Part 2

A manuscript note upon my interleaved copy of Granger, which you may remember I purchased of you, states that, "_Caulfield had not less than ten or twelve of this print, but in consequence of the size they were mostly damaged: Coram had a tolerable good one which he sold to Mr. Townley for thirty guineas._" Caulfield, who was a well known print dealer, says in his "Calcographiana," (1814), "The late Mr. Bull shewed me Faithorne's original drawing, from which he engraved the print, and a most brilliant proof impression; from him I also learnt the face was afterwards altered to that of William III., in which state, however, I never saw it." He describes the print as "Oliver Cromwell standing between two pillars, inscribed the 'EMBLEM OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS AS ALSO HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER HAPPINESS:' _large sheet_;" and values the print at no less a sum than £36. This was all very well for a dealer's valuation; however, if your correspondent will refer to the records of the Strawberry Hill Sale, he will find in the Sixth Day's Sale of the Prints, (18th June, 1842), that mentioned by Granger, Lot. "761. Oliver Cromwell, whole-length, in armour, standing between two columns, and otherwise surrounded by a variety of allegories and emblematic devices, entitled, THE EMBLEME OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS, AS ALSO OF HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER EXPECTED FREEDOME AND HAPPINESS: sheet, _extra rare_;" which Mr. Evans, (a dealer also), then secured for £7 15_s._ The discrepancies between the two Inscriptions appear to me to be worthy of remark, and if both have been correctly copied, with what has been stated respecting the appropriation of the head to William III., would shew that the plate had been altered more than once. The original plate is supposed to have been engraved by Faithorne, while a prisoner in London for his adherence to the cause of Charles I., and to have been so favourably received by the Parliamentary party, as to have occasioned his liberation; and the alteration of the head is attributed to his son, William Faithorne, who was an engraver also.

A COLLECTOR.

Mr. Willis.

ROMAN REMAINS AT ASHTEAD, SURREY.

A Subscriber writes--"I am not aware that this locality has received from Mr. Roach Smith, the eminent Antiquary--in fact our best authority upon Roman remains--that attention which I am convinced it deserves. The arch of a small window on the North side of Ashtead Church is turned with Roman tiles, and a variety of interesting fragments have been found in the vicinity--particularly portions of a Hypocaust, of one of which you have a representation half the size of the original--the subject is evidently a wolf attacking a stag."

F. K.

THE DEVONSHIRE COLLECTION.

---- Castle, 16th January, 1852.

SIR,--I rather think the Devonshire Collection is either at the Duke's residence at Chiswick or Chatsworth. But your correspondent, (who signs himself "A Young Numismatist," p. 95, of your "Current Notes" for December), would be best answered if inquiry were made at the fountain-head; for a more amiable or kinder-hearted nobleman does not exist, than his Grace the Duke of Devonshire. Is your correspondent quite sure, however, that the Collection _is_ Numismatic? I know the Duke of Devonshire has an invaluable Collection of Antique Gems, both Cameo and Intaglio.

Your obedient Servant, B.

Mr. Willis.

ROWLAND HILL AND THE PENNY POSTAGE.

Bristol, 5, Lodge Street, February 26th, 1852.

SIR,--Seeing that the inquiry made by your Correspondent, I. E., and which appeared in your "Current Notes" for January last, p. 6, in a paragraph entitled, "Rowland Hill and the Penny Postage," has not been answered in the "Current Notes," for this month, I will inform you that the traveller mentioned in that paragraph was not _Rowland Hill_, but _Coleridge_. The fact was mentioned by Mr. Commissioner Hill (brother to Rowland Hill), in the last of two lectures, which he gave at the Bristol Philosophical Institution, on the evening of the 29th ultimo, "on Postal Arrangements," which I attended. An extract of the Lecture is to be found in the Bristol newspapers, and especially in the Times and Gazette, from which I copy the portion which has reference to the "Inquiry:"

"Many instances were related of the uselessness of the Post-office of those days to the poor; and the Lecturer took occasion to remark how often we were wrong and selfish in measuring any expense by our shillings and pence, forgetting that these nothings to us were pounds to the poor. Amongst other instances he referred to one mentioned in the Autobiography of Coleridge, who, whilst travelling, observed the postman offering a letter to a poor woman, urging upon her the necessity of taking it in, as it was evidently from her son. The poor woman refused; she could not afford it; but Coleridge charitably paid the shilling for her, and the postman left, when the woman expressed her grateful thanks, but was sorry he had wasted the shilling, for it was only a blank sheet addressed by her son, as a means of informing her he had reached his destination safely. Hundreds of such expedients were then employed, nor could it be wondered at."

If this communication can be of any use for your "Current Notes," it will give great pleasure, Sir, to

Your subscriber, F. S. DONATO.

BISHOP GIBSON.

_London, Feb. 11, 1852._

SIR,--I will be much obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me to whom Edmund Gibson, the Bishop of London, and a great authority on ecclesiastical laws, was married? and, if possible, the date of such marriage. The biographies of him which have fallen under my notice, have named no domestic circumstances but those of parentage and infancy. I think he died in 1745.

Your obedient servant, GENEALOGIST.

_G. W.'s Correspondent will find it stated in Faulkner's History of Fulham, that "the Bishop died at Bath, September 6, 1748, aged 79, and was buried at Fulham. He married the sister of the wife of Dr. Bettesworth, Dean of the Arches, who died suddenly in her chair, December 28, 1741, and by whom he had several children."_

JEWISH SUPERSTITIONS.

The superstitious notions and practices of the Jews in the middle ages, concerning the names of God, were singular. Of these they reckoned 72, from which, by different arrangements in sevens, they produced 720. The principal of these was אגלא, _agla_, which they disposed of in two triangles intersecting each other. This they called the "Shield of David," and pretended that it was a security against wounds, and would extinguish fires, and was able to perform other wonders.

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A B R A C A D A B R A. א ר ב א ד א כ א ר ב א א ר ב א ד א כ א ר ב א ר ב א ד א כ א ר א ר ב א ד א כ א א ר ב א ד א כ א ר ב א ד א א ר ב א ד א ר ב א א ר ב א ר א

This word, thus written, is a charm for fever or ague, still used by some superstitious persons; it was invented by Basilides, of Alexandria, in the beginning of the 2nd century, to signify the 365 divine processions which he invented, (see Moreri); the value of the letters according to the Greek numbers, make 365 thus:

Α Β Ρ Α Ξ Α Σ _Abraxas._ 1. 2. 100. 1. 60. 1. 200. 365.

Abraxas was a deity adored by the author, and was the root of his charm, as the more mysterious they were the more serviceable they were considered.

The mode of cure described in these verses, _viz._

Inscribes Chartæ quod dicitur Abracadabra Sæpius, et subter repetes, sed detrahe Summam, Et magis atq. magis desint elementa figuris Singula qua semper capies, et cætera figes Donec in augustum redigatur Litera Conum. His lino nexis collum redimere memento. Talia languentis conducent vincula collo, Lethalesq. abigent (miranda potentia) morbos.

ARCHÆOLOGY.--Numerous Archæological Societies now exist in different parts of England, of a local character, as in Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex, Cheshire; and from the Councils of which some printed volumes of Transactions have issued, as appears by occasional references in the public prints. If any of your correspondents have the means of supplying, through your "Current Notes," a list, or short account of the _titles_ and _number_ of volumes published, it would not only be interesting, but a very useful contribution to the current knowledge of the day, and by the publicity promote their sale, for we folks in the South know but little of what is doing in the North, East, or West.

S. E.

RING OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.

SIR,--Many years ago, when there was a mania for making _Gum_ Seals, originating (with me, at least,) from reading of "Lord Oldborough's" seal in "Patronage," by Miss Edgeworth, I had a wax impression given me of Mary Queen of Scots' diamond ring, and its history, which was shewn with it at a sale in London, I think, in 1817. I send you the account and seal, with the copy I made in gum. If it may tend to elucidate what your Correspondent, R. B. ("Current Notes," for February, p. 16) wishes to know, I shall be glad. If it is useless, you can destroy my letter.

M. C. S.

Feb. 28th, 1852.

"1817, June. The original diamond ring of Mary Queen of Scots, upon which are engraved the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, quartered, and which was produced in evidence at the trial of the unfortunate Mary, as a proof of her pretensions to the Crown of England, was in possession of the late Mr. Blachford, a Lord of the Admiralty, at the time of his death.[A] The history of this fatal ring is curious: it descended from Mary to her grandson, Charles the First, who gave it, on the scaffold, to Archbishop Juxon, for his son, Charles the Second, who, in his troubles, pawned it in Holland for £300, when it was bought by Governor Yale, and sold at his sale for £320, supposed to the Pretender. Afterwards it came into possession of the Earl of Ilay, Duke of Argyll, and probably from him to the family of Mr. Blachford, at the sale of whose effects it was said to have been purchased for the Prince Regent."

J. W. B. (F. S. A.) writes--"In answer to your correspondent R. B. ("Current Notes," February) I beg to remind him, that the attendants who shew Holyrood Palace offer for sale to the visitors a _Tassie facsimile_ impression seal of "Queen Mary's Signet ring." I myself purchased one last summer, and on looking to the box in which it is enclosed, I find it is stated to be copied from that "in the collection of the late Earl of Buchan." I know not whether the collection alluded to has been dispersed or not. However, if this fact be not already familiar to R. B. it may afford him some clue in his enquiry. I add an impression from the Seal, which exactly tallies with the one engraved in 'Current Notes.'"

RING OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.

SIR,--Having noticed your correspondent R. B.'s communication respecting the above curious relic, I beg to state that I also possess a facsimile of the same engraved upon crystal, an impression of which I enclose for your inspection. I believe the original is in Her Majesty's collection at Windsor Castle.

I am, Sir, respectfully yours, J. G. P.

15, Park Road, Stockwell.

LITHOGRAPHY.--Your Correspondent, Mr. Cole, is very much mistaken ("Current Notes," for February, p. 12) in supposing that he possesses the very _first_ impression in Lithography in England, although it may be from Ackerman's press, and is certainly a curiosity. If Mr. Cole will turn to the second article in the "Foreign Review," No. VII. p. 47, he may find that Lithography was practised in England so early as 1802, and was introduced into France about 1807.

AN ARTIST.

MR. MEADLEY.

March 4, 1852.

SIR,--Can you tell me anything respecting a G. W. Meadley of Bishop Wearmouth, Sunderland? I believe he was author of some two or three works published by Baldwin and Cradock many years since.

Yours truly, H. K.

SHOVEL BOARD.

New York, 14th January, 1852.

SIR,--It may possibly be amusing to some of your antiquarian friends to know that we have a game in use here, which I never saw or heard of in England, except in Shakspere's "Merry Wives of Windsor." I allude to Shovel-board, and I can assure you a capital game it is, requiring an eye as quick, and a hand and arm as steady, and much stronger, than billiards, which it somewhat resembles. If you wish it described with the rules of the game, say the word and I'm your man.

SS. R.

Mr. Willis.

_G. W. will be glad to receive the information so kindly offered by his Correspondent._

LATIN AND ITALIAN INSCRIPTION.--At Savona, on the Church of the Virgin Mary, occurs the following inscription:--

IN MARE IRATO, IN TORBIDA PROCELLA, INVOCO TE, NOSTRA BENIGNA STELLA.

Each of the words are both Latin and Italian.

A. A.

MONOGRAM.--The allusion made by your Correspondent C., in your "Current Notes" for February last, p. 11, to my relative Lord Glenelg's signature, reminds me that the letters of the following singular lines, if read backwards, will be found the same as if read in the usual manner.

_Signa te, signa, temere me tangis et angis Româ tibi subito motibus ibit amor._

A. A.

Bombay, July 16th, 1851.

MRS. CRABB.

Mr. Butterworth (7, Fleet Street) requests the attention of the readers of G. W.'s "Current Notes" to the distressing case of the Widow of the late Rev. George Crabb, whose death was recorded in the Literary and Scientific Obituary of last month (p. 16).

This highly respectable lady was, at the age of 80, left perfectly destitute, had it not been for the sum of £60 immediately forwarded for her relief by the Royal Literary Fund. Some friends have since subscribed about the same amount, and Mr. Butterworth's benevolent object is to raise a sum sufficient to purchase an annuity of £50 per annum for Mrs. Crabb--as the "relict of one who has laboured for nearly half a century in the preparation of works of standard usefulness."

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

G. W. fears that he has been taken for a conjuror, and that a serious conspiracy has been organised against him by his esteemed Correspondents (to whose commands he is always happy to respond) and the Post Office. But how is he to get on? He can only in the way of business gratefully acknowledge the favours conferred on him--execute orders--and do his best to reply in the smallest type and space in his power--one column; and with four woodcuts, which would more than occupy it without the illustrative letter-press, being before his eyes.

For these obvious reasons

AUSPICE TEUCRO. (_18th March_) _cannot, according to his request be inserted, as received too late._

S. S. _will find in the Piazza upon enquiry a communication and facsimile most politely forwarded by Mr. Cole, in reply to a note headed_ "AUTOGRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY," _in_ C. N. _for Feb. p. 15._

G. S. B. Gainsborough. _Thanked: his communication will probably appear next month._

_Newspaper paragraphs of the nature referred to (about Shakspere) seldom require contradiction; but_ G. W.'s _correspondent, as he has kindly mentioned the name of an accomplished Prelate, will perhaps name that of the stupid Newspaper in which the paragraph originally appeared, or the more stupid Newspapers into which such a paragraph could have been copied?_

X.'s _"extraordinary" communication about "a most extraordinary Story" was duly received. It reminds_ G. W. _of an Old Bailey piece of evidence in the case of a man who stole--not a joke, but a pair of boots that were hanging outside of a shop in Holborn; when followed and apprehended he attempted to excuse himself by saying he had taken them as a joke. The question in consequence by the Counsel was, "And pray how far did he carry the joke?" "About forty yards"--the reply. Now_ G. W.'s _correspondent admits upon_ X.'s _statement having currently carried the joke from Lincoln's Inn Fields to Covent Garden, and he only wishes that_ X. _would take it back again, without the interest, with some of Rogers's lost Notes._

Mr. Foss, Surgeon, &c., Stockton-on-Tees, _9th March. Thanked. In "Current Notes" for last month no such assertion was made as the discovery of a "City of Pigmies," although it was stated that two dwarfs had been brought from Central America, and were exhibiting in New York. However, for the information of those who are curious upon this subject, G. W.'s correspondent C. F. D. has most kindly forwarded_ "MORE ABOUT THOSE AZTIC BIPEDS," _an extract from the New York Herald, which will be forwarded in the proper quarter._

_To_ G. W.'s AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS _what can he say? beyond sincerely acknowledging his gratitude for the favour of their communications, and at once declaring his belief in the Great Sea Serpent, so voluminous, so overwhelming and really so important has been his Catch from the U. S._

_It would literally occupy the space that he will have it in his power to devote to Current Monthly Notes for the current year; and he scarcely knows how to proceed in the task of American Selection._

G. W. _however cannot deny himself the pleasure of acknowledging these Catches--respecting Niebuhr and Daniel Webster--"Lord Mahon_ versus _Franklin" is important--but must stand over. So must the Sermon of Dr. Adams of Boston upon the death of Professor Stuart (see "Current Notes" for Feb. p. 16)--"Dickens' American Notes," with Laura Bridgman and Longfellow's Evangeline, appears to be a twaddlish puff. Smarter American verses than Saxe's tribute to Jenny Lind Goldschmidt have come into_ G. W.'s _possession. With Lady Byron's "sayings and doings" at Southampton, on board the American Frigate_, G. W. _is quite as well informed as any American Newspaper paragraph writer from the "Oriental Hotel" there, can be. The Memory of James Fennimore Cooper is as dear to the Literature of both countries as that of Thomas Moore must be. But alas, their names can only be recorded in the "Literary and Scientific Obituary" of_ G. W.'s _"Current Notes," almost, it is sad to think, in juxta position. Morris's "Yankee Doodle"_ G. W. _must take in hand next month._

ACTA SANCTORUM _received after going to press._

Literary and Scientific Obituary.

BENTLEY, Joseph Clayton. Engraver and Painter. Sydenham. 9th October, 1851. Aged 42.

BLACKWOOD, Robert. Publisher, (Firm of Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh). 14th February.

DOANE, A. S. Dr. Health Officer, (Author and Translator of Medical Works). New York. 27th January.

KEATE, Rev. John, D.D. Many years Head Master of Eton College. Hartley Westpall, Hants. 5th Feb.

KIRK, Rev. John, D.D. Theology, "The Faith of Catholics," &c. Lichfield. 20th December, 1851.

LAROCHE, Benjamin. Translator of Shakspere and Byron. Paris, (_lately_). Aged 54.

LEES, Rev. Sir Harcourt, Bart. Political Writer. Blackrock, Dublin. 7th February. Aged 75.

MOORE, Thomas. Poet. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire. 25th February. Aged 72.

NEWELL, Rev. Robert Hasell, (Rector of Little Hormead, Herts). Author of three Illustrated works, "On the locality of Goldsmith's Deserted Village," "The Scenery of Wales," and "The Zoology of the English Poets." 31st January. Aged 73.

OXBERRY, William H. Actor. Author of Dramatic Chronology and Dramas. 28th February. Aged 44.

PARANT, S. B. Painter on Porcelain and Ivory. Paris, (_lately_). Aged 54.

THOMPSON, W. C. Natural History. London. 17th February. Aged 47.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] _Barrington Pope Blachford, Esq. M.P. was appointed a Lord of the Admiralty on the 23rd August, 1814. He died 14th May, 1816._

G. W.

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Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page 22, "ב" changed to "ג" so that אלבא is now אגלא