[Cæcilia is a musical art journal published in Germany, and is thus noticed at page 12. of Warner's edition of Godfrey Weber's Theory of Musical Composition:—"Since 1824 we have been laid under great obligations to our distinguished mathematician and writer on acoustics, Professor W. Weber, for most interesting developments on all these points, which he has arranged into an article in the journal Cæcilia, vol. xii., expressly for musicians and musical instrument manufacturers.">[
Andrew Johnson.—In the character of Samuel Johnson, as drawn by Murphy, there is the remark, "Like his uncle Andrew in the ring at Smithfield, Johnson, in a circle of disputants, was determined neither to be thrown or conquered." Other allusions are made, in Boswell's Life, to this uncle having "kept the ring," but I cannot find out who he could have been. There was a noted bruiser, Tom Johnson; but certainly he was not the person in question. I shall be glad if any of your readers can inform me who this "Uncle Andrew" was, and what authority there is for believing that he was a pugilistic champion of note.
Pugillus.
[In the Variorum Boswell, i. e. Croker's ed., 1847, p. 198., Pugillus will find a note by the editor, stating that Dr. Johnson told Mrs. Piozzi that his uncle Andrew "for a whole year kept the ring at Smithfield, where they wrestled and boxed, and never was thrown or conquered.">[
MS. by Glover.—Can Mr. Bolton Corney, or Mr. R. Sims, inform me whether the Lansdowne MS. 205. is in Glover's handwriting?
H. M.
[This volume (Lansdowne, 205.) contains twenty-six articles in different hands. Art. 3. contains pedigrees by Glover in his own hand. See MS. Harl. 807., and an autograph letter in MS. Cot., Titus B. vii. fol. 14.]
Gurney's Short-hand.—Can any of your correspondents inform me if there have been any alterations in this system of short-hand since 1802? Also, if it be now much used?
Wm. O'Sullivan.
Ballymenagh.