St. Mary Tavy, Tavistock.
Quarter Waggoner (Vol. v., p. 11.).
—I have met with a gentleman in the navy who informs me that these words should be "Quarter Wagner," and was so called from the publisher's name, "Wagner," who published the charts in four parts answering to the four quarters of the globe. These charts so called have been disused for near thirty years; and it was commonly observed that they who did not make alteration by improvement in the charts, or who knew not of anything beyond what was then known in maritime affairs, did not know anything beyond what was noted on the then existing charts by Wagner. Hence the phrase.
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In connexion with the notes of BOLTON CORNEY, I would mention that I have a ponderous folio volume, with thick oak backs, covered with canvas, on which is the name of the book, The Dutch Waggoner: the printed title is—
"The Lightning Columne or Sea-Mirrour, containing the Sea-Coasts of the Northern, Eastern, and Western Navigation; Setting forth in divers necessarie Sea-Cards, all the Ports, Rivers, Bayes, Roads, Depths and Sands, very curiously placed on its due Polus heigt furnished, With the discoveries of the chief Countries, and on what cours and distance they lay one from another. Never theretofore so clearly laid open, and here and there very diligently bettered and augmented for the use of all Seamen. As also the Situation of the Northernly Countries, as Islands, the Strate Davids, the Isle of Jan Mayen, Bear's Island, Old Greenland, Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla: Adorned with many Sea-Cards and Discoveries, gathered out of the Experience and Practice of divers Pilots and Lovers of the famous Art of Navigation. Whereunto is added a brief Instruction of the Art of Navigation, together with New Tables of the Sun's Declination, wit an New Almanach. At Amsterdam. Printed by Casparus Loots-man, Bookseller upon the Water in the Loots-man, 1689. With previledge for fiftheen Iears."
The "priviledge" is signed "Arent Baron van Waggenaer. By the appointment of the States, Symon van Beaumont." The book is full of very curious charts, sections, and headlands, and other engravings, and is very rare; but I merely mention it to show that books of charts, &c. were known as waggoners.
L. JEWITT.
MR. BOLTON CORNEY has traced the "Waggoner" to Wagenaer's work satisfactorily; but surely the Quarter is merely Quarto. I believe the term is not now used in the navy, and apparently was never officially recognised: at least it does not occur in the Admiralty Instructions for the Navy of 1747, 1790, or 1808. I may add a reference to Falconer's Marine Dictionary, where "Waggoner" is explained to be a "book of charts, describing the coasts, rocks, &c.," and to Dalrymple's Charts and Memoirs (1772), where a work called The English Waggoner is mentioned.
Log-book is so called because the rate of sailing of the ship, as ascertained by heaving the log, is one of the most frequent and important entries.