Part 2

The space at G. W.'s command will only permit him to notice generally, and most gratefully to acknowledge, the number, variety, and interest of C. F. D.'s communications, and sincerely to thank him for the kind manner in which they have been forwarded.

* * * * *

1. The existence of Hebrew relics among the Pottawatomie Indians is extremely curious. That procured by Dr. Lykins is described as consisting of

"Four small rolls or strips of parchment, closely packed in the small compartments of a little box or locket, of about an inch cubical content. On these parchments are written, in a style of unsurpassed excellence, and far more beautiful than print, portions of the Pentateuch, to be worn as frontlets, and intended as stimulants to the memory and moral sense."

2. A notice of Professor Stuart's death has been recorded in G. W.'s Literary and Scientific Obituary.

"He published at least twenty-four volumes, and in addition to them many single sermons and newspaper essays, and contributed more than two thousand octavo pages to American periodicals. His commentaries are those on the Hebrews, Romans, Revelation, Daniel, Ecclesiastes, and the Proverbs. He printed his first Hebrew Grammar without points, and _set up about half the paradigms of verbs with his own hands_.--This grammar went through three editions, each one being more full than the preceding."

3. The intelligence of the Spanish Press is highly amusing.

4. The charge made against the Editor of the Oxford Edition of Milton requires proof or explanation.

"Mr. Whittier states in the National Era, that the carefully prepared Oxford edition of Milton's Works, contains a poem by Elizabeth Lloyd, of Philadelphia, purporting to have been written by the poet in his old age and blindness, and which is so well executed, as to have deceived the English editor of his works. This poem is now going the rounds of the American press, as the production of Milton."

5. The appearance of the fifth and sixth volumes of Lord Mahon's History of England has thus brought forth the indignation of the editor of the Boston (U. S.) "Transcript."

"They commence at the year 1763, and close with the year 1779, and comprise, of course, as the principal theme, the American Revolution--the rise and progress of the War of Independence. 'One point in the American War,' says the Spectator, 'Lord Mahon brings out quietly and impressively--the personal falsehood of Franklin, and often the brutality of the Americans at large.' Here will be a chance for our American reviewers and critics. 'The personal falsehood of Franklin!' It will take the affidavit of more than one Lord to make that credible."

6. The old American bookseller, whose career was so graphically described by Dr. Francis at the celebration of the hundred and forty-sixth anniversary of Franklin's birth-day, by the New York Typographical Society, was the father of the present Editor of the Literary World, an American periodical, extremely well conducted, and of considerable circulation.

"There are many booksellers and publishers," observed Dr. Francis, "whose character and influence might justly command detailed account. Spence himself would find among them anecdotes of consideration in the world of letters, I must, however, write within circumscribed limits. The first in immediate recollection is Evert Duyckinck. He was a middle-aged man when I was a boy occasionally at his store, an ample and old-fashioned edifice, at the corner of Pearl Street and Old Slip. He was grave in his demeanor, and somewhat taciturn; of great simplicity in dress, accommodating and courteous. He must have been rich in literary occurrences. He for a long while occupied this excellent stand for business, and was quite extensively engaged as a publisher and seller. He was a sort of Mr. Newbury, so precious to juvenile memory in the olden times. He largely dealt with that order of books, for elementary instruction, which were popular abroad, just about the close of our revolutionary war and the adoption of our Constitution, Old Dyche and his pupil Dilworth, Perry, and Sheridan. As education and literature advanced, he brought forward, by reprints, Johnson and Chesterfield, and Vicesimus Knox, and a host of others. His store was the nucleus of the Connecticut teachers' intellectual products, and Barlow and Webster, and Morse and Riggs, found him a patron of their works in poetry and school books. Bunyan, and Young, and Watts, Doddridge and Baxter, must have been issued by his enterprise in innumerable thousands throughout the whole thirteen States; and the old English Primer, now improved into the American Primer, with its captivating emendations, as

The royal oak, it was the tree That saved his Royal Majesty;

improved by the more simple diction,

Oak's not as good As hickory wood;

and the lines,

Whales in the sea God's voice obey;

now modified, without loss of its poetic fire,

Great deeds were done-- By Washington--

led captivity captive, and were circulated without limits for the better diffusion of knowledge and patriotism throughout the land. As our city grew apace, and both instructors and their functions enlarged, he engaged in the Latin Classics. Having a little Latin about me, it became my duty to set up at the printing-office of Lewis Nicols, Duyckinck's reprint, De Bello Gallico. The edition was edited by a Mr. Rudd. He was the first editor I ever saw; I looked at him with school-boy admiration when I took him the proofs. What alterations or improvements he ever made in the text of Oudendorp, I never ascertained. This, however, must have been among the beginnings of that American practice, still so common among us, of deeming it necessary that the reprints of even the most important works from abroad should have, for better circulation, some name as editor inserted on the title-page. Mr. Duyckinck was gifted with great business talents, and estimated as a man of great punctuality and rigid integrity in fiscal matters. He was the first who had the entire Bible, in 12mo. preserved--set up in forms--the better to supply, at all times, his patrons. This was before stereotype plates were adopted. He gave to the Harpers the first job of printing they ever executed--whether 'Tom Thumb' or 'Wesley's Primitive Physic,' I know not. The acorn has become the pride of the forest--the Cliff Street Tree, whose roots and branches now ramify over the land. Duyckinck faithfully carried out the proverbs of Franklin, and the sayings of Noah Webster's Prompter. He was by birth and by action a genuine Knickerbocker."

OF WHITGIFT'S HOSPITAL AT CROYDON.

At p. 77 of your "Current Notes" for October last, there is an engraved representation of the Corporate Seal of Dulwich College; as a companion to it, I have procured a drawing of the Seal of Archbishop Whitgift's Hospital at Croydon, which was founded towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth, by that benevolent but superstitious prelate, who appears to have been a devout believer in the Black Art, as among the crimes enumerated to be punished by expulsion are "obstinate heresye, sorcerye, and any kind of charming or witchcrafte."

There were some interesting relics preserved in this establishment, particularly three wooden goblets or drinking vessels, the largest of which could hold about three pints, and bore the following inscription:

"=What, Sirrah! hold thy peace, Thirst satisfied--cease.="

But I am told they have disappeared--no one can tell how or when exactly. I mention the circumstance, as there was a singular legend connected with this inscription, which I once heard, but do not now remember the particulars--perhaps some of your correspondents may.

C. R.

MONUMENTAL BRASSES.

St. Margaret, Rochester, Feb. 11th, 1852.

SIR,--Allow me to correct a slight error in the communication of your correspondent G. E. S. contained in your "Current Notes" for December last, p. 92. The name of the gentleman who was mainly instrumental in restoring the _Brass_ with the Effigy of a former Vicar of this Parish, Thomas Codd, was the late _Mr. W. F. Harrison_, not _Hanson_, as printed.

I am, Sir, yours obediently, A SUBSCRIBER AND CONSTANT READER. Mr. Willis.

CAVENDISH'S LIFE OF WOLSEY.

SIR,--In an anonymous treatise, entitled, "Who wrote Cavendish's Life of Wolsey?" London, 1814; (usually attributed to the Rev. Joseph Hunter), the writer considers the author to be a George Cavendish, a branch of the Devonshire family. But in the valuable collection of my friend Mr. W. S. Fitch, of this town, there is a well-preserved MS. copy of "The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey," by Th. Gainsford. This interesting MS. is a folio volume of 166 pages. It embraces all that is contained in Cavendish's "Life of Wolsey," with a considerable deal of extra matter. I refer to Lowndes and find that this Gainsford was the author of a Life of Perkin Warbeck, and other works. He printed nothing, it seems, after 1619.

I am, Sir, yours truly, A SUBSCRIBER. Ipswich, Feb. 6, 1852.

"ROBBED BETWEEN SUN AND SUN."

Jan. 28, 1852.

SIR,--Perhaps the query of "Y. S. N." concerning the expression of

"ROBBED BETWEEN SUN AND SUN,"

(p. 6, of your "Current Notes,") may be derived from the definition of Burglary, in Blackstone's Commentaries, book 4, Public Wrongs, section 2. "The _Time_ must be by Night, and not by Day, for in the Day-time there is no Burglary.... Anciently the Day was accounted to begin only at Sun-rising, and to end immediately upon Sunset."

Therefore, if I was robbed last night, the Burglary was committed between the _Sun_-set of yesterday, and the _Sun_-rise of to-day.

Yours, MERVINENSIS. Mr. Willis.

"CROMWELL BETWEEN THE PILLARS."

SIR,--I extract the following out of the copy I got from you of "Smeeton's Reprints," which answer one of the queries put by your correspondent in last month's "Current Notes," p. 7, concerning the print of Cromwell.

"The following is a History of this celebrated Print:--

"Faithorne, with his master, Robert Peake, engaged in the King's service, and were both taken prisoners at Basing House, from whence Faithorne was brought to London, and confined in Aldersgate; here resuming his occupation, he produced the exquisite Portrait of the Protector, (known as Cromwell between the Pillars), which pleased the parties then in power so much, that shortly after, it occasioned his being set at liberty, and he retired to France. Copies of the original print have been known to sell as high as 40 pounds!

"Mr. Caulfield in his Chalcographiana, says, Mr. Bull the celebrated Collector, shewed him the original drawing in red chalk from which Faithorne engraved the print; from whom he also learned the face was afterwards altered to William III."

"OGILS."

PRINT OF OLIVER CROMWELL.

SIR,--I have a beautiful impression of the Print alluded to by a "Young Print and Portrait Collector," ("Current Notes" for January, p. 7), with this superscription: "Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, and the Territories thereunto belonging. Engraved by Chas. Turner, from the celebrated print by W. Faithorne." Below the figure of the Protector, on a small ornamental tablet, is "The Emblem of England's distractions, and also of her attained and further expected Freedom and Happiness;" which sufficiently explains the extraordinary allegorical figures which crowd the print.

Yours, S. S.

AUTOGRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY.

SIR,--Perhaps some of the readers of your "Notes," can inform me who is the "Kendall" who signs a document, a fragment only of which I possess, and that without date, which also bears the signatures "Orford," "J. Houblon," "G. Wharton," "P. Rich," and another I cannot decypher.

Yours, S. S.

AUTOGRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY.--The Marquis de Spinola, mentioned by ELLEN F., in "Current Notes" for January, p. 6, was Ambassador or Minister from Genoa to France. He afterwards came to England on a mission from his Government. I have many of his letters, in some of which he complains of Lord Nelson's proceedings in the Mediterranean.

R. C.

I think p. 8 of your January "Notes," if referred to by your fair Correspondent ELLEN F., may answer her "_Hue and Cry_" after John Bruce, on the 20th May, 1829.

C. P. J.

RING OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.

Your Correspondent T. K.'s notice of Queen Elizabeth's ring, said to have been given to the Earl of Essex, ("Current Notes," for December last, p. 95), reminds me of another ring, that of Mary Queen of Scots, for using which she was censured on her Murder-trial, in consequence of its having the Arms of England impaled with those of Scotland. I possess a _facsimile_ of that signet ring, procured from a seal engraved in Edinburgh. I should feel particularly obliged if any of your Antiquarian friends can inform me, where the original now is. I was told that it was in the British Museum, and had inquiry made there, but to no purpose. I rather think paste facsimiles may be had at Mr. Wilson's, formerly Tassie's, in Leicester Square. Mine is an engraving on Amethyst, and I shall seal this letter with it.

Respectfully yours, R. B.

A TRAVELLING NAME.--The anecdote told by your Correspondent "J." in the last number of your "Current Notes," p. 7, is somewhat differently related in the Memoir of Mr. James Smith, prefixed to his "Comic Miscellanies," where it is stated: "The following incident occurred to James Smith in a Brighton coach. An old lady struck with his extraordinary familiarity with things and people, at length burst forth, 'And pray, Sir, you who seem to know every body--pray may I ask who you are?' 'James Smith, Madam.' This evidently conveying nothing to her mind, a fellow passenger added, 'One of the authors of the _Rejected Addresses_.' The old lady stared at them by turns, and then quietly said, 'I never heard of the Gentleman or the book before.'"

T. C. C.

SALE OF RARE BOOKS.--Some curious books of an interesting character, collected by the son of SIMON LORD LOVAT, who, it will be remembered, was executed for treasonable practices, have recently been sold by Auction by Messrs. SOTHEBY & WILKINSON, of Wellington Street. The Collection contained specimens from the presses of Pynson, Wynkyn de Worde and Caxton; also some rare and early works relating to America, and on the subject of English Theology during the time of the Elizabethan Age, and some curious works on Machinery and the Occult Sciences. Among them may be specially named, "THE BOOK OF THE ORDRE OF CHYVALRY OR KNYGHTHODE," (lot 244), said to be one of the rarest productions of the press of CAXTON; one of three copies, (two of which being in the British Museum), and considered to be one of the most interesting volumes which we owe to the perseverance of Caxton as a translator, and of great beauty as an example of his typographic skill. It unfortunately wanted two leaves, but produced £55. 10s. The next in importance (lot 585) was a copy of the works of BEN JONSON, the edition of 1640, having belonged to the Somerset family, and of much interest from the circumstance of its containing on the inside of the cover an unpublished Poem of twenty-six lines, of a complimentary character, on the Nuptials of Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, entirely in the autograph of Ben Jonson, and concluding with the following beautiful stanza:--

"And when your yeares rise more than would be told, Yet neyther of you seeme to th' other old. That all y^t view you then, and late may say, Sure this glad payre were maried but this day."

BEN JONSON.

The flattering wishes of the great Bard were however not realized in the future history of the unhappy pair. It produced £14, and has found a resting-place in the British Museum.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

H. M.'s communication has been forwarded to the periodical for which it appears to have been intended.

MEDIÆVAL MUMMIES. "_A Bookworm_" who dates from the "British Museum," in type, but too long to appear this month.

[Greek: D]. Thanked.

TOBACCO. S. T. "Chester," received, and in type. The copy of the collected edition of "Current Notes" sent as desired.

A. Oak House, in type, but must stand over until next month.

ANTONINE'S ITINERARY and ETYMONS, &c. received after G. W.'s "Current Notes" had been made up for press.

=Literary and Scientific Obituary.=

CLEMENTS, William. Newspaper Proprietor (_Morning Chronicle_, _Observer_, _Bell's Life in London_). 24th January.

CRABB, George, (M.A.) Law, Language, and History. 16, Oxford Place, New Road, Hammersmith. 4th December. 1851. Aged 83.

DAVENPORT, Richard Alfred. History, Biography, Criticism, Poetry, &c. Brunswick Cottage, Park Street, Camberwell. 25th January. Aged 72.

GRIMSHAW, William. School Histories, American Chesterfield, Ladies' Lexicon. Philadelphia. 8th January.

HOLCROFT, Thomas. Periodical Writer, formerly Secretary Asiatic Society. 37, Woburn Place. 6th Feb.

PROUT, Samuel. Water Colour Painter. 10th February. Aged 68.

RODWELL, George Herbert. Musical Composer, Dramatist and Novelist. Upper Ebury Street, Pimlico. 22nd January.

RODWELL (John). Publisher (_Rodwell and Martin, Bond Street_) of Batty's Views, &c. January 3rd. Aged 71.

STUART (Professor), Moses. Biblical Scholar, Author of Hebrew Grammar, &c. Andover, U.S. 4th January. Aged 71.

Transcriber Notes:

Passages in italics were indicated by _underscores_.

Passages in emphasis (cursive bold) were indicated by =equal signs=.

Small caps were replaced with ALL CAPS.

Throughout the document, the oe ligature was replaced with "oe".

Throughout the document, a single superscripted letter is represented by that single letter preceded by a caret (^).

Errors in punctuation and inconsistent hyphenation were not corrected unless otherwise noted.

On page 9, a double quotation mark was remove after "(p. 5),".

On page 11, a quotation mark was added before "First Books in Sciences,".

"On page 12, the double quotation mark before "The Forging of the Anchor" was replaced with a single quotation mark.