"Uterque sexus epulantes focos ambiunt, herbarum quas habent semine ignibus superjecto. Cujus nidore perculsi pro lætitiâ habent imitari ebrietatem sensibus sauciatis."
JARLTZBERG's reference to Herod. i. 36. supplies nothing to the point: Herod. iv. 2. mentions the use of bone pipes, φυσητῆρας ὀστεΐνους, by the Scythians, in milking; but Herodotus (iv. 73. 75.) describes the orgies of the Scythians, who produced intoxicating fumes by strewing hemp-seed upon red-hot stones, as the leaves and seed of the Hasisha al fokara, or hemp-plant, are smoked in the East at the present day. (See De Sacy, Chrestom. Arabe, vol. ii. p. 155.) Compare also Plutarch de Fluviis (de Hebro, fr. 3.), who speaks of a plant resembling Origanum, from which the Thracians procured a stupefying vapour, by burning the stalks:
"Ἐπιτιθέασι πυρὶ ... καὶ τὴν ἀναφερομένην ἀναθυμίασιν δεχόμενοι ταῖς ἀναπνοίαις, καροῦνται, καὶ εἰς βαθὺν ὕπνον καταφέρονται" [Opera Varia, vol. vi. p. 444. ed. Tauchn.]"
C. P. PH***.
Milton and the Calves-Head Club (Vol. iii., p. 390).
—Dr. Todd, in his edition of Milton's Works, in 1809, p. 158., mentions the rumour, without expressing any opinion of its truth. I think he omits all mention of it in his subsequent edition in 1826, and therefore hope he has adopted the prevailing opinion that it is a contemptible libel. In a note to the former edition is a reference to Kennett's Register, p. 38., and to "Private forms of Prayer fitted for the late sad times," &c., 12mo., Lond., 1660, attributed to Dr. Hammond. An anonymous author, quoting the verbal assurance of "a certain active Whigg," would be entitled to little credit in attacking the character of the living, and ought surely to be scouted when assailing the memory of the dead. In Lowndes' Bib. Man. it is stated that
"This miserable trash has been attributed to the author of Hudibras."
J. F. M.
Voltaire's Henriade (Vol. iii., p. 388.).
—I have two translations of this poem in English verse, in addition to that mentioned at p. 330., viz., one in 4to., Anon., London, 1797; and one by Daniel French, 8vo., London, 1807. The former, which, as I collect from the preface, was written by a lady and a foreigner, alludes to two previous translations, one in blank verse (probably Lockman's), and the other in rhyme.