Various almanacs, or rather calendars, harshness, will hardly bear Symonds's interwith local views, came into fashion about pretation. Accordingly I here follow Del 1910 (one for 1912 showed Houghton Mill, Lungo, who takes 67 St. Ives, Hunts); but such things do not amoris qui semina monstrat really belong to our subject. to be Guido Cavalcanti, “di cui si allude (Obscuri ecc.) alla canzone sulla HERBERT E. NORRIS. natura d'amore, comentata, a' suoi tempi e poi, largamente.” Cirencester. 6 DANTE AND POLIZIANO.-In his 'Studies of Dante' ('Estimates, Contemporary and Later,' I.) Dean Plumptre has the following: "I find no tribute to Dante recorded as coming from the pen of Politian or Marsilio Ficino, or Ludovico Vives, or Pico della Mirandola." But some of the most eloquent lines of Poliziano's fervent Nutricia,' 'Argumentum de poetica et poetis' (1486), salute the founders of Italian literature with no mean praise. True, the great Renaissance scholar does not lavish upon the native writers the erudition with which he chants Homer, Virgil, and above all Pindar, yet the following lines are assuredly not without grace and dignity sufficient to contradict Dean Plumptre's all too sweeping statement: Nec tamen Aligerum fraudarim hoc Dantem, munere Per styga per stellas mediique per ardua montis, Nor yet of this meed of honour would I cheat wing-bearing Dante, who flew through hell, through the starry heavens, and o'er the intermediate hill of Purgatory beneath the beauteous brows of Beatrice; and Petrarch too, who tells again the tale of Cupid's triumph; or him who in ten days portrays a hundred stories; or him who lays bare the seeds of hidden love: from whom unmeasured fame and name are thine, by wit and wealth twice potent, Florence, mother of great sons!' Del Lungo, who, in his ample commentary on Poliziano, rather carpingly characterizes these beautiful lines as quasi un' elemosina, dell' aureo latinista alla Scarso tributo, povera poes a volgare," is none the less bound to modify his judgement with "Nota felicità dei versi che dipingono il viaggio dantesco.' It is noticeable that Symonds punctuates the line Pingit; thus: "Pingit et obscuri...," and renders “. . . hundred stories, and lays bare...," obviously taking it that qui semina monstrat amoris " still refers to Boccaccio. I have ventured slightly to alter the translation at this point, as it seems to me that the Latin, without unnecessary 66 MONTAGUE J. SUMMERS. HOGARTH: A CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN ADMIRER.-Count first Italian to attempt to translate ShakeAlessandro Verri, the speare, was a even before the few months he spent in confirmed Anglomania. London during the winter of 1766-7. He wrote home some interesting letters to his brother, Count Pietro, the distinguished economist, describing his visit. He was not favourably impressed by our tragedies, but in comedy he regards us as equal, if not superior, to the French. "The Englishman has a more marked and profound sense of the ridiculous than the Frenchman, who is too subtle and metaphysical. I have completeness, reach the highest point of the watched scenes in English comedy which, in their ridiculous and the comic. 66 You have only to compare an English caricaturist, such as Hogarth, with the famous Callot. English humour is more concentrated. I have seen prints in the shopwindows here that would keep me laughing whole days-figures so weird, costumes so outrageous, so much that is ridiculous collected into a single point, that it would be impossible to find more amusing pictures in the whole world." For Hogarth, especially for " Marriage à la mode," he has a great admiration. brother asks him to bring him a set, if it is His not too dear. He willingly promises, as it only costs eight shillings. He possessed one himself, and we find him sending for another after his return to Milan. LACY COLLISON-MORLEY. sc me SOME NOTES ON KENTISH WILLS.wills of the Commissary Court of Canterbury, Having had occasion to transcribe I have made the following memoranda, Wills and testaments are usually spoken of which perhaps may be of some interest. indifferently, but a testament means properly a distribution of personal property, whereas property; a will may refer to either personal or real and it may be noted that previously to the year 1476 all testaments were made in Latin, wills being indifferently made in either Latin or English. Then we find in 1551 a will wherein the names of witnesses were omitted, and the seal and signature of the testator added for the first time. In 1559 occurs the first codicil to a will. We note also that funeral sermons were charged 68. 8d. in the first year of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and just double that amonnt at the end. In 1466 Thos. Bysmer of Herne wills 268. 8d. for one Peace-Kiss of silver (this word not in the 'N.E.D.'). In 1485 John Caxton was buried in the nave of St. Alphege, Canterbury, by his wife Isabella. In 1505 Thos. Toller of Sandwich wills 31. 68. 8d. to the High Roode for guilding him, also a piece to make him a crown, and as much broken silver to make him a pair of gloves, with the workmanship. In 1567 Peter Brown of Maidstone, "Bocher," wills to buying a great Bible, of the largest volume that was used, 26s. 8d., to be set in the nether end of the church there, in the place where it was wont to be set in the time of the late King Edward VI., and to be fast bound with a chain, for all men to read. In 1573 John Baker of Westwell, Husbandman, bequeathed all his manors, lands, &c., the inventory being 180l. 88. 8d. In 1585 Richard Beseley, preacher, desires to be buried in the body of Christ Church, Canterbury, beside his companions in exile, John Bale and Robert Pownal. In 1570 John Butler, Prebend of Ch. Ch., Canterbury, left his property in Calais, where he formerly lived, if Calais should again become English. In 1533 John Hatch of Feversham desired to be buried before the Bachelor's Light in the Church of Our Blessed Lady of Feversham. An important Feversham will. In 1530 William Chapman wills his best bow "of ewe" and arrows. In 1665 Thos. Simon, citizen and goldsmith and Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint, divided his property into three parts, according to the custom of the city of London-one part to his wife, one part to children, and the third part he wills, having power to dispose of it by the said custom, &c. W. L. KING. Paddock Wood, Kent. "CATERPILLAR TRACTORS."-The editor or editors of any future edition of 'H.E.D.' will find a number of words or sub-words (if that be the correct term) to be added because of the present war. "Bantam " in its military meaning to-day will be among these, while another may be found in a question put in the House of Commons on 8 December to the Under-Secretary of State for War, inquiring whether the Comptroller | "In Prince William County we find James Hally married a Miss Peake, and had a son Craven Halley, named for Craven Peake, and one son Humphry, named also for Humphry Peake; while one Jesse Peakes married a Sybilla Halley about 1785. Find the following in Prince William County, Overwharton parish records :1744. "Mary Pike, died at Michael Pike's, Feb. 27, "Ann Pyke, married Henry Hunt, March 20, 1750. "Robert Peake came to Virginia in 1623. D.C., that one of the Hawleys who came from Found in some old records in Washington, England and settled Hawley, Massachusetts, married a Mary E. Peake. There were three brothers, it is said, one settling in Massachusetts, south. There is certainly an affinity between one in Virginia, and the other one went further Halleys and Peakes or Pikes, both in U.S. and England. Give you the above for what it is worth." EUGENE F. McPIKE. 1200 Michigan Avenue, Chicago. THE BRITISH ARMY: MASCOTS.-I would be much obliged if you could let me know ists (e.g. S. Alphonsus de Ligorio, 4. i. 1, ECCLESIASTICAL FOLK-LORE.-The Casuwhere I can have full information and quoting Busembaum) condemn as superphotographs about pets and mascots in the stitious such practices as hearing Mass British Army. Is there any book on the before sunrise with candles arranged in a subject? DR. SÉE. Hôpital 23, Houlgate (Calvados), France. "FAT, FAIR, AND FORTY."-This alliteration has been attributed to the Prince Regent as descriptive of what a wife should be. Douglas Jerrold is reported to have said that such a wife would be all very well if you could do with her as you could with a bank note, viz., change her, when you felt so inclined, for two of twenty. With regard to the alliteration, I find in Bartlett's 'Familiar Quotations,' in a note to & quotation from Dryden, p. 275, ference to Scott's St. Ronan's Well,' chap. vii., where a comely dame spoken of as is “Fat, fair, and forty," and also a reference to a letter of Mrs. Richard Trench of Feb. 18, 1816, in which she writes: Lord Lady is going to marry a fat, fair, and fifty cardplaying resident of the Crescent." 66 66 а re In canto i stanza 62 of 'Don Juan,' Of fifty, and such husbands are in plenty; BARON WESTBURY: MOCK EPITAPH. (See 11 S. xii. 422, 464.)-Would SIR HARRY B. POLAND be good enough to state, for the benefit of those who are not lawyers, what is the meaning of : "He abolished the time-honoured institution of the Insolvents' Court, the ancient mode of conveying land, and the eternity of punishment. Also He dismissed Hell with costs, and took away from orthodox members of the Church of England their last Hope of Eternal Damnation"? BARRULE. GUNFIRE AND RAIN.-Can any reader of N. & Q.' bring forward evidence to show that the belief, which one hears constantly expressed, that heavy gunfire causes rain, has a foundation in fact ? E. C. WIENHOLT. | particular order, position, or number, or Swords of India,' dedicated to H.H. the A. B. Can any one inform me who wrote, and where I could obtain, the homely country poem beginning as under ?— A friend of mine was married to a scold; 66 Said I, “My friend, that was well for you.' I am unable to quote the rest. 6 I shall be I have a little calendar for the year 1796, dire effects of war! The time has been THE MORAY MINSTRELS.-A recent obituary notice of a musical amateur described him as 66 one of the original members of the Moray Minstrels." of that body was that the programme of My only recollection family of the late C. H. Bennett (a wellthe amateur performance on behalf of the known artist, and illustrator of publications which appeared 1855-65) at the Theatre Royal, Adelphi, on May 11, 1867, includes: Those Celebrated Amateurs, the Moray Minstrels,' will sing the following glees, part: songs, &c. W. B. H. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WANTED. I should be glad to obtain any particulars of Square, Elizabeth St. Leger, daughter of James George Douglas of London, agent for St. Kitts. Any information regarding the above will be welcome. Did he leave any issue, and are there any descendants living to-day? E. HAVILAND HILLMAN, F.S.G. 4 Somers Place, Hyde Park, W. AUTHOR OF FRENCH SONG WANTED.-Can any reader kindly tell me the composer and date of first publication of the French song "Ah, vous dirai-je, maman?" It was probably written about 1800. E. L. Worting or Werting was Master of the Replies. THE SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL (11 S. xii. 462, 508.) ROBERT CHILD, M.P., THE BANKER, died July 28, 1782. Whom and when did he marry? I should be glad to ascertain also the maiden name of his mother, the wife of Samuel Child of Osterley, who died "im-THIS Society was formed in 1780, and in mensely rich" in 1752. Is there any printed April of that year it issued a preliminary pedigree of this family? G. F. R. B. statement, in which it was resolved : --- "That this Society be unlimited in its number; and that no one shall be esteemed a member guinea as an annual subscription towards its who hath not subscribed and paid at least one expenses; and that no annual subscription shall exceed five guineas; and if any one shall choose. to compound by paying down fifty, guineas, he shall be deemed a perpetual member." JOHN WILLETT OF LONDON, MERCHANT.This gentleman, the son of Thomas Willett, Esq., of New York City, and grandson of Capt. Richard Willett of the same place (but some time previous to 1693 of Barbados, W.I.), was a merchant in London in 1783. It is possible that he was already a resident All subscriptions and donations were to of London in 1767; for the administration be paid to T. B. Hollis, Esq., Craven Street, of his father's will, dated 26 Dec., 1766, at Strand, until a Treasurer be appointed. New York, and who was speedily about This preliminary circular is signed by to depart beyond the seas,' was granted to the following:John Willett, the son, on 20 Oct., 1767 Ed. (P.C.C. 399 Secker). 66 It is probable that he is the John Willett, mentioned in 'Caribbeana' (vol. ii. p. 291) as of parentage unknown," of Broad Street, London, merchant, 1767, and of St. Benet Fink, 1769, who on 2 March of the latter year married at St. George's, Hanover 66 Bridgen, Esq., F.R.A.S. R. Brocklesby, M.D., J. Jebb, M.D., F.R.S. R. Price, D.D., F.R.S. The objects of the Society are stated in a further circular to be "to diffuse throughout the kingdom as universally as possible, a knowledge of the great principles of Constitutional Freedom, particularly such as respect the election and duration of the representative body. With this view Constitutional Tracts, intended for the extension of this knowledge and to communicate it to persons of all ranks, are printed and distributed Gratis, at the expence of the Society. Essays and extracts from various authors, calculated to promote the same design, are also published under the direction of the Society, in several of the Newspapers: and it is the wish of the Society to extend this knowledge throughout every part of the United Kingdom, and to convince men of all ranks, that it is their interest, as well as their duty, to support a free constitution, and to maintain and assert those common rights, which are essential to the dignity and to the happiness of human nature. To procure short parliaments and a more equal representation of the people, are the primary objects of the attention of this Society, and they wish to disseminate that knowledge among their Countrymen, which may lead them to a general sense of the importance of these objects, and which may induce them to contend for their rights, as men, and as citizens, with ardour and with firmness. 66 The communication of sound political knowledge to the people at large must be of great national advantage; as nothing but ignorance of their natural rights, or inattention to the consequence of these rights to their interest and happiness, can induce the majority of the inhabitants of any country to submit to any species of civil tyranny. Public Freedom is the source of natural dignity, and national felicity; and it is the duty of every friend to virtue and mankind to exert himself in the promotion of it." The earliest meeting of the Society was held at the King's Arms Tavern, New Palace Yard, and later meetings at the Freemasons' Tavern (May 27, 1780), at New Inn CoffeeHouse (Feb. 15 and May 24, 1782), at Holyland's Coffee-House (Jan. 24, 1783), and at 11 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden (Oct. 29, 1784). Subter jacet Devoniensis Franciscus Carswell Rector. It may well be that, if the tradition of the song being written by an officer of Guards temp. George I. is founded on fact, this officer may have been a Bray man, who in recording the tradition had his own vicar in mind. G. H. PALMER. In a List of Successions of Colonels there occurs Francis Fuller, 29th Regt., Aug. 28, 1739. See 'Army List,' printed by J. Millan, the whole complete for 1773, p. 215. The regiment at that date would probably be known by the name of its colonel. R. J. FYNMORE. THOMAS GRIFFIN TARPLEY (11 S. xii. 482). -On his son's matriculation at Christ Church, Oxon (Dec. 24, 1798, aged 17), Dr. Tarpley was given as "of the Isle The only list of officials I can find is as of Jersey, armiger. He had married follows: Martin, James, Esq., President. Shove, Alured Henry, Esq., Vice-President. Catherine, fourth daughter of Kenneth, Lord Fortrose, eldest son of William Mackenzie, fifth Earl of Seaforth, attainted by Act of Parliament for his participation in the rebellion of 1715. The younger Tarpley, at Christ Church, was Student until 1816, B.A. 1802, M.A. 1805, Proctor 1813, and The Society issued a quantity of leaflets, Vicar of Flower, Northants, 1815. &c., under the general title of 66 Tracts published and distributed gratis by the Society for Constitutional Information, with a design to convey to the minds of the people, a knowledge of their rights, principally those of representation." London, W. Richardson, 403 Strand, 1783, &c. 187 Piccadilly, W. A. L. HUMPHREYS. A. R. BAYLEY. |