Queries.

"Onward perpetually moving,These faithful hands are ever provingHow quick the hours fly by;This monitory pulse-like beating,Seems constantly, methinks, repeating,Swift! swift! the moments fly.Reader, be ready—for perhaps beforeThese hands have made one revolution moreLife's spring is snapt—you die!"

"Onward perpetually moving,

These faithful hands are ever proving

How quick the hours fly by;

This monitory pulse-like beating,

Seems constantly, methinks, repeating,

Swift! swift! the moments fly.

Reader, be ready—for perhaps before

These hands have made one revolution more

Life's spring is snapt—you die!"

F. James.

In a clever biographical sketch by M. Guizot, originally published in a French periodical (theRevue Française) under the title of "Monk, Etude Historique," George Monk, first Duke of Albemarle, is said to have been born on the 6th of December, 1608, at the manor-house of Potheridge, the ancient inheritance of his family, in the county of Devon.

This Potheridge (otherwise Pen-the-ridge) is, it appears, a village or hamlet situated "on the ascendant ridge of a small hill," in the parish of Merton, about four miles south-west of Torrington. As M. Guizot's statement, in so far as locality is concerned, seems open to doubt at least, if not positive exception, I wish to elicit, and place on record, through the medium of "N. & Q." if I can, some farther and perhaps more decisive information on the subject. In opposition to M. Guizot's authority (whence derived or whatever it might be), Lysons, in his account of Devonshire in theMagna Britannia, positively lays thevenueof Monk's birth in the parish of Lancros or Landcross, near Bideford, confirmatorily alleging that his baptism took place there on the 11th of December in the year above mentioned. In another account, a notice of the Restoration by M. Riordan de Muscry, appended to Monteth'sHistory of the Rebellion, he is said to have been born in Middlesex, an assertion to which (in the absence of all authority) little value can, of course, be given. The slightest local investigation, including a reference to the parochial registers of Landcross and Merton, would, however, probably at once solve the difficulty. But for the known fidelity of Lysons, and the probability of his possessing superior information on the specific point at issue over that of M. Guizot, I should be most reluctant to impeach the accuracy of any statement of fact, however trifling or minute, emanating from that distinguished writer. Few indeed there are, even amongst our own historians, whose claims on our faith, arising from close and accurate research, intimate knowledge, clear perception, and thorough comprehension of the events of that most eventful period of English history, commencing with the Revolution of 1640, can (as manifested in their published works at least) vie with those of M. Guizot. With some few of the opinions, interpretations, constructions, and comments passed or placed by M. Guizot on the life and actions of Monk in this same "Etude Historique," I shall, perhaps (with all deference), be tempted to deal on some future occasion. An able translation of the work, from the pen of the present Lord Wharncliffe, appeared in 1838, the year immediately succeeding its first publication. The prefatory observations and valuable notes there introduced richly illustrate the text of M. Guizot, whose labours, in this instance, are certainly not discreditably reflected through the medium of his English editor. With one expression of Lord Wharncliffe's, however (in the note to which this paper chiefly refers), I take leave to differ, wherein he hints that the question of Monk's birthplace can have little interest beyond the limits of the county of Devon, clearly a palpable error.

F. Kyffin Lenthall.

Harmony of the Four Gospels.—Can any of your correspondents furnish me with the date of the earliest Harmony, or the titles of any early ones? Any information on the subject will much oblige

Z.4.

The Noel Family.-Will any of your readers be kind enough to give me information on the following point? About the commencement of the last century, a Rev. Wm. Noel lived at Ridlington, county of Rutland: he was rector of that parish about the year 1745. What relation was he to the Earl of Gainsborough then living? Was it not one of the daughters of this clergyman who married a Capt. Furye?

Teecee.

Council of Trent.—References are requested to any worlds illustrative of the extent of knowledge attainable by the Romish clergy at the sittings of this council, in (1.) ecclesiastical antiquities, (2.) historical traditions, (3.) biblical hermeneutics.

T. J. Buckton.

Birmingham.

Roman Catholic Patriarchs.—Has any bishop in the Western Church held the title of patriarch besides the Patriarch of Venice? And what peculiar authority or privileges has he?

W. Fraser.

Tor-Mohun.

The "Temple Lands" in Scotland.—I am anxious to learn some particulars of these lands. I recollect of reading, some time ago, that the superiorities of them had been acquired by John B. Gracie, Esq., W. S. Edinburgh; but whether by purchase or otherwise, I did not ascertain. Mr. Gracie died some four or five years ago. Perhaps some correspondent will favour me with some information on the subject. In the Justice Street of Aberdeen, there is a tenement of houses called Mauchlan or Mauchline Tower Court, which is said to have belonged to the order. In the charters of this property, themselves very ancient, reference is made to another, of about the earliest date at which the order began to acquire property in Scotland.

Abredonensis.

Cottons of Fowey.—A family of "Cotton" was settled at Fowey, in Cornwall, in the seventeenth century. The first name of which I have any notice is that of Abraham Cotton, who married at Fowey in 1597. They bore for their arms, Sable, a chevron between three cotton-hanks, Or a crescent for difference: crest, a Cornish chough holding in the beak a cotton-hank proper. William Cotton, mayor of Plymouth in 1671, was probably one of this family. The name is not Cornish; and these Cottons had without doubt migrated at no distant period from some other part of the kingdom. Any information relating to the family or its antecedents will be very gratefully received by

R. W. C.

Draught or Draft of Air.—Will some of your contributors inform a reader what term or word may be correctly used to signify the phrase "current of air" up the flue of a chimney, or through a room, &c.? The worddraughtordraftis generally or universally used; but that signification is not to be found attached to the worddraughtordraftin any dictionary accessible to the inquirer. The word is used by many English scientific writers, and was undoubtedly used by Dr. Franklin to signify a current of air in the flue of a chimney (see also Ure'sDict.). Yet the word cannot be found in Johnson or Ogilvie'sImp. Dict.with this signification. The word "tirage" is also used by French writers with the above signification; and though in French dictionaries its meaning is nearly the same, and nearly as extended as the English worddraughtordraft, yet it cannot be found in theDict. de l'Acad.to signify as above.

New York.

Admiral Sir Thomas Tyddemancommanded the squadron sent during the war with the Dutch in the reign of Charles II. to assist in the capture of certain richly laden merchant vessels which had put into Bremen, but (owing to the treachery of the Danish governor, who instead of acting in concert with the English, as had been agreed, opened fire upon them from the town) was unable to effect his purpose.

After the admiral's return to England, a question was raised as to his conduct during the engagement; and some persons went so far as to accuse him of cowardice; but the Duke of York, who was then in command of the fleet, entirely freed him from such charges, and declared that he had acted with the greatest discretion and bravery in the whole affair.

He died soon after this, in 1668, according to Pepys's account, of a broken heart occasioned by the scandal that had been circulated about him, and the slight he felt he was suffering from the Parliament. Perhaps some of your readers can inform me where I may meet with farther particulars relating to Admiral Tyddeman. I am particularly desirous to gain information as to his family and his descendants; also to learn upon what occasion he was created a baronet or knight.

Captain.

Pedigree Indices.—Is there any published table of kin to Sir Thomas White, the founder of St. John's College, Oxford, or of William of Wykeham, after the plan ofStemmata Chicheliana?

Is there any Index to the Welsh and Irish pedigrees in the British Museum? Sims' valuable book is confined to England.

Are there Indices to the pedigrees in the Lambeth Library, or the Bodleian Library at Oxford?

The proper mode of making a search in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge wanted?

Y. S. M.

Apparition of the White Lady.—I observe in two works lately published, an allusion made to an apparition of the "White Lady," as announcing the death of a prince; in the one case of the throne of Brandenburgh[3], the other that of France.[4]Can any of your readers point out the origin of this popular tradition?

C. M. W.

Footnote 3:(return)In Michaud'sBiographie.Footnote 4:(return)Louis XVII., by A. De Beauchesne.

Footnote 3:(return)

In Michaud'sBiographie.

Footnote 4:(return)

Louis XVII., by A. De Beauchesne.

Rundlestone.—Can any information be given of the origin of the term "Rundlestone," as applied to a rock off the Land's End; and also to a remarkable stone near Hessory Tor? (Vide Mr. Bray's Journal, Sept. 1802, in Mrs. Bray's work on the Tamar and Tavy: and see also in the Ordnance Maps.)

J. S. R.

Garrison Library, Malta.

Tottenham.—What is the derivation of Tottenham Park, Wilts, and of Tottenham Court Road? The ancestor of the Irish family of that name was from Cambridgeshire.

Y. S. M.

Duval Family.—Is or was there a French family of the name of Duval, gentilhommes; and if so, can any relationship be traced between such family and the "Walls of Coolnamuck," an ancient Anglo-Norman family of the south of Ireland, who are considered to have been originally named "Duval?"

Noses of the Descendants of John of Gaunt(Vol. vii., p. 96.).—What peculiarity have they? I am one, and I know many others; but I am ata loss to knowthe meaning of E. D.'s remark.

Y. S. M.

General Wall.—Can any of your Irish correspondents give me any information respecting the parentage and descent of General Richard Wall, who was Prime Minister at the Court of Spain in the year 1750 or 1753 (vide Lord Mahon); also whether the General belonged to that branch of the Walls of Coolnamuck, whose property fell into the hands of certain English persons named Ruddall, in whose family some Irish property still remains?

Did the general have any sisters? Is there any monograph life of the general?

John Daniel and Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter.—Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." give any information respecting one John Danyel or Daniel, of Clement's Inn, who translated from the Spanish,Jehovah, A free Pardon with many Graces therein contained, granted to all Christians by our most Holy and Reuerent Father God Almightie, the principal High Priest and Bishoppe in Heaven and Earth, 1576; andAn excellent Comfort to all Christians against all kinde of Calamities, 1576?

Also any information respecting Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter, son of John Nicholas of Redingworth, in Huntingdonshire, to whom the first tract is dedicated; or of his mayoralty of the city of London, 1575-6.

B. B. W.

Edward Bysshe.—I shall feel particularly obliged to any of your correspondents who will favour me with a biographical notice of Edward Bysshe, author ofThe Art of English Poetry, The British Parnassus, &c., especially the dates and places of his birth and death.

Civis.

President Bradshaw and John Milton.—In a pamphlet by T. W. Barlow, Esq., of the Honorable Society of Gray's Inn, entitledCheshire, its Historical and Literary Associations, published in 1852, it is stated that among the memorials of friends which President Bradshaw's will contains, is a bequest often poundsto hiskinsman, John Milton, which cannot be said to be an insignificant legacy two centuries ago.

Can any of your numerous correspondents afford a clue to the family connexion between these distinguished individuals?

T. P. L.

Manchester.

Ket the Tanner.—Can you or any of your correspondents give me any information about "Ket the Tanner;" or refer me to any book or books containing a history or biography of that remarkable person? As I want the information for a historical purpose, I hope you will give me as lengthy an account as possible.

W. J. Linton.

Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

[A long account of Ket, and his insurrection, is given in Blomefield'sNorfolk, vol. iii. pp. 222-260., edit. 1806. Incidental notices of him will be also found in Alexander Nevyllus'Norfolke Furies and their Folye, under Ket, their accursed Captaine, 4to., 1623; Strype'sEcclesiastical Memorials, vol. i.; Heylin'sHistory of the Reformation; Stow'sChronicle; Godwin'sAnnales of England; and Sharon Turner'sModern History of England, under Edward VI. A Fragment of the Requests and Demands of Ket and his Accomplices is preserved in the Harleian MS. 304. art. 44.]

"Namby-pamby."—What is the derivation of namby-pamby?

Clericus Rusticus.

[Sir John Stoddart, in his article "Grammar" (Ency. Metropolitana, vol.i. p. 118.), remarks, that the word "Namby-pambyseems to be of modern fabrication, and is particularly intended to describe that style of poetry which affects the infantine simplicity of the nursery. It would perhaps be difficult to trace any part of it to a significant origin."]

(Vol. vii., pp. 18. 91. 321.)

As you have printed various lists of Prayer-Books, I send you the following of such books as are in my own possession. Other persons may, perhaps, send lists of copies in private libraries:

I have excluded from my list all those thin editions of the Prayer Book, which were usually bound up with Bibles, except in three instances. The exceptions are these:—The folio, 1578; Young's edition, 1633; and that of 1715. Generally these thin books, which have only references to the Epistles and Gospels, are of no value whatever. The exceptions in this list, however, are important books. The book of 1578 was prepared by the Puritans, and is so altered that the wordpriestdoes not occur in a single rubric. Young's book of 1633 is the first Prayer Book printed in Scotland; and the edition of 1715 is remarkable for "The Healing," though George I. never attempted to touch for the king's evil.

Should you deem this list worth printing, I will send another ofoccasional forms, now in my possession, from the reign of Elizabeth to the accession of the House of Hanover. It may lead others to do the same, and thus bring to light some forms not generally known. The Prayer Books and occasional forms in our public libraries are known to most persons; but it is important to ascertain the existence of others in private collections.

Thomas Lathbury.

Bristol.

I possess a copy of the Prayer Book of an edition I do not see mentioned in any of the lists published in "N. & Q." It is small octavo,imprintedby Bonham, Norton, and John Bill, 1627.

K. L.

(Vol. viii., p. 196.)

Your correspondentW. Robson, in asking to have pointed out "the period at which the crescent became the standard of Mahometanism," appears to assume, what is more than doubtful, that ithas been, and stillisso. For although "modern poets and even historians have named it as the antagonistic standard to the cross," the crescent cannot be considered as "thestandard" of Mahometanism—emphatically, much less exclusively—except in a poetical and figurative sense. That it isoneamong several standards, I admit; it is used bythe Turks as an ornament, and probably as a symbol, of their dominion, or in connexion with their religion. This may have originated in the following fact:—Mahomet, at the introduction of his religion, said to his followers, who were ignorant of astronomy, "When you see the new moon, begin the fast; when you see the moon, celebrate the Bairam." And at this day, although the precise time of the lunar changes may be ascertained from their ephemerides, yet they never begin either the Ramazan, or the Bairam, till some have testified that they have seen the new moon. (Cantemir'sHistory of the Othman Empire, pref. pp. iv, v.) But the ancient Israelites had precisely the same custom in commencingtheir"new moons and appointed feasts." (SeeCalmet, art. "Month.") That which may properly be called the standard of the Turks, is theSanjak Cherif, or Standard of the Prophet. It is of green silk[5], preserved in the treasury with the utmost care, and never brought out of the seraglio but to be carried to the army. This banner is supposed by the Turks to ensure victory, and is the sacred signal to which they rally. (De Tott'sMemoirs, vol. ii. pp. 2, 3.)

The military ensigns which the grand seignior bestows on the governors of provinces and other great men, include the following: 1. Thesanjak, or standard, only distinguished from that of Mahomet by the colour, one being red and the other green. 2. Thetug, or standard consisting of one, two, or three horse-tails, according to the dignity of the office borne by him who receives it. Pachas of the highest rank are distinguished by three tails, and the titlebeglerbeg, or prince of princes. Those next in rank are the pachas of two tails, and the beys are honoured but with one. These tails are notwornby the pachas, but fastened at the end of a lance, having a gilt handle, and carried before the pacha, or fixed at the side of his tent. 3. Thealemis a large broad standard, which instead of a spear-head has a silver plate in the middle, bored in the shape of acrescent or half-moon. (Cantemir,Hist. Oth. Emp., p. 10.)

The sultan's barge, with canopy of purple silk, supported throne-like by four gilt pillars, is adorned withthree gilt candlesticks; and only the capudan pacha, when going to sea, is allowed to have similar ornaments, as he is then considered asderiyá padishahi, emperor of the sea. Even the vizier is only permitted to display a canopy of green silk on ivory pillars, but without candlesticks. (Ib., p. 424.)

Thus it appears that the crescent holds but a subordinate position among the ensigns at present in use among the Turks. As to its history, I have found no trace of it in connexion with that of the Crusades. Tasso, inLa Gerusalemme Liberata, mentions "the spread standards" of the soldan's army "waving to the wind" ("Sparse al vento ondeggiando ir le bandiere," canto xx. st. 28.), but he makes no allusion tothe crescent. I have not access to Michaud'sHistoire des Croisades, and shall be glad if your correspondent will quote the passage to which he has referred. Does Michaud speak of it as existingat that time? This does not clearly appear from the reference. There were several sultans named Mahomet who reigned in or near the age of the Crusades, two of the Seljak dynasty; the first the conqueror of Bagdad, the second cotemporary with Baldwin III., king of Jerusalem. In the Carizmian dynasty, Mahomet I. was cotemporary with Godfrey, Baldwin I., and Baldwin II.; and Mahomet II. commenced his reign aboutA.D.1206. But the conqueror of Constantinople, Mahomet II., was of the Othman dynasty, and lived some centuries later, the fall of that city having taken placeA.D.1453.To whichof these eras does Michaud ascribe the use ofthe crescentfor the first time?

After all, perhaps, the Turkish crescent, like the modern crown of Western Europe, may be but a variation of the horn, the ancient symbol of authority, so often alluded to in the Old Testament. Thetwocusps or horns of the crescent, and the circle of divergingraysin the diadem, suggest that the variation is simply one of number; and the derivation is strongly corroborated by etymology. The Hebrew word ‎ ‏קרן‎‏ (keren) is connected with, and possibly the original source of, our two wordshornandcrown. Its dual (karnaim) signifieshornsorrays, as in Habak. iii. 4.

A fact mentioned by D'Herbelot may have some connexion with the Turkish crescent. When the celebrated warrior, Tamugin, whose conquests preceded those of the Othman dynasty, assumed in a general assembly of the Moguls and Tartars the title ofGhenghis Khan, or king of kings, "Il y ordonna qu'une cornette blanche seroit dorénavant l'étendart général de ses troupes" (Bibliothèque Orientale, p. 379.). Thus did the Mogul conqueror (to use the words of the Psalmist) "lift up the horn on high." (Psalm lxxv. 5.) About half a century after the death of Ghengis Khan, Aladin, Sultan of Iconium, conferred on Othman, who afterwards founded the Turkish empire, thetabl alem—the drum, standards, and other ornaments of a general. (Cantemir,Hist. Oth. Emp., p. 10.) The explanation of thealemby the historian in his annotations, I have already quoted. This is the only allusion to the crescent as an ensign that I have met with in Cantemir.

The painters of Christendom (no high authorities in this matter) often represent the crescent as a part of Turkish costume, worn in front of the turban. But in the portraits of the Turkish emperors, "taken from originals in the grand seignior's palace," there appears no such ornament. (See the plates in Cantemir'sHistory.) Many of them are represented as wearing thesorgus, a crest of feathers adorned with precious stones. Like the horn, it is an emblem of authority. Many of them have two fastened to the turban.

Your correspondent states that "the crescent is common upon the reverses of coins of the Eastern empire long before the Turkish conquest." I think this highly probable, but would be glad to see the authorities for the fact. I cannot admit, however, that the crescent was in any degree "peculiar to Sclave nations" for, first, the Sclave nations reached no farther south than Moravia, Bohemia, and their vicinity, they did not occupy the seat of the Eastern empire, which was partly Greek and partly Roman. Secondly, though I have no work on numismatics to consult, I have casually met with instances in which the heavenly bodies are represented on Persian, Phœnician, and Roman coins. As instances, in Calmet'sDictionary, art. "Moloch," is represented a Persian coin with the figures of a star andcrescent; in the Pictorial Bible, 2 Chron. xv. 16., a Phœnician coin bearing acrescent; and in Matt. xx. 1., on a Roman coin of Augustus, there is the figure of a star. The Turks, however, stamp nothing on their coins but the emperor's name and the date of coinage.

Again, in European heraldry, Frank, German, Gothic, and not Sclave, thecrescentappears; in "common charges," for example, as one of the emblems of power, glory, &c. and among "differences," to distinguish a second son.

Should the above facts tend to throw any light on the subject of your correspondent's inquiry, I shall be gratified; and if any of my views can be shown to be erroneous, it will afford me equal pleasure to correct them.

J. W. Thomas.

Dewsbury.

Footnote 5:(return)So says De Tott; Cantemir says it isred. But this discrepancy in the authorities is easily accounted for, since theSanjak Cherifis so sacred that it must be looked upon by none but theMuslimans, the true believers. If seen by the eyes ofgiaours(unbelievers), it would be profaned. (De Tott,Memoirs, p. 3.)

Footnote 5:(return)

So says De Tott; Cantemir says it isred. But this discrepancy in the authorities is easily accounted for, since theSanjak Cherifis so sacred that it must be looked upon by none but theMuslimans, the true believers. If seen by the eyes ofgiaours(unbelievers), it would be profaned. (De Tott,Memoirs, p. 3.)

(Vol. viii., p. 269.)

I fear that the result of my researches will be but of little service; but your Querist is heartily welcome to the mite I offer.

The second seal appears to have been the seal of assay; probably used for certifying the correctness of the king's beam, or for sealing documents authorising exports, of which there were formerly many and various from this port. Yarmouth was held by the kings until 9 John, when a charter was granted to his burgesses, inhabitants of Gernemue, that they should henceforth hold the town in "fee-farm," paying yearly the sum of 55l.in lieu of all rents, tolls, &c. Probably on this occasion a seal of arms was granted. About the year 1306 a dispute fell out between Great Yarmouth and the men of Little Yarmouth and Gorleston adjoining, the latter insisting on the right to load and unload fish in their harbours; but the former prevailed as being free burgh, which the others were not. In 1332 a charter was granted (6 Ed. III.) for adjusting these disputes, wherein it was directed—

"That ships laden with wool, leather, and skins upon which the great custom is due, shall clear out from that port where our beam and the seal calledcoketremain, and nowhere else (ubi thronus noster et sigillum nostrum, quod diciturcoket, existunt, et non alibi carcentur)."

Whatcoketis, I am unable to say: but the king's beam for weighing merchandise, calledthronusortronus, stood usually in the most public place of the town or port. The legend on this seal appears to be old French, and is evidently the "seal of assay of Great Yarmouth."

The third seal has probably belonged to Little Yarmouth. The arms of Great Yarmouth were "azure three herrings in pale argent." It is not unlikely that during disputes between the two ports the Little Yarmouthites might assume a seal of arms; but as such thing were more carefully looked after then than in these degenerate days, they would not venture on thethree herrings, but content themselves with one; and they might desire to dignify their town as "New" instead of "Little" Yarmouth.

With regard to the first seal, I should judge from its oval shape, the cross, and legend, that it is ecclesiastic, and has no connexion with Yarmouth.

Broctuna.

Bury, Lancashire.

(Vol. viii., pp. 79. 145.)

Notwithstanding the authority upon whichMr. Inglebyfounds the assertion, that there is not the "slightest observable dependence" between the moon and the weather, the dictum is open to something more than doubt. That the popular belief of a full moon bringing fine weather is not strictly correct, is undoubted; and the majority of the popular ideas entertained on the influence of the moon on the weather are equally fallacious; but that the moon exerts no influence whatever on the changes of the weather, is a statement involving grave errors.

The action of the moon on meteorological processes is a highly complex problem; but the principalconclusions to which scientific observations tend, on this matter, may be pointed out without perhaps encroaching too much on the space of "N. & Q."

Luke Howard, of Ackworth, several years ago, concluded, from a series of elaborate observations, extending over many years, that the moon exerted a distinct influence on atmospheric pressure: and Col. Sabine has more recently shown, from observations made at the British Magnetical and Meteorological Observatory at St. Helena since 1842—

"That the attraction of the moon causes the mercury in the barometer to stand, on the average, .004 of an English inch higher when the moon is on the meridian above or below the pole, than when she is six hours distant from the meridian."—Cosmos, vol. i. note 381, (author. trans.);Phil. Trans., 1847, art. v.

Luke Howard farther gives cogent reasons, from his tabulated observations, for the conclusion that the moon has an appreciable effect upon the weather, exerted through the influence of its attraction on the course and direction of the winds, upon which it acts as a marked disturbing cause; and through them it affects the local distribution of temperature, and the density of the atmosphere. There is no constant agreement between thephasesof the moon and certain states of the weather; but an apparent connexion is not unfrequently observed, due to the prevalence of certain winds, which would satisfactorily account for the origin and persistence of the popular belief: for, "it is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than negatives" (Nov. Org., Aph. 46.). For example, in 1807, "not a twentieth part of the rain of the year fell in that quarter of the whole space, which occurred under the influence of the moon at full" (Lectures on Meteorology, by L. Howard, 1837, p. 81.). In 1808, however, this phase lost this character completely.

A more marked relation is found between the state of the weather and thedeclinationof the moon: for—

"It would appear, that while the moon is far south of the equator, there falls but a moderate quantity of rain with us; that while she is crossing the equator towards these latitudes, our rain increases; that the greatest depth of rain falls, with us, in the week in which she is in the full north declination, or most nearly vertical to these latitudes; and that during her return over the equator to the south, the rain is reduced to its minimum quantity.And this distribution obtains in very nearly the same proportions both in an extremely dry and in an extremely wet season."—Climate of London, by L. Howard, vol. ii. p. 251., 1820.

Still more recently, Luke Howard has summed up the labours of his life on this subject, and he writes:

"We have, I think, evidence of a greattidal wave, or swell in the atmosphere, caused by the moon's attraction, preceding her in her approach to us, and following slowly as she departs from these latitudes. Were the atmosphere a calm fluid ocean of air of uniform temperature, this tide would be manifested with as great regularity as those of the ocean of waters. But the currents uniformly kept up by the sun's varying influence effectually prevent this, and so complicate the problem."There is also manifest in the lunar influence agradation of effects, which is here shown, as it is found to operatethrough a cycle of eighteen years. In these the mean weight of our atmosphere increases through the forepart of the period; and having kept for a year at the maximum it has attained, decreases again through the remaining years to a minimum; about which there seems to be a fluctuation, before the mean begins to rise again."—"On a Cycle of Eighteen Years in the Height of the Barometer" (Papers on Meteorology, Part II.;Phil. Trans., 1841, Part II.).

"There is also manifest in the lunar influence agradation of effects, which is here shown, as it is found to operatethrough a cycle of eighteen years. In these the mean weight of our atmosphere increases through the forepart of the period; and having kept for a year at the maximum it has attained, decreases again through the remaining years to a minimum; about which there seems to be a fluctuation, before the mean begins to rise again."—"On a Cycle of Eighteen Years in the Height of the Barometer" (Papers on Meteorology, Part II.;Phil. Trans., 1841, Part II.).

It is satisfactory to all interested in this matter to know that "the incontestable action of our satellite on atmospheric pressure, aqueous precipitations, and the dispersion of clouds, will be treated in the latter and purely telluric portion of theCosmos" (vol. iii. p. 368., and note 596, where an interesting illustration is given of the effects of the radiation of heat from the moon in the upper strata of our atmosphere).

Jno. N. Radcliffe.

Dewsbury.

Not being quite satisfied withMr. Ingleby'sanswer to W. W.'s Query, I beg to refer inquirers to theNautical Magazinefor July, 1850, and three subsequent months, in which will be found a translation by Commander L. G. Heath, R.N., of a paper published by M. Arago in theAnnuaire du Bureau des Longitudesfor the year 1833, entitled "Does the Moon exercise any appreciable Influence on our Atmosphere?" This treatise enters fully into the subject, and gives the results of several courses of experiments extending over many years; which go to prove that in Germany, at all events, there is more rain during the waxing than during the waning moon. Several popular errors are shown to have arisen in the belief that certain appearances in the moon, really theeffectof peculiar states of the atmosphere, were thecauseof such atmospheric peculiarities; but we are allowed some ground for supposing that this "vulgar error" may have some foundation in "vulgar truth."

G. William Skyring.

(Vol. viii., p. 243.)

The enigma of Aulus Gellius (Noctes Atticæ, lib. xii. cap. vi.), though transmitted to us in a corrupt form, is solved at once by the story mentioned by Livy (lib. i. cap. lv.). When TarquiniusSuperbus was about to build the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, it was found necessary to "exaugurate" or dispossess the other deities whose shrines had previously occupied the ground. All readily gave way to Father Jupiter with the exception ofTerminus; and the point of the riddle lies in the analogy between "Semelminus," "Bisminus," and "Terminus."

I extract a note from the copy of Aulus Gellius before me:

Barthius (Adv., lib. xvi. cap. xxii.) hos versus ita legebat:'Semel minus? Non. Bisminus? Non. Sat scio.An utrumque? Verum; ut quondam audivi dicier,Jovi ipsi regi noluit concedere.'"Ita et trimetri sua sibi constant lege, et acumen repetitis interrogatiunculis. Alioquin frigidum responsum. Potest tamen ita intelligi, ut semel, bis, imo ter Jove minus sit, et noluerit tamen Jovi cedere."—Page 560. N.: Lugd. Batav., 1706, 4to.

Barthius (Adv., lib. xvi. cap. xxii.) hos versus ita legebat:

'Semel minus? Non. Bisminus? Non. Sat scio.An utrumque? Verum; ut quondam audivi dicier,Jovi ipsi regi noluit concedere.'

'Semel minus? Non. Bisminus? Non. Sat scio.

An utrumque? Verum; ut quondam audivi dicier,

Jovi ipsi regi noluit concedere.'

"Ita et trimetri sua sibi constant lege, et acumen repetitis interrogatiunculis. Alioquin frigidum responsum. Potest tamen ita intelligi, ut semel, bis, imo ter Jove minus sit, et noluerit tamen Jovi cedere."—Page 560. N.: Lugd. Batav., 1706, 4to.

Lactantius, "the Christian Cicero," thus tells the story:

"Nam cum Tarquinius Capitolium facere vellet, eoque in loco multorum deorum sacella essent: consuluit eos per augurium; utrum Jovi cederent, et cedentibus cæteris, solus Terminus mansit. Unde illum Poeta 'Capitoli immobile Saxum' vocat (Virg.,Æn.ix. 441.). Facto itaque Capitolio, supra ipsum Terminum foramen est in tecto relictum: ut quia non cesserat, libero cœlo frueretur."—De Falsa Relig., lib. i. cap. xx.ad fin.

Livy, in a subsequent book (v. 45.), Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Antiqu. Rom., lib. iii. cap. lxix.) and Florus assert thatJuventasalso refused to move; and St. Augustine tells the same story ofMars. I may as well quote his words:

"Cum Rex Tarquinius Capitolium fabricare vellet, eumque locum qui ei dignior aptiorque videbatur, ab Diis aliis cerneret præoccupatum, non audens aliquid contra eorum facere arbitrium, et credens eos tanto numini suoque principi voluntate cessuros; quia multi erant illic ubi Capitolium constitutum est, per augurium quæsivit, utrum concedere locum vellent Jovi: atque ipsi inde cedere omnes voluerunt, præter illos, quos commemoravi, Martem, Terminum, Juventatem: atque ideo Capitolium ita constitutum est, ut etiam iste tres intus essent tam obscuris signis, ut hoc vix homines doctissimi scirent."—De Civit. Dei, lib. iv. cap. xxiii. 3.

Nor must I omit the following from Ovid:

"Quid, nova quum fierent Capitolia? Nempe DeorumCuncta Jovi cessit turba, locumque dedit,Terminus ut memorant veteres, inventus in æde,Restitit, et magno cum Jove templa tenet.Nunc quoque, se supra ne quid nisi sidera cernat,Exiguum templi tecta foramen habent."Fast., lib. ii. 667., &c.

"Quid, nova quum fierent Capitolia? Nempe Deorum

Cuncta Jovi cessit turba, locumque dedit,

Terminus ut memorant veteres, inventus in æde,

Restitit, et magno cum Jove templa tenet.

Nunc quoque, se supra ne quid nisi sidera cernat,

Exiguum templi tecta foramen habent."

Fast., lib. ii. 667., &c.

Much more information may be found in Smith'sDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, &c., sub voc.Terminus. Servius,ad Aen.ix. 448. Politiani,Miscell.c. 36.Histoire Romaine, par Catrou et Rouille, vol. i. p. 343. &c., N.: à Paris, 1725, 4to. Grævii,Thesaur. Antiqu. Rom., vol. ix. 218. N., and vol. x. 783. Traject. ad Rhen., 1699, fol. Plutarch, inVit. Numæ.

Robert Gibbings.

(Vol. viii., p. 20. &c.)

In two previous Numbers (Vol. vi., p. 54.; Vol. vii., p. 594.) Queries have been inserted as to the derivation of the exclamationsHurrah!andHip, hip, hurrah!These have elicited much learned remark (Vol. vii., p. 633.; Vol. viii., pp. 20. 277.), but still I think the real originals have not yet been reached by your correspondents.

As tohip, hip!I fear it must remain questionable, whether it be not a mere fanciful conjecture to resolve it into the initials of the war-cry of the Crusaders, "Hierosolyma est perdita!" The authorities, however, seem to establish that it should be written "hep" instead ofhip. I would only remark,en passant, that there is an error in the passage cited byMr. Brent(Vol. viii., p. 88.) in opposition to this mediæval solution, which entirely destroys the authority of the quotation. He refers to a note on the ballad of "Old Sir Simon the King," in which, on the couplet—

Back to Index Next