Various

“ She {226} stood—she gazed upon her own countenance and form, and worshipped! "Now all good angels succour thee, dear Alice, and bend Sir Bevil's soul! Fain am I to see thee a wedded wife, before I die! I yearn to hold thy children on my knee! Often shall I pray to-night that the Granville heart may yield! Thy victory shall be my prayer!"
"Prayer!" was the haughty answer; "with the eyes that I see in that glass, and this vesture meet for a queen, I lack no doubting prayer!"
Saint Mary shield us! Ah words of evil soul! There was a shriek—a sob—a cry: and where was Alice of the Lea? ”

“ She glides along her narrow vaults, unconscious of the glad and glorious scenes of earth, and air, and sea! She was born, as it were, in a grave, and in one long living sepulchre she dwells and dies! Is not existence to her a kind of doom? ”

“ Now it is true, as ARUN remarks, that the introduction of Abbot Islip's name is traced up to Stow in the year 1603: and, as Mr. Knight has observed, "the careful historian of London here committed one error," because John Islip did not become Abbot of Westminster until 1500. The entire passage of Stow has been quoted by DR. RIMBAULT in "NOTES AND QUERIES," Vol. ii., p. 99.; it states that in the Almonry—
"Islip, abbot of Westminster, erected the first press of book-printing that ever was in England, about the year 1471." ”

“ The Shakspeare Society will, indeed, do good service to the cause of our early literature if it prove the means of securing us, a uniform series of the works of such of our Elizabethan dramatists as do not stand sufficiently high in the opinion of the uninitiated, to tempt the publishing world to put forth their productions in a collected form. ”

“ To book societies, book-buyers, and all persons engaged in literary pursuits, the "Circular" is of material service, containing, as it does, a perfect transcript of the Title, number of Pages and Plates, Size, and Price of every Book published in the United Kingdom, or imported from Foreign Countries,—a desideratum never before attempted in England. ”

“ Should we say Lord Plunket had read these passages, and is thereby convicted of eloquent plagiary? I say, No! Lauder then equally convicted Milton of trespassing on the thoughts of others, by somewhat apposite quotations from the classics. We are, in truth, too much inclined to this. The little, who cannot raise themselves to the stature of the great, are apt to strive after a socialist level, by reducing all to one same standard—their own. ”

“ During the first three centuries of the Church, one great distinction betwixt Heathens and Christians was, that the former burned their dead, and placed the bones and ashes in urns; whilst the latter always buried the corpse, either in a coffin or, embalmed, in a catacomb; so that it might be restored at the last day from its original dust. There have frequently been dug out of the barrows which contain Roman urns, ancient British stone coffins. Bede mentions that the Saxons buried their dead in wood. Coffins both of lead and iron were constructed at a very early period. ”

“ The statute forbids that any person be put in, wrapt, or wound up, or buried in any shirt, shift, sheet, or shroud, unless made of sheep's wool only; or in any coffin lined or faced with any material but sheep's wool; as if the person might be buried either in a garment, or in a coffin, so long as the former was made of, or the latter lined with, wool.
I think the "buryall without a coffin," quoted by H.E., must have referred to the interment of the poorest class. Their friends, being unable to provide a coffin, conformed to an old rude custom, which had not entirely ceased. ”

“ It is not in its state after death, but during life, that the poet represents the spirit to be a "delighted one." If we fall into the error of supposing him to refer to the former period, we are compelled to alter our text, in order to make the passage intelligible, or invent some new meaning to the word "delighted," and, at the same time, we deprive the passage of the strong antithesis in which all its spirit and force consists. ”

“ The etymology of the first word possesses some interest, perhaps, at the present time, owing to the name of the site of the intended Exhibition from all Nations in Hyde Park. I sent to the publishers of Glasgow Delineated, {236} which was printed at the University press in 1826, a contradiction of the usual origin of the name adopted in that city, showing the impossibility of the expression bearing any reference to the dissoluteness or immorality of the former residents, and also contradicting its having any thing to do with "rats," or "rattons," Scotticè ”

“ The correction of this vulgar error is, I submit, by no means immaterial; especially at a time when a great effort is made to propagate it by the publication of a print, representing "William Caxton examining the first proof sheet from his printing-press in Westminster Abbey;" the engraving of which is to be "of the size of the favourite print of Bolton Abbey:" where the draftsman has deliberately represented the printers at work within the consecrated walls of the church itself! When a less careless reader than Dr. Dibdin consults the passage of Stow, he finds that the chapel of St. ”

“ Experiments were then made with a dilute solution of this acid on {237} clean paper, and spots were produced similar to those of mildew.
The acid does not naturally exist in paper, and its presence can only be accounted for by supposing that the paper has been bleached by the fumes of sulphur. This produces sulphurous acid, which, by the influence of atmospheric air and moisture, is slowly converted into sulphuric, and then produces the mildew. As this may be shown to be an absolute charring of the fibres of which the paper is composed, it is to be feared that it cannot be cured. ”

“ I am acquainted with Bishop Marsh's volume, but he seems ill-informed and speaks vaguely about Roman Catholic versions.
2. What is the authority for the familiar story of a bill being brought into parliament for the suppression of all vernacular translations in Richard II.'s reign, and of its being stoutly opposed by John of Gaunt? "What, are we the dregs of the earth not to hear the Scriptures in our own tongue?" ”

“ Knight's work, and may confess I have as yet seen no more of it than the passage quoted by ARUN himself. Any such admixture of personal imputations is decidedly to be deprecated, as being likely to militate against the sober investigation of truth which has hitherto characterised the pages of "NOTES AND QUERIES." ARUN also chooses to say that the only question which is material, is, Who was Caxton's patron? i.e. who was the Abbot of Westminster at the time,—who may not, after all, have actively interfered in the matter. ”

“ A feodary, I should observe, was an officer of the Court of Wards, who was joined with the escheator and did not act singly; I conceive therefore that Shakspeare by this expression indicates an associate; one in the same plight as others; negatively, one who does not stand alone. ”

“ If it be otherwise, if we are not all frail as thou sayest, then let my brother die, unless he be but in the same case as others; if he alone possess and follow thee in that particular frailty to which thou has half confessed. ”

“ Can any of your correspondents inform me to what tax the above lists applied, and what were the acts of parliament under which this tax (or pole-money) was payable.
T.N.I.
Wakefield.
Welsh Money.—I have never seen in any work on coins the slightest allusion to the money of the native princes of Wales before the subjugation of their country by Edward I. Is any such in existence? and, if not, how is its disappearance to be accounted for? I read that Athelstan imposed on the Welsh an annual tribute in money, which was paid for many years. Query, In what sort of coin? ”

“ Were the debates on the acts of parliament recorded in those days, and if so, how can they be seen?
J. PARTRIGE.
Birmingham.
Commoner marrying a Peeress.—Formerly, when a commoner married a peeress in her own right, he assumed her title and dignity. The right was, I believe, disputed during the reign of Henry VIII., in the case of the claimant of the barony of Talbois, when it was decided that no man could take his wife's titles unless he had issue male by her, but, if there were such issue, he became, as in cases of landed property, "tenant by curtesy" of her dignities. ”

“ A better or more valuable work for country book societies, lending libraries, and reading rooms, it is impossible to find within the whole compass of English literature. Its literary articles are peculiarly sound in principle, and its criticisms liberal but just ”

“ It has been determined that the individual subscriptions shall be limited to Five Guineas; that subscribers of Two Guineas and upwards shall receive a proof impression of the Engraving; and subscribers of One Guinea, a print.
It is also proposed to present Dr. CONOLLY with a piece of plate, should the funds permit after defraying the expenses of the painting and engraving.
Subscribers' names and subscriptions will be received by the secretaries, at 12. Old Burlington Street, and 4. Burlington Gardens, and by the Treasurers, at the Union Bank, Regent Street Branch, Argyll Place, London. ”

“ This is an error, for Clayton himself says, in his preface: "I was obliged to have an Italian opera translated." Clayton was the composer of the music.
19. James's (St.) Chapel, St. James's Palace. Mr. Cunningham says, "The service is chanted by the boys of the Chapel Royal." This ought to read, "The service is chaunted by the boys and gentlemen of the Chapel Royal" The musical service of our cathedrals and collegiate establishments cannot be performed without four kinds of voices, treble, alto, tenor, and bass. ”

“ We have hitherto no evidence that Caxton {234} printed at Westminster before the year 1477, six years later than mentioned by Stow.
JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS.
THE USE OF COFFINS.
The Query of H.E. (Vol. i., p. 321.) seems to infer that the use of coffins may be only a modern custom. In book xxiii., chapters i. and ii., of Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, H.E. will find ample proof of the very early use of coffins. ”

“ Query 4. On the use of the term [Greek: eggastrimuthos] by the sacred writers, Ravanelli Biblioth. S., and by classical authors, Foesii Oeconomia Hippocratis; and for synonymous "divinorum ministrorum nomina," Pollucis Onomasticon.
T.J.
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.
Earl of Oxford's Patent (Vol. ii., p. 194.) .—M.'s quotation from the Weekly Oracle relates to Harley's having been stabbed at the council-table by the Sieur de Guiscard, a French Papist, brought up for examination 8th March, 1711. ”

“ Oyn and Perde!"
"A whistling Wife" &c.—I can supply another version of the couplet quoted in "Folk Lore" (Vol. ii., p. 164.) , which has the merit of being more rhymical and mysterious. In what district it was current I know not.
"A whistling wife and a crowing hen
Will call the old gentleman out of his den."
G.L.B.
A Charm for Warts.—In some parts of Ireland, especially towards the south, they place great faith in the following charm:—When a funeral is passing by, they rub the warts and say three times, "May these warts and this corpse pass away and never more return;" ”

“ To publishers it is one of the most useful channels for advertising their publications, as well as all other matters relating to the trade, there being but few booksellers who do not find it to their interest to read and circulate it. Issued every Fortnight. Published on the 1st and 15th of every month, by SAMPSON LOW, at the office, 169. Fleet-street, London.
Preparing for publication, in 2 vols. small 8vo.
THE FOLK-LORE of ENGLAND. By WILLIAM J. THOMS, F.S.A., Secretary of the Camden Society, Editor of "Early Prose Romances," "Lays and Legends of all Nations," &c. One objec. ”

“ R—— B——, bookseller of London who did great service to his King and country, by printing, and dispersing in the most difficult times, books written in defence of the royal cause." See also Biog. Brit., article "Barwick".
John I. Dredge.
Ben Johnson (Vol. ii., p. 167.) —So the name was spelt by most of his contemporaries. The poem mentioned by N.A.B. is printed in the Underwoods, Gifford's edition, ix., 68; but the MS. may contain variations worthy of notice. ”

“ The Athenæum is so conducted that the reader, however far distant, is, in respect to literature, science, and the arts, on an equality, in point of information, with the best-informed circles of the metropolis.
The publisher will on this occasion send a single copy on receipt of five postage stamps.
Office, 14. Wellington-Street North, Strand, London.
{240}
BOOKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND 377. STRAND, LONDON.
I. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND LEAVES HER CHILDREN FREE TO WHOM TO OPEN THEIR GRIEFS. A Letter to the Rev. W.U. RICHARDS, Minister of Margaret Chapel. By the Rev. ”

“ Part II. in the press.
III. THE CHARACTER OF PILATE AND THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE. A Course of Sermons preached at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, by the Rev. W. SEWELL, B.D., Fellow and Tutor of Exeter College, and Whitehall Preacher, 12mo. Price 4s. 6d.
IV. WESTMINSTER CHURCHES. A Sermon preached in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, on the Fourth Sunday after Easter, 1850. By the Rev. W. SEWELL. 12mo. 6d.
V. DAILY STEPS TOWARDS HEAVEN. A small pocket volume, containing a few PRACTICAL THOUGHTS on the GOSPEL HISTORY, with Texts for every Day in the Year, commencing with Advent. A new edition, cloth, 2s. ”