Walton Hall.

EDWARD HAILSTONE.

The elegant Latin poem by Dr. Dering, entitled Reliquiæ Eboracenses,' was translated by Thomas Gent, and published by him in an octavo of 104 pages. It has three copper-plates, viz., a map of York, a view of York, and a portrait of the translator, and over fifty very rude woodcuts. There is no title-page. In one copy there is said (see Life' of Gent) to be a note referring to his "icon" having been recently exhibited. It is, therefore, supposed that this translation was published shortly after July 21, 1771, the date when Green's beautiful mezzotint portrait of Gent was first issued. ALFRED WARD, M.A.

St. Cath. Coll., Cambridge.

APOTHECARIES' HALL (7th S. i. 188, 237).The original hall of the Society of Apothecaries, as appears by a Latin inscription placed over the inner side of the gateway leading to the courtyard, was erected-or more probably adapted from a previously existing building, Cobham House, belonging to Lady Howard of Effingham-in 1633. It was totally destroyed in the Great Fire of London, but rebuilt ten years afterwards, through the liberal contributions of the members. This will bring the date of the hall to 1676, not far from that stated by Cunningham in his 'Handbook.' The buildings were further enlarged and improved in 1786.

H. W. S.

COAX COSSET: COSY CATGUT (6th S. xii. 325, 452; 7th S. i. 217, 291, 338*).—I see I have laid myself open to a misconstruction. I may seem to accuse PROF. SKEAT of what I never thought of imputing to him, and never "dreamed of," viz., that he had first issued an imperfect copy of his "Etymological Dictionary,' and then added a Supplement' supplying the defects. On the contrary, I knew that at the time of the first issue the book was as perfect as he could then make it, and that he had not thought of a 'Supplement.' I hope the readers of N. & Q.' will not apply to me the stale French proverb, for I scarcely think the words I used at the last reference sufficiently equivocal to need this apology.

C. M. INGLEBY.

THE BLUE ROSE (7th S. i. 328).-MR. MASKELL might write to Alphonse Karr, who lives at St. Raphaël du Var, France.

GRACE BEFORE MEAT (7th S. i. 228).-This custom is more prevalent in Scotland than in England. With "goody" people grace is said not only before breakfast and dinner, but even when the slightest refreshment is taken. Indeed, in the Highlands, especially in Sutherland and Ross-shire, it is customary when a dram" is given to ask a "blessing" over the "mercy." A story is told of a Highlander to whom a "snuff" was offered. The fragrant mixture was put on the back of his hand, and, as it was a something to take, he said it would only be right to ask a blessing ever it. The good man closed his eyes and began slowly to repeat the blew the snuff from off his hand, on which he reblessing or short prayer. A gust of wind, however, marked, "Oh, it couldna' be a mercy at all, when it wouldna' wait for God's blessing to be asked

over it."

Herriesdale.

JOHN MACKAY.

LEONARDO DA VINCI: "ROTELLA DEL FICO

(7th S. i. 267).-The latest accounts of the works of Leonardo, contained in Charles Clément's Michel Angelo, Raphael, Leonardo' (translated by Mrs. Corkran, Lond., 1880), and 'Leonardo,' in the "Great Artists Series," by Jean Paul Richter (Lond., 1880), specify this among the lost works of Leonardo. Charles Clément gives from Vasari startling effect which it produced upon the artist's a very graphic account of its execution, and of the father, who came upon it unexpectedly, and, "never supposing what he saw was a picture, rushed out precipitately. Leonardo held him back, saying, Father, the work has produced the effect I wanted. Take it, and carry it away."" Ser Piero da Vinci, however, took good care that the peasant who had asked for the shield to be made for him out of the trunk of a fig tree should not get this work of genius, so he bought an ordinary shield for the peasant, and sold his son's weird conception to it to the duke. After this, desunt plura. some Florentine merchants, who themselves sold C. H. E. CARMICHAEL.

New University Club, S.W.

* On p. 338, col. 2, 1. 10, for "almost " read always.

there is nothing in the Oxford degrees by which the public can distinguish between passmen and men with the highest honours. WM. W. MARSHALL,

"BEAR-AT-THE-BRIDGE-FOOT" (7th S. i. 249). This was one of the most popular London taverns. Mention is made of it so early as the reign of Richard III. It was pulled down in 1761, on the removal of the houses from London Bridge. According to Cunningham, Sir John Suckling dated his letter from the Wine-Drinkers to the WaterDrinkers from the "Bear-at-the-Bridge-foot," and he quotes an anecdote about the customs of this house, related by Wycherley, and contained in Major Pack's 'Miscellanies. Reference is made to the "Bear" by Pepys in his 'Diary,' for April 3, 1667. G. F. R. B.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &o. The Works of Thomas Middleton. Edited by A. H. Bullen, B.A. 8 vols. (Nimmo.) THE issue of an adequate edition of Middleton is the greatest boon that can be made to that large class of readers to whom the drama of Elizabethan times a subject of unending interest. Beaumont and Fletcher in a thoroughly satisfactory edition, and Shirley in any edition at all, are still practically inaccessible. Most of the other dramatists of importance are, however, within reach, and Mr. Bullen, to whose care the eight carefully edited volumes of Middleton now published are due, has recently printed Day and promises Rowley. These be rare gifts! Middleton is, however, the rarest gift of all. After passing through that process of remainder to which all scholarly work seems specially subject, Dyce's Middleton,' which for a short time could be purchased at an almost nominal price, became one of the dearest and least accessible works of the present century. Mr. Bullen has now reprinted it with important additions, and in so doing has earned the thanks of all scholars. It is only within comparatively recent years that the full value of Middleton has been felt. Mr. Swinburne, to whom Middleton's eminently daring treatment of difficult subjects in such plays as Women Beware Women' and The Changeling directly appealed, has supplemented Lamb's fine criticism of detached passages by an elaborate and inspired eulogy of Middleton's principal work. The praise therein contained may seem extravagant to those who know Middleton only by passages from his writing or from plays such as The Witch,' on which accident has forced a strong light of publicity, or by those who have seen in him a less distinguished associate of Massinger, Fletcher, and Ben Jonson. A careful study of the works of Middleton's ripe age leaves on the mind the conviction that he was one of the most inspired of the Elizabethan dramatists, the equal of Decker, Webster, Heywood, and Tourneur in those tragic qualities which are the special outcome of the age. To analyze or describe the great plays of Middleton is a task delightful in itself, but possible only in a magazine article. A perusal, however, of the plays already named, of A Fair Quarrel,' The Spanish Gipsey, More Dissemblers besides Women,' and one or two other works of Middleton's riper years, forces on the mind the conviction that Middleton represents one of the most conspicuous peaks of that Alp

land in the midst of which Hazlitt chose to depict Shak speare standing as the highest of all. His best drawn characters challenge homage for consistency unexemplified anywhere except in Shakspeare himself, and the passion they exhibit is more lurid and more impresThe soul is stirred and the mind appalled by the pictures sive than almost anything in the literature of that epoch. of daring, tempestuous, unscrupulous wickedness Middleton elects to supply. To the student of manners, meanwhile, his comedies are a source of perpetual delight. Not very edifying is, perhaps, the world into which he neglected the doings of the wise and virtuous, and has takes you. Comedy, however, since the beginning has preferred to dwell upon the foolish, the criminal, the base. A perusal of half a dozen early comedies of Middleton will give a man a better insight into wild and riotous life in the times of Elizabeth and James than can be obtained from all the histories and biographies ex

tant.

The writings in which these pictures, powerful or comic, are to be found have now for the first time been edited in their integrity. That the additions to Dyce's edition of writings of Middleton made by Mr. Bullen are important, Mr. Bullen himself will not assert. Except when lighted up by the fire of some passion, or when portraying vice in its liveliest aspects, Middleton is not exhilarating. The poems, tracts, and masques are accordingly printed as a matter of conscientiousness rather than of supposed advantage. These constitute, however, but a small portion of Middleton's works. The value, meanwhile, of Mr. Bullen's additions, in the shape of suggested readings in a corrupt text and of analytical, critical, or bibliographical information will scarcely be disputed. Mr. Bullen is, in fact, a born scholar. He has more than taste; he has what may almost be called the instinot of divination. To this he adds sound judgment and high taste; and he backs up all by conscientious labour. Since Dyce we have had no equally competent editor of our early drama, and the stores of Dyce's erudition are, of course, at his command. We can but repeat our warm commendation and welcome of this delightful edition of a great dramatist, which in all bibliographical respects is also entitled to high praise. Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs. By the Countess Evelyn Martinengo-Cesaresco. (Redway.) THE subject of folk-poetry is a very wide one, and the Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco has made no attempt in this volume to grapple with it in its entirety. The book is, in fact, nothing but a collection of miscellaneous articles on folk-lore written by this lady at divers times for sundry magazines and reviews. The essays are thir teen in number, and respectively treat of the inspiration of death in folk-poetry; nature in folk-songs; Armenian, Venetian, and Sicilian folk songs; the Greek songs of Calabria; the folk-songs of Provence; the White Paternoster; the diffusion of ballads; songs for the rite of May; the idea of fate in southern traditions; folk-lullabies and folk-dirges. It cannot be said that the subjects are exhaustively treated. For instance, in the article on the songs for the rite of May, though the writer gives some of the doggerel verses which are sung by the children of Great Missenden, she takes no notice of the Hitchin mayer's song, which is given in Hone, and is still current in the neighbourhood. And again, in the same article, though she refers to the song of the Swedish children sung by them when collecting the provisions for the Maj gille, she makes no reference to the songs still sung in parts of Sweden round the bonfires on Valborg-Mass-Eve, or to the May song sung by the young Swedes, carrying birch twigs with newly opened leaves, before the doors of the

farmhouses. A list of books of reference is given at the end of the volume, but there is no index of any sort or kind.

Elfrica. By Mrs. Edmund Boger. 3 vols. (Swan Sonnenschein & Co.)

So much historical truth and so many matters of antiquarian interest underlie this attractive narrative of our well-known contributor, the author of Southwark and its Story,' some justification is afforded for departure from the rule banishing from our columns all modern work partaking in any noteworthy degree of the character of fiction. Struck, in her task of collecting myths and legends belonging to her native county of Somerset, with the heroic figures of John de Courcy and his friend Almeric de Tristram, Mrs. Boger has narrated at full length the fortunes of the former in his invasion of Ireland; his marriage with Africa or Affrica (for whose name is substituted that of Elfrica), daughter of the King of the Isle of Man; and his combat, if such it can be called, for the championship. Of these and other incidents a stirring record is supplied, and the whole constitutes attractive reading. Many historical characters, including Sir William de Briwere, are depicted, and a specially interesting account is given of Glastonbury Abbey and other spots of sacred or legendary associations. Much archæological information and conjecture concerning the twelfth century may be agreeably ob

tained from these volumes.

Christ's Hospital List of University Exhibitioners, 1566-1885. By A. W. Lockhart. Second Edition. (Privately Printed.)

SINCE the appearance, ten years ago, of the first edition of this list of the entire body of exhibitioners at Christ's Hospital (noticed 6th S. iv. 180) Mr. Lockhart, by whom it was compiled, has become steward of the hospital. The information then supplied has been revised and brought up to date. As biography passes from the borderland of romance into the domain of actual fact, the value of works of this class increases. For purposes of reference a copy of this list should be in every public library. The task of some of the contributors to Mr. Leslie Stephen's Dictionary of National Biography' will be lightened by a reference to its contents, and some applications to N. & Q' will be forestalled. The work, which is executed throughout in scholarly fashion, can only be obtained at the counting-house of the hospital.

MR. ARTHUR GYLES, of Waterloo Crescent, Notting. ham, has issued a 'Directory of Second-hand Booksellers in the Principal Towns of the United Kingdom.' It does not pretend to completeness, but gives very many names and is interleaved for additions. Some curious statistics may be drawn from its pages. Aberdeen has thus twentythree second-hand booksellers, and Bradford only five, Carlisle three, and Manchester, with many times the population of Aberdeen, only nineteen. Wolverhampton has only two, and York no more than three. London, of course, heads the list with nearly two hundred.

IN including in "The Chandos Classics" a revised edition of The Fables of Pilpay, with illustrations, Messrs. F. Warne & Co. add to the value of that aug: menting series, and bring within reach of all classes of readers, in a pleasant shape and with good illustrations, a work which, apart from its literary merits, has exercised a remarkable influence upon European literature.

THE late Thomas North was engaged at the time of his decease on a History of the Church Bells of Hertfordshire and their Founders.' His unfinished MSS. were placed in the hands of Mr. Stahlschmidt, the author of Surrey Bells and their Founders,' who has edited and

completed the work. It will be issued in a few days by Mr. Elliot Stock.

Notices to Correspondents.

We must call special attention to the following notices: ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

To secure insertion of communications correspondents must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication "Duplicate."

ALFRED G. KEMP ( Address to the Egyptian Mummy in Belzoni's Exhibition ').-This poem, by Horace Smith, is said to have first appeared in the New Monthly Maga zine. It is reprinted in The Poetical Album,' by Alaric A. Watts (Hurst, Chance & Co., 1828), in The Poetical Works, Comic and Miscellaneous, of Horace Smith' (Colburn, 1851), and in other collections. With the reply of the mummy we are unacquainted. Some correspondent may be able to tell you where it is to be found.

T. MOORE ("Authors Wanted").- Adventures of Sir Frizzle Pumpkin,' by James White; 'Poems by E. S. H.,' by Elizabeth Sill Pearsall, Countess of Harrington; Coila's Whispers,' by the Knight of Morar, Sir Wm. Augustus Fraser, fourth baronet. France Daguerreotyped,' 1842; Violenzia: a Tragedy,' 1851; Modern Manicheism,' 1857; Vasco: a Tragedy,' 1868; and Nights at the Mess,' 1836, we must leave to others.

·

JOHNSON BAILY ("The Badge of both Churches").— Grynæus belonged to a family of Swiss reformers, for information concerning whom consult either of the two great French biographical dictionaries, Biographie Universelle' of M. Michaud, or the 'Nouvelle Biographie Générale' of Dr. Hoefer. Who is T. M., the translator, is not known. A perfect copy of the work sold in 1855 for 31. 18s. It is not common, but without a title-page is not likely to be much sought after.

G. E. M. ("Inscription on Fonts, Nipov ȧvoμýpara, &e.").-Full information concerning this palindrome is found in N. & Q.' at 4th S. xi. 198, 288, 313, 410, 495; xii. 58, and at other references.

M. HARRIS ("Balloon Ascents").-Consult Turner's 'Astra Castra."

A. H. ("Elizabeth Dorothy Child ").-Shall appear. To secure the insertion of some other queries it will be necessary to give name and address.

W. J. T. ("For only in destroying I find ease ").— Milton, Paradise Lost,' ix. 129.

E. W. ("Harrison's 'Rapin's History of England ""). -This edition is in very slight estimation.

NORMAN. None of the books you mention has any real value. The 'Lettres Originales' of Madame Du Barry sells in Paris for half a dozen francs.

ERRATUM.-P. 324, col. 2, 1. 20, for "Bechingley read Blechingley.

NOTICE.

"

Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of Notes and Queries ""-Advertisements and Business Letters to "The Publisher"-at the Office, 22, Took's Court, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, E.C.

We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1886.

CONTENTS.-N° 19.

NOTES:-History of the Thames, 361-Dutch Britons-Effects of the English Accent, 363-Transmission of Folk-Tales, 364 -Romans in Ireland, 365-"Tipped the wink "-Presentiments not fulfilled-"To call a spade a spade"-Michael Bruce's Cuckoo,' 366-Folk-lore, 367.

may therefore conclude, with some probability, that the language which gave Britain its name was once generally spoken in the Spanish peninsula; and further, perhaps, that the same language which supplied the root "" tan "territory, supplied also the root "bret"=straits. But here I come to the end of my tether. The root "tan," common

of Theatrical Portraits-L'Authentique-Engraved Portraits, 867-W. W.-Fylfot-Heriot-Babmae-Geo. Lynn-Tyneside Words-Rois des Français-Cromwell-Walter Pasleu -Lady Dorothy Child, 368-Identification of PortraitsAllington's Vision in London-Cook-Monro-Mendelssohn -Orgazill, 369-Jupiter-Verger of Christ Church-Stichera -Library of Mary, Queen of Scots, 370.

ing Hats in Church- The Visions of Tundale '-Patron

Howard's Dramas-Regatta-"Man alive"-Streanaeshalch Biography Address to a Mummy-Bunyan's Pilgrim's Flamborough and Kirk Ella, 375- Dictionary of National Progress'-Rhyming Charters-Billiards, 376-Blunder of Thackeray-Pontefract, 377-Blue Stone-CantankerousCharke-Memoirs of Grimaldi-Historical Parallel-Bumboat Woman-Authors Wanted, 378.

NOTES ON BOOKS:-Uzanne's Nos Amis les Livres'Wheatley's 'How to form a Library -Gray's 'Ancient Burmese Proverbs.'

Notices to Correspondents, &c.

Notes.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A HISTORY OF THE THAMES.

CHAPTER XIX.

With no assistance, then, from philology, but simply by an examination of the circumstantial evidence, we have arrived at what I venture to think is a strong presumption that the name of our island is derived from a root signifying "straits"; that Brettioi means "straits men "; and Brittia, the "straits settlement"; Britannia, "the stretch of territory on the straits "; Britanni, "the dwellers in the territory on the straits"; and Britannic,"geographically situated on the straits." One further non-philological inference is also justifiable. The root "tan," which appears to form part of the word Bret-tan-ia, is found in more than a score names of territories and peoples in the Spanish peninsula, while of the nine or ten found outside that area three at least are known to be more or less closely connected with Spain. Of the remaining six or seven, one belongs to Illyria, three to Italy and Sicily, and three-one of which is doubtful-to our own islands.* We

*In Smith's 'Dictionary of Geography' I find,-in the Spanish peninsula: Ausetani, Bastitani, Bergistani, Carpetani, Cerretani, Contestani, Cosetani, Deitania, Dittani, Edetani, Gadetani, Jacetani, Lecetani, Laeaetani, Lobetani, Lusitania, Océtani, Suessetani, Turdetani,

In the meanwhile, for all I know to the contrary, the philological connexion which Spenser sugbe something more than merely fanciful. Spenser's gests between Britain and Britomartis may possibly Britomartis, indeed, who gives her name to the third book of the Faery Queen,' is nothing more than a treble-barrelled compliment to Queen Bess herself, and probably no courtier ever contrived to charge a single word with such a rich variety of flattery, the "Brito-" portraying her as the embodiment of all the glory of all the Britons, the -martis " as the martial heroine invincible by king or emperor or pope, and the "Britomartis as goddess of inviolable chastity and mistress of the seas. But the name Britomartis itself is older than many of the hills. In the earlier legends she is a daughter of Zeus, by Carme, daughter of Phoenix, presumably, therefore, of Phoenician origin. A nymph of Artemis, her beauty attracts the lawless affections of Minos, King of Crete, and in order to avoid his pursuit, she flings herself into the sea off Mount Dictynnæum. One version represents her as saving herself by hiding under the fishermen's nets, another as killed by the fall, though her corpse was recovered by the fishermen, who dragged it ashore in their nets. Anyway, Artemis subsequently made a goddess of her, and gave instructions that she should be worshipped together with herself, and thus it came about that she was ultimately identified with Artemis as the special patroness of fishermen and sailors. The temples peculiarly dedicated to her cult were at Mount Dictynnæum and Cydonia in Crete, the island Urcetani, and the cities Astigitana and Egitania. Beyond the Spanish peninsula are Aquitania (Gaul), Atintania (Illyria), Britannia, Caeretani (Etruria), Coritani? (Britain), Erpeditani (Ireland), Frentani (Central Italy), Mauretania (North-West Africa), Panormitani? (Sicily), Tingitani (Africa). I am not sure that this list is com plete. There is a capital index to Smith's 'Geography,' but it has no list of the entries themselves, which is always desirable in a work of the kind.