H. Witham.
Lincoln Chambers, Chancery Lane, Jan. 14. 1851.
Epigram on Synod of Dort (Vol. iii., p. 23.).—The statement in the Biographie Universelle, that this epigram was made in England, is probably taken from Mosheim (Eccl. Hist.), who says the same; but his authority Neal (Hist. of the Puritans) does not say that it was made in England; and one can hardly read the sentence in which he quotes it without feeling satisfied that he did not know who made it. After stating that the proceedings of the synod were much approved of by the English divines, and quoting expressions of Mr. Baxter and the learned Jacobus Capella in its favour, he proceeds—
"P. du Moulin, Paulus Servita, and the author of the life of Waleus, speak the same language. But others poured contempt upon the Synod, or burlesqued their proceedings in the following lines:
'Dordrechti Synodus, nodus; chorus integer, æger;
Conventus, ventus; sessio stramen. Amen.'
Lewis du Moulin, with all the favourers of the Arminian doctrine, as Heylin, Womeck, Brandt, &c., charge them with partiality and unjustifiable severity."
When a writer, in the midst of a shower of authorities, refers a particular expression to "others," it may almost be laid down as a rule, that he does not know whose property it is. Here, therefore, the inquiry seems brought to a dead stop, in this tract at least.
B. R. I.
Parish Register Tax (Vol. ii., p. 10.).—In our register, Hawarden, I find the following entry:
"October, 1783. On the 2nd of this month the Act commenced which layeth a duty of threepence upon every Registry of a Burial, except a Pauper's."
And again:
"Oct. 1. 1794. The duty of threepence on each Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, imposed by Act of Parliament, commencing October 2. 1783, ceased this day."