Notes and Queries, Number 05, December 1, 1849

We are enabled, by the courtesy of several correspondents, to furnish some reply to the Query of D. (No. 1 p. 7)

The Times first appeared under that title on the 1st January, 1788, but bore the Number 941, it being a continuation, under a new name, of the Universal Register, of which 940 numbers had been published.–The Morning Chronicle must have commenced in 1769, as a correspondent, F.B., writes to tell us that he possesses No. 242. dated Monday, 12th March, 1770. See further Nichol's Literary Anecdotes, i. 303; and for Morning Advertiser, established in 1794, the same volume, p.290. Another correspondent writes:–During 1849 the Morning Chronicle has completed its 81st year; next in seniority stands the Morning Post, at 77; and the Morning Herald, at 65. The Times in the numbering of its days, is in its 64th year, but has not really reached its grand climacteric, for its three years of infancy passed under the name of The Universal Register, it having only received its present appellation in the opening of 1788. The Morning Advertiser is wearing away its 54th year.

The Public Ledger, commenced in 1759, or 1760, is however, the oldest Daily Paper.

Dorne the Bookseller–Henno Rusticus, etc.

Sir,–In answer to W. in page 12. of No. 1, I beg to suggest that Dormer, written Dõmr in the MS.–a common abbreviation–may be the name of the Oxford bookseller, and Henno Rusticus may be Homo rusticus, "the country gentleman." The hand-writing of this MS. is so small and illegible in some places, that it requires an Oedipus to decipher it; and the public will have much reason to thank those lynx-eyed antiquaries who have taken great pains to render it intelligible. "The Sige of the End," is of course properly explained to be "the Signe of the End."

    J.I.

SANUTO'S DOGES OF VENICE

Sir,–The high value of your Journal as a repertory of interesting literary information, which without it might be lost to the world, is becoming daily more apparent from the number and character of your correspondents. You have my best wishes for its success.

The communication of Sir FREDERICK MADDEN respecting the singular and obvious error in Marin Sanuto's Lives of the Doges of Venice, has renewed in me a desire for information which I have hitherto been unable to obtain; and I will, therefore, with your permission, put it here as a Query.

Who was the foreigner who gave to the world the very interesting book respecting Sanuto under the following title?–Ragguagli sulla Vita e sulle Opere di Marin Sanuto, etc. Intitolati dall' amicizia di uno Straniere al nobile Jacopo Vicenzo Foscarini.–Opera divise in trè perti, Venezia, 1837-8. in 8vo.

The able writer has noticed that the very mutilated and incorrect manner in which Muratori has printed all that he has given of Sanuto, and especially Le Vite de' Dogi, of which the original copy still remains inedited in the Estensian Library at Modena. There can be no doubt that some ignorant or indolent transcriber made the mistake of iudeo for richo, so satisfactorily and happily elucidated by SIR FREDERICK MADDEN. How much it is to be regretted that the Diary of Sanuto, so remarkable for it simplicity and ingenuous truthful air, should still remain inedited. It relates to an epoch among the most interesting of Modern History, and the extracts given in the Ragguagli only make us wish for more.

From this Diary it appears that the Valori were among the most distinguished citizens of a state which could boast that its merchants were princes. The palace they inhabited is no known by the name of the Altoviti, its more recent owners, and many of the tombs of the Valori are to be found in the church of St. Proculus. Macchiavelli mentions Bartolomeo Valori among the Cittadini d' autorita, and, according to Nardi, he was Gonfaloniere in the first two months of the years 1402, 1408, and 1420. He was also one of the Platonic Academy that Ficino assembled around him. In this Diary of Sanuto will be found many minute and interesting details respecting Savonarola, and the relation of the tragical death of Francisco Valor, who had also been several times Gontaloniere, and whom Savonarola, in his confession, said it was his intention to have made perpetual Dictator.

I would have given a specimen of this very interesting diary, but that I scrupled to occupy space which your correspondents enable you to fill so effectively, for I fully subscribe to the dictum of the Ragguagliatore, "Il Sanuto si presenta come la Scott degli Storiei, compincendosi come Sir Walter delle giostre, delle feste, e delle narrazioni piacevole e di dolce pietà.

    S.W.S.

Mickleham, Nov. 23, 1849.

MSS. OF ROGER TWYSDEN

Sir,–An answer to the following "Query" would be most interesting to myself, and, perhaps, not altogether without its value to the literary world.

Among Sir Roger Twysden's MSS. I have a letter from him to his son at Oxford, requesting his intercession with the University for the loan of the MS. of Walter Mapes "de nugis curialium," in order that he might prepare it for publication. He instances the liberality of the Archbishop of Canterbury in having lent him from Lambeth the Epistles of Amselm and Becket; and adds, that, by being permitted to retain these MSS. in his hands for some years, he had now prepared them for the press.

I cannot learn that they were ever printed, and among the voluminous MS. remains of Sir Roger now in my hands, I cannot find the smallest trace of them. Can any one your readers inform me what became of this collection, which, by Sir Roger's statement, was finished and completely ready for the press?

To this "Query" I may as well add a "Note," which may be interesting to some of your readers.

In Sir Roger's MS. Journal of his persecutions by the Parliament, he states:

"It is sayd King Charles subscribed the byll for taking away the votes of Bishops, in y't very house where Christian religion was first preached,–viz. St. Augustines by Canterbury."

    LAMBERT B. LARKING.

Ryarsh Vicarage, Nov. 17.

MINOR QUERIES

Honnore Pelle.

Who was "Honnore Pell, 1684"? My reason for asking this is, I have a marble bust of Charles II. of colossal size, most splendidly sculptured, with the long curling hair and full court dress of the period, and the execution and workmanship of which would do honour to any sculptor of the past or present time. On the stump of the arm are the name and date which I have given above, and I have in vain looked into biographical works.

    W.L.

Bust of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Is there an authentic bust of Sir Walter Raleigh in existence? and if so, where is it to be found?

    J.B.

Motto of University of Cambridge.

From what author, "chapter and verse," comes the motto of the University of Cambridge, HINC LUCEM ET POCULA SAGRA? It is used as a quotation in Leighton on St. Peter's Epistle, but in the last edition the learned editor does not give a reference.

    J.J.S.

Family of Giles of Worcestershire.

Can you tell me any thing of a family named "Giles," whose crest was a horse's head? They were connected with Worcestershire.

    *

Passage from an Old Play.

Can any of your many readers oblige me by informing me where the following very striking passage can be found? I have seen the lines quoted as from an "Old Play;" but a tolerable extensive knowledge of old plays, and a diligent search, have not hitherto enabled me to find them:–

"Call you the city gay, its revels joyous?
They may be so to you, for you are young,
Belike and happy. She was young in years,
But often in mid-spring will blighting winds
Do autumn's work; and there is grief at heart
Can do the work of years, can pale the cheek,
And cloud the brow, and sober down the spirit.
This gewgaw scene hath fewer charms for her
Than for the crone, that numbering sixty winters,
Pronounceth it all folly.–Marvel not
'Tis left thus willingly."

    C.A.H.
Athenæum Club, Nov. 17, 1849.

Dalton's Doubting's Downfall.

About thirty years ago the following appeared in Lackington and Co.'s book catalogue: "Dalton (Edward) Doubting's Downfall, 1s. 6d." Application was made, when other books were ordered, three several times; in each case the answer was "sold." Since that date inquiries have been instituted from time to time, in the usual quarters, but always unsuccessfully. No clue can be given as to the size or date, but from the quaintness of the title it is presumed to be about the period of the Commonwealth.

Should any of your readers procure this work, the liberal price of 20s. if a book, or 10s. if a pamphlet, will be paid for it through your medium, by

    G.