogs: "which no sooner," says he, "began to be mischievous, than its growth and progress was stopped by the natives." "Had we," he continues, "but the same public spirit with our ancestors, we need not complain to-day of being eaten up byrats. Our country is the same, but alas! we feel no more the same affection for it." In this way he stimulates the invaded to a combined attack upon the common enemy, and we need not tellourreaders how successfully, nor how desperate the struggle, the very next year; which ended in the complete ascendancy of theHanover rat, or reigning family, over the unlucky Jacobite native. Under his figure of a rat, this Jacobite is very scurrilous indeed upon the Hanoverian succession; and, continuing hispolypianimitations, relates a few coarse experiments uponhis subjectillustrative of its destructive properties, voracity, and sagacity, which set at nought "all the contrivances of the farmer to defend his barns; the trailer his warehouse; the gentleman his land; or the inferior people their cup-boards and small beer cellars. No bars or bolts can keep them out, nor can any gin or trap lay hold of them."

Luckily for us living in these latter days, we can extract amusement from topics of this nature, which would have subjected our forefathers to severe pains and penalties; and looking at the character and mischievous tendency ofThe Hanover Rat, I am curious to know if Mary Cooper, the publisher, was put under surveillance for her share in its production; for to me it appears a more aggravated libel upon the reigning family than that of theNorfolk Prophecy—for the publication of which, Boswell says, the great Samuel Johnson had to play at hide and seek with the officers of justice.

The advent of both Pretenders was preceded bystrawslike these cast out by their adherents, to tryhow the current set. The presentjeu d'esprit, however, is a double-shotted one: for, not content with tampering with the public allegiance, this aboriginal rat seems more innocently enjoying a laugh at the Royal Society, and its ingeniousfellowMr. Baker, in as far as regards the aforesaid elaborate treatise uponpolypes.

J. O.

(Vol. vii., p. 408.)

Mr. Ellacombedesires examples of these. I can supply the following:—

At Bradley, Lincolnshire, is a very large font, of the Decorated period, with this inscription round the bowl in black letter:

"Pater Noster, Ave Maria, and Criede, leren ye chyld yt es nede."

This is an early instance of the use ofEnglishfor inscriptions. The sketch was engraved in the work onBaptismal Fonts.

At Threckingham, Lincolnshire, I believe I succeeded in deciphering an inscription round the font, which was said to have been previously studied in vain. It is somewhat defaced; but in all probability the words are,—

"Ave Maria gracia p... d... t..."

i. e.of course, "plena, dominus tecum." The bowl of the font is Early English; but the base, round which the inscription runs, appears to be of the fifteenth century.

At Burgate, Suffolk, an inscription in black letter is incised on the upper step of the font:

"[Orate pro an—b'] Will'mi Burgate militis et dne Elionore uxoris eius qui istum fontem fieri fecerunt."

Sir William Burgate died in 1409. It is engraved in theProceedings of the Bury and West Suffolk Archæological Institute.

At Caistor, by Norwich:

"Orate pro animab ... liis ... ici de Castre."

At Walsoken, Norfolk:

"Remember the soul of S. Honyter and Margaret his wife, and John Beforth, Chaplain."

with the date 1544.

At Gaywood, Norfolk, is a font of Gothic design, lust probably of post-Reformation date. On four of the eight sides of the bowl are these inscriptions:

"QVI . CREDIDERIT . ET . BAPTIZATVS . FVERITSALVVS . ERIT."

"VOCE . PATERNATUS . CORPOREFLAMEN . AVE.MAT. 3."

"CHRISTVM . INDVISTIS . QVOTQVOT . BAPTIZATI . ESTIS."

"I . AM . THY . GODAND . THE . GODOF . THY . SEEDE.GEN."

At Tilney, All Saints, Norfolk, is an inscribed font so similar to the one last mentioned that they are probably the works of the same designer.

On thecoverof the font at Southacre, Norfolk, is this inscription:

"Orate p. aia. Mri. Rici. Gotts et dni Galfridi baker, Rectoris huj' [ecclīe qui hoc] opus fieri fecet."

I may take the opportunity of adding twopulpitinscriptions; one at Utterby, Lincolnshire, on the sounding-board:

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