Replies to Minor Queries.

Mind your P's and Q's (Vol. iii., pp. 328. 357. 463. 523.).

—I have always thought that the phrase "Mind your P's and Q's" was derived from the school-room or the printing-office. The forms of the small "p" and "q" in the Roman type, have always been puzzling to the child and the printer's apprentice. In the one, the down-ward stroke is on the left of the oval; in the other, on the right. Now, when the types are reversed, as they are when in the process of distribution they are returned by the compositor to his case, the mind of the young printer is puzzled to distinguish the "p" from the "q." In sorting pie, or a mixed heap of letters, where the "p" and the "q" are not in connexion with any other letters forming a word, I think it would be almost impossible for an inexperienced person to say which is which upon the instant. "Mind your p's and q's"—I write it thus, and not "Mind your P's and Q's"—has a higher philosophy than mind your toupées and your queues, which are things essentially different, and impossible to be mistaken. It means, have regard to small differences; do not be deceived by apparent resemblances; learn to discriminate between things essentially distinct, but which look the same; be observant; be cautious.

CHARLES KNIGHT.

Serius Seriadesque (Vol. iii., p. 494.).

—Il Serio, a tributary to the Adda, which falls into the Po. Il Serio is, like the Po, remarkable for the quantity of foam floating upon it, and also for disappearing under ground, through part of its course.

DE CAMERA.

Catharine Barton (Vol. iii., pp. 328. 434.).

—A correspondent has asked what was the maiden name of this lady, the widow, as he calls her, of Colonel Barton. I have a note of Charles Montagu, writing of her as "the beautiful, witty, and accomplished Catharine Barton," and have marked her as the daughter of Major Barton, but cannot find my authority. What follows is hardly likely to be of use to your correspondent, though it may, possibly, suggest to him a channel of inquiry. The Rev. Alexander Chalmers married Catharine Ekins, a niece of Mr. Conduitt, to whose daughter he was guardian after her father's death. Mrs. Chalmers had a brother who was rector or vicar of Barton, Northamptonshire. Alexander Chalmers was rector of St. Katharine Coleman, London, and of Burstow, Surrey; clerk of St. Andrew's, Holborn; chaplain to the forces at Gibraltar and Port Mahon: he died in 1745, and was buried in St. Katharine's: his wife was of the family of Ekins, of Rushden, in Northamptonshire. On August 12, 1743, Alexander Chalmers writes, "This will be delivered you by my cousin Lieut. Mathew Barton," probably his wife's cousin: in another letter he speaks of Miss Conduitt as his wife's cousin. Mr. Conduitt died 23rd of May, 1737, and his widow's "unexpected death" seems to be alluded to in a letter in 1740.

DE CAMERA.

Alterius Orbis Papa (Vol. iii., p. 497.).

—This was not, as A.B.'s informant thinks, a title of honour bestowed by any Supreme Pontiff upon any Archbishop of Canterbury, but a mere verbal compliment passed by Pope Urban II. upon St. Anselm, when the latter went to consult the former at Rome. The words are those of Gervase, the monk of Canterbury, who tells us:

"Tantam ejus gratiam habuit, ut eum (Anselmum) alterius orbis papam vocaret (Urbanus papa)."—Ed. Twysden, ii. 1327.

Eadmer, who was with the archbishop when he went to Italy, gives the following as the Pope's expressions:

"Cumque illum, utpote hominem cunctis liberalium artium disciplinis innutritum, pro magistro teneamus et quasi comparem, velut alterius orbis Apostolicum et Patriarcham jure venerandum censeamus."—AA. SS. Aprilis, t. ii. 886.

D. ROCK.

You have not told us the origin of this title. I have just been reminded of the omission by the dedication of Ludovici Cappelli Commentarii, Amstel., 1689, which is—

"Wilhelmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi ... alterius orbis, sed melioris, Papæ."

J. W. H.

Charles Dodd (Vol. ii., p. 496.).

—TYRO will find an account of this writer in Biographical Illustrations of Worcestershire: by John Chambers, Esq.: Worcester, 1820, 8vo., p. 591., from which we learn that his true name was Hugh Tootel, a Lancashire man born in 1672, in the neighbourhood of Preston. The name of Hugh Tootle is recognised in the prospectus or announcement of Mr. Tierney's new edition of Dodd's Church History of England, of which the first and second volumes appeared so long ago as 1839: but I regret to say that the work is yet far from being completed.

F. R. A.

"Prenzie" (Vol. iii., p. 522.).

—We seem now to have got to the true reading, "primzie." The termination zie suits a Scotch word perhaps. I only wish to mention, that the form "prin" is connected with the verb "to preen," which we use of birds. Yet that again seems connected with prune. Etymology is always in a circle.

C. B.

"In Print" (Vol. iii., p. 500.).

—In confirmation of the statement made as to the expression "in print" meaning "with exactness," &c., I perfectly remember an old Somersetshire servant of our's, who used to say, when he saw me romping after I was dressed: "Take care, Sir, you'll put your hair out of print."

C. W. B.

Introduction of Reptiles into Ireland (Vol. iii., p. 491.).

—The snakes introduced into the county of Down in 1831, alluded to by EIRIONNACH, were the very harmless and easily tamed species, Coluber natrix of Linnæus, Natrix torquata of Ray. They were purchased in Covent Garden Market; and, to the number of six, were turned out in the garden of Rath Gael House. One was killed at Milecross, three miles distant, about a week after its liberation; and three others were shortly afterwards killed in the same neighbourhood. The fate of the remaining two is unknown, but there can be little doubt that they were also killed, as the country-people offered a considerable reward for their destruction. The writer well remembers the consternation and exceedingly angry feelings caused by this novel importation.

We may conclude, that though the snake is not indigenous to Ireland, yet there is nothing in either the soil or climate to prevent its naturalisation. It is highly probable that an insular position is unfavourable to the spread of the serpent tribe. Other islands—New Zealand, for instance—as well as Ireland, have no native Ophidia.

It is generally, but erroneously, believed that there are no toads in Ireland. The Natter-jack (Bufo calamita), a closely allied species to the common toad, is found about Killarney. Can any reader inform me if there is any record of its introduction?

W. PINKERTON.

Ancient Wood Engraving of the Picture of Cebes (Vol. iii., pp. 277. 436.).

—Your correspondent THE HERMIT OF HOLYPORT having been informed respecting the subject of his wood-cut, may yet be further satisfied to know its date, and where it is to be found. It occurs in a Latin version of the Pinax, with a commentary by Justus Velsius, printed in 4to., at Lyons? (Lugduni) in 1551. The title runs thus: Justi Velseri Hagani, in Cebetis Thebani Tabulam Commentariorum Libri Sex, Totius Moralis Philosophiæ Thesaurus. The Pinax commonly accompanies that valuable little manual the Enchiridion of Epictetus, of which that excellent man John Evelyn, in a letter to Lord Cornbury, thus speaks:

"Besides the Divine precepts, I could never receive anything from Philosophy that was able to add a graine to my courage upon the intellectual assaults like that Enchiridion and little weapon of Epictetus: 'Nunquam te quicquam perdidisse dicito, sed reddidisse,' says he: 'Filius obijt? redditus est.' It is in his 15th chapter. You cannot imagine what that little target will encounter. I never go abroad without it in my pocket. What an incomparable guard is that: τὰ δὲ οὐκ ἐφ' ἡμῖν, cap. i., where he discourses of the things which are, and are not in our power. I know, my Lord, you employ your retirements nobly; weare this defensive for my sake,—I had almost said this Christian Office."

S. W. SINGER.

"The Groves of Blarney" (Vol. iii., p. 495.).

—In a little volume of the Songs of Ireland, forming one of the series called Duffy's Library of Ireland, Dublin, 1845, this song is given. In the introductory notice it is said to be by Mr. R. A. Milliken, a native of Cork. The passage referred to by your correspondent stands thus in this version, which is said to be taken from Croker's Popular Songs of Ireland:—

"There's statues gracing

This noble place in—

All heathen gods,

And nymphs so fair;

Bold Neptune, Plutarch,

And Nicodemus,

All standing naked

In the open air!"

Mr. Maloney, in his late account of the "palace made o' windows," has evidently had these verses in his mind; and in his observations on the "statues gracing that noble place in," has adverted to their like peculiar predicament with the characteristic modesty of his nation.

S. H.

On this subject permit me to observe that a change has "come o'er the spirit of its dream." A later poet, in celebrating the praises of the lake as the only place unchanged, says:

"Sweet Blarney Castle, that was wanst so ancient,

Is gone to ruin, och! and waste, and bare

Neptune and Plutarch is by Mrs. Deane[3] sent

To Ballintemple, to watch praties there."

[3] Now Lady Deane.

JUNIOR.

Tennyson's Lord of Burleigh (Vol. iii., p. 493.).

—The poem of "The Lord of Burleigh" is founded upon a supposed romance connected with the marriage of the late Marquis of Exeter with his second wife, Miss Hoggins. This marriage has also formed the groundwork of a play entitled The Lord of Burghley, published by Churton in 1845. The story of the courtship and marriage perpetuated by this poem, may be found in the Illustrated London News of the 16th November,1844, having been copied into that paper from the Guide to Burghley House, pp. 36., published by Drakard in 1812.

A very slight tinge of romance attends the real facts of this union, which took place when the late Marquis was Mr. Henry Cecil. The lady was not of so lowly an origin as the fiction relates. Mr. Cecil did not become the Lord of Burghley until the death of his uncle, the 9th Earl of Exeter, two years after this marriage, up to which time he resided at Bolas, Salop, the residence of his wife before her marriage, and there the two eldest of their four children were born. The Countess of Exeter died greatly beloved and respected at the early age of twenty-four, having been married nearly seven years.

J. P. JUN.

Bicêtre (Vol. iii., p. 518.)

—It was certainly anciently called Vincestre. It is so in Monstrelêt, whose history begins about 1400. One of the treaties between the Burgundians and Orleanists was made there. President Hénault says (under Charles VI.) that this castle belonged to John, Bishop of Winchester. If he is right in the Christian name, he must mean had belonged, not appartenoit, for the John Bishops that I find in Britton's list are:

Elected. Died.
John of Oxon12611267
John de Pontessara1282 1304
John de Sandale13161319
John de Stratford13231333

C. B.

On a Passage in Dryden (Vol. iii., p. 492.).

—MR. BREEN appears to me decidedly wrong in the view he takes of the passage he quotes from Dryden. In the first place, he commits the mistake of assuming that Dryden is expressing his own opinion, or speaking in his own person. The fact is, however, that the speaker is Torresmond. Torresmond is "mad" enough to love the queen; he has already spoken of the "madness of his high attempt," he says he raves; and when the queen offers to give him counsel for his cure, he says he wishes not be cured:

"There is a pleasure, sure,

In being mad, which none but madmen know!"

This is inference, not assertion. Whether it be natural or not, I will not say, but I can see no blunder.

S. H.

Derivation of Yankee (Vol. iii., p. 461.).

—Washington Irving, in his Knickerbocker's History of New York, gives the same derivation of "Yankee" that is quoted from Dr. Turnbull and from Mr. Richmond. Irving's authority is, I believe, earlier than both these. Is the derivation his? and if his, is he in earnest in giving it? I ask this, not because I have reason to doubt in this instance either his seriousness or his philological accuracy, but by way of inserting a caution on behalf of the unwary. I have read or heard of a learned German who quoted that book as veritable history. The philology may be as baseless as the narrative. It is a happy suggestion of a derivation at all events, be it in jest or in earnest.

E. J. S.

Ferrante Pallavicino (Vol. iii., pp. 478. 523.).

—Your correspondent CHARLES O'SOULEY will find some account of Ferrante Pallavicino in Chalmers, or any other biographical dictionary; and a very complete one in the Dictionnaire Historique of Prosper Marchand. The manuscript he possesses has been printed more than once; it first appeared in the Opere Scelte di Ferrante Pallavicino printed at Geneva, but with the imprint Villafranca, 1660, 12mo., of which there are several reimpressions. It is there entitled La Disgratia del Conte D'Olivares, and bears the fictitious subscription of "Madrid li 28 Gennaro, 1643," at the end. If the MS. was written at Genoa, it is most probably only a transcript; for Pallavicino was resident at Venice when it appears to have been written, and was soon after trepanned by a vile caitiff named Charles de Bresche alias De Morfu, a Frenchman employed by the Pope's nuncio Vitellio, into the power of those whom his writings had incensed, and was by them put to death at Avignon in 1644.

S. W. SINGER.