Part 2

Saponti (G. M.). Notificazione per la solenne Benedizione della nuova Campana da Collocarsi nella Metropolitana di S. Lorenzo. Geneva, 1750.

Seligmann (Got. Fr). De Campana Urinatoria. Leipsiae, 1677, 4to.

* Stockflet (Ar.). Dissertatio de Campanarum Usu. 4to., Altdorfii, 1665, 1666.

* Storius (G. M.). De Campanis Templorum. 4to., Leipsiae, 1692.

Swertius (Fran.).

Thiers (G. B.). Des Cloches. 12mo., Paris, 1602, 1619.

Thiers (J. B). Traite des Cloches. Paris, 1721.

* Walleri (Ar.). De Campanis et praecipuis earum Usibus. 8vo. Holmiae, 1694.

Willietti (Car.) Ragguaglio delle Campane di Viliglia. 4to., Roma, 1601.

Zech (F. S.). De Campanis et Instrumentis Musicis.

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Without enumerating any Encyclopaedias (in most of which may be found very able and interesting articles on the subject), in the following works the best treatises for all _practical_ purposes will be found:

Pirotechnia, del Vannuccio Biringuccio, nobile Senese, 1540, 1550, 1559, 1678. There is a French translation of it by Jasper Vincent, 1556--1572, 1627. The tenth chapter is about bells. Magius refers to it in these words:--"In illa, perscriptum in Italico Sermone, et delineatum quisque reperiet, quicquid ad artem ediscendam conducit, usque adeo, ut et quo pacto, Campanae in turribus constituantur ac moveantur, edoceat, optimeque figuris delineatis commonstret."

Ducange in Glossario, in vocibus Aes, Campana, Codon, Cloca, Crotalum, Glogga, Lebes, Nola, Petasus, Signum, Squilla, Tintinnabulum.

Mersenni (F. M.). Harmonicorum Libri XII. Paris, 1629, 1643. (Liber Quartus de Campanis.) This and Biringuccio contain all the art and mystery of bell-casting, &c. &c.

Puffendorff. De Campanarum Usu in obitu Parochiani publice significando, in ejus Observationibus. Jur. Univers., p. iv. No. 104.

And now with regard to our English authors; their productions seem to be confined chiefly to the _Art of Ringing_, as the following list will show:

Tintinalogia, or the Art of Ringing improved, by T. W[hite]. 18mo., 1668. This is the book alluded to by Dr. Burney, in his _History of Music_, vol. iv. p. 413.

Campanalogia, or the Art of Ringing improved. 18mo., 1677. This was by _Fabian Steadman_.

Campanalogia, improved by I. D. and C. M., London scholars. 18mo., 1702.

Ditto 2nd edition 18mo., 1705.

Ditto 3rd edition 18mo., 1733.

Ditto 4th edition 18mo., 1753.

Ditto 5th edition, by J. Monk. 18mo., 1766.

The School of Recreation, or Gentleman's Tutor in various Exercises, one of which is _Ringing_. 1684.

Clavis Campanalogia, by Jones, Reeves, and Blackmore. 12mo., 1788. Reprinted in 1796 and 1800?

The Ringer's True Guide, by S. Beaufoy. 12mo., 1804.

The Campanalogia, or Universal Instructor in the Art of Ringing, by William Shipway. 12mo., 1816.

Elements of Campanalogia, by H. Hubbard. 12mo., 1845.

The Bell: its Origin, History, and Uses, by Rev. A. Gatty. 12mo., 1847.

Ditto, enlarged. 1848.

Blunt's Use and Abuse of Church Bells. 8vo., 1846.

Ellacombe's Practical Remarks on Belfries and Ringers. 8vo., 1850.

Ellacombe's Paper on Bells, with Illustrations, in the Report of Bristol Architectural Society. 1850.

Croome's Few Words on Bells and Bell-ringing. 8vo., 1851.

Woolf's Address on the Science of Campanology. Tract. 1851.

Plain Hints to Bell-ringers. No. 47. of _Parochial Tracts_. 1852?

The Art of Change-ringing, by B. Thackrah. 12mo., 1852.

To these may be added, as single poetical productions,

The Legend of the Limerick Bell Founder, published in the _Dublin University Mag._, Sept. 1847.

The Bell, by Schiller.

Perhaps some courteous reader of "N. & Q." may be able to correct any error there may be in the list, or to add to it.

There is a curious collection of MSS. on the subject by the late Mr. Osborn, among the _Additional MSS._, Nos. 19,368 and 19,373.

H. T. ELLACOMBE.

Rectory, Clyst St. George.

* * * * *

INEDITED LETTER OF LORD NELSON.

I have in my possession a long letter written by Lord Nelson, sixteen days before the battle of Trafalgar, to the Right Hon. Lord Barham, who was at that time First Lord of the Admiralty. As an autograph collector, I prize it much; and I think that the readers of "N. & Q." might be glad to see it. It has not yet, as far as I am aware, been published:

Victory, Oct. 5th, 1805.

My Dear Lord,

On Monday the French and Spanish ships took their troops on board which had been landed on their arrival, and it is said that they mean to sail the first fresh Levant wind. And as the Carthagena ships are ready, and, when seen a few days ago, had their topsail yards hoisted up, this looks like a junction. The position I have taken for this month, is from sixteen to eighteen leagues west of Cadiz; for, although it is most desirable that the fleet should be well up in the easterly winds, yet I must guard against being caught with a westerly wind near Cadiz: for a fleet of ships, with so many three-deckers, would inevitably be forced into the Straits, and then Cadiz would be perfectly free for them to come out with a westerly wind--as they served Lord Keith in the late war. I am most anxious for the arrival of frigates: less than eight, with the brigs, &c., as we settled, I find are absolutely inadequate for this service and to be with the fleet; and Spartel, Cape Cantin, or Blanco, and the Salvages, must be watched by fast-sailing vessels, in case any squadron should escape.

I have been obliged to send six sail of the line to water and get stores, &c. at Tetuan and Gibraltar; for if I did not begin, I should very {242} soon be obliged to take the whole fleet into the Straits. I have twenty-three sail with me, and should they come out, I shall immediately bring them to battle; but although I should not doubt of spoiling any voyage they may attempt, yet I hope for the arrival of the ships from England, that, as an enemy's fleet, they may be annihilated. Your Lordship may rely upon every exertion from

Your very faithful and obedient servant,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

I find the Guerrier is reduced to the command of a Lieutenant; I hope your Lordship will allow me to seek Sir William Bolton, and to place him in the first vacant frigate; he will be acting in a ship when the Captains go home with Sir Robert Calder. This will much oblige _me_.

If any valuable autographs come into my possession hereafter, you may expect to receive some account of them.

EUSTACE W. JACOB.

Crawley, Winchester.

* * * * *

FOLK LORE.

_Herefordshire Folk Lore._--Pray make an imperishable Note of the following concentration of Herefordshire folk lore, extracted from the "Report of the Secretary of the Diocesan Board of Education," as published in _The Times_ of Jan. 28, 1854:

"The observation of unlucky days and seasons is by no means unusual. The phases of the moon are regarded with great respect: in one medicine may be taken; in another it is advisable to kill a pig; over the doors of many houses may be found twigs placed crosswise, and never suffered to lose their cruciform position; and the horse-shoe preserves its old station on many a stable-door. Charms are devoutly believed in. A ring made from a shilling offered at the Communion is an undoubted cure for fits; hair plucked from the crop of an ass's shoulder, and woven into a chain, to be put round a child's neck, is powerful for the same purpose; and the hand of a corpse applied to a neck is believed to disperse a wen. Not long since, a boy was met running hastily to a neighbour's for some holy water, as the only hope of preserving a sick pig. The 'evil eye,' so long dreaded in uneducated countries, has its terrors amongst us; and if a person of ill life be suddenly called away, there are generally some who hear his 'tokens,' or see his ghost. There exists, besides, the custom of communicating deaths to hives of bees, in the belief that they invariably abandon their owners if the intelligence be withheld."

May not any one exclaim:

"O miseras hominum mentes! O pectora caeca! Qualibus in tenebris vitae, quantisque periclis Degitur hoc aevi, quodcunque est!"

S. G. C.

_Greenock Fair._--A very curious custom existed in this town, and in the neighbouring town of Port-Glasgow, within forty years; it has now entirely disappeared. I cannot but look upon it as a last remnant of the troublous times when arms were in all hands, and property liable to be openly and forcibly seized by bands of armed men. This custom was, that the whole trades of the town, in the dresses of their guilds, with flags and music, each man armed, made a grand rendezvous at the place where the fair was to be held, and with drawn swords and array of guns and pistols, surrounded the booths, and greeted the baillie's announcement by tuck of drum, "that Greenock fair was open," by a tremendous shout, and a straggling fire from every serviceable barrel in the crowd, and retired, bands playing and flags flying, &c., home. Does any such _wappenschau_ occur in England on such occasions now?

C. D. LAMONT.

Greenock.

_Dragons' Blood._--A peculiar custom exists amongst a class, with whom unfortunately the schoolmaster has not yet come very much in contact, when supposed to be deserted or slighted by a lover, of procuring dragons' blood; which being carefully wrapped in paper, is thrown on the fire, and the following lines said:

"May he no pleasure or profit see, Till he comes back again to me."

B. J. S.

_Charm for the Ague.--_

"Cut a few hairs from the cross marked on a donkey's shoulders. Enclose these hairs in a small bag, and wear it on your breast, next to the skin. If you keep your purpose secret, a speedy cure will be the result."

The foregoing charm was told to me a short time since by the agent of a large landed proprietor in a fen county. My informant gravely added, that he had known numerous instances of this charm being practised, and that in every case a cure had been effected. From my own knowledge, I can speak of another charm for the ague, in which the fen people put great faith, viz. a spider, covered with dough, and taken as a pill.

CUTHERT BEDE, B.A.

* * * * *

PSALMS FOR THE CHIEF MUSICIAN--HEBREW MUSIC.

The words [Hebrew: LMNTSCH BNGYNWT], at the head of Psalms iv., liv., lv., lxvii., and lxxvi., are rendered in the Septuagint and Vulgate [Greek: eis to telos], _in finem_, as if they had read [Hebrew: LANETSACH], omitting the [Hebrew: M] formative. The Syriac and Arabic versions omit this superscription altogether, from ignorance of the {243} musical sense of the words. The Chaldee reads [Chaldee: LSHBCH' `L CHNGYT'], "to be sung on the pipe." The word [Hebrew: LMNTSCH] is (from [Hebrew: NTSCH], to overcome, excel, or accomplish) a performance, and Aquila translates the entire title, [Greek: toi nikopoioi en psalmois melodema toi Dauid]; and Jerome, _Victori in Canticis, Psalmus David_. But Symmachus, [Greek: epinikios dia psalterion oide]; and Theodotius, [Greek: eis to nikos humnois], who must have read [Hebrew: LNTSCH]. The best reading is that of the present text, [Hebrew: LMNTSCH], which Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi render chief singer, or leader of the band (=_moderatorem chori musici_), as appropriate for a psalm to sung and played in divine service. Therefore the proper translation is, "For the leading performer upon the neginoth." The neginoth appear from the Greek translations, [Greek: dia psalterion] and [Greek: en psalmois] ([Greek: psallein] = playing on strings). and from its root, [Hebrew: NGN], _to strike_, to be stringed instruments, struck by the fingers or hand.

The words [Hebrew: LMNTSCH 'L HNCHYLWT] at the head of Psalm v. (for this is the only one so superscribed) should, perhaps, be read with [Hebrew: `L] instead of [Hebrew: 'L] meaning, "For the leading performer on the nehiloth." The nehiloth appear from the root [Hebrew: CHLL], _to bore through_, and in Piel, _to play the flute_, to be the same instruments as the _na-y_ of the Arabs, similar to the English flute, blown, not transversely as the German flute, but at the end, as the oboe. But the Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotius translate [Greek: huper tes kleronomouses]: and hence the Vulgate _pro ea, quae hereditatem consequitur_; and Jerome, _pro hereditatibus_. Suidas explains [Greek: kleronomousa] by [Greek: ekklesia], which is the sense of the Syriac.

Psalm vi. is headed [Hebrew: BNGYNWT `L HSHMYNYT], and Psalm vi. [Hebrew: `L SHMYNYT], without the "neginoth;" and the "sheminith" is also mentioned (Chron. xv. 21.). The Chaldee and Jarchi translate "Harps of eight strings." The Septuagint, Vulgate, Aquila, and Jerome, [Greek: huper tes ogdoes], appear also to have understood an instrument of eight strings.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Birmingham.

* * * * *

Minor Notes.

"_Garble._"--MR. C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY has called attention to a growing corruption in the use of the word "eliminate," and I trust he may be able to check its progress. The word _garble_ has met with very similar usage, but the corrupt meaning is now the only one in which it is ever used, and it would be hopeless to try and restore it to its original sense.

The original sense of "to _garble_" was a good one, not a bad one; it meant a selection of the good, and a discarding of the bad parts of anything: its present meaning is exactly the reverse of this. By the statute 1 Rich. III. c. 11., it is provided that no bow-staves shall be sold "ungarbled:" that is (as Sir E. Coke explains it), until the good and sufficient be severed from the bad and insufficient. By statute 1 Jac. I. c. 19., a penalty is imposed on the sale of spices and drugs not "garbled;" and an officer called the _garbler_ of spices is authorised to enter shops, and view the spices and drugs, "and to _garble_ and make clean the same." Coke derives the word either from the French _garber_, to make fine, neat, clean; or from _cribler_, and that from _cribrare_, to sift, &c. (4 Inst. 264.)

It is easy to see how the corruption of this word has taken place; but it is not the less curious to compare the opposite meanings given to it at different times.

E. S. T. T.

_Deaths in the Society of Friends, 1852-3._--In "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 488., appeared a communication on the great longevity of persons at Cleveland in Yorkshire. I send you for comparison a statement of the deaths in the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland, from the year 1852 to 1853, the accuracy of which may be depended on; from which it appears that one in three have attained from 70 to 100 years, the average being about 74-1/2; and that thirty-seven attain from 80 to 90, and eight from 90 to 100. It would be useful to ascertain to what the longevity of the inhabitants of Cleveland may be attributed, whether to the situation where they reside, or to their social habits.

The total number of the Society was computed to be from 19,000 to 20,000, showing the deaths to be rather more than 1-1/2 per cent. per annum. Great numbers are total abstainers from strong drink.

+----------------+---------+---------+---------+ | Ages. | Male. | Female. | Total. | +----------------+---------+---------+---------+ | Under 1 year | 13 | 8 | 21 | | Under 5 years | 18 | 13 | 31 | | From 5 to 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | | ,, 10 to 15 | 5 | 6 | 11 | | ,, 15 to 20 | 5 | 3 | 8 | | ,, 20 to 30 | 7 | 10 | 17 | | ,, 30 to 40 | 8 | 8 | 16 | | ,, 40 to 50 | 7 | 14 | 21 | | ,, 50 to 60 | 16 | 14 | 30 | | ,, 60 to 70 | 26 | 34 | 60 | | ,, 70 to 80 | 20 | 46 | 66 | | ,, 80 to 90 | 13 | 24 | 37 | | ,, 90 to 100 | 2 | 6 | 8 | +----------------+---------+---------+---------+ | All ages | 144 | 188 | 332 | +----------------+---------+---------+---------+

W. C.

Plymouth.

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_The Eastern Question._--The following extract from _Tatler_, No. 155., April 6, 1710, appears remarkable, considering the events of the present day:

"The chief politician of the Bench was a great assertor of paradoxes. He told us, with a seeming concern, 'that by some news he had lately read from Muscovy, it appeared to him there was a storm gathering in the Black Sea, which might in time do hurt to the naval forces of this nation.' To this he added, 'that, for his part, he could not wish to see the Turk driven out of Europe, which he believed could not but be prejudicial to our woollen manufacture.' He then told us, 'that he looked upon those extraordinary revolutions which had lately happened in those parts of the world, to have risen chiefly from two persons who were not much talked of; and those,' says he, 'are Prince Menzicoff and the Duchess of Mirandola.' He backed his assertions with so many broken hints, and such a show of depth and wisdom, that we gave ourselves up to his opinions."

F. B. RELTON.

_Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin._--It is remarkable (and yet it has not been noticed, I believe, by his biographers) that Dean Swift was suspended from his degree of B.A. in Trinity College, Dublin, for exciting disturbances within the college, and insulting the junior dean. He and another were sentenced by the Board to ask pardon publicly of the junior dean, on their knees, as having offended more atrociously than the rest. These facts afford the true solution of Swift's animosity towards the University of Dublin, and account for his determination to take the degree of M.A. at Oxford; and the solution receives confirmation from this, that the junior dean, for insulting whom he was punished, was the same Mr. Owen Lloyd (afterwards professor of divinity and Dean of Down) whom Swift has treated with so much severity in his account of Lord Wharton.

ABHBA.

_English Literature._--Some French writer (Victor Hugo, I believe) has said that English literature consists of four distinct literatures, English, American, Scottish, and Irish, each having a different character. Has this view of our literature been taken, and exhibited in all its aspects, by any English writer and if so, by whom?

J. M.

Oxford.

_Irish Legislation._--I have met with the following statement: is it to be received as true? In May, 1784, a bill, intended to limit the privilege of franking, was sent from Ireland for the royal sanction; and in it was a clause enacting that any member who, from illness or other cause, should be unable to write, might authorise some other person to frank for him, provided that on the back of the letter so franked the member gave at the same time, under his hand, a full certificate of his inability to write.

ABHBA.

_Anecdote of George IV. and the Duke of York._--The following letter was written in a boy's round hand, and sent with some China cups:

Dear Old Mother Batten,

Prepare a junket for us, as Fred. and I are coming this evening. I send you these cups, which we have stolen from the old woman [the queen]. Don't you say anything about it.

GEORGE.

The above was found in the bottom of one of the cups, which were sold for five guineas on the death of Mr. Nichols, who married Mother Batten. The cups are now in possession of a Mr. Toby, No. 10. York Buildings, St. Sidwells, Exeter.

JULIA R. BOCKETT.

Southcote Lodge.

* * * * *

Queries.

ANONYMOUS WORKS: "POSTHUMOUS PARODIES," "ADVENTURES IN THE MOON," ETC.

A remote correspondent finds all help to fail him from bibliographers and cotemporary reviewers in giving any clue to the authorship of the works described below. But he has been conversant enough with the "N. & Q." to perceive that no Query, that he is aware, has yet been started in its pages involving a problem, for which somebody among its readers and contributors has not proved a match. Encouraged thereby, he tenders the three following titles, in the full faith that his curiosity, which is pretty strong, will not have been transmitted over the waste of waters but to good result.

1. _Posthumous Parodies, and other Pieces_, by several of our most celebrated poets, but not before published in any former edition of their works: John Miller, London, 12mo., 1814. This contains some twenty imitations or over, of the more celebrated minor poems, all of a political cast, and breathing strongly the tone of the anti-Jacobin verse; executed for the most part, and several of them in particular, with great felicity. Among that sort of _jeux d'esprit_ they hardly take second place to _The Knife Grinder_, the mention of which reminds me to add that it is manifest enough, from half-a-dozen places in the volume, that Canning is the "magnus Apollo" of the satirist. The final piece (in which the writer drops his former vein) is written in the spirit of sad earnest, in odd contrast with the preceding _facetiae_, and betokening, in some lines, a disappointed man. Yet, strange to tell, through all the range of British criticism of that year, there is an utter unconsciousness of its existence. Whether there be another copy on this side the Atlantic, besides the one which enables me to {245} make these few comments, your correspondent greatly doubts. One living person there is on the other side, it is believed, who could throw light on this question, if these lines should be so fortunate as to meet his eye; since he is referred to, like many others, by initials and terminals, if not in full--Mr. John Wilson Croker.

2. _Adventures in the Moon and other Worlds_: Longman & Co., sm. 8vo., 1836. Of this work, a friend of the writer (who has but partially read it as yet himself), of keen discernment, says: "It is a work of very marked character. The author is an uncommonly skilful and practical writer, a philosophical thinker, and a scholar familiar with foreign literature and wide reaches of learning. He has great ingenuity and fancy withal; so that he is at the same time exceedingly amusing, and suggestive of weighty and subtle thoughts." This, too, is neglected by all the reviews.

3. _Lights, Shadows, and Reflections of Whigs and Tories_: Lond. 12mo., 1841. This is a retrospective survey of the several administrations of George III. from 1760 (his accession) to the regency in 1811; evincing much political insight, with some spirited portraits, and indicative both of a close observation of public measures and events, and of personal connexion or intercourse with men in high place. There is a notice of this in the _London Spectator_ of 1841 (May 29th), and in the old _Monthly Review_; but neither, it is plain, had the author's secret.

HARVARDIENSIS.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, N.E.

P.S.--Two articles of recent time in the _London Quarterly Review_, the writer would fain trace to their source; "The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey," edited by the Rev. Charles Cuthbert Southey, No. 175. (1851), and "Physiognomy," No. 179. (1852), having three works as the caption of the article, Sir Charles Bell's celebrated work being one.

BLIND MACKEREL.

Can any of your numerous contributors, who may be lovers of ichthyology, inform me whether or not the mackerel is blind when it first arrives on our coasts? I believe it to be blind, and for the following reasons:--A few years ago, while beating up channel early in June, on our homeward-bound voyage from the West Indies, some of the other passengers and myself were endeavouring to kill time by fishing for mackerel, but without success.