Queries.

And here he liv'd, and here he reign'd,And hither oft shall strangers stray;To muse with joy on native worth,And mourn those pleasures fled for aye.Alas! that he, whose days were spentIn catering for the public weal,Should, in the eventide of life,Be destin'd sad distress to feel.An ever open heart and hand,With ear ne'er closed to sorrow's tale,Exalts the man, and o'er his faultsDraws the impenetrable veil.

And here he liv'd, and here he reign'd,And hither oft shall strangers stray;To muse with joy on native worth,And mourn those pleasures fled for aye.

And here he liv'd, and here he reign'd,

And hither oft shall strangers stray;

To muse with joy on native worth,

And mourn those pleasures fled for aye.

Alas! that he, whose days were spentIn catering for the public weal,Should, in the eventide of life,Be destin'd sad distress to feel.

Alas! that he, whose days were spent

In catering for the public weal,

Should, in the eventide of life,

Be destin'd sad distress to feel.

An ever open heart and hand,With ear ne'er closed to sorrow's tale,Exalts the man, and o'er his faultsDraws the impenetrable veil.

An ever open heart and hand,

With ear ne'er closed to sorrow's tale,

Exalts the man, and o'er his faults

Draws the impenetrable veil.

L. M. Thornton.

Bath.

Acrostic in Ash Church, Kent.—The following acrostic is from a brass in Ash Church, Kent. It is perhaps curious only from the fact of its being unusual to inscribe this kind of verse on sepulchral monuments. The capital letters at the commencement of each line are given as in the original:

"JJohn Brooke of the parish of AsheOOnly he is nowe gone.HHis days are past, his corps is laydNNow under this marble stone.BBrookstrete he was the honor of,RRobd now it is of name,OOnly because he had no sedeOOr children to have the same;KKnowing that all must passe away,EEven when God will, none can denay."He passed to God in the yere of GraceOne thousand fyve hundredth ffower score and two it was,The sixteenthe daye of January, I tell now playne,The five-and-twentieth yere of Elizabeth rayne."

"JJohn Brooke of the parish of AsheOOnly he is nowe gone.HHis days are past, his corps is laydNNow under this marble stone.

"JJohn Brooke of the parish of Ashe

OOnly he is nowe gone.

HHis days are past, his corps is layd

NNow under this marble stone.

BBrookstrete he was the honor of,RRobd now it is of name,OOnly because he had no sedeOOr children to have the same;KKnowing that all must passe away,EEven when God will, none can denay.

BBrookstrete he was the honor of,

RRobd now it is of name,

OOnly because he had no sede

OOr children to have the same;

KKnowing that all must passe away,

EEven when God will, none can denay.

"He passed to God in the yere of GraceOne thousand fyve hundredth ffower score and two it was,The sixteenthe daye of January, I tell now playne,The five-and-twentieth yere of Elizabeth rayne."

"He passed to God in the yere of Grace

One thousand fyve hundredth ffower score and two it was,

The sixteenthe daye of January, I tell now playne,

The five-and-twentieth yere of Elizabeth rayne."

Fras. Brent.

Sandgate.

A Hint to Publishers.—The present period is remarkable for its numerous reprints of our poets and standard writers. However excellent these may be, there is often a great drawback, viz. that one must purchase an author's entire works, and cannot get a favourite poem or treatise separately.

What I would suggest is, that a separate title-page be prefixed to every poem or treatise in anauthor's works, and that they be sold collectively or separately at the purchaser's option. Thus few would encumber themselves with the entire works of Dryden, but many would gladly purchase some of his poems if they could be had separately.

These remarks are still more applicable to encyclopædias. TheEncycl. Metropol.was a step in the right direction; and henceforth we may hope to have each article sold separately inoctavovolumes. Is there no chance, amid all these reprints, of our seeing Heywood, Crashaw, Southwell, Habington, Daniel, or Drummond of Hawthornden?

Mariconda.

Uhland, the German Poet.—Mr. Mitchell, in his speech at New York, is said to have stated that Uhland, the German poet, had become an exile, and was now in Ohio. This is a mistake; for Uhland is now living in his native Würtemberg, and is reported in the papers to have quite recently declined a civic honour proposed to be conferred on him by the King of Prussia at the suggestion of Baron Humboldt.

J. M.

Oxford.

Virgilian Inscription for an Infant School.—

"... Auditæ voces, vagitus et ingens,Infantumque animæ flentes, in limine primo."Æn.VI.426.

"... Auditæ voces, vagitus et ingens,

Infantumque animæ flentes, in limine primo."

Æn.VI.426.

Anon.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania having requested me to edit certain MSS., I should be very much indebted to any one for information, either through your columns, or addressed to me directly, concerning the following persons or their ancestry.

Edward Shippen, son of William, born in Yorkshire, near Pontefract or Wakefield, as supposed, 1639; emigrated to Boston 1670, was a member of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company, afterwards turned Quaker, was publicly whipt for his faith (see Thomas Story'sJournal, quoted in Southey'sCommon-Place Book), removed to Philadelphia, elected Speaker 1695, first mayor 1701, &c., died 1712. His son's family Bible entries (now in possession of Colonel Jno. Hare Powel) say that his (the son's) relations in England were his "uncle William's children," viz. Robert Shippen, Doctor of Divinity; William Shippen, Doctor of Laws and a parliament man; Edward, a physician; John, a Spanish merchant.

The uncle William thus mentioned is conjectured to have been the Rector of Stockport, and the "parliament man" to have been his son, "downright Shippen" (Lord Mahon'sHist. Eng., three vols.)—a conjecture strengthened by another mem., "John, son of the Rector of St. Mary's parish, Stockport, was baptized July 5,A.D.1678.

Edward Shippen's daughter, Margaret, married John Jekyll, collector of the port of Boston, said to have been a younger brother of Sir Joseph; and a descendant, daughter of Chief Justice Shippen, married General Benedict Arnold, then a distinguished officer in the American army.

Mr. Shippen lived in great style (Watson'sAnnals, &c.), and among his descendants were, and are, many persons of consequence and distinction.

Besides information as to Mr. Shippen's ancestors, I should be glad to learn something of his kinsfolk, and of the Jekyll and Arnold branches. Sabine's (Loyalists) account of the latter is imperfect, and perhaps not very just.

John White, Chief Justice Shippen, whilst a law student in London, writes, 1748-50, as though Mr. White was socially a man of dignified position. He was a man of large fortune; his sister married San. Swift, who emigrated to this state. His portrait, by Reynolds, represents a gentleman past middle age, whose costume and appearance are those of a person of refined and elegant education. His letters were destroyed by fire some years since. The China and silver ware, which belonged to him, have the following arms: "Gules, a border sable, charged with seven or eight estoiles gold; on a canton ermines a lion rampant sable. Crest, a bird, either a stork, a heron, or an ostrich." The copy inclosed is taken from the arms on the china; but our Heralds' College (i.e.an intelligent engraver, who gave me the foregoing description) says, that on the silver the crest is "a stork close."

Thos. Balch.

Philadelphia.

From time to time various productions, many valuable, others the reverse, have issued from the press in parts or numbers; some have been completed, while others have only reached a few numbers. It would be desirable to ascertain what works have been finished, and what have not. I have therefore transmitted a note as to several that have fallen in my way, and should be happy for any information about them:

"1. John Bull Magazine, 8vo., London, 1824. Of this I possess four numbers. A friend of mine has also the four numbers, and, like myself, attaches great value to them, from the ability of many of the articles. One article, entitled "Instructions to Missionaries," is equal to any thing from the pen of T. Hood. May it not have been written by him?2. Portraits of the Worthies of Westminster Hall, with their Autographs, being Fac-Similes of Original Sketches found in the Note-Book of a Briefless Barrister. London: Thomas and William Boone, 480. Strand. Small 8vo.Part I. Price Twenty Shillings. Twenty Sketches (very clever).3. Dictionary of Terms employed by the French in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, &c., by Shirley Palmer, M.D. 8vo., 1834. Birmingham: Barlow. London: Longman & Co. Two Parts. Stops at the letter H.4. Quarterly Biographical Magazine, No. I., May, 1838. 8vo. London: Hunt & Hart.5. Complete Illustrations of the British Fresh-water Fishes. London: W. Wood. 8vo. Three Numbers.6. New and Compendious History of the County of Warwick, &c. By William Smith, F.R.S.A. 4to. Birmingham: W. Evans. London: J. T. Hinton, 4. Warwick Square. 1829. Ten Numbers, to be completed in Twelve. On my copy there is written, "Never finished." Is this the case?7. Fishes of Ceylon. By John Whitchurch Bennet, Esq., F.H.S. London: Longman & Co. 1828. 4to. Two Numbers. A Guinea each.

2. Portraits of the Worthies of Westminster Hall, with their Autographs, being Fac-Similes of Original Sketches found in the Note-Book of a Briefless Barrister. London: Thomas and William Boone, 480. Strand. Small 8vo.

Part I. Price Twenty Shillings. Twenty Sketches (very clever).

3. Dictionary of Terms employed by the French in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, &c., by Shirley Palmer, M.D. 8vo., 1834. Birmingham: Barlow. London: Longman & Co. Two Parts. Stops at the letter H.

4. Quarterly Biographical Magazine, No. I., May, 1838. 8vo. London: Hunt & Hart.

5. Complete Illustrations of the British Fresh-water Fishes. London: W. Wood. 8vo. Three Numbers.

6. New and Compendious History of the County of Warwick, &c. By William Smith, F.R.S.A. 4to. Birmingham: W. Evans. London: J. T. Hinton, 4. Warwick Square. 1829. Ten Numbers, to be completed in Twelve. On my copy there is written, "Never finished." Is this the case?

7. Fishes of Ceylon. By John Whitchurch Bennet, Esq., F.H.S. London: Longman & Co. 1828. 4to. Two Numbers. A Guinea each.

J. M.

"Hovd Maet of Laet."—Will you kindly give me a translation of the above, which is in the corner of an old Dutch panel painting in the style of Ostade and Teniers, jun., in my possession?

Reading.

Hand in Church(Vol. viii., p. 454.).—What is the hand projecting under chancel arch, Brighton old church?

A. C.

Egger Moths.—What is the derivation of the word "egger," as applied to several species of moths?

Mountjoy.

The Yorkshire Dales(Vol. ii., p. 220.).—Is the Guide to the above by J. H. Dixon published?

R. W. D.

Ciss, Cissle, &c.—Can any of your readers give me any authority for a written usage of these words, or any one of them:ciss,siss,cissleorcizzle? They are often heard, but I have never seen them written, nor can I find them in any dictionary.

Inn Signs, &c.—Can any reader of "N. & Q." supply information respecting inn and other signs; or refer to any printed books, or accessible MSS., relating to the subject?

Alphege.

Smiths and Robinsons.—Could any of your correspondents inform me what are the arms of Miles Smith, Bishop of Gloucester, those of the Smiths of Willoughby, those of the Smiths of Crudely, in Lancashire, and those of the Robinsons of the North Riding of Yorkshire? Also, in what church, and in what year, did Lady Elizabeth Robinson, otherwise known as Betty of the Boith, serve the office of churchwarden?

John H. R. Smith, Jun.

Coin of Carausius.—A brass coin has lately come into my possession, bearing on the obverse the head and inscription:

"IMP. CARAVSIUS. P. P. AVG."

And on the reverse, a female figure, with spear and a branch:

"PAX. AUG. S. P. MLXXI."

I believe it to have been struck by Carausius, an usurper of the end of the third century, and my Query is as to the meaning of the letters MLXXI. Some friends assert them to be the Roman numerals, making the year 1071, and conclude it to have been struck at that date.

C. G.

Paddington.

Verelst the Painter.—Can any of your readers inform me who was Jo. Verelst? I have in my possession a picture bearing the signature, with the addition of P. 1714. The celebrated artists of that name mentioned in theDictionary of Painterscannot be the same.

Celcrena.

Latin Treatise on whipping School-boys.—What is the name of a modern Latin author, who has written a treatise on the antiquity of the practice of whipping school-boys? The work is alluded to in theHistory of the Flagellants, p. 134., edit. 1777, but the author's name is not given.

Betula.

Dublin.

Whitewashing in Churches.—Can any of your correspondents inform me at what period, and about what year it became the custom to cover over with whitewash the many beautiful works of art, both in stone and wood, which have of late years been brought to light in our cathedrals and churches in the course of renovation?

Surname "Kynoch."—Can any of your correspondents supply any heraldic or genealogical information regarding this name, a few families of which are to be found in Moray and Aberdeen shires, North Britain?

Dates of published Works.—Is it possible to ascertain the exact time of publication of any book, for instance in the year 1724, either at Stationers' Hall or elsewhere?

Saw-dust Recipe.—There is a recipe existing somewhere for converting saw-dust into palatablehuman food. Can you tell me what it is, or where it is to be found?

G. D.

Branks, or Gossips' Bridles.—Walton Church contains one of those strange instruments with which our ancestors used to punish those dames who were too free with the use of their tongues. They were called hanks [branks], or gossips' bridles, and were intended to inclose the head, being fastened behind by a padlock, and having attached to it a small piece of iron which literally "held the tongue." Thus accoutred, the unhappy culprit was marched through the village till she gave unequivocal signs of repentance and humiliation. Can any one give some account of this curious instrument?

George Hodges.

Oxford.

[Fosbroke says that "the brank is a sugar-loaf cap made of iron hooping, with a cross at top, and a flat piece projecting inwards to lie upon the tongue. It was put upon the head of scolds, padlocked behind, and a string annexed, by which a man led them through the towns." (See also Brand'sPopular Antiquities, vol. iii. p. 108., Bohn's edition.) Engravings of them will be found in Plot'sHistory of Staffordshire, p. 389., and in BrandsHistory of Newcastle, vol. ii. p. 192. In theHistorical Description of the Tower of London, p. 54., edit. 1774, occurs the following libellous squib on the fair sex: "Among the curiosities of the Tower is a collar of torment, which, say your conductors, used formerly to be put about the women's neck that cuckolded their husbands, or scolded them when they came home late; but that custom is left off now-a-days, to prevent quarrelling for collars, there not being smiths enough to make them, as most married men are sure to want them at one time or another." Waldron, in hisDescription of the Isle of Man, p. 80., thus notices this instrument of punishment: "I know nothing in the Manx statutes or punishments in particular but this, which is, that if any person be convicted of uttering a scandalous report, and cannot make good the assertion, instead of being fined or imprisoned, they are sentenced to stand in the market-place, on a sort of scaffold erected for that purpose, with their tongue in a noose made of leather, which they call abridle, and having been exposed to the view of the people for some time, on the taking off this machine, they are obliged to say three times, 'Tongue, thou hast lyed.'"]

Not caring a Fig for anything.—What is the origin of this expression?

J. H. Chateau.

Philadelphia.

[Nares informs us that the real origin of this expression may be found in Stevens and Pineda's Dictionaries underHiga; and, in fact, the same phrase and allusion pervaded all modern Europe: as,Far le fiche, Ital.;Faire la figue, Fr.;Die Feigen weisen, Germ.,De vÿghe setten, Dutch. (See Du Cange, inFicha.) Johnson says, "Tofig, in Spanish,higas dar, is to insult by putting the thumb between the fore and middle finger. From this Spanish custom we yet say in contempt,A fig for you." To this explanation Mr. Douce has added the following note: "Dr. Johnson has properly explained this phrase; but it should be added, that it is of Italian origin. When the Milanese revolted against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, they placed the Empress his wife upon a mule with her head towards the tail, and ignominiously expelled her their city. Frederick afterwards besieged and took the place, and compelled every one of his prisoners, on pain of death, to take with his teeth afigfrom the posteriors of a mule. The party was at the same time obliged to repeat to the executioner the wordsEcco la fica. From this circumstancefar la ficabecame a term of derision, and was adopted by other nations. The French say likewise,faire la figue."]

B. C. Y.—Can you give me any information respecting the famous B. C. Y. row, as it was called, which occurred about fifty years ago? A newspaper was started expressly to explain the meaning of the letters, which said it was "Beware of the Catholic Yoke;" but it was wrong.

H. Y.

[These "No-Popery" hieroglyphics first appeared in the reign of Charles II. during the debates on the Exclusion Bill, and were chalked over all parts of Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament. O B. C. Y. was then the inscription, which meant, "O Beware of Catholic York." On their re-appearance in 1809 the Y. was much taller than the B. C.; but the use and meaning at this time of these initials still remains a query.]

Earl Nugent's Poems.—I would be much obliged for any information relating to the poems written by Robert, afterwards Earl Nugent, between the years 1720 and 1780. It is supposed that they were first published in some periodical, and afterwards appeared in a collected form.

James F. Ferguson.

Dublin.

[A volume of his poems was published anonymously by Dodsley, and entitledOdes and Epistles; containing an Ode on his own Conversion from Popery: London, 1739, 8vo., 2nd edit. There are also other pieces by him in Dodsley's Collection, and theNew Foundling Hospital for Wit. He also publishedFaith, a Poem; a strange attempt to overturn the Epicurean doctrine by that of the Trinity; andVerses to the Queen; with a New Year's Gift of Irish Manufacture, 1775, 4to.]

Huntbach MSS.—Can you tell me where the Huntbach MSS. now lie? Shaw, in hisHistory of Staffordshire, drew largely from them.

Ursus.

[Dr. Wilkes's Collections, with those of Fielde, Huntbach, Loxdale, and Shaw, as also the engraved plates and drawings, published and unpublished, relative to theHistory of Staffordshire, were, in the year 1820, in the possession of William Hamper, F.S.A., Deritend House, Birmingham.]

Holy Loaf Money.—In Dr. Whitaker'sWhalley, p. 149., mention is made of holy loaf money. What is meant by this?

T. I. W.

[This seems to be some ecclesiastical due payable on Hlaf-mass, or Loaf-mass, commonly called Lammas-Day (August 1st). See Somner and Junius. It was called Loaf or Bread-mass, because it was a day of oblation of grain, or of bread made of new wheat; and was also the holiday of St. Peter ad Vincula, when Peter-pence were paid. Du Cange likewise mentions thePanis benedictus, and that money was given by the recipients of it on the following occasion:—"Since the catechumens," says he, "before baptism could neither partake of the Divine Mysteries, nor consequently of the Eucharist, a loaf was consecrated and given to them by the priest, whereby they were prepared for receiving the body of Christ."]

St. Philip's, Bristol.—Can you inform me when the Church of St. Philip, Bristol, was made parochial, and in what year the Priory of Benedictines, mentioned by William de Worcester in connexion with this church, was dissolved, and when founded?

E. W. Godwin.

[Neither Dugdale nor Tanner could discover any notices of this priory, except the traditionary account preserved in William of Worcester, p. 20.: "—— juxta Cimiterium et Ecclesiam Sancti Philippi, ubi quondam ecclesia religiosorum et Prioratus scituatur." It was probably a cell to the Tewkesbury monastery; and the historians of Bristol state, that the exact time when it became parochial is not known; but it was very early, being mentioned in Gaunt's deeds before the year 1200; and, like St. James's, became a parish church through the accession of inhabitants.]

Foreign Universities.—Is there any history of the University of Bologna? or where can be found any account of the foundation and constitution of the foreign universities in general?

J. C. H. R.

[Our correspondent will find some account of the foreign universities, especially of Bologna, in the valuable article "Universities,"Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. xxi., with numerous references to other works containing notices of them. Consult also "A Discovrse not altogether vnprofitable nor vnpleasant for such as are desirous to know the Situation and Customes of Forraine Cities without trauelling to see them: containing a Discovrse of all those Citties which doe flourish at this Day priuiledged Vniuersities. By Samuel Lewkenor. London, 1594, 4to."]

(Vol. ix. p. 55.)

The remarks ofJohn o' the Fordof Malta deserve to be followed up by all your correspondents who, at least, admit the possibility of "communications with the unseen world." In order to facilitate the acquisition of the requisite amount of facts, I beg to appriseJohn o' the Ford, and your other correspondents and readers generally, that a Society was founded about a year ago, and is now in existence, composed of members of the University of Cambridge; the objects of which will be best gleaned from the following extract from the Prospectus:

"The interest and importance of a serious and earnest inquiry into the nature of the phenomena which are vaguely called 'supernatural,' will scarcely be questioned. Many persons believe that all such apparently mysterious occurrences are due, either to purely natural causes, or to delusions of the mind or senses, or to wilful deception. But there are many others who believe it possible that the beings of the unseen world may manifest themselves to us in extraordinary ways; and also are unable otherwise to explain many facts, the evidence for which cannot be impeached. Both parties have obviously a common interest in wishing cases of supposed 'supernatural' agency to be thoroughly sifted.... The main impediment to investigations of this kind is the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of clear and well-attested cases. Many of the stories current in tradition, or scattered up and down in books, may be exactly true; others must be purely fictitious; others again, probably the greater number, consist of a mixture of truth and falsehood. But it is idle to examine the significance of an alleged fact of this nature, until the trustworthiness, and also the extent of the evidence for it, are ascertained. Impressed with this conviction, some members of the University of Cambridge are anxious, if possible, to form an extensive collection of authenticated cases of supposed 'supernatural' agency.... From all those who may be inclined to aid them, they request written communications, with full details of persons, times, and places."

The Prospectus closes with the following classification of phenomena:

"I. Appearances of Angels. (1.) Good. (2) Evil.—II. Spectral appearances of—(1.) The beholder himself (e.g.'Fetches' or 'Doubles'). (2.) Other men, recognised or not. (i.) Before their death (e.g.'second sight.') (a.) To one person. (b.) To several persons. (ii.) At the moment of their death. (a.) To one person. (b.) To several persons. 1. In the same place. 2. In several places. i. Simultaneously. ii. Successively. (iii.) After their death. In connexion with—(a.) Particular places remarkable for—1. Good deeds. 2. Evil deeds. (b.) Particular times (e.g.on the anniversary of any event, or at fixed seasons). (c.) Particular events (e.g.before calamity or death). (d.) Particular persons (e.g.haunted murderers).—III. 'Shapes' falling under neither of the former classes. (1.) Recurrent. In connexion with—(i.) Particular families (e.g.the 'Banshee'). (ii.) Particular places (e.g.the 'Mawth Dog'). (2.) Occasional. (i.) Visions signifying events, past, present, or future. (a.) By actual representation (e.g.'second sight'). (b.) By symbol. (ii.) Visions of a fantastical nature.—IV. Dreams remarkable forcoincidences. (1.) In their occurrence. (i.) To the same person several times. (ii.) In the same form to several persons. (a.) Simultaneously. (b.) Successively. (2.) With facts. (i.) Past. (a.) Previously unknown. (b.) Formerly known, but forgotten. (ii.) Present, but unknown. (iii.) Future.—V. Feelings. A definite consciousness of a fact. (1.) Past: an impression that an event has happened. (2.) Present: sympathy with a person suffering or acting at a distance. (3.) Future: presentiment.—VI. Physical effects. (1.) Sounds. (i.) With the use of ordinary means (e.g.ringing of bells). (ii.) Without the use of any apparent means (e.g.voices). (2.) Impressions of touch (e.g.breathings on the person)."Every narrative of 'supernatural' agency which may be communicated, will be rendered far more instructive if accompanied by any particulars as to the observer's natural temperament (e.g.sanguine, nervous, &c.), constitution (e.g.subject to fever, somnambulism, &c.), and state at the time (e.g.excited in mind or body, &c.)."

"Every narrative of 'supernatural' agency which may be communicated, will be rendered far more instructive if accompanied by any particulars as to the observer's natural temperament (e.g.sanguine, nervous, &c.), constitution (e.g.subject to fever, somnambulism, &c.), and state at the time (e.g.excited in mind or body, &c.)."

As I have no authority to give names, I can do no more than say that, though not a member of the Society, I shall be happy to receive communications and forward them to the secretary.

C. Mansfield Ingleby.

Birmingham.

[The Night Side of Naturewould seem to indicate that its ingenious, yet sober and judicious, authoress had forestalled the "Folk-lore" investigations of the projected Cambridge Society. Probably some of its members will not rest satisfied with a simple collection of phenomena relating to communications with the unseen world, but will exclaim with Hamlet—"Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,That I willspeakto thee!"and will endeavour to ascertain thephilosophyof those communications, as Newton did with the recorded data and phenomena of the mechanical or material universe. Whether the transcripts of some of the voluminous unpublished writings of Dionysius Andreas Freher, deposited in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 5767-5792.), will assist the inquirer in his investigations, we cannot confidently state; but in them he will find continual references to what Jacob Böhme terms "the eternal and astral magic, or the laws, powers and properties of the great Universal Will-Spirit of the two co-eternal worlds of darkness and light, and of this third or temporary principle." Freher was the principal illustrator of the writings of the celebrated Jacob Böhme, now exciting so much interest among the German literati; and, if we may credit William Law, it was from the principles of this remarkable man that Sir Isaac Newton derived his theory of fundamental powers. (See "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 247.) But on this and other matters we may doubtless expect to be well informed by Sir David Brewster, in his new "Memoir of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton." According to Law, the two-fold spiritual universe stands as near, and in a similar relation to this material mixed world, of darkness and light, evil and good, death and life, or rather the latter to the former, as water does to the gases of which it is essentially compounded.—Ed.]

"Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,That I willspeakto thee!"

"Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,

That I willspeakto thee!"

and will endeavour to ascertain thephilosophyof those communications, as Newton did with the recorded data and phenomena of the mechanical or material universe. Whether the transcripts of some of the voluminous unpublished writings of Dionysius Andreas Freher, deposited in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 5767-5792.), will assist the inquirer in his investigations, we cannot confidently state; but in them he will find continual references to what Jacob Böhme terms "the eternal and astral magic, or the laws, powers and properties of the great Universal Will-Spirit of the two co-eternal worlds of darkness and light, and of this third or temporary principle." Freher was the principal illustrator of the writings of the celebrated Jacob Böhme, now exciting so much interest among the German literati; and, if we may credit William Law, it was from the principles of this remarkable man that Sir Isaac Newton derived his theory of fundamental powers. (See "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 247.) But on this and other matters we may doubtless expect to be well informed by Sir David Brewster, in his new "Memoir of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton." According to Law, the two-fold spiritual universe stands as near, and in a similar relation to this material mixed world, of darkness and light, evil and good, death and life, or rather the latter to the former, as water does to the gases of which it is essentially compounded.—Ed.]

(Vol. ix., p. 54.)

Until your correspondent Q. designated the wordstarvationas "an Americanism," I never had the least suspicion that it was obtained from that source. On the contrary, I remember to have heard some thirty or forty years ago, that it was first employed by Harry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville, who might have spoken with a brogue, but whose despatches were in good intelligible English. I once asked his son, the second Viscount, whose correctness must be fresh in the recollection of many of your readers, if the above report was true, and he seemed to think that his father had coined the word, and that it immediately got into general circulation. My impression is, that it was already current during the great scarcity at the end of the last, and the commencement of this century; but the dictionary makers, those "who toil at the lower employments of life," as old Sam Johnson termed it, are not apt to be alert in seizing on fresh words, and "starvation" has shared in the general neglect.

If you permit me I will, however, afford them my humble aid, by transcribing some omitted words which I find noted in a little Walker'sDictionary, printed in 1830, and which has been my companion in many pilgrimages through many distant lands. Many of them may by this time have found their way even into dictionaries, but I copy them as I find them.

Fiat.Lichen.Dawdle.Compete (verb).Starvation.Cupel (seetest).Stationery (writing materials).Chubby.Mister (form of address).Iodine.Disorganise.Growl (substantive).Avadavat (School for Scandal).Apograph.Flange.Effete.Jungle.Celt (formed of touchstone).Minivar.Unhesitating.Remittent.Tannin.Curry (substantive).Uncompromised.Duchess.Resile (verb).Gist.Nascent.Dictum.Retinence.Phonetic.Lacunæ.Extradition.Laches.Fulcrum.Statics.Æsthetical.Complicity.

Fiat.

Lichen.

Dawdle.

Compete (verb).

Starvation.

Cupel (seetest).

Stationery (writing materials).

Chubby.

Mister (form of address).

Iodine.

Disorganise.

Growl (substantive).

Avadavat (School for Scandal).

Apograph.

Flange.

Effete.

Jungle.

Celt (formed of touchstone).

Minivar.

Unhesitating.

Remittent.

Tannin.

Curry (substantive).

Uncompromised.

Duchess.

Resile (verb).

Gist.

Nascent.

Dictum.

Retinence.

Phonetic.

Lacunæ.

Extradition.

Laches.

Fulcrum.

Statics.

Æsthetical.

Complicity.

N.L. Melville.

However "strange it may appear, it is nevertheless quite true," that this word, "Starvation(from the verb), state of perishing from cold or hunger," is to be found, and thus defined, in "An Appendix to Dr. Johnson's English Dictionary," published along with the latter, by William Maver, in 2 vols. 8vo., Glasgow, 1809, now forty-five years ago. In his preface to this Appendix he says:

"In the compilation the editor is principally indebted to Mr. Mason, whose labours in supplying the deficiencies of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary have so much enriched the vocabulary of our language, that every purchaser of the quarto edition should avail himself of a copy of Mr. Mason's Supplement."

Whether or not Mr. Maver drew the word "starvation" from Mr. Mason's Supplement, I cannot say; but from old date in the west of Scotland it has been, and is still, popularly and extensively used in the exact senses given to it by Mr. Maver as above. I think it much more likely to be of Scottish than of American origin, and that Mr. Webster may have picked it up from some of our natives in this country.

I may add, that in early life I often spoke with Mr. Maver, who was a most intelligent literary man. In 1809 he followed the business of a bookseller in Glasgow, but from some cause was not fortunate, and afterwards followed that of a book auctioneer, and may be dead fully thirty years ago. His edition of, and Appendix to, Johnson were justly esteemed; the latter "containing several thousand words omitted by Dr. Johnson, and such as have been introduced by good writers since his time," with "the pronunciation according to the present practice of the best orators and orthoepists" of the whole language.

G. N.

This word was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a debate in the House of Commons on American affairs, in 1775. From it he obtained the nick-name of "Starvation Dundas." (Vide theCorrespondence between Horace Walpole and Mason, vol. ii. pp. 177. 310. 396., edition 1851.) The word is of irregular formation, the root starve being Old English, while the termination-ationis Latin.

E. G. R.

The word may perhaps be originally American; but if the following anecdote be correct, it was introduced into this country long before Webster compiled hisDictionary:

"The wordstarvationwas first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a speech in 1775 on an American debate, and hence applied to him as a nickname, 'Starvation Dundas.' 'I shall not,' said he, 'wait for the advent of starvation from Edinburgh to settle my judgment.'"—Letters of Horace Walpole and Mason, vol. ii. p. 396.

J. R. M., M.A.

Throughout this part of the country, "starved" always refers to cold, never to hunger. To express the latter the word "hungered" is always used: thus, many were "like to have been hungered" in the late severe weather and hard times. This is clearly the scriptural phrase "an hungred." To "starve" is to perish; and it is a common expression in the south, "I am quite perished with cold;" which answers to our northern one, "I am quite starved."

H. T. G.

Hull.

I cannot ascertain the period of the adoption of the unhappily common word "starvation" in our language, but it is much older than your correspondent Q. supposes. It occurs in theRolliad:

"'Tis but to fire another Sykes, to planSome newstarvationscheme for Hindostan."

"'Tis but to fire another Sykes, to plan

Some newstarvationscheme for Hindostan."

(Vol. viii., p. 617.)

R. W. Cartergives an account of folk lore in reference to Osmotherley, and expresses a desire to know if his statement is authentic. I have endeavoured to make myself acquainted with Yorkshire folk lore, and beg to informMr. Carterthat his statement approaches as near the truth as possible. In my early days I frequently had recited to me, by a respectable farmer who had been educated on the borders of Roseberry (and who obtained it from the rustics of the neighbourhood), a poetical legend, in which all the particulars of this curious tradition are embodied. It is as follows:

It is confidently stated, in the neighbourhood of Osmotherley and Roseberry, that Prince Oswy and his mother were both interred at Osmotherley, from whence comes the name of the place, Os-by-his-mother-lay, or Osmotherley.

Thomas Gill.

Easingwold.

(Vol. ix., p. 51.)

As another and historically-interesting specimen of echo poetry, perhaps the readers of "N. & Q." may not dislike to see preserved in your pages the following translation from the French. The original publication, it is said, exposed the bookseller, Palm of Nuremberg, to trial by court-martial. He was sentenced to be shot at Braunau in 1807—a severe retribution for a few lines of echo poetry. It is entitled

"Bonaparte and the Echo.Bon.Alone, I am in this sequestered spot not overheard.Echo.Heard!Bon.'Sdeath! Who answers me? What being is there nigh?Echo.I.Bon.Now I guess! To report my accents Echo has made her task.Echo.Ask.Bon.Knowest thou whether London will henceforth continue to resist?Echo.Resist.Bon.Whether Vienna and other Courts will oppose me always?Echo.Always.Bon.O, Heaven! what must I expect after so many reverses?Echo.Reverses.Bon.What? should I, like a coward vile, to compound be reduced?Echo.Reduced.Bon.After so many bright exploits be forced to restitution?Echo.Restitution.Bon.Restitution of what I've got by true heroic feats and martial address?Echo.Yes.Bon.What will be the fate of so much toil and trouble?Echo.Trouble.Bon.What will become of my people, already too unhappy?Echo.Happy.Bon.What should I then be, that I think myself immortal?Echo.Mortal.Bon.The whole world is filled with the glory of my name, you know.Echo.No.Bon.Formerly its fame struck this vast globe with terror.Echo.Error.Bon.Sad Echo, begone! I grow infuriate! I die!Echo.Die!"

"Bonaparte and the Echo.

Bon.Alone, I am in this sequestered spot not overheard.

Echo.Heard!

Bon.'Sdeath! Who answers me? What being is there nigh?

Echo.I.

Bon.Now I guess! To report my accents Echo has made her task.

Echo.Ask.

Bon.Knowest thou whether London will henceforth continue to resist?

Echo.Resist.

Bon.Whether Vienna and other Courts will oppose me always?

Echo.Always.

Bon.O, Heaven! what must I expect after so many reverses?

Echo.Reverses.

Bon.What? should I, like a coward vile, to compound be reduced?

Echo.Reduced.

Bon.After so many bright exploits be forced to restitution?

Echo.Restitution.

Bon.Restitution of what I've got by true heroic feats and martial address?

Echo.Yes.

Bon.What will be the fate of so much toil and trouble?

Echo.Trouble.

Bon.What will become of my people, already too unhappy?

Echo.Happy.

Bon.What should I then be, that I think myself immortal?

Echo.Mortal.

Bon.The whole world is filled with the glory of my name, you know.

Echo.No.

Bon.Formerly its fame struck this vast globe with terror.

Echo.Error.

Bon.Sad Echo, begone! I grow infuriate! I die!

Echo.Die!"

It may be added that Napoleon himself (Voice from St. Helena, vol. i. p. 432.), when asked about the execution of Palm, said:

"All that I recollect is, that Palm was arrested by order of Davoust, I believe, tried, condemned, and shot, for having, while the country was in possession of the French and under military occupation, not only excited rebellion amongst the inhabitants, and urged them to rise and massacre the soldiers, but also attempted to instigate the soldiers themselves to refuse obedience to their orders, and to mutiny against their generals.I believethat he met with a fair trial."

Jas. J. Scott.

Hampstead.

(Vol. ix., p. 15.)

In a curious old pamphlet of twenty-three pages, entitledEverybody's Business is Nobody's Business answer'd Paragraph by Paragraph, by a Committee of Women-Servants and Footmen, London, printed by T. Read for the author, and sold by the booksellers of London, and ... price one penny (without date), the following passage occurs:

"The next great Abuse among us is, that under the Notion of cleaning our Shoes, above ten Thousand Wicked, Idle, Pilfering Vagrants are permitted to stroll about our City and Suburbs. These are called theBlack-Guard, who Black your Honour's Shoes, and incorporate themselves under the Title of theWorshipful Company of Japanners. But the Subject is so low that it becomes disagreeable even to myself; give me leave therefore to propose a Way to clear the streets of those Vermin, and to substitute as many honest and industrious persons in their stead, who are now starving for want of bread, while these execrablevillains live (though in Rags and Nastiness) yet in Plenty and Luxury.""A(nswer).The next Abuse you see is, Black your shoes, your Honour,and theJapannersstick in his Stomach. We shall not take upon us to answer for these pitiful Scrubs, but in his own words; the Subject is so low, that it becomes disagreeable even to us,as it doeseven to himself,and he mayclear the Streets of these Verminin what Manner he pleases if the Law will give him leave, for we are in no want of them; we are better provided for already in that respect by our Masters and their Sons."

"A(nswer).The next Abuse you see is, Black your shoes, your Honour,and theJapannersstick in his Stomach. We shall not take upon us to answer for these pitiful Scrubs, but in his own words; the Subject is so low, that it becomes disagreeable even to us,as it doeseven to himself,and he mayclear the Streets of these Verminin what Manner he pleases if the Law will give him leave, for we are in no want of them; we are better provided for already in that respect by our Masters and their Sons."

G. N.

The following lines by Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex (the writer of the famous old song "To all you ladies now at land"), are an instance of the application of this term to the turbulent link-boys, against whom the proclamation quoted byMr. Cunninghamwas directed. Their date is probably a short time before that of the proclamation:

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