Vol. V.—No. 115. NOTES AND QUERIES: A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."—CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

VOL. V.—No. 115.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10. 1852.

Price Fourpence. Stamped Edition 5d.

Transcriber's Note: Some Arabic, Coptic, Hebrew or Persian [words] may not be shown in an adequate way in this version.

CONTENTS.

NOTES:—

Cibber's Lives of the Poets, by James Crossley [25]

Job, by the Rev. T. R. Browne [26]

A New Zealand Legend [27]

Minor Notes:—A Dutch Commentary on Pope—Satirical Verses on the Chancellor Clarendon's Downfall—Execution of Charles I.—Born within the Sound of Bow Bell [27]

QUERIES:—

Are our Lists of English Sovereigns complete? [28]

Minor Queries:—Marriage Tithe in Wales—"Preached in a Pulpit rather than a Tub"—Lord Wharton's Bibles—Reed Family—Slavery in Scotland—Leslie, Bishop of Down—Chaplains to the Forces—John of Horsill—St. Crispin's Day—Poniatowski Gems—Why Cold Pudding settles one's Love? [29]

MINOR QUERIES ANSWERED:—Poem by Camden—Marches of Wales and Lords Marchers [30]

REPLIES:—

Moravian Hymns [30]

Wady Mokatteb not mentioned in Num. xi. 26., by the Rev. Dr. Todd, &c. [31]

Boiling to Death as a Punishment, by J. B. Coleman [32]

The Roman Index Expurgatorius of 1607 [33]

Hobbes's "Leviathan" [34]

Major-Gen. James Wolfe, by Lord Braybrooke, Rev. M. Walcott, &c. [34]

"There is no mistake," by C. Ross [35]

The Rev. Mr. Gay, by Edward Tagart [36]

Parish Registers, Right of Search, by John Nurse Chadwick [36]

Replies to Minor Queries:—Proverbs—Infantry Firing—Joceline's Legacy—Winifreda; Stevens' "Rural Felicity"—"Posie of other Men's Flowers"—Abigail—Legend of St. Molaisse—Collars of SS.—Pronunciation of Coke—Use of Misereres—Inscription on a Pair of Spectacles—John Lord Frescheville—Nightingale and Thorn—Godfrey Higgins's Works—Ancient Egypt—Crosses and Crucifixes—Rotten Row—Borough-English—Tonge of Tonge—Queen Brunéhaut—"Essex Broad Oak"—Frozen Sounds and Sir John Mandeville, &c. [37]

MISCELLANEOUS:—

Notes on Books, Sales, Catalogues, &c. [44]

Books and Odd Volumes wanted [45]

Notices to Correspondents [45]

Advertisements [45]

[List of Notes and Queries volumes and pages]

Notes.

CIBBER'S LIVES OF THE POETS.

It is rather extraordinary that none of Dr. Johnson's biographers appear to have been aware that the prospectus of Cibber's Lives was furnished by Johnson. In Mr. Croker's last edition of Boswell there is a long note (see Edit. 1848, p. 818.) on the claim of Theophilus Cibber to the authorship of the Lives, or a participation in it: but though he remarks that the plan on which these Lives are written is substantially the same as that which Johnson long after adopted in his own work, his attention does not seem to have been directed to the prospectus of Cibber's Lives. As, however, this prospectus was not adopted as a preface to the work, but merely appeared in the newspapers and periodicals of the day, it is the less surprising that it has hitherto remained unnoticed. The internal evidence is decisive; and, as it has never, that I am aware of, been reprinted, and is of great interest in connexion with Johnson's own Lives of the Poets, of which admirable work it may be considered to have "cast the shadows before," at the distance of nearly thirty years, I trust, though rather long, it may claim insertion in "N. & Q." It is extracted from a London newspaper of the 20th February, 1753.

JAMES CROSSLEY.

"This Day [20th Feb. 1753] is published,

"In Twelves (Price Six pence),

"NUMBER III. of

"The LIVES of the POETS, of Great-Britain and Ireland, to the present Time.

"Compiled from ample Materials scattered in a Variety of Books, and especially from the MS. Notes of the late ingenious Mr. COXETER, and others, collected for this Design.

"By Mr. CIBBER.

"Printed for R. Griffiths, at the Dunciad, in St. Paul's Church-yard.

"Where may be had, No. I. and II.

"This Work is published on the following Terms,

"I. That it shall consist of Four neat Pocket Volumes, handsomely printed.

"II. That it shall be published in Numbers, at Six-pence each, every Number containing Three Sheets, or Seventy-Two Pages; the Numbers to be printed every Saturday without Intermission, till the Whole is finished.

"III. That Five Numbers shall make a Volume; so that the whole Work will not exceed the Price of Ten Shillings unbound.

"To the Public.

"The Professors of no Art have conferred more Honour on our Nation than the Poets. All Countries have been diligent in preserving the Memoirs of those who have, either by their Actions or Writings, drawn the Attention of the World upon them: it is a Tribute due to the illustrious Dead; and has a Tendency to awaken, in the Minds of the Living, the laudable Principle of Emulation. As there is no Reading at once so entertaining and instructive, as that of Biography, so none ought to have the Preference to it: It yields the most striking Pictures of Life, and shews us the many Vicissitudes to which we are exposed in the Course of that important Journey. It has happened that the Lives of the Literati have been less attended to than those of Men of Action, whether in the Field or Senate; possibly because Accounts of them are more difficult to be attained, as they move in a retired Sphere, and may therefore be thought incapable of exciting so much Curiosity, or affecting the Mind with equal Force; but certain it is, that familiar Life, the Knowledge of which is of the highest Importance, might often be strikingly exhibited, were its various Scenes but sufficiently known, and properly illustrated. Of this, the most affecting Instances will be found in the Lives of the Poets, whose Indigence has so often subjected them to experience Variety of Fortune, and whose Parts and Genius have been so much concerned in furnishing Entertainment to the Public. As the Poets generally converse more at large, than other men, their Lives must naturally be productive of such Incidents as cannot but please those who deem the Study of Human Nature, and Lessons of Life, the most important.

"The Lives of the Poets have been less perfectly given to the World, than the Figure they have made in it, and the Share they have in our Admiration, naturally demand. The Dramatic Authors indeed have had some Writers who have transmitted Accounts of their works to Posterity: Of these Langbain is by far the most considerable. He was a Man of extensive Reading, and has taken a great deal of Pains to trace the Sources from which our Poets have derived their Plots; he has given a Catalogue of their Plays, and, as far as his Reading served him, very accurately: He has much improved upon Winstanley and Philips, and his Account of the Poets is certainly the best now extant. Jacob's Performance is a most contemptible one; he has given himself no Trouble to gain Intelligence, and has scarcely transcribed Langbain with Accuracy. Mrs. Cooper, Author of The Muses Library, has been industrious in collecting the Works and some Memoirs of the Poets who preceded Spenser: But her Plan did not admit of enlarging, and she has furnished but little Intelligence concerning them.

"The general Error into which Langbain, Mrs. Cooper, and all the other Biographers have fallen, is this: They have considered the Poets merely as such, without tracing their Connexions in civil Life, the various Circumstances they have been in, their Patronage, their Employments, and in short, the Figure they made as Members of the Community; which Omission has rendered their Accounts less interesting; and while they have shewn us the Poet, they have quite neglected the Man. Many of the Poets, besides their Excellency in that Profession, were held in Esteem by Men in Power, and filled civil Employments with Honour and Reputation; various Particulars of their Lives are to be found in the Annals of the Age in which they lived, and which were connected with those of their Patron.

"But these Particulars lie scattered in a Variety of Books, and the collecting them together and properly arranging them, is as yet unattempted, and is no easy task to accomplish. This however, we have endeavoured to do, and if we are able to execute our Plan, their Lives will prove entertaining, and many Articles of Intelligence, omitted by others, will be brought to Light. Another Advantage we imagine our Plan has over those who have gone before us in the same Attempt is, that we have not confined ourselves to Dramatic Writers only, but have taken in all who have had any Name as Poets, of whatsoever Class: and have besides given some Account of their other Writings: So that if they had any Excellence independant of Poetry, it will appear in full View to the Reader. We have likewise considered the Poets, not as they rise Alphabetically, but Chronologically, from Chaucer, the Morning Star of English Poetry, to the present Times: And we promise in the Course of this work, to make short Quotations by Way of Specimen from every Author, so that the Readers will be able to discern the Progress of Poetry from its Origin in Chaucer to its Consummation in Dryden. He will discover the gradual Improvements made in Versification, its Rise and Fall; and in a Word, the compleat History of Poetry will appear before him. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for Instance, Numbers and Harmony were carried to a great Perfection by the Earl of Surry, Spenser, and Fairfax; in the Reign of James and Charles the First, they grew harsher; at the Restoration, when Taste end Politeness began again to revive, Waller restored them to the Smoothness they had lost: Dryden reached the highest Excellence of Numbers, and compleated the Power of Poetry.

"In the Course of this Work we shall be particular in quoting Authorities for every Fact advanced, as it is fit the Reader should not be left at an Uncertainty; and where we find judicious Criticisms on the Works of our Authors, we shall take care to insert them, and shall seldom give our Opinion in the Decision of what Degree of Merit is due to them. We may venture, however, in order to enliven the Narration as much as possible, sometimes to throw in a Reflection, and in Facts that are disputed, to sum up the Evidence on both Sides. But though the Poets were often involved in Parties, and engaged in the vicissitudes of State, we shall endeavour to illustrate their Conduct, without any satirical Remarks, or favourable Colouring; never detracting from the Merit of one, or raising the Reputation of another, on Account of political Principles."

JOB: HEBREW : איוב ARABIC : أيوب CUNEIFORM
"AIUB."

"This celebrated Patriarch has been represented by some sacred writers as imaginary, and his book as a fictitious dramatic composition."—Dr. Hales: See D'Oyly and Mant's Bible.

But Hales goes on to prove from the sacred writings that Job was a real character, and that his history is entitled to credit. That such a person as Job was a real character, and that he lived about the time asserted of him, I am about to give a very remarkable proof, quite independent of Scripture testimony.

In Kæmpfer's Amœnitates Exoticæ, there is a plate describing two processions, one after the other: of the first but little mention is made; of the second, the place from which the procession set out is not mentioned, but the place of its final destination is Persepolis. It is separated, in Kæmpfer, from the interpretation thereof, by a few leaves; but as I have not his Exoticæ by me, I cannot give an exact reference as to pages; it will, however, be easily found, since the inscription contains twenty-four lines, and the plate, I think, precedes it. It is called "Inscriptio Persepolitana," and is evidently among the most ancient of Cuneiform inscriptions. As neither the inscription, nor the word I am about to point out, could probably be inserted in the "N. & Q.," I must be content to describe the word in the clearest manner possible.

The lines, if I mistake not, measure about 5-¾ inches in length, and at about 1-¼ inches from the beginning of the second line (beginning at the left hand, and measuring towards the right) is a word compounded of four letters (five wedges), and reading a i u b. Take a wedge and form them thus,—sharp point to the right, near the top of the group, is a; sharp point downwards is i; sharp point to the left is u; the two under wedges joined, viz. sharp point to the blunt part of the second, is b.

It is remarkable that the Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian-Cuneiform should have precisely the same letters for the name of Job. It may lead to some conclusion with which I shall not meddle. See again D'Oyly and Mant, and the comment of Bishop Sanderson in ch. i. v. 3., "and not improbably he was a king."

Refer again to the plate, and behold him in two places, i.e. in both processions, crowned. And now examine the word following, Aiub; it is compounded of four letters, easily distinguishable. The first is a T, scil. the Coptic

, the mystic cross, as may be shown in the Chinese language; the second is a, compounded of the horizontal wedge and the following perpendicular one; the third, or perpendicular line, is i; and the last two, one under the other, is j, or the Persian

or

, j; making altogether

taij, being crowned. These two words, therefore, represent the patriarch as being a king, "Aiub taij," "Job crowned."

T. R. BROWNE.

Southwick, near Oundle.

A NEW ZEALAND LEGEND.

The following legend was related to me by a gentleman when discoursing upon the customs of the New Zealanders. It is their account of the origin of their land, and illustrates the absurdities which they believe.

"Old Morm (Query, rightly spelt) was a great fisherman, and being at one time in want of fish-hooks, he quietly killed his two sons, and took their jaw bones for hooks. As a requital to them for the loss of their lives, he made the right eye of his eldest son the morning star, and the right eye of his youngest son the evening star. One day he was sitting on a rock fishing with one of the jawbones, when he hooked something extraordinarily heavy,—whales were nothing to him. However, this resisted all his endeavours, and at length he was obliged to resort to other means to land this monster. He caught a dove, and tying the line to its leg, he filled it with his spirit, and commanded it to fly upwards. It did so, and without the least difficulty raised New Zealand! Old Morm looked at this prodigy with wonder, but thinking it very pretty he stepped ashore, where he saw men and fire. The first thing he did was to burn his fingers, and then to cool them he jumped into the sea; when the sulphur which arose from him was so great, that the Sulphur Island was formed. After this things went on smoothly, till the New Zealanders began to get refractory, and so offended the sun, that his majesty refused to shine. So old Morm got up one day early and chased after the sun, but it was not till after three days' hard hunting he managed to catch him. A good deal of parleying then took place, and at last the sun consented to shine for half the day only. Old Morm, to remedy this evil, immediately made the moon, and tied it by a string to the sun, so that when one went down it pulled the other up."

I did not hear on what authority this was given, but I dare say some of your learned correspondents may have met with it, and will be kind enough to give it, and say whether this fable was believed by all the tribes of New Zealand.

UNICORN.

Minor Notes.

A Dutch Commentary on Pope.—

"As what a Dutchman plumps into the lakes,

One circle first, and then a second makes."

Dunciad, b. ii. 400.

"It may be asked," said Bilderdyk in a note to his imitation of the Essay on Man,[1] "why the little stone is thrown into the water by a Dutchman in particular. The reason is, that the Dutch sailors when lying idle in the Thames, often amuse themselves in calm weather by throwing little stones along the surface of the water, so as to make ducks and drakes, as it is called. This practice the English look at with great astonishment, and wonder at a use of the hands so different from that which they make of their own in boxing."

[1] De Mensch. Pope's Essay on Man gevolgd door Mr. W. Bilderdyk. Amsterd. 1808.

Bilderdyk speaks contemptuously of Pope: yet it may be surmised, from the above commentary, that he was but ill qualified to criticise him, otherwise he would not have supposed that "plump" could have the remotest allusion to the light skimming amusement of "ducks and drakes;" not to mention that he would have suspected that it was no "steentje" that plumped into the lakes.

Satirical Verses on the Chancellor Clarendon's Downfall.

—In MS. Add. 4968., British Museum, a duodecimo volume containing a collection of arms and achievements tricked by a painter-stainer in the reign of Charles II., at fol. 62o. is the following poem "On the Chancellor's Downfall," which, if not already printed, may be worth preserving:—

Pride, lust, ambitions, and the kingdom's hate,

The Nation's broker, ruin of the State:

Dunkirke's sad loss, divider of the fleet,

Tangier's compounder for a barren sheet;

The Shrub of Gentry married to the Crowne,

And's daughter to the heir, is tumbled downe.

The grand contemner of the Nobles lies

Groveling in dust, as a just sacrifice,

T'appease the injured King, abused Nation,—

Who could beleeve this suddaine alteration!

God is revenged to, for stones he tooke

From aged Paules to build a house forth' Rooke.

Goe on, great Prince, thy People doe rejoyce,

Meethinks I heare the Nation's totall voyce

Applauding this day's action to bee such,

As rosting Rump, or beating of the Dutch.

More cormorants of State as well as hee,

Wee shortly hope in the same plight to see.

Looke now upon thy withered Cavaliers,

Who for reward hath nothing had but teres.

Thankes to this Wiltshire hogge, son of ye spittle,

Had they beene lookt on, hee had had but little.

Breake up the coffers of this hording theefe,

There monies will be found for there reliefe.

I've said enough of lynsey woolsey hide,

His sacriledge, ambition, lust, and pride.

μ.

Execution of Charles I.

—In a letter which is preserved in the State Paper Office, addressed to Secretary Bennet, by Lord Ormonde and the Council of Ireland, and dated the 29th of April, 1663, their Lordships request the Secretary to move his Majesty that "Henry Porter, then known as Martial General Porter, standing charged as being the person by whose hand the head of our late Sovereign King Charles the First, of blessed memory, was cutt off, and now two years imprisoned in Dublin, should be brought to trial in England."

J. F. F.

Dublin.

Born within the Sound of Bow Bell.

—In his edition of Stow's Survey of London, Mr. Thoms appends the subjoined note to the account which is given of Bow Church and its bells:—

"From the absence of every allusion on the part of Stow to the common definition of a cockney, a person born within the sound of Bow Bells, the saying would appear to be of somewhat more recent date."

Stow's work was first published in 1598, and the author died in 1605. Fuller, author of the Worthies of England, was born in 1608: and it would seem that during his lifetime the definition of a cockney was well-known; for thus does Fuller speak:—

"[He was born within the sound of Bow Bell.] This is the periphrasis of a Londoner at large, born within the suburbs thereof; the sound of this bell exceeding the extent of the Lord Mayor's mace."

Can any correspondent of "N. & Q." refer me to an earlier writer than Fuller for the same definition?

ALFRED GATTY.

Queries.

ARE OUR LISTS OF ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS COMPLETE?

It must have often occurred to students of English history that the current and usual lists of English sovereigns somewhat arbitrarily reject all mention of some who, though for short periods, have enjoyed the regal position and power in this country. There will at once occur to every reader the names (first) of the Empress Maud, who, in a charter, dated Oxford in 1141, styled herself "Matilda Imperatrix, Henrici regis filia, et Anglorum Domina;" (secondly) the young King Henry, the crowned son of Henry II.; and (thirdly) Lady Jane Grey, who, in a few public and private documents, is cited as "Jane, Queen of England, Domina Jana, Dei Gratia Angliæ, Franciæ et Hiberniæ Regina," &c.

I am desirous now of calling the attention of your historical readers to the second case, my attention to the subject having been specially directed thereto by recently consulting the Chronicon Petroburgense (edited for the Camden Society by Mr. Stapleton), in which occur various notices of Henry, the crowned son of Henry II., as Henry III. I beg to quote these passages. Under the year MCLXIX. the chronicler records that—

"Hic fecit Henricus Rex coronare filium suum ab archiepiscopo Eborum."

Sir Harris Nicholas, in his Chronology of History, states that he was crowned on Sunday the 14th June, 1170. Benedictus Albus Roger, of Wendover (Flowers of History), says that "A.D. 1170, on the 13th of July," the king's eldest son was crowned by Roger, Archbishop of York.

His wife Marguerite, of France, was also afterwards crowned in England, in consequence of her father's complaint that she had not been included in the former coronation of her husband, Henry the younger (Rex Henricus junior), as he was commonly styled in this country; li reys Josves in the Norman language, and lo reis Joves in the dialect of the southern provinces of France. He himself afterwards assumed the title of Henry III. regarding his father as virtually dead, owing to the fond, but thoughtless, assertion of his indulgent sire, at the period of the son's coronation, that "from that day forward the royalty ceased to belong to him,"—"se regem non esse protestari." (Vit. B. Thomæ, lib. ii. cap. 31.)

The Chronicon Petroburgense, again, under the year 1183, records the death of the younger king in these words, "Obiit Henricus tertius rex, filius Henrici regis;" and afterwards notices the monarch usually styled Henry III. as "Henricus rex iiii.tus," Henry IV. Sir Harris Nicholas says, that Henry the younger is also "called by chroniclers Henry III."

It is a curious point, because such a distinction must often surely have been made in the days of the jointly reigning Henrys, and immediately after that time. The father and son certainly seemed to have been regarded as for years jointly reigning. For example, Roger of Wendover records that, in 1175, William of Scotland declared himself the liegeman of Henry, for the kingdom of Scotland and all his dominions, and did homage and allegiance to him as his especial lord, "and to Henry the king's son, saving his faith to his father." In the following year both went through England, "promising justice to every one, both clergy and laity, which promise they afterwards fully performed." (Roger of Wendover.) Surely, then, for distinction sake, if not as a matter of right and custom, the younger Henry should have been always styled Henry III.; and if so, while he (not to mention the Empress Maud and Queen Jane) shall remain excluded, therefore, may I not again with some show of reason ask, are our lists of English sovereigns complete?

J. J. S.

The Cloisters, Temple.

Minor Queries.

Marriage Tithe in Wales.

—Has Tithe of Marriage Goods (called in Welsh "Degwm Priodas") been ever demanded or paid in recent times? This appears to have often been the custom since the act of parliament (about 1549) declaring such tithe to be illegal: but will the custom of three centuries (if such a custom has anywhere continued) confer a right to this peculiar tithe, in spite of the act of parliament? What was the nature of this tithe? and was it paid by either party in case of widowhood?

H. H. H. V.

"Preached in a Pulpit rather than a Tub."

—The following couplet is all that I remember of a poem which was the subject of a violent newspaper controversy, I think about 1818. Can any one tell me where to find the rest?

"Preached in a pulpit rather than a tub,

And gave no guinea to the Bible club."

H. B. C.

U. U. C.

Lord Wharton's Bibles.

—In some parishes there are given away, as a reward for learning, certain Psalms and Prayers, Bibles bearing the inscription "the gift of Philip Lord Wharton." How are these Bibles to be obtained for any particular parish?

SYLVA, M.A.

Reed Family.

—In A Perfect Diurnall of some Passages in Parliament and the dayly Proceedings of the Army under his Excellency the Lord Fairfax, April 20, 1649, No. 298., mention is made of one Lieut.-Col. John Reed, governor, under Fairfax, of the town and county of Poole, the first town making a public "demonstration of adhesion to the present Parliament sitting at Westminster." A note by Sir James Mackintosh, to whom this volume belonged, leads me to inquire whether any of your readers can afford information as to the subsequent career of this John Reed, and whether he can be identified by any local history as connected with either the Dorset or Devon families of that name.

F. S. A.

Paternoster Row.

Slavery in Scotland.

—In the Scottish Antiquarian Society's Museum in Edinburgh there is a brass collar with the following inscription:

"Alexander Stewart, found guilty of death for theft at Perth, December 5, 1701—gifted by the Justiciaries as a perpetual servant to Sir John Areskine of Aloa."

When was this custom done away with?

E. F. L.

Leslie, Bishop of Down.

—Can any of your correspondents give any information as to the father of Henry Leslie, some time Bishop of Down and Connor, and who was promoted at the Restoration to the bishopric of Meath, where he died?

E. F. L.

Chaplains to the Forces.

—When was this appointment first made? and where is any list of the successive chaplains to be found?

G.

John of Horsill.

—Could either of your correspondents favour me with an account of this worthy? Tradition states he held the manors of Ribbesford and Highlington, near Bewdley (Worcestershire), about the twelfth century. Several legends, approaching very near to facts, are extant in this neighbourhood concerning him; one of the best authenticated is as follows:

Hunting one day near the Severn, he started a fine buck, which took the direction of the river; fearing to lose it, he discharged an arrow, which, piercing it through, continued its flight, and struck a salmon, which had (as is customary with such fish in shallow streams) leaped from the surface of the water, with so much force as to transfix it. This being thought a very extraordinary shot (as indeed it was), a stone carving representing it was fixed over the west door of Ribbesford Church, then in course of erection. A description of this carving is, I believe, in Nash's History of Worcestershire, but without any mention of the legend. The carving merely shows a rude human figure with a bow, and a salmon transfixed with an arrow before it. A few facts concerning this "John of Horsill" would be hailed with much pleasure by your well wisher,

H. CORVILLE WARDE.

Kidderminster.

St. Crispin's Day.

—In the parishes of Cuckfield and Hurst-a-point in Sussex, it is still the custom to observe St. Crispin's day, and it is kept with much rejoicing. The boys go round asking for money in the name of St. Crispin, bonfires are lighted, and it passes off very much in the same way as the fifth of November does. It appears, from an inscription on a monument to one of the ancient family of Bunell in the parish church of Cuckfield, that a Sir John Bunell attended Henry V. to France in the year 1415, with one ship, twenty men-at-arms, and forty archers; and it is probable that the observance of this day in that neighbourhood is connected with that fact. If so, though the names of—

"Harry the king, Bedford, and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloster,"

have ceased to be "familiar as household words" in the mouths of the people, yet it is a curious proof for what length of time a usage may be transmitted, though the origin of it may be lost.

If any of your correspondents can inform me whether St. Crispin's Day is observed in their neighborhood, and, if so, whether such cases can be connected, as in the present instance, with some old warrior of Agincourt, they will much oblige

R. W. B.

Poniatowski Gems.

—When were these gems sold in London, and where can I get particulars of the prices, purchasers' names, &c., and any critical remarks upon them that may have appeared on the time of the sale?

A. O. O. D.

Why Cold Pudding settles one's Love?

—At a Christmas party, recently, the question occurred "Whence the origin of the supposed attribute of cold plum pudding of settling one's love?" No one present being able to give a satisfactory solution, it was agreed that I should take your opinion on the subject. I therefore ask, How old is the saying? and to what part of England or Great Britain may it be traced?

AN "F. S. A." WHO LOVES PUDDING.

Minor Queries Answered.

Poem by Camden.

—Where is the Latin poem by Camden, De Connubio Thamæ et Isis, to be found?

Camden (in Britannia, sine Regnorum Anglæ Chorographica Descriptio, folio, London, 1607) quotes very largely from this poem, of which he is the reputed author, viz., page 215, 19 lines; page 272-3, 64 lines; page 302, 12 lines.

Dr. Kippis, Biographia Britannica, article "Camden," in vol. iii., assigns the poem to Camden; and Dr. Robert Watt, Bibliotheca Britannica, speaks of it under Isis, and refers to a translation of it by Basil Kennet, the brother of White Kennet, Bishop of Peterborough.

These authorities induce me to think either the Latin poem, or the translation, must be in existence, though, I regret to say, I cannot find either.

QUÆRO.

[A query relating to this poem has already appeared, see "N. & Q." Vol. ii., p 392. Having investigated it, we are inclined to think, that only those portions of it which appear in the Britannia have been published. Mr. Salmon, in his Hertfordshire, p. 3., speaking of the word Tamesis being a compound of the two rivers Tame and Isis, says, "Of this Mr. Camden was so assured, that he hath left us an elegant poem upon the marriage of these two streams in his Britannia." As to Dr. Basil Kennet's translation, it is clear from Bishop Gibson's Preface, p. xiv., that he only translated what has been given in this work. The Bishop says, "The verses which occur in Mr. Camden's text were translated by Mr. Kennet, of Corpus Christi College in Oxford.">[

Marches of Wales and Lords Marchers.—Can any of your correspondents define briefly the Marches of Wales, what localities were comprehended within the Marches, the meaning of the word, as also the term Lords Marchers? Is there any work in which explanation sought can be found?

G.

[Consult Camden's Britannia, by Gibson, vol. i. p. 470., vol. ii. p. 199.; Warrington's History of Wales, vol. i. pp. 369-384.; and Penny Cyclopædia, art. Marches.]

Replies.

MORAVIAN HYMNS.
(Vol. iv., p. 502.)

I offer P. H. the best information I have. It is scanty, but as a few years ago there was much competition for Moravian hymn-books, probably some fortunate possessor of an editio princeps may be induced to tell us more about them.

Of the editions which I have seen, the later is always tamer than its predecessors. I have one entitled A Collection of Hymns, consisting chiefly of Translations from the German. Part 3. The Second Edition. London: printed for James Hutton, Bookseller in Fetter Lane, over against West Harding Street, MDCCXLIX. After the manner of German hymn-books, though in verse, it is printed as prose. I have never seen Part I. or II.; and though a book which had reached a second edition only a century ago cannot, under ordinary circumstances, be scarce, several booksellers and book-fanciers, who have seen mine, declare that they think it unique. It is probable that ridicule and misconstruction induced the heads of the congregation to make great alterations and omissions in fresh editions, and to recommend the destruction of the old, as a means of avoiding scandal. Very good reason they had for so doing, as the meaning of spiritual love is often so corporeally expressed as to make Tabitha's dream, in the New Bath Guide, fall far short of the intensity of the serious work. I cannot find the "chicken blessed," as cited by Anstey, but have no doubt that it is genuine, as well as those in the Oxford Magazine. At page 86. of my copy is a different version of that given by P. H. It is called the "Single Sister's Hymn." Tune: "How is my heart," &c.

"To you ye Jesu's Wounds!

We pay

A Thousand thankful tears this day,

That you have us presented

With many happy

Virgin-Rows,

Who without nunnery, are close to Jesu's heart cemented.

This is a bliss which is sure

To secure

Virgin-carriage,

In the state itself of marriage."

It is obvious that this is an amended version. I believe these hymns were translated by persons not very familiar with the English language. The versification is occasionally good and harmonious, but generally lame, and the language abounding with Hebraisms and Germanisms. The matter is often indescribably puerile; and, though composed bonâ fide, would look profane and licentious in quotation.

I have another edition, "chiefly extracted from the Larger Hymn-book," London, 1769. It has bad English, bad verse, and puerility; but is not indelicate.

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

WADY MOKATTEB NOT MENTIONED IN NUM. XI. 26.
(Vol. iv., p. 481.)

MR. MARGOLIOUTH, in his communication on this subject, has not dealt fairly with the text which he quotes. It is as follows:

"But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other was Medad; and the Spirit rested upon them, and they were of them that were written, but they went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp."

The concluding clause, which I have printed in italics, has been omitted by MR. MARGOLIOUTH, although it is plainly an essential part of the passage, and necessary to the complete statement of the facts narrated.

MR. MARGOLIOUTH would translate the passage thus: "And the Spirit rested upon them, and they were in The Cethubrin (i.e. in Wady Mokatteb), but they went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp."

He does not, however, explain how Eldad and Medad were in Wady Mokatteb, more than Moses and the rest of the seventy. The camp itself was in Wady Mokatteb, according to MR. MARGOLIOUTH'S hypothesis, and therefore there is no opposition between Eldad and Medad being there, and yet remaining in the camp. But assuredly some opposition is evidently intended between Eldad and Medad being בכתובים amongst them that were written, and the clause (omitted by MR. MARGOLIOUTH) "but they went not out unto the tabernacle."

The authorized English version is in accordance with all the ancient versions, the Chaldee paraphrase, and the commentators, Jewish as well as Christian. And I think it gives also the common sense view of the passage.

Moses had complained of the great burden which rested upon him. "I am not able (he says) to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me." He was directed, therefore, to choose seventy men of the elders of Israel; and God promised him "I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not alone."

Accordingly Moses brought out the seventy chosen elders, and stationed them round the tabernacle, and they there received the spirit of prophecy in some visible manner, so as to make their divine commission publicly known among the people; but two of them, named Eldad and Medad (the text goes on to say) remained in the camp, and nevertheless they also received the spirit of prophecy, for they were of them that were written בכתובים (i.e. they were of the number of the seventy whom Moses had selected), although they went not out to the tabernacle with the others: "καὶ οὗτοι ἦσαν ἐκ τῶν καταγεγραμμένων, nam et ipsi descripti fuerant," are the versions of the LXX. and Latin Vulgate. And this is evidently the meaning of the passage; for if Eldad and Medad had not been of the chosen seventy, they would have had no right to go out with the others to the tabernacle, and the remark of the historian, "that they remained in the camp and went not out unto the tabernacle," would have been without point or meaning. MR. MARGOLIOUTH, therefore, was quite right to omit these words, as they completely overturn his hypothesis.

Why these two elders remained in the camp is not expressly stated in the inspired narrative. Raschi says,—

‪מאותן שנבחרו אמרו אין אנו כדאי לגדולה הזה׃

"They were of those who were chosen, but they said, we are not sufficient for this great thing."

He goes on to tell us that Moses being perplexed how to choose seventy elders out of the twelve tribes, without giving offence to some one tribe by choosing a smaller number out of it, selected six out of each tribe, which made seventy-two, and determined by lot the two who were to be omitted. Raschi does not say (as Lightfoot, and after him, Bishop Patrick, seem to have imagined) that the two rejected elders were Eldad and Medad, for this would be inconsistent with the words just quoted, where he ascribes their remaining behind to their humility and sense of insufficiency for so great a work; and I need scarcely say that the text of the Scripture gives no authority for the story of the seventy-two chosen, and the two rejected by lot. But even this story sufficiently proves that the ancient Jewish commentators understood the words ‪ומה כתובים as they are rendered by our English translators.

MR. MARGOLIOUTH'S conjecture, therefore, is totally without foundation; it is not supported by any authority, and is even inconsistent with the plain words of the text. I should be sorry to see "N. & Q." made the vehicle of such rash and unsound criticisms, and therefore I send you this refutation of it.

With respect to Wady Mokatteb, it would be very desirable to have the singular inscriptions there extant carefully copied by competent scholars. Hitherto we have been forced to content ourselves with the drawings sent home by chance travellers; would it not be possible to organize a caravan of competent persons, having some knowledge of oriental tongues and alphabets, to explore these interesting valleys, and bring home correct transcripts of their inscriptions? Many noblemen and gentlemen spend annually on travelling and yachting much more money than would be necessary to organize such an expedition as I am suggesting; and if a party put their funds together, and took with them artists to make the drawings, with a couple of well qualified scholars to assist in deciphering them, I think they might spend as pleasant, and certainly a much more profitable, summer, than in ascending Mont Blanc, or drinking sack in the Rhine steam-boats. Perhaps, also, the improvements in the daguerreotype and talbotype processes might be made available for securing absolute accuracy in the fac-similes of the inscriptions.

JAMES H. TODD.

Trinity Coll. Dublin.

In reference to these celebrated inscriptions, a remarkable statement occurs in the Journal Asiatique for 1836, tom. ii. p. 182., of which I annex a translation:—

"M. Fræhn has discovered in an Arabian author, Ibn-abi-Yakoub-el-Nedim, who wrote in 987, a passage stating that at that period the Russians already possessed the art of writing. This author has even preserved a specimen of Russian writing of the tenth century, which, he says, he received from an ambassador sent to Russia by one of the Princes of the Caucasus. These characters do not resemble the Greek alphabet, or the runes of the Scandinavian races. It would appear, therefore, that the first germ of civilisation in Russia preceded the establishment of Rurik and the Varangi in this country, instead of having been introduced by them. A circumstance of peculiar interest is, that these ancient Russian letters, so different from any other alphabet, have the greatest analogy with those inscriptions, yet unexplained, sculptured on the rocks of the desert between Suez and Mount Sinai, and noticed there in the sixth century of our æra. The analogy existing between these inscriptions placed on the confines of Africa and Asia, and others found in Siberia, had already been demonstrated by Tychsen. M. Fræhn is about to publish this interesting discovery."

Query, what ground is there for the above assertions, and what has been since published in support of such a statement?

μ.

BOILING TO DEATH AS A PUNISHMENT.
(Vol. ii., p. 519.)

L. H. K. gives an extract from Howe's Chronicle, detailing the punishment of one Richard Rose (as also of another person) in the above manner for the crime of poisoning, and inquires if this was a peculiar mode of punishing of cooks. No reply to this having yet appeared, and the subject being only incidentally mentioned at Vol. iii., p. 153., I venture to submit to you the following Notes I have made upon it.

The crime of poisoning was always considered as most detestable, "because it can, of all others, be the least prevented either by manhood or forethought." Nevertheless, prior to the statute of 22 Hen. VIII. c. 9. there was no peculiarity in the mode of punishment. The occurrence to which Howe refers, appears to have excited considerable attention, probably on account of the supposition that the life of the bishop was aimed at; so much so, that the extraordinary step was taken of passing an Act of Parliament, retrospective in its enactments as against the culprit (who is variously described as Rose, Roose, otherwise Cooke, and Rouse), prescribing the mode of punishment as above, and declaring the crime of poisoning to be treason for the future. The occurrence is thus related in a foot-note to Rapin, 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 792.:—

"During this Session of Parliament [1531] one Richard Rouse, a cook, on the 16th February poisoned some soop in the Bishop of Rochester's kitchen, with which seventeen persons were mortally infected; and one of the gentlemen died of it, and some poor people that were charitably fed with the remainder were also infected, one woman dying. The person was apprehended; and by Act of Parliament poisoning was declared treason, and Rouse was attainted and sentenced to be boiled to death, which was to be the punishment of poisoning for all times to come. The sentence was executed in Smithfield soon after."

This horrible punishment did not remain on the Statute Books for any very lengthened period, the above statute of Henry being repealed by statutes 1 Edw. VI. c. 12., and 1 Mary, stat. I. c. 1., by which all new treasons were abolished, since which the punishment has been the same as in other cases of murder. If within the reach of any correspondent, an extract from the statute of Henry would be interesting.

J. B. COLMAN.

Eye, Dec. 16. 1851.

[The Act of 22 Hen. VIII. c. 9. recites, that "nowe in the tyme of this presente parliament, that is to saye, in the xviijth daye of Februarye in the xxij yere of his moste victorious reygn, one Richard Roose late of Rouchester in the countie of Kent, coke, otherwyse called Richard Coke, of his moste wyked and dampnable dysposicyon dyd caste a certyne venym or poyson into a vessell replenysshed with yeste or barme stondyng in the kechyn of the Reverende Father in God John Bysshopp of Rochester at his place in Lamebyth Marsshe, wyth whych yeste or barme and other thynges convenyent porrage or gruel was forthwyth made for his famylye there beyng, wherby nat only the nombre of xvij persons of his said famylie whych dyd eate of that porrage were mortally enfected and poysoned, and one of them, that is to say, Benett Curwen gentylman therof is deceassed, but also certeyne pore people which resorted to the sayde Bysshops place and were there charytably fedde wyth the remayne of the saide porrage and other vytayles, were in lyke wyse infected, and one pore woman of them, that is to saye, Alyce Tryppytt wydowe, is also thereof now deceassed: our sayde Sovereign Lorde the Kynge of hys blessed disposicion inwardly abhorryng all such abhomynable offences because that in maner no persone can lyve in suertye out of daunger of death by that meane yf practyse therof should not be exchued, hath ordeyned and enacted by auctorytie of thys presente parlyament that the sayde poysonyng be adjudged and demed as high treason. And that the sayde Richard [Rose or Roose] for the sayd murder and poysonynge of the said two persones as is aforesayde by auctoritie of this presente parlyament shall stande and be attaynted of highe treason: And by cause that detestable offence nowe newly practysed and com̅ytted requyreth condign̅e punysshemente for the same; It is ordeyned and enacted by auctoritie of this present parlyament that the said Richard Roose shalbe therfore boyled to deathe withoute havynge any advauntage of his clargie. And that from hensforth every wylfull murder of any persone or persones by any whatsoever persone or persones herafter to be com̅ytted and done by meane or waye of poysonyng shalbe reputed, demed, and juged in the lawe to be highe treason; And that all and every persone or persones which hereafter shalbe lawfully indyted appeled and attaynted or condemned of such treson for any maner poysonyng shall not be admytted to the benefyte of hys or theyre clargye, but shalbe immedyatly committed to execucion of deth by boylynge for the same.]

THE ROMAN INDEX EXPURGATORIUS OF 1607.
(Vol. iv., p. 440.)

U. U. will be extremely sorry to hear that he has not any reason for persuading himself that his copy of this Index belongs to the original edition. On account of the difference of spaces observed in the reprint, each page, though containing only the same matter that appears in the earlier impression, has been elongated to the extent required for three lines. The Ratisbon octavo is generally about an inch taller, and a third part thicker, than the Roman volume. The woodcuts are totally distinct, and are better in the authentic book; and the beau papier, of which Clement speaks, at once eliminates the modern pretender.

I have been able to obtain two copies of the genuine Vatican Index as well as its Serpilian rival; and with respect to what your correspondent calls "the Bergomi" (more properly the Bergamo) "edition" of 1608, I beg to assure him that there is an "undoubted" exemplar likewise producible, and that I have dispersed a thousand facsimiles of it since the ear 1837.

U. U. has charged Mr. Mendham with having imagined that "Brasichellen" was a "complete" word. I happen to know very well, and many of your readers also know, that my excellent friend is not altogether such a simpleton; but he will most probably not take the trouble on this occasion to defend himself. The fact is, that the Serpilian counterfeit alone is without the full stop in the case of this word, which in the Bergamo titlepage ends at "Brasichell." The master of the sacred palace, with whom we are now concerned, is very rarely mentioned as Giovanni Maria da Brisighella, the designation which he rightly gives to himself in his Italian edicts; and the Latinized forms Brasichellanus and Brasichellensis easily arrive at English abridgments. In 1607, when the Vatican Expurgatory Index was first published, the Commissary-General of the Roman Inquisition was Agostino Galamini da Brisighella, and his name is sometimes found recorded, unstopped, as "Augustinus Galaminius Brasichellen."

R. G.

HOBBES'S "LEVIATHAN."
(Vol. iv., pp. 314. 487.)

I am surprised that your correspondent H. A. B., who appears by his expressions to be an admirer of the Leviathan, should think the frontispiece an absurd conceit, very unworthy of its author. The design may be regarded, I think, as a very remarkable embodiment of the thought expressed in the passage where the term Leviathan is first used. The civil body or commonwealth, derived from the union of individuals, is represented by Hobbes as the origin of all rights and duties. And this combination of men is (Leviathan, p. 87.) something more than consent and concord. It is the real unity of them all in one and the same person. The multitude, so united in one person, is called a Commonwealth. "This is the generation," he says, "of that great Leviathan, or, to speak more reverently" (that is, with the reverence due to it), "of that mortal God to which we owe (under the Immortal God) our peace and defence." This "mortal God," thus constituted, may very fitly be represented by the giant image, made up of thousands of individual forms, wielding the mighty sword and the magnificent crosier, and spreading its arms, with an air of sovereignty, over castles and churches, rivers and ports, fields and villages. The emblems then represent, as H. A. B. observes, the manifestations of civil and of ecclesiastical power; and the parallelisms there exhibited appear to me to be curious: the castle, with a piece of ordnance discharged from the walls; the church, with a figure of Faith on its roof; the coronet and the mitre; the cannon, the thunderbolt of war; and the spiritual fulmination, represented by the mythological thunderbolts; the arms of Logic, Syllogism, and Dilemma, and the like; and the arms of war, pikes, and swords, and muskets; and finally, the judiciary tribunal, and the tribunal of the battle field, the ultima ratio regum.

The frontispiece in the edition of 1651 is a much better print than that of 1750; and in the former, I think, the resemblance to Cromwell is undeniable. In this edition, the tablet at the bottom has the words, "London: Printed for Andrew Crooke, 1651." In the edition of 1750 there are on the tablet the words, "Written by Thos. Hobbs, 1651," as C. J. W. states.

W. W.

MAJOR-GEN. JAMES WOLFE.
(Vol. iv., pp. 271. 322. 438. 503.)

If the follows remarkable lines, described to me as having been placed many years ago under a bust of General Wolfe, in the Old Castle at Quebec, should not be well known, I think they merit a place in your pages. My friend who sent the verses could not supply the author's name, nor state whether they still remain in situ quo, though I have some idea that the Old Castle was burnt:

"Let no sad tear upon his tomb be shed.

A common tribute to the common dead.

But let the Good, the Generous, and the Brave,

With godlike envy, sigh for such a grave."

I may as well add, in reply to the Query in your 113th No., page 504., that my worthy friend and neighbour, Mr. Richard Birch Wolfe, the present representative of the Wolfes of North Essex, upon inquiry at the College of Arms, was unable to trace any relationship between his family and that of the General.

BRAYBROOKE.

Audley End.

Mrs. Wolfe's maiden name was Henrietta Thompson; she was of a Yorkshire family, and "own sister to my sister Apthorp," says Cole, "the wife of the Reverend Dr. Apthorp, Fellow of Eton College, so that my nieces Frances and Anne Apthorp were first cousins to the General." This lady died on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1764, at her house in Greenwich, and is described as "the relict of Col. Edward Wolfe, and mother to the late heroic General Wolfe." (Public Advertiser, Sept. 28, 1764.) The official letter from General Wolfe, dated Sept. 9, 1759, is in print. On Nov. 18, in that year, his body was landed from the "Royal William" at Portsmouth. Three affecting letters of the bereaved mother to William Pitt, dated Nov. 6th, 27th, 30th, are likewise published. On March 26, 1759, she had been left a widow by her husband Edward, who was in 1745 Colonel of H. M. 8th regiment of infantry, and appointed Lieutenant-General in 1747. In 1758, General James Wolfe was Colonel of H.M. 67th regiment of foot. By her will, Mrs. Wolfe devised 500l. to the maintenance and repairs of Bromley College (Cambridge Chronicle, Sat. April 27, 1765); and, her debts and legacies being first paid, bequeathed the residue of her property to poor and deserving persons, with preference to the widows and families of soldiers who had served under her gallant son. The applicants were to send in their names to Jas. Gunter, attorney, of Tooley Street, Southwark, before Jan. 1, 1766 (Whitehall Even. Post, Thursday, Aug. 22, 1765). The monument to Gen. Wolfe's memory, in Westerham Church, is of white marble, and set up over the south door. The inscription has been given already in Vol. iv., p. 322.; but with the omission of any mention of a black tablet beneath, inscribed "I, decus, I, nostrum." He was baptized on Jan. 11, 1727. I subjoin an obituary, and other notices of persons of his name:

1764. "Wednesday, at Westminster, Dec. 28, Lady Anne Wolfe, aunt to the late General, a maiden lady."—The Gazetteer, Friday, Jan. 4, 1765.

1677. Oct. 14. Thomas Wolfe, D.M. Oxon, 1653.

1703. April 6. Sir John Wolfe, Knt., Ald. London.

1711. Dec. 10. Sir Joseph Wolfe, Knt., Ald. London.

1748. May 27. John Wolfe, Secretary to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

1755. Nov. 12. Mrs. Wolfe, of Queen's Square.

1759. Sept. 21. Jacob Wolfe, Consul at St. Petersburg.

1791. Feb. 25. Mrs.——, wife of Lewis Wolfe, Esq., Compt. at the Stationer's Office.

1793. Dec.—Rev. Thos. Wolfe of Howick, Northumberland.

1794. Aug. 2. Mrs.——, relict of the above, at Saffron Walden.

1795. Jan. 27. Robert Wolfe, of Cork.

—— May 18. Rev. B. Wolfe, Schoolmaster of Dillon.

—— June 25. Thomas Wolfe.

William Twenshow of Arclyd, co. Chester, born 1666, married Anne, sister of Edward Wolfe, Esq., of Hatherton.

Robert French, married Anne, daughter of Richard Wolfe, and niece of Theobald Wolfe of Baronsrath, co. Kildare.

Rev. James Jones, of Merrion Square, married Lydia, d. of Mr. Theobald Wolfe; she died in 1793.

MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.

Jermyn Street.

In Vol. iv., p. 271., inquiry is made for the parentage of the mother of Gen. Wolfe. I have accidentally discovered, in turning over Burke's Landed Gentry (p. 1389.), that she was a Thompson. Sir Henry Thompson, who was three times married, had, by his first wife, Henry, M.P. for York, the grandfather of Jane, married to Sir Robert Lawley, by whom she was mother of Paul Beilby Thompson, late Lord Wenlock. By his third wife, Susanna Lovel, Sir Henry had a son Edward, who married a lady named Tindal, and had issue, Edward, also M.P. for York; Francis, a lieut.-colonel; Bradwarden, a captain; Mary, married to General Whetham; and "Henrietta, mar. Colonel Wolfe, and was mother of General Wolfe, killed at Quebec."

N.

Will it serve your correspondent Ȝ., to state that at Inversnaid, on the borders of Loch Lomond, where Wordsworth met his immortalised "Highland Girl," there is a ruined fort, erected in 1716 to keep the clan Gregor in order, and which was taken and retaken, repaired and dismantled, but which, after the rebellion of '45, was occupied by the king's troops? There is a tradition that General James Wolfe was, for a time, stationed here. This tradition is referred to in all the guide Books, but no precise date is given.

G. W.

In the United States Institution there is a pencil profile of General Wolfe. It was presented to that collection by the Duke of Northumberland (when Lord Prudhoe).

On the back of the sketch itself are written these words:

"This sketch belonged to Lieut.-Col. Gwillim, A.D. Camp to Genl. Wolfe when he was killed. It is supposed to have been sketched by Harvey Smith."

On the back of the frame there is a paper, with the following inscription:

"This portrait of General Wolfe, from which his bust was principally taken, was hastily sketched by Harvey Smith, one of his aid-de-camps, a very short time before that distinguished officer was killed on the plains of Abraham. It then came into the possession of Colonel Gwillim, another of the General's aid-de-camps, who died afterwards at Gibraltar; and from him to Mrs. Simcoe, the Colonel's only daughter and heiress; then to Major-General Darling (who was on General Simcoe's staff); and is now presented by him to his Grace the Duke of Northumberland.

"Alnwick, Jan. 23, 1832."

This interesting sketch hangs near the case containing the sword worn by Wolfe when he fell.

L. H. J. T.

"THERE IS NO MISTAKE."
(Vol. iv., p. 471.)

It may, perhaps, have puzzled others of your readers, as for some time it did myself, to account for your correspondent F. W. J. having undertaken to prove that the Duke of Wellington did not first use "those celebrated words" there is no mistake, in his "reply to Mr. Huskisson." F. W. J. shows that the Duke wrote "the sentence now so well known" is 1812. No doubt he did: and it may not unreasonably be assumed that he had used it many hundred times before under similar circumstances. F. W. J. evidently confounds those words used by the Duke in their natural sense with the slang phrase which has been current for some years, and owes its origin, I believe, to a character in a farce, "and no mistake." The slang phrase is used by way of binding or confirming; as, for instance, "I will be there at two o'clock, and no mistake,"—the latter words being equivalent to "You may depend on it:" if, indeed, it be possible to fix a precise meaning to words so improperly applied. It is hardly necessary to say, that in both the instances referred to by your correspondent, the Duke used the words in their natural and proper sense. F. W. J. is wrong in supposing that the Duke used the phrase in his "reply to Mrs. Huskisson;" it was to Lord Dudley his Grace addressed the words. Mr. Huskisson having voted against his colleagues on the question of transferring the franchise from East Retford to Birmingham, went straight from the House of Commons to his office in Downing Street, and wrote a letter to the Duke, then Prime Minister, announcing that he lost no time in affording his Grace an opportunity of placing his (Mr. Huskisson's) office in other hands, as the only means in his power of preventing the injury to the King's service which might ensue from the appearance of disunion in His Majesty's councils, &c. On receipt of Mr. Huskisson's note, the Duke wrote to that gentleman stating that he had deemed it his duty to lay his note before the King. It happened that the Duke's note reached Mr. Huskisson whilst he was engaged in conversation with Lord Dudley, to whom he had been describing his own note to the Duke, and speaking of it (strange enough) as if it had not been a tender of resignation. When Mr. Huskisson showed Lord Dudley the Duke's letter, which showed that his Grace took a different view of the matter, his Lordship, knowing what Mr. Huskisson had been telling him, naturally enough said that the Duke must be labouring under a mistake. But this incident was narrated with so much naïveté by Mr. Huskisson himself, that I am tempted to quote his words (spoken in the House of Commons) as they were reported in the Times, June 3, 1828:—

"Upon showing this (the Duke's) letter to Lord Dudley, so struck was he with the the different import which the Duke of Wellington attached to the matter from that which was impressed on himself by the previous conversation, that he remarked, 'Oh, I see the Duke has entirely mistaken your meaning: I will go and see him, and set the matter right.' (A laugh.) Lord Dudley returned shortly after seeing the Duke, and said, 'I am sorry to say I have not been successful. He (the Duke) says it is no mistake; it can be no mistake; and (if Mr. Huskisson's relation of the words were not imperfectly heard, for he let his voice drop repeatedly) it shall be no mistake." (Loud laughter.)

C. ROSS.

THE REV. MR. GAY.
(Vol. iv., p. 388.)

I am greatly obliged by the communication of your correspondent relative to the Gays connected with Sidney College. It was as from that quarter I expected light. The passage in Paley's Life of Law, which is to me of considerable interest, long ago attracted my attention, although it escaped notice at the moment when I ventured to send my first inquiry. It runs as follows:

"Our Bishop always spoke of this gentleman in terms of the greatest respect. In the Bible, and in the writings of Mr. Locke, no man, he used to say, was so well versed."

Thus I find the passage quoted from Paley in Nichols' Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, vol. ii. p. 66. Bishop Law also mentions him in a letter to Dr. Zach. Grey, editor of Hudibras: "Respects to honest Mr. Gay, and all friends in St. John's." The letter was written from Graystock, May 31, 1743. The full address of Dr. Grey unfortunately is not given where I find the letter, in the same vol. of Nichols, p. 535. But we may safely gather from it, that at that time "honest Mr. Gay" was at Cambridge, and in esteem; whether a resident, as should seem most likely from the manner of the notice, or a casual visitor, does not certainly appear. If a resident, this is not consistent with the idea of your correspondent, that he became vicar of Wilshamstead, Bedfordshire, and vacated his fellowship before 1732. I wish that the identity of the author of the Dissertation with the John Gay—first in the list of your correspondent—an identity to which my mind also inclines, could be more clearly made out. He was born, and partly educated, in Devonshire.

A private correspondent has very kindly furnished me with a few particulars relative to Nicholas Gay, the second mentioned in your correspondent's list, and father of the fourth, which Nicholas was vicar of Newton St. Cyres, near Exeter, and died, æt. seventy-five, in 1775; and to another, Richard Gay, rector of St. Leonard, near Exeter, who died in 1755. Of this Richard Gay, on a stone in the church of Frithelstock, near Torrington, it is said that—

"To great learning, he added a most exemplary life in constant faithful endeavours to support religion, to glorify God, and to do good to man. He was equalled by few, surpassed by none of the age he lived in."