Part 5

"The hero William and the martyr Charles, One knighted Blackmore, and one pension'd Quarles; _Which made old Ben, and surly Dennis swear, 'No Lord's Anointed, but a Russian bear!'_"

And C. having repeated this Query (Vol. iv., p. 59.), I am induced to impart to them a "guess" which I made not long since. I must premise by asking your correspondents whether the unctuous substance known as "bear's grease" was in use at the period referred to; and if the reply be in the affirmative, I would suggest the following interpretation of the couplet.

King William and King Charles had shown so little wisdom and discrimination in their knighting and pensioning of worthless poets, that they must be supposed to have been anointed, at their coronation, with bear's grease, instead of the holy ointment commonly used for such purposes, and which is considered to possess the power of conferring on the kingly office those very virtues in which William and Charles had shown themselves so deficient. In this sense, Old Ben and Dennis, each in reference to the sovereign of his time, might have exclaimed,--

"No Lord's Anointed, but a Russian bear."

--the word "Russian" being obviously intended to describe bears in general.

It is not for me to say how far this guess about "bear's grease" may suit the fancy of C. and P. C. S. S. They will probably look upon it as "tiré par les cheveux." If so, let them produce a better solution.

HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia.

_Plague Stones_ (Vol. v., pp. 226. 333.).--Near Ravensworth Castle is a stone column, concerning which there is a tradition that it was one of the crosses erected to hold markets at during the great plague at Newcastle in 1645, when the produce of the county was not allowed to be exposed for sale at a less distance than three miles from that town.

C. T.

There is another stone of this description on the boundary between Dent and Widdal, in the West Riding of the county of York; it is near an old road from Dent to Hawes, and is now called the "Cross upon Cross-hills."

W. B. M.

Dee Side.

"_Archæologia Cambrensis, Vol. I., 2nd Edit._"--In reply to the Queries of R. H. (see No. 125. p. 274.), 1. "Why the reprinted pages of the 1st volume of the _Archæologia Cambrensis_ do not agree with those in the original copies?" and 2. Why "nearly a whole page of _interesting matter_ has been omitted?"--it may be sufficient to state that the introduction of two additional notes at pages 204. and 209. rendered the first impossible: and, secondly, that the omission complained of was anything but of interest, as it only related to a supposed irregularity in the delivery of the early numbers, which subsequent inquiry proved to be groundless, and therefore it was suppressed.

Besides the notes above-mentioned, the letter-press has been revised and various typographical errors corrected, so as to render the second edition in many respects superior to the first.

[+]

_Town-halls_ (Vol. v., p. 295.).--MR. PARKER is reminded of the very curious Town-hall at Ashburton, in Devonshire, constructed entirely of timber.

M. Y. R. W.

_Emaciated Monumental Effigies_ (Vol. v., pp. 247. 301. 353.).--BURIENSIS has been furnished by several of your correspondents with many examples of the representation of an emaciated corpse in connexion with tombs, but no one has yet referred him to that very remarkable instance at Tewkesbury. The tomb is usually assigned, I believe, to Abbot Wakeman. If anything were needed to refute the absurd notion of the forty days' fast, I think the figure on this tomb would supply the clue to the true conception of the artist; and show that it was intended, by such figures, to remind the passers-by of their own mortality by representing the hollow cheek and sunken eyes, and emaciated form, of a corpse from which life had only recently departed: for, in the figure on this tomb, the idea of mortality is carried still further, and the more humbling and revolting thought of corruption and decay is suggested to the mind by the representation of noxious reptiles and worms crawling over the lifeless form, and revelling in their disgusting banquet.

M. Y. R. W.

I have read somewhere that these monuments with emaciated figures were erected during the lifetime of the individual as an act of humiliation, and to remind himself as well as others of mortality and the instability of human grandeur. If this cannot be disproved by facts, it affords a satisfactory solution. There is a small chapel connected with Bishop Fleming's in Lincoln Minster, and with others, where masses were said for the repose of their souls; so it is probable that these were at least designed during their lives, which would manifest their humility.

C. T.

_Coleridge's "Friend"_ (Vol. v., p. 351.).--Mr. Crewe, the bookseller of Newcastle-under-Lyne, has communicated to me some corrections upon my last notice. The great potter's name was _Josiah_, not Joseph. This was an accidental _lapsus memoriæ_ on my part. Wedgwood is spelt without the _e_, though I believe it has been spelt both ways by the family. It seems that Miss Sarah Wedgwood is still alive, and till lately resided at Camphill, Maer; but the Maer estate has been sold to Mr. Wm. Davenport, and she now resides near London. Mr. Crewe sends me the following extract, which confirms the identity of the munificent co-patron of Coleridge.

"_Extract from a Letter from Coleridge to Wordsworth, dated Shrewsbury, January, 1798._

"You know that I have accepted the munificent liberality of Josiah [Joshua?] and Thomas Wedgwood; I accepted it on the presumption that I had talents, honesty, and propensities to persevering effort."--_Memoirs of Wordsworth_, vol. i. p. 116.

C. M. I.

_Enigma on the Letter "I"_ (Vol. v., p. 321.).--Having both Miss C. Fanshawe's enigmas, I send you a copy of that on the letter "I," which is inquired for by E. S. S. W., in case it should not reach you from any other quarter. In an old scrap-book in my possession it stands thus:

"ENIGMA BY LORD BYRON.

"I am not in youth, nor in manhood, nor age, But in infancy ever am known: I am stranger alike to the fool and the sage; And, though I'm distinguish'd in history's page, I always am greatest alone.

"I am not in the earth, nor the sun, nor the moon: You may search all the sky, I'm not there; In the morning and evening, though not in the noon, You may plainly perceive me: for, like a balloon, I am always suspended in air.

"I am always in riches; and yet, I am told, Wealth ne'er did my presence desire. I dwell with the miser, but not with his gold: And sometimes I stand in his chimney so cold, Though I serve as a part of the fire.

"I often am met in political life: In my absence no kingdom can be. And they say there can neither be friendship nor strife, No one can live single, no one take a wife, Without interfering with me.

"My brethren are many; and of my whole race Not one is more slender and tall: And, though not the oldest, I hold the first place; And ev'n in dishonour, despair, and disgrace, I boldly appear 'midst them all.

"Though disease may possess me, and sickness, and pain, I am never in sorrow or gloom: Though in wit and in wisdom I equally reign, I'm the heart of all sin, and have long lived in vain, And ne'er shall be found in the tomb.

"(I.)"

How came Miss Fanshawe's enigmas to be attributed to Lord Byron?

J. SANSOM.

Oxford.

_Mother Carey's Chickens_ (Vol. v., p. 344.).--Navigators meet with the Little Petrel, Storm Finch, or Stormy Petrel, the _Procellaria pellagica_ of Linnæus, in every part of the ocean, diving, running on foot, or skimming over the highest waves with the greatest ease. It seems to foresee the coming storm long ere the seamen can discover any signs of its approach; and they make this known by congregating together under the wake of the vessel, as if to shelter themselves from it, and they thus warn the mariner to guard against the coming danger. At night they set up a piercing cry. This usefulness to the sailor is the obvious cause of the latter having such an objection to their being killed. I am unable to say who Mother Carey was; but I might venture a conjecture why the bird who guards the seaman with such _care_ bears its familiar name.

UNICORN.

The name of "Mother Carey's Chickens" is said to have been originally bestowed upon Stormy Petrels by Captain Carteret's sailors, probably from some celebrated ideal hag of that name. As these birds are supposed to be seen only before stormy weather, they are not welcome visitors.

WM. YARRELL.

_Burnomania_ (Vol. v., p. 127.).--Your correspondent ELGINENSIS has got the "Burnomania" of Dr. William Peebles, the minister of Newton-upon-Ayr, himself one of the minor poets of Scotland by virtue of his _Crisis, or the Progress of Revolutionary Principles_, Edinburgh, 1803 and 1804; and _Poems, consisting of Odes and Elegies_, Glasgow, 1810; all in my collection.

Like the transcendent powers of a living vocalist, the genius of Burns could brook no rival, and for a long period, notwithstanding the futile attempts of the smaller poetical _fry_ to arrest its progress by their Lilliputian shafts, the "Ayrshire Ploughman" maintained a species of monopoly of the public mind and attention.

Dr. Peebles, as a candidate for poetical fame, no doubt found this "Burnomania" sufficiently annoying; he therefore put forth his puny arm, in the publication alluded to by ELGINENSIS, to stem it, and, considering that the poetry of Burns was then in the zenith of its popularity, we need not add that the worthy Doctor's work proved but a _turf_ to the _cataract_, and is only now known as a curiosity.

I may however notice, that Dr. Peebles had a deeper _grudge_ than rivalry to settle with Burns, the satirical poet having aimed at him in the "Holy Fair" and the "Kirk's Alarm;" and should your correspondent seek to know more of the author of his book, he will find him noticed in Paterson's _Contemporaries of Burns_, Edinburgh, 1830.

While upon the subject I may further note, that among many other carpers at the "Burnomania" was James Maxwell, better known as the "Poet in Paisley," who attacked Burns and his friend Lapraik in a _brochure_, entitled "_Animadversions on some Poets and Poetasters of the present Age, especially R----t B----s and J----n L----k, with a Contrast of some of the former Age_: Paisley, Neilson, for the Author, 1788. In this curious piece, which was unknown to Motherwell,--our pair of poets, with all their patrons and friends,--among whom Maxwell is _shocked_ to find both _ministers_ and _elders_,--

"For some of our clergy his poems esteem, And some of our elders think no man like him,"--

all these, and such like, are severely censured by the moral poet for admiring "this stupid blockhead," besides being menaced with a certain place, to which their favourites are certainly doomed, should they continue to support such arch-enemies of the Kirk and order. How appropriate, then, is the remark of the Rev. Hamilton Paul, one of Burns' warmest admirers and editors, when, _lumping_ all these envious spirits together, he says,--

"Some weak attempts have been made by narrow-minded men to expose to ridicule this 'Burnomania,' as they term it; but like self-love converted by the plastic power of the poet into social affection, it is spreading wider and wider every day."

"Friends' kindred, neighbour, first it doth embrace; Our country next, and next all human race."

J. O.

_Cagots_ (Vol. iv., pp. 190. 331. 387.).--THEOPHYLACT will find an account of the _Cagots_ in the _Magasin Pittoresque_ for 1838, where they are stated to be descended from the Goths, their name of _Cagots_ being derived from _caas Goth_ (_chien de Goth_), which corresponds with the derivation given by Scaliger.

In Brittany they were known under the name of _Cacous_ and _Caqueux_: in Guienne and Gascony under that of _Cahets_; in Navarre, _Caffos_; in the mountains of Bearn, &c., as _Cagots_ or _Capots_.

The same work for 1840 contains an account of the _Cretins_; also noticed by Kohl in his _Alpen-Reisen_ (reviewed in _Westminster Review_, July, 1849).

PHILIP S. KING.

_Chantrey's Sleeping Children_ (Vol. ii., pp. 70. 94.).--There is, in Ashbourne Church in Derbyshire, a beautiful figure of a sleeping child by Thomas Banks, R.A., from which it is generally said that Chantrey took the idea of his celebrated monument in Lichfield Cathedral. It is a tradition in Ashbourne, that Chantrey drew the sketch for his sleeping children at an inn in the place, immediately after having seen Banks' sculpture in the parish church. The monument at Ashbourne is to Penelope, daughter of Sir Brooke Boothby, born April 11th, 1785, died Nov. 12th, 1791, and on it there are inscriptions in four languages, English, French, Latin, and Italian. The following description of it, taken from _The History and Topography of Ashbourne_, may be acceptable to some your readers, who may compare it with their recollections of Chantrey's figures:--

"It represents a child of delicate and amiable features, who has long suffered from slow and incurable disease, lightly, but rather carelessly, reclining on her right side. The position of the meek and lovely sufferer shows that she has just assumed it in order to seek temporary relief from pain, or from the weariness that a protracted repose, even on the softest materials, eventually causes. The little patient is extended, in the position just described, on a marble mattress and pillow, to which the hand of the sculptor has communicated the apparent texture of the softest down. The expression of the countenance is slightly indicative of pain, felt even in the intervals of slumber; and the little hands, lifted towards the countenance, plainly show that the sufferer has so placed them, in order that they and the arms may be in some measure a support to the body, and relieve it from the aching tenderness caused by long contact with the couch on which it rests. Around the head is bound, in loose folds, a handkerchief, which allows the artist greater scope to exhibit the child's features. The body-costume is a low-fronted frock with short sleeves, most gracefully sculptured. The whole of the drapery is in the most finished style, and the ease and softness of the folds are an admirable proof of the delicate chiselling of the artist. He has shown his natural and pure taste in the manner in which he has placed the feet. The entire position of the figure is faultless; and it represents, with refined fidelity to nature, the female infant form, patiently and slowly perishing beneath the steady undermining progress of irresistible decay."

W. FRASER.

_Arkwright_ (Vol. v., p. 320.).--This surname would originally denote the fabricator of such _arks_, or large chests made of strong oaken planks, as are still to be found under that name in most old farmhouses, at least in this neighbourhood, where they are chiefly used for storing meal or flour. The fact of our translators of the Bible having called the sacred chest in the Holy of Holies by this term seems to point to a more general use of the word in their days than at present obtains. Mr. Hunter (_Hallamsh. Gloss._, p. 5.) says that the strong boxes in which the Jews kept their valuables were anciently called their arks (_archas_), and that the word is so found in the _Foedera_, 45 Hen. III. It occurs twice in the Church Accounts of this parish.

"1527. Minatus [=e]. [=p]d. Will[=m]us browne _archas_ et cistas diffr[=i]gere.

1744. pd. Wm. Yates for setting up _ark_."

Cf. also Lower's _Eng. Surnames_, 2nd ed., p. 92.; and the Latin _arca_, a chest, coffer, or box.

J. EASTWOOD

Ecclesfield, Sheffield.

It is rather curious that the word _wright_ for _carpenter_ is still commonly used in Scotland, but that _Sievewright_ is the only _surname_ in which it appears in that country; while in England it is found in several, although the word itself is there obsolete, unless it is still to be found in the northern counties.

C. E. D.

_Pilgrimages to the Holy Land_ (Vol. v., pp. 289. 290.).--Seeing a notice in "N. & Q." of Breydenbach's _Opus Transmarinum_, and a suggestion of Dr. Kitto that this work was written by Felix Faber, I am induced to call attention to another work written by the latter, which is still extant in his _own MS._, in the library at Ulm, bearing the following title: _Fratris Felicis Fabri Evagatorium in Terræ Sanctæ, Arabiæ et Ægypti Peregrinationem_, and which was printed for the first time for the Literarische Verein at Stuttgart, a society established there about ten years since, with objects somewhat similar to our Camden Society. This was one of its earliest publications, and as the number of copies printed was very small, the volumes are now rarely to be met with. The author informs his brethren of the monastery of Ulm, for whose especial benefit he professes to have written his book, that he composed it soon after his return from his second journey, the interval between the first and _second_ journey having been occupied in reading and making notes from all the existing books on the same subject which he could meet with (it is to be regretted that he has not given us a list of these), "de quibus omnibus," he adds, "tuli quidquid deserviebat proposito meo, ex qua collectura grande volumen comportavi." With this collection of notes he appears to have set forth on his second expedition, "_quia post hæc omnia in multis dubius remansi et incertus, quia multa legeram et pauca videram_." Traversing Jerusalem, Arabia, and Ægypt, "_conferens ea, quæ prius legeram et collegeram ad ipsa loca, et concordantias sanctarum scripturarum cum locis, et loca cum scripturis quantum potui, investigavi et signavi. Inter hæc nonnunquam de locis sanctis etiam, in quibus non fui, exactam diligentiam feci, ut earum dispositionem conscriberem, sed non nisi illo addito: ibi non fui, sed auditu aut lectione didici._"

[The MS. is dated 1484.]

F. N.

"_Merchant Adventurers_" (Vol. v., p. 276.).--C. I. P. will find an account in _Mortimer_ under the head "Of Commerce," &c., vol. ii. p. 164. _et seq._ It refers to Cabot's scheme, as also Chancellor's: the first charter of incorporation was granted 2 Phil. & Ma. (Feb. 6, 1554) by the name of "The Merchants Adventurers for the Discoveries of Lands, Countries, Isles, &c. not before known or frequented by the English," &c. In the year 1560, 2 Eliz., her charter confirmed all former charters and privileges to "the Company of Merchant Adventurers of England," and likewise granted them two ample charters, one in the sixth, the other in the twenty-eighth of her reign. In the former of the latter they are specially designated by Eliz. as "Merchant Adventurers."

[There are other particulars in connexion with them which I do not send you, reference being easy of access.]

J. EBFF.

Bolt Court, Fleet Street.

Anderson's _History of the Origin of Commerce_, 2 vols., London, 1764, contains some information on the subject of this Company, whose title was that of "Merchant Adventurers," and whose trade was chiefly with the Netherlands.

In 1604, James I., after concluding a treaty of peace and commerce with Spain, incorporated a company of merchants for an _exclusive_ trade to Spain and Portugal; but this monopoly being found prejudicial to commerce, in the following year the patent was revoked by act of parliament.

If C. I. P. has not access to Anderson, and will communicate his address, I shall be happy to give him any information in my power on this subject.

BROCTUNA.

Bury, Lancashire.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.

The steady progress which sound Archæology is making in this country is shown, and the benefits which will accrue from such progress to those who are desirous of investigating the early history of this island and its inhabitants is rendered evident, by the fact, that discoverers of primæval remains no longer endeavour to build upon those remains some strange theories which have no foundation beyond the fancy of those who pen them. On the contrary, Archæologists are now content to give us plain and distinct particulars of the discoveries they make, and to leave to future labourers the task of comparing the different objects, and of evolving from such comparison those trustworthy illustrations of our early history which are so highly to be prized. The truth of these remarks will be seen by a glance at the interesting volume entitled _Fairford Graves; a Record of Researches in an Anglo-Saxon Burial-place in Gloucestershire_, in which Mr. Wylie narrates, with much clearness and simplicity, the result of a very interesting series of excavations made at Fairford, on the site of a Saxon necropolis, more particularly of those made at the commencement of the past year. These discoveries furnish some very valuable materials towards a more complete history of the Anglo-Saxon civilisation than we yet possess; and Mr. Wylie deserves the thanks of his brother antiquaries for his well-directed zeal on the occasion, and for the judicious manner in which he has told his story. The work is very profusely illustrated; and is one of the best contributions which have recently been made to the history of our primæval antiquities.

We have received, and read with great pleasure, _Two Introductory Lectures upon Archæology, delivered in the University of Cambridge_, by the Rev. J. H. Marsden. We are not sure that these lectures are not privately printed; and in that doubt should have passed them without notice, had not their merits, as the production of a scholar and a man of taste, seemed to us such as to make it desirable that they should be placed within the reach of all whom they are calculated to interest. They are the first-fruits of Mr. Disney's munificent donation to the University of Cambridge.

We have received the second volume of Bohn's reprint of _The Literary Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds_, edited by H. W. H. Beechey, which completes the work. No President ever filled the Chair of the Royal Academy with greater benefit to the students than did Sir Joshua; and this cheap and useful edition of the invaluable legacy which he bequeathed to them is well calculated not only for their use, but for more general circulation, now that the arts of design are receiving such deserved attention in this country.

The people of Manchester will shortly commence their great experiment of a _Free Library_, which, it is hoped, will be opened in the course of the present month, probably by Prince Albert. It contains about twenty thousand volumes, consisting of about twelve thousand books of reference and eight thousand to form the library of circulation, which will be lent _freely_ to all persons bringing recommendations or certificates of good character. The books are all _well bound_ and in excellent condition, and the managers have no fears but that they will be returned from circulation in the same state. We shall look with great interest to the result; for it is clear that what is good for Manchester must be good for London, and for all other places where men do congregate.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE.

FABRICII BIBLIOTHECA LATINA. Ed. Ernesti. Leipsig 1773. Vol. III.

THE ANACALYPSIS. By Godfrey Higgins. 2 Vols. 4to.

CODEX DIPLOMATICUS ÆVI SAXONICI, opera J.M. Kemble. Vols. I. and II. 8vo.

ECKHEL, DOCTRINA NUMORUM. Vol. VIII.

BROUGHAM'S MEN OF LETTERS. 2nd Series, royal 8vo., boards. Original edition.

KNIGHT'S PICTORIAL SHAKSPEARE. Royal 8vo. Parts XLII. XLIII. XLIV. L. and LI.

CONDER'S ANALYTICAL VIEW OF ALL RELIGIONS. 8vo.

NEWMAN'S (J. H.) PRESENT POSITION OF THE CATHOLICS IN ENGLAND.