Chapter C: H. Cooper

Cambridge, Sept. 20. 1851.

_Gray's Obligations to Jeremy Taylor_ (Vol. iv., p. 204.).--I perfectly agree with RT. in his admiration for Gray; but, to my shame be it spoken, am not very well read in Jeremy Taylor. RT. would oblige me, as well as other admirers of "the sweet Lyrist of Peter-house," by furnishing an example or two of the latter's obligations to the bishop.

RT. will excuse me if I fail to perceive any great degree of similarity between his two last quoted passages from Gray and those from Cowley, which he adduces as parallel. This refers especially to the last instance, in which I trace scarcely any similarity beyond that of a place of education and a river being commemorated in each. Would RT. supply us with a few more examples of borrowing from Cowley?

With RT.'s wish for a new edition of Gray, "with the parallel passages annexed," I cordially coincide. However, failing this new edition, he will allow me to recommend to his notice (if indeed he has not seen it) the Eton edition of the poet, with introductory stanzas of great elegance and beauty, by another of Eton's bards, the Rev. J. Moultrie, author of that most pathetic little poem "My Brother's Grave."

K. S.

_Blessing by the Hand_ (Vol. iv., p. 74.).--An impression of the stamp on the bread used in the Eucharist in Greece (mentioned in the above Note) may be seen in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. It was cut off a loaf in the remarkable monastery of Megaspelion in the Morea, by

W. C. TREVELYAN.

_Sacre Cheveux_ (Vol. iv., p. 208.).--This is a literal translation into heraldic language of the name of the family which uses it for a motto: _Halifax_ = _holy-hair_, from the Anglo Saxon _hali_, or _halig_, and _fax_ or _feax_. Tradition connects the origin of the Yorkshire town of that name with a head of singular length and beauty of hair, found at or near the place where the Halifax gibbet used to stand.

J. EASTWOOD.

_Pope and Flatman_ (Vol. iv., p. 210.).--E. V. has entirely overlooked the very material circumstance that Flatman's poem was cited in your periodical (Vol. iv., p. 132.) from a book published in 1688, twenty-four years before the date he assigns to the composition of Pope's ode. Flatman died 8th December, 1688, and Pope was born 22d May, 1688; so that he was little more than six months old at the time of Flatman's death. I have now before me the 4th edition of Flatman's _Poems and Songs_, London, 8vo., 1686; "A Thought of Death" occurs at p. 55.