Replies to Minor Queries.
A Race for Canterbury (Vol. vii., p. 158.).—In a copy of the tract before me (4to., 1747) is a plate prefixed to the title, containing a view of Lambeth Palace with four bishops, each in a wherry, striving hard to reach the coveted God: Sherlock, Herring, Mawson, and Gibson, designated in the poem as Codex. The contention for the see of Canterbury, on the death of Archbishop Potter, was the subject of several squibs and satirical prints.
I have two other plates, each representing three bishops in wherries; one with three stanzas under it, commencing:
"Pope Gregory's table was spread with a net,
Till he the fish into his power could get;
Pope E—nd to L—eth rows in a wherry,
For the A—B—p's P—ce of C——."
In which Gibson and the two Sherlocks are alluded to. The other, a broadside, headed by a woodcut with three wherries, entitled "First Oars to L—m—th, or who strives for Preferment?" with fourteen stanzas below the cut; the first runs thus:
"At L—m—th dwells, as fame reports,
A P—i—st of spotless fame;
Some annual thousands swell his worth,
And spread abroad his name."
In the twelfth, the initials H—d—y appear:
"H—d—y, with headstrong zeal inspired,
Vows he'll complete the work,
Whilst G—b—n tugs and boils in vain,
T' o'ertake the furious Y—r—k."
Which would lead one to infer that Hoadley was a competitor with Herring and Gibson.
J. F.
Kennington.
"The Birch: a Poem" (Vol. vii., p. 158.).—The poem entitled "The Birch," which you have printed at length in a recent Number, has long been familiar to me, though I believe it has never before been printed; and was written by the late Rev. Thomas Wilson, B.D., head master of the Free Grammar School of Clitheroe, Lancashire. He was author of An Archæological Dictionary, or Classical Antiquities of the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, dedicated to Dr. Johnson; which was highly esteemed, and passed through two editions: the first in 1782, the second, "with considerable additions," in 1793.
Mr. Wilson was a most amiable man, of great learning, taste, and humour; and universally respected and beloved by all his scholars, by all his townsmen, and by all the first families throughout the north of Lancashire. During his time, the school of Clitheroe was in the highest repute; and the annual return of the speech-day was the great local festival of the year—the occasion of general conviviality and good neighbourhood among the gentry of the district. On these occasions Mr. Wilson generally wrote a copy of verses, to be recited by some of the scholars: and I have no doubt that the statement in your correspondent's copy ought to be "recited by a boy of thirteen," for it was certainly written by Mr. Wilson, the head master.
J. T. A.
Curtseys and Bows (Vol. vii., p. 156.).—E. S. will find his Query partly, if not altogether answered in a former note on salutations and salutes (Vol. v., p. 157.). As to the date of the word curtsey (a contraction for courtesy), it is at least as early as Shakspeare. Rosalind concludes the epilogue to As You Like It by making her curt'sy. It occurs also in a dozen other places.
C.
Deodorising Peat (Vol. vi., p. 509.).—A. A. D. inquires if this is found to be a failure: to this I can answer safely, that it is not. As to the second part of his Query, I would say, if he means (as I am sure he does) the "Peat Charcoal," he should apply to Jasper W. Rogers, Esq., C. E., Seville Place, Dublin, who is the patentee, and who will, I am sure, give him every information. Before doing so, I would, however, suggest an application to Professor Davy, Royal Dublin Society, who has strongly maintained that finely pulverised peat is fully equal to the peat charcoal as a deodorising agent. He has published a small pamphlet on the subject: to the best of my recollection it may be had through Messrs. Hodges and Smith, Dublin.
Enivri.
Jacobite Toasts (Vol. vii., p. 105.).—What is here called "Lord Duff's toast" formed some of the toasts current among the Jacobites about the period of the Rebellion of 1745. Lord Mahon alludes to the deep bumpers which were drunk by the country gentlemen to the health of the young prince, and probably by the country ladies also, "who were proud to sing ditties to his praise." Lord Mar died in 1732, consequently the fourth toast, "Keep Lord Mar," could not be drunk in 1745. The following list, given to me by a Lancashire gentleman some years ago, varies a little from your correspondent's, and may be acceptable both to him and to others of your readers. As Lord Mar and the Duke of Ormond, who died in 1745, are both omitted in this list of toasts, it may have been used subsequently to the other.
| A. B. C. | A Blessed Change. |
| D. E. F. | D— Every Foreigner. |
| G. H. J. | Get Home Jemmy. |
| K. L. M. | Keep Loyal Ministers. |
| N. O. P. | No Oppressive Parliaments. |
| Q. R. S. | Quickly Return, Stuart; and Quell Rebellious Subjects. |
| T. U. W. | Tuck Up Whelps (Guelfs). |
| X. Y. Z. | Exert Your Zeal. |
Your correspondents, myself among the number, in the case of Shenstone (Vol. vi., pp. 414. 465.), ought well to consider the narrow limits which can be afforded weekly in your pages, and not desire to insert in them what may be easily found elsewhere. Bishop Pursglove's epitaph, which fills an entire column at p. 135., has been given, 1. in the Gentleman's Magazine for December 1794, p. 1101.; 2. in Lysons's Derbyshire; and 3. in the beautiful volume of monumental brasses published by the Cambridge Camden Society, where it is accompanied by a most interesting memoir. When some of your correspondents look with anxiety for the appearance of a Note and Query of three lines, and do not find it, this occupation of space is rather unreasonable, as well as needless.
J. H. M.
Consecrators of English Bishops (Vol. vii., p. 132.).—I believe that the following is, as far as it goes, a correct answer to the Query of A. S. A. The bishops assisting the Primate were:
Feb. 27, 1842, Lincoln and Llandaff; April 28, 1844, London, Bangor, Worcester; May 4, 1845, London, Lincoln, Lichfield, Rochester, Hereford, and Bishop Coleridge late of Barbadoes; July 5, 1846, London, Lichfield, Calcutta.
The consecration of December 3, 1843, like all those before mentioned, took place in the archbishop's private chapel in Lambeth Palace.
S. R. Maitland.
Chatham's Language (Vol. vii., p. 127.).—I suppose you will receive many answers to H. G. D.'s question, as to the authorship of the lines quoted by Lord Lansdowne; but "what is everybody's business is nobody's;" and, therefore, I venture to say that, with a slight difference, they are from Cowper's Task, b. ii. 235. I think
the whole passage ought to be embalmed in your pages amongst the other memorials of Wolfe:
"Time was when it was praise and boast enough
In every clime, and travel where we might,
That we were born her children: praise enough
To fill the ambition of a private man,
That Chatham's language was his mother tongue,
And Wolfe's great name compatriot with his own.
Farewell those honours, and, farewell with them
The hope of such hereafter. They have fallen
Each in his field of glory: one in arms,
And one in council. Wolfe upon the lap
Of smiling victory, that moment won,
And Chatham, heart-sick of his country's shame.
They made us many soldiers. Chatham still
Consulting England's happiness at home,
Secured it by an unforgiving frown,
If any wrong'd her. Wolfe, where'er he fought,
Put so much of his heart into his act,
That his example had a magnet's force,
And all were swift to follow whom all lov'd."
Southey adds, in note:
"Cowper wrote from his own recollection here. In one of his letters, he says: 'Nothing could express my rapture when Wolfe made the conquest of Quebec.'"
C. W. B.
Shakspeare Readings: "Love's Labour's Lost," Act V. Sc. 2. (Vol. vi., pp. 268. 296.).—
"That sport best pleases which the least knows how:
Where zeal strives to content, and the contents
Dies in the zeal of that which it presents."
The difficulty, as Mr. Knightly says, is in the word dies, which is unintelligible; for the meaning is obviously the reverse of dies, namely, that the contents, that is, "the satisfaction of the audience, arises from accepting the well-meant zeal of the poor performers." This sense will be produced by the smallest possible typographical correction—L for D.
"The contents
Lies (i.e. exists) in the zeal," &c.
This at least is intelligible, which no other reading seems to be; and I need not point out that there are no two letters so easily confounded, either in MS. or type, as L and D. Most editions now read die, to agree with the plural contents; that question however, does not affect my emendation, which seems to me very like some of the best in Mr. Collier's folio.
C.
Inscriptions in Books (Vol. vii., p. 127.).—The following lines are often written in Bibles, and other works of a devotional nature:
"This is Giles Wilkinson his book.
God give him grace therein to look:
Nor yet to look, but understand,
That learning's better than house and land:
For when both house and land are spent,
Then learning is most excellent."
I find that the following formula is much used among the poor in country villages:
"John Stiles is my name,
England is my nation,
—— is my dwelling-place,
But Christ is my salvation.
And when I'm dead and in the grave,
And all my bones are rotten;
This when you see, remember me,
Though I am long forgotten."
Another I am acquainted with is of as menacing a description as some of the last quoted by Balliolensis. It is, however, so common as hardly to be worth the notice of "N. & Q.":
"Gideon Snooks,
Ejus liber.
Si quis furetur;
Per collum pendetur,
Similis huic pauperi animali."
Here follows a figure of an unfortunate individual suspended "in malam crucem."
F. M. M.
The Note of Balliolensis has reminded me of Garrick's book-plate, which I found in a book purchased by me some years ago. The name David Garrick, in capital letters, is surrounded by some fancy scroll-work, above which is a small bust of Shakspeare; below, and on the sides, a mask, and various musical instruments; and beneath the whole, the following sentence from Menage:
"La première chose qu'on doit faire quand on a emprunté un livre, c'est de le lire afin de pouvoir le rendre plûtôt.—Menagiana, vol. iv.
The following admonition to book-stealers is probably not unknown to Balliolensis:
"Quisquis in hunc librum furtivos verterit ungues,
Π sibi pro merito littera Græca manet."
S. D.
Anagrams (Vol. iv., p. 226.).—The following royal anagrams are worth adding to your list. It is said that Charles I., on looking at a portrait of himself the day before his execution, made this anagram on the Carolus Rex inscribed on it, Cras ero lux. Again, Henry IV. of France is said to have made the anagram Je charme tout, on the famous and beautiful Marie Touchet.
W. Fraser.
Tor-Mohun.
Dipping for Bite of Mad Dog, &c. (Vol. vi., p. 483.).—When I was a boy, probably therefore about thirty-five years ago, a mad dog appeared in Brightwell, near Wallingford, which bit several other animals and some human beings. I well remember seeing some pigs which became perfectly mad in consequence of being so bitten. A horse, too, showed symptoms of madness, and was immediately destroyed. All I can say of the persons
bitten is, that they were sent (I think to the number of six or seven) down to Southampton to be dipped, and that none of them was ever attacked with hydrophobia. I have often, formerly, spoken to one of the persons on the subject, a carpenter, named Eggleton.
I quite agree with all you have said on the propriety of appending real names. Dropping, therefore, my cognomen of Corylus, I subscribe myself
Wm. Hazel.
Portsmouth.
"Solid Men of Boston" (Vol. vii., p. 134.).—Your correspondent will find the whole of this song, which is one of Captain Morris's, in the Asylum for Fugitive Pieces, published by Debrett, 1786, 12mo., vol. ii. p. 246. It is entitled "Billy Pitt and the Farmer," and begins—
"Sit down, neighbours all, and I'll tell a merry story,
About a British farmer and Billy Pitt the Tory.
I had it piping hot from Ebenezer Barber,
Who sail'd right from England, and lies in Boston harbour."
It describes, very amusingly, an incident which was reported to have occurred to Pitt and Dundas, on their return from a convivial meeting at "Daddy Jenky's," and was for a long time a very popular song.
James Crossley.
I have seen a song, with the music, directed against the Prince of Wales, Charles Fox, and their party. It began,—
"Come, listen neighbours all, and I'll tell you a story,
About a disappointed Whig who wants to be a Tory.
I had it from his bosom-friend, who very soon is going
To Botany for seven years, for something he's been doing."
It ended,—
"Solid men of Brighton, look to your houses;
Solid men of Brighton, take care of your spouses;
Solid men of Brighton, go to bed at sun-down,
And do not lose your money to the blacklegs of London."
Which is the earlier version I do not know.
H. B. C.
Degree of B.C.L. (Vol. vi., p. 534.; Vol. vii., p. 38.).—In answer to J. F.'s question, the examination is quite, and the amount of standing (viz. seven years) required for taking a B.C.L in the University of Oxford is almost, identical with those necessary for an M.A. degree. A knowledge of the Civil Law never comes into requisition. There was a proposal, some short time ago, for a statute requiring an examination in the Institutes, &c., Heineccius, and other treatises on the Civil Law, before proceeding to that degree, but it was never passed. The civilian's fees are rather more than the Artist's. For information on some other minute particulars of difference, I refer J. F. to the Oxford Calendar.
The Cambridge LL.B. is really examined in the Civil, though not in the Canon Law, and is considered to obtain his degree with greater facility than by going through Arts.
With respect to the privileges of the degree at Oxford, the B.C.L. is not a member of Convocation, and has therefore no vote for the university; but yet he takes precedence of M.A.'s, both by university and court etiquette. The degrees in law and divinity used to confer the same privileges as a chaplaincy with respect to holding pluralities; and they also give those who take them the right of wearing a scarf. This will be an answer to C— J. T. P. (Vol. vii., p. 108.), unless he has confounded the priest's stole with the chaplain's scarf. The civilian has also a distinguishing gown and hood; but as to the right to a place among the members of the bar, I am unable, though a B.C.L. myself, to give any assistance in the way of information; but the silk gown of a queen's counsel is the same as a civilian's gown.
W. Fraser.
Tor-Mohun.
"Lay" and "Lie" (Vol. vi., p. 388.).—I have somewhere read the following parliamentary anecdote:—A certain honourable member, in the course of a speech, said, "the paper which lays on the table," but was immediately corrected by another honourable member, who said, "the honourable member should say lie, hens lay." In the course of the evening, the second honourable member was on his legs, and at the end of his speech said, "with these observations I shall set down;" but the first retorted on him with the correction "the honourable member should say sit, hens set."
Shirley Hibberd.
"Banbury Cakes and Zeal" (Vol. vii., p. 106.).—The following passage from Drunken Barnaby's Journey through England will show that Banbury was famous for zeal:
"To Banbury came I, O profane one!
There I saw a puritane one
Hanging of his cat on Monday
For killing of a mouse on Sunday."
What the present estimation in which Banbury cakes are held may be I cannot tell; but I can assure you that at the close of the last century, when I was a schoolboy, they were deservedly in very high repute, at least among us youngsters.
H.
"Hob and nob" (Vol. vii., p. 86.).—In addition to your observations on this expression, allow me to record the use of the term under circumstances which some others of your sexagenarian readers may with myself be able to call to mind. I well remember, when a boy at home from school, that
my old uncle, who piqued himself on the correctness of his style in manners, dress, and conversation, and whose portrait, in the ample sleeves, capacious waistcoat, and formal head-dress of the last century, looks down on me as I now write, being in company when wine was on the table, and each person had supplied their glasses, would occasionally, as a mark of respect or affection to any individual sitting near him, in a gentle tone of solicitation mention the name of the party, and ask "Hob and nob?" On the immediate compliance, which nothing short of hostility or ill manners could refuse or avoid, the parties held out their glasses till they touched one the other, health being at the same time invoked. But at this point always ensued a little polite rivalry as to which of the parties should hold the glass rather below that of the other as they came in contact. If a lady were the challenged on the occasion, she would with simpering diffidence allow of the superiority indicated by her glass being uppermost, overwhelmed with my uncle's expressions of regard; if a gentleman, each party got over the formality on as near a level as possible, amidst murmurs and protestations of humble service and great esteem.
J. D. S.
A Gentleman executed for flogging a Slave to Death (Vol. vii., p. 107.).—Mr. J. V. L. Gebhard, son of the Rev. Mr. Gebhard, was tried at Cape Town, on Saturday, 21st September, 1822, at the instance of the landrost of Stellenbosch, ratione officio prosecutor, before a full court, for the murder of a slave, by excessive and unlawful punishment. He was found guilty, and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried into effect on 15th November, amid an immense concourse of spectators.
Inveruriensis.
Mr. Henry Smith's Sermons preached by a Romanist (Vol. iii., p. 222.).—
"As soon as he (i. e. Obadiah Walker) declared himself a Roman Catholic, he provided him and his party of Jesuits for their priests; concerning the first of whom (I think he went by the name of Mr. Edwards) there is this remarkable story, that having had mass said for some time in a υπερωον, or garret, he afterwards procured a mandate from King James to seize of the lower half of the side of the quadrangle next adjoining to the college chapel, by which he deprived us of two low rooms, their studies, and their bed-chambers; and after all the partitions were removed, it was some way or other consecrated, as we suppose, to Divine services; for they had mass there every day, and sermons, at least in the afternoons, on the Lord's Days: and it happening that the Jesuit preaching upon 1 Cor. ix. 24., 'So run that you may obtain,' many Protestants were hearkening at the outside of the windows, one of them discovering that it was one of Mr. Henry Smith's sermons, which he had at home by him, went and fetched the book, and read at the outside of the window what the Jesuit was preaching within. But this report raised such a noise in the town, that this priest was speedily dismissed, and another brought in his room."—Smith's Annals of University College, p. 258.
E. H. A.
London Queries (Vol. vii., p. 108.).—An authentic account of one of the earliest, if not the most early toll ever collected in England, is to be found in the 5th tome of Rymer's Fœdera, fo. 520. It was in the year 1346 that King Edward III. granted his commission to the master of the hospital of St. Gyles (in the Fields), without the city of London, and to John of Holbourn, to lay a toll on all sorts of carriage, for two years to come, passing through the highway (via regia) leading from the said hospital to the bar of the old Temple of London (i. e. the Holborn Bar, near to which stood the old house of the Knights Templars); also through another highway called Perpoole (now Gray's Inn Lane); which roads were, by frequent passage of carts, waynes, and horses, to and from London, become so miry and deep as to be almost impassable; as also the highway called Charing. These tolls were as follow:
| 1. | For every cart or wayne, laden with wool, leather, wine, honey, wax, oyl, pitch, tar, fish, iron, brass, copper, or other metals, corn, &c., for sale, to the value of twenty shillings | 1d. |
| 2. | For every horse-load of merchandise | 0¼ |
| 3. | For every horse used in carrying corn, or other provisions, per week | 0½ |
| 4. | For every load of hay | 0¼ |
| 5. | For carts used to carry charcoal, bark, &c., per week | 1 |
| 6. | For every horse, ox, or cow | 1 |
| 7. | For every score of hogs or sheep | 0½ |
| 8. | And for all other merchandise of 5s. value | 0½ |
But ecclesiastical persons, of both sexes, were to be exempt from this toll.
About this time there was a considerable market or staple held at Westminster; and in 1353 the same king, by an order in council, laid a tax of 3d. on every sack (serplarium) of wool, and for every three hundred of woolfels; 6d. on every last of leather; 4d. on every fodder of lead; 4d. on every tun of wine; and ½d. on every twenty shillings value of all other goods carried either by land or water to the staple of Westminster, in order for repairing the highway leading from the gate of London called Temple Bar to the gate of the abbey at Westminster.—See Fœdera, vol. v. p. 774.
From this record we learn that the gate called Temple Bar, as a western boundary of the city of London, is of great antiquity as a gate.
I hope some of your readers skilled in architecture may answer the other Queries of your correspondent.
Broctuna.
Bury, Lancashire.