"I should like to know how I am to lay the landscape straight before me, and put my oiled paper on the top of it, and trace its outlines in true perspective? I should like also to know, since Mr. A. B. C. recommends a portrait for the first attempt, how I am to lay the transparent paper over my wife's face, without her nose making a hole in the middle of it? It is all very well for Mr. A. B. C. to say that he 'continues to receive very satisfactory testimonials respecting the RESULT of his instructions, which are remarkable for simplicity (I allow that), and invaluable for correct(I deny that). But, although he prints 'result' in capital letters, all the testimonal that I can give him will be to testify to the (on his part) satisfactory result attending his art of drawing' twelve postage-stamps out of my pocket." ness Thus, can I imagine, would the gentle reader soliloquise, on finding he had received two worthless bits of paper in return for his investment of postage-stamps. My thoughts were somewhat the same; for, I alas ! sent "twelve postage-stamps," which are now lost to view in the dim perspective, and I shall only be too happy to sell Mr. A. B. C. his instructions, &c. at half-price. In the meantime, however, I forward them for Mr. Editor's inspection. CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A. -66 [Audit Office Enrolments, vi. 359.] "These are to pray and require you to pay, or cause to be paid, to John Bannester, one of his Maties Musicians in Ordinary, the some of fourty pounds for two Cremona Violins by him bought and delivered for his Mats Service, as may appeare by the Bill annexed, and also tenn pounds for stringes for two yeares ending June 24, 1662. And this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, this 24th day of October, 1662, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign. "To Sr Edward Griffin Knt, Treasurer of his Maties Chamber." E. MANCHESTER. PETER CUNNINGHAM. Prices of Tea. From Read's Weekly Journal or British Gazeteer, Saturday, April 27, 1734: "Green Tea 9s. to 128. per lb. Congou 10s. to 12s. Bohea 10s. to 128. Pekoe Imperial Hyson Coleridge a Prophet. Among the political writers of the nineteenth century, who has shown such prophetic insight into the sad destinies of France as Coleridge? It is the fashion with literary sciolists to ignore the genius of this great man. Let the following extracts stand as evidences of his profound penetration. Friend, vol. i. p. 244. (1844): "That man has reflected little on human nature who does not perceive that the detestable maxims and cor respondent crimes of the existing French despotism, have already dimmed the recollections of democratic phrenzy in the minds of men; by little and little have drawn off to other objects the electric force of the feelings which had massed and upholden those recollec tions; and that a favourable concurrence of occasions is alone wanting to awaken the thunder and precipitate the lightning from the opposite quarter of the political heaven." Let the events of 1830 and 1848 speak for them. selves as to the fulfilment of this forecast. Biographia Literaria, vol. i. p. 30. (1847), [after a most masterly analysis of practical genius]: "These, in tranquil times, are formed to exhibit a perfect poem in palace, or temple, or landscape-garden, &c. . But alas! in times of tumult they are the men destined to come forth as the shaping spirit of ruin, to destroy the wisdom of ages in order to substitute the fancies of a day, and to change kings and king. doms, as the wind shifts and shapes the clouds." Let the present and the future witness the truth of this insight. We have (in Coleridge's words) "lights of admonition and warning;" and we may live to repent of our indifference, if they are thrown away upon us. Birmingham. C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY. Etymology of Molasses. The affinity between the orthography of this word in Italian (melássa). Spanish (melaza), and French (mélasse), and our pronunciation of it (melasses), would seem to suggest a common origin. How comes it, then, that we write it with an o instead of an e? Walker says it is derived from the Italian "mellazzo (sic); and some French lexicographers trace their "mélasse from idag, with reference to the colour; others from pé, in allusion to the taste. But these Greek derivations are too recondite for our early sugar manufacturers; and the likelihood is, that they found the word nearer home, in some circumstance which had less to do with literary refinement than with the refining of sugar. There is an expression in French which is identical in spelling with this word, namely, "molasse" (softish-so to speak); and which describes the liquidity of molasses, as distinguished from the granulous substance of which they are the residue. As our first sugar establishment was formed in 1643, in an island (St. Christopher) one half of which was then occupied by the French, it is possible that we may have adopted the word from them; and this conjecture is supported by the following passage in Père Labat (vol. iii. p. 93.), where he uses the word "molasse" in the sense of soft, to describe a species of sugar that had not received, or had lost, the proper degree of consistency. "Je vis leur sucre qui me parut très beau et bien gréné, surtout lorsqu'il est nouvellement fait; [mais on m'assura qu'il devenait cendreux ou molasse, et qu'il se décuisait quand il était gardé quelques jours." HENRY H. BREEN. St. Lucia. A Sounding Name.-At the church of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, is a record of one John Chapman, whose name, it is alleged, "sounds in (or throughout) the world," but for my own part I have never been privileged to hear either the original blast or the echo. Perhaps some of the readers of "N. & Q." can inform me who and what was the owner of this high-sounding name. Was he related to Geo. Chapman, the translator of Homer? The inscription is as follows: "Memoriæ defunctorum Sacrum και τυφωνια Siste gradum, Viator, ac leges. In spe beatæ Resurrectionis hic requiescunt exuvia Johannis Chapmanni et Isabellæ uxoris, filiæ Gulielmi Allen de Wightford, in Comitat. War. ab antiquo Proavorum stemmate deduxerunt genus. Variis miseriarum agitati procellis ab strenue succumbentis in arrescenti juventutis æstate, piè ac peccatorum pœnitentia expirabant animas. Maij 10 Die Anno Domini 1677. Sistite Pierides Chapmannum plangere, cujus Worcester. Queries. curled coiffure. The pillar bears the following inscription. « ΥΣΤ PAN Σ ANI KHT -a translation of which would oblige me much. Another, in the form of a small votive altar, bears the heads of the "Dii Majores" and their attributes, the thunderbolt, two-pronged spear, and trident, and the inscription "DIIS PROPI M HERENNII VIVNTIS" (i. e. vivantis.) Of the meaning of this I am by no means certain; and I have searched Montfaucon in vain, to discover anything similar. A third was a figure of the Egyptian Osiris, exactly resembling in every point (save the material) the little mummy-shaped figures in bluishgreen porcelain, which are found in such numbers in the catacombs of Ghizeh and Abousir. As the Columbaria were probably the places of sepulture of the freedmen, these various traces of national worship would seem to indicate that they were still allowed to retain the deities peculiar to the countries from which they came, though their master might be of a different faith. E. S. TAYLOR. Ormesby, St. Marg., Norfolk. CHAPEL PLASTER. In North Wilts, between Corsham and Bradford, and close to the meeting of five or six roads, there is a well-known public-house, contiguous to which is an ancient wayside chapel bearing this peculiar name. Some account of the place, with two views of the chapel, is given in the Gentleman's Magazine, February, 1835, page 143. The meaning of the word plaster has always been a puzzle to local antiquaries, and no satisfactory derivation of it has yet been given. The first and natural notion is that some allusion is made to the material with J. NOAKE. which it may have been coated. But this is improbable, the building being of good freestone, not requiring any such external addition. Some have interpreted it to be the chapel of the plas-trew, or "woody-place." But this again is very unlikely; as the place is not only as far as possible from being woody now, but can hardly ever have been otherwise than what it is. The rock comes close to the surface, and the general situation is on a bleak exposed hill, as unfavourable as can be for the growth of trees. Leland, indeed, as he rode by, took it for a hermitage, and does also say that the country beyond it "begins to be woody." But ROMAN SEPULCHRAL INSCRIPTIONS. In the year 1847 I brought from the Columbaria, near the tomb of Scipio Africanus at Rome, a small collection of sepulchral fictile vessels, statuettes, &c., in terra cotta. Among these was a small figure, resembling the Athenian Hermæ, consisting of a square pillar, surmounted by the bust of a female with a peculiar head-dress and close a point of meeting of five or six much frequented roads, a few miles only from Bath and other towns, would be an unsuitable spot for a hermit; besides which, the country beyond a spot, is not the spot itself. Others have thought it may have been built by a person of the name of Plaister; one which, though uncommon, is still not entirely extinct in the county. Of this, however, there is no evidence. A derivation has occurred to me from noticing a slight variety in the spelling and statement of the name, as it is given by one of the ancient historians of Glastonbury. He calls it, "the chapell of playsters," and says that, like one or two houses of a similar kind, it was built for the relief and entertainment of pilgrims resorting to the great shrine at that monastery. This indeed is the most reasonable and probable account of it, as it lies on the direct road between Malmesbury and Glastonbury, and the prevailing tradition has always been that such was the purpose for which it was used. It is fair to presume that the name has some connexion with the use. Now, it is well known that pilgrimages were not in all respects very painful or self-denying exercises, but that, with the devotional feeling in which they took their origin, was combined, in course of time, a considerable admixture of joviality and recreation. They were often, in short, looked upon as parties for merry-making, by people of every class of life, who would leave their business and duties, on pretence of these pious expeditions, but really for a holiday, and, as Chaucer himself describes it, " to play a pilgrimage." ("The Shipmanne's Tale.") Many also were pilgrims by regular profession, as at this day in Italy, for the pleasure of an idle gad-about life at other people's expense. May not such "play-ers" of pilgrimages have been called, in the vernacular of the times, play-sters?" The termination -ster, said to be derived from a Saxon noun, seems in our language to signify a habit or constant employment. A maltster is one whose sole business it is to make malt; a tap-ster, one whose duties are confined to the tap; a road-ster is a horse exclusively used as a hack; a game-ster, the devotee of the gaming-table. From these analogies it seems not unreasonable to suppose that the persons who made a constant habit of attending these pleasant jaunts to Glastonbury may have been called by the now-forgotten name of "play-sters." If so, "the chapell of playsters" becomes nothing more than "the chapel of pilgrims," according to the best tradition that we have of it. Perhaps some of your readers may have met with the word in this sense? 66 The Word "anywhen."-Why should not this adverb, which exists as a provincialism in some parts of England, be legitimatised, and made as generally useful as anywhere, or anyhow, or any. one? If there be no classical precedent for it, will not some of the many authors who contribute to your pages take pity upon anywhen, and venture to introduce him to good society, where I am sure he would be appreciated? W. FRASER. Shoreditch Cross, &c.-Can any of your readers inform me where a model or picture of the Cross which formerly stood near the church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, can be seen? Also, where a copy of any description can be seen of the painted window in the said church? Sir Henry Ellis, in his History of the Parish, gives us no illustration of the above. J. W. B. Winchester and Huntingdon. -I would, with Huntingdon have at any time been more populous your permission, ask whether Winchester and than they are at present, and what may have been the largest number of inhabitants they are supposed to have contained? G. H. La Bruyère. What is known concerning the family of Jean de la Bruyère, author of Les Charactères? Did he belong to the great French house of that name? One of the biographical dictionaries states that he was grandson of a Lieutenant Civil, engaged in the Fronde; but M. Suard, in his "Notice" prefixed to Les Charactères, says that nothing is known of the author except his birth, death, and office. His grand-daughter, Mag dalen Rachel de la Bruyère, married an officer of the name of Shrom, and died in 1780, at Morden in Surrey, where there is a handsome monument to her memory. Being one of her descendants in the female line, I should feel much obliged by any information respecting her father, the son of Jean de la Bruyère; or tending to connect that writer with the family founded by Thibault de la Bruyère, the Crusader. URSULA. Sir John Davys or Davies.—I am very anxious to get any information that can be procured about Sir John Davys or Davies, Knight Marshal of Connaught, temp. Elizabeth. What were his arms? Any portions of his pedigree would be most desirable; also any notices of the various grants of land given by him, particularly to members of his own family. I would also give any reasonable price for John Davies' Display of Heraldry of six Counties of North Wales, published 1716: or, if any of the readers of "N. & Q." have the book, and would favour me with a loan of it, I would return it carefully as soon as I had made some extracts from it. SEIVAD. Fleshier of Otley.-What are the arms of Fleshier of Otley, Yorkshire? They existed, not many years ago, in a window of a house built by one of the above-named family, in Otley. Bingley, Yorkshire. B. M. A. Letters U, V, W.-Could any correspondent of the "N. & Q." give us any clear idea of the manner in which we ought to judge of those letters as they are printed from old MSS. or in old books. Is there any rule known by which their pronunciation can be determined? For instance, how was the name of Wales supposed to have been pronounced four hundred years ago, or the name Walter? How could two such different sounds as U and V now represent, come by the old printers both to be denoted by V? And is it supposed that our present mode of pronouncing some words is taken from their spelling in books? We see this done in foreign names every day by persons who have no means of ascertaining the correct pronunciation. Can it have been done extensively in the ordinary words of the language? Or can it be possible, that the confusion between the printed V and W and U has produced the confusion in pronouncing such words now beginning with W, which some classes of her Majesty's subjects are said to pronounce as if they commenced with V? I ask for information; and to know if the question has anywhere been discussed, in which case perhaps some one can refer me to it. in tracing the family to which the following arms belong. Last century they were borne by a gentleman of the name of Oakes: but I find no grant in the college, nor, in fact, can I discover any British arms like them. Argent, a pale per pale or, and gules: between two limbs of an oak fructed proper. On a chief barry of six of the second and third; a rose between two leopards faces all of the last. C. MANSFIELD Ingleby. "Drengage" and " Berewich.”—In_Domesday certain tenants are described as drenches or drengs, holding by drengage; and some distinction is made between the drengs and another class of tenants, who are named berewites; as, for instance, in Newstone, "Huj'alia t'rā xv hoēs quos Drenchs vocabant pro xv tenet sed huj' M berewich erant." I shall be glad of any information as to these tenures, and also as to the derivation of the words drengage" and "berewich," or berewite, both of which may be traced, I believe, to a Danish origin. JAMES CROSBY. 66 Streatham. Sidney as a Female Name.- In several families of our city the Christian name of Sydney is borne by females, and it is derived, directly or indirectly, from a traceable source. The object of the present inquiry is to ascertain whether the same name, and thus spelled, is similarly applied in any families of Great Britain? If at all, it should be found in the north of Ireland. But your correspondent would be pleased to learn, from any quarter, of such use of the name, together with the tradition of the reason for its adoption. Baltimore. R. D. B. "The Brazen Head."-Will any reader of "N. & Q." be good enough to inform the undersigned where he can obtain, by purchase or by loan, the perusal of any part or parts of the above-mentioned work? It was published as a serial in 1828 or 1829. A. F. A. W. Swillington. Portrait of Baron Lechmere.-Can any of your correspondents inform me if there is any engraved portrait in existence of the celebrated Whig, Lord Lechmere, Baron of Evesham, who died at Camden House, London, in the year 1727, and lies buried in the church of Hanley Castle, near Upton-onSevern, co. Worcester ? While on the subject of portraits, some of your correspondents may be glad to learn that an excellent catalogue of engraved portraits is now passA. F. H.ing through the press, by Messrs. Evans and Sons, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, of which forty-six numbers are issued. Heraldic Query.-I should be greatly indebted to any of your correspondents who will assist me J. B. WHITBORNE "Essay for a New Translation of the Bible," and "Letters on Prejudice."—A friend of mine has requested me to inquire through “N. & Q.” who are the authors of the undermentioned books, in his possession? An Essay for a New Translation of the Bible, one volume 8vo. : "printed for R. Gosling, 1727.” Dedicated to the Bishops: the dedication signed "H. R."-Letters on Prejudice, two volumes 8vo.: “in which the nature, causes, and consequences of prejudice in religion are considered, with an application to the present times: " printed for Cadell in the Strand; and Blackwood, Edinburgh, 1822. W. W. T. pos David Garrick-In the sale catalogue of Isaac Reed's books is a lot described as "Letter of David Garrick against Mr. Stevens, with Observations by Mr. Reed, MS. and printed." Can any of your correspondents inform mein whose session is this letter with Reed's observations; whether Garrick's letter was published; and, if so, what public library contains a copy? G.D. Aldiborontophoshophornio.-Will you or some of your readers inform me in what play, poem, or tale this hero, with so formidable a name, is to be F. R. S. found? Comte d'Artois, then an exile in England, engaged "Dont maint bon chevalier fu jété fort souvin ; The first lines of the poem give the place and date of the transaction, "London, September, 1338," in King Edward's "palais marbrin." The versification is as strange as the matter The author has taken great pains to collect as many words rhyming together as possible. The first twenty-six lines rhyme to "in;" the hundred next to "is;" then fifty to "ent;" and so on: but the lines have all their rhythm, and some are smooth and harmonious. Has any other MS. been discovered? Has it been elsewhere printed? Has it been translated into English, or has any English author noticed it? If these questions are answered in the negative, I would suggest that the Camden, or some such society would do well to reprint it, with a translation, and Saint Palaye's commentary, and whatever additional information can be gathered about it; for although it evidently is a romance, it contains many particulars of the court of England, and of the manners of the time, which are extremely curious, and which must have a good deal of truth mixed up with the chivalrous fable.. C. Quotations wanted.-Will you or some of your correspondents tell me where this sentence occurs: "It requireth great cunning for a man to seem to know that which he knoweth not?" Miss Edgeworth gives it as from Lord Bacon. I cannot find Inscriptions on a Dagger-Case.-I have in my it. Also, where this very superior line: "Life is possession a small dagger-case, very beautifully like a game of tables, the chances are not in our carved in box-wood, bearing the following inpower, but the playing is?" This I have seen scriptions on two narrow sides, and carved reprequoted as from Jeremy Taylor, but where? Isentations of Scripture subjects on the other two have looked his works carefully through: it is so clever, that it must be from a superior mind. And where, in Campbell, is "A world without a sun?" This, I believe, is in Gertrude of Wyoming. Excuse this trouble, Mr. Editor; but you are now become the general referee in puzzles of this kind. A. B. Arago on the Weuther.-I saw some of Arago's meteorological observations in an English magazine some time ago, taken, I believe, from the Annuaire. Can any one give me a reference to ELSNO. them? "Les Veus du Hairon,” or “Le Vœu du Héron." -Is any more known of this curious historical romance than Sainte Palaye tells us in the third volume of his Mémoires sur l'Ancienne Chevalerie? He gives the original text (I suspect not very correctly) from, he says, a MS. in the public library at Berne. It is a poem in old French verse (something like Chaucer's English), of about 500 lines, descriptive of a series of vows, by which Robert broad sides. Inscriptions. "DIE EEN PENINCK WINT ENDE BEHOVT DIE On the other sides the carvings, nine in number, 66 66 The case is handsomely mounted in silver. 5. |