Part 5
_"Genealogies of the Mordaunt Family," by the Earl of Peterborough_ (Vol. vi., p. 553.).--Bridges, in his _History of Northamptonshire_, vol. ii. p. 252., states that twenty-four copies of the work were printed. There is a large paper copy of the work, in the library at Drayton House, the former seat of the Mordaunts, now the property of W.B. Stopford, Esq.
J. B.
_Niágara, or Niagára?_ (Vol. vi., p. 555.).--An enthusiastic person, of the name of Pemberton (who had spent much time at the Falls, and was so enthusiastic in his admiration of them that he protested he _could not_ keep away from them, and went back and died there), informed me that the proper name was _Ni-ágara_ or _aghera_,--two Indian words signifying "Hark to the thunder."
J. G.
_Maudlin_ (Vol. vi., p. 552.).--Your Massachusetts correspondent comes a long way for information which he might surely have obtained on his own side of the Atlantic. Dr. Johnson says, "_Maudlin_ is the corrupt appellation of _Magdalen_, who is drawn by painters with swollen eyes and disordered look." And do we not know that Magdalene College is always called _Maudlin_, and that _Madeleine_ is the French orthography? very closely resembling our vernacular pronunciation?
J. G.
_Spiritual Persons employed in Lay Offices_ (Vol. vi., pp. 376. 567.).--Your correspondents W. and E. H. A. seem to have overlooked the modern instances of this practice, which the _London Gazette_ has recently recorded, in {51} announcing the appointment of several clergymen as deputy-lieutenants. This is an office which is so far of a military character, that it is supposed to place the holder in the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and certainly entitles him to wear a military uniform. If these members of the "church militant" should be presented at Her Majesty's Court in their new appointment, will they appear in their clerical or military habit?
[Omega]. [Phi].
_Passage in Burke_ (Vol. vi., p. 556.).--The reply to QUANDO TANDEM'S Query is given, I imagine, by Burke himself, in a passage which occurs only a few lines after that which has been quoted:
"Little did I dream that she should ever be obliged to carry the sharp antidote against disgrace concealed in that bosom."
This means, I suppose, that Marie Antoinette carried a dagger, with which, _more Romano_, she would have committed suicide, had her brutal persecutors assaulted her.
ALFRED GATTY.
_Ensake and Cradock Arms_ (Vol. vi., p. 533.).--In a pedigree of the family of Barnwell, of Cransley in Northamptonshire, now before me, I find emblazoned the arms of Ensake: Paly of six azure and or, on a bend sable three mullets pierced. Cradock: Argent, three boars' heads couped sable armed or.
G. A. C.
_Sich House_ (Vol. vi., pp. 363. 568.).--_Sike_ or _syke_, a word in common use in the south of Scotland, and on the Border, meaning a small water run. In Jamieson's _Dictionary_ it is spelt "_Sike_, _syik_, _syk_, a rill or rivulet; one that is usually dry in summer; a small stream or rill; a marshy bottom with a small stream in it."
J. S.S.
_Americanisms so called_ (Vol. vi., p. 554.).--The word _bottom_, signifying a piece of low ground, whether _upon_ a stream of water or not, is English. I recollect two places at this moment (both dry), in the county of Surrey, to which the word is applied, viz. Smitham Bottom, to the north of Reigate, through which the railway runs; and Boxhill Bottom, a few miles to the westward, in the same range of chalk hills.
_Sparse_ and _sparsely_, it is said by UNEDA of Philadelphia, _are_ Americanisms. This, however, is not so. There is a Query on the word _sparse_ in Vol. i., p. 215. by C. FORBES: and on p. 251. of the same volume J. T. STANLEY supposes it to be an Americanism, on the authority of the _Penny Cyclopædia_.
I have a strong conviction that I then wrote to "N. & Q." to claim the word _sparse_ as aboriginal to the British Isles, for I find memoranda I had made at the time on the margin of my Jamieson's _Dictionary_ on the subject; but I do not find that what I then wrote had been printed in "N. & Q."
In the _Supplement to Jamieson's Dictionary_ is the following: "SPARS, SPARSE, _adj._ widely spread; as, 'sparse writing' is wide open writing, occupying a large space." The word is in common use throughout the south of Scotland.
I have come to be of opinion that there are few, if any, words that are real Americanisms, but that (except where the substance or the subject is quite modern) almost every word and expression now in use among the Anglo-Americans may be traced to some one of the old provincial dialects of the British Isles.
J. S.S.
_The Folger Family_ (Vol. vi., p. 583.).--I do not know whether there are any of that name in Wales, but there was a family of that name near Tregony in Cornwall some years ago, and may be now. I am not quite certain whether they spell it Folger or Fulger, but rather think the latter was the mode of spelling it.
S. JENNINGS-G.
_Wake Family_ (Vol. vi., p. 290.).--The Rev. Robert Wake was vicar of Ogbourne, St. Andrew, Wilts, from 1703 to 1715, N.S., during which time he had these children:--Thomas, born the 17th of July, 1706, and baptized on the 28th of the same month; Elizabeth and Anne, both baptized on the 16th of July, 1711.
ARTHUR R. CARTER.
Camden Town.
_Shakspeare's "Twelfth Night"_ (Vol. vi., p. 584.).--Agreeing with MR. SINGER in his doubts regarding the propriety of changing the word _case_ into _face_, in the line,--
"When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy _case_"--
I would instance a passage in _Measure for Measure_, where Angelo says--
"O place! O form! How often dost thou with thy _case_, thy habit, Wrench awe from fools," &c.
W. C.
_Electrical Phenomena_ (Vol. vi., p. 555.).--The case recorded by ADSUM is not at all an infrequent one, and the phenomena alluded to have been noticed for a very long period, and are of very common occurrence in dry states of the atmosphere. The following, from Daniel's _Introduction to Chemical Philosophy_ (a most useful work for general readers), will probably explain all that ADSUM is desirous of knowing:
"It was first observed by Otto de Guericke and Hawsbee, that the friction of glass and resinous substances not only produced the phenomena which we have just described (those of vitreous and resinous electricity), but, under favourable circumstances, was accompanied by a rustling or crackling noise; and, when the experiment was made in a dark room, by flashes and sparks of light upon their surfaces. When once the attention has been directed to the observation, {52} most persons will find that such phenomena of electrical light are familiar occurrences, and often present themselves in suddenly drawing off from the person a silk stocking, or a flannel waistcoat, or in the _friction of long hair by combing_. How small a degree of friction is sufficient to excite electricity in the human body, is shown in a striking way by placing a person upon an insulating stool (with glass legs). If in such a position he place his finger upon a gold-leaf electrometer, and another person flip him lightly with a silk handkerchief, the leaves will immediately repel each other" (resinous electricity has been excited).--Page 205. par. 307.
S. JENNINGS-G.
_Daubuz Family_ (Vol. vi., p. 527.).--Where are the descendants of this worthy family (Daubuz)? It may possibly give MR. CORSER a clue to the information he desires, if I tell him that there is a very respectable family of that name in Cornwall. One lives in the neighbourhood of Truro, and a brother is vicar of Creed, near Grampound, Cornwall. The father of these gentlemen was the first of the family, I believe, who resided in Cornwall, where he amassed a large fortune from his connexion with mining speculations.
S. JENNINGS-G.
_Lord Nelson_ (Vol. vi., p. 576.).--I am obliged to MR. KERSLEY for giving me an opportunity of reconciling my statement respecting Dr. Scott (Vol. vi., p. 438.) with the inscription on Mr. Burke's monument. Both, I believe, are true. I quote from the _Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson_, by William Beatty, M.D. &c. The copy of this work which is before me has the following in Sir W. Beatty's own handwriting: "To the Rev. Doctor Scott, with every sentiment of regard, by his friend and messmate, the author." In this "narrative," Dr. Scott and Mr. Burke are generally described as personally attending on Lord Nelson from the time of his being brought down into the cockpit. And at p. 50. it is said: "Doctor Scott and Mr. Burke, who had all along sustained the bed under his shoulders," &c.: and again at p. 51. "His lordship breathed his last at thirty minutes past four o'clock: at which period Dr. Scott was in the act of rubbing his lordship's breast, and Mr. Burke supporting the bed under his shoulders." All this is represented in West's beautiful picture, which hangs, in a bad light, in the hall of Greenwich Hospital.
There is another claimant for the honour of having been Nelson's last nurse, whose name I forget. His pretensions are recorded on a tablet to his memory in the chapel of Greenwich Hospital. Dr. Scott's daughter, who was with me there one day, remonstrated on the subject with old blue jacket who lionised us. And I put in the lady's right to speak with some authority. But "what is writ is writ," was enough for our guide: we could make nothing of him, for he fought our arguments as if they had been so many guns of the enemy.
ALFRED GATTY.
_Robes and Fees in the Days of Robin Hood_ (Vol. vi., p. 479.).--In translating the ordinances and statutes against maintainers and conspirators, MR. LEWELLYN CURTIS more than once translates "gentz de _pais_," by "persons of _peace_." This is a material error: it should be "_of the country_;" "pays," not "paix." For the subject referred to, Mr. Foss's _Judges of England_, vol. iii., should be consulted.
J. BT.
_Wray_ (Vol. iv., p. 164.).--In one of the Wray pedigrees in Burke's _Landed Gentry_, it is stated that the Yorkshire family of that name originally resided in Coverdale in Richmondshire.
In Clarkson's _History of Richmond_ is a pedigree of the "Wrays," which commences (if I rightly recollect) with an ancestor (six or eight years before him) of Sir Christopher Wray, of whose fore-elders, some lived at St. Nicholas, near to Richmond.
I have traced a family of the name of _Wray_ or _Wraye_ for three centuries back, in Wensleydale, and at Coverham in Coverdale (both in Richmondshire), but am unable to connect it by direct evidence with either of the pedigrees above referred to; and should be much obliged for any information touching any part of the family in Richmondshire, particularly such as might aid in showing the relation of the several branches to one another.
With reference to the origin of the name, I may mention, that there is a valley called Raydale, between Wensleydale and Craven, adjacent to Coverdale and also a village in Westmoreland, near to the western extremity of Wensleydale, called _Wray_ or _Ray_.
The arms of the Wensleydale Wrays are: azure, a chevron ermine between three helmets proper on a chief or, three martlets gules; crest a martlet, and motto "Servabo fidem."
I am informed that there is to be found, in the Heralds' College, an entry of a _Wray_ pedigree with these arms; and I should be glad to have particulars of such entry.
The motto of the St. Nicholas family is, to the best of my recollection, "Et juste et vraye:" a canting motto, as is that of
PAK-RAE.
Calcutta.
_Irish Rhymes_ (Vol. vi., pp. 431. 539. 605.).--For the benefit of Irishmen, I beg to adduce Shakspeare as a writer of _Irish Rhymes_. In that exquisite little song called for by Queen Catharine, "to soothe her soul grown sad with troubles," we have:
"Everything that heard him _play_, Even the billows of the _sea_."
W. C.
{53}
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Miscellaneous.
NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
We have received a copy of _Notes and Emendations on the Text of Shakspeare's Plays from Early Manuscript Corrections in a Copy of the Folio in the Possession of J. Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A., forming a Supplemental Volume to the Works of Shakspeare, by the same Editor, in Eight Volumes, 8vo._ With the nature of this volume the readers of "N. & Q." are already so fully acquainted, from the frequent references which have been made to it in these columns, that on this occasion we feel that we need do little more than record its publication, and the fact that it appears to be edited with the same scrupulous care, for which all works which appeared under the superintendence of Mr. Collier are invariably distinguished. That all the critics will agree either with the MS. corrections, or with Mr. Collier in his estimate of the value of the emendations, is not to be expected; but all will acknowledge that he has done good service to Shakspearian literature by their publication.
"The New Year," observes _The Athenæum_, "opens with some announcements of promise in our own literary world. Mr. Bentley announces the Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox, on which the late Lord Holland was understood to be so long engaged. The work, however, is now to be edited by Lord John Russell, and to extend to two volumes octavo. The same publisher promises a history, in one large volume, of 'The Administration of the East India Company,' by Mr. Kaye, author of the 'History of the War in Affghanistan;' and a 'History (in two volumes octavo) of the Colonial Policy of the British Empire from 1847 to 1851,' by the present Earl Grey.--The fifth and concluding volume of 'The Letters of the Earl of Chesterfield,' including some new letters now first published from the original MSS., under the editorship, as before, of Lord Mahon, will, we believe, shortly appear.--Two volumes of 'Letters of the Poet Gray,' so often announced by Mr. Bentley, are to come out at last during the present season. They will be edited by the Rev. J. Mitford, author of 'The Life of Gray.'--Nor is Mr. Murray without his usual attractive bill of fare for the literary appetite. The Lowe Papers, left in a mass of confusion at the death of Sir Harris Nicolas, are now nearly ready; and the St. Helena Life of Napoleon will appear, it is said, for the first time, as far as Sir Hudson Lowe is concerned, in its true light. The Castlereagh Papers (now in Mr. Murray's hands) will include matter of moment connected with the Congress of Vienna, the Battle of Waterloo, and the occupation of Paris. The same publisher announces The Speeches of the Duke of Wellington (to which we called attention some time back):--also a work by Mr. George Campbell, called 'India as it may be,'--and another by Captain Elphinstone Erskine about the Western Pacific and Feejee Islands.--The Messrs. Longman announce a Private Life of Daniel Webster, by his late Private Secretary, Mr. Charles Lanman--and a new work by Signor Mariotti, 'An Historical Memoir of Fra Dolcino and his Times.'--Mr. Bohn will have ready in a few days 'Yule-Tide Legends,' a collection of Scandinavian Tales and Tradition, edited by B. Thorpe, Esq.--Messrs. Hurst and Blackett--whose names now take the place of Mr. Colburn's, as his successors--are about to publish Memoirs of the Court and Cabinets of George the Third, to be compiled from original family documents by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos."
We need scarcely remind the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries who may have in their minds suggestions for the improvement of the Society, how desirable it is that they should bring those suggestions at once under the consideration of the Committee just appointed. We are sure that all such as are submitted to Mr. Hawkins and his colleagues will receive every attention; and we trust that the Committee will at once proceed to their task, so that the Society may have time to well consider their Report before the Anniversary in April.
BOOKS RECEIVED.--_Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, by various Writers_. Edited by William Smith. Part V. The new issue of this most useful work extends from _Campi Raudii_ to _Cimolus_.--_Cyclopædia Bibliographica, a Library Manual of Theological and General Literature, Analytical, Bibliographical, and Biographical._ Part IV. of this useful guide for authors, preachers, students, and literary men, extends from Henry Bull to Isaac Chauncy.--_The Journal of Sacred Literature._ New Series. Edited by Dr. Kitto. No. VI.--_Swift and Richardson_, by Lord Jeffrey, is the new Number of Longman's _Traveller's Library_.--_The Goose Girl at the Well_, &c., completes the interesting collection of Grimm's _Household Stories_.--_The Shakspeare Repository_ is the first Number of a work especially devoted to Shakspeare, containing a great variety of matter illustrative of his life and writings, by J. H. Fennell.--_The Chess Player's Chronicle_, the first Number of which professes and appears to be an improved series of this indispensable Chess Player's companion.
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BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
LUD. GUICCIARDINI'S DESCRIP. BELGII.
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BEN JONSON'S WORKS. (London, 1716. 6 Vols.) Vol. II. wanted.
THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. (Original Edition.) Vol. I.
RAPIN'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 8vo. Vols. I., III. and V. of the CONTINUATION by TINDAL. 1744.
SHARPE'S PROSE WRITERS. Vol. IV. 21 Vols. 1819. Piccadilly.
INCHBALD'S BRITISH THEATRE. Vol. XXIV. 25 Vols. Longman.
MEYRICK'S ANCIENT ARMOUR, by SKELTON. Part XVI.
DONNE, [Greek: Biathanatos], 4to. First Edition, 1644.
------ ------ Second Edition, 1648.
---- PSEUDO-MARTYR. 4to.
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MEMOIRS OF THE DUCHESS OF ABRANTES. (Translation.) 8 vols. 8vo. Bentley.
POEMS OF "ALASDAIR MAC MHAIGHSTIR ALASDAIR" MACDONALD.
{54} SMITH'S COLLECTANEA ANTIQUA. 2 vols. 8vo.; or Vol. I.
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RELIGIO MILITIS; or Christianity for the Camp. Longmans, 1826.
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Notices to Correspondents.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.--_In our early Numbers we inserted an address to Correspondents, in which we observed, "Correspondents will see, on a very little reflection, that it is plainly the Editor's interest to take all he can get, and make the most and the best of everything; and therefore he begs them to take for granted that their communications are received and appreciated, even if the succeeding Numbers bear no proof of it. He is convinced that the want of specific acknowledgment will only be felt by those who have no idea of the labour and difficulty attendant on the hurried management of such a work, and of the impossibility of sometimes giving an explanation, when there really is one which would quite satisfy the writer, for the delay or non-insertion of his communication. Correspondents in such cases have no reason, and, if they understood an Editor's position, they would feel that they have no right, to consider themselves undervalued: but nothing short of personal experience in editorship would explain to them the perplexities and evil consequences arising from the opposite course." We have thought well to repeat this general explanation because we have this week received two inquiries respecting the non-insertion of communications, neither party giving us his name nor the subject of the non-inserted communication._
H. H. H.'s (Ashburton) _letter has been forwarded to_ DR. DIAMOND. _It is not the first by many which we have received expressive of the writer's thanks for his valuable Photographic Papers._
ALPHA _complains in so generous a spirit that we regret we cannot agree with him. We assure him that, on the first point on which he writes, he is the only one who has so written, while we have had dozens of letters of thanks; and he will see in the present No._ (antè, p. 34.) _the value of the art recognised by a gentleman under whose notice it would probably never have been brought in a purely scientific journal. The second suggestion is one to which we, and many of our brethren of the Press, have turned our attention frequently, but hitherto unsuccessfully. The difficulties are greater than ALPHA imagines._
T. W. U. KEYE. _Will our Correspondent favour us with particulars?_
ENQUIRER _cannot do better than follow the directions for the Paper Process given by_ DR. DIAMOND _in our last Number. We hope soon to be able to give him satisfactory information on the other points of his communication_.
THE INDEX AND TITLE-PAGE _to our Sixth Volume will be ready for delivery on Saturday next_.
_A neat case for holding the Numbers of_ "NOTES AND QUERIES," _until the completion of each Volume, is now ready, price_ 1s. 6d., _and may be had, by order, of all Booksellers and Newsmen_.
ERRATUM. _In the Number of last week the passage from the Septuagint quoted at_ p. 14. _ought to have stood thus_: "[Greek: gegraptai de, auton palin agastêsesthai meth' hôn ho Kurios anistêsin]."--Cambridge edition of 1665.
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SHAKSPEARE SOCIETY.
MR. PAYNE COLLIER'S Volume of Notes and Emendations on the Text of SHAKSPEARE, derived from the unpublished and highly important manuscript corrections, made by a cotemporary, in the Folio Edition of 1632, will be ready on the 11th instant for delivery to the Subscribers who have paid their Subscription for the year ending December, 1852, at the Agents', MR. SKEFFINGTON, 192. Piccadilly.
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