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To find, therefore, exactly how the site of Napata was determined, it will be necessary to inquire regarding what place its situation is true. If we adhere to the various readings to which Wilberg in his translation gives the preference, we shall seek in vain; but, luckily there is another reading for the commencement of the Island Meroe, or the junction of the Tagazzi with the Nile, which places this junction 1° more north, and thus puts all right again (see Wilding, p. 382.) By admitting this reading, the Nile will then regain its true form, whilst, from the usual figures the site of Napata, with the course of the river and the place of Meroe, remain as inexplicable as has been hitherto assumed by all the commenta

tors.

Again, whilst we have thus far cleared up the situation of the northern point of the Island of Meroe from the use of a too small degree, the town itself of the same name is placed more than twice its distance from this point. We find we are here upon a special map more than twice the size of his usual scale, and the same error runs through all his subsequent determinations from the same spot.

Proceeding upwards, we arrive at a spot where the junction of the Astapes and Nile takes place, whilst, on our present maps, the junction of Bahr Azrak and Bahr Abiad occurs much earlier. This arises from a special map on a scale of 2° 4' too large in regard to the general one. Astapes Bahr Azrak; Nile=Bahr Abiad, whose western lake may possibly be lake Liule Lúta Nzige of our modern enterprising travellers Messrs. Speke and Grant.

To find, therefore, the river Ptolemy takes for the east source of the Nile, we must shorten the distance of the junction of this side river with the western stream, as 24 to 1. This reduced distance brings us up from Chartum (junction of Nile and Astapes) to the mouth of the Djall and south-east tributary of the Bahr Abiad. It may, however, surprise many that Ptolemy should have noticed this unimportant stream and passed over the Sobat opening only 1° more south, and almost as important as Bahr Abiad (possibly Sobat and Djall are arms of one river). The length of the Sobat, according to Ptolemy, is not considerable. Whether Djall or Sobat be the east arm of the Nile, it is certain that Ptolemy knew Bahr Abiad, as far as lake NO, and considered it the proper Nile; be knew also that the Astaboras is our Takazzi; the Astapes, the Bahr Abiad. Every opinion opposed to this calculation, or as hitherto explained by expounders of Ptolemy, must

appear baseless, and, according to circumstances, ridiculous.

If, however, this explanation of Ptolemy's method, and the causes of his failure in fixing the

lake of NO and source of the Bahr Abiad too far south, in the proportions of 2° 4' to 1, so that but for the fault of using maps differing in scales in this ratio, he would have settled it exactly on the spot on which the zeal and indefatigable industry of our latest explorers, under the auspices of the Geographical Society, have now irrevocably fixed it; it is no detraction from their glory that this Father of Geography knew it fully 2000 years earlier. Lost in the confusion of his own materials, and totally forgotten in the darkness of the Middle Ages, and the indiscriminating zeal and proselytism of Mahommedan fury, the discovery of our countrymen is as new and as real as if no previous glimpse of the ultimate abode of old father Nile had ever been vouchsafed to mortals. resolute adventurers, who, in our own day, have brought the long-lost fact to light, lose nothing of the merit of originality by the prior labours of one whom they may never have studied. WILLIAM BELL, Phil. Dr.

2, Burton Street, Euston Square.

The

SIGNIFICANT NAMES IN SHAKSPEARE. "For young Charbon, the Puritan, and old Poysam the Papist."-All's Well that Ends Well, Act I. Sc. 3.

In some suggestions in a late number, as to why the French clown was granted the surname of Lavatch, or more properly Lavache, I had occasion to notice Shakspeare's use of significant names. The present quotation affords other and insufficiently noticed examples of this. The characters being French, it was long ago acutely surmised by Malone that Poysam was a misprint for Poisson [i and long s having been taken for y]; but unfortunately his further supposition, that Charbon was meant to indicate the fiery zeal of the Puritans, was unsatisfactory, and gave no support to the previous conjecture. As, however, Poisson is significant of the fasting and self-denying Papist, so I think Charbon, Chairbon, or Chairbonne, was given authentically to the fast-denying or sleek Puritan as derivable from chair bonne, or bonne chair. The antithesis and the appropriateness of the allusions prove the truth of these emendations and interpretations; and if other proof were wanting, it is to be found in this, that Shakspeare has clearly appropriated to his own purposes the old French proverb: "Jeune chair et viel poisson "Young flesh and old fish (are the daintiest)." Hence, also, the full meaning intended to be conveyed is not that some, but that the best men, whatever their age or whatever may be their own or their wives' religious opinions, all share the common fate.

"Par. You shall find, in the Regiment of the Spinii, one Captaine Spurio, his cicatrice with an emblem of warre heere on his sinister cheek." All's Well that Ends Well, Act II. Sc. 1. This has been altered to "with his cicatrice." But the "emblem of warre" I take to be, not the cicatrice, but the velvet patch that covered either it or the sound skin: a fashion of the day, and an abuse afterwards laughed at by the fool, when he says:

"Yonder's my Lord, your son, with a patch of velvet on's face; whether there be a scar under 't or no, the velvet knows-but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet."

That it was meant to be understood, and that it was part of the humour of the passage, that Capt. Spurio's patch was mere braggartism, and his scar 66 over the left cheek" sound flesh, is shown by this: that "il Capitano Spurio," being Anglicised, is Capt. Counterfeit; and one who, though an Italian, is of the same feather, or, as Helen would say, of the same wing, with Mr. Alltalk the Frenchman. I am much disposed also to believe that the latter, when pointing with his right thumb "here," towards the left cheek, mutely asserts the same fact by a sign, which is still of favourite significance with the English gamin.

The apparent, or rather 'verbal want of connection between the two clauses, is partly to be accounted for by the affected and generally disjointed language of the speaker, and partly by the use of the mute addition just noticed; and all that is wanting, according to our present punctuation, is a comma and dash after Spurio. Query. Has it been noticed? And may it not be that as the Lords and Captains, called E. and G. in the first folio nomenclature, are both called Dumain in the text; so E. may stand for Ecclestone, and G. for Goughe or Gilburne ?

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Minor Notes.

BENJ. EASY.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: "SONGE DU VERGIER." In the last part which has hitherto appeared of the new edition of M. Brunet's admirable Manuel du Libraire, I notice a statement concerning the Songe du Vergier, which seems to me quite incorrect; and as the history of the book has been the subject of frequent discussion, and lately of a considerable volume, I may mention it here. M. Brunet says that," as the French text was printed twenty years before the Latin (1491-1516), it was natural to suppose that the work was first written in French and then translated into Latin; but still the contrary opinion has generally prevailed." The general opinion is No one seems to have noticed the fact that the Songe du Vergier is an expan

the correct one.

sion of the tract, Dyalogus inter Clericum et Militem super Dignitate papali et regia; of which six editions antè 1500 are mentioned by Panzer, and of which the first edition was printed in 1475.

This tract supplies the subject-matter, and frequently the exact words, of the first thirty-six chapters of the Songe du Vergier. As to the remaining portion of the latter book, we must either conclude that it was the original composition of the unknown French author, or that only a portion of the Dyalogus was printed from the MS. JOHN ELIOT HODGKIN.

LONGEVITY.-Cardinal John Baptist de Belloy was born on April 8, 1709, at Senlis, became Bishop of Glandeve in 1752, and of Marseilles in 1755. In 1802 he was appointed Archbishop of Paris, and made Cardinal in 1803. A gentleman of an old English family wrote from Paris, June 3, 1805, of this venerable prelate, as follows:

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"I was present yesterday, Whitsunday, at the High Mass at Notre Dame, celebrated by the Archbishop, Cardinal De Belloy, who has completed his ninety-sixth year, having been born on the 8th of April, 1709. He he is able to masticate his food, he eats, drinks, keeps the feels not the least inconvenience from so advanced an age, days of fasting and abstinence, is neither deaf nor blind, his head is perfectly clear, and his memory prodigious; it is consoling to human nature to be able to record such an example."

This extraordinary man died in 1808, having attained the great age of ninety-nine years.

F. C. H.

GIB.-Richardson thinks this word, as applied to a horse, may be derived from A.-S. Gabban, to delude; hence, to evade or shirk the work. Is it not rather from the old French giber, which, though not found in that form that I am aware of, seems to exist in the compound regiber? Of a restive horse it is said (Le Dit des Aneles, Jubinal, Rec. 1. 15): "Car touz jours reculoit, et prist à regiber." "Si fort qu'il fist son maistre contre

terre verser."

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lately spent a few days in the north of Yorkshire, and have been reminded, by hearing them used, of some words which had escaped my memory, and which are not given in the glossaries in my possession. I will supply them while they are fresh in my recollection.

The first is the word stopboggle. This literally means some person or thing that stops the way, or that frightens any one from pursuing a favourite path or object. It will, perhaps, be still better understood by giving the sentence of which it formed a part. At a farmer's table it was complained that the wife of one of the sons had taken offence, and did not now come to see the family. The old man said, "I am the stopboggle," that is, he was the cause of her keeping away. Boggle is a common word in Yorkshire, used to express a doubt or difficulty, or anything that cannot be easily overcome. A man hesitates in making a statement, or giving evidence, or telling a story, or he blunders or pauses in the execution of a piece of work, or he lingers about commencing it; in all such cases he is said to boggle at it. It will thus be seen that the word stopboggle is most expressive. The word boggle must not be confounded with bogle. The latter term is given to a ghost or apparition, or any supernatural appearance. In common with bogie and boggart it is used indifferently.

I heard another word which was once familiar to me, but had of late years escaped me. I mean the word flybesky. I give it as pronounced, but no doubt when given properly it should be fly-by-sky. This word is used to describe a flighty, desultory, or extravagant person, one who acts without method or forethought. The appellation does not convey any moral delinquency or guilt, but simply thoughtlessness, or folly in a state of excess, or

riot.

I was amused one morning by hearing a countryman ask another about his nangnails. I should apprehend that according to analogy it should be knangnails. Many of your readers may not know that in these districts this is the vernacular for those very troublesome excrescences on the feet and toes, corns, and I doubt whether many of the inhabitants would understand what was meant if the proper term was applied. T. B.

OLD ALMANACS.-I find that the date of the earliest printed almanac is 1455. This almanac is mentioned with some notice of its contents in

Sotheby's Principia Typog. vol. ii. p. 197, who adds that it consists of nine 4to pages, and was discovered by Docen in the Jesuit House at Augsburg. I observe that the earliest almanacs, manuscript and otherwise, do not contain any

trace of the nonsense of Messrs. Zadkiel & Co., and that the introduction of the "influence of the signs on the parts of the human body" seems to date from the time when the composition of almanacs passed from the hands of scholars and students into the hands of medical practitioners. WM. DAVIS.

FLY-LEAF SCRIBBLINGS. - I have before me a volume of the Arabian Nights, "translated from the French translation," 1738, on the fly-leaf of which, appended to the owner's name, Í find, in the same handwriting, a notification not devoid of point:

"CHARLES BIDDULPH, 1746.

"This is to give notice that if any one do not think these books worth there reading they may let them alone." P. S. CAREY.

YORK HOUSE WATER GATE, BUCKINGHAM STREET. Permit me, through the medium of "N. & Q.," to express a hope that those entrusted with the execution of the proposed embankment of the northern shore of the Thames, will not suffer this beautiful relic of the genius of Inigo Jones to be removed or destroyed, but that they will so incorporate it in their plan, either by mak ing it an entrance to water-stairs, or in some other way, as nearly as possible on its present site, as that it may continue an ornament to the metropolis, as well as an interesting memorial of the stately mansion which once

"Reared its proud front upon the banks of Thames." W. H. HUSK.

Queries.

ZADKIEL'S CRYSTAL BALL.

Shall we marvel that some of the élite of our land have been so eager to see and investigate Lieutenant Morrison's pet wonder, when we find it recorded that many nations of antiquity have held in reverential awe and admiration stones of a kindred character, and crowned heads themselves are reported to have numbered them among their miranda?

The following from an old treatise in my possession on "Precious Stones" appears especially worthy of note after the late amusing trial:

"Among the stones of choicest esteeme, that of Pyrrhus in ancient times was accounted to be most excellent. For in that precious stone (without any helpe, invention, or arte of man) was naturally discerned the figures of nine goddesses and a young naked child standing by them: so that they were censured, by grave opinion, to bee the

portraits of the nine Muses and Apollo. A matter very strange, and somewhat difficult to be credited. (Very!) Neverthelesse, many authors worthy beliefe doe avouch it for a true historie, especially Plinie. And questionless, according to the judgement of philosophers, this might happen naturally, by the great and immeasurable

heate of matter consisting in the sayde stone; or else by some correspondencie or celestiall influence, with the stars and planets, even as a woman may produce a monster, wholly different from humane kind, and by the selfsame influences. Albertus Magnus saith, that he sawe at Collen in the chapel of the three Kings, a stone wherein was naturally figured and discerned two mens' heads placed upon a serpent. Leonardus Camillus, in his Mirrour of Precious Stones saith, that this may be so naturally, affirming moreover to have seene seaven trees, all of one form, naturally pourtrayed in a stone. And, not to tie myselfe to other men's testimonies, I have observed in columnes of marble and jasper, men naturally figured, and many other shapes besides, very remarkable, both for the diversitie of colours, and singularitie of shadowes naturally thereto belonging."

To this my credulous author adds many other wondrous properties of stones. Credat Judæus! Mrs. Allen probably would. Were he alive now, he would no doubt assist Lieut. Morrison in his researches, and would discover more wondrous prodigies in the ball of the velvet bag, keensighted as he must have been!! Since this little

crystal globe has afforded so much amusement, may we add a query to this note? Can any correspondent say aught of the history of this said stone before it came into the possession of Lady Blessington ? JOHN BOWEN ROWLANDS.

DR. DEE'S CRYSTAL.—In the recent trial between "Zadkiel" and Capt. so curiously illustrative of "the march of intellect" in the nineteenth century, a crystal, said to be that "formerly possessed and used in his intercourse with spirits by the celebrated Dr. Dee, was exhibited in court." I am mistaken if the "magical mirror," which belonged to the old Elizabethan conjuror, is not in the British Museum. Is it there? And if so, what is its substance? J. H.

ALBION AND HER WHITE ROSES.-I always supposed that England was anciently called Albion solely from its white cliffs; but the elder Pliny gives another etymology in addition: "Albion insula sic dicta ab albis rupibus quas mare alluit, vel ob rosas albas quibus abundat." (Hist. Nat. iv. 16.) Which of the derivations is the more probable? J. DALTON.

THE EARLIEST AUCTION SALE OF AN ESTATE.Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." inform me the date and auctioneer's name of the earliest auction sale of an estate at Garraway's Coffee House, 'Change Alley, Cornhill, London? And if the printed particulars of the sale has been preserved ? CHAS. JOHNSON, Jun.

BOCHART.-May I ask what is the proper pronunciation of the name of this famous scholar? We generally hear it as Bockhart. But as the individual was French, ought it not to be Boshart? H. B.

CAMDEN'S "BRITANNIA."-In the note to Camden's Britannia, in Bohn's edition of Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual, it is stated that "this work passed through eight editions between 1586 and 1590." The note then proceeds to give account of six editions only that were published respectively in the years 1586, 1587, 1590, 1594, 1600 ("fifth edition"), and 1607, "the last edition corrected The first three were 8vo, the by the author." next two 4to, and the last edition was folio. I think the "eight editions must be a mistake. If not, what are the dates of the others?

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TRETANE.

DR. CHAMBERLAque. An American gentleman once remarked to the late Sydney Smith,-"You are so funny, Mr. Smith! do you know, you remind me of our great joker, Dr. Chamberlaque." "I am much honoured," replied the witty canon, "but I was not aware you had such a functionary in the United States." Who was his jocosity be found? Dr. Chamberlaque, and where may specimens of T. P. G.

CHATHAM'S LAST WORDS.-Pitt's dying words, "Oh, how I leave my country!" are well known. Were the last words of Lord Chatham, "Save, oh! save my country?" There is a caricature, published Feb. 18, 1785, entitled "Honest Billy," and over the design are these words:and representing Pitt in the House of Commons,

"Save, oh, save my country!

My father's dying words I never can forget!"

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had one plough in demesne, and twenty-two sockmen upon twelve ox gangs of his land; and be sides twenty-four villans and eight boors, having twenty-two ploughs, &c. So that here we have upon the manor twenty-three ploughs, while its capacity is set down as being only sufficient for eight ploughs.

Are we to understand, then, that the eight ploughs relates to the Saxon period; and that a much larger breadth of land had been brought into cultivation under the Normans? Against this supposition, the depreciated value of the land since the Confessor's time seems to militate.

If any of your learned correspondents can kindly solve this difficulty, he would greatly oblige

INVESTIGATOR.

--

"DUBLIN UNIVERSITY REVIEW." I have four numbers of a quarterly periodical, entitled The Dublin University Review, and published in Dublin in 1833. Did any more numbers appear, and who was the editor? The Dublin University Magazine, which was started in the same year, has proved more successful. ABHBA.

FAST.--When did fast=quick come into use?

The dictionaries, as late as the end of the seventeenth century, do not contain it. They have festinity" and "festination" from festino =I

66

hasten.

Glasgow.

"THE INTREPID MAGAZINE."

J. D. CAMPBELL.

This magazine was published by Ridgway in 1784. The first number, which describes it as being edited by the Rev. William Hamilton, M.A., is embellished with a frontispiece containing a portrait of Pharaoh; i. e. George III. The second number was not published for some months after the first, and bears the date of 1785 on its title. Who was the editor, and were more than two numbers of it ever pub

lished?

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T. J.

ROBERT JOHNSON'S "RELATIONS." I have an old book, perfect except the lower half of the title-page, entitled

"An Historical Description of the most famous Kingdomes and Common-weales in the World . . . Translated into English and enlarged," &c.

It contains a dedication to Edward, fourth Earl of Worcester, Master of the Horse to Queen Elizabeth and King James, signed with the initials which I should have read R. L., but which may possibly be R. J. It is a small 4to, and contains 268 pages. At p. 237 is "Another relation of the state of Spaine, later than the former, written in the yeare of our Lorde God 1595, by Sin. Francisco Vendramino, Embassadour from the state of Venice, to his Catholike maiestie."

Is this the first edition (1603) of Relations of the most famous Kingdoms and Commonwealths through the World, by Robert Johnson, in Bohn's

Lowndes? If so, by whom and in what language was it originally written?

There is a book resembling it in title mentioned by Watt as written in 1598 by Gabriel Chappuys. Was this the original? It is evidently a transla tion, though in places altered to suit its adopted country, and speaks (at p. 20) of England and Scotland as separate kingdoms. J. H. S.

"LETTERS ON LITERATURE."-Who was "Pho

tius, Junior," the author of Letters on Literature (2 vols. Brussels, 1836) ?

NOTES

Авнва.

my possession a MS. 8vo. volume of 491 pages, containing very copious notes of ninety-seven sermons, which were preached in Dublin in 1754-5, by ministers apparently of ability and repute. Messrs. Bolton, Gibbon, Mun, James North, Johnston (Liverpool), Kilburn (Plunket Street, Dublin), Patten (do.), Bruce (Wood Street, Dublin), Weld (Eustace Street, do.), and Drs. Duchal (Wood Street, do.), and Lawson (" Bride's church"), were the preachers; and I shall be glad to know who they were, and a few particulars respecting them.

OF SERMONS, 1754-5.-There is in

Dr. Lawson, if I mistake not, was at the time Professor of Divinity in Trinity College, Dublin, and is still remembered as the author of a volume entitled Lectures concerning Oratory (3rd edition, Dublin, 1760), which, according to Kett, "merits the particular attention of every young clergyman." He died, as stated in the Dublin University Calendar for the present year, p. 267, on the 9th January, 1759.

ABHBA.

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THE PRIMROSE. In some parts of Germany the primrose is called Frauenschlüssel, Our Lady's Key. What is the origin or meaning of the term? Grimm suggests one meaning-because it "unlocks" the spring, blooming as one of the first vernal flowers. Can any of your correspondents suggest another reason? J. DALTON.

REGIOMONTANUS. In all the Encyclopædias, including the English Cyclopædia, there is an assertion that the name of Regiomontanus was Muller. Now I do not believe that this was the fact, and I should be glad of any reference to contemporary authority in support of the assertion. His father was a miller, and might be so-called; but this proves nothing, for Mons. E. Salverte, in his History of Surnames, asserts that hereditary names were not then in common use in Germany. He calls himself "Maister Johannes Kynsperger ein

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