Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they are indicated by footnotes to the relevant item.

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NOTES AND QUERIES:

A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

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No. 172.] SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12. 1853 [Price Fourpence. Stamped Edition 5d.

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CONTENTS.

NOTES:-- Page

Italian English 149

St. Nicholas Church, Brighton 150

Key to Dibdin's Bibliomania 151

Parallel Passages, by Harry Leroy Temple 151

Antiquity of the Polka: a Note for the Ladies 152

Seven Score Superstitious Sayings, by J. Westby Gibson 152

MINOR NOTES:--Mormon Etymologies--Bandalore and Tommy
Moore--Electric Clock--Desirable Reprints--The Earldom of
Oxford--Literary Attainments of the Scottish Clergy in
the Seventeenth Century 153

QUERIES:--

Queries as to Mr. Collier's "Notes and Emendations" 153

Hone's "History of Parody," by James B. Murdoch 154

The Countess of Pembroke's Letter to Sir Joseph Williamson 154

MINOR QUERIES:--Mediæval Parchment--"Mater ait natæ"--Fox
of Whittlebury Forest--Names and Numbers of British
Regiments--Daughters of St. Mark--Kentish Fire--Optical
Phenomenon--Cardinal Bentivoglio's Description of
England--Remarkable Signs--Old Fable--Tide Tables--Passage
in Ovid--Roger Pele, Abbot of Furness--Curtseys and
Bows--Historical Proverb--Bishop Patrick's "Parable of a
Pilgrim"--Dr. Parr's Dedications--"Königl. Schwedischer
in Teutschland geführter Krieg"--"Officium Birgittinum
Anglice"--Campbell's Hymn on the Nativity 155

MINOR QUERIES WITH ANSWERS:--"When Our Lord falls in Our
Lady's Lap"--Hobnail-counting in the Court of
Exchequer--A Race for Canterbury--Nose of Wax--"Praise
from Sir Hubert Stanley!"--Rosary 157

REPLIES:--

The Rod: a Poem 158

The Dutch East-India Company 159

"Its," by Thomas Keightley 160

Commencement of the Year 161

"Penardo and Laissa" 161

Robin Hood, by John D'Alton and J. Lewelyn Curtis 162

PHOTOGRAPHIC NOTES AND QUERIES:--Originator of Collodion
Process--The Soiling of the Fingers--Sir W. Newton's
Process: Chloride of Bromium--The Collodion
Process--Portable Camera 162

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES:--Chaplains to Noblemen--Mitigation
of Capital Punishment to a Forger--Brydone the
Tourist--Yankee--Miniature Ring of Charles I.--Bishop of
Ossory: Cardinal's Hat--Hugh Oldham, Bishop of
Exeter--"sic transit gloria mundi"--Wake--"Words given
to Man to conceal his Thoughts"--Inscription on Penny of
George III.--"Nine Tailors make a Man"--On Quotations--
Rhymes on Places--Coins in Foundations--Fleshed, Meaning
of--Robert Wauchope, Archbishop of Armagh--Flemish and
Dutch Schools of Painting--Furmety or Frumenty--Etymology
of Pearl, &c. 163

MISCELLANEOUS:--

Notes on Books, &c. 168

Books and Odd Volumes wanted 168

Notices to Correspondents 169

Advertisements 169

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Notes.

ITALIAN ENGLISH.

I have been favoured by a friend, who visited Italy last year, with the perusal of a small guidebook, which has afforded me much amusement, and from which I send you a few extracts for the gratification of your readers. The title runs thus:

"Description of the front and interior of the Cathedral of Milan the
first edition corrected, and increased with interesting things Milan by
the printer Luigi di Giacomo Pirola M.DCCC.XLVI."

The Preface is as follows:

"In presenting to the learned and intelligent Publick this new and
brief Description of the Cathedral of Milan, i must apprise that i do
not mean to emulate with the works already existing of infinite merit
for the notions they contain, and the perspicuity with which they are
exposed. My idea only was to make an extract of them, not forgetting
the principal things of observation, with the names of the most
distinguished artists, and not to deprive them of all the digressions
and explanations required by the Scientificals, or those skilled in the
art, so that it might be contained in a Pamphlet, and of little
expence, to be offered to the amateurs of fine arts, who come to visit
this unique and magnificent Edifice. Therefore i have not failed to
include in it, all that has been done subsequently to the publishment
of the above works, with some other little trifles worthy to be seen,
and in them not mentioned. Such has been my sole design, no other
pretention has induced me to it, and with a similar premise, i hope to
be pardoned by the indulgent Reader for all the errors in which i might
have involuntarily incurred.

G. P."

In the introductory portion, giving a general account of the building, "G. P." says:

"Under the direction of honest, intelligent and active Administrators,
and by the pious munificence of our Gracious Sovereign, who bestowes an
annual generous donation for completing the building of the Cathedral
of Milan, one perceives tending with the greatest celerity to the
perfection of this magnificent Edifice, founded by a special vow in
1386 by the duke of Milan Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti. It is of fine
white statuary marble, extracted from the quarry of mount Gandolia,
which among many gifts was expressly regaled for the building by its
generous founder the duke Visconti above mentioned."

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In describing the "fore-front" he gives a catalogue of the "bass-riliefs," from which a few extracts are made:

"1st. the Tobiolo assisted by the Angel in his jounrey to Rages, ...
the second is the Angel that expells Adam and Eve from the Eden, by
Carlo Maria Giudici. The two in the second order are: Daniel in the
lake of the lions by the above Carabelli, and Job on the dunghill, by
the above Giudici. The two upper Statues that figure Saint Bartholomew
and Saint James Junior, are works by Buzzi Donelli and Buzzi Giuseppe.
The Bass-Riliefs that follow aside of the Pilaster is God appearing to
Moses in the ardent-brambles.... Over the great windout the Bass-Rilief
representing Samuel while he oints Saul king of Israel is by Carlo
Maria Giudici, and Angelo Pizzi a milanese, carved the vision of Jacob
on the side of the following Pilaster. In sight of the same Moses who
makes the water gush from the mountain is by Giuseppe Buzzi, and the
other Bass-Rilief that is placed above, represents the prophet Elia
presenting to the afflicted mother the resurrection of her Son, by
Grazioso Rusca. By Canaillo Pacetti is the Statue of Saint James
senior.... The Bass-Rilief over the great window represents the
prophetess Debora providing captain Barach with arms.... Ornamented is
the rest of the front with a great number of Statues managed with skill
by intelligent Authors, and aside of the door are the Apostles Peter
and Paul of ancient work and unknown Author ... as also of unknown
chisel is Saul who tempts to kill David.... The Angel who assures
Sampson's Father that his Wife, believed to be sterile, will generate
the strongest of Israel's sons.... On reaching the fourth door one
perceives in the frontispiece the Bass-Rilief that adorns it, which is
by Lasagni; representing Givele that with a nail kills captain
Sisara.... Esaù renouncing the primogeniture to his brother Jacob....
Over the great window is painted Agar dying with thirst, with the son
of Ismael in the desert, while an Angel appears indicating a fountain
to her.... The first of the other four Bass-Riliefs in view figure
Gedeone preparing to fight the Madianites, and the second Sampson
suffocating the lion.... The Saints Philip and Thomas placed upwards
are by the egregious Pompeo Marchesi ... the second is by Ribossi,
representing Absatom suspended by his hair to a tree and pierced
through by Jacob."

In describing the interior, "G. P." is rather more instructive, but not quite so entertaining: however, a number of the peculiar expressions already quoted are repeated with the same confiding simplicity. A few extracts will suffice for this portion:

"The ornaments of the five doors are the designment of Fabio Mangone,
... the surprising vault a _chiaro-scuro_, drawn and painted in part by
our milanese Felice Alberti, who in the year 1827 was ravished from the
living by a fatal misfortune in the flower of his age ... in the inward
columns on both sides are two very fine Statues sitting in a very
melancholy action, which represent military Peace and Virtue ... under
the tomb-stone is another small and genteel Bass-Rilief representing
the Saviour afflicted, sustained by two little Angels.... The Altar of
Santa Tecla, which is part of the left arm of the cross, or form of the
Church, as is mentioned above, representing the Saint in a seraglio of
wild beasts, is by the Sculptor Carlo Beretta."

Lest I should have exhausted your patience, as well as that of your readers, I will close with one more quotation, which displays what Mrs. Malaprop calls "a nice derangement of epitaphs:"

"The last altar that was seen not long since on this side was dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin, whose image carved in wood dated a remote
antiquity, but as to the remnant nothing was found to be appreciable in
sort of art."

A. R. X.

Paisley.

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ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH, BRIGHTON.

In matters touching the public weal, the Editor of "N. & Q." always finds space for his correspondents: a few lines are asked for the present subject, as being one on which his pages have already been earnestly devoted.

The rebuilding of Brighton old church has been announced, and those who have frequented the salubrious breezes of that unequalled marine residence have often enjoyed the commanding view of the town and noble sea, which is obtained from the hill on which this venerable fabric stands, and which is about to disappear and perhaps "leave not a wreck behind."

The church is literally lined and flagged with monuments of the dead, more or less noted; but all of whom have passed through the stage of this life away from their native localities, and many falling where they went to seek in vain renovated health.

The tombs in the churchyard, immediately adjoining the church, of Capt. Tettersell, who conveyed King Charles to France after the battle of Worcester; and Phoebe Hassell, who fought under the Duke of Cumberland at Fontenoy, are continually surveyed by the old visitors. In a few months it may be too late to suggest to your friends interested in the preservation of monumental remains, and their inscriptions, to prevent such a similar removal and destruction as has taken place at Lambeth, under the walls of the Archbishop's residence, by the rector, church-wardens, and architects of Lambeth new church.

A notice to those interested in the history of the county of Sussex may be the means of preserving at least the inscriptions, and calling attention of the amiable and respected vicar of Brighton to a consideration of the subject.

K. N.

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KEY TO DIBDIN'S BIBLIOMANIA.

The following key to the characters in the _Bibliomania_ (edit. 1811) has been collected with care, and will no doubt prove acceptable to some of the readers of "N. & Q.":

Atticus Richard Heber, Esq.
Aurelius George Chalmers, Esq.
Alphonso Horne Tooke?
Archimedes John Rennie, Esq.
Bernardo Joseph Haslewood, Esq.
Boscardo James Boswell, Esq.?
Coriolanus John Ph. Kemble, Esq.
Crassus Watson Taylor, Esq.
Eumenius J. D. Phelps, Esq.
(1.) Gonzalo John Dent, Esq.
Hortensius W. Bolland, Esq.
Honorio George Hibbert, Esq.
Hippolyto Samuel Weller Singer, Esq.
Leontes James Bindley, Esq.
Lepidus Dr. Gosset.
Lysander Rev. T. F. Dibdin.
Lorenzo Sir Mark Sykes.
Lavinia's Husband J. Harrison, Esq.
Lisardo R. Heathcote, Esq.
Licius Francis Freeling, Esq.
Marcellus Edmond Malone, Esq.
Mustapha W. Gardiner of Pall Mall.
Menander Tom. Warton.
Malvolio Payne Knight or Townley?
Menalcas Rev. Henry Drury.
Mercurii (III.) Mr. Henry Foss, Mr. Triphook, and Mr. Griffiths.
Meliadus R. Lang, Esq.
Nicas G. Shepherd, Esq.
Narcottus Rev. J. Jones.
Orlando Michael Woodhull, Esq.
Prospero Francis Douce, Esq.
Philemon J. Barwise, Esq.
(2.) Phormio Rev. H. Vernon.
Portius Mr. John Cuthill.
Palmeria Robert Southey, Esq.
Philelphus Geo. Henry Freeling, Esq.
Palermo John North, Esq.
Pontevallo Duke of Bridgewater?
Quisquilius George Baker, Esq.
Rinaldo J. Edwards, Esq.
Rosicrusius Rev. T. F. Dibdin.
Sir Tristram Walter Scott, Esq.
Sycorax Joseph Ritson.
Ulpian Edw. Vernon Utterson, Esq.

(1.) Attributed to Birt } In Sir Francis
(2.) ---- Churton } Freeling's copy.

Page 164.
Right-hand neighbor Mr. George Nicol.
Left-hand ditto Mr. R. H. Evans.
Opposite ditto Mr. Thomas Payne.

Page 249.
Literary friend Sir Henry Ellis.

W. P.

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PARALLEL PASSAGES.[1]

1. "In a drear-nighted December,
Too happy, happy tree,
Thy Branches ne'er remember
Their green felicity," &c.--_Keats._

"What would be the heart of an old weather-beaten hollow stump, if the
leaves and blossoms of its youth were suddenly to spring up out of the
mould around it, and to remind it how bright and blissful summer was in
the years of its prime?"--Hare's _Guesses at Truth_, 1st series, p.
244.

2. "Spake full well, in language quaint and olden,
One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine,
When he call'd the flowers, so blue and golden,
Stars that on earth's firmament do shine."
Longfellow, _Flowers_.

"And daisy-stars, whose firmament is green."
Hood, _Plea of the Midsummer Fairies_, xxxvi.

[And see the converse thought,--

"Stars are the daisies that begem
The blue fields of the sky."