Read Ebook: Notes and Queries Number 04 November 24 1849 by Various

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Our Progress and Prospects. 49

QUERIES:-- "Clouds" or Shrouds, in Shakspeare. 58 Medal of Pretender, by B. Nightingale. 58 Roger de Coverley. 59 Landed and Commercial Policy of England. 59 The Rev. Thomas Leman. 59 Gothic Architecture. 59 Katherine Pegg. 59 Queries on Mediaeval Geography. 60 Myles Bloomfylde and William Bloomfield on Alchymy. 60 Thynne's Collection of Chancellors. 60 Cold Harbour. 60 Statistics of the Roman Catholic Church. 61 Incumbents of Church Livings. 61 Curse of Scotland, by Edward Hawkins. 61

MISCELLANEOUS:-- Notes of Book-Sales, Catalogues, &c. 61 Books and Odd Volumes wanted. 63 Notices to Correspondents. 63

OUR PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS.

When we consulted our literary friends as to the form and manner in which it would be most expedient to put forth our "NOTES AND QUERIES," more than one suggested to us that our paper should appear only once a month, or at all events not more frequently than once a fortnight, on the ground that a difficulty would be experienced in procuring materials for more frequent publication. We felt, however, that if such a medium of Inter-communication, as we proposed to establish was, as we believed, really wanted, frequency of publication was indispensable. Nothing but a weekly publication would meet what we believed to be the requirements of literary men. We determined, therefore, to publish a Number every Saturday; and the result has so far justified our decision, that the object of our now addressing our readers is to apologise to the many friends whose communications we are again unavoidably compelled to postpone; and to explain that we are preparing to carry out such further improvements in our arrangements as will enable us to find earlier admission for all the communications with which we are favoured.

One other word. It has been suggested to us that in inviting Notes, Comments, and Emendations upon the works of Macaulay, Hallam, and other living authors, we may possibly run a risk of offending those eminent men. We hope not. We are sure that this outght not to be the case. Had we not recognised the merits of such works, and the influence they were destined to exercise over men's minds, we should not have opened our pages for the purpose of receiving, much less have invited, corrections of the mistakes into which the most honest and the most able of literary inquirers must sometimes fall. Only those who have meddled in historical research can be aware of the extreme difficulty, the all but impossibility, of ascertaining the exact or the whole truth, amidst the numerous minute and often apparently contradictory facts which present themselves to the notice of all inquirers. In this very number a correspondent comments upon an inference drawn by Mr. Hallam from a passage in Mabillon. In inserting such a communication we show the respect we feel for Mr. Hallam, and our sense of the services which he has rendered to historical knowledge. Had we believed that if he has fallen into a mistake in this instance, it had been not merely a mistake, but a deliberate perversion of the truth, we should have regarded both book and writer with indifference, not to say with contempt. It is in the endeavour to furnish corrections of little unavoidable slips in such good honest books--albeit imperfect as all books must be--that we hope at once to render good service to our national literature, and to show our sense of genius, learning, and research which have combined to enrich it by the production of works of such high character and last influence.

NOTES

LATIN EPIGRAM AGAINST LUTHER AND ERASMUS.

JOHN BRUCE.

HALLAMS MIDDLE AGES--ALLEGED IGNORANCE OF THE CLERGY.

On referring to Mabillon, I find that the passage runs as follows:--

"Christiani posthabitis scripturis sanctis, earumque interpretibus, Arabum Chaldaeorumque libris evolvendis incumbentes, legem suam nesciebant, et linguam propriam non advertebant latinam, ita ut ex omni Christi collegio vix inveniretur unus in milleno hominum genere, qui salutatorias fratri posset rationabiliter dirigere litteras."

CANTAB.

ADVERSARIA

Racine, the French tragic poet, was also a great annotator of his books; the Biblioth?que National at Paris possesses a Euripides and Aristophanes from his library, the margins of which are covered with notes in Greek, Latin, and French.

G.J.K.

ORIGIN OF WORD "GROG."

ORIGIN OF WORD "GROG"--ANCIENT ALMS-BASINS.

Mr. Editor,--As a sailor's son I beg to answer your correspondent LEGOUR'S query concerning the origin of the word "grog," so famous in the lips of our gallant tars. Jack loves to give a pet nickname to his favourite officers. The gallant Edward Vernon was not exempted from the general rule. His gallantry and ardent devotion to his profession endeared him to the service, and some merry wags of the crew, in an idle humour, dubbed him "Old Grogham." Whilst in command of the West Indian station, and at the height of his popularity on account of his reduction of Porto Bello with six men-of-war only, he introduced the use of rum and water by the ship's company. When served out, the new beverage proved most palatable, and speedily grew into such favour, that it became as popular as the brave admiral himself, and in honour of him was surnamed by acclamation "Grog."

MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.

P.S.--There are two other alms-basins in St. Margaret's worthy of note, besides those I mentioned in your last number. One has the inscription, "Live well, die never; die well and live ever. A.D. 1644 W.G." The other has the appropriate legend, "Hee that gives too the poore lends unto thee LORD." A third bears the Tudor rose in the centre. In an Inventory made about the early part of the 17th century, are mentioned "one Bason given by Mr. Bridges, of brasse." "Item, one bason, given by Mr. Brugg, of brasse." On the second basin are the arms and crest of the Brewers' Company. Perhaps Mr. Brugg was a member of it. One Richard Bridges was a churchwarden, A.D. 1630-32.

M.W.

DYCE VERSUS WARBURTON AND COLLIER--AND SHAKSPEARE'S MSS.

"Alluding," says Warburton, "to the opinion of some philosophers, that the vapours being congealed in air by cold, and being afterwards rarified and let loose by the warmth of the sun, occasion those sudden and impetuous guests of wind which are called flaws."--COLLIER.

So far for the poet's acceptation of its meaning.

Thus also Lord Surrey:--

Shakspeare followed the popular meteorology of his time, as will appear from the following passage from a little ephemeris then very frequently reprinted:--

I have sometimes thought that Shakspeare may have written:--

S.W.S.

Mickleham, Nov. 14. 1849.

FOOD OF THE PEOPLE.--BILLS OF FARE IN 1683--HUMBLE PIE.

It is not uninteresting to inquire what sort of fare appeared on the tables of the upper and middle classes,--who, unlike their poorer neighbours, were in a condition to gratify their gastronomic preferences in the choice and variety of their viands,--with the view of determining whether the extraordinary improvement which has taken place in the food of the labouring population has been equally marked in that of the wealthier orders.

"1. A dish of Apricots. 2. A dish of marmalade of Pippins. 3. A dish of preserved Cherries. 4. A whole red Quince. 5. A dish of dryed sweet-meats.

"1. A collar of brawn. 2. A couple of Pullets boyled. 3. A bisk of Fish. 4. A dish of Carps. 5. A grand boyled Meat. 6. A grand Sallet. 7. A venison pasty. 8. A roasted Turkey. 9. A fat pig. 10. A powdered Goose. 11. A haunch of Venison roasted. 12. A Neats-tongue and Udder roasted. 13. A Westphalia Ham boyled. 14. A Joll of Salmon. 15. Mince pyes. 16. A Surloyn of roast beef. 17. Cold baked Meats. 18. A dish of Custards.

The fare suggested for "Fish days" is no less various and abundant; twelve dishes are enumerated for the first course, and sixteen for the second. Looking at the character of these viands, some of which would not discredit the genius of a Soyer or a Mrs. Glasse, it seems pretty evident that in the article of food the labouring classes have been the greatest gainers since 1687.

Few things are more suggestive of queries--as everybody knows from experience--than the products of culinary art. I will not, however, further trespass on space which may be devoted to a more dignified topic, than by submitting the following.

J.T. HAMMACK

BISHOP BARNABY.

Mr. Editor,--Legour asks, why the people in Suffolk call a lady-bird "Bishop Barnaby?"

"Barnabee," writes the Major, "the golden-bug, or lady-bird; also Bishop-Barney: which see. This pretty little, and very useful insect, is tenderly regarded by our children. One settling on a child is always sent away with this sad valediction:--

"Gowden-bug, gowden-bug, fly away home, Yar house is bahnt deown and yar children all gone."

To which I add another nursery doggerel less sad:--

"Bishop, Bishop-Barnabee, Tell me when your wedding be, If it be to-morrow day Take your wings and fly away."

The Major adds, "It is sure to fly off on the third repetition."

"Bishop, the little spotted beetle, commonly called the lady-cow or lady-bird. I have heard this insect in other places called golden-knop, and doubtless in other countries it hath other names. Golden-bugs the common Suffolk name."

J.G. Southwold, Nov. 16. 1849.

TRADE EDITIONS--COTTLE'S LIFE OF COLERIDGE.

"Thos. Dason. Licensed unto him the praise of follie; to print not above xv? of any impression, with this condition, that any of the Company may laie on with him, reasonablie at every impression, as they think good, and that he shall gyve reasonable knowledge before to them as often as he shall print it."

With many good wishes for the success of your register,

I remain, &c.

JOHN MILAND.

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