The following extract is a note by Lord Mahon, in vol. i. p. 374. of his edition of Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son (Bentley, 1847). I cannot see how the quotation from Boswell bears upon either accent or cadence; it appears to relate entirely to different modes of pronunciation:
"It may be observed, however, that the questions of what are 'false accents and cadences' in our language appear to have been far less settled in Lord Chesterfield's time than at present. Dr. Johnson says: 'When I published the plan for my dictionary, Lord Chesterfield told me that the word great should be pronounced so as to rhyme with state; and Sir William Yonge sent me word, that it should be pronounced so as to rhyme to seat, and that none but an Irishman would pronounce it grait. Now, here were two men of the highest rank,—the one the best speaker in the House of Lords, the other the best speaker in the House of Commons—differing entirely."—Boswell's Life, Notes of March 27, 1772.
C. Forbes.
Temple.
Consecrated Rings (Vol. vii., p. 88.).—The inquiry opened by Sir W. C. T. is shown to be one of much interest by the able communication of your correspondent Ceyrep. I trust he will excuse me in expressing strong doubts as to
Havering, the chapel in Essex, being so called from "having the ring." Nothing is more dangerous to any etymological solution than the being guided by the sound of words, rather than by the probable derivation of the name of the place or thing signified. I am aware that Camden says Havering is called so for the above-stated reason; and other compilers of topography have followed what I venture to suggest is an error. Habban, in Anglo-Saxon, means to have; and Ring is ring—this is not to be denied; but in the general (and let me add excellent) rules for the investigation of names of places affixed to the late Dr. Ingram's Translation of the Saxon Chronicle, I find Aver is from Aver, Br., the mouth of a river, ford, or lake; and Ing, it is well known, is a frequent termination for the names of places—its import in Anglo-Saxon being a meadow. How far "the meadow near the source of the river, or stream" applies to the site of Havering, I will leave to those more competent than myself to decide, but offer the suggestion to the consideration of Ceyrep and others.
C. I. R.
Brasses since 1688 (Vol. vi., pp. 149. 256.).—In connexion with the subject of late brasses, a rubbing which I took from one in Masham Church, Yorkshire, may not be unworthy of a note. It runs thus:
"Christopher Kay,
Buried October the 23d,