MISCELLANIES.
Reading edition
Spur Money.—Although I used often, twenty years ago, when a chorister at the Chapel Royal, to take part in levying a fine on all who entered that place with spurs on, I was not aware of its origin till I saw it explained in your interesting publication (No. 23. p. 374.). There was a custom however, connected with this impost, the origin of which I should be glad to learn. After the claim was made, the person from whom it was sought to be exacted had the power to summon the youngest chorister before him, and request him to "repeat his gamut," and if he failed, the spur-bearer was entitled to exemption.
E.J.H.
Spur Money.—I beg to offer the following humble illustration of spur-money, which I copied from the belfry wall of All Saints Church at Hastings:—
1. "This is a belfry that is free For all those that civil be: And if you please to chime or ring, It is a very pleasant thing. 2. "There is no musick play'd or sung, Like unto bells when they're well rung: Then right your bells well, if you can— Silence is best for every man. 3. "But if you ring in spur or hat, Sixpence you pay—be sure of that: And if a bell you overthrow, Pray pay a groat before you go."
(dated) 1756.
ALFRED GATTY.
Ecclesfield, April 6. 1850.
Note Books.—Looking at what your correspondent says about "Note Books," I think the following hint may be useful to others, as it has been to myself. Many persons never get so far as the formality of a common-place book, and do not like to write in their books. Let them follow my plan. The envelope maker will procure them any number of little slips of white paper, with a touch of isinglass at each of the four corners. Let the note be written on one of these, and then let the slip be stuck into any book which is sure to be wanted in connection with the subject when it comes up again; either by one, two, or four corners, as convenient. The isinglass will not hurt the book, if ever it be wanted to remove the slip. A note is more in the way, when attached to a book which suggested it, than when buried among unindexed miscellanies; and there are few who index themselves. Your motto is good as far as it goes; but the other half is wanting:—
"When made a note of,—find if you can."
M.
LADY RACHAEL RUSSELL.
Mr. Dyce has admitted Lady Rachael Russell among his British Poetesses on account of the following verses:—
TO THE MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND. "Right noble twice, by virtue and by birth, Of Heaven lov'd, and honour'd on the earth; His country's hope, his kindred's chief delight, My husband dear, more than this world's light, Death hath me reft. But I from death will take His memory, to whom this tomb I make. John was his name (ah, was! wretch must I say), Lord Russell once, now my tear-thirsty clay."
Now "John" was not the Christian name of William Lord Russell, so that these verses could not have come from his widow's pen. Indeed, they are much older than Lady Rachael's time, and may be found on the monument in Westminster Abbey erected by Lady Russell, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to John Lord Russell, who died in 1584.
P. CUNNINGHAM.
Byron and Tacitus (No. 20. p. 390.).—To your young friend, who honestly signs himself "A SCHOOLBOY," let an older correspondent say, that he will do more wisely to let the rules of his teachers keep him from perusing an author who makes a mock of all moral and all honourable feelings. But if he wishes to know whether the introduction of the sentence from Tacitus into a poetical tale should be called "cabbaging," the reply will properly be, No. The poet expected that the well-known figure, which he had thus thrown into verse, would be immediately recognised by every literary reader, and that the recognition would give pleasure. He was trying his hand at a task of which it has been affirmed by a master, that Difficile est proprie communia dicere. The Schoolboy knows where to find these words; and I hope that he also knows where to find the words of one who speaks with greater authority, and has said most kindly, "Cease, my son, to hear [read] the instruction that causeth to err."
H.W.
Aboriginal Chambers near Tilbury.—It is proposed to descend some of the aboriginal chambers alluded to by Camden, near Tilbury in Essex. In consequence, however, of Camden having named a wrong parish, later antiquaries have been puzzled to ascertain their precise whereabouts. Mr. Crafter, in 1848, after many days' labour, found them out; and a brief notice of them was given in an article upon "Primæval Britain" in the West Kent Almanack for 1849. Hasted mentions similar pits in Crayford Parish, Kent. In Dartford parish is another called "the Sound Hole," from the echoes, &c., made upon a stone being thrown down. Mr. S. Laudale intends an examination of it this summer. Tradition reports that there are three enormous caverns, which communicate with the central shaft.
How, or what, is the best way of driving the foul air out of those chambers which are aloof from the central shaft?
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Sir R. Haigh's Letter-Book.—A few days ago, Messrs. Puttick and Simpson sold a very important manuscript, the original letter-book of Sir R. Haigh, of Lancashire, of the time of Charles II. It fetched 51l., being bought by a collector whose name has not transpired; but perhaps this notice, if you kindly insert it, may induce the purchaser to edit it for the Chetham Society, to whose publications it would for a most valuable addition.
R.
A Phonetic Peculiarity.—I venture to note as a very curious phonetic peculiarity, that we have in the English language a large number of monosyllabic words ending is sh, all of which are expressive of some violet action or emotion. I quote a few which have occurred without search, in alphabetical order. "Brush, brash, crash, crush, dash, gash, gush, hash, gnash, lash, mash, pash, push, quash, rush, slash, smash, squash, thrash."
J.M.B.