NOTES

ETYMOLOGY OF PENNIEL.

Some eighteen years ago, the writer of the following sonnets, by the kindness of the proprietors of a pleasant house upon the banks of the Teviot, enjoyed two happy autumns there. The Roman road which runs between the remains of the camp at Chew Green, in Northumberland, and the Eildon Hills (the Trimontium of General Roy), passed hard by. The road is yet distinctly visible in all its course among the Cheviots, and in the uncultivated tracts; and occasionally also, where the plough has spared it, among the agricultural inclosures.

The house stands near the base of the hill called Penniel or Penniel-heugh: and it is hoped that the etymological derivation of that word now to be hazarded will not imply in the etymologist the credulity of a Monkbarns. Pen, it is known, signifies in the Celtic language "a hill". And the word heil, in the Celto-Scythian, is, in the Latin, rendered Sol. In the Armoric dialect of the Celtic also, heol means "the sun:" hence, Penheil, Penheol, or Penniel, "the hill of the sun." Beyond the garden of the abode there stood, and, it is believed, yet stands, a single stone of a once extensive Druid circle, not many years ago destroyed by the then proprietor, who used the sacred remains in building his garden wall. A little farther antiquarian conjecture is necessary to clothe the country with oak woods. Jedwood or Jedworth Forest was part of "the forest" which covered Selkirkshire and parts of the counties around. The Capon Tree, and the King of the Wood, two venerable oaks yet flourishing on the water of Jed, attest the once wooded condition of the land; which is farther irresistibly corroborated by evidence drawn from the interesting volumes of the Rotuli Parliamentorum. The Bishops of Glasgow had a religious establishment in the neighbouring sunward village of Nether Ancrum. Of their buildings, of the vicar's house, or of the ancient gardens existing in the memory of persons living, not a vestige now remains. In the first volume of the Rotuli, p. 472., there is a Petition, of uncertain date, by the Bishop of Glasgow to Edward I., then in possession of Scotland, in these terms:—

"Derechief pry ly dit Evesqe a soen Segur le Roy qe ly plese aider &c.... e sur ceo transmettr', sa lettre al vesconte de Lanark. E une autre, si ly plest, a ses Forresters de Geddeworth de autant de Merin [meremium, meheremium, wood for building] pour fere une receite a Allyncrom (Ancrum) desur la marche, ou il poet aver recett e entendre a ses ministres qut il le voudrent aver."

To which the King's answer is,—

"Héat Bre Ten' locu R. in Scoc. qd fae'. ei hre meheremiu in Foresta de Selkirk et de Maddesleye usq ad numum quinquaginta quercu."

Thus, no doubt is left that oak woods abounded in the district; and it was under the influence of these beliefs that the sonnets were composed:—

F.S.A. L. & E.

NOTES ON CUNNINGHAM'S HANDBOOK FOR LONDON.

Soho Square.—Your correspondent "NASO" (p. 244.) has anticipated me in noticing Mr. Cunningham's mistake about Mrs. Cornellys' house in this square; but he has left unnoticed some particulars which deserve to be recorded. Mrs. Cornellys', or Carlisle House as it was called, was pulled down at the beginning of the present century (1803 or 1804), and two houses built upon its site, now Jeffery's Music Warehouse and Weston's Printing Office. Some curious old paintings representing banqueting scenes, formerly in Carlisle House were carefully preserved until the last few years, in the drawing-room of the corner house, when they were removed to make room for some needed "elegancies" of the modern print shops. The Catholic Chapel in Sutton Street was the banquetting-room of Carlisle House; and the connecting passage between it and the house in Soho Square was originally the "Chinese bridge."

"Teresa Cornelys, Carlisle House, St. Ann, Soho, dealer" appears in the bankrupt list of The London Gazette of November, 1772; and in December of the same year, this temple of festivity, and all its gorgeous contents, were thus advertised to be sold by public auction:—

"Carlisle House, Soho.—At twelve o'clock on Monday the 14th instant, by Order of the Assignees, Mr. Marshall will sell by Auction on the Premises, in one Lot, All that extensive, commodious, and magnificent House in Soho Square, lately occupied by Mrs. Cornelys, and used for the Public Assemblies of the Nobility and Gentry. Together with all the rich and elegant Furniture, Decorations, China, &c., thereunto belonging, too well-known and universally admired for their aptness and taste to require here any public and extraordinary description thereof. Catalogues to be had at the House, and at Mr. Marshall's, in St. Martin's Lane. The curiosity of many to see the house, to prevent improper crowds, and the great damage that might happen therefrom (and the badness of this season) by admitting indifferent and disinterested people, must be an excuse to the public for the Assignees ordering the Catalogues to be sold at 5s. each, which will admit two to see the house, &c., from Monday the 7th instant to the time of sale, Sundays excepted, from ten in the morning to three in the afternoon, and they hope no person or persons will take amiss being refused admittance without Catalogues."

In December 1774, the nobility and gentry were informed (by advertisement), "That the Assemblies at Carlisle House will commence soon, under the conduct and direction of a New Manager;" but notwithstanding the efforts of this person, we find that Mrs. Cornellys resumed her revels here with great spirit in 1776. In 1778, Carlisle House was again publicly advertised to be sold by private contract, or "to be hired as usual;" and subsequently, after having been used as a common exhibition room of "Monstrosities," a "School of Eloquence," and "An Infant School of Genius," it closed its public career through the interference of the magistracy in 1797.

A full and particular account of the rise and fall of "Mrs. Cornelys' Entertainments at Carlisle House, Soho," was privately printed two or three years ago, by Thomas Mackinlay, Esq., of the firm of Dalmaine and Co., Soho Square.

Carlisle Street, Soho Square.—The large house at the end of this street, looking into the square, was formerly called Carlisle House. In 1770 it was purchased of Lord Delaval by the elder Angelo; who resided in it many years, and built a large riding-school at the back. Bach and Abel, of "Concert" notoriety, resided in the adjoining house. Carlisle Street was then called King's Square Court.

Catherine Street, Strand.—In 1714, a tract was published with the following title:—The Maypole's New Year's Gift or Thanks returned to his Benefactors, humbly inscribed to the Two Corners of Catherine Street, Strand; written by a Parishioner of St. Mary, Savoy.

Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.—The well known "Cider Cellar" in this lane was opened about 1730. There is a curious tract, entitled Adventures under Ground, 1750, which contains some strange notices of this "Midnight Concert Room."

Salisbury Change.—Cibber, in the amusing Apology for his Life, has the following:—

"Taste and fashion, with us, have always had wings, and fly from one public spectacle to another so wantonly, that I have been informed by those who remember it, that a famous puppet-show in Salisbury Change (then standing where Cecil Street now is), so far distressed these two celebrated companies, that they were reduced to petition the king for relief against it."

The New Exchange.—A good description of this once popular mart may be found in Lodwick Rowzee's Treatise on the Queene's Welles, Lond. 1632. It is as follows:—

"We went to see the New Exchange, which is not far from the place of the Common Garden, in the great street called the Strand. The building has a facade of stone, built after the Gothic style, which has lost its colour from age, and is becoming blackish. It contains two long and double galleries, one above the other, in which are distributed several rows great numbers of very rich shops, of drapers and mercers, filled with goods of every kind, and with manufactures of the most beautiful description. There are, for the most part, under the care of well-dressed women, who are busily employed in work, although many are served by young men, called apprentices."

The Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden.—In 1763 appeared a small volume under the title of Memoirs of the Bedford Coffee House, by Genius, dedicated to the most Impudent Man alive.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

ORIGINAL LETTER OF PETER LE NEVE.

The following was a letter from Le Neve to a Mr. Admall, a herald painter at Wakefield, found in a book of arms belonging to the latter, which came into my possession a few months ago.

E. HAILSTONE.

"Mr. Admall,

"I understand by Mr. Mangay, my deputy at Leeds for the West Riding, that you contemn my lawfull autority of Norroy King of Arms, and have done and will doe as you say, things relating to heraldry, contrary to my prohibition, &c.; these are therefore to acquaint you, that if you continue in the same mind and will usurp on my office, I intend to make you sensible of the wrong you doe me in my office, by taking out process against you, and making you pay for your transgression. I shall give you no hard words, but shal be as good as my word if there is law in England to restrain you; so chose whether you will due to me good or evill; you shall find me according your friend or open enemy.

"PETER LA NEVE, Norroy.

"College of Arms, in London,

"28th May, 1719."

FOLK LORE.

Superstitions of the Midland Counties.—It is believed a sign of "bad luck" to meet a white horse, unless the person spits at it, which action is said to avert the ill consequences of the recontre.

A rainy Friday is believed to be followed as a natural and invariable consequence, by a wet Sunday; but I am not aware that the contrary is believed, viz., that fine Friday produces a fine Sunday.

If the fire burns brightly when a person has poked or stirred it up, it is a sign that the absent lover, wife, or husband (as the case may be) is in good spirits, and in good humour.

The itching of the right hand palm is said to portend the reception of a gift; which is rendered more certain if the advice in this distich be followed:—

Persons with much hair or down upon their arms and hands, will at some future period enjoy great wealth; or as the common expression has it, "are born to be rich."

HENRY KERSLEY.

Corp. Chris. Hall, Maidstone.

A Rainbow in the Morning, &c.—"Mr. THOMS" (No. 26, p. 413.) says that he believes no one has remarked the philosophy of this proverbial rhyme. Sir Humphry Davy, however, points it out in his Salmonia.

ERROR IN JOHNSON'S LIFE OF SELDEN.

In Johnson's (Geo. W.) Memoirs of John Selden, London, 1635, 8vo. pp. 128, 129, is a notice of Dr. Sibthorpe's celebrated Sermon preached at Northampton, and printed in 1627 with the title of Apostolike Obedience. After stating the difficult experienced in obtaining the necessary sanction for its publication, owing to Abp. Abbot refusing the requisite imprimatur, the author says that ultimately the licence was "signed by Land himself, and published under the title of Apostolical Obedience." A reference at the foot of the page to "Rushworth, p. 444," leads me to conclude that it is on his authority Mr. Johnson has made this statement; but not having access to the "Historical Collections," I am unable to examine. At any rate, Heylin, in his Cyprianus Anglicus, Lond., 1671 fol. p. 159., may be understood to imply the correctness of the assertion.

A copy of this now rare sermon before me proves, however, that the statement is incorrect. At the back of the title is as follows:—

"I have read over this sermon upon Rom. xiii. 7., preached at Northampton, at the assises for the county, Feb. 22, 1626, by Robert Synthorpe, Doctor of Divinity, Vicar of Brackley, and I doe approve it as a sermon learnedly and discreetly preached, and agreeable to the ancient Doctrine of the Primitive Church, both for Faith and good manners, and to the Doctrine established in the Church of England, and, therefore, under my hand I give authority for the printing of it, May 8. 1627."

GEO. LONDON.

It was therefore Bishop Mountague, and not Laud, who licensed the sermon.

JOHN. J. DREDGE.

POPE AND PETRONIUS.

I have read "Mr. RICH'S" letter with great interest, and I willingly allow that he has combated my charge of plagiarism against Pope, and discussed the subject generally with equal fairness and ability. "But yet," I think that he wanders a little from the point when he says, "the surmise of the plagiarism originates in a misconception of the terms employed by the Latin author, especially corcillum." Now the question, in my opinion, turns not so much on what Petronius said, as on what Pope read; i.e. not on the meaning that Petronius gave to the word (corcillum), but on that which Pope attributed to it. I cannot, without further proof, give him credit for having read the words as critically and correctly as "Mr. R." has done. I believe that he looked on it merely as a simple derivative of cor, and therefore rendered it "worth," i.e. a moral, not a mental quality.

C. FORBES.