Birmingham.
Crescent (Vol. vii., p. 235.).—In Judges, ch. viii. ver. 21., Gideon is recorded to have taken away from Zeba and Zalmunna, kings of Midian, "the ornaments that were on their camels' necks." The marginal translation has "ornaments like the moon;" and in verse 24. it is stated that the Midianites were Ishmaelites. If, therefore, it be borne in mind that Mohammed was an Arabian, and that the Arabians were Ishmaelites, we may perhaps be allowed to infer that the origin of the use of the crescent was not as a symbol of Mohammed's religion, but that it was adopted by his countrymen and followers from their ancestors, and may be referred to at least as far back as 1249 B.C., when Zeba and Zalmunna were slain, and when it seems to have been the customary ornament of the Ishmaelites.
W. W. T.
The Author of "The Family Journal" (Vol. vii., p. 313.).—The author of the very clever series of papers in the New Monthly Magazine, to which Mr. Bede refers, is Mr. Leigh Hunt. The particular one in which Swift's Latin-English is quoted, has been republished in a charming little volume, full of original thinking, expressed with the felicity of genius, called Table Talk, and published in 1851 by Messrs. Smith and Elder, of Cornhill.
G. J. De Wilde.
Parochial Libraries (Vol. vi., p. 432. &c.).—I fear that there is little doubt that these collections of books have very often been unfairly dispersed. It is by no means uncommon, in looking over the stock of an old divinity bookseller, to meet with works with the names of parochial libraries written in them. I have met with many such: they appear chiefly to have consisted of the works of the Fathers, and of our seventeenth century divines. As a case in point, I recollect, about ten years since, being at a sale at the rectory of Reepham, Norfolk, consequent upon the death of the rector, and noticing several works with the inscription "Reepham Church Library" written inside: these were sold indiscriminately with the rector's books. At this distance of time I cannot recollect the titles of many of the works; but I perfectly remember a copy of Sir H. Savile's edition of Chrysostom, 8 vols. folio; Constantini Lexicon, folio; and some pieces of Bishop Andrewes. These were probably intended for the use of the rector, as in the case reported by your correspondent Cheverells (Vol. vii., p. 369.).
I may also mention having seen a small parochial library of old divinity kept in the room over the porch in the church of Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, Berks. With the history and purpose of this collection I am unacquainted.
Norris Deck.
Great Malvern.
Sidney as a Christian Name (Vol. vii., pp. 39. 318.).—Lady Morgan the authoress was, before her marriage, Miss Sidney Owenson. See Chambers' Encyclop. of Eng. Lit., ii. 580.