Various

“ The arms of the United Kingdom and of the sovereign are, first and fourth, England; second, Scotland; third, Ireland. The Scotch have therefore the option of using these, or else the arms of Scotland singly; but to shift the quarterings according to locality, seems repugnant to the principles of the science. Queen Anne and George I. bore, in the first quarter, England impaling Scotland: is it to be supposed that, for Scotch purposes, they bore Scotland impaling England? ”

“ In the reign of Edward VI. Roman Catholic works fed the flames.
"All red-lettered illuminated volumes were chopped in pieces with hatchets, and burned as superstitious. The works of Peter Lombard, Duns Scotus, and Thomas Aquinas, carried on biers, were tumbled into bonfires. In the reign of Mary pyramids of Protestant volumes were burnt. All the Bibles in English, and all the commentators upon the Bible in the vernacular idiom (which we are told from their number seemed almost infinite) , were cast into the flames at the market-place, Oxford."—D'Israeli's Amenities of Literature, vol. ii. ”

“ Queen Anne, before the union with Scotland, bore the same arms, crest, and supporters as her father King James II., but discontinued the use of the old motto, Dieu et mon Droit, and instead thereof used Semper eadem. The motto ascribed to Queen Elizabeth she took for the same reason to express her constancy; but this, which was personal as to Queen Elizabeth, was then made the motto of the royal achievement, and seems the first instance of discontinuing the old motto of Dieu et mon Droit, from the first assumption of it by King Edward III. ”

“ The motto is indeed no part of the arms but personal, and therefore is frequently varied according to the fancy of the bearer; nevertheless, when particular mottoes have been taken to perpetuate the memory of great events, either in families or kingdoms, and have been established by long usage, such should be esteemed as family or national mottoes, and it is honourable to continue them. ”

“ NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.
If, as we believe, the first and greatest qualifications for an editor of Shakspeare be love for his author and a thorough appreciation of his beauties, Mr. Charles Knight may well come forward once more in that character. And, as he well observes, the fact of his having laboured for many years in producing a body of Commentary on Shakspeare, so that he was, out of the necessity of its plan, compelled not to miss any point, or slur over any difficulty, renders him not the less fitted for the preparation of an edition which is intended to be "The People's Shakspeare." ”

“ Mr. Dobbs was born on April 27, 1750; and was the younger son of the Rev. Richard Dobbs, who was the younger brother of Arthur Dobbs of Castle Dobbs, co. Antrim, formerly Governor of North Carolina. His ancestor, an officer in the army, came from England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and by a marriage with the great-granddaughter of Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, got the estate of Castle Dobbs, with other estates in the co. Antrim. His great-grandfather was Mayor of Carrickfergus at the time King William landed, and was the first subject in Ireland that paid him allegiance. ”

“ In the first line of the quotation last given from Richard Cœur de Lion, your correspondent H. T. G. will find an early instance of the word came; whether early enough, I cannot say. In Wiclif's version, cam, came, and camen are the usual expressions answering to "came" in our translation. If above five hundred and fifty years' possession does not give a word a good title to its place in our language, without a conformity to Anglo-Saxon usage, the number of words that must fall under the same imputation of novelty and "violent infringement" is very great indeed. ”

“ When the skilful actor shows you all these powers at once united, and gratifies at once your eye, your ear, your understanding,—to conceive the pleasure arising from such harmony you must have been present at it ”

“ The sea of glass I think must be an island. And I believe the word Armageddon in the Hebrew tongue, and Ardmah or Armagh in the Irish, mean the same thing. At all events, there is great similitude in their sounds; and St. Patrick thought proper to make the city of Ardmagh, which is the old name, the seat of the church government of Ireland. But besides these sacred passages of Scripture, there are some very particular circumstances attending Ireland. She has never had her share in worldly prosperity, and has only since 1782 begun to rise ”

“ The New World is out of the question, being nowhere a subject of prophecy; and as the image is excluded, it can only be in the Russian empire, or in the kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden, or Ireland.
"The army that follows the Messiah, we are told, amounts to 144,000; and there are a few passages in the Revelation of St. John, that denote the place where they are to be assembled. ”

“ Dobbs pronounced in the Irish Parliament a speech in which he predicted the second coming of the Messiah. This speech, the most extraordinary that was ever made in a legislative assembly, presents a singular contrast to the sagacity which characterises his political performances. A few short extracts will show the change that had come over his prophetic vision:
"Sir, from the conduct pursued by administration during this Session, and the means that were known to be in their power, it was not very difficult to foresee that this Bill must reach that chair. ”

“ As the question is of some importance in the inquiry respecting the position of the poet's ancestry, perhaps one of your legal readers would kindly decide which of us is in the right. I possess an useful collection of old law-books, but there are few subjects in which error is so easily committed by unprofessional readers. In the present instance, however, if plain words are to be relied upon, it seems certain that the term inheritance was applied, to use Cowell's words, to {76}"every fee simple or fee taile that a man hath by his purchase." ”

“ Are there many copies of this edition, or may I congratulate myself upon possessing the one ordered by Junius? It is quite possible that my grandfather possessed this copy some years before his return from India; and I may mention that I also have a great many political pamphlets and satires, chiefly in poetry, of different dates, from 1760 to 1780, such as Catiline's Conspiracy; The Diaboliad; Ditto, with additions, dedicated to the worst man in the kingdom (Rigby) , and containing allusions to all the most celebrated characters of Junius ”

“ False Dates in Water-marks of Paper.—Your correspondent H. W. D. (Vol. ix., p. 32.) on the subject of the water-mark in paper, is, perhaps, not aware that, within the last few years, the will of a lady was set aside by the heir-at-law, her brother, on account of the water-mark, she having imprudently, as it was surmised, made a fairer copy of her will on paper of a later date. ”

“ Oxford.
WAS SHAKSPEARE DESCENDED FROM A LANDED PROPRIETOR?
Mr. Knight has on two occasions, the latter in his Stratford Shakspeare just published, called attention to what he concludes is an oversight of mine in not drawing any conclusion from a deed in which certain lands are mentioned as "heretofore the inheritance of William Shakspeare, Gent., deceased." These words are supposed by Mr. Knight to imply that the lands in question came to Shakspeare by descent, as heir-at-law of his father. ”

“ At a later period, the Earl of Charlemont brought him into the Irish Parliament and it was while occupying a seat in that assembly, that he delivered the "Speeches" already referred to.
Mr. Dobbs's Speech on the Legislative Union is one of the most remarkable ever pronounced then or since, on that fertile topic. He descants in forceful language on the evils, real or imaginary, likely to arise from that measure ”

“ His mental powers, naturally vigorous, he appears to have cultivated and improved by as much reading as his employments and his agitation of mind would allow. I wish that he had committed to this volume some specimens of his poetry, as it would have been more than mechanical, or partaking of common-place, for he writes in a style at once vigorous, lively, and elegant, and gives proofs of a correct taste. ”

“ Dobbs. Indeed, in that respect, he is perhaps one of the most striking instances on record of what is called the "duality of the human mind."
The information I am able to furnish respecting this remarkable man, is derived from a pamphlet, published "by authority" (probably himself) , by J. Jones, Dublin, 1800, and entitled, Memoirs of Francis Dobbs, Esq.; also Genuine Reports of his Speeches in Parliament on the Subject of an Union, and his Prediction of the Second Coming of the Messiah, with Extracts from his Poem on the Millennium. ”

“ Our readers are aware that its main object is the interchange of photographs among the members; each contributing as many copies of his own work as there are members of the Society, and receiving in exchange as many different photographs, Thus, if the Society is limited to twenty-five or fifty members, each member will have to furnish twenty-five or fifty copies, as the case may be, of the photograph he presents to the Society ”

“ A family of the name of Gosselin has been established for many centuries in the island of Guernsey. William Gocelyn was one of those sworn upon the inquest as to the services, customs, and liberties of the island, and the laws established by King John, which inquest was confirmed by King Henry III. in the year 1248. In the year 1331 an extent of the crown revenues, &c. was made by order of Edward III., and in this document the name of Richard Gosselin appears as one of the jury of the parish of St. ”

“ Blue Bell and Blue Anchor (Vol. viii., p. 388.) .—Your correspondent . inquires the origin of the sign-boards of the "Blue Bell" and the "Blue Anchor?" I have always understood that the sign of the Bell, painted blue, was intended as a substitute for the little Scotch flower bearing the name of the blue-bell. I believe it is either the blue flower of the flax, or that of the wild blue hyacinth, which in shape much resembles a bell. It was probably much easier to draw the metallic figure than the flower, and hence its use by the primitive village artists. ”

“ I am of an opinion, with a portable tent, so that we could expose paper in a damp state, the process might be done nearly as quick as collodion. All that need be done for a paper negative, would be to expose and develop; it can be fixed at home. ”

“ He who has long been intimate with one great author will always be found a formidable antagonist.... The old Latin proverb reminds us of this fact, Cave ab homine unius libri, Be cautious of the man of one book."
and he proceeds to remark, that "every great writer appears to have a predilection for some favourite author," and illustrates it by examples.
Eirionnach.
Muffs worn by Gentlemen (Vol. viii., p. 353.) ”

“ In the second edition of the Glossary is also St. Peter's, Oxon (circa 1400) .
Devonshire abounds in good samples: see Trans. of Exeter Architectural Society, vol. i., at table of plates, and the engraved plates of three very rich specimens, viz. Harberton, Chittlehampton, North Molton, each of which is encircled by canopied niches with statues.
At North Petherton, in Somersetshire, is a curious grotesque human figure of stone, crouched on the floor, supporting the pulpit (which is of wood, as I think) upon his shoulders, Atlas-like. ”

“ In his Remains (p. 347. 4to. 1637) , Camden says, "Queen Elizabeth upon occasions used so many heroical devices as would require a volume: but most commonly a sive without a motte for her words Video, Taceo, and Semper eadem, which she as truly and constantly performed."
Sandford is silent as to her motto. ”

“ Caution to Bookbuyers.—We have received copies of some letters, which we may perhaps hereafter print, but to which we now need make no farther allusion than to warn gentlemen whose inquiries for books through "N. & Q." may be answered not to part with their money until they receive the books—unless they are dealing with well-known and respectable booksellers.
Scrutator, who writes touching The Kilkenny Cats, is referred to our 2nd Vol., p. 71.
D. D. J. The fragment of MS. forwarded by our Correspondent is a portion of a Latin Commentary on St. Luke. ”

“ Premiums affording particular advantages to Young Lives.
Participating and Non-Participating Premiums.
In the former EIGHTY PER CENT. or FOUR-FIFTHS of the Profits are divided amongst the Assured Triennially, either by way of addition to the sum assured, or in diminution of Premium, at their option.
No deduction is made from the four-fifths of the profits for Interest on Capital, for a Guarantee Fund, or on any other account. ”

“ PLATO. Vol. VI., completing the Work, and containing the Doubtful Works; viz. Epinomis, Axiochus, Eryxias, on Virtue, on Justice, Sisyphus, Demodocus, and Definitions; the Treatise of Timæus Locrus on the Son of the World and Nature. To which are added, the Lives of Plato by Diogenes Laertius, Hesychius, and Olympiodorus; and the Introduction to his Doctrines by Alcinous and Albinus; Apuleius on the Doctrines of Plato, and Remarks on Plato's Writings by the Poet Gray, edited with Notes, by GEORGE BURGES, M.A., Trin. ”

“ Before I conclude this paper, I may be permitted to make reference to a series of letters addressed to Richard Heber, Esq., M.P., by Mr. Adolphus, son of the historian of the reign of George III. In the conversation referred to, Sir Walter Scott mentioned these letters in terms of high approbation,—terms not undeserved; for a more elegant, ingenious, and convincing piece of literary criticism never issued from the press.
At that time I had not seen it; but in reference to the passage in question, the coincidence of which in the poem and the romance has not escaped the critic's acuteness, Mr. ”