JAMES FORTESCUE, D.D.

"FORTESCUE, J., D.D.- Essays, Moral and Miscellaneous; viz. An Introductory Speech from Solomon; with an Ode. A Vision on a Plan of the Ancients. A Sketch of

Life after the manner of the Moderns. The State of Man; his Passions, their object and end, their use, abuse, regulation, and employment. With a Poem, sacred to the memory of the Princess [Princes] of Wales and of Orange. Lond. 1752, 8vo. Lond. 1759, 2 vols. 8vo. 10s." Amongst the publications enumerated in the Gent. Mag. for January, 1752, I find

"Essays, Moral and Miscellaneous, by J. Fortescue, DD." 1s. Baldwin.

The Essays are noticed in the Monthly Review for January, 1752 (vi. 78). [It was apparently from this source that Watt derived his description, substituting by mistake "princess" for "princes."] Twelve lines of poetry are cited, and it is stated that it appeared on the title-page that the pamphlet was only a first part.

The Gent. Mag. for January, 1755, mentions as a new publication

"Essays, Moral and Miscellaneous, by Dr. Fortescue." 4s. Owen.

This is no doubt the work which, in Dr. Bliss's Sale Catalogue (amongst the books printed at Oxford), is thus described: --

"834. Fortescue (J.) Essays, 8vo. J. Fletcher, 1754." "Pomery Hill," a poem humbly addressed to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, appeared in 8vo, 1754. This was by Dr. Fortescue, and was afterwards included in his collected works (Gough's British Topography, i. 321; Cat. of Gough's Čollection in the Bodleian, 106).

Amongst the books printed at Oxford, in Dr. Bliss's Sale Catalogue, we have

"849. Fortescue (Dr.), Dissertations, Essays, and Discourses in Prose and Verse, 2 vols, cuts, 8vo. W. Jackson, 1759."

This work is also mentioned in the late Mr. James Davidson's Supplement to Bibliotheca Devoniensis (a mark being appended to denote private library). This note is subjoined – "This work comprises three descriptive poems,-one of them on Devonia, and two on Castle Hill."

66

The Monthly Review (xxi. 291) gave a contemptuous article on the work, naming Dodsley as the publisher. Extracts are given from a Dissertation on Man, and a poem on Contemplation;' whilst "The Oak and the Shrubs," a fable, and "To my Taper," an ode, are extracted in extenso. It thus appears that the first part of Dr. Fortescue's Essays appeared in 1752, at a shilling; that other Essays by him were published in 1754 at four shillings; and that an extended edition (including "Pomery Hill," which had been first published anonymously,) came out in two vols. in 1759 at ten shillings.

A few particulars of this now-forgotten author, He was a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, B.A. Oct. 14, 1736; M.A. June 22, 1739; Senior Proctor of the University, 1748; B.D. April 11, 1749, and D.D. Jan. 20 1749-50. He held the rectory of Wotton, in Northamptonshire-a benefice in the gift of Exeter College, but I do not know at what period he was instituted. His death occurred in 1777, and his library was sold in 1779.

I cannot ascertain to what branch of the Fortescue family he belonged, but it would seem probable that he was a Devonian. I may add, that a search for Dr. Fortescue's works in several extensive public libraries has been unavailing.

S. Y. R.

UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF CHARLES LAMB. To the many admirers of dear Elia, the following characteristic letter from his pen, hitherto unpublished, will be welcome. The Athenæum says:·

one

"We are indebted to a friend for the following Unpublished Letter, written many years ago by Charles Lamb to a bookseller, on receipt of two books of verse, being The Maid of Elvar, by Allan Cunningham, the other Barry Cornwall's Songs and Dramatic Fragments :tythe thus of your press. I am worse to a publisher than "Thank you for the books. I am ashamed to take

the two Universities and the Brit. Mus.-A. C. I will forthwith read. B. C. (I can't get out of the A. B. C.) I have more than read. Taken altogether 'tis too Lovey -but what delicacies! I like most King Death'Glorious 'bove all The Lady with the Hundred Rings' - The Owl'-'Epistle to what's his name '- (Here may be I'm partial)- Sit down, sad soul-The Pauper's Jubilee' (but that's old, and yet 'tis never_old) — The Falcon Felon's Wife'-Damn Madme Pasty' - but that is borrowed

Apple pie is very good,
And so is apple pasty,
But

O Lard! 'tis very nasty.

-but chiefly the Dramatic Fragments · -scarce three of which should have escaped my Specimens, had an antique name been prefixed. They exceed his first. So much for the nonsense of poetry; now to the serious business of life. Up a court (Blandford Court) in Pall Mall (exactly at the back of Marlbro' House, with iron gate in front, and containing 2 houses), at No. 2, did lately live Leishman, my taylor. He is moved somewhere in the neighhood-devil knows where. Pray find him out and give him the opposite. I am so much better- tho' my hand shakes in writing it-that after next Sunday, I can well see F. and you. Can you throw B. C. in? Why tarry the wheels of my Hogarth?"

R. K.

THE EASTERN ETHIOPIANS.—I am of opinion that the Eastern Ethiopians were colonies of Hindooists planted on both sides of the Paropamisus by Osiris on his expedition for the conquest of India. On this expedition, to which ample testimony is borne by many ancient writers, he is said to have been accompanied by Apollo and Pecht. Osiris is the same as Brama, Apollo as Rama, and

When I visited the tombs of the kings at Thebes, and the tombs at Beni-Hassan, I saw that the paintings on the walls thereof were accurate representations of the customs of the Hindoos. I have seen many Indians, whose physiognomies and colour were the same as those found in Egyptian sculptures and paintings. As to identity in architecture and religion, I need only remark that the sepoys of the British expedition to Egypt from Bombay, declared that the Egyptian pagodahs were their pagodahs, and the images of gods in them their gods, before whom they performed poogah or the ceremonies of their religion.

Sir Walter Raleigh, in his History of the World, says, "I see no reason to doubt that Osiris was Misraim." If we concur with Raleigh, and pursue this idea still further, we shall find that the personages of the Hindoo trinity-viz. Brama, Rama (or Vishnu), and Seva, are the remembrances of Misraim, Rama, and Seba of Genesis.

E. L. S. CURIOUS PASSAGE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.-Julian the Pelagian had put forth the following charge against St. Augustine:

"Dixeras: Non esse sine voluntate delictum. Et re

spondisti: Sed per unius voluntatem esse delictum. Numquid concinit superiori definitioni, quæ ablativi casus præpositione munitur, secuta responsio per præpositionem accusativi casus illata."

To which the holy Father returned the following playful answer:

"Utinam tu potius istorum Christi piscatorum retibus tenaciter salubriterque capiaris: tum accusativum casum, quo ipse a te ipso es accusatus, et ablativum, quo de Ecclesia Catholica es ablatus, correctus melius declinabis. non istos doctores Ecclesiæ (Hilarium_et Ambrosium) Præpositiones autem si recte atque integre sequeris, cur tibi, deposita elatione, præponis." - Contra Julianum, lib. iv. § 97.

Queries.

F. C. H.

ACROSTIC. In looking over an old MS. book the other day, I found the following acrostic on "Christ," which you may, perhaps, think not unworthy of insertion:

"Come unto me all ye that mourn,

Here is refreshment from the Spring;
Remember I for you was born-
I am your Saviour, Lord, and King.
Salvation solely is in me.

Te Deum laudamus, Domine!"

R. W. H. NASH.

AN OLD TALE WITH A NEW TITLE. - An old Irish story has been recently passed upon The Standard's "Own Correspondent" (Manhattan) as a new American. The other day, he tells us, a Southerner, being about to accept a bill for some purchases, inquired the cost of a protest; and, when answered, a dollar and a half, directed the clerk to add that sum to the bill, as it was sure not to be honoured.

The story is not Transatlantic, for it is a Dubliner. Neither is it new; for (as MR. Redmond will perhaps vouch), on hearsay at least, it has passed its grand climacteric. My old acquaintance and brother-chip, Joe L-, had, somehow or other, persuaded a goodnatured tradesman, who nevertheless had his misgivings on the subject, into eashing his bill. "Now, Counsellor," said he, pushing the gold over the counter, "you will settle this little matter?" "Settle it!" re

S. Y. R. MRS. MARGARET BRYAN, who kept a school at Margate, published Lectures on Natural Philosophy, 4to, 1806. There are two portraits of her after Shelley, one engraved by Ridley, and the other, in which her children are also represented, engraved by Nutter. The latter is esteemed a fine work. I am desirous of ascertaining when she died. S. Y. R.

DANISH COIN.- Will any correspondent of "N. & Q." state the designation and value of a Danish coin which bears the following inscription?_"Tolf Skilling Danske, 1711, C.W."; and having on the obverse, "Dei G. Rex Dan. Nor. V.C.;" also a crown and a kind of monogram comprising two Fs crossing each other, and two Js, one on each of the Fs. J. H. D.

THOMAS HOPKIRK, residing at or near Glasgow, published several botanical works. The last I have seen noticed appeared in 1817. I shall be glad of any information respecting him.

S. Y. R. Language used in the CourtS OF THE ROMAN PROCURATOR IN PALESTINE, AT THE TIME OF OUR LORD. What was the language in which the trials, in the Court of the Roman Procurator, were conducted in Palestine at the time of Our Lord? Also, was it the custom of the Romans, when they conquered a new country, to use their own language in their law courts ? or did they adopt that of the conquered people? I shall be obliged by any references to works which will afford information on this subject. A. T. L.

"THE LITERARY MAGNET," 1824. - In this periodical (pp. 200, 407), are two extracts from a play on the subject of Virginius by G. A. From a note it would appear that the author had written his tragedy during a year's residence in Italy, and went to Venice to show it to Lord Byron. Who was the author? IOTA.

MARROW BONES AND CLEAVERS. Searching amongst some old papers a few days ago, I found the following, which was written in the year 1816 to a gentleman residing at Pentonville, upon the marriage of one of his daughters:

"HONOURED SIR.-With submission, we the Drums, Fifes, and Marrow-bone and Cleaver Men present our respectful Compliments to you on the Happy and Honourable Marriage of your Amiable Daughter. Wishing Health, Happiness, and Long to Live-Hoping for to receive the usual Gratuity given by Gentlemen on these Joyful and Happy occurrences,

"Sir, from your most obt Servts,
"Waiting your pleasure."

Can you inform me whether it was in those days usual for marrow-bones and cleaver-men to attend at marriages. H. S. Lincoln's Inn.

THE MOLLY WASH-DISH.-I am rather anxious to introduce a little friend of mine to public notice; and, at the same time, to ascertain whether his somewhat curious habits are peculiar to himself, or common to his race?

Early in last spring, my windows were suddenly assailed by a series of very rapid and pertinacious tappings: nor was it long before we discoveredfor, indeed, he made no attempt to conceal himself-that they were the work of a certain pied wagtail, called, I believe, by the learned, Motacilla Yarrellii; and by the unlearned, at any rate in

these western parts, with utter recklessness as to gender, Molly Wash-dish.

His mode of proceeding was to pick out a certain pane, or panes of glass, in some particular window, and to fly frantically at it from a neighbouring bough; making a peck at it at every assault, and leaving a labyrinth of little sticky marks upon the glass, which seemed to be effected by the protrusion of the tongue.

Generally speaking, I fancy I have been able to perceive the cause of these visitations in certain minute gnats within the window; but sometimes, I think, the force of habit has carried him on without any such inducement.

Beginning at daylight, he maintained the war day by day throughout the summer; and when scared away from one window by the deterring influence of a book or newspaper placed against his point d'appui, he was pretty sure to be heard in a few minutes tapping away at another, perhaps on the opposite side of the house; and occasionally prosecuting his labours upon the glass front of a rain-guage on the green.

Winter came, and we heard no more of him; but now, with returning spring, here he is at work again every fine day, "from morn till dewy eve"-tap, tap, as persevering, as impudent, and, shall I say? as tiresome as ever.

I fear it may be considered somewhat condemnatory of my powers of observation; but I have not yet been able to make sure, whether our visitant is singular or plural; but, if the former, he certainly makes the best of his time, and seems to manage sometimes, like Sir Boyle Roche's celebrated bird, to be in two places at once. it possible that he can be a transmigrated spiritC. W. BINGHAM. rapper?

Is

REV. W. NICOLS.-Through the kindness of a friend, there has fallen under my notice a very interesting work, entitled "De Literis Inventis Libri Sex. Auctore Gulielmo Nicols, A.M. Londini, MDCCXI." with a frontispiece engraved by Gribelin, representing, as I suppose, the author sitting in his library. It is a Latin poem in hexameters and pentameters addressed to Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and extending over nearly three hundred pages. It is illustrated by many valuable notes, which display the varied learning and extraordinary research of the writer, and is furnished with copious indices of authors

"I had never been at Nether Avon, a village in this valley; but I had often heard this valley described as one of the finest pieces of land in all England. I knew that there were about thirty parish churches, standing in a length of about thirty miles, and in an average width of hardly a mile; and I was resolved to see a little into the reasons that could have induced our fathers to build all these churches, especially if, as the Scotch would have us

believe, there were but a mere handful of people in England until of late years."

After describing the beauties of the Valley, and showing that the land, from its great riches, is capable of maintaining a large population, which it does not now, Mr. Cobbett proceeds:

"It is manifest enough, that the population of this valley was, at one time, many times over what it is now; for,

And

in the first place, what were the twenty-nine churches built for? The population of the twenty-nine parishes is now (1823) but little more than one half of that of the single parish of Kensington; and there are several of the churches bigger than the church at Kensington. What, then, should all these churches have been built for? And besides, where did the hands come from? where did the money come from? In three instances, Fifield, Milston, and Roach-Fen (seventeen, twenty-three, and twenty-four,) the church porches will hold all the inhabitants, even down to the bedridden and babies. What, then, will any man believe that these churches were built for such little knots of people?"

Will any of the readers of "N. & Q." do me the favour to answer Mr. Cobbett's several inquiries? And in answering them, I particularly wish the causes of the twenty-nine churches being built to be stated at length; the date of the erection of each church; and desire to be informed do the local histories afford any information on

[ For some notices of the works of this learned divine, consult Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, i. 493, and Freytag, Adparatus Litterarius, 1753, ii. 1031-1037.— ED.]

the subject? Where the hands and the money came from, I am anxious to learn. FRA. MEWBURN.

EPISCOPAL SEAL.-Figure of a bishop with crosier and mitre, under canopy, his right-hand raised. Below, a smaller figure of the same, hands joined and upraised. Inscription "S. what see does this belong? Thome. dei. gracia. episcopi. manuencis." To C. J.

STORY, NORFOLK. Can any one inform the inquirer what were the arms and pedigree of the Rev. William Armine Story, who, about 1750, was rector of Barnham-Broom, vicar of Kimberley, and chaplain to Lord Wodehouse? It is supposed that the family migrated to Norfolk from some northern county. OXONIENSIS.

TAMAR, IN DEVONSHIRE.-Can any Devonshire antiquary inform me of the situation and present condition of the ancient manor house of Tamar, considerable importance in the thirteenth and fouror Uptamer, in Devon? That it was a place of teenth centuries is evident, from the fact of license to crenellate it having been granted; and though De la Pole, at p. 51 of his Hist. of Devon, says it was, in the reign of "King Edw. I., the seat of Sir Wm. Cole, Knt." (whose family was afterwards settled at Slade, in Cornwood), he does not state in what parish it was, nor give any clue as to its locality. Lysons's Devon, and the other topographical works on the county which I have consulted, afford me no assistance in my attempt to identify Tamer. J. E. C.

ZAPATA: SPAIN. Are there any records or traditions of any members of this famous family valent to the English translation of their Spanish having settled in this country under a name equiname? Do any such cases of translation of foreign names occur among English surnames?

Queries with Answers.

S. G. R.

THE PITT DIAMOND.-Can any one inform me what were the circumstances which induced King George IV. and his ministers to send to the Shah of Persia, for his acceptance, the valuable Pitt Diamond? It was like sending "coals to Newcastle," as, perhaps, there was no other potentate who possessed, previously, so large and valuable a collection of diamonds. LARAY.

[Our correspondent's authority for this notice of the Pitt diamond is probably Mr. Edward B. Eastwick, who, in his recently published work, informs us, that " Among the Shah's rings is one in which is set the famous Pitt diamond, sent by George IV. to Fath Ali Shah." (Journal of a Diplomate's Three Years' Residence in Persia.) Governor Pitt, as is well known, sold this famous diamond to the Duke of Orleans for 2,300,000 crowns (92,000l.), and we believe it still belongs to the regalia of France.

"The Regent, or Pitt diamond," says Madame de Barrera, in her interesting work, Gems and Jewels, 1860, p. 278, "pawned by Napoleon I., stolen by a band of robbers, made by Talleyrand a bait to seduce Prussia, passed unscathed through half a dozen revolutions, still pertains to France. The first Emperor wore it mounted in the hilt of his state sword; it is now (1860) set in the imperial diadem." It must be borne in mind that Governor Pitt reserved the fragments taken off in the cutting of his diamond, and which made several fine diamonds, worth several thousand pounds sterling. Probably it is one of these fragments that is set in one of the Shah's rings.]

"TONY'S ADDRESS TO MARY."-I met with the following amusing lines in MS. the other day. Can you tell me who wrote them?—

"TONES AD RESTO MARE.
"O Mare æva si formæ,

Formæ ure tonitru;
Iambicum as amandum,
Olet Hymen promptu.
Mihi is vetas anne se,
As humano erebi;
Olet mecum marito te,
Ore eta beta pi.
"Alas i fere ure rigidi,

Mi ardor vel uno,
Tollet mediis nautæ, pol!
Solet me beabo!

Ah me, ve ara scilicet!
Vi laudi vimen thus?
Hiatu as arandum sex,-

Illuc Ionicus.

FARDEL OF LAND.-The following extract, relating to "farndel of land," occurs at p. 310 of the second edition' of Atkyns's Gloucestershire; and as the term is so unusual, and I do not find it in such glossaries as I have access to, I venture to ask the contributors to "N. & Q." to inform me of its meaning:

"Edw. Lord Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was seised of the manor of Olviston, and by his attainder it came to the crown; whereupon the M. (except a messuage called a farndel of land, and the passage called Framilody, and excepting all woods) was granted to Thomas Heneage, and Catherine, his wife, for life, 23 H. VIII." J. E. C.

[The correct reading is Fardel of Land (fardella terræ), which is generally accounted the fourth part of a yard land; but according to Noy (in his Compleat Lawyer, p. 57) it is an eighth part only; for there he says that two fardels of land make a nook, and four nooks a yard land. For an explanation of these terms, see Cowel's Interpreter, and Tomlins's Law Dictionary.]

CRIBBAGE.-Can any one throw any light upon the antiquity or origin of the game of cribbage? H. L.

[Cribbage was formerly known under the name of Noddy, as we learn from an interesting paper on “Card Playing" in Chambers's Book of Days, ii. 779. “Noddy,” says the writer," was one of the old English court games, and is thus noticed by Sir John Harrington:

Now Noddy followed next, as well it might,
Although it should have gone before of right;
At which I say, I name not any body,

One never had the knave, yet laid for Noddy.'

"This has been supposed to have been a children's game, and it was certainly nothing of the kind. Its nature is thus fully described in a curious satirical poem, entitled Batt upon Batt, published in 1694:

"Show me a man can turn up Noddy still,
And deal himself three fives too, when he will;
Conclude with one-and-thirty, and a pair,
Never fail ten in Stock, and yet play fair,
If Batt be not that wight, I lose my aim.'

"From these lines, there can be no doubt that the ancient Noddy was the modern Cribbage-the Nob of to-day, rejoicing in the name of Noddy, and the modern Crib, being termed the Stock. Cribbage is, in all probability, the most popular English game at cards at the present day. It seems as if redolent of English comfort, a snug fireside, a Welsh rabbit, and a little mulled something simmering on the hob."]

BARLEY.-Maclaymore, in the 10th Scene of The Reprisal, says, in answer to O'Clabber: "Never fash your noddle about me; conscience! I'll no be the first to cry Barley."