Chapter C: P. Ph

_Brother Jonathan._--Why is, and when first was, this fraternal cognomen bestowed upon the United States of America? Is it strictly applicable to the whole of the Union, or only to those states which were settled and peopled by the Puritan fathers?

HENRY CAMPKIN.

_Authorship of the "Groves of Blarney."_--Can any one inform me when, and by whom, the ludicrous ballad, entitled the Groves of Blarney, was composed, and where it may be found. Everybody knows the lines which describe "Cupid and Venus and old Nicodemus, all standing out in the open air."

E. V.

_Carnaby._--What is the derivation and meaning of this word, as the name of a square or street?

ARUN.

_Death of Death's Painter._--Most persons have heard of the story of an Italian painter who embodied the idea of Death on the canvass so truthfully, that the contemplation of it caused his own death. I always thought it was fabulous, till I met with it in the translation of Vasari's _Lives of the Painters_, vol. ii. p. 305., now being published in Bohn's _Standard Library_. The name of Fivizzano is there given to the painter, and the following epigram is said to have been inscribed beneath the picture:--

"Me veram pictor divinus mente recepit.
Admota est operi deinde perita manus.
Dumque opere in facto defigit lumina pictor,
Intentus nimium, palluit et moritur.
Viva igitur sum mors, non mortua mortis imago
Si fungor, quo mors fungitur officio."

Which may be thus translated:--

Me with such truth the painter's mind discerned,
While with such skilful hand the work he plied,
That when to view his finished work he turned,
With horror stricken, he grew pale, and died.
Sure I am living Death, not Death's dead shade,
That do Death's work, and am like Death obeyed.

Can you refer me to any authority for the story?

J. C. H.

Finsbury.

_Book Plates._--I have been some years collecting book plates with a view latterly of writing _A History of Book Plates_, if I can find time to do so. Several years ago, in a paper which was printed in the _Oxford Heraldic Society's Report_, I suggested 1700 as their earliest known date. I am glad to have an opportunity of mentioning that paper for the sake of saying, that I made some mistakes in it. Mr. Burgon on seeing it said, in a following report, that he had seen a book plate dated 1698. I have since obtained one or two dated in that year. I am anxious to know from any of your readers whether they have seen any English book plate dated before 1698. I am inclined to think that foreign book plates are to be found of an earlier date. I have some, unfortunately not dated, which I think are earlier. There is no doubt, however, that in this country at least they did not become general till after that date. If I live to publish the little work which I meditate, I will give all the information which I can produce on the subject.

DANIEL PARSONS.

_Querelle d'Allemand._--The phrase, "faire une querelle d'Allemand," means, as your readers are aware, to pick a quarrel with a person for the mere pleasure of quarrelling: and the earliest instance of its application, that occurs to me, will be found in one of Du Vair's essays, where speaking of the virtues of some of his predecessors in the office of "chancelier", he says:

"Après avoir longuement et fidèlement servi la patrie, on leur
dresse des querelles d'Allemand, et de fausses accusations pour
les bannir des affaires."

Is the origin of this expression connected with any particular occurrence in history; or has it arisen from any proneness to quarrel, which might be said to be inherent in the national character of the Germans?

HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia, May, 1851.

_Bassenet of Eaton._--Edward Bassenet, the first married Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, and who in the words of Swift, "surrendered the deanery to that beast Hen. VIII.," was of a family seated at Eaton, in Denbighshire. He had four sons, Richard, William, John, and George; on whom he settled the Irish property which he acquired at the surrender, and probably what he held at Eaton. (See Mason's _St. Patrick's_, p. 151.)

Can any of your correspondents inform me if this family be still in existence, and in possession? or if not, how soon it failed? From the notices given by Mason, it seems probable that the eldest son died without issue; but even this is not certain, and beyond this I have no clue.

D. X.

_Dumore Castle, or the Petrified Fort._--Can any of your valued contributors trace the origin of this ancient fortress, which is situated on a peak of the Grampian Hills, seven miles north-east from Crieff, immediately above the romantic glen of Almond, so much spoken of in Wordsworth's poems as the burial-place of Ossian. The fort has the appearance of a large circus ring, around which are scattered the remains of this once remarkable stronghold, and which to every appearance have been burned to an extensive degree. Tradition assigns it to be the spot in which the Caledonians so nobly defended the further progress northward of the Romans; and also that it was the custom in those days, for the purpose of making their places of defence more secure, to build a double wall, in which all manner of combustibles were put, which they kindled, and let burn for the space of a few days. Being peculiarly attached to this romantic spot, and anxious to have any particulars regarding its history, perhaps you would be so kind as give it a corner in your valuable "NOTES AND QUERIES;" whereby it may be the means of gaining an answer to my Query.

JAMES C.

_Charles Dodd, the Ecclesiastical Historian._--The catalogue of the Bodleian Library asserts that this author's real name is Hugh Tootle. I should like to know the authority for this statement?

TYRO.

Dublin.

_Ussher's Works, by Dr. Elrington._--If you, or any of your correspondents, can inform me when the remaining volume of the new edition of Archbishop Ussher's works by Dr. Elrington, is likely to be published, I shall esteem it a favour, as I am unable to learn from the booksellers.