Notes and Queries, Number 14, February 2, 1850

Bestrides the wintry flood, in which the moon
Sees her unwrinkled face reflected bright,)
He comes, the herald of a noisy world," &c.

In modern editions, I believe universally, we find the following corruption of the passage:—

"Hark! 'tis the twanging horn o'er yonder bridge,
That with," &c.

closing with a colon or period at "bright," and beginning a new sentence with "He comes;" and thus making the poet use the vulgar colloquialism "'tis the horn over the bridge," instead of the remark, that the postman is coming over it.

    W.P.P.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

All who have placed on their shelves—and who that desires to know thoroughly the history of this country during the period which it illustrates has not done so—the last edition of The Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, so ably edited by Lord Braybrooke, have felt the want of a corresponding edition of Evelyn's Diary. To meet this want, Mr. Coulburn has announced a new edition of it, "rendered as complete as possible by a careful revision," and accompanied by illustrative notes, to be completed in four monthly volumes.

Mr. Parker, of Oxford, has just issued a new edition of The History of the Church of England, by J.B.S. Carwithen, B.D. This work was very highly spoken of, at the time of its first appearance, for fidelity of narrative, accuracy of judgement, and soundness of principle; and its author was pronounced, by one well qualified to give an opinion, "a well-read historian, a sound divine, a charitable Christian." As the original edition, in three volumes, has long been out of print, we think Mr. Parker has shown great judgment in bringing it out, in a cheaper form, for the use of students in divinity; and we do not doubt but that he will find a ready sale for the two closely but clearly and handsomely printed volumes, in which this History of the Church of England is now completed.

Those of our readers who take an interest in the writings of our early dramatists will be glad to learn that the Rev. Alexander Dyce has at length completed, in three volumes, his long-looked-for edition of The Dramatic Works of Kit Marlowe.

Such of our clerical friends as have in their churches a peal of bells which, at the will of the ringers,

"Speak the loud language of a mighty knell,"

and who must, therefore, sometimes be painfully convinced of the ill practices which occasionally grow up in the belfry, will thank us for calling their attention to the Practical Remarks on Belfries and Ringers, lately published, by the Rev. H.T. Ellacombe, in which they will find some useful hints for the correction of such abuses.

We have received the following Catalogues:—

D. Nutt (270. Strand), Select Catalogue of Classical and Philological Works.

Williams and Norgate (14. Henrietta Street, Covent Garden), Verzeichniss der Bücher, Landkarten etc welche vom Juli bis zum December neu erschienen oder neu aufgelegt worden sind. (Catalogue of Books, Maps, &c. published in German between July and December 1849.)

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE

(In continuation of Lists in Former Nos.)

Odd Volumes

ARCHÆOLOGIA. Vol. III. (A liberal price will be given for sheet C, pp. 9-16.)

TODD'S JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY. 4to. 1819-20. Last Part, SU to Z, with the Titles, preface, &c.

BARBAULD'S BRITISH NOVELIST. ZELUCO, Vol. II.; and FEMALE QUIXOTE, Vol. II.

TATLER (LINTOT'S Edition.) London, 1743. All the Volumes after the Second.

Spectator. (Whittaker's Edition.) London, 1827. With Portraits. Vol. II.

Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS

FOLK LORE. We have received several letters, begging us to open our columns to the reception of articles and notes on our fast-fading FOLK LORE, and reminding us what good service The Athenæum did when it consented to receive communications of that interesting subject. We acknowledge with gratitude—for the point is one very interesting to us—the readiness with which The Athenæum listened to the suggestions of a Correspondent, and what benefits resulted to that interesting branch of Archæological study, when that influential journal consented to devote a portion of its valuable space to the reception of such notices. We at once, therefore, accede to the suggestions of our Correspondent; and, following the example of our widely circulated contemporary, take this opportunity of assuring our now numerous readers that any contributions illustrative of The Folk Lore of England, the Manners, Customs, Observances, Superstitions, Ballads, Proverbs, &c. of the Olden Time, will always find welcome admission to our pages. We think, too, we may venture to promise that such communications shall be illustrated, when they admit of it, from the writings of the continental antiquaries.

J.D.A. is informed that we purpose so arranging "NOTES AND QUERIES" as to form two volumes in the course of the year; each volume to be accompanied by a VERY COPIOUS INDEX.

EMDEE will see that we have at once so far availed ourselves of his suggestion as to make REPLIES a distinct department of our paper. The other change he suggests requires consideration; which it shall certainly have.

We are unavoidably compelled to postpone until our next Number, Mr. Hickson's further communication on Marlowe and the Old Taming of a Shrew.

T.S.N. will find much curious information on the subject of his inquiry in some of the later volumes of The Gentleman's Magazine; and we will take an early opportunity of furnishing him with information upon the point.

We are compelled, by want of space, to omit our usual acknowledgment of COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.

We are again compelled to omit many Notes, Queries, and Answers to Queries which are in type, as well as Answers to Correspondents.

Uniform with "HALLAM'S LITERATURE OF EUROPE."

Now ready, 3 vols. 8vo. 42s.

A HISTORY of SPANISH LITERATURE. With Criticism on particular Works, and Biographical Notices of Prominent Writers. By GEORGE TICKNOR, Esq.

JOHN MURRAY, Albemarle Street.

NEW WORK BY LORD LINDSAY.

This day is published, 3 vols. 8vo. 42s.

LIVES OF THE LINDSAYS; or, a Memoir of the HOUSES OF CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES. By LORD LINDSAY.

Also, by the same Author, 3 vols. 8vo. 31s. 6d.

SKETCHES of the HISTORY of CHRISTIAN ART.

JOHN MURRAY, Albemarle Street.

CHEAP BOOKS.—A Select List of Second-Hand Books, in all Classes of Literature. Gratis and Post-free.

WM. HEATH, 29-1/2. Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.

2 vols. fcap. 8vo., Third Edition, 7s. 6d. each, sold separately.

PLAIN SERMONS, addressed to a Country Congregation. By the late REV. EDWARD BLENCOWE, Curate of Teversal, and formerly Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.

"Their style is simple—the sentences are not artfully constructed—and there is an utter absence of all attempts at rhetoric. The language is plain Saxon language, from which 'the men on the wall' can easily gather what it most concerns them to know.... In the statements of Christian doctrine, the reality of Mr. Blencowe's mind is very striking. There is a strength, and a warmth, and a life, in his mention of the great truths of the Gospel, which show that he spoke from the heart, and that, like the apostle of old, he could say, 'I believe, and therefore have I spoken.'"—Theologian.

2 vols. 12mo., 8s. each, sold separately.