Schaffarik again, says that Mægtha Land is, according to its proper signification, unknown; but that as Adam of Bremen places Amazons on the Baltic coast, probably from mistaking of the Mazovians? it is possible that Mægthaland has thus arisen. In 1822 Dahlmann (Forschungen auf dem Gebiete der Geschichte, t. i. 422.) gave a German version of King Alfred's narration, where the passage is also correctly translated; but as regards the illustration of the names of the people of Sclavonic race, much yet remains to be done.
It is to be hoped that some competent northern scholar among us may still remove, what I must consider to be a national reproach—the want of a correct and well illustrated edition of the Hormesta, or at any rate of this singularly interesting and valuable portion of it.
S.W. SINGER.
Feb. 21. 1850.
Footnote 1: [(return)]
"Aber Welitabi, die in Germania sizzent, tie wir Wilze heizen, die ni scáment sih niche ze chedenne, daz sih iro parentes mit mêrem réhte ézen súlin danne die wurme." Albinus, in his Meissnische Chronicle, says they had their name from their wolfish nature.
Footnote 2: [(return)]
The Saxons in England, vol. i. p. 9. note.
THE FIRST COFFEE-HOUSES IN ENGLAND.
As a Supplement to your "NOTES ON COFFEE," I send you the following extracts.
Aubrey, in his account of Sir Henry Blount, (MS. in the Bodleian Library), says of this worthy knight,