One of the native names of Ireland is Eri, or Eire, genitive Erinn. From this the Greeks and Romans formed the name Ierne, from the old word I, an island—I-Erinn, the island of Eri. And so we now have also the genitive Erin, as a poetical name of the island. The Danes, however, retained the absolute form, and called it Eri-landt, Ireland.
So also from the old word Ibh, or Hibh, a tribe, or country, we have Hibh-Erinn, the tribe, or people of Eri, and hence evidently Hibernia and Ivernia.
T. D.
PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY.—PAROCHIAL LIBRARY AT MAIDSTONE.
(Vol. iv., p. 92.)
As some of your readers may be aware, there is an old and somewhat valuable library in the vestry of All Saints Church, Maidstone, which was partly purchased by the parishioners of the executors of Dr. Bray (who bequeathed his books to any parish which would advance fifty pounds as a consideration for the value of them), and was afterwards increased by the munificence of several benefactors.
Up to the year 1810, when the present catalogue was made, it would appear that but little, or at any rate very insufficient, care was taken of these books; for Mr. Finch, who rearranged the library and wrote the catalogue, carefully correcting the inaccuracies in the former one, declares, in a note that he has placed at the commencement, dated October 1, 1810, that he "found many valuable books missing, and a still larger number irretrievably damaged by the incursions of worms and damp."
The number of volumes missing and decayed amounted to about 100, whilst the number remaining in the library appears to have been 710, and their gross value about 165l.
Since 1810 far greater care seems to have been bestowed on them, for but few, very few, volumes mentioned in the catalogue then made are missing, and a daily fire during the winter months tends greatly to prevent their further injury by damp.
I will not, however, trouble you with any further remarks about the library itself, but proceed at once to the subject of my note, which is to offer for your acceptance three proverbs (which I have met with in reading one of the books) as an addition to the valuable collection lately sent by your correspondent COWGILL.
The book from which I have derived them is a small quarto, containing the following tracts or treatises; but whether any or all of them are now but rarely to be met with, I know not.