Chapter M: W. B

_Frebord_ (Vol. v., pp. 440. 548.).--In some, if not in all, of the manors in this vicinity in which this right exists, the quantity of ground claimed as _frebord_ is thirty feet in width from the set of the hedge.

LEICESTRIENSIS.

_Devil_ (Vol. v., p. 508.).--If [Greek: Diabolos] was used as an equivalent for Adversarius, I should say that "the rendering _would_ be accurate" in no slight degree; especially when understood in the juridical sense. But the "adversarius in judicio" is the character of the Hebrew Satan in Job, c. i. and ii., and Zechariah, c. iii.; and the same appears clearly in Revelations, c. 12:

"The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before
our God day and night."

The term [Greek: diabolos] adds, to that of [Greek: katêgoros], the idea of falsehood and injustice, essential to the accuser of the Saints, but not expressed in the latter word[4]. Why the word should mean "a supernatural agent of evil," I cannot form the slightest idea. The name of a thing does not express all which that thing is! _Physician_ does not mean a natural agent of good. As little can I understand how the correctness of a derivation can form "a case of ecclesiastical usage."

With what words, manifestly and analogically Greek, but yet clearly derived in reality from the vague sources termed _Oriental_, nay even from Hebrew, are "the Septuagint and Greek Testament replete?" I say "clearly," because one paradoxical conjecture cannot obtain support from others.

I am surprised that MR. LITTLEDALE should be struck by the "similarity" of the gipsy word _Debel_, "God," "and our word devil," after himself admitting that our word is _diabolos_, and confining his attack to that "first link in the chain."

I will add a very few words on the other point, though not relevant. What is holy at one time, becomes the direct contrary in subsequent times and circumstances. Homer's Minerva ascended to heaven [Greek: meta daimonas allous], among the other dæmons. But that word in modern Europe means a devil of hell. _Deva_ and _Devi_ are (I believe) god and goddess in Sanskrit. _Div_, in Persian (MR. L. says), is a wizard or dæmon. I have no _Zend Avesta_ at hand: but we require to know whether _Div_ had a decidedly evil and Ahrimanian sense, in the language of the dualistic Pagan ages; or only in Ferdoosi and the like. If _afriti_ is "blessed" in Zend, and "a devil" in Arabic, I again ask whether the allusion be to the literary remains of Arabic polytheism, or to Islam? I suspect the latter; and so, it would come to nothing.

A. N.

[Footnote 4: "word" corected from "work"--Transcriber.]

I think MR. LITTLEDALE'S difficulty about the same Hebrew word's representing both [Greek: Diabolos] and _Adversarius_ is, on the contrary, rather a confirmation of the old derivation. Had he forgotten that "the Adversary" is often technically used for the _Devil_? Surely there can be no more doubt that _Devil_ comes from _Diavolo_, and that from [Greek: Diabolos], than that _journal_ comes from _giorno_, and that from _diurnus_.

C.

_Mummy Wheat_ (Vol. v., p. 538.).--Having a few grains of mummy wheat in my possession, I send you the following information concerning it, with a portion thereof as sample. About three years ago, when in New York, I purchased, at a sale of the Hon. Judge Furman's effects, a small parcel which was stated in his own writing to be "Egyptian wheat such as is mentioned in Scripture, and taken out of a mummy case."

I planted a few of the grains in a flower-pot, and they came up in an apparently very healthy and flourishing manner, with an appearance similar to that represented in Scriptural illustrations as Egyptian corn. But after attaining a height of about two inches, I noticed that it began to grow sickly, and in a short time afterwards died away. Upon examining the mould I found some of the grains still there; but they looked as though some very minute insect had eaten away the entire heart, leaving the shell only. It seemed to me that such insect must have been within, and not entered the grain from without.

Lately I have again tried in my garden a few of the grains I had reserved from the original stock. These, however, have not come up at all; and I find, on uprooting them, that the same sort of decay had taken place as occurred in New York. I am not able to forward you any of the husks, for they are now rotted: but I thought that some of your readers and your last correspondent might feel interested in knowing other attempts had also been made to rear mummy wheat.

S.

Meadow Cottage, Ealing.

[We have placed the grains forwarded by our Correspondent in the hands
of a skilful horticulturist; and will publish the result.--ED.]

_Nacar_ (Vol. v., p. 536.).--This word is not, I believe, a name appropriated to any one particular shell, but is the term used for the pearl-like substance which, in greater or smaller quantities, forms the lining of many shells. This substance, frequently called mother-of-pearl, exhibits in some species a beautiful play of colours, said to be due to a particular arrangement of the particles. The words _naker_ and _nacreous_--with _nacar_ Spanish, _nacchera_ Italian, and _nacre_ French--are given {596} in Webster's _Dictionary_, 2 vols. 4to., London 1832. The beard, or byssus, found in a few genera only, as _Avicula_, _Mytilus_, _Pinna_, and some others, is strong and silky, formed of numerous fibres produced from a gland near the foot of the soft animal, and employed by it to form an attachment to rocks or other objects. In Sicily this is sometimes made into gloves or stockings, more for curiosity than use. A byssus now before me measures six inches in length, is delicately soft and glossy, varying in colour from a rich dark brown to golden yellow, and is nearly as fine as the production of the silk-worm. _Byssine_ is an old name for fine silk.

WM. YARRELL.

_Mistletoe_ (Vol. v., p. 534.).--Mr. Jesse, in his agreeable and instructive _Scenes and Tales of Country Life_, has devoted a chapter of eight pages to the mistletoe, giving a list of more than forty different species of trees and shrubs upon which this parasitic plant has been found, with many localities. In this list the white, gray, black, and Lombardy poplars are included. The mistletoe is there stated to have been found growing on the oak near Godalming, Surrey; at Penporthleuny, parish of Goitre, Monmouthshire; also on one near Usk, and another at St. Dials near Monmouth.

WM. YARRELL.

_The Number Seven_ (Vol. v., p. 532.).--The reply to the Query of MR. EDWARDS is, that _sheva_, "seven," is used indefinitely for _much_ or _frequently_ in Ruth iv. 15., 1 Sam. ii. 5., Is. iv. 1., Jer. xv. 9., and Ezech. xxxix. 9. 12.; also in Prov. xxiv. 16., where, however, it may refer to seven witnesses or pledges, as in Gen. xxi. 28-30. Compare Herodotus, l. 3. c. 8. on the seven stones of the Arabs, with Homer's _Iliad_, l. 19. v. 243. on the seven tripods of Agamemnon. In Arabic and Hebrew the word _seva_ means finished, completed, satiated, as in Ezech. xvi. 28, 29. and Hos. iv. 10. Seven, as an astronomical period, is known to most nations, and has been from times prior to history. Clemens Alex. (_Stromat._ lib. vi. p. 685., Paris, 1629) says the moon's phases are changed every seven days. Seleucus, the mathematician, he also says distinguished seven phases of that luminary. He notices the seven planets, seven angels, seven stars in the Pleiades and in the Great Bear, seven tones in music, seventh days in diseases, and gives an elegant elegy of Solon on the changes of every seven years in man's life. Clemens (lib. v. p. 600., Paris, 1629) has accumulated a variety of passages from ancient poets on the sacredness of the seventh day. Cicero, in the _Somnium Scipionis_, speaks of seven as "numerus rerum fere omnium nodus est." The following have treated on this mystic number: _Fabii Paulini Hebdomades, sive septem de septenario libri_; Omeisius _de Numero septenario_; Philo, _de Mundi opificio_; Macrobius, in _Somnio Scipionis_, l. 50. c. 6.; Gellius, _Noct. Attic._ l. 3. 10.; Censorinus _de die Natali_, c. 7.; and Eusebius, _de Praep. Evang._ l. 13. c. 12. The Hebrews commemorated their seventh day, a seventh week (Pentecost), the seventh month (commencing their _civil_ year), the seventh year (for fallowing the land), and the seven times seventh year, or jubilee.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Bristol Road, Birmingham.

_Gabriel Hounds_ (Vol. v., p. 534.).--The term occurs in Mr. Halliwell's _Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, &c._, vol. i. p. 388., with the following, explanation:--

"At Wednesbury, in Staffordshire, the colliers going to their pits
early in the morning hear the noise of a pack of hounds in the air, to
which they give the name of _Gabriel's Hounds_, though the more sober
and judicious take them only to be wild geese making this noise in
their flight.--Kennett, MS. Lansd. 1033."

The species here alluded to is the Bean Goose _Anser segetum_, of authors. A few of them breed in Scotland and its islands, but by far the larger portion breed still farther north, in Scandinavia. Of the various birds which resort to this country to pass the winter season the Bean Goose is one of the first. I have seen very large flocks in Norfolk early in September, where they feed on the stubbles. I have good authority for their appearance in Gloucestershire, in the vicinity of the Severn, by the last week in August. This is in accordance with the habits of this goose in some parts of the Continent; Sonnerat and M. de Selis Longchamps calling it _L'oie des moissons_, or Harvest Goose. They are frequently very noisy when on the wing during the night, and the sound has been compared to that of a pack of hounds in full cry.

WM. YARRELL.

_Burial_ (Vol. v., p. 509.).--To the names already given of those interred in ground not consecrated, may be added that of the eccentric Samuel Johnson, formerly a dancing-master, but through his talent, wit, and gentlemanly manners, became the guest and table companion of the principal families of Cheshire.

He is not mentioned in Chalmers's _Biog. Dict._, and but very meagrely in that of Rose. The best notice of him is in the _Biographia Dram._, ed. 1812, as the author of _Hurlothrumbo: or the Supernatural_, and five other dramatic pieces, the first of which took an amazing run, owing to the whimsical madness and extravagance which pervade through the whole piece. Besides these, he is the writer of another strange mystical work, which, as I do not find it anywhere mentioned, I will give the title of, from my copy now before me:

"A Vision of Heaven, which is introduc'd with Essays upon Happiness, a
Description of the Court, the Characters of the Quality: Politics,
Manners, Satyr, Wit, Humour, Pastoral, Sublimity, Extasy, {597} Love,
Fire, Fancy and Taste Universal. Written by Mr. Samuel Johnson. Lond.,
for E. Withers, &c., where may be had Hurlothrumbo, 1738." 8vo., two
neat engravings, and six pages of music.

The compilers of the _Biog. Dram._ state that they had not discovered the date of his death; but we learn from Hanshall's _Hist. of the County Palatine of Chester_: 1817, 4to. p. 515., that he died in 1773, aged eighty-two, and was buried in the plantation forming part of the pleasure-grounds of the Old Hall at Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, in Cheshire. Over his remains is a stone (now there) with an inscription, stating that he was so buried at his own desire.

F. R. A.

_Marvell's Life and Works_ (Vol. v., pp. 439. 513.).--I thought the question proposed by J. G. F. had been answered to the satisfaction of all unprejudiced minds by the remarks on this subject published long ago. (See _Gentleman's Magazine_, vols. xlvi. & xlvii.; _Retrospective Review_, vol. xi., &c.) I say all _unprejudiced_ minds; for I confess that, although I am strongly prejudiced in favour of Marvell, yet the internal evidence of the poems in question is so strongly against Marvell, that I am compelled to resign them to their rightful owner. Any careful reader of poetry must acknowledge that every feature in the style is Addison's. Captain Thompson's having found them in MSS. in Marvell's own hand, is no proof of parentage, as in the same MSS. is one which undoubtedly belongs to Mallet, and another which has been proved to be from the pen of Dr. Watts.

My chief reason, however, for intruding on your space is for the purpose of correcting a mistake into which all the biographers of Marvell have fallen, as to the time and place of his birth. It is again and again stated, without any correction, that he was born at Hull, on the 15th November, 1620. That he was not born at Hull I am at length reluctantly compelled to believe; and that the date of his birth is "March 2, 1621," I can prove from authorised documents in my own possession, copied from MS. in his father's hand-writing.

With reference to MR. CROSSLEY'S hope that a new edition of his works might soon be published, I may say that a new biography of Marvell, with a selection from his works by a townsman, is already in the press.

JOS. A. KIDD.

Hull.

_The Death-Watch_ (Vol. v., p. 537.).--A good account of this small insect will be found in the second volume of the _Introduction to Entomology_ by Messrs. Kirby and Spence. A chapter is devoted to the "Noises produced by Insects."

"In old houses, where these insects abound, they may be heard in warm
weather during the whole day. The noise is produced by raising the
head, and striking the hard mandibles against wood.

"Thus sings the muse of the witty Dean of St. Patrick on the subject:

--------------------'a wood worm[5]
That lies in the old wood, like a hare in her form:
With teeth or with claws it will bite or will scratch,
And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch:
Because like a watch it always cries click;
Then woe be to those in the house who are sick!
For, sure as a gun, they will give up the ghost,
If the maggot cries click, when it scratches the post;
But a kettle of scalding hot water injected,
Infallibly cures the timber affected:
The omen thus broken, the danger is over,
The maggot will die, and the sick will recover.'"

The kettle of scalding hot water is also very useful in houses infested with ants or black-beetles.

WM. YARRELL.

[Footnote 5: A small beetle, the _Anobium tesselatum_ of Fabricius.]

The Query of M. W. B. reminds me of a family bereavement that followed the visit of this insect to my father's homestead. The ticking was heard in a closet, which opened out of the drawing-room. I first discovered it; and was struck with the fact that it occasionally altered the interval which formed the standard of the beats, though with one standard the beats remained punctually uniform. On examination, I found a very tiny insect, in shape like an elongated spider, whose "hind leg" kept beat with the sound; so I suppose that member to have been the instrument by which the ticking was effected. The family bereavement that ensued was the total extinction of the last dying embers of our faith in this world-famed omen; for unhappily, in this instance, no death ensued in our domestic circle.