Various

“ I have a beautiful miniature of Oliver Cromwell, painted with very great care, and which has every appearance of being an original by Cooper. I remember it all my life in my father's (Lord Holland's) room at Holland House; and on his death in 1840, it was left by him to his friend and mine, John Allen, late master of Dulwich College, who died in 1843, and left it with his books to me.
Cromwell is painted in armour, with a remarkably clean, plain, turned-down shirt collar; his usual countenance, somewhat stern, but full of the expression of good sense and intelligence ”

“ The "Athenian Oracle."
—Can you inform me who were the authors of the "Athenian Oracle," or, in other words, the members of the "Learned Society" who conducted this work? You may feel some interest in it as a kind of prototype and progenitor of your own "N. & Q." Your work, as I apprehend, does not profess to solve and answer so many nice puzzling points in divinity, philosophy, love, &c., as that of the Oracle, which furnishes us with a curious picture of the wants, opinions, and manners of the age in which it appeared ”

“ Lucia. 7th. Facts which have since acquired an obvious importance, were of none at all in 1771. The suppression of such a circumstance, whether intentional or accidental, would have attracted no notice at that period of the history of the Taschers. It was not then anticipated that a member of the family would, at no very remote period, become associated with the greatest actor in the most extraordinary revolution in the world's history, and prove herself not unworthy of so exalted a destiny.
All that relates to the Empress Josephine receives an added degree of interest from recent occurrences. ”

“ The grand events of a spirit-stirring war; occurrences likely to impress themselves, as the mystical legends of former times had done, upon their memory; besides which, a retentive memory was deemed a virtue of the first water, and was cultivated accordingly, in those ancient times. Ballads at first, and down to the beginning of the war with Troy, were mere recitations with an intonation. Then followed a species of recitative, probably with an intoned burden. Tune next followed, as it aided the memory considerably. ”

“ Hemp and Flax.
"Here hemp is served for stubborn rogues to die in,
And softer flax for tender skins to lie in,
But should the useful project be defeated,
The knaves will prosper, and the fools be cheated."
Two. Manuring of Land.
"A noble undertaking, but abused,
And only as a tricky bubble used;—
Much they pretend to, but the public fear,
They'll never make corn cheap, or horse-dung dear!"
Three. Coal Trade from Newcastle.
"Some deal in water, some in wind like fools,
Others in wood, but we alone in coals;
From such like projects a declining nation
May justly fear a fatal inflammation." ”

“ It has been most carefully edited and compiled by experienced writers, who have availed themselves of the vast body of materials which domestic and foreign literature has of late years supplied. The great variety and extensive range of its contents, far exceeding those of any other modern biographical publication in our language, must render it a very important addition to every public and private Library, both as a work of reference, and a storehouse of information and amusement for all classes of readers. ”

“ It was at this period, about four hundred years after the war, that a poet flourished of the name of Melesigenes, or Meonides, but most probably the former. He saw that these ballads might be made of great utility to his purpose of writing a poem on the social position of Hellas, and as a collection he published these lays, connecting them by a tale of his own. ”

“ Fatting of Hogs.
"Come all ye bacon making, greasy rogues
That want good names for your meagre hogs,
Send them to us, and at a small expence,
We'll fat 'em up with offal, blood, and grains."
Seven. Rose Insurance from Fire.
"Projecting sure must be a gainful trade,
Since all the elements are bubbles made;
They're right that gull us with the dread of fire,
For fear makes greater fools than fond desire." ”

“ A correspondent discussing the question of the site, or of the continued existence, of the house in Bolt Court in which Johnson lived and died, mentions that one person now living called there during the last illness of our sublime moralist. I believe he refers to Mr. Rogers.
The fact is that there is also a lady, an inhabitant of Piccadilly, Viscountess Keith, who not only grew from childhood to the age of twenty in the constant association of the Doctor, but who is also mentioned by Madame D'Arblay as having been a visitor at Bolt Court in 1784. ”

“ As I live at a distance from any large library, and have consulted in vain such biographical works as my own scanty shelves afford, I shall be greatly obliged to any of your correspondents who have access to our public libraries, to inform me who Lucas Lossius was, and where any account of him may be met with? Also, who Wendelinus Helbachius, Stigelius, and Bernardus Bomgardius were, whose "Disticha" are interspersed throughout the volume? ”

“ It is commonly believed that the Island of Martinique was the birthplace of Marie Josephine Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, better known as the Empress Josephine. It would seem, however, from the following circumstances, that St. Lucia has a preferable claim to that distinction. ”

“ This poem now exists under the title of the Odyssea. The author, however, did not affix his own name to the poem, which, in fact, was great part of it remodelled from the archaïc dialect of Crete, in which tongue the ballads were found by him. He therefore called it the poem of Homeros, or the Collector. [11] But this is rather a [223] proof of his modesty and talent, than of his mere drudging arrangement of other people's ideas, for, as Grote has finely observed, arguing for the unity of authorship, "a great poet might have recast pre-existing separate songs into one comprehensive whole ”

“ I have no doubt the derivation suggested by your first correspondent, NAUTICUS, is the true one, viz., that it is of Saxon origin, signifying Wizard, or the Evil Spirit, which indicates, not only that these earthworks were in existence in Saxon times, but that their origin was even then so remote and mysterious that they were supposed to be the work of supernatural agency. ”

“ There really was absolutely no map that I could find that I could trust for the site of Carthage or Alexandria. There were no "N. & Q." when I found myself at a stand-still; but I asked all the friends about me, and I verily believe that to the majority of those I spoke to it appeared an unreasonable thing for any man to expect a map of the regions I wanted described. There seemed a kind of feeling that when a man had got a map of Caffraria and Egypt, and perhaps knew where Algiers might be, he knew quite as much about Africa as he ought. Can any of your correspondents now help me? ”

“ Now, I think MR. GIBSON, on reflection, will agree with me in concluding that the wife of Simon de Montacute, and the lady who claimed the island on the death of Magnus, were one and the same person. There is no document, I believe, of the kind he refers to, of the "31st" of Edw. I.; but in the "21st" of Edw. I., which date is probably intended, there is amongst the Scotch Rolls (anno 21 Edw. I. m. 4.) a citation from Edward I., as supreme lord of Scotland, directed to John Baliol, King of Scots, to answer the complaint of Aufrica, cousin and heiress of Magnus, late King of Man, &c. ”

“ Here they continued to reside until 1771, when M. de Tascher, having been selected for the office of President of the Conseil Souverain in Martinique, returned with his family to that island, taking with him a child seven years old, to whom Madame de Tascher had given birth at Morne Paix-Bouche on the 24th June, 1764, and who was destined to become the wife of Bonaparte and the Empress of France.
The fact that M. de Tascher and his family settled in St. Lucia after the Treaty of Paris, is too well established to require corroboration. ”

“ It is proposed, we believe, to form a new Society on a somewhat similar plan; but which is to have for its object the reprinting, without abridgment or omission, of such rare but well chosen tracts by Greene, Nash Breton, Taylor the Water Poet, &c. as afford valuable illustration of manners, or are interesting in any other point of view. ”

“ He kills the son of the Duke of Lüneburg in the same manner, and assumes his character; is adopted by the Duke of Prussia, and avenges himself by the murder of the duke, and others of his father's judges; is finally discovered, and put to death by means of the iron crown.
I have in vain searched the German chronicle of the period: from the geographical localities being well preserved, as well as the German names (a peculiarity in the old drama) , the presumption is, that it has been taken from an historical source. ”

“ It would be strange if the wife who was discarded by Napoleon because she could not give him an heir for the imperial throne, should give him, if not an heir, his first successor, in the person of her grandson, Prince Louis Napoleon. As regards St. Lucia, too, there is a coincidence which may be worth mentioning. When Napoleon fell into our hands after the battle of Waterloo, St. Lucia was the place first selected for his exile; but in consequence of the dangers likely to arise frown its proximity to Martinique, the scheme was relinquished, and the preference given to St. ”

“ There is no kind of foundation for assigning Dr. Johnson's residence to that where Cobbett lived or wrote—it was a mere joke. As to the "Johnson's Head" tavern, it was an upholsterer's manufactory at the time of Dr. Johnson's death. I myself knew an old man of the name of Hale residing in it, and carrying on that occupation so early as 1800, who had doubtless been there before Dr. Johnson's death; his son followed him, and continued till about 1826-1830 in those premises. ”

“ Tyler, and where those stone steps are, stood the doctor's residence. I know of no relic that was saved except the scraper, which was distorted into a curious shape by the action of the fire, and being firmly fixed in a heavy stone, it lay about the yard for years.
The late well-known printer Mr. Bensley succeeded Mr. Allen there in business in 1783, going at once to reside in his house next door to Dr. Johnson, whom, of course, as a close neighbour, he often saw, and whose funeral he witnessed. After the Doctor's death the Rev.—Stockdale, of the Church of England, occupied the house ”

“ I have not been able to procure any information as to the sermon, or its poetical translation, in any bibliographical work; but perhaps some of your numerous readers may know something either about Mr. Edward Young, the father I presume of the poet, or the translator.
Mrs. Wharton was the daughter of Sir H. Lee, of Ditchly, and the first wife of the future Marquis of Wharton. A manuscript tragedy by her, and in her own handwriting, is in my possession. It is the presentation copy to Miss Mary Howe, whose autograph is on the fly-leaf. ”

“ He was a worthy but somewhat cross old man, in very respectable circumstances. His was the last family which ever occupied the premises as a dwelling-house; I knew him there for about twenty years. During his abode the freehold was put up for sale by auction, as well as of Allen's house; Mr. Bensley purchased both. ”

“ The Athenian Gazette, afterwards called The Athenian Mercury, swelled at last to twenty volumes folio; these becoming scarce, a collection of the most valuable questions and answers was reprinted under the title of The Athenian Oracle, in 4 vols. 8vo. The fourth volume contains a Supplement, to which is prefixed "The History of the Athenian Society," and an "Essay upon Learning." It was projected by the celebrated John Dunton, who says, "My first project was the Athenian Gazette. ”

“ King. An inoffensive Way of emptying Houses of Office.
"Our fragrant bubble, would the world believe it,
Is to make human dung smell sweet as civet;
None sure before us ever durst presume
To turn a ... into a rich perfume."
CLUBS.
Ace. Lute-string Co.
"These crafty managers have play'd for years
The world as many tricks as dancing bears,
By bubbling too they broke their ancient rules;
They first made lute-strings, but they now make fools."
Two. Paste board Manufacturing Co.
"As empty sayings flow from windy fools,
So pasteboard bubbles rise from paper skulls. ”

“ May all bad wives, like Lot's, become salt pillars,
Since crowds of fools delight to be salt sellers."
Queen. Curing Tobacco for Snuff.
"Here slaves for snuffs are sifting Indian weed,
Whilst th' overseer does the riddle feed.
The dust arising gives their eyes much trouble,
To show their blindness that espouse the bubble."
King. Whale Fishery.
"Whale fishing, which was once a gainful trade,
Is now by cunning heads a bubble made,
For round the Change they only spread their sails,
And to catch gudgeons, bait their hooks with whales."
DIAMONDS.
Ace. ”

“ A few yards from the almost impracticable and faintly traced path is the mouldering foundation of a decayed cottage. That was the birthplace of Josephine. The inhabitants of Martinique, with whom all the St. Lucia families are connected, lay claim to Josephine as their countrywoman. The fact is, however, as I have stated it; and this was admitted by one of her own family at Martinique to a lady of our island, but with the truly French addition, 'qu'elle n'avait fait qu'y naître.' The companion of her childhood was Mr. ”

“ Tytler, of Woodhouselee (the grandfather of the historian) , contained in the Transactions of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, vol. i. p. 486., although not an answer to his Query, may perhaps prove interesting to J.M.:—
"To the wandering harpers we are certainly indebted for that species of music which is now scarcely known, I mean the Port. Almost every great family had a Port that went by the name of the family. Of the few that are still preserved are, Port Lennox, Port Gordon, Port Seton, and Port Athole, which are all of them excellent in their kind. ”

“ It is very probable he fell at this siege if he continued his narrative while in the camp. His memoirs are curious and very entertaining. I find there that he was much esteemed at Vienna, and his conduct in rescuing the wife of one of the German nobility from a horrible imprisonment with the corpse of the man of whom her lord was jealous, is full of interest as well as horror, from the mode in which it was accomplished. ”

“ She was then residing with the family of Mr. R. Juge, the President of the Court of First Instance, and that gentleman assured me that nothing was more certain than that Josephine was born in St. Lucia. I afterwards had several conversations with Dédé on the subject, and she confirmed Mr. Juge's statement, adding that she was present at the time of Josephine's [221] birth, and was employed as her bonne until the departure of the family for Martinique. Dédé was an intelligent old dame, then about eighty years of age, and was greatly respected by every one. ”