Fish "Lavidian."—In some ancient acts of parliament mention is made of a fish called "lavidian," and from the regulations made concerning it, it appears to have been of such small size as to be capable of being caught in the meshes of an ordinary net. But I cannot find that this name is contained in any of the books of natural history, written by such authors as Gesner or Rondeletius. Is it at this time a common name anywhere? Or can any of your readers assist in determining the species?
J. C.
"Poeta nascitur, non fit."—Can any of your correspondents inform me who is the author of the well-known saying—
"Poeta nascitur, non fit"?
I have more than once seen it quoted as from Horace, but I have never been able to find it in any classical author whose works I have examined. Cicero expresses a similar sentiment in his oration for the poet Archias, cap. viii.:
"Atqui sic a summis hominibus eruditissimisque accepimus, ceterarum rerum studia, et doctrina, et præceptis, et arte constare: poëtam natura ipsa valere, et mentis viribus excitari, et quasi divino quodam spiritu inflari."
J. P.
Boston, U.S.A.
John Wesley and the Duke of Wellington.—It has always been understood that the property bequeathed to the Colleys, who in consequence took the surname of Wesley, afterwards altered to Wellesley, was offered to and declined by the father of John Wesley, who would not allow his son to accept the condition, a residence in Ireland, and the being adopted by the legatee. Has there been a relationship ever proved between the founder of the Methodists and the victor of Waterloo?