The names of "Doctor Dove, of Doncaster," and his steed "Nobbs," must be familiar to all the admirers, in another word, to all the readers, of Southey's Doctor.
Many years ago there was published at Canterbury a periodical work called The Kentish Register. In the No. for September, 1793, there is a ludicrous letter, signed "Agricola," addressed to Sir John Sinclair, then President of the Royal Agricultural Society; and in that letter there is frequent mention made of "Doctor Dobbs, of Doncaster, and his horse Nobbs." This coincidence appears to be too remarkable to have been merely accidental; and it seems probably that, in the course of his multifarious reading, Southey had met with the work in question, had been struck with the comical absurdity of these names, and had unconsciously retained them in his memory.
P.C.S.S.
INSCRIPTION ON ANCIENT CHURCH PLATE.
Mr. Editor,--Herewith I have the pleasure of sending you a tracing of the legend round a representation of St. Christopher, in a latten dish belonging to a friend of mine, and apparently very similar to the alms-basins described by CLERICUS in No. 3.
The upper line--"In Frid gichwart der," written from right to left, is no doubt to be read thus: Derin Frid gichwart. The lower line contains the same words transposed, with the variation of "gehwart" for "gichwart." The words "gehwart" and "gichwart" being no doubt blunders of an illiterate artist.
In Modern German the lines would be:--
Darin Frieden gewarte--Therein peace await, or look for. Gewarte darin Frieden--Await, or look for, therein peace.