Chapter M: R. F

Pennsylvania.

_Copernicus._--The inscription on the tomb of the celebrated Copernicus, in the cathedral church at Thorn, in Prussian Poland, supposed to have been written by himself, deserves a place in "N. & Q."

"Non parem _Pauli_ gratiam requiro,
Veniam _Petri_ neque posco; sed quam
In crucis ligno dederat Latroni
Sedulus oro."

FITZROY.

_First Instance of Bribery amongst Members of Parliament._--The following extract from Parry's _Parliaments and Councils of England_, deserves, I think, a corner in "N. & Q.," especially at the present day:

"1571, A. R. 13, May 10.--Thomas Long, 'a very simple man and unfit' to
serve, is questioned how he came to be elected. He confesses that he
gave the Mayor of Westbury and another four pounds for his place in
parliament. They are ordered to repay this sum, to appear to answer
such things as should be objected against them in that house, and a
fine of twenty pounds is to be assessed on the corporation and
inhabitants of Westbury, for their scandalous attempt."

ABHBA.

_Richard Brinsley Sheridan._--In the "Life of Sheridan," by G. G. S., prefixed to his _Dramatic Works_, published by Bohn in 1848, is the following passage (p. 90.):

"At the age of twenty-nine he had achieved a brilliant reputation, _had
gained an immense property_, and was apparently master of large
resources."

And in an essay lately published, entitled _Richard Brinsley Sheridan_, by George Gilfillan, is this statement:

"Young Sheridan had no patrimony, _not a shilling_, indeed, _all his
life that he could call his own_."

Which of these two contradictory accounts is true?

In the _Life_ by G. G. S. are two glaring slips of the pen or of the press; at p. 8. it is said that Sheridan was born in the year 1771 (1751?), and at p. 44. that _The Duenna_ was brought out on the 21st of November, 1755 (1775?).

WILLIAM DUANE.

Philadelphia.

{448}

_Publican's Invitation._--Amongst various other ingenious contrivances adopted by the proprietors of the _rosoglio_ houses (anglice, dram-shops) in Valetta, to attract the custom and patronage of the gallant red-jackets that swarm in our streets at this time, one individual has put forth and distributed among the soldiers the following puzzle, which I send for the amusement of your readers. A very little study will suffice to master the mysterious document.

"THE PUBLICAN'S INVITATION.
Here's to Pand's Pen. DASOCI.
Alhou Rinha? R. M. (Les Smirt)
Ha! N. D. F. Unlet fri. Ends.
HIPRE! ign. Beju! Standk.
Indan! DEVIL'S PEAKO! F. N.
(One.)"

JOHN O' THE FORD.

Malta.

_Bishop Burnet again!_--The following anecdote occurs in Mrs. Thistlethwaite's _Memoirs and Correspondence of Dr. Henry Bathurst, Lord Bishop of Norwich_, p. 7.:

"I have heard my father mention the following anecdote of my
grandfather, Benjamin Bathurst, Esq., and the Duke of Gloucester (Queen
Anne's son), during their boyhood. My grandfather and the Duke were
playfellows; and the Duke's tutor was Dr. Burnet. One day, when the
Doctor went out of the room, the Duke having as usual courted him, and
treated him with obsequious civility, young Bathurst expressed his
surprise that his Royal Highness should treat a person, whom he
disliked as much as he did the Doctor, with so much courtesy and
kindness. The Duke replied, 'Do you think I have been so long a pupil
of Dr. Burnet's without learning to be a hypocrite?'"

J. Y.

_Old Custom preserved in Warwickshire._--There is a large stone a few miles from Dunchurch, in Warwickshire, called "The Knightlow Cross." Several of Lord John Scott's tenants hold from him on the condition of laying their rent before daybreak on Martinmas Day on this stone: if they fail to do so, they forfeit to him as many pounds as they owe pence, or as many white bulls with red tips to their ears and a red tip to their tail as they owe pence, whichever he chooses to demand. This custom is still kept up, and there is always hard riding to reach the stone before the sun rises on Martinmas Day?