Chapter C: E. F

_Mr. Lyte's New Process._--Although I presume it is none of your affair what is said or done in "another place," will you kindly ask MR. LYTE for me, if he will be so good as to explain the discrepancy which appears between his "new processes," as given in the Journal of the Photographic Society of Sept. 21, and "N. & Q." of Sept. 10? In the former he says, for sensitizing, take (amongst other things) iodide of ammonia 60 grains: in "N. & Q.," on the contrary, what would seem to be the same receipt, or intended as the same, gives the quantity of this salt one fourth less, 45 grains--a vast difference. Again, in the developing solution the quantity of formic acid is _double_ in your paper what it is in the journal.

I should not have trespassed on your space, but would have written to MR. LYTE directly, except from the fear that some other unfortunate practitioner may have stumbled over the same impediment as I have done, and may not have had courage to make the inquiry.

S. B.

[Having forwarded this communication to MR. LYTE, we have received from
that gentleman the following explanations of his process, &c.]

The process which was published in the _Photographic Journal_ was, I am sorry to say, not quite correct in its proportions, on account of a mistake in inclosing the wrong letter to the Editor; but the mistake will, I trust, be rectified by another communication which I have now sent.

The whole of the formulae, however, as given in "N. & Q.," are quite correct.

Let me now, however, trespass on your pages by a few more answers to several other Querists, and which at the same time may be acceptable to some of your readers.

1. The developing agents which are made with iron are very applicable as baths to immerse the plate in; and the formic acid, from its powerful deoxidizing property, renders the iron salt more stable during long use and exposure to the air.

2. In coating paper with albumen, if the upper edge of the paper be sufficiently turned back, and the paper be forced down sufficiently on to the surface of the albumen, no bubbles will form; and {374} the operator will not be troubled with the streaks so often complained of.

3. No time can possibly be fixed for the exposure of the positive to the action of the hypo.; and to produce the best effects, the positive must be continually watched, both while printing and while in the hypo.

4. No hot iron should be applied to the positive after being printed, but the picture should be allowed to dry spontaneously.

5. The developing agent with the pyrogallic and formic acids will keep good a very long time, longer, I think, than that in which acetic acid is used, but cannot be used as a dipping bath.

6. I find the formic acid which I obtain from different chemists rather variable in its strength. What I use is rather below the average strength, so that in general about six drachms of the commercial acid will suffice where I use one ounce; but the excess seems to produce no bad result.

7. A great advantage of the pyrogallic developer which I recommend, is that of its being able to be diluted to almost any extent, with no other result than simply making the development slower. Another point is also worthy of notice, viz. a method by which even a very weak positive on glass may be converted into a very strong negative.

I take a saturated solution of bichloride of mercury in hydrochloric acid, and add of this one to six parts of water. This I pour over the collodion plate, and watch it till the whitening process is quite complete. Having well washed the surface with water, I pour over it a solution of iodide of potassium, very weak, not more than two or three grains to the ounce of water. The effect of this is to turn the white parts to a brilliant yellow, quite impervious to actinic rays. This process is only applicable to weak negative or instantaneous pictures, as, if used on a picture of much intensity, the opacity produced is too great. By using, however, instead of the iodide of potassium, a weak solution of ammonia, as recommended by Mr. Hunt, a less degree of intensity may be produced again a less intensity by hyposulphate of soda and a less degree again, but still a slight darkening, by pouring on the bichloride and pouring it off at once before the whitening commences. I thus can tell the exact degree of negative effect in any picture of whatever intensity. The terchloride of gold is most uncertain in its results, at any rate I find it so.

I must again beg you to excuse the great length of my communication, and hope it will be of service to my fellow photographers.

F. MAXWELL LYTE.

Florian, Torquay.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Derivation of the Word "Island_" (Vol. viii., p. 49.).--I have received through the kindness of Hensleigh Wedgwood, Esq., a copy of the _Philological Journal_ for Feb. 21, 1851, in which my late observations on the etymology of the word _island_ are shown to be almost identical with his own, published more than two years ago, even the minutest particulars. His own surprise on seeing my remarks must have been at least as great as my own, on learning how singularly I had been anticipated; and those of your readers who will refer to the number of the journal in question, will be doubtless as much surprised as either of us.

This coincidence suggests two things: first, the truth of the etymology in question, secondly, the excellency of that spirit which (as in this instance) "thinketh no evil;" and, in so close a resemblance of ideas as that before us, rather than at once start a charge of plagiarism, will believe that it is possible for two persons, with similar habits of thought, to arrive at the same end, and that, too, by singularly identical means, when engaged on one and the same subject.

H. C. K.

---- Rectory, Hereford.

"_Paetus and Arria_" (Vol. viii., p. 219.).--As I have not observed a reply to the Query respecting the author of _Paetus and Arria_, a tragedy, I beg to state that the work was not written by a gentleman of the University of Cambridge, but by Mr. Nicholson, son of Mr. Nicholson, a well-known and highly respectable bookseller in Cambridge, in the early part of the present century. The young man, who, besides being unfailing in his attention to business, had a literary turn, and was attached to the fine arts, died in the prime of life. After his death, the poor father, with tears in his eyes, presented me with a copy of the tragedy. I am glad to record this testimony to the character of persons well known to me during several years.

[Greek: Martus Pistos].

"_That Swinney_" (Vol. viii, p. 213.).--I am well pleased with the manner in which T. S. J. has unearthed "that Swinney," if indeed, as is very probable, Sidney Swinney really was the man who interfered with _the great unknown_. It may not be impertinent to state that Sidney Swinney, who was of Clare Hall, Cambridge, became B.A. in 1744, M.A. in 1749, and D.D. (_per saltum_) in 1763. It may also be worth noting that a George Swinney, of the same college, became B.A. in 1767, and M.A. in 1770. This _George_ Swinney _may_ have been _Sidney_ Swinney's son, or his near relation; and _may_ have been the man who went to Lord G. Sackville in July, 1769; but I think this not likely. I will only observe farther that, in the "Graduati Cantabrigienses," {375} the names are spelled _Swiney_; but changes of this kind, by the parties themselves, are by no means uncommon.

The question, whether Swinney had ever _before_ spoken to Lord G. Sackville, remains unanswered, although Junius most probably made a mistake in that matter.

VALENTINE WESTON.

_The Six Gates of Troy_ (Vol. viii., p. 288.).--The passage of Dares relative to the gates of Troy describes the deeds of Priam on succeeding to the throne:

"Priamus ut Ilium venit, minime moram fecit, ampliora moenia exstruxit,
et civitatem munitissimam reddidit.... Regiam quoque aedificavit, et ibi
Jovi Statori aram consecravit. Hectorem in Paeoniam misit, Ilio portas
fecit, quarum haec sunt nomina: Antenorea, Dardania, Ilia, Scaea,
Thymbraea, Trojana. Deinde, postquam Ilium stabilitum vidit, tempus
expectavit."--Chap. 4.

It will be observed that these six names correspond with the six names in Shakspeare, except that Shakspeare, following some ignorant transcriber, substitutes _Chetas_ for _Scaean_.

The work, consisting of forty-four short chapters, which has come down to us under the title of _De Excidio Trojae Historia_, by Dares Phrygius, is a pseudonymous production, which cannot be placed earlier than the fifth or sixth century. See the preface to the edition of Dederick, Bonnae, 1835; or the article "Dares," by Dr. Schmitz, in Dr. Smith's _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography_. Other writers spoke of _four_ gates of Troy. (See Heyne, _Exc._ XIV. _ad AEn._ II.)

L.

_Milton's Widow_ (Vol. vii., p. 596.; Vol. viii., pp. 12. 134. 200.).--Having noticed several Queries and Replies in your pages concerning the family of the poet Milton's third wife, I beg to give the following extracts from a pamphlet printed by Pullan of Chester so recently as 1851, entitled _Historical Facts connected with Nantwich and its Neighbourhood_:

"In that same year (1662), Milton was received at _Stoke Hall as the
husband of Elizabeth Minshull_, _the grand-daughter of Geoffrey
Minshull_."--P. 50. "Not far from the Hall, where Milton was _once a
welcome visitor_, stands the Yew Tree House."

There can be little doubt the author of the pamphlet referred to derived the information on which those statements were made from an _authentic source_; and if so, it seems pretty clear, the _Elizabeth Minshull_ whom Milton married was _grand-daughter of Geoffrey Minshull of Stoke Hall_.

T. P. L.

Manchester.

_Boom_ (Vol. vii., p. 620.; Vol. viii., p. 183.).--The Bittern is not an uncommon bird in some parts of Wales, where it is very expressively called _Aderyn-y-Bwn_ (the Boom-bird), or _Bwmp-y-Gors_ (Boom of the Fen): the _w_ is pronounced as double _o_.

W. R. D. S.

"_Nugget_" _not an American Term_ (Vol. vii. _passim_).--It is a mistake in our correspondent to suppose that the word "nugget" was used in California by American "diggers" to denominate a lump of gold. That word was never heard of in this country until after the discoveries in Australia. It is not used now in California, "lump" is the proper term; and when a miner accumulates a quantity, he boasts of his "pile," or rejoices in the possession of a "pocket full of rocks."

[Old English W].

Philadelphia.

_Soke Mill_ (Vol. viii., p. 272.).--Suit is not now enforced to the King's Mills in the manor of Wrexham, in the county of Denbigh, but the lessee of the manorial rights of the crown receives a payment at the rate of threepence per bushel for all the malt ground in hand-mills within the limits of the manor.

TAFFY.

_Binometrical Verse_ (Vol. viii., p. 292.).--This verse appeared in the _Athenaeum_ (Sept. 2, 1848, No. 1088, p. 883.), given by one correspondent as having been previously forwarded by another; but it does not appear to have been previously published.

M.

_Watch-paper Inscription_ (Vol. viii., p. 316.).--Twenty-five years ago this inscription was set to music, and was popular in private circles. The melody was moderately good, and the "monitory pulse-like beating" of course was acted, perhaps over-acted, in the accompaniment. I am not sure it was printed, but the fingers of young ladies produced a great many copies. Your correspondent's version is quite accurate, and I think he must have heard it sung, as well as read it. _Segnius irritant_, &c. is not true of what is read as opposed to what is heard with music.

M.

_Dotinchem_ (Vol. viii., p. 151.).--Dotinchem appears to be the place which is called _Deutichem_ in the map of the Netherlands and Belgian, published by the Useful Knowledge Society in 1843, and _Deutekom_ in the map of the kingdom of the Netherlands, published by the same society in 1830. Moreri spells the name _Dotechem_, _Dotekom_, and _Dotekum_. It is situated on the Yssel, south-east of Doesburg.

B. J.

_Reversible Names and Words_ (Vol. viii., p. 244.).--I cannot call to mind any such _propria mascula_: but I think I can cast a doubt on your correspondent's crotchet. Surely our _civic_ authorities (not even excepting the _Mayor_) are veritable males, though sometimes deserving the _sobriquet_ of "old women." Surveyors, builders, carpenters, {376} and bricklayers are the only persons who use the _level_. On board ship, it is the males who professionally attend at the _poop_. Our foreign-looking friend _rotator_, at once suggestive of certain celebrated personages in the lower house, is by termination masculine; and such members, in times of political probation, never fail to show themselves _evitative_ rather than plucky.

But some words are reversible in sense as well as in orthography. If a man _draw_ "on" me, I should be to blame if at least I did not _ward_ "off" the blow. Whom should we _repel_ sooner than the _leper_? Who will _live_ hereafter, if he be a doer of _evil_? We should always seek to _deliver_ him who is being _reviled_. Even Shakspeare was aware of the fact, that it is a _God_ who breeds magots in a dead _dog_ (vide _Hamlet_). "Cum multis aliis." The art of composing palindromes is one, at least, as instructive as, and closely allied to, that of _de_-ciphering. If any one calls the compositions in question "trash," I cannot better answer than in palindrome, _Trash? even interpret Nineveh's art!_ for the deciphering of the cuneiform character is both a respectable and a useful exercise of ingenuity. The English language, however, is not susceptible of any great amount of palindromic compositions. The Latin is, of all, the best adapted for that fancy. I append an inscription for a hospital, which is a paraphrase of a verse in the Psalms:

"Acide me malo, sed non desola me, medica."

I doubt whether such compositions should ever be characterised by the term _sotadic_. Sotadic verses were, I believe, restricted to indecent love-songs.