Burn at Croydon (Vol. vii., p. 283.).—This seems to be of the same nature as the "nailburns" mentioned by Halliwell (Arch. Dict.). In Lambarde's Perambulation of Kent, p. 221., 2nd edit., mention is made of a stream running under ground. But it seems very difficult to account for these phenomena, and any geologist who would give a satisfactory explanation of these burns, nailburns, subterraneous streams, and those which in Lincolnshire are termed "blow wells," would confer a favour on several of your readers.
E. G. R.
Miscellaneous.
NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
Our learned, grave, and potent cotemporary, The Quarterly Review, has, in the number just issued, a very pleasant gossiping article on The Old Countess of Desmond. The writer, who pays "N. & Q." a passing compliment for which we are obliged, although he very clearly establishes the fact of the existence of a Countess of Desmond, who was well known and remarkable for her extreme longevity, certainly does not prove that the old Countess actually lived to the great age of 140 years.
The publisher of Men of the Time, or Sketches of Living Notables, has just put forth a new edition of what will eventually become a valuable and interesting little volume. There are so many difficulties in the way of making such a book accurate and complete, that it is no wonder if this second edition, although it contains upwards of sixty additional articles, has yet many omissions. Its present aspect is too political. Men of the pen are too lightly passed over, unless they are professed journalists; many of the greatest scholars of the present day being entirely omitted. This must and doubtless will be amended.
It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of one whose facile pen and well-stored memory furnished many a pleasant note to our readers,—J. R. of Cork, under which signature that able scholar, and kindly hearted gentleman, Mr. James Roche, happily designated by Father Prout the "Roscoe of Cork," was pleased to contribute to our columns. The Athenæum well observes that "his death will leave a blank in the intellectual society of the South of Ireland, and the readers of 'N. & Q.' will miss his genial and instructive gossip on books and men."
The Photographic Society is rapidly increasing. The meeting on the 7th for the exhibition and explanation of cameras was a decided failure, from the want of due preparation; but that failure will be fully compensated by the promised exhibition of them in the rooms of the Society of Arts. While on the subject of Photography, we may call the attention of our readers to a curious paper on Photographic Engraving, in The Athenæum of Saturday last, by a gentleman to whom the art is already under so much obligation, Mr. Fox Talbot.