Part 1

WILLIS'S CURRENT NOTES

FOR THE MONTH.

No. XV.] [MARCH, 1852. "I will make a prief of it in my Note-Book."--SHAKSPERE.

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS

TO THE "PRICE CURRENT OF LITERATURE."

G. WILLIS gratefully acknowledges the various interesting documents and letters he has received. He is anxious that it should be perfectly understood that he is not the author of any statement, representation, or opinion, that may appear in his "Current Notes," which are merely selections from communications made to him in the course of his business, and which appear to him to merit attention. Every statement therefore is open to correction or discussion, and the writers of the several paragraphs should be considered as alone responsible for their assertions. Although many notes have hitherto appeared anonymously, or with initial letters, yet wherever a serious contradiction is involved, G. Willis trusts that his Correspondents will feel the necessity of allowing him to make use of their names when properly required.

MEDIÆVAL MUMMIES.

British Museum, Jan. 1852.

SIR,--The late discovery of the remains of a human body in a complete state of preservation, in St. Stephen's Chapel, has induced me to send you a brief notice of several similar occurrences recorded by our early chroniclers and historians. Bede relates that eleven years after the death of St. Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, the monks took up his body, expecting to see it reduced to ashes, but found, "all the body whole, as if it had been alive, and the joints pliable more like one asleep than a dead person; besides all the vestments the body had on were wonderful for their freshness and glossness." We learn from William of Malmesbury that the body was again found incorrupt 415 years afterwards at Durham, and publicly shewn. Lingard gives an interesting account of the event, taken "from a memoir written at the time by an eye-witness," in all probability Simeon, the Durham historian. From this narrative it appears that when the monks removed the masonry of the tomb, "they beheld a large and ponderous chest, which had been entirely covered with leather, and strongly secured with nails and plates of iron. To separate the top from the sides required their utmost exertion, and within it they discovered a second chest, of dimensions more proportionate to the human body. It was of black oak, carved with figures of animals and flowers, and wrapped in a coarse linen cloth, which had previously been dipped in melted wax, to exclude the air and damp." By the direction of Turgot, the prior, "they conveyed the smaller chest from behind the altar to a more convenient place, in the middle of the choir, unrolled the cloth, and with trembling hands forced open the lid. Instead of the remains of the Saint, they found a copy of the Gospels lying on a second lid, which had not been fastened with nails, but rested on three transverse bars of wood. By the help of two iron rings, fixed at the extremities, it was easily removed, and disclosed the body apparently entire, lying on its right side, on a pallet of silk. At the sight they gazed on each other in silent astonishment, and then retiring a few paces, fell prostrate on the floor, and repeated, in a low tone, the seven penitential psalms. After this preparation, they approached the coffin, and three of them, by order of the prior, placing their hands under the head, the feet, and the middle of the body, raised it up, and laid it on a carpet spread on the floor. It was found to have been wrapped in a cerecloth of linen. Over this appeared the usual episcopal vestments, the amice, alb, stole, fanon tunic and dalmatic;--the chasuble alone was wanting, which had been removed at the former translation in 689. On the forehead lay a thin plate of gold, or metal gilt, thickly encrusted with small stones; and a mitre covered the head, round which had been wound a napkin of purple colour. A cerecloth of the finest linen adhered so closely to the face, that no part of it could be loosened, but between the neck and the shoulders the skin was exposed to the sight and touch. The arms could be moved with ease; the hands were joined over the lower part of the chest, and the fingers, which were still flexible, pointed upwards. With the body were found a chalice, patine, a portable altar, a burse to hold the linen for the altar, and an ivory comb, with scissors of silver." When the shrine of St. Cuthbert was plundered and demolished by order of that sacrilegious scoundrel King Harry the Eighth, the body was still found entire, as Harpsfield testifies.

Audry, a daughter of Annas, King of the East Angles, and abbess of Ely Monastery, died A.D. 679, and was buried in a wooden coffin. Sixteen years afterwards her sister caused her body to be exhumed. It was found "free from corruption, and all the linen cloths in which the body had been wrapped appeared entire, and as fresh as if they had been that very day wrapped about her limbs." Such are the words of the physician who attended her in her last illness, and who saw the occurrence. (Bede, B. 4. c. 19).

Wereburge, a daughter of Wulfere, king of Mercia, died about the close of the seventh century. Her body, according to her own desire, was interred at Hanbury. Nine years afterwards, in 708, it was taken up in presence of King Cöelred, his Council, and many bishops, and being found entire and incorrupt, was laid in a costly shrine. In 875 her body was still entire; when, for fear of the Danish pirates, it was removed to Chester, and soon after its translation, fell into decay.

St. Elphege, Archbishop of Canterbury, was barbarously murdered by the Danes in 1012, and buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. Twelve years after his martyrdom, his body was found entire, and solemnly translated to Canterbury. The King and Queen, and an incredible multitude of persons following the procession from London. A long narrative of the event is amongst the Harleian MSS.

When King Edmund was cruelly slain by the Danes in 870, his head was carried by the infidels into a wood, and thrown into a brake of bushes; but being afterwards discovered, it was deposited with the royal remains at Hoxon, which were soon afterwards conveyed to Bury St. Edmunds, and there honourably interred. Fifty-seven years rolled on, when his body was taken up by order of the good Bishop of London; on which occasion, says the author of Britannia Sancta, "his body, to the admiration of all, was not only found entire, and without any blemish of corruption, much more like to one lying in a sweet sleep than one dead; but also his wounds were found all closed up, and his head united to the rest of his body, only a slender mark remaining like a red thread around the neck, testifying their former separation."

Yours, truly, A BOOKWORM.

ARMS OF THE ISLE OF MAN.

Southwick, near Oundle, Feb. 27th, 1852.

SIR,--The accompanying woodcut, taken from Gesenii Monumenta Phœnicia, Tab. 23, fig. 59, has induced me to send you a description of the remaining figures of the precious fragment, and the history written underneath them.

The upper part of the stone contained, _probably_, the infant Jesus and his mother Mary. Immediately beneath her feet is the figure here described; and below it is an ox at his manger; and underneath the feet of the ox, an ancient writing, of which the following is the meaning.

"The illuminated star (spica Virginis) of Virgo led the Magi slowly to the inn filled within, and in the court-yard, with crowds of people. Arriving at the mean cattle-stable, the Magi were." The names of the _three_ chiefs of the Magi in the place of the erasions? From a Mukatteb inscription I get the name of one of them, viz. "Nathan Hafi, the Grandfather."

Now what can the three legs, with the _man's_ head in the middle denote, but the three _chiefs_ of the Magi? And how is it that the people of Mona adopted it as _their_ peculiar coat of arms, if _a portion_ of that sect did not establish themselves, after the nativity, in the isle of Mona? The passage in Matt. ii. 12, does not militate against the idea.

Let us now take that most valuable auxiliary, Etymology, in order that we may further elucidate the subject.

Mannin, the Isle of Man, Mana, or Mona, may be thus divided, Man-n-in. Persian, _māna_, a sect of the Magi. Sanscrit, _māna_, to investigate, seek or desire knowledge, to give knowledge, to respect, _revere_, _worship_. A. Saxon _mont-ige_, _Mona_ insula; _monige_, monitiæ; _monigean_, monere, to teach, instruct, &c. Gaelic, _man-ach_, a monk.

And lastly, let us not despise tradition, however absurd it may at first sight appear.

Among a few legends, I have been told one, probably imperfectly, by a lady; viz. "A man was thrown from the top of a mountain in Mona; and was afterwards, sometimes seen as a sheep in the plain below, sometimes as a goat." Will any person of _Mannin veg veen_ do me the favour of giving the _complete_ legend; with any other legend respecting the peopling of their island? It may throw more light on the _peculiar_ occupation of the Magi.

Your's truly, T. R. BROWN.

G. W. _fears, with regret, that the_ "PUNCH" _Artist, to whom his learned Correspondent's sketch was forwarded to copy, has been more humourous than correct in its transfer._

DANIEL O'ROURKE.

There is a sort of mystery attached to this legend or story, as to the authorship of it, that requires some clearing up.

The first time I read it was in T. C. Croker's "Fairy Legends," which appeared in 1825, 3 vols. small 8vo.; but what the editor or writer calls a compressed edition, forms a volume of "Murray's Family Library," and was published in 1834. At page 134 of this latter edition the story commences, as if narrated by Daniel himself, and the writer says, "I knew the man well,--an old man was he at the time _he told me the story_, and it was on the 25th of June, 1813, that _I heard it from his own lips_."

All this seems very circumstantial, but it is somewhat singular that this same story, with very slight variation, is to be found in the 18th volume of Dr. Anderson's "Bee," for January, 1794, p. 338, the party communicating it, saying, "The inclosed is genuine, and I honour the _lady_ who had the merit of putting it in writing."

There is also some account of its previous publication, communicated in the 34th volume of the "Dublin University Magazine," p. 202, but not having the volume at hand, I do not recollect the particulars, my chief object being to refer to Prior's "Memoir of the Life of Burke," third edition, 1839, at p. 100 of which we are distinctly told that Mr. Doyle, a surgeon, of Dublin, was the _author_ of Daniel O'Rourke's Dream.

Now it is right that the real author should not be deprived of the merit of a story, which has even been translated into French, and published in the "Magasin Pittoresque" for 1843, with two humorous wood cuts.

A.

Oak House.

TRADESMEN'S TOKENS.

Dublin, March 5th, 1852.

SIR,--I was much pleased with the observations which appeared in the last number of your Current Notes, (p. 11) by your intelligent Correspondent, Mr. Boyne of Leeds, respecting the tokens issued by tradesmen in the seventeenth century. But as he states that the only instance with which he is acquainted of one bearing the Arms of the Commonwealth is that which you have engraved to illustrate his paper, it is evident that Mr. Boyne cannot have seen Dr. Aquilla Smith's Catalogue of the Tradesmen's Tokens current in Ireland between the years 1637 and 1679 which was printed in 1849 in the 2nd part of the 4th volume (8vo.) of the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, for on the very same page in which John Whittle's issue is enumerated, a token for the County of Kerry issued by T. S. is mentioned as bearing "_The Commonwealth Arms_." From my own collection I can give another instance, inscribed on both sides A. CORKE. FARTHING.

The list of Irish Tokens formed by Lindsay in 1839 amounts to only 195; while that published ten years afterwards by Dr. Smith extends to 552;--and I would respectfully call Mr. Boyne's attention to it.

Your very humble servant, K. L.

Southwick, near Oundle, Feb. 27th, 1852.

SIR,--Finding by Mr. Boyne's communication in your Current Notes, that Tradesmen's Tokens are worth collecting, I beg to send for your acceptance five dug up in my own gardens. You may make what use you please of them.

Yours truly, T. R. BROWN.

IOHN. EATON. OUNDLE (_dug up in my garden at Southwick by myself._)

IAMES MEAD, 1667 (an Angel) IN TENTARDEN. HIS HALFPENY.

IOHN COVITER (Coat of Arms) GROCER. IN. WYE, 1662,

And two German Counters.

_Dug up in my garden at Woodchurch, near Tenterden, Kent, by myself._

G. W. _sincerely thanks his Correspondent, and with his permission will consider these tokens at Mr. Boyne's service should he wish for them._

SIR,--Mr. William Boyne, in your "Current Notes" for February, asks any of your readers to inform him if there were any Tradesmen's Tokens of Scotland issued during the seventeenth century. I find in a small collection of Tokens I possess, an Edinburgh and Glasgow halfpenny, dates 1791 and 1793, proving there were some during the eighteenth century, though I have never met with any of an earlier date.

Yours, &c. M. A. M.

March 12, 1852.

THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.--T. M. considers the Rev. Dr. Hume's "attack" upon him ("Current Notes," for February, p. 10) to be "most unfair and uncalled for." He, however, admits the accuracy of Dr. Hume's statement, and withdraws his charge of the unacknowledged appropriation of his communication, although he questions the Rev. Gentleman's taste or temper in accusing him of want of patience or civility. "My copy," writes T. M. "does not contain the pages which were forwarded to you by Dr. Hume, and you have sent on to me. How, therefore, could I overlook pages which do not exist in my copy? Now, suppose no such pipe ever existed, but in the fumes of my brain (for I sometimes have strange fancies), and that I, in a hoaxing humour, transferred it to paper, and transmitted it to you. I say, again, suppose that no such inn ever existed at Fulham as the Golden Lion--would not I have an everlasting laugh at the learned Doctor Hume, and the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, and "Willis's Current Notes?" And would it not make as good a story as Bishop Heber's, or James Smith's hoaxes upon the venerable 'Gentleman's Magazine,' or Dr. Maginn's Correspondence with the trusty 'Times;' or Hook's political information to the 'Morning Post;' or the recent Roman Bridge affair, and Lord Goring's cobbler's bill, about his corns, in the York papers? Look to this, Mr. Willis; and don't encourage men to try and defend themselves at the expense of your Correspondent."

T. M.

TOBACCO.--The charge made against the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, by your correspondent T. M. in your "Current Notes" for January (p. 5), induced me to refer to the former numbers, of which, as I do not possess a complete set, I will thank you to forward me a copy of the Collected Edition you have announced. But, as by looking over the numbers which I have, I find that T. M. (see "Current Notes" for Feb. 1851, p. 13), is curious upon the subject of smoking and tobacco, I send you the following extract from an old miscellaneous manuscript book which came into my possession a few years since at Gloucester, and has the dates 1699 and 1703, with the names Bubb or Butt and Richard Smith in it--but part of which is written in a much earlier hand.

"_I was tempted to smoke no tobac And to smoke. "When the_ (HOLY) _Angel_ (SPIRIT) _torn'd I Discorst on to the other I told him that I Did think not to smoke no more Tobacko nor drink no more Alle And I have. I hope the Lord Will forgive me, as he told the Spirit blind me, and ever since I have been tempted to smoke and Not to smok. The Angel Spirit Is you when I do smok no tobac But when I do he comes to me Again and I am tempted to smok._"

What an extraordinary record is this of a mental struggle to overcome the cravings for Tobacco and Ale.

S. T.

Chester, February 4th.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST PRICE EVER PAID FOR A VOLUME?--In the course of my reading lately on Bibliography, I observe that at the sale of the Duke of Roxburgh's Library in May, 1812, the first edition of the Decamerone of Boccaccio produced the enormous sum of £2260. In the Catalogue the work is entitled--

"Boccaccio il Decamerone. Fol. M. G. Ediz. Prim. Venet. Valdarfer, 1471."

It was bought by the Duke of Marlborough, and again sold by public auction from his Library, by Mr. Evans, Pall Mall, in June, 1819, for the large price of £918. 15_s._ In that Catalogue it is entitled--

"Boccaccio il Decamerone, (Venezia), per Christoful Valdarfer di Ratispona, MCCCCLXXI."

At this time it was purchased by Mr. Longman, apparently for Lord Spencer, in whose library it is said at present to be. A note to the above Catalogue mentions that, "notwithstanding the publicity of the extraordinary sum which this book produced at the Roxburgh Sale, all researches throughout Europe to procure another copy have proved entirely fruitless. This volume still continues to be the only known perfect copy of this edition, and is, in all probability, the only copy which will ever be offered for public sale. Its unparalleled rarity, however, is not its only recommendation, as it contains many important readings which have not been followed in any subsequent edition."

If any of your learned correspondents could give us additional information as to this rare and apparently valuable volume, it would be doubtless interesting to Bibliographers. Has any volume ever brought a higher price, or any work even in a series of volumes?

It is most probable that the other copies of this Edition have fallen under the ban of the Pope.

W. B. M.

JAMES SMITH. The mention of this gentleman by your Correspondent J. in your "Current Notes" for January (p. 7), reminds me that no author in the English language ever received so high a remuneration "per line" for his verses as James Smith. Longman's famous payment to Moore of a guinea a line for "Lalla Rookh" is as nothing to it, for Mr. Strachan, the King's printer, was so pleased with an epigram by Smith of eight lines, that he actually, in a codicil to his will bequeathed him £3000, or £375 per line.

R. S.

O. SMITH! The name of the "far famed Ruffian of the Adelphi," as your Correspondent, Mr. John Smith, in your Current Notes for January last, p. 7, is pleased to style a gentleman of quiet habits and literary tastes, whose real Christian names, are Richard John--the O being merely his theatrical soubriquet, possesses in his Album among many other interesting records the following witty testimonial from the late Mr. Mathews:

"_I am happy to have it in my power to express my perfect belief that Mr. O. Smith is a most respectable character in private life, though a Great Ruffian on the Stage._

C. MATHEWS.

"_Theatre Royal, English Opera House, August 21st, 1827._"

I was so much pleased with this impromptu by Mathews, that I asked Mr. Smith's permission to copy it, and I have no hesitation in sending you my transcript to make what use of it you like.

A. B. C.

CAMPANALOGIA.

SIR,--I thank you for amending the errors and omissions about the _Bawdrick_, though at the cost of publishing to all the world that "my writing is indistinct."

I also thank your Strood Correspondent for his extract from an old Churchwarden's book, bearing on the item _Baldrick_.

I would request the favour of any of your readers who have access to old parish accounts, to publish, through the medium of your "Current Notes," (pace tuâ) any entry relating to that _item_, or to the "_Wheles of ye Belles_."

It is a desideratum in Campanalogical history, _when_ and by _whom_ the ingenious and beautiful Bell-wheel now in use was first introduced. In some retired villages, and indeed very generally in Dorsetshire, the _half wheel_ may still be found. Bells so hung and rung, are said to be with a "_Dead Rope_." The Bell can only be "_set_" one way, and changes could not be rung on the system now practised, viz. changing the position of each bell at every half pull.

The mention of this original sort of wheel may induce some of your readers to wend their way into the Bell-chambers in their neighbourhood, and, regardless of the filthy state in which most will be found when they get there, they will, perhaps, crawl under the bells (minding their heads), and hunt out and report if they meet with any clappers hung with Bawdricks and Busk Boards, obliging many others besides your scribbler.

H. T. E.

Feb. 26, 1852.

THE UNION JACK.

SIR,--I have met in some collection of National papers with an account of the formation of our British Union Jack; but the book has altogether escaped my memory. Can you or your readers kindly name it, to yours, &c.

H. M.

London, Feb. 17, 1852.

PILLAR PRINT OF OLIVER CROMWELL.

SIR,--All I can tell your correspondent, "A Young Print and Portrait Collector," in reply to his inquiry, p. 7, in your "Current Notes" for January, is, that I hope I may congratulate him on the possession of a very valuable and historically interesting engraving.

Horace Walpole mentions it as in "Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales," and describes it as "a large emblematic sheet print of Oliver Cromwell, whole-length, in armour, with variety of devices and mottoes."--_Proof._

Granger describes it thus: "Oliver Cromwell standing with a book in his hand betwixt two pillars; various emblems. Faithorne, sc. sh." And Granger adds: "I do not remember to have seen more than two proofs of this fine print. Mr. Walpole had one, and Mr. Gulston another. Mr. Bull has the original drawing. The face was altered to that of King William."