[This Query did not escape the notice of Dr. Samuel Pegge. He says; "The cocks which Pancirollus (ii. tit. 1.) mentions as brought from America, were Turkey cocks, as Salmuth there (p. 28.) rightly observes. The French accordingly call this bird Coq d'Inde, and from d'Inde comes the diminutive Dindon, the young Turkey; as if one should say, 'the young Indian fowl.' Fetching the Turkey from America accords well with the common notion:
'Turkeys, carps, hops, pikarel, and beer,
Came into England all in a year;'
that is, in the reign of Henry VIII., after many voyages had been made to North America, where this bird abounds in an extraordinary manner. But Query how this bird came to be called Turkey? Johnson latinizes it Gallina Turcica, and defines it, 'a large domestic fowl brought from Turkey;' which does not agree with the above account from Pancirollus. Brookes says (p. 144.), 'It was brought into Europe either from India or Africa.' And if from the latter, it might be called Turkey, though but improperly."—Anonymiana, cent. x. 79.]
Bishop St. John.—The following passage occurs at vol. iv. p. 84. of the Second Series of Ellis's Original Letters, Illustrative of English History. It is taken from the letter numbered 326, dated London, Jan. 5, 1685-6, and addressed "for John Ellis, Esq., Secretary of his Majesty's Revenue in Ireland, Dublin:"
"The Bishop of London's fame runs high in the vogue of the people. The London pulpits ring strong peals against Popery; and I have lately heard there never were such eminently able men to serve in those cures. The Lord Almoner Ely is thought to stand upon too narrow a base now in his Majesty's favour, from a late violent sermon on the 5th of November. I saw him yesterday at the King's Levy; and very little notice taken of him, which the more confirms what I heard. Our old friend the new Bishop St. John, gave a smart answer to a (very well put) question of his M—— with respect to him, that shows he is not altogether formed of court-clay; but neither you nor I shall withdraw either of our friendship for him on such an account."
All who know this period of our history, know Compton and Turner; but who was Bishop St. John?
J. J. J.
[An error in the transcription. In the manuscript it reads thus: "Bishp Sr Jonn," and clearly refers to Sir Jonathan Trelawney, Bart., consecrated bishop of
Bristol, Nov. 8, 1685, translated to Exeter in 1689, and to Winchester in 1707.]