Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 116, January 17, 1852 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

by Various

Replies.

MODERN NAMES OF PLACES.
(Vol. iv., p. 470.)

Your correspondent L. H. J. T. has noticed the corruption of Greek topographical names, arising from the use of the definite article, which the ear of a traveller not skilled in the language supposes to be a part of the name, and so makes Statines or Satines from Athens, Stives from Thebes, &c.

It may be interesting to some readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" to know that exactly the same thing has happened in Ireland, and that the recognised Anglicised forms of several proper names, now stereotyped, are a combination of the definite article an, of the Gaelic or Irish language, with the name of the place.

For instance, Nenagh in the co. Tipperary is properly Aonach [pron. eenagh], but generally spoken of by the people with the definite article an Aonach, the Aonach, i.e. fair, place of a fair or assembly; and hence by the English made Nenagh.

So also the river Ainge [pron. nearly as Anny] is usually called an Ainge, the Ainge; and therefore is now Nanny, the Nanny, or Nanny water, in the co. Meath.

In like manner, the island Aondruim in Loch Cuan, on which stood once a celebrated monastery, is in Irish always called an Aondruim, the Aondruim, and is now Nandrum or Nantrim Island.

The town of Newry is another instance. It has its name from an ancient yew tree [in Irish Iubhair, pron. nearly as the word your] which stood near it, and was said to have been planted by St. Patrick. Hence the town is always called an Iubhair, the yew tree; which, by incorporating the article, has been Anglicised Newry.

The river Nore in Ossory, is properly an Eoir, the Eoir [pron. Ore].

So also the Navan fort near Armagh, is an Eamhain, the Eamhain [pron. nearly as Avan].

I might fill a page with other instances, but I shall only mention another similar corruption in proper names, where after dropping the Mac the c is retained, in cases where the patronymic begins with a vowel. Thus the descendants of the Danish family of Ottar became Mac Ottar, and are now Cotter. So Mac Etigan became Gettigan; Mac Eeoghegan, Geoghegan; the c being further transmuted into g. And hundreds of similar instances could be given.

It may also be observed that the English very generally caught the genitive, or oblique case, of the Irish proper names, and from it formed the name which is now in use amongst the English speaking population. Thus they heard the Irish speak of the isles Araun, i.e. the isles of Ara, for Araun is the genitive; and hence they are now the Aran Isles. So also the ford Trim or Druim, in Irish Ath-Druim (the ford of the long low hill, vadum Dorsi), where Druim [pron. nearly Trim] is the genitive of Drom or Drum, a long low hill, a back.

The names given to Ireland by medieval writers, after the ancient name of Scotia had been transferred to Alban (which, by the way, is itself a genitive, from Alba), afford instances of the same thing.

One of the native names of Ireland is Eri, or Eire, genitive Erinn. From this the Greeks and Romans formed the name Ierne, from the old word I, an island—I-Erinn, the island of Eri. And so we now have also the genitive Erin, as a poetical name of the island. The Danes, however, retained the absolute form, and called it Eri-landt, Ireland.

So also from the old word Ibh, or Hibh, a tribe, or country, we have Hibh-Erinn, the tribe, or people of Eri, and hence evidently Hibernia and Ivernia.

T. D.

PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.—PAROCHIAL LIBRARY AT MAIDSTONE.
(Vol. iv., p. 92.)

As some of your readers may be aware, there is an old and somewhat valuable library in the vestry of All Saints Church, Maidstone, which was partly purchased by the parishioners of the executors of Dr. Bray (who bequeathed his books to any parish which would advance fifty pounds as a consideration for the value of them), and was afterwards increased by the munificence of several benefactors.

Up to the year 1810, when the present catalogue was made, it would appear that but little, or at any rate very insufficient, care was taken of these books; for Mr. Finch, who rearranged the library and wrote the catalogue, carefully correcting the inaccuracies in the former one, declares, in a note that he has placed at the commencement, dated October 1, 1810, that he "found many valuable books missing, and a still larger number irretrievably damaged by the incursions of worms and damp."

The number of volumes missing and decayed amounted to about 100, whilst the number remaining in the library appears to have been 710, and their gross value about 165l.

Since 1810 far greater care seems to have been bestowed on them, for but few, very few, volumes mentioned in the catalogue then made are missing, and a daily fire during the winter months tends greatly to prevent their further injury by damp.

I will not, however, trouble you with any further remarks about the library itself, but proceed at once to the subject of my note, which is to offer for your acceptance three proverbs (which I have met with in reading one of the books) as an addition to the valuable collection lately sent by your correspondent COWGILL.

The book from which I have derived them is a small quarto, containing the following tracts or treatises; but whether any or all of them are now but rarely to be met with, I know not.

1st. "The Heresiography, or a description of the Hereticks and Sectaries of these latter times, by E. Pagitt. 5th edit. London, 1654."

2nd. "An apologie for our publick ministerie and infant baptism, by William Lyford, B.D. and Minister of the Gospel at Sherborn in Dorcetshire. London, 1653."

3rd. "The Font guarded with XX arguments, containing a compendium of that great controversie of Infant Baptism, proving the lawfulness thereof; as being grounded on the word of God, agreeable to the Practice of all Reformed churches: together with the concurrent consent of a whole jury of judicious and pious divines. With a word to one Collier and another to Mr. Tombs, in the end of the Book. Birmingham, 1651."

4th. "Vindiciæ, Pædo-Baptismi, or A Vindication of Infant Baptism in a Full Answer to Mr. Tombs his twelve arguments alleaged against it in his exercitation, and whatsoever is rational or material in his answer to Mr. Marshall's sermon. By John Geree, M.A. and Preacher of the Word sometime at Tewksbury, but now at St. Albanes. London, 1646."

5th. [Title-page wanting, but it appears to have been this:] "The Gangrene of Heresie, or A catalogue of many of the Errours, Blasphemies, and Practices of the Sectaries of the time, with some observations upon them. By Thomas Edwards, 1650."

6th. "The Patrimony of Christian Children, or A defence of Infants Baptisme prooved to be consonant to the Scriptures and will of God against the erroneous positions of the Anabaptists. By Robert Cleaver, with the joynt consent of Mr. John Dod. London, 1624."

These six treatises contain from 80 to 220 pages each, and in reading them I have noted the three following "sententious truths," which I hope may be thought worthy to be added to the much larger number contributed by COWGILL. The first is from the lines of Beriah Philophylax to his friend Mr. Thomas Hall, which is prefixed to his "Font Guarded;" and the other two from Edwards' "Gangrene of Heresie,"—

1st. "Answers are Honours to a Scold,

And make her spirit much more bold."

2nd. "A spark not quenched may burn down a whole house."

3rd. "Little sins make way for great, and one brings in all."

JOHN BRANFILL HARRISON.

Maidstone.

"A BREATH CAN MAKE THEM AS A BREATH HAS MADE."
(Vol. iv., p. 482.)

With reference to the observations of HENRY H. BREEN upon a well-known passage in Goldsmith's Deserted Village, a little consideration will convince him that the view taken by D'Israeli and himself is not only extremely superficial, but that the proposed emendation would entirely destroy the poet's meaning.

The antithesis is not between flourishing and fading, but between the difficult restoration of a bold peasantry and the easy reproduction of princes and lords.

The first branch of the antithesis is between wealth and men:

"Where wealth accumulates and men decay."

It then proceeds to set forth that it matters little whether nobles flourish or fade, because a breath can make them as easily as it has originally made them: but not so with a bold peasantry. When once they are destroyed, they can never be replaced.

In fact, so far from the sense requiring the alteration of "makes" into "unmakes," the substitution, if we would preserve the author's meaning, should be "remakes:"

"Princes and lords may flourish or may fade,

A breath remakes them, as a breath has made."

I only put this in illustration: Heaven forbid I should recommend it as an improvement!

As for the cited "parallel passages," the best answer that can be given to them is, that they cease to be parallel passages!

I shall therefore take the liberty to repeat a sentence from MR. BREEN, with a slight alteration:

"That Goldsmith wrote the line in question with the word 'unmakes,' there seems (every) reason to doubt."

A. E. B.

Leeds.

P.S.—As a mere matter of fact, apart from other considerations, although a breath from the fountain of honour may create a noble, it may be questioned whether it would not require something more than a breath to unmake him?

[We have received many other excellent defences of the original reading of this passage in Goldsmith. We have selected the present as one of the shortest among those which first reached us. We will add to it a postscript from the communication of another correspondent, J. S. W., showing a curious typographical error which has crept into the recent editions of Goldsmith.]

Passage in the Traveller.—There is a line in the Traveller, I may observe, into which an error of the press, or of some unlucky critic, has intruded. Goldsmith, speaking of the Swiss, says that he

"Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes."

In some editions it is given—

"Breathes the keen air," &c.

Breasts was doubtless the original word, for it is quoted in Johnson's Dictionary, under the word Breast. This alteration, however, does not, like the supposed change of unmakes into can make, affect the sense.

J. S. W.

Stockwell.

BOGATZKY.
(Vol. iii., pp. 478., 526.; Vol. iv., p. 44.)

Perhaps the following Note may prove interesting, as a contribution to the literary history of Bogatzky's popular work, and as explanatory of the statement of R. D. H. (Vol. iii., p. 526.), that the book was almost entirely re-written by the Rev. H. Venn.

The Golden Treasury was introduced to English readers through the late excellent John Thornton, Esq. This gentleman having met with a copy of the German work, caused it to be translated into English. Of this translation (in which many of Bogatzky's papers are exchanged for extracts from English writers) a single copy was printed, interleaved, and sent to the Rev. John Berridge, of Everton, for final revision. This copy is now before me. The title runs thus: A Golden Treasury for the Children of God, whose Treasure is in Heaven; consisting of select Texts of the Bible, with practical Observations in Prose and Verse, for every Day in the Year. By C. H. v. Bogatzky: with some Alterations and Improvements by various Hands. Also a Preface on the right Use of this Book. Together with a few Forms of Prayer for private Use. "Where your Treasure is, there will your Heart be also." Matt. vi. 21. London: Printed in the Year MDCCLXXV. Then follows the Preface (pp. iii.-xvi.), written by Mr. Thornton. The rest of the book extends to 374 pages of a small oblong form. The whole is very copiously annotated by Mr. Berridge, whose corrections are most important and judicious. He greatly improved and simplified the language, his chief aim evidently being to accommodate the book to the use of as large a number of readers as possible. The humour of the man breaks out ever and anon in cutting rebukes and sarcasms directed against unsound doctrine: neither Calvinist nor Arminian, Pharisee nor Antinomian, escape his lash. A considerable number of papers are either entirely re-written, or very largely altered; e.g. Jan. 29 (by J. Thornton); Feb. 10, 19; April 8, 26; May 2, 3, 16, 20; June 19, 22; Sept. 9, 17, 18, 21, 25; Oct. 10; Nov. 18; Dec. 1, &c. About forty-three papers are left untouched, and twenty others have only some verses added by Mr. Berridge. Next, as to the extracts from English authors: in the interleaved copy the sources are indicated in Mr. Thornton's handwriting for the first six months; beyond which there is no indication of the kind. I subjoin a list of the authors from whom extracts have been made:—

Aberdeen Bible, Feb. 17, 22, April 1, 18, June 8; Mr. Adams, March 28; Mr. Bentley, Jan. 1, 12, April 21; Mr. Brewer, April 15; Darracot's Scripture Marks, March 5, April 3; Mr. De Coetlogon, June 5; Mr. Fletcher, May 4, 5; Mr. Forster, Feb. 10, 20; Dr. Guise, June 11; Bishop Hall, Feb. 12, 26, March 12, May 3, June 9; Mr. Howe, March 1, April 6; Mr. Keash (?), Feb. 1; Mr. King, Jan. 31, Feb. 8; Mr. Law, June 4; Mr. Mason, March 29, 30; Mr. Newton, April 17; Dr. Owen, Feb. 21, March 15, 21; Mr. Romaine, Jan. 29; Spencer's Storehouse, Feb. 16, March 19, 31, April 20, 30, May 29, June 14, 17; Mrs. Thornton, March 10; Mrs. Wills, April 19.

I will only add that most of the corrections of Mr. Berridge were adopted by Mr. Thornton, and have consequently appeared in the London editions in current use.

C. P. PH***.

MORAVIAN HYMNS.
(Vol. iv., p. 502.)

John Wesley was at one time of his life a pupil of the Moravians, and Southey's Life of that remarkable man, like most of his works, pregnant with interest and erudition, affords a satisfactory answer to your correspondent's Query. I quote from the 3rd edition of the Life, 2 vols., 1846. Of the Moravians he says:—

"Madness never gave birth to combinations of more monstrous and blasphemous obscenity than they did in their fantastic allegories and spiritualizations. In such freaks of perverted fancy the abominations of the Phallus and the Lingam have unquestionably originated; and in some such abominations Moravianism might have ended, had it been instituted among the Mingrelian or Malabar Christians, where there was no antiseptic influence of surrounding circumstances to preserve it from putrescence. Fortunately for themselves, and for that part of the heathen world among whom they have laboured, and still are labouring with exemplary devotion, the Moravians were taught by their assailants to correct this perilous error in time."—Vol. i. p. 173.

He adds in a note:

"The reader who may have perused Rimius's Narrative of the Rise and Progress of the Herrnhuters, and the 'Responsorial Letters of the Theological Faculty of Tübingen' annexed to it [the 2nd edition was published London, 1753], will not think this language too strong."

In the Appendix, p. 481., Southey further says:

"The most characteristic parts of the Moravian hymns are too shocking to be inserted here: even in the humours and extravagances of the Spanish religious poets there is nothing which approaches to the monstrous perversion of religious feeling in these astonishing productions. The copy which I possess is of the third edition printed for James Hutton, 1746. An interesting account of James Hutton, who published the Moravian Hymns, may be seen in the great collection of Literary Anecdotes by Mr. Nichols, vol. iii. p. 435. Of their silliness I subjoin only such a specimen as may be read without offence:—

'What is now to children the dearest thing here?

To be the Lamb's lambkins and chickens most dear;

Such lambkins are nourished with food which is best,

Such chickens sit safely and warm in the nest.'

'And when Satan at an hour

Comes our chickens to devour,

Let the children's angels say,

Those are Christ's chicks—go thy way.'

"Yet even the Moravian Hymns are equalled by a poem of Manchester manufacture in the Gospel Magazine for August, 1808, entitled the 'Believer's Marriage in Christ.'"—Southey's Life of Wesley.

See also Crantz's History of the Brethren, translated by Latrobe, 8vo. London, 1780; A True and Authentic Account of Andrew Frey, translated from the German, London, 1753, an extremely curious work; also A Solemn Call on Count Zinzendorf, by Henry Rimius, London, 1754.

JARLTZBERG.

December 30th, 1851.