Notes and Queries, Number 181, April 16, 1853

Subterranean Bells (Vol. vii., pp. 128. 200. 328.).—In a most interesting paper by the Rev. W. Thornber, A.B., Blackpool, published in the Proceedings of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1851-2, there is mention of a similar tradition to that quoted by your correspondent J. J. S.

Speaking of the cemetery of Kilgrimol, two miles on the south shore from Blackpool, the learned gentleman says:

"The ditch and cross have disappeared, either obliterated by the sand, or overwhelmed by the inroads of the sea; but, with tradition, the locality is a favourite still. The superstitio loci marks the site: 'The church,' it says, 'was swallowed up by an earthquake, together with the Jean la Cairne of Stonyhill; but on Christmas eve every one, since that time, on bending his ear to the ground, may distinguish clearly its bells pealing most merrily.'"

    Broctuna.

Bury, Lancashire.

Spontaneous Combustion (Vol. vii., p. 286.).—I presume H. A. B.'s question refers to the human body only, because the possibility of spontaneous combustion in several other substances is, I believe, not disputed. On that of the human body Taylor says:

"The hypothesis of those who advocate spontaneous combustion, is, it appears to me, perfectly untenable. So far as I have been able to examine this subject, there is not a single well-authenticated instance of such an event occurring: in the cases reported which are worthy of any credit, a candle or some other ignited body has been at hand, and the accidental ignition of the clothes was highly probable, if not absolutely certain."

He admits that, under certain circumstances, the human body, though in general "highly difficult of combustion," may acquire increased combustible properties. But this is another question from that of the possibility of its purely spontaneous combustion. (See Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence, pages 424-7. edit. 1846.)

    W. W. T.

Muffs worn by Gentlemen (Vol. vi., passim; Vol. vii., p. 320.).—The writer of a series of papers in the New Monthly Magazine, entitled "Parr in his later Years," thus (vol. xvi. p. 482.) describes the appearance of that learned Theban:

"He had on his dressing-gown, which I think was flannel, or cotton, and the skirts dangled round his ankles. Over this he had drawn his great-coat, buttoned close; and his hands, for he had been attacked with erysipelas not long before, were kept warm in a silk muff, not much larger than the poll of a common hat."

In an anonymous poetical pamphlet (Thoughts in Verse concerning Feasting and Dancing, 12mo. London, 1800), is a little poem, entitled "The Muff," in the course of which the following lines occur:

"A time there was (that time is now no more,
At least in England 'tis not now observ'd!)
When muffs were worn by beaux as well as belles.
Scarce has a century of time elaps'd,
Since such an article was much in vogue;
Which, when it was not on the arm sustain'd,
Hung, pendant by a silken ribbon loop
From button of the coat of well-dress'd beau.
'Tis well for manhood that the use has ceased!
For what to woman might be well allow'd,
As suited to the softness of her sex,
Would seem effeminate and wrong in man."

    William Bates.
Birmingham.

Crescent (Vol. vii., p. 235.).—In Judges, ch. viii. ver. 21., Gideon is recorded to have taken away from Zeba and Zalmunna, kings of Midian, "the ornaments that were on their camels' necks." The marginal translation has "ornaments like the moon;" and in verse 24. it is stated that the Midianites were Ishmaelites. If, therefore, it be borne in mind that Mohammed was an Arabian, and that the Arabians were Ishmaelites, we may perhaps be allowed to infer that the origin of the use of the crescent was not as a symbol of Mohammed's religion, but that it was adopted by his countrymen and followers from their ancestors, and may be referred to at least as far back as 1249 B.C., when Zeba and Zalmunna were slain, and when it seems to have been the customary ornament of the Ishmaelites.

    W. W. T.

The Author of "The Family Journal" (Vol. vii., p. 313.).—The author of the very clever series of papers in the New Monthly Magazine, to which Mr. Bede refers, is Mr. Leigh Hunt. The particular one in which Swift's Latin-English is quoted, has been republished in a charming little volume, full of original thinking, expressed with the felicity of genius, called Table Talk, and published in 1851 by Messrs. Smith and Elder, of Cornhill.

    G. J. De Wilde.

Parochial Libraries (Vol. vi., p. 432. &c.).—I fear that there is little doubt that these collections of books have very often been unfairly dispersed. It is by no means uncommon, in looking over the stock of an old divinity bookseller, to meet with works with the names of parochial libraries written in them. I have met with many such: they appear chiefly to have consisted of the works of the Fathers, and of our seventeenth century divines. As a case in point, I recollect, about ten years since, being at a sale at the rectory of Reepham, Norfolk, consequent upon the death of the rector, and noticing several works with the inscription "Reepham Church Library" written inside: these were sold indiscriminately with the rector's books. At this distance of time I cannot recollect the titles of many of the works; but I perfectly remember a copy of Sir H. Savile's edition of Chrysostom, 8 vols. folio; Constantini Lexicon, folio; and some pieces of Bishop Andrewes. These were probably intended for the use of the rector, as in the case reported by your correspondent Cheverells (Vol. vii., p. 369.).

I may also mention having seen a small parochial library of old divinity kept in the room over the porch in the church of Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, Berks. With the history and purpose of this collection I am unacquainted.

    Norris Deck.

Great Malvern.

Sidney as a Christian Name (Vol. vii., pp. 39. 318.).—Lady Morgan the authoress was, before her marriage, Miss Sidney Owenson. See Chambers' Encyclop. of Eng. Lit., ii. 580.

    P. J. F. Gantillon, B.A.

"Rather" (Vol. vii., p. 282.).—The root of the word rather is Celtic, in which language raith means "inclination," "on account of," "for the sake of," &c. Thus, in the line quoted from Chaucer,

"What aileth you so rathè for to arise,"

it clearly signifies "what aileth you that you so incline to arise," and so on, in the various uses to which the comparative of the word is put: as, I had rather do so and so, i. e. "I feel more inclined;" I am rather tired, i. e. "I am fatigued on account of the walk," &c. I am glad that you are come, the rather that I have work for you to do, i. e. "more on account of the work which I have for you to do, or for the sake of the work," &c. Any obscurity that is attached to the use of the word, has arisen from the abuse of it, or rather from its right signification being not properly understood.

    Fras. Crossley.

Lady High Sheriff (Vol. vii., pp. 236. 340.).—Another instance may be seen in Foss's Judges of England, vol. ii. p. 51.—In speaking of Reginald de Cornhill, who held the Sheriffalty of Kent from 5 Richard I. to 5 Henry III., he says:

"His seat at Minster, in the Isle of Thanet, acquired the name of 'Sheriff's Court,' which it still retains; and he himself, discontinuing his own name, was styled Reginald le Viscount, even his widow being designated Vicecomitessa Cantii."

    D. S.

Nugget (Vol. vi., p. 171.; Vol. vii., pp. 143. 272.).—Nugget may be derived from the Persian, but it is also used in Scotland, and means a lump,—a nugget of sugar, for instance. And as Scotchmen are to be found everywhere, its importation into Australia and California is easily accounted for.

    R. S. N.

Epigrams (Vol. vii., p. 180.).—I beg to confirm the statement of Scrapiana as to the reading John instead of Thomas in the line

"'Twixt Footman John and Dr. Toe."

It may not be generally known that this epigram came from the pen of Reginald Heber, late Bishop of Calcutta, who was then a commoner of Brazenoze College, and who wrote that extremely clever satire called The Whippiad of which the same Dr. Toe (the Rev. Henry Halliwell, Dean and Tutor) was the hero. The Whippiad was printed for the first time a few years ago, in Blackwood's Magazine.

I fancy the other facetious epigram given by Scrapiana has no connexion with this, but was merely inserted on the same page as being "similis materiæ."

    B. N. C.

Editions of the Prayer-Book (Vol. vii., p. 91.).—The following small addition is offered to Mr. Sparrow Simpson's list:

    H. Cotton.

Thurles.

Portrait of Pope (Vol. vii., p. 294.).—Dr. Falconer's portrait of Pope could not have been painted by Joseph Wright of Derby, as that celebrated artist was only fourteen when Pope died; consequently, the anecdote told of the painter, and of his meeting the poet at dinner, must apply to the artist named by Dr. Falconer, and of course correctly, Edward Wright.

    S. D. D.

Passage in Coleridge (Vol. vii., p. 330.).—The paper referred to by Coleridge will be found in the Transactions of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, vol. iii. p. 463. It is the "Description of a Glory," witnessed by Dr. Haygarth on Feb. 13th, 1780, when "returning to Chester, and ascending the mountain which forms the eastern boundary of the Vale of Clwyd." As your correspondent asks for a copy of the description, the volume being scarce, I will give the following extract: