Replies to Minor Queries.
Dacre Monument at Hurstmonceux (Vol. ii., p. 478.).
—E. V. asks for the names of the bearers of the following coats of arms on the monument to the Dacre family in Hurstmonceux church. I beg to supply them:
1. Sab. a cross or. Havenell.
2. Barry of six arg. and az. a bend gules. Grey.
3. Arg. a fess gules. Doddingsells.
4. Quarterly or and gules an escarbuncle of eight rays floratty sab. Mandeville, first Earl of Essex. Granted 1139.
5. Barry of six arg. and gules. Bayouse.
6. Az. an inescocheon in an orle of martlets or. Schatterset and Walcott.
I cannot find one with the inescocheon charged.
In the following page, 479., J. D. S. asks the name of the bearer of a coat in the great east window of the choir of Exeter cathedral, viz. argent, a cross between four crescents gules. I beg to inform him that arg. a cross engrailed between four crescents gules belongs to Bernham. Also, that arg. a cross flory between four crescents gules, belongs to the name of Tylly, or Tyllet, or Tillegh, of Dorsetshire.
H. C. K.
—— Rectory, Hereford.
Book-plates (Vol. iii., p. 495.; Vol. iv., pp. 46. 93.).
—An instance of what may be considered as an early example of a book-plate, occurs pasted upon the fly-leaf of a MS. in the College amongst Philpot's Collections (marked P. e. 15.), being an engraving of a blank shield, with a helmet and lambrequin, and a compartment for the motto; the whole surrounded by a border ornamented with flowers; altogether well engraved. The shield contains six quarterings, very neatly sketched with pen and ink; and the helmet is surmounted by a crest, also neatly sketched. In the upper part of the border, occupying a space evidently intended to be filled up, is the autograph of "Joseph Holand;" while a similar space in the lower part contains the date of "1585" in the same hand, in which also the motto "Fortitudo mea Deus," is written within the compartment above mentioned. The following, which is a collateral proof of the age of the book-plate, is likewise an autograph title to the MS.:
"In this booke are conteyned the armes of the nobylytye of Ireland and of certeyne gentilmen of the same countrye. Joseph Holand, 1585."
This Joseph Holand was father of Philip Holand, who was Portcullis tempore James I., and Gibbon, Bluemantle, says he was a "collector of rarities."
By the kindness of an antiquarian friend I have three impressions of different book-plates of the celebrated Pepys. I am not aware that they are rare; but one is curious, as consisting merely of his initials "S. P." in ornamented Roman capitals, elegantly and tastefully interlaced with two anchors and cables, with his motto in a scroll above them.
THOMAS WILLIAM KING, York Herald.
College of Arms.
Sermon of Bishop Jeremy Taylor (Vol. iv., p. 251.).
—I beg to acknowledge the favor of MR. CROSSLEY'S communication (which, from an accident, I have only just seen) respecting a sermon of Bishop Taylor's, and to inform him that I have been intending to produce it in the concluding volume (vol. i. of the series), which will contain several small pieces. I have been aware of the existence of it from the first, the volume in question being in the Bodleian Catalogue.
May I take the opportunity of adding, how much I feel obliged by any communication respecting Bishop Taylor's Works.
C. PAGE EDEN.
Moonlight (Vol. iv., p. 273.).
—The effects of the moonlight on animal matter is well known to the inhabitants of warm climates. I remember that when I resided in Bermuda, if the meat (which was usually hung out at night) was exposed to the rays of the moon it putrified directly. I was frequently cautioned by the inhabitants to beware of the moon shining upon me when asleep, as it caused the most dangerous and virulent fevers. Another curious power of the moonlight was that of developing temporary blindness, caused by the glare of the sun on bright objects. I have often seen persons stumbling and walking as quite blind, in a moonlight so bright I could see to read by; these were principally soldiers who had been employed during the day working on the fort and on the white stone. On hearing the surgeon of the regiment mention that two-thirds of the men were troubled with it, causing a greater amount of night-work as sentries to the few who were able to see at night, I suggested to him the following plan mentioned in a story I had read many years before in Blackwood:—
"A pirate ship in those latitudes was several times nearly captured, owing to all the men being moon-blind at night; the captain ordered all his men to bind up one eye during the day, and by this means they could see with that eye to navigate the ship at night."
My friend the surgeon tried the experiment, and found bandaging the eyes at night, and giving them complete rest, restored in time their sight at moonlight.
M. E. C. T.
That the light of the moon accelerates putrefaction is more than an unfounded popular opinion. I have heard it repeatedly asserted by observant and sober-minded naval officers as a fact, established by experience in tropical climates. Their constant testimony was, that when there is no moon the fresh meat is hung over the stern of the ship at night for coolness; but if this is done when the moon shines, the meat becomes unfit to eat.
The Query will probably elicit an answer from some one able to speak more directly upon the subject. It well deserves further inquiry.
T. C.
Durham, Oct. 15.
Flatman and Pope (Vol. iv., pp. 209. 283.).
—"The Thought on Death," by Flatman, is referred to by Wharton, Bowles, and other editors of Pope. Flatman's Poems were first printed in 1674; 2ndly, 1676; 3rdly, 1682; and 4thly and lastly, 1686. The above occurs in the first edition.
For an account of Flatman, see Walpole's Anecdotes of Painters, vol. iii. p. 20., ed. 1765; Granger's Biog. Hist.; and Wood's Athenæ.
Some verses by him on his son, who died 1682, aged ten years, and inscribed on his monument in St. Bride's Church, will be found in Stow by Strype, vol. i. p. 740. ed. 1754.
Flatman wrote a preface to Shipman's Poems, and verses to Sanderson's Graphice, fol.; also to Walton in Chalkhill's Thealma and Clearchus, and Johnson's (Wm.) Narrative of Deliverance at Sea, 18mo. 3d edit. 1672.
π.
Berlin Time (Vol. iv., p. 256.).
—Is your correspondent very sure that the astronomers of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain begin the day at midnight? I turn to Herschel's Outlines of Astronomy (p. 86.), and I find that astronomers (without any limitation) commenced their day at noon. Sir John Herschel is inclined to think that it would be better to commence at midnight with the world at large. Surely if the foreign astronomers already did this, he would not have failed to cite their example, and to remind the English astronomers that they stood alone; but of this he does not give the smallest hint.
A LEARNER.
Your correspondent DX. is mistaken in supposing that "foreigners ordinarily commence the astronomical day at midnight."
With respect to France, in the Explication et Usage des Articles de la Connaissance des Temps it is expressly stated: "Le jour astronomique commence à midi."
And in the explanation appended to the Berlin Jahrbuch, it is in like manner distinctly laid down:
"The time which must be always understood, unless it is otherwise particularly expressed, is the mean time of the meridian of the New Berlin Observatory, which is taken to be 44m 14·0s eastward of Paris, and 53m 35·5s eastward of Greenwich. The beginning of the day is at noon."
The civil day always commences at the midnight preceding this astronomical day.
It follows that Sept. 17, 3h 40m 30s Greenwich mean time, is simply Sept. 17, 4h 34m 5·5s Berlin mean time.
T. C.
Durham.
Ruined Churches (Vol. iv., p. 261.).
—The old church of St. John in the Wilderness, near Exmouth, can hardly be said to be in ruins, in the sense before implied with regard to marriages, &c. It is dilapidated, and almost deserted; but on visiting it a few days since, I found it securely locked, the nave weather tight, and sufficiently furnished for baptisms, marriages, and burials, with surplice, two Prayer Books, Bible, table, font, bier, and bell. They had certainly all seen their best days; but on that account perhaps they are supposed to be more in keeping with the general state of the venerable fabric.
It is, in fact, the mother church of others in the vicinity, which are only chapels of ease; but as the population increased around them, and fell away, from some cause or other, from the precincts of the old church, it seems to have been deserted and dismantled of everything but what is barely necessary for burials, and an occasional wedding and baptism. It is the south aisle only which has been removed, and that by authority, many years ago; but certainly, it has on that side, and from the want of glass in the fine tower window, a desolate and ruinous appearance. In the churchyard there is a most venerable specimen of a noble yew-tree.
H. T. E.
Clyst St. George, Oct. 10. 1851.
Italian Writer on Political Economy—Death of Carli (Vol. iv., p. 175.).
—It is inquired, "What was the first work by an Italian writer on any element of political economy? and in what year did Carli, the celebrated economist, die?" The latter question I at once answer by stating that it was on the 22d of February, 1795, in his seventy-fifth year, having been born at Cape d'Istria, an episcopal town of Illyria, April, 1720, of a noble family. His collected works, embracing almost the omne scibile, were published in 1784-1794, nineteen octavo volumes, at Milan, Delle Opere del Signor Gianrinaldo Conte Carli, Presidente Emerito del Supremo Conciglio di Pubblica Economia, &c. The first publication, confined to fifteen volumes, was extended to nineteen by him, Delle Antichità Italiche, con Appendice, de' Documenti, &c., 1793-1795. Few writers have exceeded him in the variety of his subjects, which combined the drama, poetry, translations, history, philosophy, the monetary system, political economy, &c. As to your correspondent ALPHA'S first inquiry, it will be satisfactorily answered by consulting the collection printed at Milan in 1803, Scrittori Classici Italiani, first volume of the fifty in 8vo., to which the entire extend up to that period, since when several have appeared.
J. R.
Cork.
Epigram ascribed to Mary Queen of Scots (Vol. iv., p. 316.).
—The four lines inscribed in the copy of Sallust mentioned by C., and which have been supposed to be the composition of the Queen of Scots, will be found in the second book of Ovid's Amores, Elegia 18, ll. 5-8.
C. W. G.
Surplices (Vol. iv., p. 192.).
—In reference to the origin, use, &c. of this and other ecclesiastical vestments, let J. Y. consult the following authorities:—Bona, Rerum Liturgicarum, lib. i. cap. 24.; Gerberti Vetus Liturgia Alemannica, tom. i. disquisit. iii. cap 3.; Goar, Rituale Græcum; Du Cange's Glossary; and, Ferrarius de Re Vestiaria. The information on the subject, hence to be obtained, is briefly epitomised in the appendix to Palmer's Antiq. of the English Liturgy. Let J. Y. also look at Hawkins' Hist. Music, vol. ii. p. 432.; vol. iii. p. 71.; likewise at Bishop Challoner's Garden of the Soul, pp. x. 123. (edit. 1824); and, if he have a full abundance of leisure, with sufficient resolution to abandon it to an undertaking so pregnant with instructiveness, let him too, by all means, "explore with curious search" the controversial writings of the early periods of Puritanism, on the sadly vexed question of the habits of the clergy, to which he will find abundant reference in all our Anglican church histories.
COWGILL.
Continental Watchmen and their Songs (Vol. iv., p. 206.).—
THE MANNER OF WATCHMEN INTIMATING THE TIME AT HERRNHUTH, GERMANY.
Past eight o'clock! O Herrnhuth, do thou ponder:
Eight souls in Noah's ark were living yonder.
'Tis nine o'clock: ye brethren, hear it striking;
Keep hearts and houses clean, to our Saviour's liking.
Now brethren, hear, the clock is ten and passing:
None rest but such as wait for Christ embracing.
Eleven is past! still at this hour of eleven,
The Lord is calling us from earth to heaven.
Ye, brethren, hear, the midnight clock is humming:
At midnight our great Bridegroom will be coming.
Past one o'clock! the day breaks out of darkness;
Great morning star appear, and break our hardness!
'Tis two! on Jesus wait this silent season,
Ye two so near related, Will and Reason.
The clock is three! the blessed Three doth merit
The best of praise, from body, soul, and spirit.
'Tis four o'clock, when three make supplication
The Lord will be the fourth on that occasion.
Five is the clock! five virgins were discarded,
When five with wedding garments were rewarded.
The clock is six, and I go off my station;
Now, brethren, watch yourselves for your salvation.
F. B. RELTON.
Horology (Vol. iv., p. 175.).
—H. C. K. inquires for the best scientific work on horology. In my searches after the history of time keeping in all ages, I found none more useful than a little tract, the production of a watchmaker, and to be had at 81. Fleet Street. The Mirror of 1824 contains some interesting notes on this subject.
C. R.
Paternoster Row.
The Aneroid Barometer (Vol. iv., p. 295.).
—The intended signification of this name, "aneroid," can of course be only determined by the person who conferred it; upon any less direct authority the derivation quoted from Mr. Dent's description can scarcely be received. The meaning of νηρὸς is moist, rather than fluid; but even admitting the latter signification, then the last syllable ought surely to be referred, not to εἰδος, but to its root εἰδω (scio); perceivable without fluid being a much better characteristic than a form without fluid.
But taking into consideration the peculiar construction of this sort of barometer, its flexible diaphragm supported from within against the pressure of the atmosphere, may not its name have been derived from ἀνὰ (adversus), ἀὴρ (aer), and οἶδος (tumor)?
A. E. B.