Part 5

"It is to be remarked, that almost _all the words_ of the British tongue agree either with the Greek or Latin. It is this strong similarity of features between their own language and those of Greece and Italy, that has induced so many of my countrymen to claim for it the honour of being the mother-tongue of all, and to scorn all examination which did not commence with this confession. Even the late learned Dr. Owen Pugh has, in his _Dictionary_, by arbitrarily selecting certain syllables as the roots of all Cumrian words, done much to foster this overweening conceit. The system was carried to its extreme point of absurdity by the Rev. Edward Davies, who by the help of such syllables expected to unravel the mysteries of all languages. This failure has I hope paved the way for the more sober consideration of the question, which, if worked out fairly, will in my opinion establish the claim of the Cumrian tongue, if not to be the mother of all tongues, at least to be a valuable branch of the Caucasian tree of languages. Now, had the two races, the Roman and Cumrian, remained always separate, a comparative etymology would have been an easy task; for no more would be necessary than to put the similar roots, having the same meaning, side by side. But, unfortunately for the scholar who undertakes to prove the question, the Romans were in this island four hundred years, colonised it partly, and partly gave it their own form of civilisation. As before mentioned, the inhabitants adopted with avidity the Roman dress, language, and literature. That language must therefore be supposed to have entered deeply into the composition of the present Cumrian tongue. The sceptical examiner may therefore reasonably object, that any similarity between the two languages might have originated in the adoption of that of Rome by the British provincials. In answer to this I refer in the first place to Lloyd's reasoning, quoted in the note," viz. that the same similarity exists between the Latin and the Erse [see Newman, in the _Classical Museum_, vol. vi.]. "In the second place to the fact, that Wales and Cornwall do not appear to have been occupied, like the rest of England, by the Romans."... "Still, however, the long residence of the Romans in the island, with the known influence always produced by such a state of things, renders every statement grounded on the similarity alone of the languages of the two races, the conquered and the conquerors, liable to suspicion. I have therefore been compelled to enter upon an exceedingly difficult investigation, which, if successful, must prove the radical identity of the Latin and Cumrian tongues. The proof is this: If there are derivative words in the Latin, of which we must seek the primitives in the Cumrian, and if these primitives be shown to furnish an explanation of many words before inexplicable on etymological principles. For example, if the word 'to tread' under various forms be found, with the meaning 'to trample with the feet,' in most of the western languages of Europe, and have no noun to base itself upon in these languages, and yet the noun 'traed the feet' be found in one of them, the inference is irresistible that the verb in all its forms was derived from this root. To deny this would be equivalent to a denial that the Latin verb _calcare_ came from _calx_, 'the heel.' In the following list, such words alone, with a few exceptions for the sake of etymological illustration, have been introduced. It might have been indefinitely extended, but the difficulty was to confine the examples within moderate limits."--Williams on _One Source of the Non-Hellenic Portion of the Latin Language_.[2]

This eminent scholar supplies sixty-two, with explanatory notes, and subjoins a list of sixty-three. Under the example "Occo, occare, _to harrow_," he observes:

"Persons who wish to draw subtle inferences say that all the terms of the Romans connected with agriculture may be referred to a Greek source, while the terms expressive of war and hunting are non-Hellenic. The induction fails completely in both parts, as might easily be shown. When Cæsar landed in Britain, the natives were agriculturists, densely planted. And Halley proved, that the harvest which Cæsar's soldiers reaped had ripened at the average period of a Kentish harvest in his days. Assuredly then the Britons had not the agricultural names to learn from the Romans of an after age."

"I begin," says Newman, "with the country and domestic animals, which will show how very far from the truth Niebuhr was, when he imagined that in words connected with 'the gentler pursuits of life' the Roman language has peculiarly extensive agreement with the Hellenic."

When your correspondent T. H. T. says--

"Professor Newman, in his _Regal Rome_, has drawn attention to the subject; but his induction does not appear sufficiently extensive to warrant any decisive conclusion respecting the position the Celtic holds as an element of the Latin,"--

he could not have known that the same writer has, in the sixth volume of the _Classical Museum_, continued the comparison at great length; and as that work falls into the hands of but few, I shall transcribe some passages which may throw light on the subject:

"It has for some years been recognised, at least by several English scholars, that there is a remarkable similarity between the Celtic languages and Latin. In the case of Welsh it was, I believe, at first supposed that the words must have been introduced by the Roman dominion in Britain; but when the likeness was found to exist in the Erse, and that the Erse was even more like to Latin (as regards the consonants) than the Welsh is, this idea of course fell to {358} the ground. The scholar and physiologist, who pressed into notice the strong similarities of the Celtic to the European languages, and claimed a place for Celtic within that group, Dr. Prichard, has naturally fixed his attention with so much strength on the _primitive_ relations of all these tongues, as to be jealous and suspicious of an argument, which alleges that the one has borrowed from the other. Some ten years ago, by his favour, I read a MS. of a vocabulary (the composition of Dr. Stratton, formerly of Aberdeen), which compared the Gaelic with the Latin tongue in alphabetical order without comment or development. From this vocabulary Prichard gives an extract in his chapter on the Italian nations, and finds it entirely to confirm his views that the Roman language has not suffered any larger admixture by a foreign action. What is or was Dr. Stratton's opinion, I never heard. His vocabulary first suggested to me the value of this inquiry, and that is all. Having now been led to a fuller examination of the Welsh and Gaelic dictionaries, I find not only a far greater abundance of material (especially in the Welsh) than I could have imagined; but also, that by grouping words aright, conclusions result such as I had not expected, and adverse to those of Dr. Prichard."

Professor Newman, as T. H. T. has observed, confined himself to a tabular view of Celtic and Latin words; but the grammatical structure and formal development of the two languages have not been overlooked in the philological literature of England. These interesting inquiries have been pursued by Dr. Prichard, in his elaborate treatise on the _Eastern Origin of the Celtic Nations_, and the Rev. W. D. Conybeare, (in his _Theological Lectures delivered in Bristol College in 1831-33_) has shown that it is by thus analysing the grammatical structure, which forms the very skeleton of languages, rather than by confining our attention to mere vocabularies, that we may best detect their true affinities, and has illustrated this doctrine by a few Welsh examples. In the _West of England Archæological Journal_ is exhibited (I believe by the same author) the identity of verbal forms in the Welsh and Latin languages.

Nevertheless, Archdeacon Williams maintains that two languages may have a common vocabulary, but different grammars[3]:

"The Latin language, whether from Pelasgic or Achæan influence, adopted at an early period the Hellenic grammar; and, under the skilful hands of the bilingual Ennius, became that polished interpreter of thought, which yields in regularity and majesty to the Greek alone. The Cumri either retained, which is more probable, a still more ancient, or invented a grammar, now peculiar to themselves. This, although it be simple and scientific in the highest degree, is so completely at variance with all the other grammars of the civilised world, that scholars who have to acquire it late in life feel the strongest repugnance to its forms and principles, and are tempted to regard a language more fixed and unchangeable in its principles than any other existing, as more slippery and grasp-escaping than the Proteus of the Grecian mythology."

Since I wrote these extracts, I have been much gratified by the perusal of Archdeacon Williams's _Gomer_, which I recommend to all interested in this inquiry.

BIBLIOTHECAR. CHETHAM.

[Footnote 2: In _Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh_, vol. xiii.]

[Footnote 3: In his _Gomer_ he shows that the Latin and Cymraeg display great similarity in the tenses of the substantive verb.]

* * * * *

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_Box Sawdust for Collodion._--The following will be of some use to your photographic readers:

I find that, by treating box sawdust with nitric and sulphuric acid (in the same manner as cotton), and then dissolving it in ether, it gives a far more sensitive collodion than either cotton or paper, and the pictures produced by it are of unequalled brilliancy.

Can you inform me whether portraits can be taken _for sale_, by the collodion process, without infringing upon the patents?

CHAS. WHITWORTH.

Henrietta St., Birmingham.

_Proportions of Chlorides and Silver._--I trust you will allow me space in your valuable work for some remarks in reference to an important photographic query, viz. What are the proportions of chlorides and silver uniformly suited to give the best positive pictures?

I am led to propose this subject for the consideration of practical photographists, and, if possible, that amateurs may arrive at something like a rule to guide them in printing positives that will please.

The necessity of these remarks, to me at least, appear very evident from the wide space which stands between the proportions proposed by various operators. MR. LYTE, "N. & Q.," Vol. ix., p. 158., says 42 grains of chloride and 100 grains of silver to 1 oz. of water. MR. POLLOCK, "N. &Q.," Vol. vii., p. 588., says 20 grains chloride, and 90 grains of silver to the ounce. MR. HOCKIN has 10 grains chloride, silver 60. MR. DELAMOTTE, for albumenized paper, chloride 60 grains, silver 120. MR. THORNTHWAITE begins as low as chloride ½ grain, and silver 30 grains; and lastly, amidst a long range of proportions, from 1 grain of chloride to the ounce, and silver 20 grains to the ounce, DR. DIAMOND, a great authority in photography, assures all that the best results can be obtained by using of chloride 5 grains to the ounce, and of silver 40 grains to the ounce. If so, let the photographic world know that the latter proportions are sufficient, and the others needless, wasteful, and expensive without cause. I trust you agree with me in thinking that it would be of use to a large number of beginners to have the proportions best suited for printing positives defined as near as possible, and not be left to guess at proportions varying from ½ grain to 60 grains, and from 20 to 120. I have written hurriedly, and hope you will see the object I aim at.

AMATEUR.

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_Photographic Copies of Rembrandt._--The extreme rarity and great pecuniary value of many of Rembrandt's finest etchings are doubtless well known to many of our readers, as being such as to put these master-pieces of art beyond the reach of ordinary purchasers. This series of works, calculated beyond all others of their kind to delight the possessor, will however, thanks to photography, soon be obtainable by all admirers of the great master. Two distinguished French photographers, the brothers MM. Bisson, have succeeded in obtaining, by means of this wonderful art, copies of a fidelity attainable by no other process: so that the wondrous lights, shades, half-tones, and chiaro-obscuro, for which Rembrandt is so remarkable, are preserved in all their original beauty. The plates will be accompanied by descriptive letter-press, and by a Biography of Rembrandt from the pen of M. Charles Blanc. As the works are so numerous, the first series will consist of forty plates, to be issued in ten livraisons, each containing four plates, price twenty francs; a very moderate sum, if we remember that among the works thus to be issued, at a cost of five francs each, will be found copies of such gems as the _Avocat Tolling_ and the _Pièce de Cent Florins_.

_Coloured Photographs._--I have lately seen, and very much admired, some specimens of photographic coloured portraits. They have all the broad effect of the great masters perfectly in detail, and none of the niggling effect of many coloured photographs, which are in fact specimens of miniature painting rather than photography--the outline alone being given by the photographic art. The specimens I refer to appear to have been soaked in oil, or some transparent varnish, and then coloured in separate tints, probably from the back; the shadows being _entirely_ photographic. It is evident they are quickly and easily executed; but I am desirous of knowing the exact process, and shall be much obliged for information on the subject.

AN AMATEUR.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Dr. Eleazar Duncon_ (Vol. ix., pp. 56. 184.).--Dr. Eleazar Duncon, and his brother Mr. John Duncon, are mentioned in Barnabas Oley's Preface to George Herbert's _Country Parson_, as having "died before the miracle of our happy Restoration." There was another brother, Mr. Edmund Duncon, rector of Fryarn Barnet, in the county of Middlesex; sent by Mr. Farrer to visit George Herbert, during his last illness.

E. H. A.

_Christian Names_ (Vol. vii., pp. 406. 488. 626.).--The earliest instance I have yet met with, of an individual with two Christian names, occurs in the compulsory cession of the Abbey of Vale Royal to King Henry VIII.; the deed conveying which is still extant in the Augmentation Office. It is in Latin, and signed by John Harwood the Abbot, Alexander Sedon the Prior, _William Brenck Harrysun_, and twelve other monks of the Abbey. Vale Royal Abbey is now the seat of Lord Delamere, into whose family it came by purchase in 1616, from the descendant of Sir Thomas Holcroft, the original grantee from the crown.

T. HUGHES.

Chester.

I send you a much earlier instance of two Christian names than any that has hitherto been given in your pages. Henry Prince of Wales, son of King Henry IV., was baptized by the names Henry Frederick. Vide Camden's _Remains_, 4to., 1605. I have not a reference to the page.

C. DE D.

_Abigail_ (Vol. iv., pp. 424., &c.; Vol. viii., p. 653.).--Your recent correspondents on this subject do not appear to have met with the passage in which I mentioned, that since putting the question, I had found that a waiting-maid in Beaumont and Fletcher's comedy of _The Scornful Lady_ was named Abigail; and that, as the play appeared to have been a favourite one, the application of the name to the class generally was probably owing to it. In the absence of any proof of its having been previously used in this sense, I still continue to think that this conjecture was well founded. Considering the terms on which Dean Swift was with the Mashams, he was the last person in the world to have used such a term, unless it had been so long in familiar use as to be deprived of all appearance of personal allusion to them.

J. S. WARDEN.

"_Begging the question_" (Vol. viii., p. 640.).--This phrase is identical with that of "petitio principii," a figure of speech well known both to logicians and mathematicians, _i. e._ assuming a point as proved, and reasoning upon it as such, which has in fact not been proved.

J. S. WARDEN.

_Russian Emperors_ (Vol. ix., p. 222.).--I am informed by a late resident in Russia that the rumour to which MR. CROSFIELD refers has no foundation. I am farther informed, however, that after a twenty-five years' reign the monarch has even more absolute and despotic authority than before the lapse of that time. I hope this subject may be well ventilated, as considerable misapprehension exists about it.

JOHN SCRIBE.

_Garble_ (Vol. ix., p. 243.).--Your correspondent E. S. T. T. was mistaken when he said that the "corrupt" meaning of the word _garble_ is now the only one ever used. In proof of this I would give one instance, familiar to me, in which it still retains its "good" signification. In "working" cochineal, spices, and other similar merchandise at the warehouse in which they are stored upon their arrival in this country, the operation of {360} sifting and separating the good from the bad is termed _garbling_: the word being here employed in the very same sense as in the examples quoted by E. S. T. T., illustrative of its original meaning, and which sense he erroneously stated it no longer possessed.

R. V. T.

Mincing Lane.

I cannot agree with your correspondent E. S. T. T., that a corruption of meaning has taken place in this word; and that whereas it originally meant a selection of the good and a discarding of the bad parts of anything, its present meaning, is exactly the reverse of this. Its original signification is correctly stated: the garbling of spices, drugs, &c., meant the selection of the good and the rejection of the bad. But the garbling of a passage cited as a testimony is a precisely analogous process. The person who garbles the passage omits those parts which can be used against his view, and adduces only those parts which support his conclusion. He selects the parts which are good, and rejects those which are bad, _for his purpose_. When a passage is said to be garbled, it is always implied that the person who quotes it has suppressed a portion which tells against himself; but that portion is, so far as he is concerned, the _bad_, not the _good_ portion. The secondary and metaphorical is therefore precisely analogous to the primary and literal sense of the word, and not the reverse of it.

L.

_Electric Telegraph_ (Vol. ix., p. 270.).--As every new attempt to improve this invaluable invention, and to extend its use, is of world-wide importance, the following extract from _La Presse_, a French newspaper of March 23rd, will excite inquiry:

"On écrit de Berne, le 17 Mars, MM. Brunner et Hipp, directeurs des télégraphes électriques de la Suisse, viennent d'inventer un appareil portatif à l'aide duquel, en l'appliquant à un point quelconque des fils télégraphiques, on peut transmettre une dépêche. L'essai de cet appareil a été fait à deux lieues de Berne, dans un lieu où il n'existe aucune section de télégraphie."

The writer goes on to say that the experiment had been tested with success on the lines to Zurich, Basle, Geneva, &c.

J. MACRAY.

Oxford.

_Butler's "Lives of the Saints"_ (Vol. viii., p.387.).--The inquiry respecting the various editions of this valuable work not having yet received any answer, the following information may in some degree satisfy the inquirer. The first edition of the Rev. Alban Butler's _Lives of the Saints_ was published in the author's lifetime, at various intervals from 1754 to 1759, when the last of the four volumes appeared, of which the edition was composed. Part II. of vol. iii. is now before me, with the date 1758. No other edition appeared till after the death of the learned and pious author, which took place in 1773.

The second edition was undertaken by the most Rev. Dr. Carpenter, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, and appeared in 12 vols. in 1779. It is stated in the title-page to be "corrected and enlarged from the author's own MS." It did contain all the notes omitted in the previous edition, and other matter prepared by the author. The third edition was published in Scotland, and other editions followed; but I am unable to give any particulars of them. But the splendid stereotype edition, published in London by Murphy, in 1812, in 12 vols., is by far the best ever produced, or ever likely to appear. Since this there have been other editions; one in 2 vols., published in Ireland, and a cheap edition in 12 small vols., printed at Derby; but they deserve little notice.

F. C. H.

_Anticipatory Use of the Cross_ (Vol. viii. _passim_).--In answer to particular inquiry, I have been furnished by a resident in Macao with an answer, of which the following is the substance:--The cross is commonly used in China, and consists of any flat boards of sufficient size, the upright shaft being usually eight to ten feet high. The transverse bar is fixed by a single nail or rivet, and is therefore often loose, and may be made sometimes to traverse a complete circle. It is not so much an instrument of punishment in itself, as it is an operation-board whereon to confine the criminal, not with nails, but ropes, to undergo--as in the case of a woman taken in adultery--the cutting away of the flesh from the bosom. He adds, that he has witnessed such punishment, and he has no doubt that the cross has been used in this way in China immemorially. Any of your correspondents will much oblige me by correcting or confirming this statement from positive testimony.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Lichfield.

_The Marquis of Granby_ (Vol. ix., p. 127.).--A portrait of this nobleman constitutes the sign of a public-house at Doncaster, and of another at Bawtry, nine miles from that town. His lordship, it is said, occasionally occupied Carr House, near the former place, as a hunting-box in the middle of the last century. As an instance of his lordship's popularity, I may here add, that out of compliment to him, and for his greater convenience in hunting, at a period when there was a considerable extent of uninclosed and undrained country around Doncaster, the corporation directed several banks and passages to be made on their estate at Rossington; and in 1752, that body likewise presented the Marquis with the freedom of the borough.

C. J.

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_Irish Letters_ (Vol. ix., p. 246).--The following inscription on the monument of Lugnathan, nephew of St. Patrick, at Inchaguile, in Lough Corrib, co. Galway, is supposed to be the most ancient in Ireland:

"LIE LUGNAEDON MACC LMENUEH." "The stone of Lugnaodon, son of Limenueh."

The oldest Irish manuscript is the Book of Armagh, which contains a copy of the Gospels, and some very old lives of St. Patrick. (See O'Donovan's _Irish Grammar_, Dublin, 1845, p. lii.)

THOMPSON COOPER.

Cambridge.

_Rev. John Cawley_ (Vol. ix., p. 247.).--In reply to the inquiry of C. T. R., What is the authority for stating that the Rev. John Cawley, rector of Didcot, was a son of Cawley the regicide? I send you the following extract from Wood's _Athenæ_ (Bliss's edition), vol. iv. col. 580.: