Chapter C: R. M

_Junius and the Quarterly Review again_ (Vol. v., p. 225.).--I confess that I could draw quite a different conclusion from that of CAROLUS CURSITOR respecting Junius's single misspelt mention of Lord Lyttleton's name. If, as the reviewer argues (supposing I remember the article correctly), the Hon. Thomas Lyttleton only once mentioned his father, in order to prevent public attention settling on himself as the author of _Junius's Letters_, it seems to me to be in unison with such artifice, that he should have purposely made a slight error in spelling the name. But is the writer, and not the printer, responsible for this blunder?

ALFRED GATTY.

_Ink_ (Vol. v., p. 151.).--A learned Cambridge professor, who has been a V.P.R.S., once related to me the following anecdote, in reference to the celebrated and most practical philosopher, the late Dr. Wollaston. In the rooms of the Royal Society the Doctor chanced to mention that he could not, for the life of him, discover the composition of the rich black pigment used by the ancient Egyptians in their inscriptions on the mummy cases. He had analysed it over and over again, and invariably found animal matter present. How was this? "Why," observed a member, to the grievous annoyance of the somewhat self-opinioned Doctor, "they used the ink of the (_Sepia officinalis_) cuttle-fish." This most remarkable excretion is of the deepest black hue; and that it retains its peculiar qualities unimpaired, even after being buried beneath the chalk formation of this earth of our's for unnumbered periods, is proved in the case of the well-known fossil ink of Dean Buckland. I know not whether or no this will answer the Query of MR. W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A.

COWGILL.

_Maps of Africa_ (Vol. v., p. 236.).--AJAX is informed that the best map of Morocco that has probably appeared is given in the volume of the _Exploration Scientifique de l'Algérie_, entitled "L'Empire de Maroc par Berbrugger." An excellent map of Algeria by R. H. Dufour, is published at a moderate price by Longuet, 8. Rue de la Paix, Paris. The date on my copy is 1850; it forms one of a series of maps issued by the same parties, and forming an Atlas of Algeria. I add from the _Leipzig Catalogue_ (1849, viertes Heft) the title of a work which may assist AJAX in his labours. Though I have not examined the work myself, I know it to be of some repute. The author now forms one of the mission for exploring Central Africa:

"Barth Dr. Heinr. Wanderungen durch die Küstenländer d.
Mittelmeers, ausgeführt in den J. 1845, 1846 u. 1847. In 2 Bdn 1
Bd A.u.d. T.: Wanderungen durch das Punische u. Kyrenäische
Küstenland od. Màg'reb, Afrik'ia u. Bark'a. Mit 1 (lith. u.
illum.) Karte (in Imp. fol.) gr. 8. Berlin, Hertz."

The travels of Dr. Barth had especial reference to the discovery and identification of ancient localities.

NORTHMAN.

_Learned Men of the Name of Bacon_ (Vol. iii., pp. 41. 151.; Vol. v., p. 181.).--To this list may be added that of a learned lady, namely, of the Lady Ann Bacon (Cooke), second wife of the Lord Keeper, and mother of the Lord Chancellor. She translated, from the Italian of Bernardine Achine, _Twenty-five Sermons_, published about 1550.

Sir Nathaniel Bacon, the painter, was the youngest son of Nicholas, the eldest son of the Lord Keeper, and consequently the latter's grandson. This Nicholas, of Redgrave, Suffolk, was High Sheriff of Norfolk, 1597, and represented the same county in the parliament of 1603. He was the first person created a baronet; and from him are descended the Bacons of Redgrave, Suffolk, afterwards of Great Ryburgh, Garboldisham, Gillingham, and now of Raveningham, Norfolk, premier baronets of England.

There are engraved portraits of Lady Ann Bacon, and of Sir Nathaniel the painter.

COWGILL.

_Paring the Nails_ (Vol. iii., p. 462.; Vol. v., p 142.).--In reference to the superstitious practices in question, the readers of the _Prose Edda_, many of whose traditions still survive amongst us, will remember what it is therein narrated concerning the ship Naglfar. Amongst the terror-fraught prodigies preceding Ragnarök, or the Twilight of the Gods, and the Conflagration of the Universe, we are informed that "on the waters floats the ship Naglfar, which is constructed of the nails of dead men. For which reason," it is said, "great care should be taken to die with pared nails; for he who dies with his nails unpared, supplies materials for the building of this vessel, which both gods and men wish may be finished as late as possible." Of this ship, the more ancient and poetical Völn-spà also speaks in something like the following terms:--

"A keel from distant East is nearing,
Pilotted by Loki's hand,
Muspellheimr's children bearing,--
Sea-borne comes that horrid band!
With the wolf to join, are speeding,
In a grim and gaunt array,
Monster-forms 'neath Loki's leading,--
Byleist's brother leads the way."

COWGILL.

_Mottoes on Dials._--I have not seen the following motto noticed either in your pages or elsewhere. I quote it from memory, as I recollect reading it many years ago on the sun-dial in front of the Hospice on the summit of the Mont Cenis:

"Tempore nimboso securi sistile gradum---
Ut mihi sic vobis hora quietis erit."

J. E. T.

_Mispronounced Names of Places_ (Vol. v., p. 196.).--Allow me to add to P. M. M.'s list:

Spelling. Pronunciation.

North-brook-end (Cambridgeshire) Nobacken.
Mountnessing (Essex) Moneyseen.
Brookhampton (Glostershire) Brockington.
Barnstaple Barum.
Crediton Kirton.
Penrith Perith.
Brougham Broome.
Birmingham Brummagem.

It is hardly worth while to mention the larger tribe of contractions, such as Alsford for Alresford, Wilsden for Willesden, Harfordwest for Haverfordwest; nor the class of derivations from the Roman Castrum, as Uxeter for Uttoxeter, Toster for Towcester, and the like.

The railroads are correcting these grosser errors wherever they fall in with them. I remember a few years ago, being at Gloster, and intending to take the train to _Cisiter_, as I had always called it. "Oh!" said the porter, with quite the air of a _Lingo_, "you mean _Ci-ren-cester_." But I believe the good folks of the neighbourhood still stick to _Aberga'ny_ and _Cisiter_.

P. M. M.'s appeal to your Scotch and Irish correspondents will I think produce little. In Scotland, names are generally pronounced as written, with a few exceptions, such as _Enbro'_ and _Lithgow_, and perhaps a few others: but in Ireland I do not remember a single instance of the corruption of a name; though certainly the Irish might be forgiven if they had contracted or mollified such names as _Drumcullagher_, _Ballaghaddireen_, _Moatagreenoque_, and _Tamnaughtfinlaggan_. The English are, I believe, the only people who habitually _clip_ proper names of persons or places, but I think it is also the only language in which the spelling of words does not afford a general guide for their pronunciation. No other language that I know anything of can afford such anomalies as are to be found, for instance, in _rough_, _cough_, _lough_, _plough_, _dough_, _through_, &c. &c.

C.

The following are such names of places as have come within my observation:--

Spelling. Pronunciation.
Happisburgh Ha'sboro'.
Wormegay Rungay.
Sechehithe Setchey.
Wiggenhall St. Mary _Magdalen_.[9] Maudlin.
Babingley Beverley.
Methwold Muell.
Northwold Nordell.
Hockwold cum Wilton Hockold-Wilts.

[Footnote 9: By the last word this place is named to distinguish
it from others beginning with the word "Wiggenhall."]

J. N. C.

_"There's ne'er a villain," &c._ (Vol. v., p. 242.).--In support of A. E. B., with whose view I entirely concur, it may be added that _villain_ and _knave_ do not make the proposition such a truism as Horatio (who is not intended for a conjuror, much less a verbal critic) admits it to be. Alexander the Great has been called a _villain_ and a _robber_, but never a _knave_ or a _thief_. By the Rule of Three, villain: robber:: knave: thief. As a truism, intended by Hamlet before the first line was spoken, it is not good enough for Hamlet's wit. But, supposing the second line invented, _pro re natâ_, to cover the retreat of the disclosure which was advancing in the first line, it is just what might have suggested itself--for Hamlet's uncle was both villain and knave.

M.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.

Those who judge of a book's importance by its size will be most egregiously taken in by _Regal Rome: an Introduction to Roman History by Francis W. Newman, Professor of Latin in University College, London_. In this small volume of less than two hundred pages the learned professor--who holds that _wisely to disbelieve_ is our first grand requisite in dealing with materials of mixed worth--has followed, but not slavishly, the direction which Niebuhr's erudition and untiring energy have so appropriated, that by many it has been supposed to be exclusively Niebuhr's own; and the result is, that he has reconstructed a picture of ancient Rome, to which we refer our classical readers, in the full confidence that they will thank us for doing so; and that, if they do not, on perusal, agree with all Mr. Newman's views, they will at least concede to him the credit due to great learning and perspicuity.

When we consider the great influence which the Crusades exercised on the civilisation of Europe--how prominent is the position they occupy in the social and political history of their era--and how fertile a source of wealth they have proved to the poets and novelists of all succeeding ages, and of all countries--it is certainly a matter of surprise that amid the rage for translation which has of late years manifested itself among us, no one should have undertaken to lay before the English reader a translation of Michaud's able and interesting narrative of this great chapter in the history of the Middle Ages. Michaud's work acquired for its author, and very deservedly, an European reputation; and in issuing a well-executed version of it at a moderate price, the publisher of _Michaud's History of the Crusades, Translated from the French_ by W. Robson, is rendering good service, not only to those who cannot peruse the work in the original, but to all classes of historical readers. This (the first volume) has prefixed to it a very interesting memoir of Michaud.

BOOKS RECEIVED.--Mr. Bohn's contributions to the cheap publications of the month are--in his _Scientific Library_, the fourth volume of _Humboldt's Cosmos_, translated by Otté and Paul; in his _Standard Library, The Principal Works and Remains of the Rev. Andrew Fuller, with a new Memoir of his Life, by his Son the Rev. A. G. Fuller_, which contains his _Gospel its own Witness, or the Holy Nature and Divine Harmony of the Christian Religion contrasted with the Immorality and Absurdity of Deism_; and his _Calvinistic and Socinian Systems examined and compared as to their moral tendency_--two works by which this excellent Nonconformist divine did much to stem the torrent of immorality and infidelity which the deistical and democratical writers of his time were infusing into the minds of the people. _Cicero's Orations_, Vol. ii., literally translated by C. D. Yonge, is the new volume of the _Classical Library_; that of the _Illustrated Library_ being the second and concluding volume of Allan's _Battles of the British Navy_, illustrated with eighteen portraits of our most eminent naval worthies. The proprietors of the _National Illustrated Library_ have completed their edition of Huc's most interesting _Travels in Tartary_ by the publication of the second volume, and have issued a new edition in two volumes of Dr. Mackay's _Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions_. The favour with which the original edition of this work, written in a pleasant gossiping style, was so generally received, will probably be increased towards the present one, as it has the advantage of numerous woodcut illustrations, many of them highly interesting, and all adding to the amusing character of the book.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE.

NOTES AND QUERIES. No. 19.

EDWIN AND EMMA. Tayler, 1776.

GEMMÆ ET SCULPTURÆ ANTIQUÆ DEPICTÆ IN LATINUM VERSÆ, per Jac. Gronovium. Amstelodami, 1685.

MASSARII ANNOTATIONES IN NONUM PLINII HISTORIÆ NATURALIS LIBRUM. Basileæ, 1537.

SWALBACI DISSERTATIO DE CICONIIS, &c. Spiræ, 1630.

SYNTAGMA HERBARUM ENCOMIASTICUM, ABR. ORTELIO INSCRIPTUM. Ex officina Plantin. 1614.

TYRWHITT, THO. CONJECTURÆ IN STRABONEM. London, 1783.

CRAKANTHORP'S DEFENCE OF JUSTINIAN THE EMPEROR AGAINST CARDINAL BARONIUS. London, 1616.

HEARNE'S HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF GLASTONBURY. Oxford, 1722.

COSIN'S HISTORIA TRANSUBSTANTIATIONIS. Englished by Beaulieu, Lond. 1676.

SOME REMARKS ON THE CLAIM TO THE EARLDOM OF BANBURY. By the present Claimant, 1835.

HALLERI (A.) ELEMENTA PHYSIOLOGIÆ CORPORIS HUMANI. 8 Vols. 4to. Lausannæ and Lugd. Batav. 1757-66. Vol. III.

RACCOLTA DI OPUSCULI SCIENTIFICI, &c., dal Padre Calogera. Venezia, 1728-57.

POWNALL'S TREATISE ON THE STUDY OF ANTIQUITIES. London, 1782. 8vo.

THE WHOLE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN, by Way of Question and Answer: designed for the Use of Charity Schools. By Robert Nelson, 1718.

QUARTERLY REVIEW. Nos. 153. to 166., both inclusive.

BELL'S FUGITIVE POETRY COLLECTION. Vols. X. and XVI. 12mo. 1790.

THE CRITIC, London Literary Journal. First 6 Nos. for 1851.

VOLTAIRE, OEUVRES COMPLETES DE. Aux Deux-Ponts. Chez Sanson et Compagnie. Vols. I. & II 1791-2.

SCOTT'S CONTINUATION OF MILNER'S CHURCH HISTORY. Part II. of Vol. II. 8vo.

SPECTATOR. No. 1223. Dec. 6, 1851.

EDWIN AND EMMA. Taylor, 1776.

ANNUAL REGISTER, from 1816 inclusive to the present time.

MEDICO CHIRURGICAL TRANSACTIONS. From Part II. of Vol. XI. March, 1819; and also from Vol. XXX.

THE CODE MATRIMONIAL. Paris, 1770.

PRO MATRIMONIO PRINCIPIS CUM DEFUNCTÆ UXORIS SORORE CONTRACTO RESPONSUM JURIS, COLLEGII JURISCONSULTORUM IN ACADEMIA RINTELENSI. Published about 1655.

[Star symbol] 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.