Chapter C: H. Cooper

Cambridge, April 14. 1851.

_Paring the Nails unlucky on Sundays_ (Vol. ii., p. 511.; Vol. iii, p. 55.).--Compare Sir Thomas Browne's _Vulgar Errors_, lib. v. cap. xxi. Sec. x.

ACHE.

_Errata in Braithwait's Latin Drinking-song_ (Vol. iii., p. 297.).--It is well for us that honest Barnaby is not alive to visit upon us the scandalous "negligences and ignorances" with which our transcript of his song abounds; and it is no excuse perhaps to say, that _the errors almost all of them exist in the MS. from whence the transcript was made_. Sensitive as he has shown himself "upon the errata's," _he_ would not have accepted the apology from us which he makes for himself. "Good reader, if this impression have errors in it, excuse it. _The copy was obscure_; neither was the _editor_, by reason of his distance, and employments of higher consequence, made acquainted with the publishing of it."

"His Patavinus _erravit prelis_,
Authorem suis lacerando telis."

The following corrections, which are necessary to the sense, have been pointed out, and have no doubt been already silently made by many of our readers.

_Sic in MS._ _forsan._

Stanza 3. hoc _te_ amoenum hoc amoenum
reparare reperire

Stanza 4. m_e_mento m_o_mento
gustabi_t_ gustabi_s_

Stanza 5. solv_e_t solv_i_t
pot_i_s pot_u_s

Stanza 6. friges_t_is friges_c_is

Stanza 8. succed_a_nt succed_u_nt

Omit the comma between _Domum_ and
_feram_, and disregard the erroneous
punctuation generally.

There may be other errors; for, as it stands at present, the song is inferior to the other known productions of the pleasant author of the ITINERARIUM. We can only hope that its publication, in even this imperfect form, may lead to the discovery of a better text; and we must be content if the lines of the author are applied to our blunders:

"Delirans iste _Sapiens Gottam_,
Reddit _Coetum_ propter _Cotem_."
------
"Quid si breves fiant longi?
Si vocales sint dipthongi?
Quid si graves sint acuti?
Si accentus fiant muti?
Quid si placide, plene, plane,
FREGI FRONTEM PRISCIANI?

Quid si sedem muto sede?
Quid si carmen claudo pede?
Quid si noctem sensi diem?
Quid si veprem esse viam?
Sat est, Verbum declinavi,
Titubo--titubas--titubavi."

In the last line of the extract from "Phyllis and Flora," _hinc_ is printed for _huic_; _inpares_, in the preceding line, is the correct reading for _impares_. "_Impar_ richtiger Inpar" (Scheller).

S. W. S.

* * * * *

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

The publication of _The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge_ has just been completed by the issue of {342} the twelfth volume. We notice this useful condensation of _The Penny Cyclopaedia_ principally, however, for a feature which we hope to see more widely extended, namely, that of issuing it in a strong and handsome half-binding, at the moderate charge of one shilling per volume extra. The practice of publishing books in a bound form (more especially such books as are intended for very general circulation) is one which we have no doubt may be widely extended with great satisfaction to purchasers. It has, generally speaking, been, up to the present time, too closely confined to books of high price, adapted only to wealthy purchasers, whom the words "bound by Hayday," or "morocco extra," with the necessary increase of price, charm, rather than discourage.

There is perhaps no work to which, at the present moment,--when the World's Fair is about to commence, and we are sure to be visited by hundreds, or rather thousands, of our Gallic friends, with whom we shall be in daily and hourly conversation,--we can more appropriately call the attention of our readers than to the second division (_Partie Francaise-Anglaise_) of M. Tarver's _Dictionnaire Phraseologique Royal_, in which we can assure them they will find the readiest solution of all those phraseological queries which may arise during their intercourse with our lively neighbours. A very cursory examination of its pages will serve to convince the inquirer of the great learning and patient industry of M. Tarver; and his interest in the work will not be diminished by the reflection that the name of its accomplished author will be found in the obituary of the present week.

When noticing, a few weeks since, one of Captain Knox's interesting volumes, we spoke of the undying popularity of White's _Selborne_. A proof at once of this popularity, and a means of increasing it, will be found in a new edition of this delightful book just issued as one of the volumes of _Bohn's Illustrated Library_. It is entitled to its place in this series on account of forty admirable woodcuts by which it is illustrated; and to a place on the bookshelves of every Naturalist, for the sake of the additional notes of Sir W. Jardine, and its present editor, Mr. Jesse.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell on Tuesday and Wednesday next an exceedingly choice Collection of Autograph Letters, comprising numerous Letters of extraordinary rarity, selected principally from Upcott's Collection. We cannot attempt to particularise the many interesting lots which are to be found in the present collection, but recommend the Catalogue to attention for the satisfactory manner in which the different documents are arranged and described.

CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--B. Quaritch's (16. Castle Street, Leicester Square) Cheap Book Circular (No. XXVIII.) of Books in all Languages; W. Pedder's (18. Holywell Street) Catalogue Part II. for 1851, of Books Ancient and Modern; R. Saywell's (138. High Holborn) Select Catalogue Part XXI. of Books in Theology, Classics, and General Literature.

* * * * *

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE

BREVARIUM ROMANUM. Pars Verna. Antverpiae. Ex Typ. Plantinianae. 1700 or 1714.

NEW ENGLAND JUDGED NOT BY MAN'S, BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD: AND THE SUMME SEALED UP OF NEW ENGLAND'S PERSECUTIONS. By GEORGE BISHOPE. Quarto, 1661. Wanted from page 150 to the end.

*** Letters stating particulars and lowest price, _carriage free_, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

* * * * *

Notices to Correspondents.

J. S. S. (Leicester). THE CHAUCER MONUMENT. _It will require about 100l. to make a complete restoration. Not one-half that amount has yet been subscribed._