M. W. B.
A Tombstone cut by Baskerville (Vol. v., p. 209.).—A correspondent complains that on visiting Edgbaston Church he was unable to obtain a sight of the tombstone, which he much wished to see. Since I read his Note, I have met with the following, which I copy from Pye's Modern Birmingham, 1819. After speaking of a monument in Handsworth Church, Birmingham, to the late Matthew Boulton, the writer proceeds:
"The other is a humble tombstone, remarkable as being one of the last works cut by his own hand, with his name at the top of it, of that celebrated typographer, Baskerville; but this, being neglected by the relations of the deceased, has been mutilated, although the inscription is still perfect, but so much overgrown with moss and weeds, that it requires more discrimination than falls to the lot of many passing travellers, to discover the situation of this neglected gem. To those who are curious it will be found close to the wall, immediately under the chancel window. This precious relic of that eminent man is deserving of being removed at the expense of the parish, and preserved with the greatest care, withinside the church.... There is only one other of his cuttings known to be in existence, and that has lately been removed and placed withinside the church at Edgbaston—"
Which is subsequently thus described:
"There was in this churchyard a gravestone cut by the hands of the celebrated typographer Baskerville, which is now removed and placed withinside the church. The stone being of a flaky nature, the inscription is not quite perfect, but whoever takes delight in well-formed letters, may here be highly gratified; it was erected to the memory of Edw. Richards, an idiot, who died 21st September, 1728, with the following inscription:—
'If innocents are the favourites of heaven,
And God but little asks where little's given,
My great Creator has for me in store
Eternal joys; what wise man can have more?'"
I am sorry I cannot just now give any further information, but hope this Note will be new to some of your readers, and interesting to all.
Este.
Shakspeare, Tennyson, &c. (Vol. v., p. 492.).—The editorial note has supplied the Latin parallel, but not "the origin and reason of the idea." This Koenig's note to Persius (I. 40.) will do:
"Nascentur violæ; Hoc inde videtur natum esse quod veteres tumulos mortuorum sparsis floribus et corollis solebant ornate; pertinebat hoc ad religionem manium, qui, ut putabatur, libationibus annuis, coronis, floribus, cet. delectabantur."
This is the first step. Further: