Richard III.

S. H. H.

Discovery of the Tomb of St. Berichert, or, Berechtune.—Mr. Windele the local historian of Cork, has circulated among his friends a Lithographic drawing of this very interesting monument, which he found at Tullilease, a small hamlet on the border of the Counties of Cork and Limerick, within a mile of Dromcolleher. The tomb is a much more highly ornate specimen of an ancient cross than any of those engraved in Dr. Petrie's work on the Round Towers of Ireland. At Tullilease there are the ruins of an old Romanesque church, which was dedicated to St. Berichert or Berihert, a Saxon, whose name is now Anglicised into Benjamin, and whose death is recorded atA.D.839, in the Four Masters. The Legend on the stone is in Latin, (but very sorry Latin), and in the Irish character. It reads, "QUICUNQUE (for æ) HUNC TITULUM LEGERIT ORAT (fororateororet) PRO BERECHTUNE." On the upper part of the stone, in one corner, are the letters pp̅ or pps̅.

January 10th, 1852.

Sir,—All our historians assert that Richard, Duke of Glo'ster paved his way to the crown by bastardizing, imprisoning, and assassinating his two nephews, Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of York. How then are we to account for the provision made in the Wardrobe Roll for the Coronation of Richard III., July 3rd, 1483, (published in the Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. I. p. 29, 1807;) "The deliveree of divers Stuff delivered for the use of Lorde Edwarde, son of late Kyng Edward the Fourthe, and of his Henxemen?" Then follows a particular account of the materials for the "apparaill and array" of "Prince Edward" and his "Henxemen." Was he really present at his uncle's coronation? There is no mention of the Duke of York. The Declaration of Tyrrell and Dighton, published in the ensuing reign by Henry VII., says, the young princes were murdered in July, 1483. If the words did not expressly state "Edwarde, son of late Kyng Edwarde the Fourthe," I should have concluded that it meant Richard III.'s own son Edward, by Lady Ann Nivelle, at that time about nine years of age.

Yours, &c. O. S.

New York, 13th December, 1851.

About the time you receive this, you will probably hear of an American testimonial to that amiable woman, Mrs. Cowden Clarke, to be presented to her by the American Minister, Mr. Abbot Lawrence, in the name of the subscribers, at the head of whom stands America's greatest and best statesman, Daniel Webster.

This testimonial is in the shape of a magnificent Rosewood Library Chair, richly carved, and covered with the finest French Satin Brocade. It is at this momentonthe Atlantic,inthe "Atlantic," and insured by the Atlantic Insurance Company, for three hundred dollars.

Asthe fame of Shakspereis world-wide, subscriptions of five dollars each came in from all parts of the American Union—from the most northerly of all, Maine,—to Mexico. From Wisconsin, in thefar-far-FARWest, to the shores of the Pacific, at San Francisco—they are thousands of miles apart from each other.

Why have you left it to us poor Yankees "to take the wind out of your sails," in presenting a testimonial to the authoress of the Concordance to Shakspere?Mr. Payne Collier, and such like dear fellows, who know so many eminent wealthy literati, ought,nowthat we have set you the example, to get up a subscription, and present Mrs. Clarke with some better Shaksperean testimonial than a Chair! What say you to a 'First' Best Bed? But if the hangings of it beat our satin brocade cover, why I'll hang myself in despair—no I won't, but I'll eat it—bed—feathers and all. The Chair was to have been covered with the richest silk Genoa velvet, of a regal scarlet or crimson, but the lady of our Secretary of State, Mrs. Daniel Webster, would have it, that velvet covers were quite old-fashioned; and as ladies best know what will suit ladies, she was asked the favour to select the cover, andI guessyou will admire it.

Now for thefreedomof America. Collins gave the Chairfreepassage. Edwards, Sandford and Co. conveyed the case to the ship, and will convey it from Liverpool to London,free. They are Express men, and thus do we "go a-head."

G. W.'s Correspondent adds:—

"I receive your 'Notes' regularly. The story about Katy Hayes in your November Number, p. 88, is somewhat embellished by 'your New York Special Reporter.' I regret to tell you that she, poor girl, has quiteput her foot in ithere, and I am afraid will return poorer than when she came. She or her agent or agents, pursued a silly course by,it is said, keeping almost open house to her countrymen at the Astor house, a very expensive hotel, where she ran up an enormous bill, and being unable to pay, the sheriff's officers carried off the receipts at some of her concerts—particularly that which she gave for that humbug hypocrite Father Mathew. There has been a great deal about it in our papers. Doctor Joy returned to England some time ago in disgust. Mathew absolutely had the temerity to make it appear that he could work miracles,publicly, in the face of a large Catholic congregation, by restoring the sick and lame to health!"

Ethnology.—"G.W.'s New York Special Reporter," whose embellished style has been questioned in the preceding paragraph, states, that he has forwarded a pamphlet, for which he will be duly thanked when it is received, "giving an account of apretendedjourney to the city of Eximaya, in Central America, by an Englishman and two Spaniards, who are all 'gone dead.'" Observing that, "It is a good Arabian Night's hoax. You will see," he remarks, "the pamphlet is dated 1850, but the children have only been exhibited here this week. There isno mistakeabout them, they are evidently children of a distinct and unknown race, come from whence they will. The recession of their foreheads is extraordinary. Their heads are wonderfully small, and in exact proportion to their bodies and limbs. They are not dwarfs but pigmies; about twelve years of age, lively and playful. They are not at Barnum's Museum, but at the rooms of the Society Library, and are exciting very great attention."

This Sale, which has so long attracted the attention of American Bibliopoles, commenced on Tuesday, Nov. 4th. It was the means of drawing together agents for the most prominent Libraries in the United States. Among others, the following Colleges and Institutions were represented:—Smithsonian Institution, Harvard College, Yale College, General Theological Seminary of New York, College of New Jersey, Brown University, Rochester University, Andover Theological Seminary, New York State Library, New York Society Library, and the Historical Society of New York.

The sale being the largest that ever took place in America, of any private library, the books brought fair prices. A volume of Tracts, containing the American Whig, &c. sold for 22 dollars 75 cents, to Bancroft, the historian. Byzantinæ Historiæ Scriptores, a unique set, containing a beautiful MS. translation of the third volume of Nicephorus Gregoras, sold for 475 dollars, to Prof. Ticknor, of Boston. Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, being the celebratedComplutensian Polyglott, 130 dollars, to the Rochester University. The Paris Polyglott, 100 dollars, to Geo. Livermore, Esq. Boston. Vetus Testamentum Græcum, 40 dollars, Harvard College. Muratori, 37 vols. folio, 207 dollars, to the Theological Seminary, New York. Cranmer's Bible, 26 dollars, to Rochester University. Tyndale's Translation of the Pentateuch, 41 dollars, to John Wiley. Duchesne's Historical Collections, 24 dollars 50 cents, to Brown University, &c. &c.

TheChristian Advocate and Journalhas a circulation of from 25 to 29,000 copies. TheMissionary Advocatecirculates 20,000 copies, and theSunday School Advocateno less than 65,000 copies, with a yearly sale of Sunday School Books amounting to upwards of £1000, or 5000 dollars.

GeneralMorris, who is associated with Mr. N. P. Willis as Editor, and publisher of the "Home Journal," in New York, was, as all the world knows—or at least, as the United States ought to know, for it is something to be proud of to be possessed of a real living poet in these days—was the author of the words of a charming ballad, entitled, "Woodman, spare that Tree," which was sung effectively by an illustrious scion of the house of Russell. The parentage of this lyric having been claimed by a respectable Boston paper, (The Sunday News), on behalf of a deceased literary gentleman named Woodward, who is said, in an unguarded moment, to have pawned his reputation upon the Woodman, to the gallant General, for a glass of grog; the General indignantly repudiates the whole statement; repeating that, "a slander well hoed grows like the devil;" and labours to establish the fact, that the American General Morris is not to be by posterity identified with the English Captain of the same name—as a song writer.

Fusbos.

The Rectory, Clyst St. George, Topsham,Jan. 2, 1852.

Sir,—You are publishing, in your "Current Notes," some nice little cuts of interesting relics of antiquity, for which all who delight in such things must feel thankful to you.

May I ask you to put into your cutter's hands the rough sketch which I send with this; and will you allow it to be introduced to the notice of your readers, as an illustration of the Bawdrick, or Baldrock, which is the leather gear, with its appurtenances of the upper part of the clapper in old black-letter bells, and about which your readers may have seen a discussion, with extracts from old Churchwarden's accounts, in another valuable periodical of like character to your own, but in which at present no illustrations of any kind are admitted. You will oblige one of your subscribers.

H. T. E.

Mr. Willis.

Drawing: bell clappers

A. Crown Staple.

B. Bawdrick or Baldrock of old Churchwarden's books, viz. stout white leather straps, shewing how fitted with intervening piece ofhard wood and pin.

C. Clapper, with stirrup top.

D. "Busk Board" which at the lower end is tied round the stem of the clapper, and by the pin above keeps the wood and leather all steady together, and the clapper works or swings on thecrownstaple, having leather on the upper side, and hard woodunder.

H. T. E.

Turnbuckle and Latch.—The figure you have engraved on p. 91 of your December "Notes," as aTurnbuckle, is the common casementlatchof the 17th century; which may be found attached to the iron frame of casement windows in many old farm houses.

A latch is not a turnbuckle, and no ironmonger's apprentice would confound the two. A latch is a bar moving up and down in a limited space—or, if backwards and forwards, as in some locks—it is called the latch-bolt. A turnbuckle, as its name implies, turns round, and is only limited by the notch, &c. by which it holds. They are chiefly of two kinds: one is a spindle, with a knob or ring at one end, and a tongue or buckle at the other; another is a handle with a tongue attached, moving together freely round, upon a pin or rivets. This latter kind has taken the place of the casement latch represented in your "Current Notes" in present use.

One who has been an Ironmonger's Apprentice.

A small subscription, which was raised for the purpose of sustaining the failing walls of Buttevant Abbey, in the County of Cork, is about to be followed by Mr. Thomas Tobin, of Ballincollig, taking measures to uphold the Castle of Buttevant.

The same good spirit animates Mr. Odell, the proprietor of Ardmore, in the County of Waterford, who has determined to preserve the west gable of the Old Church, which is covered over with figures that, according to Ryland's History of Waterford, "with a good imagination, and some knowledge of the ancient Scriptures, may be made to exhibit an epitome of the history of the Old Testament."

16th January, 1852.

Sir,—If your refer to your "Current Notes" for April last, you will find engraved, at p. 27, a tobacco pipe, found when the Golden Lion Inn at Fulham was pulled down in April, 1836. Now, Sir, it appears to me that this drawing of mine has been copied, without acknowledgment, from your Notes, in the Transactions of the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Session iii. 1850-51, to illustrate a paper by Andrew James Lamb, Esq. Plate IV. No. 14. If not, I humbly conceive that Mr. Lamb, or the Rev. Dr. Hume, the Secretary, on behalf of the Society, is bound to state where the original pipe which figures in their Transactions exists, and how and when Mr. Lamb obtained his drawing or knowledge of it. This alone can disprove the charge which I make against the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, ofcopying without acknowledgment, my sketchfrom Willis's Notes.

T. M.

Archæological Publications.—In addition to those enumerated in G. W.'s "Current Notes" for December (p. 93), the first Number of "ReliquiæAntiquæ Eboracenses, or Remains of Antiquities relating to York," has appeared.

In answer to W. B.'s communications, G. W. conceives that the best mode of making a local work of this nature known, would be by a circular letter addressed to the resident Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry of Yorkshire, soliciting their countenance and support.

The information desired respecting the publications of the Archæological Societies named, may be obtained by W. B. addressing himself to their respective Secretaries,viz.

Mr. Willis is informed with reference to a paragraph which appeared in his "Current Notes" for December, p. 93, that the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whose issues have been suspended since 1846, will forthwith resume publishing.

The Slogans of the North of Englandhave been published by Mr. G. B. Richardson, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The British Museum.—A recent resolution of the Trustees of this National Establishment has been considered, in certain Antiquarian circles, to present "a fair specimen of double-dealing."

An Irish Numismatist.

January 3rd, 1852.

Sir,—I trust I shall not trespass upon the limits of your courtesy, if I beg your assistance with regard to the accompanying list of names, about whom I am anxious to gain any information as to dates of birth, death, or any subject of interest connected with the individuals.

As I live in the country and have not the facility of access to a library for reference, I avail myself of the medium of your instructive and valuable publication, and beg to subscribe myself, with all good wishes,

Your obedient servant,Ellen F.

Symonds' Inn.24th April, 1787. Edward Montagu.No date. Marquis de Spinola.St. Petersburg.24th Jan. 1805. C. A. Pozzo di Borgo.No date. Geo. R. Collier, Commodore.London.13th March, 1820. W. Plumer.20th May, 1829. Jno. Bruce.No date. P. P. Jacob.

The following is the commencement of a leading article on the Penny Postage, contained in the "Times," of Saturday, 9th August, 1851:—

"A traveller sauntering through the Lake districts of England some years ago, arrived at a small public-house just as the postman stopped to deliver a letter. A young girl came out to receive it. She took it in her hand, turned it over and over, and asked the charge. It was a large sum—no less than a shilling. Sighing heavily, she observed that it came from her brother, but that she was too poor to take it in, and she returned it to the postman accordingly. The traveller was a man of kindness as well as of observation; he offered to pay the postage himself, and in spite of more reluctance on the girl's part than he could well understand, he did pay it, and gave her the letter. No sooner, however, was the postman's back turned, than she confessed that the proceeding had been concerted between her brother and herself, that the letter was empty, that certain signs on the direction conveyed all she wanted to know, and that as they could neither of them afford to pay postage, they had devised this method of franking the intelligence desired. The traveller pursued his journey, and as he plodded over the Cumberland fells, he mused upon the badness of a system which drove people to such straits for means of correspondence, and defeated its own object all the time. With most men such musings would have ended before the close of the hour, but this man's name wasRowland Hill, and it was from this incident and these reflections that the whole scheme of Penny Postage was derived."

I should be glad to know if there is any doubt as to the truth of this statement, as I fancied it had been contradicted. Could any of your Correspondents oblige me by giving me information on the subject, I should feel obliged.

I. E.

Boston, January 15th, 1852.

Sir,—I send you a query for "Current Notes."

"Robbed between Sun and Sun."

Can any of your communicants favor me with the origin of this expression? It was employed to describe the late Revolution in Paris, by the "Examiner," and I have seen it as a quotation in a work of old date.

Y. S. N.

Dental Surgery.—In the observations on the progress of Geography and Ethnology, by Mr. John Russell Bartlett, read at the Meeting of the New York Historical Society in November and December, 1846, it is mentioned that in the exploration of a tumuli carried on by Dr. M. W. Dickeson, in the South-western States, chiefly in Mississippi, although in some instances extending to Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, he found that Dentistry had been extensively practised by this ancient people, as plugging the teeth and inserting artificial ones, were common. In one instance five artificial teeth were found inserted in one subject.

T. C. B.

Capping a Story.—Rogers, the poet, was fond of telling the story of a gentleman who lost a shilling in Covent Garden Market, just at the corner of the Great Piazza, and on his return from India some five-and-twenty years afterwards, on passing the spot where he supposed the loss had taken place, remembered the circumstance, and looking about him on the pavement, picked up his shilling. Here Rogers, in his own inimitable way of telling a story, would pause, and then add—"In halfpence,wrapped up in paper."

"I knew the man," said a witty friend to the poet, "but you have forgotten the most singular point of the story about the recovery of this lost shillingjust at the door of Willis the bookseller's place of business."

"I thought it sufficiently odd," replied the poetical banker, "our friend having found his shilling after so long a period, and only wish that my lost notes may turn up again in the same unexpected and amusing manner—that notes turn up to me from Willis."

"Then you must have heard the whole story, and the very remarkable fact to which I refer? That in the paper which contained the four-and-twenty halfpence he found another filled with farthings, the exact amount of which when calculated, proved to be that of compound interest upon the shilling for five-and-twenty years one month and thirteen days."

Mr. Rogers has never since told the story.

Sir,—Through the medium of your publication, can you tell me anything about "Robt. Hoblyn;" and what works he has published? I believe they were of a classical nature; and he was living in 1825.

Yours truly,A. K.

Jan. 2, 1852.

A Travelling Name.—I have heard or read somewhere of a story about one of the authors of the "Rejected Addresses"—indeed, I now remember that he told it to me himself—how that he once travelled in a stage coach with a very agreeable old lady, who was well acquainted with London society, and with whom he conversed for a considerable time about various mutual friends and circumstances that could only be known to them, or to their immediate circle, with so much familiarity, that the old lady's curiosity being roused, she ventured to inquire his name. "James Smith, madam," was the reply. "Oh, that's your travelling name, is it? But it won't do for me."

Smith.—Has not some one written, or is not some one going to write, a history of the Smiths? It really might be made a very amusing book, and some one—I forget who—actually told me that "the far-famed Ruffian of the Adelphi," (O. S.) was collecting materials for or from such a book. I subscribe my real name—identify, if you can, Mr. Willis.

John Smith.

drawing: ornament

Pilgrim's Badge?—A Correspondent has kindly transmitted to G. W. a rubbing from which the annexed woodcut has been made, of a small brass ornament, found at Launde Abbey, in Leicestershire, which abbey or priory was founded by Rd. Basset, in the reign of Henry III. dissolved by Henry VIII., and Cromwell, Earl of Essex, had a grant of it. In the Chapel (all that remains of the Priory) is a monument to his son Gregory, Lord Cromwell, of the date of 1551. The ornament is supposed to be a Pilgrim's Badge, brought from Rome, and probably was buried with him.

M. C. S.

1st January, 1852.

Ancient Key.—I. D. is thanked for the drawing of an Ancient Key found in October last, in the parish of Stoke Holy Cross, near Warwick; but as no particular interest attaches to this key in an antiquarian point of view, it is not worth engraving.

The Liberty Stone in Castle Street, Liverpool.—T. B. B. (Burnley, 1st December) thanked, but the space at G. W.'s command does not permit of his inserting the extract forwarded to him from theLiverpool Albion.

A "Young Print and Portrait Collector" would be obliged by any explanation respecting a portrait of Oliver Cromwell, of an allegorical nature, surrounded by various emblems and devices, which evidently bear upon the events of his life. He is represented standing between two columns, in armour, with a wreath of laurel in place of a helmet. This print has neither name or date of any kind upon it.

Drawing T with an S over it

Another print is one marked published 1816, by J. T. Smith, called "St. Luke's day," a "poor painter removing;" is this intended as a caricature upon some artist of the time?

Jan. 6th, 1852.

D. E., 47,Blessington Street, Dublin,thanked for his suggestions. The R. I. A.—T. C. D. and the Dublin Society, however, cannot in the slightest degree influence the conduct of G. W.'s "Current Notes."

If these learned bodies regard their own situation, they will not object to "any slang, coarseness, or Americanisms." They should rather reflect how much America has andprobablywill teach young Ireland—BUT NOTthroughtheir agency, as publishers.

The Holy Grahl, Δ. as confessedly "made up of quotations," is an article not suited to G. W.'s "Current Notes."

Regulations under which permission will be given to Literary Inquirers to make searches among the Public Records, without payment of fees, contained in a letter addressed by the Right Honourable Sir John Romilly, Master of the Rolls to Sir Francis Palgrave, K.H., the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records: dated at the Rolls House, 4th December, 1851:—

1st. That the individuals seeking to avail themselves of the permission shall address a letter to the Deputy Keeper, stating generally their objects of research, so as to show that the applications are really andbonâ fidefor literary purposes, and that the applicant shall also attend the Deputy Keeper personally thereon, and give such further explanation as may be required; and that thereupon the Deputy Keeper shall, if he be satisfied with the statement and explanation, authorise the Assistant Keepers to allow the applicant to inspect such Indexes of Records, and also such Original Records, and to make such copies or extracts in pencil required by the applicant as the Deputy Keeper may think advisable.

This mode of proceeding, which is equally required for the security of the Records, and for the protection of the business searchers, will in fact be beneficial to Literary Inquirers; for the more fully they explain their objects, the better will the Deputy Keeper and the other officers be able to direct them to the documents which may be useful to them.

2ndly. That all the applications before mentioned be entered in a book, and be reported to the Master of the Rolls.

3rdly. That a book be kept at each branch office, in which the Assistant Keeper shall enter a note or particular of the Rolls, Records, Books, or Documents, called for, inspected, or used by the applicant, nearly in the same manner,mutatis mutandis, as is practised with respect to Manuscripts in the British Museum.

But this book is to be considered as confidential, and not to be shown to the public without express permission of the Master of the Rolls or Deputy Keeper.

4thly. That, in case of any impropriety or abuse of the privilege, the Assistant Keepers do forthwith report the same to the Deputy Keeper, in order that he may bring the same before the Master of the Rolls.

It will be necessary also to explain to the Literary Inquirers that the time of the various officers and other persons employed in the Public Record Office is so wholly engrossed by the performance of their present duties, that it will not be possible for the officers to assist any Literary Inquirers beyond the production of the documents, and giving a general explanation, if needed, of their character and nature. No applicant ought to present himself who is not sufficiently acquainted with the hand-writing, abbreviations, and language of ancient documents, so as to be able to read and decipher their contents.

The Literary Inquirer will have free access to the documents, but, this being done, he will have to conduct the inquiry from these documents in such manner as his own knowledge and capacity may best enable him to do.

G. W. is informed that the reading Public are indebted to John Bruce, Esq., the Treasurer of the Society of Antiquaries, for this important concession on the part of the Master of the Rolls; and it has been suggested that a suitable testimonial should be presented to Mr. Bruce by those historical inquirers who are likely to derive such valuable aid from his exertions.

F. S. A.

Literary Auctions.—That there is no lack of enthusiasm among amateurs for the possession of rare and curious works, is evidenced by the prices which some books of this class brought at a sale just concluded by Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson, being the first sale of importance this season. Among them may be noticed the following:

Orloge(l')de Sapience, folio,nouvellement imprimée à Paris, 1493.A very splendid specimen of printing on vellum,from the celebrated Press ofVerard,ruled with red lines, bound in red morocco extra, gilt edges, by Bauzonnet, with a well made pigskin case to contain it.

Of this singular Ascetical Romance, M. Van Praet states that six copies are known as being printed on vellum: of these three are in the National Library at Paris, all of which are more or less adorned with miniatures, two of them, like the present, having the summary of the chapters (left blank for the insertion of the miniatures) written in a contemporary hand on the margins. The Harleian copy, afterwards in the collections of Count Macarthy and Mr. Hibbert, was adorned with thirteen miniatures: the present beautiful volume hasSIXTEEN, the additional ones being at the commencement of the chapters, in which the same subjects are treated in a different manner.Thewhole of the fine miniatures are in the best style of French art.This lot sold for£45.

Children, John George. Science. Late Secretary R.S. Halstead, Kent.

Graefe, Dr. Christian. Greek and Roman Antiquities. St. Petersburgh. 11th December.

Jacob, William. F.R.S. Political Economist. 31, Cadogan Place. 17th December. Aged 89.

Luttrell, Henry. Wit and Poet. Brompton Square. 19th December. Aged 86.

Sadlier, Rev. Dr. Provost, Trinity College, Dublin. 14th December.

Steel, James. Editor and Proprietor Carlisle Journal. Carlisle. 16th December. Aged 55.

Turner, Joseph Mallord William. R.A. 47, Queen Anne Street (Chelsea?). 19th December. Aged 76.

Warburton, Eliot. Historian and Novelist. Lost in the wreck of the Amazon. 4th January.

Transcriber's Note:Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

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