Inverness.

CATHOLIC FLORAL DIRECTORIES

(Vol. viii., p.585.): Anthologia Borealis et Australis; Florilegium Sanctarum Aspirationum.

Since I last wrote, I have not succeeded in unravelling the mystery which envelops these two works; but I have gotten some clue to it, for which I am indebted to the extreme courtesy and kindness of two correspondents.

One of these gentlemen informs me that the Anthologia is quoted at p. 280. of Dr. Forster's work on the Atmosphere: London, 1823. My

second correspondent writes to say, "If you can procure the Circle of the Seasons, by Dr. Forster, published in 1830, you will there find very copious extracts from the books in question." Before we go any farther I would ask, is Dr. Forster the author of this book? The copy I have met with in a public library is anonymous, and is thus entitled: The Circle of the Seasons, and Perpetual Key to the Calendar and Almanac: London, Thomas Hookham, 1828, pp. 432. 12mo. It is a valuable book, and forms a complete Catholic Floral Directory. Though the Anthologia and the Florilegium are lavishly quoted, no references are given save the bare names.

It is easy to see why Mr. Weale, the "compiler" of the Catholic Florist, declined giving the information requested. The quotations in question are all second-hand from the Circle of the Seasons. The very preface of the Florist is not original; the most valuable part of it (commencing at p. 11.) I have discovered to be a verbatim reprint from The Truthteller, or, rather, from Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i. pp. 103. 303., where some extracts are given from the contributions to this periodical from a correspondent with the signature Crito. These quotations in Hone first drew my attention to The Truthteller, and I advertised for it, but without success. It was edited, I believe, by Thomas Andrews. I have met with the second series of this periodical, published in London in 1825, and I should be glad to get the whole of it.[[1]]

In Forster's Perennial Calendar, London, 1824, the Anthologia is quoted at pp. 101. 108. 173. 211. 265. 295.: one of these passages is requoted in Hone, vol. i. p. 383. I may here remark that this work of Hone's is furnished with a Floral Directory.

I feel rather piqued, both on my own account and for the honour of "N. & Q.," at being baffled by two English books, and I am somewhat surprised that thirty years should have elapsed without any inquiry having been made respecting the remarkable quotations adduced by Dr. Forster. The Queries I now propose are: Who was the compiler of the Circle of the Seasons? Are the Anthologia and the Florilegium quoted in any works previous to Forster's time?