Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851

"And what if they did?"—Query.

In what possible way can the circumstance of the ladies wearing masks lessen the inconsistency pointed out by Steevens?

Rosaline has been immediately singled out by her former admirer—

"Did I not dance with you in Brabant once?"

—a circumstance quite inconsistent with uncertain identity afterwards.

But if the gentlemen really did mistake the identity of their ladies, Boyet's answers must have misled them into a similar mistake in their names: so that the natural consequence would have been, that each lover would afterwards address his poetical effusion nominally to the wrong lady! which does not appear to have been the case.

Therefore, even if the masking be admitted, it can in no way lessen the inconsistency of the cross questions, which to me appears to have arisen from a most palpable instance of clerical or typographical transposition.

Steevens was on the right scent, although he rejected it in the same breath, when he said,—

"No advantage would be gained by an exchange of names, because the last speech is determined to Biron by Maria, who gives a character of him after he has made his exit."

This is a good reason against a transposition in the male names, but it is none whatever against the same occurrence in the ladies' names; and consequently it is there that the true solution of the difficulty must be sought.

If we admit that a substitution may have occurred, of "Rosaline" for "Katharine," in Boyet's answer to Dumain, and vice versâ in his answer to Biron, all difficulty disappears at once.

The completeness with which the idea of transposition not only accounts for the existence of the error, but at the same time suggests the manner in which it may be corrected, ought of itself to secure its reception, even if it were not corroborated in a very singular way by the following collateral circumstance.

It may be observed that Boyet points out two of the ladies, not only by name, but also by styling them "heirs;" one of Falconbridge, the other of Alençon. Now in their previous descriptions of their respective lovers, one of the ladies (Maria) says she had met Longaville at a marriage of a "Falconbridge;" another lady (Katharine) says she had met Dumain at "Duke Alençon's." When, therefore, we find that Boyet, in reply to Longaville's question, designates Maria as "heir of Falconbridge," it is in direct analogy that he should, in answer to Dumain's question, designate Katharine as "heir of Alençon;" but, in consequence of the transposition of names, Boyet appears, as the text now stands, to confer that designation, not upon Katharine, but upon Rosaline, whom Biron had met at Brabant!

There can be no doubt, therefore, that the names of Katharine and Rosaline have been transposed contrary to the author's intention, and the only wonder is—not that such a very commonplace error should have been committed—but that it should have been suffered to remain through so many editions up to the present time.

    A. G. B.

Leeds, Feb. 10. 1851.

NOTES ON NEWSPAPERS

I send you the following, as a help to "Materials for a satisfactory History of Newspapers," alluded to in the last volume of "Notes and Queries," p. 375.

I have in my possession some old newspapers, ranging from 1691 to 1694, entitled A Collection for Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, edited by John Houghton, F.R.S., St. Bartholomew Lane, behind the Royal Exchange, London. The size is a small folio, published weekly, generally every Friday. It was carried on for some time merely as a single leaf, with no advertisements. In this form, the editor says—

"These papers are 2d. each here, and anybody may have them by the post. But where that is thought too much, it may be eased by ten or twelve obliging themselves constantly to take them from a bookseller, coffee-man, or some other, who may afford to pay a carrier, and sell them there for 2d., or at most 3d.; or carriers themselves may gain well, if they'll serve the country gentlemen. And any such bookseller, coffee-man, or carrier, that will apply themselves to me, shall have good encouragement, with liberty to return those that won't sell."

Ultimately the editor determined on admitting advertisements. He then doubled the size of his paper, making it two leaves instead of one. In reference to this increased size he says,—

"My collection I shall carry on as usual. This part is to give away; and those who like it not, may omit the reading. I believe it will help on trade, particularly encourage the advertisers to increase the vent of my papers. I shall receive all sorts of advertisements, but shall answer for the reasonableness of none; unless I give thereof a particular character, on which (as I shall give it) may be dependence, but no argument that others deserve not as well."

"I am inform'd that great numbers of gazettes are each time printed, which makes them the most universal intelligencers; but I'll suppose mine their first handmaid, because it goes (tho' not so thick, yet) to most parts. It's also lasting, to be put into volumes with indexes; and particularly there shall be an index of all the advertisements, whereby, for ages to come, they may be useful. I have publish'd on the subject of Husbandry and Trade, two quarto volumes, three folio volumes, with the great sheet of taxes, acres, houses, &c.; and am weekly carrying on this paper, which may be brought to anybodies house within the Bills of Mortality, or penny post, for one penny the week; and anywhere else in England (where enough will encourage a bookseller or carrier). The volumes may be had from most booksellers of England, Scotland, or Ireland."

The Collection, which the editor will carry on as usual, refers to the single sheet. The Gazette must have been the London Gazette. In what sort of way the editor could suppose that advertisements could be useful for ages to come, we, in this age of enlightenment and knowledge, are at a loss to conceive. The great sheet of taxes, acres, houses, &c., I have, and may give you an account of its contents at some future time. The first page of the paper was always devoted to a letter from the editor's own pen on husbandry, trade, chemistry, domestic cookery, and a variety of other topics. The editor appears to have been a spirited man, who collected with great care and diligence a great variety of facts whereby to interest his readers. The advertisements are very curious, specimens of which I will give you in another communication. Each paper contains the weekly prices of wheat, rye, barley, malt, oats, horse beans, peas, coals, hops, hay, tallow, and wool, in all the counties of England and Wales; the prices of provisions in London; also a weekly statement of wind and weather; the number of deaths, and their causes; the number of christenings and burials, specifying how many of each sex. The editor often concludes a column of information by stating, "this is all I see useful to posterity." He not only appears to have been a man of an active mind, but also a very kind man; for he says to those who advertise in his paper for situations, &c., that "if they apply themselves to me, I'll strive to help them." He appears also to have kept a shop, or at least to have traded in certain articles: for in one of his papers is this advertisement:—

"In my first volume of 1682, I publish'd my own selling of chocolate, and have sold in small quantities ever since: I have now two sorts, both made of the best nuts, without spice or perfume; the one 5s., and the other 6s. the pound; and I'll answer for their goodness. If I shall think fit to sell any other sorts, I'll give notice.

    John Houghton."

By this advertisement we get at the date when the paper was first published.

    H. M. Bealby.

North Brixton.

MR. GOUGH'S TRANSLATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE

The original work is thus described by Brunet, in his Manuel, Paris, 1842, vol. ii. p. 583.:

"Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament (par Dav. Martin), enrichie de plus de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol. gr. in fol."

This work is usually called Bible de Mortier. It is not a difficult book to be met with, but the price varies considerably according to the state of the plates.

    H. F.

Mr. Gough's Translation of the History of the Bible (Vol. iii., p. 100.).—A friend has furnished me with the following extract from the Manuel du Libraire of M. J. C. Brunet in reply to my inquiry who was the author of the original history. It is taken from tom. i. p. 544.

"Histoire du V. et du N. Testament (par Dav. Martin), enrichie de plus de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp.), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol. gr. in fol."

M. Brunet informs us that copies of these volumes are valued by the state of the plates; one of which, in the Apocalypse, having been broken, was mended with nails, which marked the impression, and gave the distinction of copies before or with the nails.

As there can be no doubt but that most booksellers take in your useful publication, one of them may be induced to inform the undersigned if he has a copy for sale, and the price.

    J. M. Gutch.

Worcester.

Minor Notes

Origin of Harlequins.—In a note to his translation of Priscus' "History of the Embassy sent to Attila by Theodosius the Younger" (Hist. Civiliz. app. iii. vol. ii. p. 430., Bogue's edit. European Library), M. Guizot remarks, alluding to the appearance of Zercho, a Moor, at Attila's feast:

"Is it not singular to find an harlequin at the court of Attila? Yet such is the origin of these buffoons. The colour of the black slaves, the strangeness of their face and manners, caused them to be sought after as excellent ministers of mirth; to complete the singularity, Zercho asks his wife at the hands of Attila, closely paralleling Harlequin demanding Columbine."

Is this account of the origin of Harlequins generally acquiesced in? I should be obliged by any early notice of the character of Harlequin, and his introduction on the English or any foreign stage.

    E. L. N.

Monosyllables.—Among the many correspondents who have sent you specimens of monosyllabic poetry, I have seen no one who has quoted this very singular passage from Phineas Fletcher's Purple Island. It is far more striking than anything you have yet inserted on this subject.

Canto I. Stanza 7.
"New light new love, new love new life hath bred;
A life that lives by love, and loves by light;
A love to Him to whom all loves are wed;
A light to whom the sun is darkest night:
Eye's light, heart's love, soul's only life He is;
Life, soul, love, heart, light, eye, and all are His;