Notes.
Reading edition
"J. R. OF CORK."
Mr. James Roche was born in Limerick some eighty-three years ago, of an ancient and wealthy family. At an early period of his life he was sent to France, and educated in the Catholic College of Saintes. After completing his studies, and paying a short visit to Ireland, he settled in Bordeaux, where he became acquainted with the most distinguished leaders of the Girondists.
Mr. Roche was in Paris during the horrors of the first Revolution, and in 1793 was arrested there as a British subject, but was released on the death of Robespierre. For some years after his liberation, he passed his time between Paris and Bordeaux. At the close of the last century, he returned to Ireland; and commenced business in Cork as a banker, in partnership with his brother. He resided in a handsome country seat near the river Lee, and there amassed a splendid library.
About the year 1816, a relative of mine, a wealthy banker in the same city, got into difficulties, and met with the kindest assistance from Mr. Roche. In 1819 his own troubles came on, and a monetary crisis ruined him as well as many others. All his property was sold, and his books were brought to the hammer, excepting a few with which his creditors presented him. I have often tried, but without success, to get a copy of the auction catalogue, which contained many curious lots,—amongst others, I am informed, Swift's own annotated copy of Gulliver's Travels, which Mr. Roche purchased in Cork for a few pence, but which produced pounds at the sale. Mr. Roche, after this, resided for some time in London as parliamentary agent. He also spent several years in Paris, and witnessed the revolution of 1830. Eventually he returned to Cork, where he performed the duties of a magistrate and director of the National Bank, until his death in the early part of 1853.
Mr. Roche was intimately acquainted with many of the great men and events of his time, especially with everything concerning modern French history and literature.
Mr. Roche was remarkable for accurate scholarship and extensive learning: the affability of his manners, and the earnestly-religious tone of his mind, enhanced his varied accomplishments.
For a number of years he contributed largely to various periodicals, such as the Gentleman's Magazine, the Dublin Review, and the Literary Gazette; and the signature of "J. R. of Cork" was welcome to all, while it puzzled many.
In 1851 he printed for private circulation, Essays Critical and Miscellaneous, by an Octogenarian, 2 vols.; printed by G. Nash, Cork. Some of these Essays are reprints, others are printed for the first time. The work was reviewed in the Dublin Review for October, 1851.
A "Sketch of J. R. of Cork" was published in July, 1848, in Duffy's Irish Catholic Magazine, which I have made use of in this Note. My object in the present Note is to suggest that Mr. Roche's Reminiscences and Essays should be given to the public, from whom I am well assured they would receive a hearty welcome.
Eirionnach.
MARMORTINTO, OR SAND-PAINTING.
There appeared in a late number of The Family Friend, an article on the above process. The writer attributes its invention to Benjamin Zobel of Bavaria; and states, that although some few persons have attempted its revival, in no instance has success attended such efforts. This is not correct. There was a German confectioner to King George III. whom I knew well. His name was Haas; and those acquainted with Bristol will recollect his well-frequented shop, nearly opposite the drawbridge on the way to College Green, where he resided forty years ago, after retiring from his employment at Court. There he was often engaged in decorating ceilings, lying on his back for weeks together on a scaffold for the purpose. He also ornamented the plateaus for the royal table; and he understood the art of sand-painting, and practised it in the highest perfection. Whether he preceded Zobel, or came after him, at Windsor Castle, I cannot tell; but I can testify that he was perfect master of the art in question. I have seen him at work upon his sand-pictures. He had the marble dust of every gradation of colour in a large box, divided into small compartments; and he applied it to the picture by dropping it from small cones of paper.
The article in The Family Friend describes the process of Zobel to have consisted of a previous coating of the panel for the picture with a glutinous solution, over which the marble dust was strewed from a piece of cord. Haas used small cones of paper; and my impression from seeing him at work was, that he sprinkled the sand on the dry panel, and fixed the whole finally at once by some process which he kept a secret. For I remember how careful he was to prevent the window or door from being opened, so as to cause a draught, before he had fixed his picture; and I have heard him lament the misfortune of having had one or two pictures blown away in this manner.
The effect of his sand-pictures was extraordinary. They stood out in bold relief, and with a brilliancy far surpassing any oil painting. As may be supposed, this style of painting was particularly adapted for landscapes and rocky scenery; and it enabled the artist to finish foliage with a richness which nothing could surpass. Mr. Haas' collection of his sand-paintings was a rich treat to inspect. After his death, they were sold and dispersed; but many must be found in the collections of gentlemen in Bristol and its neighbourhood.
F. C. H.
THE SOLDIER'S DISCIPLINE, FROM A BROADSIDE OF THE YEAR 1642.
"The Grounds of Military Discipline: or, Certain Brief Rules for the Exercising of a Company or Squadron.
Observed by all. In march, in motion, troop or stand, Observe both leader and right hand; With silence note in what degree You in the body placed be: That so you may, without more trouble, Know where to stand, and when to double. Distances. True distance keep in files, in ranks Open close to the front, reare, flanks, Backward, forward, to the right, left, or either, Backward and forward both together. To the right, left, outward or in, According to directions given. To order, close, open, double, Distance, distance, double, double: For this alone prevents distraction, And giveth lustre to the action. Facings. Face to the right, or to the left, both wayes to the reare, Inward, outward, and as you were: To the front, reare, flanks, and peradventure To every angle, and to the centre. Doublings. To bring more hands in the front to fight, Double ranks unto the right, Or left, or both, if need require, Direct divisionall or intire: By doubling files accordingly, Your flanks will strengthened be thereby. Halfe files and bringers-up likewise To the front may double, none denies; Nor would it very strange appear For th' front half files or double the reare: The one half ranks to double the other, Thereby to strengthen one the other. Countermarches. But lest I should seen troublesome, To countermarches next I come. Which, though they many seem to be, Are all included in these three: Maintaining, gaining, losing ground, And severall wayes to each is found: By which their proper motion's guided, In files, in ranks, in both divided. Wheeling. Wheel your batten ere you fight, For better advantage to the right, Or left, or round about To either angle, or where you doubt Your enemie will first oppose you; And therefore unto their Foot close you. Divisionall wheeling I have seen In sundrie places practis'd been, To alter either form or figure, By wheeling severall wayes together. And, had I time to stand upon 't, I'de wheele my wings into the front. By wheeling flanks into the reare, They'll soon reduce them as they were. Besides, it seems a pretty thing To wheel, front, and reare to either wing: Wheele both wings to the reare and front; Face to the reare, and having done 't, Close your divisions; even your ranks, Wheel front and reare into both flanks: And thus much know, cause, note I'll smother, To one wheeling doth reduce the other. Conversion and Inversion. One thing more and I have done; Let files rank by conversion: To th' right, or th' left, to both, and then Ranks by conversion fill again: Troop for the colours, march, prepare for fight, Behave yourselves like men, and so good night.
The summe of all that hath been spoken may be comprised thus:
Open, close, face, double, countermarch, wheel, charge, retire; Invert, convert, reduce, trope, march, make readie, fire."
Anon.
LEADING ARTICLES OF FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS.
The foreign correspondence of the English press is an invaluable feature of that mighty engine of civilisation and progress, for which the world cannot be too thankful; but as the agents in it at Paris, Berlin, Vienna, &c., are more or less imbued with the insular views and prejudices which they carry with them from England, Scotland, or Ireland, it were well if the daily journals devoted more attention than they do to the leading articles of the Continental press, which is frequently distinguished by great ability and interest, and would enable Englishmen, not versed in foreign languages, to judge, from another point of view, of Continental affairs—now becoming of surpassing interest and importance. Translations or abstracts of the leading articles of The Times, Morning Chronicle, Morning Post, &c., are constantly to be met with in the best foreign papers. Why should not our great London papers more frequently gratify their readers with articles from the pens of their Continental brotherhood? This would afford an opportunity also of correcting the false statements, or replying to the erroneous judgments put forth and circulated abroad by writers whose distinguished position enables them, unintentionally no doubt, to do the more mischief. A surprising change for the better, however, as respects Great Britain, is manifest in the tone and information of the foreign press of late years. Let us cherish this good feeling by a corresponding demeanour on our part.
Alpha.