Notes and Queries, Number 18, March 2, 1850

An autograph resembling "J. Chelmar" is on the fly-leaf. As I do not see this Memoir ascribed to Dr. Warton in any list, to which I have access, of his writings, perhaps the Memoir is not generally, or at all, known to be by him, and I therefore send the memorandum to you to be winnowed in your literary threshing-floor, by those who have better means and more leisure to ascertain its value.

    J.M.

Oxford, Feb. 5.

William Baxter.—I do not know whether William Baxter is authority for anything. When you see a word quoted from one of the languages or dialects which the moderns call Celtic, that word will very commonly be found not to exist. When at a loss, quote Celtic. If W. Baxter says (see No. 13. p. 195.) that buarth papan means the sun's ox-stall, or, in other words, that papan means the sun, I should wish to know where else such a name for that luminary, for or any thing else, may be met with? I have not found any such thing.

    A.N.

Derivation of the word "Avon."—Among the many proofs of the prevalence of the Gaelic roots in existing names at both ends of the island, it may be mentioned that there are ten rivers named Avon in Britain, and Avon is simply the Gaelic word for a river.

    J.U.G. Gutch.

Warton and Heinsius.—A late critic thinks he has discovered that Mr. Thomas Warton, a contemporary of Mr. Wise, and fellow of the same college, an antiquary and scholar of whom England may be proud, knew little of Latin, and less of Greek, because, forsooth, he did not notice Milton's false quantities, which Heinsius did! As well might it be argued, that the critic is an immoral man, because he did not notice the delinquencies of Heinsius in a moral point of view; the said Heinsius being obliged to resign his secretaryship to the city of Amsterdam in consequence of a prosecution by a young woman for breach of promise of marriage, under the faith of which she had lived with him, and borne him two children. The sentence of misdaadigheyd was pronounced against him, and confirmed, on appeal, by the supreme court of Holland, in 1662. So much for the unpatriotic puff of the learned foreigner, to the disparagement of one of the greatest ornaments of English literature. As one "note" naturally produces another, I hope your sense of justice, Mr. Editor, will admit this, in order to counter-balance the effect of the former one; appearing, as it did, in a periodical of considerable circulation, which, I am glad to hear, is soon to be very much improved.

    J.I.

Queen's Bagnio (No. 13. p. 196.).—The Queen's Bagnio in Long Acre was on the south side, nearly opposite to the door of Long Acre Chapel. The Duke's bath I have always heard was in Old Belton Street, now Endell Street; the fourth house from Castle Street on the west side. It has been new fronted not long since; but at the time that I frequented the baths there—the exterior had pilasters, and a handsome cornice in the style of Inigo Jones,—all being built in dark red brick. Within there was a large plunging bath, paved and lined with marble, the walls being covered by small tiles of blue and white, in the Dutch fashion. The supply of water was from a well on the premises.

There were several apartments for warm-bathing, having the baths and pavements of marble, and to several of these were attached dressing-rooms.

The house is now, I believe, occupied by a carpenter; but the baths remained, though in a dilapidated condition, a short-time since, and probably are there still.

    T.W.

A Flemish Account.—In illustration of a query in your first number on the origin of the expression "a Flemish Account," unless you think it too late for insertion, I send the following extract from an old volume in the Cathedral Library at Salisbury. It is entitled, "The Accurate Accomptant or London Merchant, &c.; by Thomas Brown, Accomptant: composed for the Use and Benefit of the poor Blew-Coat children educated in Christ's Hospital, &c. London, printed by William Godbid, sen. 1669. fol."

The book consists almost entirely of examples of the best methods of keeping accounts, from which I select the following instance:

"London, August 10th, 1668.

"To Roger Pace, Factor, &c., for 10 Pieces cont. 746 Ells Fl. at 10 S. Flem. per Ell. is 373 l. Flem. Exchange at 35 S makes Sterling Money 213 l. 2s. 10 d."

The above extract strongly confirms the explanations of the expressions given by your correspondents "Q.Q." and "Mr. Bolton Corney," in No. 5. p. 74., as it proves both the necessity and early practice of accurately distinguishing in commercial dealings between English and Flemish methods of reckoning.

    E.A.D.

[The following is a curious illustration of the use of the phrase.

"A person resident in London is said to have had most of Caxton's publications. He sent them to Amsterdam for inspection, and, on writing for them, was informed that they had been destroyed by accident. 'I am very much afraid,' says Herbert, 'my kind friend received but a Flemish account of his Caxtons.'"—Typ. Antiq., p. 1773.]

La Mer des Histoires.—I find I have a note on that handsome old French work, La Mer des Histoires, which is commonly attributed to Johannes de Columna, Archbishop of Messina; but upon which Francis Douce, while taking notice of its being a translation of the Rudimentum Noviciorum ascribed to Mochartus, observes that it is a different work from the Mare Historiarum of Johannes de Columna. Douce also informs us, that there were several works passing under this title. Columna is mentioned by Genebrard as the author of a book, Cujus titulus est Mater Historiarum. Query? What is known of the work, which is really Columna's?

    John Sansom.

On Passages in Milton

"And every shepherd tells his tale
Under the hawthorn in the dale."

    Milton's L'Allegro.
I used to suppose the tale told was a love tale. Now I take it to mean that each shepherd tells the tale, that is, counts the number of his sheep. Is there any doubt on this point?

Milton (Paradise Lost, b. v.), speaks of "silent night with this her solemn bird;" that is, the nightingale. Most readers take "solemn" to mean "pensive;" but I cannot doubt that Milton (who carries Latinism to excess) used it to express habitual, customary, familiar, as in its Latin form sollemnis.

    B.H.K.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

The lovers of accurate and painstaking topography, the students of genealogical history, and, though last not least, those who like to see the writings of Shakspeare, illustrated in a congenial spirit, will read with pleasure the announcement, in our advertising columns, that the fellow-townsmen of Joseph Hunter, the Historian of "Hallamshire" and "The Deanery of Doncaster," and the Illustrator of the Life and Writings of Shakspeare, have opened a Subscription for the purpose of placing a full-length portrait of that gentleman in the Cutlers' Hall, Sheffield.

When we announced Mr. Archer's projected work, entitled Vestiges of Old London, a Series of finished Etchings from Original Drawings, with Descriptions, Historical Associations, and other References, we spoke of it as one likely, we thought, to prove of especial interest. The appearance of the first Number justifies to the fullest our anticipation. The pictorial representations are replete with variety, and the literary illustrations full of a pleasant gossipping anecdotical character. The first plate shows us The Old Bulk Shop at Temple Bar, occupied by successive generations of fishmongers, and doubtless well remembered by most of our readers; although no trace of it any longer exists. The House of John Dryden, in Fetter Lane, so designated on the authority of the late Mr. Upcott, forms the second plate; and is followed by The Altar of Diana, discovered in Foster Lane, Cheapside, in December, 1830. The Drapers' Almshouses, Crutched Friars, is the next illustration, which again is contrasted by a plate of Roman Vestiges, full of interest to those who like to investigate the Roman occupation of our metropolis; and this first part concludes with a view of The Old Chapel of St. Bartholomew, Kingsland. The work is executed in a style to delight London antiquaries, and charm those who delight to illustrate Pennant.

The approaching Exhibition of Works of Ancient and Mediæval Art at the rooms of the Society of Arts in the Adelphi, promises to be one of the most interesting displays of the kind ever exhibited in this or any other city. The possessors of objects of beauty and rarity have vied with each other in placing at the disposal of the Committee their choicest specimens; and the inhabitants and visitors of the metropolis will shortly have an opportunity of judging how numerous are the relics of "barbaric pomp and gold" which are still left to us, and how much of beauty of design, and "skill in workmanship" were displayed by the "hard-handed" men of the good old times, to justify the enthusiasm of the antiquary, and gratify the man of taste.

We have received, but at a moment too late to notice as it deserves, the Catalogue of very choice Books, and Books printed on vellum, the property of the late Mr. Rodd, which are to be sold by Messrs. Sotheby, at their rooms in Wellington Street, on Monday next. As a specimen, perhaps the most remarkable of this collection, we may point out the set of the Works of Thomas Aquinas, in 17 folio volumes, bound in 21, and which is well described as

"A magnificent set of Books, presenting one of the finest specimens, and at the same time the most extensive work, ever printed upon vellum. This copy was presented by Pope Pius V. to Philip II., king of Spain, and was deposited in the library of the Escurial, whence it was taken during the occupation of Spain by Bonaparte. The only other copy known is in the National Library, Paris. It is the best edition of this author's works."

We have received the following Catalogues:

"John Petheram's Catalogue of Old and New Books on Sale for Cash only at 94. High Holborn. Part CVIII. No. 2. for 1850."

a Catalogue containing some excellent books, which reached us last week, and was omitted from our last list by accident.

"Catalogue of Miscellaneous English and Foreign Books in all Classes of Literature, selected from the Stock of Nattali and Bond, 23. Bedford Street, Covent Garden."

"Bibliotheca Salisburiensis. A Catalogue of Old and New Books on sale by J. Hearn, corner of the Poultry Cross, Salisbury."

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE

(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)

Life of Colonel Birch.

Odd Volumes

Goldsmith's Miscellaneous Works. (Cairn's Edition.) 12mo. Edinburgh. 1804. Vol. III.

British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. Family Library. 1830. Vol. IV.

Orbis Phaeton, sive de Universis Vitus Linguæ. Pars prima, A to K. Mons. 1629.

Political Magazine for 1780. Vol. IX. for 1785. Vol. XII. for 1787.

Hudibras. 18mo. 1716. Vol. I.