SHAKSPEARE CORRESPONDENCE.

"Faites tous vos vers à Paris;Et n'allez pas en Allemagne!"

"Faites tous vos vers à Paris;

Et n'allez pas en Allemagne!"

And very right he was. His kingly disciple committed more than once such Irish rhymes as these:

"Je vais cueillir dans leurs sentiers (des Muses)De fraîches et charmantes roses;Et je dédaigne les lauriers,En exceptant les laurierssauces."

"Je vais cueillir dans leurs sentiers (des Muses)

De fraîches et charmantes roses;

Et je dédaigne les lauriers,

En exceptant les laurierssauces."

Forgetting the difference of pronunciation between the softsofrose (roze)and the lisping sound of thecinsauce (sôss). As I have not by me the ponderous and voluminous works of the poetical monarch, I may have altered some of the words of the quotation; but the rhymessauceandroseI aver to be true to the primitive copy. Even Protestant refugees, born of French parents, brought up amongst their co-religionists and countrymen, wrote a strange gibberish, often ungrammatical, always unidiomatic, of which traces may be found even in Basnage and Ancillon. A recent French theologian, the clever author of a Life of Spinosa, written in Germany and published in Paris with some success, has such expressions as these:

"Les villes protestantes preferent la liberté avec CalvinQUEla tyrannique concorde avec Luther."—Hist. Crit. du Rationalisme, p. 49."Et ailleuz: Stuttgard Dontil etait conservateurDE LABibliothèque."-Ib.

"Les villes protestantes preferent la liberté avec CalvinQUEla tyrannique concorde avec Luther."—Hist. Crit. du Rationalisme, p. 49.

"Et ailleuz: Stuttgard Dontil etait conservateurDE LABibliothèque."-Ib.

And M. Amand Saintes is a Frenchman, and a most erudite man. The Celebrated Frau Bettina von Arnim, who dared to translate into English and to print in Berlin (apud Trowitzsch and Son, 1838), under the new title ofDiary of a Child, her own untranslateable letters to Göthe, had at least the very good excuse of her nationality for her peculiar English, the choicest, funniest, maddest, and saddest English ever penned on this planet or in any other, and of which I hope "N. & Q." will accept some small specimens, taken at random among thousands such. To begin with the opening address:

"To the English Bards."Gentlemen!—The noble cup of your mellifluous tongue so often brimmed with immortality, here filled with odd but pure and fiery draught, do not refuse to taste if you relish its spirit to be homefelt, though not home-born.""Bettina Arnim."

"To the English Bards.

"Gentlemen!—The noble cup of your mellifluous tongue so often brimmed with immortality, here filled with odd but pure and fiery draught, do not refuse to taste if you relish its spirit to be homefelt, though not home-born."

"Bettina Arnim."

We will next pass to the "Preamble":

"The translating of Göthe's Correspondence with a Child into English was generally disapproved of. Previous to its publication in Germany, the well-renowned Mrs. Austin, by regard for the great German poet, proposed to translate it; but after having perused it with attention, the literate and the most famed bookseller of London thought unadvisable the publication of a book that in every way widely differed from the spirit and feelings of the English, and therefore it could not be depended upon for exciting their interest. Mrs. Austin, by her gracious mind to comply with my wishes, proposed to publish some fragments of it, but as no musician ever likes to have only those passages of his composition executed that blandish the ear, I likewise refused my assent to the maiming of a work, that not by my own merit, but by chance and nature became a work of art, that only in the untouched development of its genius might judiciously be enjoyed and appraised."

Our next and last is taken from p. 133.:

"From those venturesome and spirit-night-wanderings I came home with garments wet with melted snow; they believed I had been in the garden. When night I forgot all; on the next evening at the same time it came back to my mind, and the fear too I had suffered; I could not conceive, how I had ventured to walk alone on that desolate road in the night, and to stay on such a waste dreadful spot; I stood leaning at the court gate; to-day it was not so mild and still as yesterday; the gales rose high and roared along; they sighed up at my feet and hastened on yonder side, the fluttering poplars in the garden bowed and flung off their snow-burden, the clouds drove away in a great hurry, what rooted fast wavered yonder, and what could ever be loosened, was swept away by the hastening breezes." (!!!).

P. S.—Excuse my French-English.

Philarète Chasles, Mazarianæus

Paris, Palais de l'Institut.

Meaning of "Delighted" in some Places of Shakspeare.—I am sorry to be obliged to differ so often in opinion with H. C. K., but as we are both, I trust, solely actuated by the love of truth, he no doubt will excuse me. My difference now with him is about "delightedspirit," by which he understands the "tenderdelicatespirit," while I take it to be the "delectable" or "delightfulspirit." As I think this is founded on the Latin, I beg permission to quote the following portion of my note on Jug. ii. 3. in my edition of Sallust:

"Incorruptus,ἄφθαρτος,i. e.incapable of dissolution, theincorruptibilisof the Fathers of the Church. In imitation probably of the Greek verbal adjective inτος, asαἱρετός,στρεπτός, etc., the Latins, especially Sallust, sometimes used the past part. as equivalent to an adj. inbilis: comp. xliii, 5.; lxxvi. 1.; xci. 7.; Cat.I. 4.,'Nonexoratostant adamante viæ;' Propert.IV. 11. 4.,'Mare scopulisinaccessum;' Plin.Nat. Hist.,XII. 14.It is in this sense thatflexusis to be understood in Virg.Æn., v. 500."

'Nonexoratostant adamante viæ;' Propert.IV. 11. 4.,'Mare scopulisinaccessum;' Plin.Nat. Hist.,XII. 14.

'Nonexoratostant adamante viæ;' Propert.IV. 11. 4.,

'Mare scopulisinaccessum;' Plin.Nat. Hist.,XII. 14.

It is in this sense thatflexusis to be understood in Virg.Æn., v. 500."

The same employment of the past part. is frequent in our old English writers, and I rather think that they adopted it from the Latin. The earliest instance which I find in my notes is from Golding, who renders thetonitrus et inevitabile fulmenof Ovid (Met.III. 301.):

"With dry and dreadful thunderclaps and lightning to the same,Of deadly andunavoideddint."

"With dry and dreadful thunderclaps and lightning to the same,

Of deadly andunavoideddint."

In Milton I have noticed the following participles used in this sense:unmoved,abhorred,unnumbered,unapproached,dismayed,unreproved,unremoved,unsucceeded,preferred. But as Milton was addicted to Latinising, I will give some examples from Shakspeare himself:

"Now thou art come unto a feast of deathA terrible andunavoideddanger."—1 Hen. VI., Act IV. Sc. 5."We see the very wreck that we must suffer,Andunavoidedthe danger now,For suffering so the causes of our wreck."—Rich. II., Act II. Sc. 1."Allunavoidedis the doom of destiny."—Rich. III., Act IV. Sc. 4."Inestimable stones,unvaluedjewels."—Ib., Act I. Sc. 4."Tell them that when my mother went with childOf thatinsatiateEdward."—Ib., Act III. Sc. 5."I am not glad that such a sore of timeShould seek a plaster bycontemnedrevolt."—King John, Act V. Sc 2."The murmuring surgeThat on theunnumber'didle pebbles chafes."—Lear, Act IV. Sc. 6."O,undistinguishedspace of woman's will."—Ib.

"Now thou art come unto a feast of deathA terrible andunavoideddanger."—1 Hen. VI., Act IV. Sc. 5.

"Now thou art come unto a feast of death

A terrible andunavoideddanger."—1 Hen. VI., Act IV. Sc. 5.

"We see the very wreck that we must suffer,Andunavoidedthe danger now,For suffering so the causes of our wreck."—Rich. II., Act II. Sc. 1.

"We see the very wreck that we must suffer,

Andunavoidedthe danger now,

For suffering so the causes of our wreck."—Rich. II., Act II. Sc. 1.

"Allunavoidedis the doom of destiny."—Rich. III., Act IV. Sc. 4.

"Inestimable stones,unvaluedjewels."—Ib., Act I. Sc. 4.

"Tell them that when my mother went with childOf thatinsatiateEdward."—Ib., Act III. Sc. 5.

"Tell them that when my mother went with child

Of thatinsatiateEdward."—Ib., Act III. Sc. 5.

"I am not glad that such a sore of timeShould seek a plaster bycontemnedrevolt."—King John, Act V. Sc 2.

"I am not glad that such a sore of time

Should seek a plaster bycontemnedrevolt."—King John, Act V. Sc 2.

"The murmuring surgeThat on theunnumber'didle pebbles chafes."—Lear, Act IV. Sc. 6.

"The murmuring surge

That on theunnumber'didle pebbles chafes."—Lear, Act IV. Sc. 6.

"O,undistinguishedspace of woman's will."—Ib.

I could give instances from Spenser and even from Pope, but shall only observe that when we say "anundoubtedfact" we mean anindubitableone.

Thos. Keightley.

P.S.—I am not disposed to quarrel with H. C. K.'s derivation ofawkward(Vol. viii., p. 310.), but I must observe that the more exact correlative oftowardseems to bewayward. The Anglo-Saxons appear to have pronounced their ȝ asg; but after the Conquest it was pronounced hard in some cases, and sowaywardandawkwardmay have the same origin.

Shakspeare Portrait.—Can any of your correspondents state whether the sign of Shakspeare, said to have been painted at a cost of 150l., and which in 1764 graced a tavern then in Drury Lane, called "The Shakspeare," and in that year was taken down and removed into the country, and used for a similar purpose, still exists, add where? and is the artist who painted such known?

Charlecott.

"Taming of the Shrew."—I cannot help thinking that Christopher Sly merely means that he is fourteenpence on the score forsheerale,—nothing but ale; neither bread nor meat, horse housing, or bed.

He hasdrunkthe entire amount, and glories in his iniquity, like a true tippler.

G. H. K.

Lord Bacon and Shakspeare.—Can any of those correspondents of "N. & Q." who have devoted attention to the lives of two of England's greatest worthies, Francis Bacon and William Shakspeare, account for the extraordinary fact that, although these two highly gifted men were cotemporaries, no mention of or allusion to the other is to be found in the writings of either? Bacon was born in 1561, and died in 1626; Shakspeare, who was born in 1563, and died ten years before the great chancellor, not only loved

"To suck the sweets of sweet philosophy,"

but breathes throughout every page of his wondrous writings a spirit of philosophy as profound as his imagination is unlimited; yet nowhere, it is believed, can he be traced as making the slight allusion to the great father of modern philosophy. Bacon, on the other hand, whom one can scarcely suppose to have been ignorant of the writings of the dramatist, but who indeed may rather be believed to have known him personally, seems altogether to ignore his existence, or the existence of any of his matchless works. As the solution of this problem could not but throw much light on that most interesting subject,—the history of the minds of Shakespeare and Bacon,—I venture to throw it out as a fit subject for the research of some of your contributors versed in the writings of these great spirits of their own age, no less than of all time.

Theta.

Decomposed Cloth.—In Mr. Wright's valuable work onThe Celt, the Roman, and the Saxon, p. 308., is mentioned the discovery at York of a Roman coffin, in which were distinctly visible "the colour, a rich purple," as well as texture of the cloth with which the body it had contained had been covered.

I should think that the colour observed was not that of the ancient dye, but rather was caused by phosphate of iron, formed by the combination of iron contained in the soil or water, with phosphoric acid, arising from the decomposition of animal matter. It may often be observed in similar cases, as about animal remains found in bogs, and about ancient leather articles found inexcavations, especially when any iron is in contact with them, or in the soles of shoes or sandals studded with nails.

W. C. Trevelyan.

Wallington.

First and Last.—There cannot be two words more different in meaning than these, and yet they are both used to express the same sense! Of two authors equally eminent, one shall write that a thing is of thefirstand the other of thelastimportance, though each means thegreatestorutmost. How is this? To mefirstappears preferable, thoughlastmay be justifiable. Being on the subject of words, I am reminded ofobnoxious, which is applied in the strangest ways by different authors. It is true that the Roman writers usedobnoxiusin various senses; but it does not seem so pliable or smooth in English. Generally it is held to indicatedisagreeableorinimical, though our dictionaries do not admit it to have either of those meanings!

A. B. C.

Cucumber Time.—This term, which the working-tailors of England use to denote that which their masters call "the flat season," has been imported from a country which periodically sends many hundreds of its tailors to seek employment in our metropolis. The German phrase is "Die saure Gurken Zeit," or pickled gherkin time. A misunderstanding of the meaning of the phrase may have given rise to the vulgar witticism, that tailors are vegetarians, who "live on cucumber" while at play, and on "cabbage" while at work.

N. W. S.

MS. Sermons of the Eighteenth Century.—Having lately become possessed, at the sale of an an old library, of some MS. Sermons by the Rev. J. Harris, Rector of Abbotsbury, Dorset, from the year 1741 to 1763, I shall be happy to place them in the hands of any descendant of that gentleman.

W. Ewart.

Pimperne, Dorset.

Boswell's "Johnson."—In vol. v. p. 272. ofmyfavourite edition, and p. 784. of the edition in one volume, Johnson, writing to Brocklesby, under date Sept. 2, 1784, calls Windham "inter stellas Luna minores." Boswell, in a note, says, "It is remarkable that so good a Latin scholar as Johnson should have been so inattentive to the metre, as by mistake to have writtenstellasinstead ofignes." Now, with all due deference, a Captain of Native Infantry ventures to suggest that bothstellasandignesare wrong, and that Johnson was thinking of the noble opening of Horace's 15th Epode:

"Nox erat, et cœlo fulgebatLunasereno,Inter minorasidera."

"Nox erat, et cœlo fulgebatLunasereno,

Inter minorasidera."

F. C.

Bangalore.

Stage Coaches.—It occurs to me as highly desirable that, before the recollection of the old stage coach has faded from the memory of all but the oldest inhabitant, an authentic statement should be placed on record of the length of the stages, and the speed that was obtained, by this mode of conveyance, in which England was for so many years without a rival.

The speed of mail coaches is, I believe chronicled in the British Almanac of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge; but their speed, if I mistake not, was surpassed by that of the "Rival," which travelled (from Monmouth, I think) to London after the opening of the Great Western Railway.

Could any of your correspondents favour us with the time-bill of that coach, detailing the length of the several stages, and the time of performance? It would also be interesting to chronicle the period during which this rivalry with the railway was maintained.

Geo. E. Frere.

Antecedents.—The word "antecedents," as a plural, and in the sense attached to it by the French, is not to be found in any English dictionary that I have the means of consulting. And yet it seems now to be commonly used as an English expression, even by some of our best writers.

When was this word first imported, and by whom? I have just met with an instance of it in Jerdan'sAutobiography, vol. i. p. 131.:

"I got him (Hammon), with a full knowledge of his antecedents, into the employment of a humane and worthy wine merchant of Bordeaux."

Henry H. Breen.

St. Lucia.

The Letter X.—The letter X on brewers' casks is probably thus derived:

Simplex= single x, or X.Duplex= double x, or XX.Triplex= treble x, or XXX.

Simplex= single x, or X.

Duplex= double x, or XX.

Triplex= treble x, or XXX.

This was suggested by Owen'sEpigram, lib. xii. 34.:

"Laudatur vinumsimplex, cervisiaduplex,Est bona duplicitas, optima simplicitas."

"Laudatur vinumsimplex, cervisiaduplex,

Est bona duplicitas, optima simplicitas."

B. H. C.

A Crow-bar.—In Johnson'sDictionarythe explanation given of this word is "piece of iron used as a lever to force open doors, as the Latins called a hookcorvus." In Walters'English and Welsh Dictionary, the first part of which was published about the year 1770, this word is printed "Croe-bar." Is it probable that the wordcrowhas been derived front the Camb.-Brit. wordcro, a curve? and that the name has been given from the circumstance of one end of a crow-bar being curved for the purpose of making it more efficient as lever?

N. W. S.

Bishop Grehan.—I want any information obtainable with reference to a Roman Catholic bishop in Ireland named Grehan; his Christian name, family, date of his bishopric, and name of it. Where can I find such particulars?

O. L. R. G.

Doxology.—In his "Christmas Caroll" to the tune of "King Solomon," old Tusser has the following:

"To God the Son and Holy Ghost,Let man give thanks, rejoice, and sing,From world to world, from coast to coast,For all good gifts so many ways,That God doth send.Let us in Christ give God the praise,Till life shall end!"

"To God the Son and Holy Ghost,

Let man give thanks, rejoice, and sing,

From world to world, from coast to coast,

For all good gifts so many ways,

That God doth send.

Let us in Christ give God the praise,

Till life shall end!"

Query, Is this the origin of our own doxologies?

L. A. M.

Great Yarmouth.

Arrow-mark.—On an ancient pump of wood, extracted from the Poltimore mine in North Devon, I perceive a deeply cut arrow-mark. What is the inference as to the age of this relic from the mark referred to? The fragment is that of a large oak tree hollowed out, and now decomposing from exposure after its long burial.

J. R. P.

Gabriel Poyntz.—There is a portrait here inscribed "Gabriel Poyntz, an. Domini 1568, ætatis suæ 36:" and having a coat of arms painted on it, Barry of eight, or and gules, with a crest very indistinct; but apparently a lion's head, and the motto "Clainte refrainte."

Can any of your correspondents inform me of the meaning of this motto, and the language in which it is expressed; and also what the crest is?

G. Poyntz was of South Okendon in Essex, and there is an account of his family in Morant'sEssex; from which it appears that he was descended from the family of Poyntz of Tockington inGloucestershire, of which there is an account in Atkins' Gloucestershire. He was afterwards knighted.—Any information as to him, in addition to that which is contained in Morant, would be very acceptable.

S. G. C.

Bradley, Ashbourne.

Queen Elizabeth's and Queen Anne's Motto, "Semper eadem."—Upon what occasion, and by what authority was the motto "Semper eadem" used as the royal motto in the reign of Elizabeth?

The authority for Queen Anne's motto has been afforded by your correspondent G. (Vol. viii., p. 255.); though he has not fully answered the original Query (Vol. viii., p. 174.), as the motto in question was signified to the public in theLondon Gazette, Dec. 21-24, 1702; was ordered to becontinuedin 1707, and to bediscontinued(by an order in council) on the accession of the House of Hanover in 1714, when the old motto "Dieu et mon droit" was resumed.

Z. Z. Z.

Bees.—In these parts the increase of the apiary is known by the three following names:—The first migration from the parent hive is (as all your country readers are aware) aswarm; the next is called acast; while the third increase, in the same season, goes under the name of acote. Perhaps some one will kindly inform me if these names are common in other parts of England; and if there are any other local designations for the different departures of these insect colonists.

John P. Stilwell.

Dorking.

Nelly O'Brien and Kitty Fisher.—Perhaps some of the readers of "N. & Q." can tell me where information is to be found respecting these two celebrated women, who have been immortalised by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and whose portraits are sometimes to be met with.

"Cleopatra dissolving the Pearl" is a portrait of Kitty, and he probably introduced them both into some of his fancy pictures.

As I happen to possess a good portrait of one of them, I should like to know something of their history.

Cantab.

University Club.

"Homo unius libri."—To whom does this saying ing originally belong? TheBritish Criticgives it to St. Thomas Aquinas:

"When asked on one occasion who is in the way to become learned, he answered, 'Whoever will content himself with the reading of a single book."—The British Critic, No.LIX. p. 202.

W. Fraser.

Tor-Mohun.

"Now the fierce bear," &c.—Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the following lines?

"Now the fierce bear and leopard keen,All perished as they ne'er had been;Oblivion's their best home.. . . .There is an oath on high,That ne'er on brow of mortal birth,Shall blend again the crowns of earth."

"Now the fierce bear and leopard keen,

All perished as they ne'er had been;

Oblivion's their best home.

. . . .

There is an oath on high,

That ne'er on brow of mortal birth,

Shall blend again the crowns of earth."

θ.

Prejudice against Holy Confirmation.—I have found among my rural parishioners an idea very prevalent, that it is wrong, or at least highly improper, for a married woman to become a candidate for, or to receive holy confirmation; and this quite apart from any sectarian views on the matter. I should like to know if any of myclerical brethren have noticed the same superstition as I must call it. Labourers' wives in some cases have at once stated their being married as a valid objection; and in others their husbands, although Churchmen, have at once entered theirvetoon their being confirmed. Can it arise from any vague reminiscence of the practical rule of the Church of England on the subject, which has been so long ignored?

W. Fraser.

Tor-Mohun.

Epigram on MacAdam.—Who was the author of the following epigram?

"My Essay on Roads, quoth MacAdam, lies there,The result of a life's lucubration;But does not the title page look rather bare?I long for a Latin quotation."A Delphin edition of Virgil stood nigh,To second his classic desire;When the road-maker hit on the shepherd's reply,'Miror Magis,' I ratheradd-mire."

"My Essay on Roads, quoth MacAdam, lies there,The result of a life's lucubration;But does not the title page look rather bare?I long for a Latin quotation.

"My Essay on Roads, quoth MacAdam, lies there,

The result of a life's lucubration;

But does not the title page look rather bare?

I long for a Latin quotation.

"A Delphin edition of Virgil stood nigh,To second his classic desire;When the road-maker hit on the shepherd's reply,'Miror Magis,' I ratheradd-mire."

"A Delphin edition of Virgil stood nigh,

To second his classic desire;

When the road-maker hit on the shepherd's reply,

'Miror Magis,' I ratheradd-mire."

Old English W. N.

Jane Scrimshaw.—Can any of your numerous correspondents inform me if there is any other biographical notice of Jane Scrimshaw, who attained the advanced age of 127, and resided for upwards of eighty years in the Merchant Taylors' Almshouse, near Little Tower Hill, than that recorded in Caulfield'sMemoirs of Remarkable Characters?

J. T. M.

The Word "Quadrille."—May I trouble some kind reader to give me the origin, derivation, full and literal meaning, and the several senses, in their regular succession, of the above wordQuadrille? There seems to be much uncertainty attached to the word.

Veritatis Amicus.

Oxon.

The Hungarians in Paules.—Perhaps some of the ingenious contributors to "N. & Q." may be able to assist P. C. S. S. to explain the following passage in the dedication of a rare little bookDekker's Dreame(Lond. 4to. 1620). It is inscribed:—

"To the truly accomplished gentleman, and worthy deserver of all men's loves, Master Endymion Porter. Sir, if you aske why, from the heapes of men, I picke you out only to be thatMurus ahæneuswhich must defend me, lett me tell you (what you knowe allready) that bookes are like the Hungarians in Paules, who have a priviledge to holde out their Turkish history for anie one to reade. They beg nothing: the texted past-bord talkes all—and if nothing be given, nothing is spoken, but God knowes what they thinke!"

An explanation of the above passage is very earnestly desired by

P. C. S. S.

Ferns Wanted.—Specimens of the following rare ferns are much wanted to complete a collection:—Woodsia ilvensis,Woodsia alpina,Cystopteris montana,Lastrea cristata,Lastrea recurva,Lastrea multiflora,Asplenium alterniflorum,Trichomanes speciosum.

The undersigned will feel very much obliged to any charitable person, residing near thehabitatof any of the above-mentioned ferns, who would take the trouble to forward to him, if not a root, at least a specimen for drying, he need scarcely say that any expenses will be most cheerfully defrayed.

Henry Cooper Key.

Stretton Rectory, near Hereford.

Craton the Philosopher.—Two of the figures on the brass font in the church of St. Bartholomew at Liège are superscribed Johannes Evangelista et Craton Philosophus.—Can any reader of "N. & Q." say if anything is known about the latter, who is represented as being baptized by the Evangelist?

R. H. C.

The Solar Annual Eclipse in the Year 1263.—In the Norwegian account of Haco's expedition against Scotland,A.D.1263, published in the original Islandic from the Flateyan and Frisian MSS., with a literal English version by the Rev. James Johnstone, I read as follows:

"While King Haco lay in Ronaldsvo, a great darkness drew over the sun; so that only a little ring was bright round the sun, and it continued so for some hours."—P. 45.

King Haco, according to the account, left Bergen on his expedition "three nights before the 'Selian' vigils ... with all his fleet," and, "having got a gentle breeze, was two nights at sea when he reached that harbour of Shetland called Breydeyiar Sound (Bressay Sound, I presume) with a great part of his navy." Here he remained "near half a month, and from thence sailed to the Orkneys; and continued some time at Elidarwick, which is near Kirkwall.... After St. Olave's wake (July 18, O. S.) King Haco, leaving Elidarwick, sailed south before the Mull of Ronaldsha, with all the navy;" and being joined by Ronald from the Orkneys, with the ships that had followed him, he "led the whole armament into Ronaldsha, which he left upon the vigil of St. Lawrence (July 30, O. S.)."

Now I wish to know, 1. On what day in August this eclipse took place, the day of the week, commencement of the eclipse, &c.

2. Whether any cotemporary, or other writer besides the Icelandic historian, has recorded this eclipse?

Fitzroy Street.

D'Israeli—how spelt?—Caucasusis so fortunate as to possess all the acknowledged works of D'Israeli the elder, as published by himself. In the title-page of every one of them, the nameof the elegant and accomplished author is spelt (as above)withan apostrophe. In the late edition of his collected works, by his no less accomplished son, the name is printedwithoutthe apostrophe. Indeed the name so appears in all the works of Mr. D'Israeli the younger; a practice which he seems to have taken up even in the lifetime of his father, who spelt it differently. Can any of your readers informCaucasusof the reason of this difference, and of the authority for it, and which is the correct mode? He has vainly sought for information in the Heralds' Visitation books for Buckinghamshire, preserved in the British Museum.

Caucasus.

Richard Oswald.—Could any of your correspondents give me any information respecting Mr. Richard Oswald, the commissioner who negociated the Treaty of 1782 at Paris, with Franklin, and his other colleagues, representing the United States? Is there any obituary or biographical notice of him in existence?

Cromwell's Descendants.—Oliver Cromwell's daughter Bridget was baptized August 4, 1624; married to Ireton January 15, 1646-7; a widow Nov. 26, 1651; married to General Fleetwood, Lord President in Ireland, before 1652; died at Stoke, near London, 1681.—Can any of your correspondents furnish the date of this lady's marriage with Fleetwood; also, a list of her children and grandchildren by Fleetwood? It is supposed that Captain Fleetwood's daughter,i. e.the General's granddaughter, married a Berry.

Erin.

Letter of Archbishop Curwen to Archbishop Parker.—InThe Hunting of the Romish Fox, collected by Sir James Ware, and edited by Robert Ware (8vo., Dublin, 1683), there is a long account of an image of the Saviour which, to the astonishment of the good people of Dublin, and by the contrivance of one Father Leigh, sweated blood in the year 1559. It is added, at p. 90.:

"The Archbishop of Dublin wrotethis relation and to this effect, to his brother, Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker, who was very joyful at the receipt thereof, by reason," &c.

The whole chapter in which this occurs is stated to be "taken out of the Lord Cecil'sMemorials." Can any of your readers give me assistance in finding theseMemorials, or this letter to Archbishop Parker, or a copy of it? I intended to have made it an object of inquiry and search in Dublin, but I have been prevented accomplishing my design of visiting that country. Perhaps some of your Irish readers may be able to help me.

John Bruce.

Margaret Patten.—I have just seen a curious old picture, executed at least a century ago, and which was lately found amongst some family papers. It is a half-length of an old woman in homely looking garments; a dark blue stuff gown, the sleeves partially rolled up, and white sleeving protruding from under, not unlike the fashion of to-day; a white and blue checked apron; around her neck a white tippet and a handkerchief, on her head a "mutch," or close linen cap, and a lace or embroidered band across her forehead to hide the absence of hair. She holds something undistinguishable in one hand.

The picture is about 10 × 8 inches, and is done on glass, evidently transferred from an engraving on steel. The colours have been laid on with hand, and then, to preserve and make an opaque back, it has received a coating of plaster of Paris; altogether in its treatment resembling a coloured photograph.

By-the-bye, I am sorry I could not get a copy (photographic) of it, or that would have rendered intelligible what I fear my lame descriptions cannot. Beneath the figure is the following inscription:

"Margaret Patten,Born in the Parish of Lochnugh, near Pairsley in Scotland, now Liveing in the Work House of St. Margts, Westminsster, aged 138."

"Margaret Patten,

Born in the Parish of Lochnugh, near Pairsley in Scotland, now Liveing in the Work House of St. Margts, Westminsster, aged 138."

There is no date appended.

The word "Lochnugh" in the inscription is evidently spelt from the Scotch pronunciation of Lochwinnoch, near Paisley.

I should be very glad if any of your readers or correspondents in London could ascertain if the name, &c. is to be found in the records of St. Margaret's, Westminster, and also give me some facts as to the history of this poor old Scotch woman, left destitute so far from home and kindred.

If it can be authenticated, it will make another item for your list of longevals.

James B. Murdoch.

Glasgow.

[In the Board-room of the workhouse of St. Margaret's, Westminster, is a portrait of Margaret Patten, which corresponds with the picture just described, and bears the following inscription:"Margaret Patten, aged 136: the Gift of John Dowsell, William Goff, Matthew Burnett, Thomas Parker, Robert Wright, John Parquot, Overseers, anno 1737."Margaret Patten was buried in the burial-ground of what was then called the Broadway Church, now Christ Church, and there is a stone on the eastern boundary wall inscribed, "Near this place liethMargaret Patten, who died June 26, 1739, in the Parish Workhouse, aged 136." In Walcott'sMemorials ofWestminster, p. 288., we are told "she was a native of Lochborough, near Paisley. She was brought to England to prepare Scotch broth for King James II., but, owing to the abdication of that monarch, fell into poverty and died in St. Margaret's workhouse, where her portrait is still preserved. Her body was followed to the grave by the parochial authorities and many of the principal inhabitants, while the children sang a hymn before it reached its last resting-place."]

[In the Board-room of the workhouse of St. Margaret's, Westminster, is a portrait of Margaret Patten, which corresponds with the picture just described, and bears the following inscription:

"Margaret Patten, aged 136: the Gift of John Dowsell, William Goff, Matthew Burnett, Thomas Parker, Robert Wright, John Parquot, Overseers, anno 1737."

Margaret Patten was buried in the burial-ground of what was then called the Broadway Church, now Christ Church, and there is a stone on the eastern boundary wall inscribed, "Near this place liethMargaret Patten, who died June 26, 1739, in the Parish Workhouse, aged 136." In Walcott'sMemorials ofWestminster, p. 288., we are told "she was a native of Lochborough, near Paisley. She was brought to England to prepare Scotch broth for King James II., but, owing to the abdication of that monarch, fell into poverty and died in St. Margaret's workhouse, where her portrait is still preserved. Her body was followed to the grave by the parochial authorities and many of the principal inhabitants, while the children sang a hymn before it reached its last resting-place."]

Etymology of "Coin."—What is the etymology of our noun and verbcoinandto coin? I do not know if I have been anticipated, but beg to suggest the following:—Coin, a piece of cornered metal;To coin, the act of cornering such block of metal.

In Cornwall, the blocks of tin, when first run into moulds from the smelting furnace, aresquare; and when the metal is to be fined or assayed, the miner's phrase is, that it is to becoined; for thecornersof the moulded block arecut off, and subjected to theassay; and the decree of fineness proved is stamped on the now cornerless block—thereafter called acoin of tin. It is, I conceive, by no means a violent supposition that suchcoins of tinwere current as money very many ages before either silver, gold, copper, bronze, lead, tin, or any other metal moulded, stamped, engraved, or fashioned into such coins as we now know had come into use. We know to what far-back ages the finding of tin carries us, its find being entirely confined to Cornwall; its presence near the surface in an ore readily reduced and easily melted making its reduction into the metallic state possible in the very rudest state of society and of the arts.

C. D. Lamont.

Greenock.

[See Dr. Richardson for the following derivation:—"Fr.coigner, It.cuniare, Sp.cunar,acuñar, to wedge, and also to coin. Menage and Spelman agree from the Latincuneus. 'Cuneus; sigillum ferreum, quo nummuscuditur; a forma dictum: atque indecoinquasicunepro monetâ.' An iron seal with which metal is stamped; so called from the shape. And hence money is calledcoin(q.cune, wedge).—Spelman." The Rev. T. R. Brown, in an unpublishedDictionary of Difficult Etymology[1], suggests the following:—"Fr.coign, a coin, stamp, &c.; Gaelic,cuin, a coin. Probably from the Sanscritkan, to shine, desire, covet;kanaka, gold, &c. The Hebrewceseph, money, coin, is derived in like manner from the verbcasaph, to desire, covet. The other meaning attached to the French wordcoign, viz. a wedge, appears to be derived from quite a different root."]

Footnote 1:(return)This useful work makes two volumes 8vo.: but how is it the learned Vicar of Southwick printed onlyninecopies? Was he thinking of the sacredNine?

This useful work makes two volumes 8vo.: but how is it the learned Vicar of Southwick printed onlyninecopies? Was he thinking of the sacredNine?

Inscription at Aylesbury.—In the north transept of St. Mary's Church, Aylesbury, occurs the following curious inscription on a tomb of the date of 1584:

"Yf, passing by this place, thou doe desireTo knowe what corpse here shry'd in marble lie,The somme of that whiche now thou dost requireThis slender verse shall sone to thee descrie."Entombed here doth rest a worthie Dame,Extract and born of noble house and bloud,Her sire, Lord Paget, hight of worthie fameWhose virtues cannot sink in Lethe floud.Two brethern had she, barons of this realme,A knight her freere, Sir Henry Lee, he hight,To whom she bare threeimpes, which had to name,John, Henry, Mary, slayn by fortune spight,First two being yong, which cavs'd their parents mone,The third in flower and prime of all her yeares:All three do rest within this marble stone,By which the fickleness of worldly joyes appears.Good Frend sticke not to strew with crimson flowersThis marble stone, wherein her cindres rest,For sure her ghost lives with the heavenly powers,And guerdon hathe of virtuous life possest."

"Yf, passing by this place, thou doe desireTo knowe what corpse here shry'd in marble lie,The somme of that whiche now thou dost requireThis slender verse shall sone to thee descrie.

"Yf, passing by this place, thou doe desire

To knowe what corpse here shry'd in marble lie,

The somme of that whiche now thou dost require

This slender verse shall sone to thee descrie.

"Entombed here doth rest a worthie Dame,Extract and born of noble house and bloud,Her sire, Lord Paget, hight of worthie fameWhose virtues cannot sink in Lethe floud.Two brethern had she, barons of this realme,A knight her freere, Sir Henry Lee, he hight,To whom she bare threeimpes, which had to name,John, Henry, Mary, slayn by fortune spight,First two being yong, which cavs'd their parents mone,The third in flower and prime of all her yeares:All three do rest within this marble stone,By which the fickleness of worldly joyes appears.Good Frend sticke not to strew with crimson flowersThis marble stone, wherein her cindres rest,For sure her ghost lives with the heavenly powers,And guerdon hathe of virtuous life possest."

"Entombed here doth rest a worthie Dame,

Extract and born of noble house and bloud,

Her sire, Lord Paget, hight of worthie fame

Whose virtues cannot sink in Lethe floud.

Two brethern had she, barons of this realme,

A knight her freere, Sir Henry Lee, he hight,

To whom she bare threeimpes, which had to name,

John, Henry, Mary, slayn by fortune spight,

First two being yong, which cavs'd their parents mone,

The third in flower and prime of all her yeares:

All three do rest within this marble stone,

By which the fickleness of worldly joyes appears.

Good Frend sticke not to strew with crimson flowers

This marble stone, wherein her cindres rest,

For sure her ghost lives with the heavenly powers,

And guerdon hathe of virtuous life possest."

Can any of your readers give me any other instances of children being calledimps? and also tell me wherefore the name was given them? and how long it continued in use?

T. W. D. Brooks.

Cropredy, Banbury.

[The inscription is given in Lipscomb'sBuckinghamshire. Horne Tooke saysimpis the past participle of the A.-S.impan, to graft, to plant. Mr. Steevens (Note on2 Henry IV., Act V. Sc. 5.) tells us, "Animpis a shoot in its primitive sense, but means a son in Shakspeare." In Hollinshed, p. 951., the last words of Lord Cromwell are preserved, who says, "And after him that his sonne Prince Edward, that goodlieimpe, may long reign over you." The wordimpis perpetually used by Ulpian Fulwell, and other ancient writers, for progeny:"And were it not thy royalimpeDid mitigate our pain."Again, in theBattle of Alcazar, 1594:"Amurath, mighty emperor of the East,That shall receive theimpof royal race."See other examples in Todd's Johnson and Dr. Richardson's Dictionaries. Shakspeare uses the word only in jocular and burlesque passages, which, says Nares, is the natural course of a word growing obsolete.]

"And were it not thy royalimpeDid mitigate our pain."

"And were it not thy royalimpe

Did mitigate our pain."

Again, in theBattle of Alcazar, 1594:

"Amurath, mighty emperor of the East,That shall receive theimpof royal race."

"Amurath, mighty emperor of the East,

That shall receive theimpof royal race."

See other examples in Todd's Johnson and Dr. Richardson's Dictionaries. Shakspeare uses the word only in jocular and burlesque passages, which, says Nares, is the natural course of a word growing obsolete.]

"Guardian Angels now protect me," &c.—I remember John Wesley, and also his saying the "Devil should not have the best tunes." There was a pretty love-song, a great favourite when I was a boy:

"Guardian angels, now protect me,Send to me the youth I love."

"Guardian angels, now protect me,

Send to me the youth I love."

the music of which Wesley introduced to his congregation as a hymn tune. The music I have, and I shall be glad if any of your correspondentscan oblige me with the first verse of this love-song; I only recollect the above lines.

William Gardiner.

Leicester.

[The following is the song referred to by our correspondent:The Forsaken Nymph."Guardian angels, now protect me,Send to me the swain I love;Cupid, with thy bow direct me;Help me, all ye pow'rs above.Bear him my sighs, ye gentle breezes,Tell him I love and I despair,Tell him for him I grieve, say 'tis for him I live;O may the shepherd be sincere!"Through the shady grove I'll wander,Silent as the bird of night,Near the brink of yonder fountain,First Leander bless'd my sight.Witness ye groves and falls of water,Echos repeat the vows he swore:Can he forget me? will he neglect me?Shall I never see him more?"Does he love, and yet forsake me,To admire a nymph more fair?If 'tis so, I'll wear the willow,And esteem the happy pair.Some lonely cave I'll make my dwelling,Ne'er more the cares of life pursue;The lark and Philomel only shall hear me tell,What bids me bid the world adieu."]

[The following is the song referred to by our correspondent:

The Forsaken Nymph."Guardian angels, now protect me,Send to me the swain I love;Cupid, with thy bow direct me;Help me, all ye pow'rs above.Bear him my sighs, ye gentle breezes,Tell him I love and I despair,Tell him for him I grieve, say 'tis for him I live;O may the shepherd be sincere!"Through the shady grove I'll wander,Silent as the bird of night,Near the brink of yonder fountain,First Leander bless'd my sight.Witness ye groves and falls of water,Echos repeat the vows he swore:Can he forget me? will he neglect me?Shall I never see him more?"Does he love, and yet forsake me,To admire a nymph more fair?If 'tis so, I'll wear the willow,And esteem the happy pair.Some lonely cave I'll make my dwelling,Ne'er more the cares of life pursue;The lark and Philomel only shall hear me tell,What bids me bid the world adieu."]

The Forsaken Nymph.

"Guardian angels, now protect me,Send to me the swain I love;Cupid, with thy bow direct me;Help me, all ye pow'rs above.Bear him my sighs, ye gentle breezes,Tell him I love and I despair,Tell him for him I grieve, say 'tis for him I live;O may the shepherd be sincere!

"Guardian angels, now protect me,

Send to me the swain I love;

Cupid, with thy bow direct me;

Help me, all ye pow'rs above.

Bear him my sighs, ye gentle breezes,

Tell him I love and I despair,

Tell him for him I grieve, say 'tis for him I live;

O may the shepherd be sincere!

"Through the shady grove I'll wander,Silent as the bird of night,Near the brink of yonder fountain,First Leander bless'd my sight.Witness ye groves and falls of water,Echos repeat the vows he swore:Can he forget me? will he neglect me?Shall I never see him more?

"Through the shady grove I'll wander,

Silent as the bird of night,

Near the brink of yonder fountain,

First Leander bless'd my sight.

Witness ye groves and falls of water,

Echos repeat the vows he swore:

Can he forget me? will he neglect me?

Shall I never see him more?

"Does he love, and yet forsake me,To admire a nymph more fair?If 'tis so, I'll wear the willow,And esteem the happy pair.Some lonely cave I'll make my dwelling,Ne'er more the cares of life pursue;The lark and Philomel only shall hear me tell,What bids me bid the world adieu."]

"Does he love, and yet forsake me,

To admire a nymph more fair?

If 'tis so, I'll wear the willow,

And esteem the happy pair.

Some lonely cave I'll make my dwelling,

Ne'er more the cares of life pursue;

The lark and Philomel only shall hear me tell,

What bids me bid the world adieu."]

K. C. B.'s.—I observe that in theLondon Gazetteof January 2, 1815, which regulates the existing order of the Bath, it is commanded by the sovereign that "there shall be affixed in the church of St. Peter at Westminster escutcheons and banners of the arms of each K. C. B." Has this command been regularly fulfilled on the creation of each K. C. B.? I believe that on each creation fees are demanded by the Heralds' College, for the professed purpose of exemplifying the knight's arms, and affixing his escutcheon; but I never remember to have seen the escutcheons in Westminster Abbey.

Tewars.

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