Chapter C: H. Cooper

Cambridge.

I know not whether you have noticed the following:

"Droit le Roy; or, A Digest of the Rights and Prerogatives of the
Imperial Crown of Great Britain. By a Member of the Society of
Lincoln's Inn. 'Dieu et Mon Droit.' [Royal Arms, with G. R.] London:
printed and sold by W. Griffin, in Fetter Lane, MDCCLXIV."

Lord Mahon (_History of England_, vol. v. p. 175.) says:

"It was also observed, and condemned as a shallow artifice, that the
House of Lords, to counterbalance their condemnation of Wilkes's
violent democracy, took similar measures against a book of exactly
opposite principles. This was a treatise or collection of precedents
lately published under the title of _Droit le Roy_, to uphold the
prerogative of the crown against the rights of the people. The Peers,
on the motion of Lord Lyttleton, seconded by the Duke of Grafton, voted
this book 'a false, malicious, and traitorous libel, inconsistent with
the principles of the Revolution to which we owe the present happy
establishment;' they ordered that it should be burned by the hands of
the common hangman, and that the author should be taken into custody.
The latter part of the sentence, however, no one took any pains to
execute. The author was one Timothy Brecknock, a hack scribbler, who,
twenty years afterwards, was hanged for being accessary to an atrocious
murder in Ireland."

A copy of the book (an octavo of xii. and 95 pages) is in my possession. It was apparently a presentation copy, and formerly belonged to Dr. Disney; at whose sale it was purchased by the late Richard Heber, as his MS. note testifies. Against the political views which this book advocates, I say not one word; as a legal treatise it is simply despicable.

H. GOUGH.

Lincoln's Inn.

The following extract is at the service of BALLIOLENSIS:

"In the seventh year of King James I., Dr. Cowel's _Interpreter_ was
censured by the two Houses, as asserting several points to the
overthrow and destruction of Parliaments and of the fundamental laws
and government of the kingdom. And one of the articles charged upon him
to this purpose by the Commons, in their complaint to the Lords, was,
as Mr. Petyt says, out of the _Journal_, this that follows:

"'4thly. The Doctor draws his arguments from the imperial laws of the
Roman Emperors, an argument which may be urged with as great reason,
and with as great authority, for the reduction of the state and the
clergy of England to the polity and laws in the time of those Emperors;
as also to make the laws and customs of Rome and Constantinople to be
binding and obligatory in the cities of London and York.'

"The issue of which complaint was, that the author, for these his
outlandish politics, was taken into custody, and his book condemned to
the flames: nor could the dedication of it to his then grace of
Canterbury save it."--Atterbury's _Rights, Powers, and Privileges of
Convocation_, p. 7. of Preface.

WM. FRASER, B.C.L.

Tor-Mohun.

I possess a copy of _The Case of Ireland being bound by Acts of Parliament in England stated_, by William Molyneux of Dublin, Esq., which appears to have been literally "plucked as brand from the burning," as a considerable portion of it is consumed by fire. I have cut the following from a sale catalogue just sent to me from Dublin:

"Smith's (Matthew) _Memoirs of Secret Service_, Lond. 1696. Written by
Charles, Earl of Peterborough, and is very scarce, being burnt by the
hangman. MS. note."

JAMES GRAVES.

Kilkenny.

A decree of the University of Oxford, made July 21, 1683, condemning George Buchanan's treatise _De jure regni apud Scotos_, and certain other books, the names of which I do not know, was on March 25, 1710, ordered by the House of Lords to be burned by the hangman. This was shortly after the trial of Dr. Sacheverel.

W. P. STORER.

Olney, Bucks.

* * * * *

DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS OF DIFFERENT CARCASES.

(Vol. vi., p. 263.)

Up to a very recent period, it was held, even by philosophers, that each of the four elements, as well as every _living_ plant and animal, both {228} brute and human, generated insects; but of all sources of this equivocal generation, none was considered more potent than the putrefaction or corruption of animal matter: as Du Bartas says:

"God, not contented to each kind to give,
And to infuse the virtue generative,
By His wise power, made many creatures breed,
Of _lifeless bodies_ without Venus' deed."
_Sixth Day._

Pliny, after giving Virgil's receipt for making bees, gives similar instances:

"Like as dead horses will breed waspes and hornets; and asses carrion,
turne to be beetle-flies by a certaine metamorphosis which Nature
maketh from one creature to another."--Lib. xi. c. xx.

And soon after he says of wasps:

"All the sorte of these live upon flesh, contrarie to _the manner of
bees, which will not touch a dead carcasse_."

This brings Shakepeare's lines to mind:

" 'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb
In the _dead carrion_."
_Henry IV._, Part II. Act IV. Sc. 4.

The _Belfast News Letter_ of Friday, Aug. 10, 1832, gives one of these rare occurrences:

"A few days ago, when the sexton was digging a grave in Temple Cranney
(a burying-place in Portaferry, co. Down), he came to a coffin which
had been there two or three years: this he thought necessary to remove.
In this operation, he was startled by a great quantity of wild bees
issuing forth from the coffin; and upon lifting the lid, it was found
that they had formed their combs in the dead man's skull and mouth,
which were full. The nest was made of the hair of the head, together
with shavings that had been put in the coffin with the corpse."

This quotation is given in an interesting work of Mr. Patterson's, _Letters on the Natural History of the Insects mentioned in Shakspeare's Plays_: London, 1838.

Your correspondent R. T. shows that _serpents_ were supposed to be generated by _human_ carcases. Pliny says:

"I have heard many a man say that the _marrow of a man's backebone_
will breed to a snake."--_Hist. Nat._, x. 66.

The story of the "fair young German gentleman" reminds me of one of a gentle shepherd and his beloved Amarante, told in De Britaine's _Human Prudence_, 12th edit., Dublin, 1726, Part I. p. 171. The corpse of the "Caesar," seen by St. Augustine and Monica, was most probably that of Maximus, Emperor of the West, slain by the soldiers of Theodosius, A.D. 388.

Sir Thos. Browne--"treating of the conceit that the mandrake grows under gallowses, and arises from the fat, or [Greek: ouron], of the dead malefactor, and hence has the form of a man--says:

"This is so far from being verified of animals in their corruptive
mutations into plants, that they maintain not this similitude in their
nearer translation into animals. So when the ox corrupteth into bees,
or the horse into hornets, they come not forth in the image of their
originals. So the corrupt and excrementitious humours in man are
animated into lice: and we may observe that hogs, sheep, goats, hawks,
hens, and others, have one peculiar and proper kind of
vermin."--_Works_, Bohn's edit., vol. i. p. 197.

The editor furnishes the following note:

"The immortal Harvey, in his _De Generations_, struck the first blow at
the root of the irrational system called _equivocal generation_, when
he laid down his brief but most pungent law, _Omnia ex ovo_. But the
belief transmitted from antiquity, that living beings generated
spontaneously from putrescent matter, long maintained its ground, and a
certain modification of it is even still advocated by some naturalists
of the greatest acuteness. The first few pages of the volume entitled
_Insect Transformations_ (in _The Library of Entertaining Knowledge_)
are occupied by a very interesting investigation of this subject."--See
also Sir T. Browne's _Works_, vol. i. p. 378., vol. ii. pp. 523, 524.;
and Izaak Walton's _Complete Angler_, passim.

The equivocal generation of bees is copiously dwelt on in Bochart's _Hierozoicon_, London, 1663, fol., Part II. p. 502. Instances of their attaching themselves to dead bodies, in spite of their ordinary antipathy, are given at p. 506.

EIRIONNACH.

* * * * *

VANDYKE IN AMERICA.

(Vol. viii., pp. 182. 228.)

To your correspondent C. I would say, that his observation--that the Query was as to an _engraving_, whilst my answer was as to a _picture_--is not true; as I am sure, from memory, that MR. WESTMACOTT used the word "portraits." But I plead in extenuation of my pretended grave offence, 1. That the Query was not propounded by C., but by a gentleman to whom the information given might be, as I supposed, of some interest; more particularly as I referred to the _Travels_ of an Englishman, both of which, author and work, were accessible. 2. That, in common with the American readers of "N. & Q.," I regarded it as "a journal of inter-communication," through whose columns information might be asked for, the request to be treated with the same consideration and courtesy as though addressed to each individual subscriber. I may add that LORD BRAYBROOKE and MR. WODDERSPOON (Vol. iv., p. 17.) have urged "the necessity for recording the existence of painted historical portraits, scattered, as we know they are," &c. {229}

Now, as to the expression "worthies, famous in English history." I presume I need do no more concerning its application to Lord Orrery, Sir Robert Walpole, &c., than say, it was used as signifying "men of mark," without intending to endorse their "worth" either morally, mentally, or politically; its application to Colonel Hill and Colonel Byrd, as meaning "men of worth," might, did your limits permit, be defended on high grounds.

Then as to the possibility of Vandyke's having painted the portraits. If C. will have the kindness to look at C. Campbell's _History of Virginia_, he will find,--

"1654. At a meeting of the Assembly, William Hatchin, having been
convicted of having called Colonel Edward Hill 'an atheist and
blasphemer,' was compelled to make acknowledgment of his offence upon
his knees before Colonel Hill and the Assembly."

This Colonel Hill, generally known as Colonel Edward Hill the Elder, a gentleman of great wealth, built the mansion at Shirley, where his portrait, brought from England, hangs in the same place, in the same hall in which he had it put up. It represents a youth in pastoral costume, crook in hand, flocks in the background. By a comparison of dates, C. will find it possible for Vandyke to have painted it. (See Bryan's _Engravers and Painters_.) It has descended, along with the estate, to his lineal representative, the present owner. Its authenticity rests upon _tradition_ coupled with the foregoing facts, as far as I know (though the family may have abundant documentary proof), and I doubt very much whether many "Vandykes in England" are better ascertained. I would add that several English gentlemen, among them, as I have heard, a distinguished ambassador recently in this country, recognised it as a Vandyke. This picture, amongst others, was injured by the balls fired from the vessels which ascended the James river, under command of General Arnold, then a British officer. On the younger Mr. Hill's tomb at Shirley is a coat of arms, a copy of which, had I one to send, would probably point out his family in England.[2]

As to Colonel Byrd's portrait. There were, I believe, three gentlemen of this name and title, more or less confounded in reputation, the second of whom, generally known as "Colonel Byrd the Elder," by reason of his son's history, was born in 1674. The picture is of his _father_, that is, of "old," or "the first Colonel Byrd," and is in the same style as that of Colonel Hill's, representing a shepherd lad. He was an English gentleman of great wealth, and certainly of some benevolence. In Campbell's _Virginia_, p. 104. (see also Oldmixon, vol. i. p. 427.), it is stated, 1690, a large body of Huguenots were sent to Virginia. "The refugees found in Colonel Byrd, of Westover, a generous benefactor. Each settler was allowed a strip of land running back from the river to the foot of the hill (Henrico County). Here they raised cattle," &c. He sent his son to England to be educated under the care of a friend, Sir Robert Southwell. The son became a Fellow of the Royal Society, "was the intimate and bosom friend of the learned and illustrious Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery," was the author of the _Westover MSS._ (mentioned in Oldmixon's preface, 2nd ed.), portions of which, "Progress to the Mines," "History of the Dividing Line," &c., have been printed, others are in the library of the American Philosophical Society.[3] His portrait is "by Kneller, a fine old cavalier face," says Campbell. The letters received at Westover might prove not uninteresting even to C., seeing that there were so many titled people among the writers; and to a gentleman of education and intelligence, the Westover library would have been a treasure-house. In the Loganian Library in this city is a large MS. folio, whose title-page declares it to be "a catalogue of books in the library at Westover, belonging to William Byrd, Esq.," from which it appears that in Law there were the English reporters (beginning with Y. B.) and text-writers, laws of France, Scotland, Rome (various editions of Pandects, &c.); Canon Law, with numerous approved commentators on each. In Physic a great many works, which, as I am told, were, and some still are, of high repute: I note only one, _Poor Planter's Physician interleaved_. This, to every one who has been upon a great Virginia plantation, bespeaks the benevolence characteristic of the proprietors of Westover. In Divinity, besides pages of orthodox divines, Bibles in various languages (several in Hebrew, one in seven vols.), are Socinius, Bellarmine, &c. The works on Metallurgy, Natural History, Metaphysics, Military Science, Heraldry, Navigation, Music, &c., are very numerous; and either of the collections of history, or entertainment, or classics, or political science, would form no inconsiderable library of itself. {230} An impression of Colonel Byrd's book-plate, given by a friend, is enclosed. I must add that the pictures at Brandon are at that mansion, through the marriage of Mr. Harrison (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) with the daughter of the third Colonel Byrd.

I have occupied much more space than I intended, but I have said enough I hope to show, 1. That it is possible, from dates, from the character, wealth, and position of Mr. Byrd and Mr. Hill, together with the length of time the pictures have remained in the respective families, for Vandyke to have painted these portraits. 2. That as men who directed the energies, developed the resources, of our infant settlements, who brought hither the products of science, literature, and art, who exhibited the refinements of birth, the graces of good breeding, yet were always ready to serve their country in the field or in the council, Mr. Byrd and Mr. Hill are vastly more worthy of commemoration and reverence than all the Earls of Dredlington that ever sat at his majesty's Board of Green Cloth.

J. BALCH.

Philadelphia.

[Footnote 2: It is curious to observe how matters of history appear and disappear as it were. "The mighty Tottipottimoy," says Hudibras (part ii. cant. ii. l. 421.),--on which the Rev. Dr. Nash has this note: "I don't know whether this is a real name or only an imitation of North-American phraseology; the appellation of an individual, or a title of office:"--Tottipottimoy was king of the warlike and powerful Parnunkies, and was defeated and slain by the Virginians, commanded by Colonel Hill, in the action from which Bloody Run takes its name.]

[Footnote 3: There is a curious passage in the Westover MSS. concerning William Penn, of which Mr. Macaulay should have a copy, unless one has been already sent to him.]

* * * * *

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_Cyanide of Potassium._--It may be interesting to our photographic friends to know that cyanide of potassium is capable of replacing hyposulphite of soda in all collodion processes. If used of the strength of five grains to one ounce of water, no danger need be apprehended from it. Its merits are cleanliness, quickness of operation, and the minute quantity of water required for washing the picture fixed therewith.

J. B. HOCKIN.

_Mode of exciting Calotype Paper._--I forgot inserting this plan of exciting in my paper: it is very clean and convenient, simple and sure. Obtain a piece of plate glass, two or three inches larger than your paper, level it on a table with a few bits of wood, pour on it your exciting mixture (say aceto-nitrate and gallic acid, solution of each 20 minims, distilled water 1 ounce), and spread it evenly over with a scrap of blotting-paper. Float your paper two minutes, remove and blot off; this ensures perfect evenness, especially if the paper is large. You may thus excite half a dozen papers with little more trouble than one.

THOS. L. MANSELL.

_The Double Iodide Solution--Purity of Photographic Chemicals._--The observations of MR. LEACHMAN upon the solvent powers of iodide of potassium (Vol ix., p. 182.) are perfectly correct, but I believe our photographic chemicals are often much adulterated. The iodide of potassium is frequently mixed with the carbonate. DR. MANSELL writes me word, in a comment upon your note upon his communication, "What I used was _very_ pure, having been prepared by Mr. Arnold with great care: it was some that had gone to the Great Exhibition as a sample of Guernsey make, and obtained a medal." I have this day used exactly seven ounces avoirdupois to make a pint of the iodizing solution, which, within a few grains, agrees with my former results. Nitrate of silver, I am informed upon a most respectable authority, has been adulterated thirty per cent., and without careful testing has eluded detection; but I am inclined to think our cheapest article has come in for its largest share of mixture. I have lately perfectly failed in the removal of the iodide of silver with a _saturated_ solution of what I purchased as hyposulphite of soda, but which could have been little else than common Glauber's salts; for upon applying a similar solution of some which was made by M. Butka of Prague, and supplied me by Messrs. Simpson and Maule, the effect was almost immediate, demonstrating how much we are misled in our conclusions, from believing we are manipulating with the same substances, when in fact they are quite different.

HUGH W. DIAMOND.

_Hyposulphite of Soda Baths._--Is there any objection to using the same bath (saturated solution of hyposulphite) for fixing both paper calotype _negatives_ and positives printed on albumenized paper from glass collodion negatives?