Volume 4 — Queries.

ON A SONG IN SCOTT'S PIRATE—"FIRE ON THE MAINTOP."

In the 231st number of that excellent New York periodical, The Literary World, published on the 5th of July, there is an article on "Steamboats and Steamboating in the South West," in which I find the following passage:—

"I mentioned the refrain of the firemen. Now as a particular one is almost invariably sung by Negroes when they have anything to do with or about a fire; whether it be while working at a New Orleans fire-engine, or crowding wood into the furnaces of a steamboat; whether they desire to make an extra racket at leaving, or evince their joy at returning to a port, it may be worth recording; and here it is:

"The last line is given by all hands with great vim (sic) and volume; and as for the chorus itself, you will never meet or pass a boat, you will never behold the departure or arrival of one, and you will never witness a New Orleans fire, without hearing it."

The writer says nothing about the origin of this Negro melody, and therefore he is, I presume, unaware of it. But many of your readers will at once recognise the spirited lines, which when once they are read in Walter Scott's Pirate, have somehow a strange pertinacity in ringing in one's ears, and creep into a nook of the memory, from which they ever and anon insist on emerging to the lips. The passage occurs at the end of the fifth chapter of the third volume, where the pirates recapture their runaway captain:—

"They gained their boat in safety, and jumped into it, carrying along with them Cleveland, to whom circumstances seemed to offer no other refuge, and pushed off for their vessel, singing in chorus to their oars an old ditty, of which the natives of Kirkwall could only hear the first stanza:

So run the lines in the original edition, but in the revised one of the collected novels in forty-eight volumes, and in all the subsequent ones, the first two stand thus:

This alteration strikes one as anything but an improvement, and it has suggested a doubt, which I beg to apply to the numerous and well-informed body of your readers to solve. Are these lines the production of Walter Scott, as they are generally supposed to be; or are they really the fragment of an old ditty? The alteration at the commencement does not seem one that would have found favour in the eyes of an author, but rather the effect of a prompting of memory. I believe, indeed, the lines are inserted in the volume called The Poetry of the Author of the Waverley Novels (which I saw some years ago, but cannot refer to at this moment), but that is not decisive.

There is a case in point, which is worth quoting on its own account. In Peveril of the Peak, in the celebrated scene of the interview between Buckingham and Fenella, where Fenella leaps from the window, and Buckingham hesitates to follow, there is this passage:

"From a neighbouring thicket of shrubs, amongst which his visitor had disappeared, he heard her chant a verse of a comic song, then much in fashion, concerning a despairing lover who had recourse to a precipice.

This verse, also, if I mistake not, appears in The Poetry of the Author of Waverley, and is certainly set down by almost every reader as the production of Sir Walter. But in the sixth volume of Anderson's Poets of Great Britain, at page 574. in the works of Walsh, occurs a song called "The Despairing Lover," in which we are told that—

In this instance it is shown that Sir Walter was not indebted for the comic song to his wonderful genius, but to his stupendous memory; and it is just possible that it may be so in the other, in which case one would be very glad to see the remainder of the "old ditty."

T. W.

Minor Queries.

56. Was Milton an Anglo-Saxon Scholar?

—I have long been very curious to know whether Milton was an Anglo-Saxon scholar. He compiled a history of the Saxon period: had he the power of access to the original sources? Is there any ground for supposing that he had read our Saxon Paradise Lost; I mean the immortal poetry of Cædmon? If he really knew nothing of this ancient relic, then it may well be said, that the poems of Cædmon and of Milton afford the most striking known example of coincident poetic imagination.

I should be extremely obliged to any of your learned correspondents who would bring the faintest ray of evidence to bear upon this obscure question.

The similarity of the two poems has been noticed long ago, e.g. by Sir F. Palgrave in The Archæologia, xxiv. I know not whether he was the first; I think Conybeare was beforehand with him.

J. E.

Oxford, Aug. 2. 1851.

57. Tale of a Tub.

—What is the origin of this popular phrase? It dates anterior to the time of Sir Thomas More, an anecdote in whose chancellorship thus illustrates it. An attorney in his court, named Tubb, gave an account in court of a cause in which he was concerned, which the Chancellor (who, with all his gentleness, loved a joke) thought so rambling and incoherent, that he said at the end of Tubb's speech, "This is a tale of a Tubb;" plainly showing that the phrase was then familiarly known.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

58. Cleopatra's Needle.

—When was the obelisk in Egypt first so called? Why was it so called? What is the most popular work on Egypt for a full description of it?

J. B. J.

Liverpool, July 28. 1851.

59. Pair of Curols.

—In a list of the rating of the incumbents of the diocese of Ely, A. D. 1609, towards the support of the army, preserved by Cole, several are returned for "a pair of curols."

"Mr. Denham for his vicarage of Cherry Hinton to find (jointly with the Vicar of Impington and Caldecote) a pair of Curols with a pike furnished."

What is the meaning of the word "Curol," supposing Cole to have used it aright?

E. V.

60. Cowper Law.

—Lord Mahon, in his History of England, second edit. vol. ii. p. 66., in speaking of the death of the first Earl Cowper, after saying "His memory deserves high respect," &c., adds, "And though it seems that a by-word was current of 'Cowper law, to hang a man first and then judge him,' I believe that it proceeded from party resentment, rather than from any real fault;" and in a note refers to the evidence at Lord Wintoun's trial. Is not Lord Mahon mistaken in supposing that this saying refers to Lord Cowper? Should it not be "Cupar Law," meaning the town of that name? I see in Lord Wintoun's trial, where his lordship uses the expression, he adds, "as we used to say in our country." If my supposition is correct, can any of your correspondents say how the proverb arose?

C. DE D.

61. Order of Greenwich.

—I have an impression of an oval ecclesiastical seal, the matrix of which is said to have been found near Kilkenny. The device is the Ascension of the Virgin, beneath which is a shield charged with the royal arms; the three fleur de lis in the first and fourth quarterings showing the seal to be, comparatively speaking, modern. The legend, in Lombardic capitals, runs as follows:—"+ SGILLVM + GĀRDIĀNI + GRV̅WVCĒSIS +." Query, Does "GRV̅WVCĒSIS" mean "of Greenwich?"

In the State Papers, temp. Hen. VIII., vol. iii. p. 285., an abbey in Ireland is said to be of the "order of Greenewich." Query, What order was this?

JAMES GRAVES.

Kilkenny, July 19. 1851.

62. House of Yvery.

—This work is rarely to be met with in a perfect state; but there is one plate about which there exists a doubt, viz. a folding plate or map of the estates of John Perceval, Earl of Egmont.

It would be satisfactory perhaps to many of the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES," as well as to myself, to know whether any gentleman possesses a copy of the work with such a plan.

H. T. E.

Clyst St. George.

63. Entomological Query.

—Can any of your botanical or entomological correspondents help me to the name of the grub that is apt to become a chrysalis on the Linaria minor (Antirrhinum minus of Linnæus)? For yesterday, in a chalky field in Berkshire, I found several cocoons of one particular kind on the above plant (itself not common in these parts), and I did not see it on any other plant in the field, although I spent some time in looking about.

J. E.

Oxford, July 29.

64. Spenser's Portraits (Vol. iv., p. 74.).

—VARRO states he is "well acquainted with an admirable portrait of the poet, bearing date 1593." Perhaps he could give a satisfactory answer to a Query relative to the engraved portraits of Spenser which appeared in one of the numbers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" for last April, and which was not been yet answered.

E. M. B.

65. Borrow's Bible in Spain.

—In the Athenæum for Aug. 17, 1850, in a review of Wallis's Glimpses of Spain, I find the following remark:—

"Mr. Wallis imputes a want of judgment and of 'earnest desire' for the objects of his mission to Mr. Borrow personally, on the ground that he—being, as all know, sent out by the Bible Society to circulate the Protestant Scriptures—did not, instead of attempting to fulfil that special object of his mission, employ himself in diffusing the Roman Catholic version of the Vulgate set forth by the Spanish hierarchy."

It is well known that the Bible Society keeps on its shelves both the Protestant and Roman Catholic versions of French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Its endeavours at present are, I believe, confined to attempting to circulate the Roman Catholic versions, on the ground that it is impossible to circulate the more correct Protestant ones. My Queries are:—

1. Was Mr. Borrow sent out by the Bible Society to circulate the Protestant Scriptures?

2. Whose translation of the Vulgate was set forth by the Spanish hierarchy?

E. M. B.

66. Dogmatism and Puppyism.—

"Dogmatism is nothing but puppyism come to its full growth."

I find this quotation in a leader of The Times. Can you or any of your readers inform me of its origin?

?

67. A Saxon Bell-house.

—A reader of "NOTES AND QUERIES," who subscribes himself A LOVER OF BELLS, has kindly referred me to a passage in Hume's History of England, in which it is said that, according to a statute of Athelstan, "a ceorle or husbandman who had been able to purchase five hides of land, and had a chapel, a kitchen, a hall, and a bell," was raised to the rank of a Thane. The marginal reference in Hume is to Selden's Titles of Honor; and in that work the statue is then given:

"If a churle or a countryman so thrived that hee had fully five hides of his owne land, a church, and a kitchen, a bel-house, a borough-gate with a seate, and any distinct office in the king's court, then was he henceforth of equall honour or dignitie with a Thane."

Selden considers that the bel-house was the dining-hall to which the guests and family were summoned by the ringing of a bell. He thinks the word corresponds with tinello, tinelo, and tinel, the Italian, Spanish, and French words for a "public hall" or "dining-room,"—"so named, because the tin or tingling of a bell at the times of dinner or supper in it were signified by it."

I beg to ask whether the existing knowledge of the details of Saxon architecture substantiates Selden's view; and whether this bell was also the alarum-bell of the castle, hanging in an outside turret?

Many thanks to my correspondent, and to "NOTES AND QUERIES" for the introduction to his notice.

ALFRED GATTY.

Minor Queries Answered.

Cycle of the Moon.

—Can any of your correspondents inform me in what year the new moon last fell on the 1st of January? I am no astronomer, but I believe the moon's cycles is a period of nineteen years, and that whenever the new moon falls on the 1st January, the cycle begins.

BENBOW.

Birmingham.

[The above matter is made the more puzzling to all who are not astronomers, by the pertinacity with which popular writers persist in speaking of the moon's motions as if they were regular.

There is no particular beginning to the cycle of nineteen years: anybody may make it begin when he pleases. What it means is this: that in any set of nineteen years, the new and full moons generally (not always) fall on the same days as in the preceding nineteen years. For instance, in 1831, the 14th of March was a day of new moon: go on nineteen years, that is, to the 14th of March, 1850; most probably, not certainly, this must be a day of new moon. It happens, however, otherwise; for in 1850 the new moon is on the 13th. But in the Aprils of both years, the new moons are on the 12th; in the Junes, on the 10th. All that can be said is, that where any day of any year is new moon, most probably that day nineteen years is new moon also, and certainly either the day before or the day after. In that cycle of nineteen years, which is called the cycle of the golden number, there is an arbitrary beginning, which has something to do with the new moon falling near the 1st of January. The cycle in which we now are, began (that is, had the year marked 1) in 1843.

To find the last time when the new moon fell on the 1st of January with certainty, would be no easy problem for any but an astronomer. The nearest which our correspondent can do is this. Take Mr. De Morgan's recently published Book of Almanacs, and turn to almanac 37. Take the day in question (Jan. 1), and from the first of the Roman numbers written opposite (xxx.) subtract one (xxix.). Look back into the new style index (p. 7.), then any one year which has the epact 29 is very likely to have the new moon on the 1st of January; epact 30 may also have it. Now, on looking, we find that we are not in that period of the world's existence at which epact 29 makes its appearance; no such thing has occurred since 1699, nor will occur until 1900. We are then in a period in which new moons on the 1st of January are comparatively infrequent. Our best chance is when the epact is 30, as in 1843: here there is a narrow miss of what we want, for it was new moon on the day previous, as late as seven in the evening.

Our correspondent's notion that the moon's cycle begins with a new moon on the 1st of January, is probably derived from this, that the calendar is so contrived that for a very long period the years which have 1 for their golden number, have a new moon near the 1st of January, either on it, or within a day of it.]

Cocker's Arithmetic.

—At a sale of books by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, a copy of Cocker's Arithmetic was sold for 8l. 10s., date 1678, said to be one of the only two extant. It is stated Dr. Dibdin had never seen any edition printed in the seventeenth century, and mentions the thirty-second as the earliest he had met with. I have in my possession a copy bearing date 1694, seeming to be one of a further impression of the first edition, as it gives no edition, but simply has in the title page:

"This impression is corrected and amended with many additions throughout the whole."

"London: Printed by J. R. for T. P., and are to be sold by John Back, at the Black Boy on London Bridge, 1694."

Perhaps you can give me some information on the edition, if you think it a fit subject for your valuable publication.

E. K. JUTT.

Frome, Somerset.

[Mr. De Morgan, in his Arithmetical Books, says that the earliest edition he ever possessed is that of 1685: and what edition was not stated. The fourth edition was of 1682, the twentieth of 1700. The matters cited by our correspondent, which we have omitted, are in all, or nearly all, editions. We have heard of three copies of the first edition: one sold in Mr. Halliwell's sale, one in the library of the Roman Catholic College at Oscott, and one sold by Puttick and Simpson, as above, in April last: but we cannot say that these are three different copies, though we suspect it. Our correspondent's edition is not mentioned by any one. The fifty-second edition, by Geo. Fisher, appeared in 1748, according to the Catalogue of the Philosophical Society of Newcastle.]

Sanskrit Elementary Books.

—Will some one of your correspondents kindly inform me what are the elementary works necessary for gaining a knowledge of Sanskrit?

DELTA.

[Wilson's Sanskrit Grammar (the 2nd edition), and the Hitopadesa, edited by Johnson, are the best elementary works.]

Townley MSS., &c.

—I request the favour to be informed where are the Townley MSS.? They are quoted by Sir H. Nicolas in Scrope and Grosvenor Rolls. Also where are the MSS. formerly penes Earl of Egmont, often quoted in the History of the House of Yvery? And a folio of Pedigrees by Camden Russet?

S. S.

[The Townley Heraldic Collections are in the British Museum, among the Additional MSS., Nos. 14,829-14,832. 14,834. In the same collection, No. 6,226. p. 100., are Bishop Clayton's Letters to Sir John Perceval, first Earl of Egmont.]

"Man is born to trouble," &c.

—In an edition of The Holy Bible, with TWENTY THOUSAND EMENDATIONS: London, 1841, I read as follows, at Job v. 7.: "For man is NOT born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards." Query 1. Is there any authority from MSS., &c. for the insertion of the word "not"? 2. Is this insertion occasioned by the oversight of the printer or of the editor?

N.

[There is no authority for the insertion of the word "not," that we can find, either in MSS. or commentators. As to the oversight of the printer or editor we cannot speak; but are rather inclined to attribute that and other emendations to the second-sight of one of the parties concerned. Our correspondent will find Dr. Conquest's emandated Bible ably criticised by one of the best Hebrew scholars of the day in the Jewish Intelligencer, vol. ix. p. 84.]