[There is the best authority for this assertion, even that of the veritable Holinshed, who quotes from Froissart, the cotemporary of our victorious Edward. "The armie which he (Edward) had over with him, was to the number of 4000 men of armes, and 10,000 archers, besidesIrishmenand Welshmen that followed the host on foot." The French historian also informs us, that the skene or knife was the chief weapon used by the Irish in that age: "The Irish have pointed knives with broad blades, sharp on both sides, like a dart-head, with which they kill their enemies," &c. Johnes'sTranslation, vol. iv. p. 428.: see also Grafton'sChronicle, p. 261.; and Keightley'sHistory of England, vol. i. p. 279.]
[There is the best authority for this assertion, even that of the veritable Holinshed, who quotes from Froissart, the cotemporary of our victorious Edward. "The armie which he (Edward) had over with him, was to the number of 4000 men of armes, and 10,000 archers, besidesIrishmenand Welshmen that followed the host on foot." The French historian also informs us, that the skene or knife was the chief weapon used by the Irish in that age: "The Irish have pointed knives with broad blades, sharp on both sides, like a dart-head, with which they kill their enemies," &c. Johnes'sTranslation, vol. iv. p. 428.: see also Grafton'sChronicle, p. 261.; and Keightley'sHistory of England, vol. i. p. 279.]
King of the Isle of Wight.—I was not aware that the Isle of Wight, like the Isle of Man, had once been a kingdom. It seems that Henry de Beauchamp, Earl and Duke of Warwick, was crowned,circa1445, King of the Isle of Wight. Perhaps some of your correspondents may be able to throw some light on this matter.
E. H. A.
[Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, son of Richard Earl of Warwick, was crowned King of the Isle of Wight by patent 24 Henry VI., King Henry in person assisting at the ceremonial, and placing the crown on his head. Leland (Itiner., vol. vi. p. 91.) says, "Henricus Comes de Warwike ab Henrico VI. cui carissimus erat, coronatusin regem de Wighte, et postea nominatus primus comes totius Angliæ." Leland takes thisex Libello de Antiquitate Theoksibriensis Monasterii, in the church of which house this Duke of Warwick was buried. But little notice has been taken of this singular event by our historians, and, except for some other collateral evidence, the authenticity of it might be doubted; but the representation of this duke with an imperial crown on his head and a sceptre before him, in an ancient window of the collegiate church at Warwick, leaves no doubt that such an event did take place. (See Worsley'sHist. of the Isle of Wightfor a plate copied from an accurate drawing of the king.) This honourable mark of the royal favour, however, conveyed no regal authority, the king having no power to transfer the sovereignty of any part of his dominions, as is observed by Lord Coke in hisInstitutes, where this transaction is discussed; and there is reason to conclude that, though titular king, he did not even possess the lordship of the island, no surrender appearing from Duke Humphrey, who was then living, and had a grant for the term of his life. Mr. Selden too, in hisTitles of Honour, p. 29., treating of the title of the King of Man, observes that "it was like that of King of the Isle of Wight, in the great Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, who was crowned king under Henry VI." Henry Beauchamp was also crowned King of Guernsey and Jersey. He died soon after these honours had been conferred on him, June 11, 1445, when the regal title expired with him, and the lordship of the island, at the death of the Duke of Gloucester, reverted to the crown.]
[Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, son of Richard Earl of Warwick, was crowned King of the Isle of Wight by patent 24 Henry VI., King Henry in person assisting at the ceremonial, and placing the crown on his head. Leland (Itiner., vol. vi. p. 91.) says, "Henricus Comes de Warwike ab Henrico VI. cui carissimus erat, coronatusin regem de Wighte, et postea nominatus primus comes totius Angliæ." Leland takes thisex Libello de Antiquitate Theoksibriensis Monasterii, in the church of which house this Duke of Warwick was buried. But little notice has been taken of this singular event by our historians, and, except for some other collateral evidence, the authenticity of it might be doubted; but the representation of this duke with an imperial crown on his head and a sceptre before him, in an ancient window of the collegiate church at Warwick, leaves no doubt that such an event did take place. (See Worsley'sHist. of the Isle of Wightfor a plate copied from an accurate drawing of the king.) This honourable mark of the royal favour, however, conveyed no regal authority, the king having no power to transfer the sovereignty of any part of his dominions, as is observed by Lord Coke in hisInstitutes, where this transaction is discussed; and there is reason to conclude that, though titular king, he did not even possess the lordship of the island, no surrender appearing from Duke Humphrey, who was then living, and had a grant for the term of his life. Mr. Selden too, in hisTitles of Honour, p. 29., treating of the title of the King of Man, observes that "it was like that of King of the Isle of Wight, in the great Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, who was crowned king under Henry VI." Henry Beauchamp was also crowned King of Guernsey and Jersey. He died soon after these honours had been conferred on him, June 11, 1445, when the regal title expired with him, and the lordship of the island, at the death of the Duke of Gloucester, reverted to the crown.]
Theodore de la Guard.—I have a tract by him with the title ofThe simple Cobler of Aggawam, in America, London, 1647. Who was he? and where can I find any account of him or his work?
Cpl.
[The Rev. Nathaniel Ward was the author of this work. He was born at Haverhill in Essex, of which place his father was a clergyman; and after studying at Cambridge, became minister of Standon in Herts; but was cited before the bishop, Dec. 12, 1631, to answer for his nonconformity. Being forbidden to preach, he embarked for America in April, 1634, and settled as pastor of the church at Ipswich, or Aggawam. He returned to England in 1646, and on June 30, 1647, preached before the House of Commons, and the same year publishedThe Simple Cobler. He was afterwards settled at Shenfield, near Brentwood, where he died in 1653, in his eighty-third year. Fuller, in hisWorthies, co. Suffolk, speaking of him, says, that he, "following the counsel of the poet,'Ridentem dicere verum,Quis vetat?''What doth forbid that one may smile,And also tell the truth the while?'hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much smart truth of the present times." Dr. Mather, in hisMagnalia, remarks of him, that "he was the author of many composures full of wit and sense; among which that entitledThe Simple Cobler(which demonstrated him to be a subtil statesman) was most considered." This work passed through several editions in England in 1647. It was reprinted in Boston in 1713. The best edition, containing the author's subsequent additions, is that edited by David Pulsifer, Boston, 1843.]
[The Rev. Nathaniel Ward was the author of this work. He was born at Haverhill in Essex, of which place his father was a clergyman; and after studying at Cambridge, became minister of Standon in Herts; but was cited before the bishop, Dec. 12, 1631, to answer for his nonconformity. Being forbidden to preach, he embarked for America in April, 1634, and settled as pastor of the church at Ipswich, or Aggawam. He returned to England in 1646, and on June 30, 1647, preached before the House of Commons, and the same year publishedThe Simple Cobler. He was afterwards settled at Shenfield, near Brentwood, where he died in 1653, in his eighty-third year. Fuller, in hisWorthies, co. Suffolk, speaking of him, says, that he, "following the counsel of the poet,
'Ridentem dicere verum,Quis vetat?''What doth forbid that one may smile,And also tell the truth the while?'
'Ridentem dicere verum,Quis vetat?'
'Ridentem dicere verum,
Quis vetat?'
'What doth forbid that one may smile,And also tell the truth the while?'
'What doth forbid that one may smile,
And also tell the truth the while?'
hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much smart truth of the present times." Dr. Mather, in hisMagnalia, remarks of him, that "he was the author of many composures full of wit and sense; among which that entitledThe Simple Cobler(which demonstrated him to be a subtil statesman) was most considered." This work passed through several editions in England in 1647. It was reprinted in Boston in 1713. The best edition, containing the author's subsequent additions, is that edited by David Pulsifer, Boston, 1843.]
Back.—What is the meaning and derivation of "Back," as applied to several localities in Bristol, as, for instance, The Back, Welsh Back, Temple Back, St. Augustine's Back, St. James' Back, Redcliffe Back? Many of them are not on the river, or I should have imagined it a corruption of the word bank.
Malcolm Fraser.
Clifton.
[Barrett, in hisHistory of Bristol, p. 72., gives a clue to the origin of this local name: "Before the quay was made the usual place, as Leland says, for landing goods out of the ships was at the Back (orBec, a Saxon word for a river), where was the old Custom-house. The quay being completed, and the marsh of Bristol thereby effectually divided from thatof St. Augustine, houses and streets began to be built there; Marsh Street terminated with a chapel, dedicated to St. Clement, and a gate; and Back Street, with a gate also, and a chapel near it, dedicated to St. John, and belonging to St. Nicholas; the church of St. Stephen and its dependent parish, and the buildings between the Back and the quay, seem to have taken their rise at this period, and were all enclosed with a strong embattled wall,externaorsecunda mœnia urbis, extending from the quay to the Back, where King Street has since been built."]
[Barrett, in hisHistory of Bristol, p. 72., gives a clue to the origin of this local name: "Before the quay was made the usual place, as Leland says, for landing goods out of the ships was at the Back (orBec, a Saxon word for a river), where was the old Custom-house. The quay being completed, and the marsh of Bristol thereby effectually divided from thatof St. Augustine, houses and streets began to be built there; Marsh Street terminated with a chapel, dedicated to St. Clement, and a gate; and Back Street, with a gate also, and a chapel near it, dedicated to St. John, and belonging to St. Nicholas; the church of St. Stephen and its dependent parish, and the buildings between the Back and the quay, seem to have taken their rise at this period, and were all enclosed with a strong embattled wall,externaorsecunda mœnia urbis, extending from the quay to the Back, where King Street has since been built."]
Broom at Mast-head.—Whence did the custom originate of a broom being fastened to the mast-head of boats and small craft, to indicate their being for sale?
J. R. G.
Dublin.
[It originated from the old custom of putting up boughs upon anything which was intended for sale; and "this is the reason," says Brande, "why an old besom (which is a sort ofdried bush) is put up at the top-mast-head of a ship or boat when she is to be sold."]
[It originated from the old custom of putting up boughs upon anything which was intended for sale; and "this is the reason," says Brande, "why an old besom (which is a sort ofdried bush) is put up at the top-mast-head of a ship or boat when she is to be sold."]
(Vol. viii., p. 54.; Vol. ix.passim.)
Your correspondentNovushas very judiciously warned controversialists on the use of a document as emanating from the papal court, which, to every one who reads it through (if a shorter examination will not be satisfactory), must carry evidence of its not being papal authority, but intended as a satire on Rome. A writer in theChristian Remembrancer, vol. xii., attaches undue importance to the signatures, in the absence of which, he admits, "we should conclude that this was the production of some enemy in disguise."
In a 4to. volume of Tracts now before me is a copy of the genuine document—
"Consilium delectorum cardinalium et aliorum prælatorum, de emendanda ecclesia. S. D. N. Papa Paulo III. ipso jubente conscriptum et exhibitum anno 1538;"
"Consilium delectorum cardinalium et aliorum prælatorum, de emendanda ecclesia. S. D. N. Papa Paulo III. ipso jubente conscriptum et exhibitum anno 1538;"
two copies of the supposititious
"Consilium quorundam episcoporum Bononiæ congregatorum quod de ratione stabiliendæ Romanæ ecclesiæ Julio III. Pont. Max. datum est. Quo artes et astutiæ Romanensium et arcana imperii papalis non pauca propalantur. Ex bibliotheca W. Crashauii. Londini, 1613;"
"Consilium quorundam episcoporum Bononiæ congregatorum quod de ratione stabiliendæ Romanæ ecclesiæ Julio III. Pont. Max. datum est. Quo artes et astutiæ Romanensium et arcana imperii papalis non pauca propalantur. Ex bibliotheca W. Crashauii. Londini, 1613;"
and several other tracts, so rare that an enumeration of them, and a few extracts, will perhaps be acceptable to many of the readers of "N. & Q." Fourth in order:
"Marcus Antonius de Dominis archiepiscopus Spalatensis, suæ profectionis consilium exponit. Londini, 1616.""Bellum Papale, sive concordia discors Sixti Quinti et Clementis Octavi, circa Hieronymianam editionem, etc. Auctore Thoma Jamesio. Londini, 1600.""[Ejusdem] Bellum Gregorianum, sive corruptionis Romanæ in operibus D. Gregorii M. jussu pontificum Rom. recognitis atque editis, etc. Oxoniæ, 1610.""Summa actorum Facultatis Theologiæ Parisiensis contra librum inscriptum, Controversia Anglicana de potestate regis et pontificis, etc. Auctore Martino Becano. Londini, 1613.""Antitortobellarminus, sive refutatio calumniarum, mendaciorum, et imposturarum laico-cardinalis Bellarmini, contra jura omnium regum et sinceram illibatamque famam Serenissimi, potentissimi piissimique Principis Jacobi ... fidei catholicæ defensoris et propugnatoris: per Joan. Gordonium. Londini, 1610.""Tu superhoc cephafingis Christum ore loquutumFundamen caulæ nidificabo meæ:Vernac'lo at Christus Solymis sermone loquutus,Separat articulis mascula fœmineis;Petre, ait, hic cepha es, sanctæ fundamina caulæ,Et superhac cephaponere dico meæ:. . . . . .Quòd tu sic audes Christi pervertere verbaEt pro fœmineo subdere masculeum,Nil mirum; Papis solenne est cardineisqueSic pro fœmineo subdere masculeum.""Epilogus ad quatuor colloquia DniDrisWrighti pro mala fide habita; et a Jacobo Nixon non bona fide relata; et Guilielmo Stanleio nullius fidei perduelli dicata: pro amico et gentili suo DnoThoma Roe equite editus. Authore Guilielmo Roe. Londini, 1615.""DnoDriWright Anglo, malæ causæ clienti: et Jacobo Nixon Hiberno, advocato pejori: et Guilielmo Stanleio, patrono pessimo; religionis et patriæ hostibus: pœnam seram et pœnitentiam seriam Guilielmus Roe exoptat."
"Marcus Antonius de Dominis archiepiscopus Spalatensis, suæ profectionis consilium exponit. Londini, 1616."
"Bellum Papale, sive concordia discors Sixti Quinti et Clementis Octavi, circa Hieronymianam editionem, etc. Auctore Thoma Jamesio. Londini, 1600."
"[Ejusdem] Bellum Gregorianum, sive corruptionis Romanæ in operibus D. Gregorii M. jussu pontificum Rom. recognitis atque editis, etc. Oxoniæ, 1610."
"Summa actorum Facultatis Theologiæ Parisiensis contra librum inscriptum, Controversia Anglicana de potestate regis et pontificis, etc. Auctore Martino Becano. Londini, 1613."
"Antitortobellarminus, sive refutatio calumniarum, mendaciorum, et imposturarum laico-cardinalis Bellarmini, contra jura omnium regum et sinceram illibatamque famam Serenissimi, potentissimi piissimique Principis Jacobi ... fidei catholicæ defensoris et propugnatoris: per Joan. Gordonium. Londini, 1610."
"Tu superhoc cephafingis Christum ore loquutumFundamen caulæ nidificabo meæ:Vernac'lo at Christus Solymis sermone loquutus,Separat articulis mascula fœmineis;Petre, ait, hic cepha es, sanctæ fundamina caulæ,Et superhac cephaponere dico meæ:. . . . . .Quòd tu sic audes Christi pervertere verbaEt pro fœmineo subdere masculeum,Nil mirum; Papis solenne est cardineisqueSic pro fœmineo subdere masculeum."
"Tu superhoc cephafingis Christum ore loquutumFundamen caulæ nidificabo meæ:Vernac'lo at Christus Solymis sermone loquutus,Separat articulis mascula fœmineis;Petre, ait, hic cepha es, sanctæ fundamina caulæ,Et superhac cephaponere dico meæ:
"Tu superhoc cephafingis Christum ore loquutum
Fundamen caulæ nidificabo meæ:
Vernac'lo at Christus Solymis sermone loquutus,
Separat articulis mascula fœmineis;
Petre, ait, hic cepha es, sanctæ fundamina caulæ,
Et superhac cephaponere dico meæ:
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
Quòd tu sic audes Christi pervertere verbaEt pro fœmineo subdere masculeum,Nil mirum; Papis solenne est cardineisqueSic pro fœmineo subdere masculeum."
Quòd tu sic audes Christi pervertere verba
Et pro fœmineo subdere masculeum,
Nil mirum; Papis solenne est cardineisque
Sic pro fœmineo subdere masculeum."
"Epilogus ad quatuor colloquia DniDrisWrighti pro mala fide habita; et a Jacobo Nixon non bona fide relata; et Guilielmo Stanleio nullius fidei perduelli dicata: pro amico et gentili suo DnoThoma Roe equite editus. Authore Guilielmo Roe. Londini, 1615."
"DnoDriWright Anglo, malæ causæ clienti: et Jacobo Nixon Hiberno, advocato pejori: et Guilielmo Stanleio, patrono pessimo; religionis et patriæ hostibus: pœnam seram et pœnitentiam seriam Guilielmus Roe exoptat."
This is the opening of the epilogusColloquii Spadani, a copy of which rare tract is in the extensive collection of the President of the Chetham Society. The epilogue contains an unmeasured invective against these three "vassal slaves of servile Rome."[1]Wright's panegyric on Stanley is thus introduced and distorted:
"Egregia facinora tua vidit Hibernia, experta est Hollandia, agnoscit Hispania, prædicat Gallia, fatetur Flandria, neque potest negare Anglia. Ergo cum bona frontis tuæ serenitate sustinebis, si elogii tui vocem ad assensum nostrum repercussam, instar Ecchus remittamus, et Stanleium hominem egregie facinorosum dixerimus, quod in Hispanis consilio suo immissis vidit Hibernia, in Daventriæ proditioneexperta est Hollandia, in stipendio proditioni imputato agnoscit Hispania, in pluribus locis frustra et cum ignominia tentatis prædicat Gallia, et nullam illi præfecturam unquam integrè credendo fatetur Flandria, neque post tot in patriam suam molitiones, et præsertim expeditionem quam ad fragorem pulverariæ conjurationis in nos habiturus erat, negare potest Anglia.""Eadgarus in Jacobo redivivus: seu pietatis Anglicanæ defensio. Ab Adamo Reuter. Londini, 1614.""[Ejusdem] Libertatis Anglicanæ defensio seu demonstratio: regnum Angliæ non esse feudum pontificis: in nobilissima et antiquissima Oxoniensi academia, publice apposita Martino Becano. Londini, 1613.""[Ejusdem] Oratio: quam Papam esse Bestiam quæ non est et tamen est, apud Johan. Apoc. xvii. 8. in fine probantem ... recitavit Adam Reuter. Londini, 1610.""[Ejusdem] Contra conspiratorum consilia orationes duæ. Habitæ ... 5oAug. et 5oNov., anno 1611, diebus regiæ liberationis a conspiratione Govvrie, et tormentaria. Londini, 1612.""Ejusdem, Delineatio consilii brevissima: quam societati mercatorum Belgarum Londini florentiss. commorantium consecrat A. R. Londini, 1614.""Πονησις Χριστοφορου του Αγγελου, etc. At Oxford, 1617.""[The same]. Christopher Angell, who tasted of many stripes and torments, inflicted by the Turkes for the faith which he had in Christ Jesus. At Oxford, 1617.""[Ejusdem] Labor C. A. Græci. De apostasia ecclesiæ, et de homine peccati scilicet Antichristo, etc. Gr. et Lat. Londini, 1624."[2]"Expositio mysteriorum misse et verus modus rite celebrandi. A Guilhelmo de Gouda. Daventrie, 1504."
"Egregia facinora tua vidit Hibernia, experta est Hollandia, agnoscit Hispania, prædicat Gallia, fatetur Flandria, neque potest negare Anglia. Ergo cum bona frontis tuæ serenitate sustinebis, si elogii tui vocem ad assensum nostrum repercussam, instar Ecchus remittamus, et Stanleium hominem egregie facinorosum dixerimus, quod in Hispanis consilio suo immissis vidit Hibernia, in Daventriæ proditioneexperta est Hollandia, in stipendio proditioni imputato agnoscit Hispania, in pluribus locis frustra et cum ignominia tentatis prædicat Gallia, et nullam illi præfecturam unquam integrè credendo fatetur Flandria, neque post tot in patriam suam molitiones, et præsertim expeditionem quam ad fragorem pulverariæ conjurationis in nos habiturus erat, negare potest Anglia."
"Eadgarus in Jacobo redivivus: seu pietatis Anglicanæ defensio. Ab Adamo Reuter. Londini, 1614."
"[Ejusdem] Libertatis Anglicanæ defensio seu demonstratio: regnum Angliæ non esse feudum pontificis: in nobilissima et antiquissima Oxoniensi academia, publice apposita Martino Becano. Londini, 1613."
"[Ejusdem] Oratio: quam Papam esse Bestiam quæ non est et tamen est, apud Johan. Apoc. xvii. 8. in fine probantem ... recitavit Adam Reuter. Londini, 1610."
"[Ejusdem] Contra conspiratorum consilia orationes duæ. Habitæ ... 5oAug. et 5oNov., anno 1611, diebus regiæ liberationis a conspiratione Govvrie, et tormentaria. Londini, 1612."
"Ejusdem, Delineatio consilii brevissima: quam societati mercatorum Belgarum Londini florentiss. commorantium consecrat A. R. Londini, 1614."
"Πονησις Χριστοφορου του Αγγελου, etc. At Oxford, 1617."
"[The same]. Christopher Angell, who tasted of many stripes and torments, inflicted by the Turkes for the faith which he had in Christ Jesus. At Oxford, 1617."
"[Ejusdem] Labor C. A. Græci. De apostasia ecclesiæ, et de homine peccati scilicet Antichristo, etc. Gr. et Lat. Londini, 1624."[2]
"Expositio mysteriorum misse et verus modus rite celebrandi. A Guilhelmo de Gouda. Daventrie, 1504."
Had I not already occupied so much space, I should have added an extract from Angell'sEpistle in commendation of England and the Inhabitants thereof. He begins thus:
"O faire like man, thou most fertill and pleasant countrie of England, which art the head of the world, indued with those two faire eies, the two Universities."
"O faire like man, thou most fertill and pleasant countrie of England, which art the head of the world, indued with those two faire eies, the two Universities."
Bibliothecar. Chetham.
Footnote 1:(return)"Valete tria animalia Religionis servæ, et in servitutem nata."
"Valete tria animalia Religionis servæ, et in servitutem nata."
Had your correspondentNovus, in his first communication, specified by name theConsilium Quorundam Episcoporumas the document whose fictitious character he desired to notify, I should not have been betrayed into my supererogatory vindication of theConsilium Delectorum Cardinalium; the latter piece having lately been much before me, and its very extraordinary frankness in acknowledging the existence of the gravest abuses, of which the Reformers complained, giving it so much the air of satirical fiction. The use of the other document, moreover, being chiefly in the hands of a class of writers I am happy in not being able to boast a very extensive acquaintance with, recent anti-papal controversialists, I certainly did think thatNovushad impugned the authenticity of the genuineConsilium.
R. G. is mistaken in supposing that I thought there werenine Cardinalsin the committee which drew up the genuineConsilium, as the full title of this piece will show:—Consilium novem Delectorum Cardinalium et aliorum Prælatorum, de emendanda Ecclesia.
B. B. Woodward.
Bungay, Suffolk.
(Vol. ix., p. 422.)
Something more than a partiality for the novelist takes me now and then to the scene of the antiquary—Aberbrothock, or Arbroath. On one occasion, in company with a few friends, we made a day of it in a ramble along the romantic eastern coast of that burgh, and the scene of the perilous incident related of Sir Arthur Lekiss Wardour, when rescued from the incoming tide by being drawn up the face of the precipitous cliff by the doughty Mucklebacket, under the superintendence of Oldbuck and young Lovel. The fresh breeze from the German Ocean, and the excitement of the occasion, imparted a keen relish for the locality and its associations; and by the time we reached the hostelry of Mrs. Walker, at Auchmithie, a no less sharp appreciation of thepiscatorial spreadwe had the foresight to bespeak the previous day. Ushered into Lucky Walker's best dining-room, our attention was immediately drawn to an aristocratic emblazonment of arms which occupied one entire side of the room, with a ribbon, artistically disposed over the same, upon which was inscribed Lord Rosehill, who was, we were informed, the eldest son of the Earl of Northesk (Carnegie), a great proprietor in that neighbourhood, and the special patron of our hostess and her establishment.
With respect to the particular Lord Rosehill, alluded to by your correspondent W. D. R., I beg to offer him the following brief notice from Douglas'Peerage, by Wood, Edin. 1813:
"David L. Rosehill (son of Geo. 6th E. of Northesk) was born at Edin., 5th April, 1749; had an Ensign's commission in the 26th Reg. Foot in 1765; quitted the army 1767, and went to America. He married in Maryland, in Aug. 1768, Miss Mary Cheer, and died without issue at Rouen, in Normandy, 19 Feb. 1788, æt. 39."
"David L. Rosehill (son of Geo. 6th E. of Northesk) was born at Edin., 5th April, 1749; had an Ensign's commission in the 26th Reg. Foot in 1765; quitted the army 1767, and went to America. He married in Maryland, in Aug. 1768, Miss Mary Cheer, and died without issue at Rouen, in Normandy, 19 Feb. 1788, æt. 39."
From a dear old lady, whom I always find a mine of Forfarshire anecdote of the last century, I obtain some corroborative proof that the said DavidLord Rosehill was the eccentric character we might infer from the above, in the assurance that he was "a ne'er do weel, and ran away with the tincklers (i. e.gypsies) in early life."
If I may farther travel out of the record, allow me here to recommend to such of your readers as meditate the northern tour this summer, to diverge a little from the beaten track, and visit the neighbourhood above alluded to; your antiquarian friends, especially, will be delighted with that fine old ruin, the Abbey of Aberbrothock, now that it is brushed up and fit to receive visitors. The worthy Mr. Peter, in charge, has some curious relics acquired at the last diggins, and possesses a fragment of a black-letter Chronicle to satisfy the incredulous that in identifying the objects exhibited, he has his warrant in Hector Boece. The man of progress, too, will find in Fairport, or Arbroath, a hive of industry; but, I regret to add, threatened with a check by this closing of the Baltic trade, which is, if I may say so, bothwoofandwarpin the prosperity of this and other towns on the east coast of Scotland. And lastly, the lovers of ocean, rocks, and caves, will be not less interested with the environs, and I doubt not all would leave it exclaiming with Johnson, that if they had seen no more of old Scotia than Aberbrothock, they would not have regretted their journey.
J. O.
(Vol. ix., p. 111.)
On the 13th of January, 1817, Mr. Chappell made a report unfavourable to the petition of John Paulding (one of the citizens who captured Major André), who prays for an increase of the pension allowed to him by the government in consequence of that service. On the question to reverse this report, an interesting debate followed.
We copy the following from theNational Intelligencer, January 14, 1817:
"What gave interest principally to the debate, was the disclosure by Mr. Tallmadge of Connecticut (an officer at the time, and commanding the advance guard when Major André was brought in) of his view of the merit of this transaction, with which history and the records of the country have made every man familiar. The value of the service he did not deny; but on the authority of the declaration of Major André (made while in the custody of Colonel Tallmadge), he gave it as his opinion that, if Major André could have given to these men the amount they demanded for his release, he never would have been hung as a spy, nor in captivity on that occasion. Mr. T.'s statement was minutely circumstantial, and given with expressions of his individual confidence in its correctness. Among other circumstances he stated, that when Major André's boots were taken off by them, it was to search for plunder, and not to detect treason. These persons, indeed, he said, were of that class of people who passed between both armies, as often in one camp as the other, and whom, he said, if he had met with them, he should probably as soon have apprehended as Major André, as he had always made it a rule to do with these suspicious persons. The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of which this is a brief abstract, was, that these persons had brought in Major André only because they should probably get more for his apprehension than for his release."
"What gave interest principally to the debate, was the disclosure by Mr. Tallmadge of Connecticut (an officer at the time, and commanding the advance guard when Major André was brought in) of his view of the merit of this transaction, with which history and the records of the country have made every man familiar. The value of the service he did not deny; but on the authority of the declaration of Major André (made while in the custody of Colonel Tallmadge), he gave it as his opinion that, if Major André could have given to these men the amount they demanded for his release, he never would have been hung as a spy, nor in captivity on that occasion. Mr. T.'s statement was minutely circumstantial, and given with expressions of his individual confidence in its correctness. Among other circumstances he stated, that when Major André's boots were taken off by them, it was to search for plunder, and not to detect treason. These persons, indeed, he said, were of that class of people who passed between both armies, as often in one camp as the other, and whom, he said, if he had met with them, he should probably as soon have apprehended as Major André, as he had always made it a rule to do with these suspicious persons. The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of which this is a brief abstract, was, that these persons had brought in Major André only because they should probably get more for his apprehension than for his release."
The question on reversing the report was decided in the negative:—Ayes, 53; Noes, 80 or 90.
It is proper to say that the question was decided on the ground taken in the report, viz. on the injustice of legislating on a single case of pension, whilst there were many survivors of the Revolution whom the favour of the government had not distinguished.
FromThe Gleaner, published at Wilkesbury, Pennsylvania (copied into theNational Intelligencerof Washington, March 4, 1817):
"The disclosure recently made by Colonel Tallmadge in the House of Representatives, relative to the capture of Major André, seems to have been received in every instance with the confidence to which it was certainly entitled. That gentleman related what he saw and knew; and those who are attempting to dispute him, relate only what they had been informed of. To those of our readers who may not have seen the report of Colonel Tallmadge's remarks, it may be proper to observe, that those three men who captured Major André, applied to Congress for an increase of pension settled on them by the government, and that when this application was under consideration, Colonel Tallmadge (a member for Connecticut) rose and stated, that having been the officer to whom the care of André was entrusted, he had heard André declare that those men robbed him, and upon his offer to reward them for taking him to the British lines, he believes they declined only from the impossibility of giving them sufficient security, &c., and that it was not patriotism but the hope of gain which induced them to deliver him to the Americans. To this declaration of Colonel Tallmadge, and in support of his opinion, we are happy to have it in our power to offer the following corroborating testimony."There is now living in this town a gentleman who was an officer in the Massachusets line, and who was particularly conversant in all the circumstances of that transaction. It was this gentleman who, in company with Captain Hughes, composed the special guard of André's person, was with him during the last twenty-four hours of his life, and supported him to the place of execution. From him we have received the following particulars: it is needless to say we give them our implicit belief, since to those who are acquainted with the person to whom we allude, no other testimony is ever necessary than his simple declaration."To this gentleman André himself related that he was passing down a hill, at the foot of which, under a tree, playing cards, were the three men who took him.They were close by the road side, and he had approached very near them before either party discovered the other; upon seeing him they instantly rose and seized their rifles. They approached him and demanded who he was; he immediately answered that he was a British officer, supposing, from their being so near the British lines, that they belonged to that party. They then seized him, robbed him of the few guineas which he had with him, and the two watches which he then wore, one of gold and the other of silver. He offered to reward them if they would take him to New York; they hesitated, and in his (André's) opinion, the reason why they did not do so, was the impossibility on his part to secure to them the performance of the promise."He informs also that it was an opinion too prevalent to admit of any doubt, that these men were of that description of persons called 'cow boys,' or those who, without being considered as belonging to either party, made it a business to pillage from both. He has frequently heard this opinion expressed at that time by several officers who were personally acquainted with all these men, and who could not have been mistaken in their general characters."André frequently spoke of the kindness of the American officers, and particularly of the attention of Major Tallmadge; and on the way to the place of execution sent for that officer to come near him, that he might learn the manner in which he was to die."
"The disclosure recently made by Colonel Tallmadge in the House of Representatives, relative to the capture of Major André, seems to have been received in every instance with the confidence to which it was certainly entitled. That gentleman related what he saw and knew; and those who are attempting to dispute him, relate only what they had been informed of. To those of our readers who may not have seen the report of Colonel Tallmadge's remarks, it may be proper to observe, that those three men who captured Major André, applied to Congress for an increase of pension settled on them by the government, and that when this application was under consideration, Colonel Tallmadge (a member for Connecticut) rose and stated, that having been the officer to whom the care of André was entrusted, he had heard André declare that those men robbed him, and upon his offer to reward them for taking him to the British lines, he believes they declined only from the impossibility of giving them sufficient security, &c., and that it was not patriotism but the hope of gain which induced them to deliver him to the Americans. To this declaration of Colonel Tallmadge, and in support of his opinion, we are happy to have it in our power to offer the following corroborating testimony.
"There is now living in this town a gentleman who was an officer in the Massachusets line, and who was particularly conversant in all the circumstances of that transaction. It was this gentleman who, in company with Captain Hughes, composed the special guard of André's person, was with him during the last twenty-four hours of his life, and supported him to the place of execution. From him we have received the following particulars: it is needless to say we give them our implicit belief, since to those who are acquainted with the person to whom we allude, no other testimony is ever necessary than his simple declaration.
"To this gentleman André himself related that he was passing down a hill, at the foot of which, under a tree, playing cards, were the three men who took him.They were close by the road side, and he had approached very near them before either party discovered the other; upon seeing him they instantly rose and seized their rifles. They approached him and demanded who he was; he immediately answered that he was a British officer, supposing, from their being so near the British lines, that they belonged to that party. They then seized him, robbed him of the few guineas which he had with him, and the two watches which he then wore, one of gold and the other of silver. He offered to reward them if they would take him to New York; they hesitated, and in his (André's) opinion, the reason why they did not do so, was the impossibility on his part to secure to them the performance of the promise.
"He informs also that it was an opinion too prevalent to admit of any doubt, that these men were of that description of persons called 'cow boys,' or those who, without being considered as belonging to either party, made it a business to pillage from both. He has frequently heard this opinion expressed at that time by several officers who were personally acquainted with all these men, and who could not have been mistaken in their general characters.
"André frequently spoke of the kindness of the American officers, and particularly of the attention of Major Tallmadge; and on the way to the place of execution sent for that officer to come near him, that he might learn the manner in which he was to die."
Statement of Van Wart (from theNational Intelligencerof Feb. 25, 1817):
"Isaac Van Wart, of the town of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Westchester, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is one of the three persons who arrested Major André during the American revolutionary war, and conducted him to the American camp. That he, this deponent, together with David Williams and John Paulding, had secreted themselves at the side of the highway, for the purpose of detecting any person coming from, or having unlawful intercourse with, the enemy, being between the two armies; a service not uncommon in those times. That this deponent and his companions were armed with muskets, and upon seeing Major André approach the place where they were concealed, they rose and presented their muskets at him, and required him to stop, which he did. He then asked them whether they belonged to his party, and then they asked him which was his party? to which he replied the lower party. Upon which they, deeming a little stratagem under such circumstances not only justifiable but necessary, gave him to understand that they were of his party, upon which he joyfully declared himself to be a British officer, and told them that he had been out upon very particular business. Having ascertained thus much, this deponent and his companions undeceived him as to their characters, declaring themselves to be Americans, and that he must consider himself their prisoner. Upon this, with seeming unconcern, he said he had a pass from General Arnold, which he exhibited, and then insisted on their permitting him to proceed. But they told him that, as he had confessed himself to be a British officer, they deemed it to be their duty to convey him to the American camp; and then took him into a wood, a short distance from the highway, in order to guard against being surprised by parties of the enemy, who were frequently reconnoitering in that neighbourhood. That when they had him in the wood they proceeded to search him, for the purpose of ascertaining who and what he was, and found inside of his stockings and boots, next to his bare feet, papers which satisfied them he was a spy. Major André now showed them his gold watch, and remarked that it was evidence of his being a gentleman, and also promised to make them any reward they might name, if they would but permit him to proceed, which they refused. He then told them that if they doubted the fulfilment of his promise, they might conceal him in some secret place, and keep him there until they could send to New York and receive their reward. And this deponent expressly declares, that every offer made by Major André to them was promptly and resolutely refused. And, for himself, he solemnly declares that he had not, and he does most sincerely believe that Paulding and Williams had not, any intention of plundering their prisoner; nor did they confer with each other, or even hesitate whether they should accept his promise, but, on the contrary, they were, in the opinion of this deponent, governed, like himself, by a deep interest in the cause of the country, and a strong sense of duty. And this deponent further says that he never visited the British camp, nor does he believe or suspect that either Paulding or Williams ever did, except that Paulding was, once before André's capture, and once afterwards, made a prisoner by the British, as this deponent has been informed and believes. And this deponent, for himself, expressly denies that he ever held any unlawful traffic or any intercourse whatever with the enemy. And, appealing solemnly to that omniscient Being, at whose tribunal he must soon appear, he doth expressly declare that all accusations, charging him therewith, are utterly untrue.Isaac Van Wart."Sworn this 28th day of January, 1817,before Jacob Radcliff."We the subscribers, inhabitants of the county of Westchester, do certify that during the revolutionary war we were well acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, David Williams, and John Paulding, who arrested Major André; and that at no time during the revolutionary war was any suspicion ever entertained by their neighbours or acquaintances, that they, or either of them, held any undue intercourse with the enemy. On the contrary, they were universally esteemed, and taken to be ardent and faithful in the cause of the country. We further certify that the said Paulding and Williams are not now resident among us, but that Isaac Van Wart is a respectable freeholder of the town of Mount Pleasant, that we are all well acquainted with him, and we do not hesitate to declare our belief that there is not an individual in the county of Westchester, acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, who would hesitate to describe him as a man of a sober, moral, industrious, and religious life, as a man whose integrity is as unimpeachable as his veracity is undoubted. Inthese respects no man in the county of Westchester is his superior.Jonathan G. Tompkins, aged 81 years.Jacob Purdy, 77.John Odell, 60.John Boyce, 72.J. Requa, 59.William Paulding, 81.John Requa, 54.Archer Read, 64.George Comb, 72.Gilbert Dean, 70.Jonathan Odell, 87.Cornelius Van Tassel, 71.Thomas Boyce, 71.Tunis Lint, 71.Jacobus Dyckman, 68.William Hammond.John Romer."
"Isaac Van Wart, of the town of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Westchester, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is one of the three persons who arrested Major André during the American revolutionary war, and conducted him to the American camp. That he, this deponent, together with David Williams and John Paulding, had secreted themselves at the side of the highway, for the purpose of detecting any person coming from, or having unlawful intercourse with, the enemy, being between the two armies; a service not uncommon in those times. That this deponent and his companions were armed with muskets, and upon seeing Major André approach the place where they were concealed, they rose and presented their muskets at him, and required him to stop, which he did. He then asked them whether they belonged to his party, and then they asked him which was his party? to which he replied the lower party. Upon which they, deeming a little stratagem under such circumstances not only justifiable but necessary, gave him to understand that they were of his party, upon which he joyfully declared himself to be a British officer, and told them that he had been out upon very particular business. Having ascertained thus much, this deponent and his companions undeceived him as to their characters, declaring themselves to be Americans, and that he must consider himself their prisoner. Upon this, with seeming unconcern, he said he had a pass from General Arnold, which he exhibited, and then insisted on their permitting him to proceed. But they told him that, as he had confessed himself to be a British officer, they deemed it to be their duty to convey him to the American camp; and then took him into a wood, a short distance from the highway, in order to guard against being surprised by parties of the enemy, who were frequently reconnoitering in that neighbourhood. That when they had him in the wood they proceeded to search him, for the purpose of ascertaining who and what he was, and found inside of his stockings and boots, next to his bare feet, papers which satisfied them he was a spy. Major André now showed them his gold watch, and remarked that it was evidence of his being a gentleman, and also promised to make them any reward they might name, if they would but permit him to proceed, which they refused. He then told them that if they doubted the fulfilment of his promise, they might conceal him in some secret place, and keep him there until they could send to New York and receive their reward. And this deponent expressly declares, that every offer made by Major André to them was promptly and resolutely refused. And, for himself, he solemnly declares that he had not, and he does most sincerely believe that Paulding and Williams had not, any intention of plundering their prisoner; nor did they confer with each other, or even hesitate whether they should accept his promise, but, on the contrary, they were, in the opinion of this deponent, governed, like himself, by a deep interest in the cause of the country, and a strong sense of duty. And this deponent further says that he never visited the British camp, nor does he believe or suspect that either Paulding or Williams ever did, except that Paulding was, once before André's capture, and once afterwards, made a prisoner by the British, as this deponent has been informed and believes. And this deponent, for himself, expressly denies that he ever held any unlawful traffic or any intercourse whatever with the enemy. And, appealing solemnly to that omniscient Being, at whose tribunal he must soon appear, he doth expressly declare that all accusations, charging him therewith, are utterly untrue.
Isaac Van Wart.
"Sworn this 28th day of January, 1817,before Jacob Radcliff.
"Sworn this 28th day of January, 1817,before Jacob Radcliff.
"Sworn this 28th day of January, 1817,
before Jacob Radcliff.
"We the subscribers, inhabitants of the county of Westchester, do certify that during the revolutionary war we were well acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, David Williams, and John Paulding, who arrested Major André; and that at no time during the revolutionary war was any suspicion ever entertained by their neighbours or acquaintances, that they, or either of them, held any undue intercourse with the enemy. On the contrary, they were universally esteemed, and taken to be ardent and faithful in the cause of the country. We further certify that the said Paulding and Williams are not now resident among us, but that Isaac Van Wart is a respectable freeholder of the town of Mount Pleasant, that we are all well acquainted with him, and we do not hesitate to declare our belief that there is not an individual in the county of Westchester, acquainted with Isaac Van Wart, who would hesitate to describe him as a man of a sober, moral, industrious, and religious life, as a man whose integrity is as unimpeachable as his veracity is undoubted. Inthese respects no man in the county of Westchester is his superior.
Jonathan G. Tompkins, aged 81 years.Jacob Purdy, 77.John Odell, 60.John Boyce, 72.J. Requa, 59.William Paulding, 81.John Requa, 54.Archer Read, 64.George Comb, 72.Gilbert Dean, 70.Jonathan Odell, 87.Cornelius Van Tassel, 71.Thomas Boyce, 71.Tunis Lint, 71.Jacobus Dyckman, 68.William Hammond.John Romer."
Jonathan G. Tompkins, aged 81 years.Jacob Purdy, 77.John Odell, 60.John Boyce, 72.J. Requa, 59.William Paulding, 81.John Requa, 54.Archer Read, 64.George Comb, 72.Gilbert Dean, 70.Jonathan Odell, 87.Cornelius Van Tassel, 71.Thomas Boyce, 71.Tunis Lint, 71.Jacobus Dyckman, 68.William Hammond.John Romer."
Jonathan G. Tompkins, aged 81 years.
Jacob Purdy, 77.
John Odell, 60.
John Boyce, 72.
J. Requa, 59.
William Paulding, 81.
John Requa, 54.
Archer Read, 64.
George Comb, 72.
Gilbert Dean, 70.
Jonathan Odell, 87.
Cornelius Van Tassel, 71.
Thomas Boyce, 71.
Tunis Lint, 71.
Jacobus Dyckman, 68.
William Hammond.
John Romer."
F. D.
The following works furnish much that is interesting concerning Major André:—
An Authentic Narrative of the Causes which led to the Death of Major André, by Joshua Hett Smith, London, 1808. Printed for Matthews and Leigh, 18. Strand.
The Plot of Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton against the United States, and against General Washington, Paris, 1816. Printed by Didot the Elder.
Niles'Weekly Register for 1817, vol. ii. p. 386. Printed at Baltimore.
Anon.
The linguistic origin of these descriptive syllables, when found as suffixes to the names of places, is a question of some interest to the antiquary and ethnologist; and, as to the former of them, has, on that account, fitly enough been made the subject of occasional discussion in the pages of "N. & Q." The-by, as your pages evince (Vol. vii., p. 536.), is implicitly relied upon by Mr. Worsaae and his disciples, in support of the Danish theory of that eminent northern scholar; and that too, as it appears, without any very minute regard to the etymology and meaning of the former syllabic divisions of proper names so characterised. If only the designation of a locality end with-by, evidence sufficient is given, that it owes its paternity specially to the Danes alone, of all the Scandinavian tribes who obtained a permanent footing on our shores. The same is the case with respect to the termination-ness, and its orthographic varieties. As with the Ashbys, Newbys, and Kirbys of our several counties, so (inter alia) with the Hackness of Yorkshire, the Longness of Man, the Bowness of Westmoreland, and the Foulness of Essex. All have the Danish mark upon them; and all, therefore, possess a Danish original, and bear witness of a Danish location.
With regard to the-by, I have already, in these pages, taken occasion to suggest a doubt whether, in that particular instance, the Worsaaen theory be not as fallacious as it is dogmatical. And, adopting the same method with the-ness, I think it will be evident, on examination of the following list of almost identical forms of the expression, that, as to this point also, no argument can be founded upon it, one way or the other, beyond the fact of its derivation from some of the Scandinavian tribes who, in the fifth and succeeding centuries, established themselves on our shores: if, indeed, I do not, even with this enlarged extension, assign to the presence of the term in our topography a too restricted application.
I have a list now before me of 521 places with this suffix, distributed over twenty-five counties. It does not pretend to be complete; but as it offers a more extended view of the question than in Vol. ix., p. 136., I subjoin the results:
Our termination-ness, then, is the old northern or Icelandicnes, the parent of the Dan.næs, and the Ang.-Sax.neseandnæs, signifying "a neck of land, or promontory." From thisnescame, naturally enough, the old northernnaosornös, whence the Dan.næse, the Germ.nase; the Ang.-Sax.nase,næse,nose; the Norman-Fr.naz, and Su.-Goth.naese(in Al. and Sansc.nasa, and in Gall.nes); the Latinnasus, and Eng.nose, ornaseas it is spelt by Gower in hisConf. Am.b. v., "Both at mouth and atnase." Closely akin to the same word, and probably derived from an identical source, is the old northernnef, whence were formed the Vulg.-Isl.nebbi, the Dan.neb, and the Ang.-Sax.nebbeandneb(in Pers.anef; in C. Tscherh.ep, in Curd.defin), the beak or bill, thenebornibof a bird; and also used of the prominent feature of the human face divine, to which the term is applied by Shakspeare and Bacon, as it is occasionally at the present day by the older inhabitants of the Yorkshire dales.
Thus have we the origin of ournase,-nese,-ness,-nib,-nab, &c., which are found in the composition of many of our local proper names; but, after looking over the foregoing paragraph, who can tell whether these forms were transported to our shores in a Saxon, Jutish, Anglic, or Danish bark?
Wm. Matthews.
Cowgill.
The Termination "-by."—Having gone over the remaining letters H to Z, I send you the following results:
I leave this for the study of others.
B. H. C.
As B. H. C. could only find seven places in Cumberland ending in-by, I take the liberty of sending him a few additional names. Writing from memory, I may very possibly have omitted many more:
Many names of places in Cumberland commence withCum, as our Cumbrian bard has it:
"We've Cumwhitton, Cumwhinton, Cumranton,Cumrangen, Cumrew, and Cumcatch;Wi' mony mair Cums i' the county,But nane wi' Cumdivock can match."
"We've Cumwhitton, Cumwhinton, Cumranton,Cumrangen, Cumrew, and Cumcatch;Wi' mony mair Cums i' the county,But nane wi' Cumdivock can match."
"We've Cumwhitton, Cumwhinton, Cumranton,
Cumrangen, Cumrew, and Cumcatch;
Wi' mony mair Cums i' the county,
But nane wi' Cumdivock can match."
From whence is derived the prefixCum?
John o' the Ford.
Malta.
(Vol. vi., pp. 221. 338. 466.; Vol. ix., pp. 29. 84. 276)
Is it quite certain that "no animal can live in the alimentary canal but the parasites which belong to that part of the animal economy?" Being ignorant of the matter I give no opinion, but would bring before your readers' notice the following seemingly well-authenticated instance. I quote fromInsect Transformations, 1830, p. 239., a work put forth by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
"That insects are, in some rare cases, introduced into the human stomach, has been more than once proved, though the greater number of the accounts of such facts in medical books are too inaccurate to be trusted.[3]But one extraordinary case has been completely authenticated, both by medical men and competent naturalists, and is published in theDublin Transactions, by Dr. Pickells of Cork.[4]Mary Riordan, aged twenty-eight, had been much affected by the death of her mother, and at one of her many visits to the grave seems to have partially lost her senses, having been found lying there on the morning of a winter's day, and having been exposed to heavy rain during the night. When she was about fifteen, two popular Catholic priests had died, and she was told by some old women that if she would drink daily, for a certain time, a quantity of water mixed with clay taken from their graves, she would be for ever secure from disease and sin. Following this absurd and disgusting prescription, she took from time to time large quantities of the draught; some time afterwards, being affected with a burning pain in the stomach (cardialgia), she began to eat large pieces of chalk, which she sometimes also mixed with water and drank."Now, whether in any or in all these draughts she swallowed the eggs of insects, cannot be affirmed; but for several years she continued to throw up incredible numbers of grubs and maggots, chiefly of the churchyard beetle (Blaps mortisaga). 'Of the larvæ of the beetle,' says Dr. Pickells, 'I am sure I considerably underrate, when I say that not less than 700 have been thrown up from the stomach at different times since the commencement of my attendance. A great proportion were destroyed by herself to avoid publicity; many, too, escaped immediately by running into holes in the floor. Upwards of ninety were submitted to Dr. Thomson's examination; nearly all of which, including two of the specimens of the meal-worm (Tenebrio molitor), I saw myself thrown up at different times. The average size was about an inch and a half in length, and four lines and a half in girth. The larvæe of the dipterous insect, though voided only about seven or eight times, according to her account, came up almost literally in myriads. They were alive and moving.' Altogether, Dr. Pickells saw nearly 2,000 grubs of the beetle, and there weremany which he did not see. Mr. Clear, an intelligent entomologist of Cork, kept some of them alive for more than twelve months. Mr. S. Cooper cannot understand whence the continued supply of the grubs was provided, seeing that larvæ do not propagate, and that only one pupa and one perfect insect were voided[5]; but the simple fact, that most beetles live several years in the state of larvæ, sufficiently accounts for this. Their existing and thriving in the stomach, too, will appear the less wonderful from the fact that it is exceedingly difficult to kill this insect; for Mr. Henry Baker repeatedly plunged one into spirits of wine, so fatal to most insects, but it revived, even after being immersed a whole night, and afterwards lived three years.[6]"That there was no deception on the part of the woman, is proved by the fact that she was always anxious to conceal the circumstance; and that it was only by accident that the medical gentlemen, Drs. Pickells, Herrick, and Thomson, discovered it. Moreover, it does not appear that, though poor, she ever took advantage of it to extort money. It is interesting to learn that, by means of turpentine in large doses, she was at length cured."
"That insects are, in some rare cases, introduced into the human stomach, has been more than once proved, though the greater number of the accounts of such facts in medical books are too inaccurate to be trusted.[3]But one extraordinary case has been completely authenticated, both by medical men and competent naturalists, and is published in theDublin Transactions, by Dr. Pickells of Cork.[4]Mary Riordan, aged twenty-eight, had been much affected by the death of her mother, and at one of her many visits to the grave seems to have partially lost her senses, having been found lying there on the morning of a winter's day, and having been exposed to heavy rain during the night. When she was about fifteen, two popular Catholic priests had died, and she was told by some old women that if she would drink daily, for a certain time, a quantity of water mixed with clay taken from their graves, she would be for ever secure from disease and sin. Following this absurd and disgusting prescription, she took from time to time large quantities of the draught; some time afterwards, being affected with a burning pain in the stomach (cardialgia), she began to eat large pieces of chalk, which she sometimes also mixed with water and drank.
"Now, whether in any or in all these draughts she swallowed the eggs of insects, cannot be affirmed; but for several years she continued to throw up incredible numbers of grubs and maggots, chiefly of the churchyard beetle (Blaps mortisaga). 'Of the larvæ of the beetle,' says Dr. Pickells, 'I am sure I considerably underrate, when I say that not less than 700 have been thrown up from the stomach at different times since the commencement of my attendance. A great proportion were destroyed by herself to avoid publicity; many, too, escaped immediately by running into holes in the floor. Upwards of ninety were submitted to Dr. Thomson's examination; nearly all of which, including two of the specimens of the meal-worm (Tenebrio molitor), I saw myself thrown up at different times. The average size was about an inch and a half in length, and four lines and a half in girth. The larvæe of the dipterous insect, though voided only about seven or eight times, according to her account, came up almost literally in myriads. They were alive and moving.' Altogether, Dr. Pickells saw nearly 2,000 grubs of the beetle, and there weremany which he did not see. Mr. Clear, an intelligent entomologist of Cork, kept some of them alive for more than twelve months. Mr. S. Cooper cannot understand whence the continued supply of the grubs was provided, seeing that larvæ do not propagate, and that only one pupa and one perfect insect were voided[5]; but the simple fact, that most beetles live several years in the state of larvæ, sufficiently accounts for this. Their existing and thriving in the stomach, too, will appear the less wonderful from the fact that it is exceedingly difficult to kill this insect; for Mr. Henry Baker repeatedly plunged one into spirits of wine, so fatal to most insects, but it revived, even after being immersed a whole night, and afterwards lived three years.[6]
"That there was no deception on the part of the woman, is proved by the fact that she was always anxious to conceal the circumstance; and that it was only by accident that the medical gentlemen, Drs. Pickells, Herrick, and Thomson, discovered it. Moreover, it does not appear that, though poor, she ever took advantage of it to extort money. It is interesting to learn that, by means of turpentine in large doses, she was at length cured."
Edward Peacock.
Bottesford Moors, Kirton-in-Lindsey.