Notes and Queries, Number 211, November 12, 1853

Dusky-brown. Trench.

Early. C. Smith.

Elegiac. Dibdin.

Enamoured. Shelley.

Fabled. Byron.

Fair. Smart.

Greeful.3 Lodge.

Gurgling. Lloyd.

Hallow'd. Moore.

Hundred-throated. Tennyson.

Invisible. Hurdis.

Lesbian. Bromley.

Love-learned. Thomson.

Love-sick. Warton.

Loud-complaining. Gibbons.

Lulling. Anon.4

Lute-tongued. Anon.5

Mellow. Strangford.

Midnight minstrel. Logan.

Moody. Hurdis.

Nightly. Bidlake.

Pandionian. Drummond.

Panged. Hood.

Pitiful. Herrick.

Plaintful. Drummond.

Quavering. Poole.

Querulous. Kennedy.

Rapturous. Southey.

Rural. Dryden.

Sable.6 Drummond.

Sadly-pleasing7. Anon.

Secret. Shelley.

Sely. Chaucer.

Sequestered. J. Montgomery.

Shy. Dallas.

Silver-tuned. Carey.

Simple. Derrick.

Sobbing. Planché.

Soft-tuned. Whaley.

Solitary. Bowring.

Sorrow-soothing. Shaw.

Sprightly. Elton.

Sweet-breasted. Beaumont and Fletcher.

Sweet-tongued. Anon.8

Sylvan syren. Pattison.

Tearful. Potter.

Tenderest. Wiffen.

Thracian. Lewis.

Transporting. Hurdis.

Unadorned. Hurdis.

Unhappy. Croxall.

Watchful. Philips.

Witching. Proctor.

Woodland. Smith.

Wretched. Shirley.

Wronged. P. Fletcher.

Yearly. Drayton.

Young. Lewis.

The character of the mere song alone has been described in the following terms:

Melodious lay. Potter.

Lofty song. Yalden.

A storm of sound. Shelley.

Impressive lay. Merry.

Swelling slow. Kirk White.

Tremulously slow. C. Smith.

Wild melody. Shelley.

Thick melodious note. Lloyd.

Hymn of lore. Logan.

Melting lay. Henley.

Harmonious woe. Pomfret.

Well-tuned warble. Shakspeare.

Luscious lays. Warton.

Sadly sweet. Potter.

Varied strains. Pope.

Thick-warbled notes. Milton.

W. Pinkerton.

Ham.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE

Photographic Exhibition.—We understand that the Photographic Society has made arrangements for an exhibition of photographs in the metropolis during the months of January and February next. The exhibition will not be confined to the works of native photographers, but will comprise specimens of the most eminent foreign artists, who have been specially invited to contribute. From the advances which have been made in this favourite art, even since the recent exhibition in the rooms of the Society of Arts, we may confidently anticipate that the display on the present occasion will be one of the highest interest.

How much Light is obstructed by a Lens?—Can any of your scientific correspondents furnish me with an approximation to the quantity of light which is transmitted through an ordinary double achromatic lens, say of Ross, Voightlander, or any other celebrated maker?

Lux.

Stereoscopic Articles.—I cannot agree to my opponent's assumed amendment (?) (Vol. viii., p. 419.) space, for the simple reason that it would be virtually abandoning the whole of the points in dispute between us; when farther discussion and more mature consideration, only tend to convince me more firmly of the correctness of the propositions I have advocated, viz.:

1st. That circumstances may and do arise in which a better result is obtained in producing stereographs, when the chord of the angle of generation is more or less than 2½ inches.

2nd. That the positions of the camera should not be parallel but radial.

I certainly thought that I had, as I intended, expressed the fact that I treat the cameras precisely as two eyes, and moreover I still contend that they should be so treated; my object being to present to each eye exactly such a picture and in such a direction as would be presented under certain circumstances. The plane of delineation being a flat, instead of a curved surface, has nothing whatever to do with this point, because the curves of the retinas are not portions of one curve having a common centre, but each having its own centre in the axis of the pupil. That a plane surface for receiving the image is not so good as a spherical one would be, is not disputed; but this observation applies to photographs universally, and is only put up with as the lesser of two evils. A plane surface necessarily contracts the field of view to such a space as could be cut out of the periphery of a hollow sphere, the versed sine of which bears but a small ratio to its chord.

There is another misunderstanding into which my opponent has fallen, viz. the part of the object to be delineated, which should form the centre of radiation, is not the most contiguous visible point, but the most remote principal point of observation. I perceive that this is the case from two illustrations he was kind enough to forward me, being stereographs of a

square, placed with the points of junction towards the observer, and the tail receding from him; and in one case the angle of the square is made the centre of radiation, and while its distance from the camera is only six feet, the points of delineation are no less than three feet apart.

To push an argument to the extreme to test its value, is quite right; but this goes far beyond the extreme, if I may be allowed such a very Hibernian expression.

No object, however minute, can be clearly seen if brought nearer to the eyes than a certain point, because it will be what is technically called out of focus. It is true that this point differs in different individuals, but the average distance of healthy vision is 10 inches. Now, adopting Mr. Merritt's own standard of 2½ inches between the eyes, it is clear that supposing the central point had been rightly selected, the distance between the cameras was only double what might have been taken an extreme distance. It is scarcely necessary to suggest what a person devoid of taste (in which category I am no doubt included) might do in producing monstrosities by adopting the radial method, as such an one is not very likely to produce good results at all.

I now address myself to another accusation. It is quite true that I am unacquainted with the scholastic dogmas of perspective, but equally true that I am familiar with the facts thereof, as any one must be who has studied optical and geometrical science generally; and while I concur in the propositions as enunciated for a one-eyed picture, I by no means agree to the assumption that the "vanishing points," in the two stereographs taken radially with the necessary precautions, "would be so far apart, that they could not in the stereoscope flow into one;" on the contrary, direct experiment shows me, what reason also suggests, that they do flow into one as completely as in nature when viewed by both eyes.

I put the proposition thus, because I do not hesitate to avow that in nature, as interpreted by binocular vision, these points do not absolutely, but only approximately, flow into one; otherwise one eye would be as effective as two.

I have not the smallest objection to my views being considered "false to art," as, alas! her fidelity to nature is by no means beyond suspicion.

Lastly, as to the model-like appearance of stereographs taken at a large angle, for the fact I need only refer the objector to most of the beautiful foreign views now so abundant in our opticians' shops: for the reason, is it not palpable that increasing the width of the eyes is analogous to decreasing the size of the object? and if naturally we cannot "perceive at one view three sides of a cake, two heads of a drum, nor any other like absurdity," it is only because we do not use objects sufficiently small to permit us to do so. Even while I am writing this, I have before me a small rectangular inkholder about 1¼ inches square, and distant from my eyes about one foot, in which the very absurd phenomenon complained of does exist, the front, top, and both sides being perfectly visible at once: and being one of those obstinate fellows who will persist in judging personally from experience if possible, I fear I shall be found incorrigible on the points on which your correspondent has so kindly endeavoured to enlighten me.

Geo. Shadbolt.

To introduce Clouds (Vol. viii., p. 451.) as desired by your correspondent Σ., the negative must be treated in the sky by solution of cyanide of potassium laid on in the form desired with a camel's hair pencil. This discharges a portion of the reduced silver, and allows the light to penetrate; but great care is required to stop the action by well washing in water before the process has gone too far. White clouds are produced by painting them in with a black pigment mixed in size.

Geo. Shadbolt.

Replies to Minor Queries

Death of Edward II. (Vol. viii., p. 387.).—P. C. S. S. has noticed with considerable surprise the very strange assertion of Mr. C. M. Ingleby with reference to the murder of Edward II. at Berkeley Castle, viz. that "Echard and Rapin are silent, both as to the event and the locality." If Mr. Ingleby will again refer to Echard (vol. i. p. 341., edit. 1718) and to Rapin (vol. iii. p. 147., edit. 1749), he will perceive that the two historians record "both the event and the locality."

Mr. Ingleby did not perhaps consider that the transaction in question took place during the reign of Edward III.; and is, therefore, not to be sought for at the close of that of Edward II. (where probably Mr. C. M. Ingleby looked for it), but among the occurrences in the time of Edward III. Mr. C. M. Ingleby will assuredly find it there, not only in Echard and Rapin, but in every other History of England since the date of the "event."

P. C. S. S.

Luther no Iconoclast (Vol. viii., p. 335.).—An occasional contributor wishes the Editor to note down this Query. What could have led your correspondent J. G. Fitch to use so peculiarly inappropriate a synonym for Martin Luther as "the great Iconoclast?" Has he any historical evidence for Luther's breaking a single image?

It is not to defend Luther, but to point out a defect in his teaching, as it is regarded by the adherents of other Protestant churches, that Dr. Maclaine has said, in his note on Book IV. ch. i. § 18. of Mosheim:

"It is evident, from several passages in the writings of Luther, that he was by no means averse to the use of images, but that, on the contrary, he looked upon them as adapted to excite and animate the devotion of the people."

Mosheim, and Merle D'Aubigné, and probably any other historian of the Reformation in Germany, may be cited as witnesses for the notorious fact, that Carlstadt excited the citizens of Wittemberg to break the images in their churches when Luther was concealed in the Castle of Wartburg, and that he rebuked and checked these proceedings on his return. See Mosheim, as cited before, or D'Aubigné, book IX. ch. vii. and viii.

H. W.

Rev. Urban Vigors (Vol. viii., p. 340.).—My great-great-grandmother was a sister of Bishop Vigors, who was consecrated to the see of Leighlin and Ferns, March 8, 1690. He, I know, was a near relative of the Rev. Urban Vigors. An Urban Vigors of Ballycormack, co. Wexford, also married my great-great-aunt, a Miss Thomas, sister of Vigors Thomas, Esq., of Limerick. I should, equally with your correspondent Y. S. M., wish to know any particulars of the "Vigors" family; and should be delighted to enter into correspondence with him.

W. Sloane Sloane-Evans.

Cornworthy Vicarage, Totnes.

Portrait of Baretti (Vol. VIII., p. 411.).—In reply to Mr. G. R. Corner's Query regarding Sir Joshua Reynolds' picture of Baretti, I can give him the information he requires.

This very interesting portrait is now at my brother's, Holland House, Kensington.

My late father, Lord Holland, had a pretty picture of the late Lord Hertford's mother (I believe), or some near relation of his. Not being connected with that family, my father offered it to Lord Hertford, leaving it to his lordship to give him such picture as he might choose in exchange. Some time afterwards this portrait of Baretti was sent, and was much prized and admired. It represents Baretti reading a small book, which he holds close to his face with both hands; he is in a white coat, and the whole carries with it a certainty of resemblance. This occurred about twenty-five years ago. Perhaps it may interest your readers to learn that our distinguished painter, Watts, painted for my brother, Lord Holland, a portrait of another distinguished Italian, Mr. Panizzi, and pendant to the former. He is represented leaning forward and writing, and the likeness is very striking.

C. Fox.

Addison Road.

Passage in Sophocles.—In Vol. viii., p. 73., appears an article by Mr. Buckton, in which he quotes the following conclusion of a passage in Sophocles:

"Ὅτῳ φρέναςΘεὸς ἄγει πρὸς ἄταν·Πράσσειν δ' ὀλιγοστὸν χρόνον ἐκτὸς ἄτας."

This, πέτρῳ στάθμην ἁρμόζων, he translates,—

"Whose mind the God leads to destruction; but that he (the God) practises this a short time without destroying such an one."

But for the Italics it might have been an oversight: they would seem to imply he has some authority for his translation. I have no edition of Sophocles by me to discover, but surely no critical scholar can acquiesce in it. The only active sense of πράσσειν I remember at the moment is to exact. It surely should be translated, "And he, whom the God so leads to ἄτη, fares a very short time without it." The best translation of ἄτη is, perhaps, infatuation. Moreover, how is the above translation reconciled with the very superlative ὀλίγοστον?

M.

Brothers of the same Name (Vol. viii., p. 338.).—It is not unusual in old pedigrees to find two brothers or two sisters with the same Christian name; but it is unusual to find more than two living at the same time with only one Christian name between them: this, however, occurs in the family of Gawdy of Gawdy Hall, Norfolk. Thos. Gawdy married three wives, and by each had a son Thomas. The eldest was a serjeant-at-law, and died in 1556. The second was a judge of the Queen's Bench, and died in November, 1587 or 1588. The third is known as Sir Francis Gawdy, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; but he also was baptized by the name of Thomas. Lord Coke, who succeeded him as Chief Justice, says (Co. Lit. 3. a.):

"If a man be baptized by the name of Thomas, and after at his confirmation by the bishop he is named John, he may purchase by his name of confirmation; and this was the case of Sir Francis Gawdie, late C. J. of C. B., whose name of baptism was Thomas, and his name of confirmation Francis; and that name of Francis, by the advice of all the judges in anno 36 Henry VIII. (1544-5), he did bear and after used in all his purchases and grants."

The opportunity afforded by the Roman Catholic Church of thus changing the baptismal name may help to account for this practice, which probably arose from a desire to continue the particular name in the family. If one of two sons with the same name of baptism died in childhood, the other continued the name: if both lived, one of them might change his name at confirmation. There is no name given at confirmation according to the form of the Church of England.

F. B.

High Dutch and Low Dutch (Vol. viii., p. 413.).—Considerable misapprehension appears to have arisen with regard to these expressions, from the fact of the German word Deutsch being sometimes erroneously understood to mean Dutch. But German scholars very well know that in Germany nothing is more common than to speak of Hoch Deutsch and Nieder Deutsch (High German and Low German), as applied respectively to that language when grammatically spoken and correctly pronounced, and to the bad grammar and worse pronunciation indulged in by many of the provincials, and also by the lower class of people in some of the towns where High German is supposed to prevail. Thus, for examples Dresden is regarded as the head-quarters of Hoch Deutsch, because there the language is spoken and pronounced with the most purity: Berlin, also, as regards the well-educated classes, boasts of the Hoch Deutsch; but the common people (das Volk) of the Prussian capital indulge in a dialect called Nieder Deutsch, and speak and pronounce the language as though they were natives of some remote province. Now, the instance of Berlin I take to be a striking illustration of the meaning of these expressions, as both examples are comprised in the case of this city.

The German word for "German" is Deutsch; for "Dutch" the German is Holländisch; and I presume it is from the similarity of Deutsch and Dutch that this common error is so frequently committed. For the future let it be remembered, that Dutch is a term which has no relation whatever to German; and that "High German" is that language spoken and written in its purity, "Low German" all the dialects and mispronunciations which do not come up to the standard of correctness.

James Spence Harry.

8. Arthur Street.

Translations of the Prayer Book into French (Vol. vii., p. 382.; Vol. viii., p. 343.).—Besides the editions already mentioned, a 4to. one was published at London in 1689, printed by R. Everingham, and sold by R. Bentley and M. Magnes. Prefixed to it is the placet of the king, dated 6th October, 1662, with the subsequent approbation of Stradling, chaplain to Gilbert (Sheldon), Bishop of London, dated 6th April, 1663.

It seems ("N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 92.) that a copy is in the British Museum; one is also in my possession.

I presume that there were other editions between the years 1663 and 1689.

H. P.

Divining-rod (Vol. viii., p. 293.).—For a full account of the divining rod see La Physique occulte, ou Traité de la Baguette Divinatoire, &c., par Père L. de Vallemont, a work by no means uncommon, having passed through several editions. Mine is "à Paris, chez Jean Boudot, avec priv. 1709, in 12o. avec figures," with the addition of a "Traité de la Connoissance des Causes Magnétiques, &c., par un Curieux."

A Cornish lady informs me that the Cornish miners to this day use the divining-rod in the way represented in fig. 1. of the above-mentioned work.

R. J. R.

In the 351st number of the Monthly Magazine, dated March 1st, 1821, there is a letter to the editor from W. Partridge, dated Boxbridge, Gloucester, giving several instances of his having successfully used the divining-rod for the purpose of discovering water. He says the gift is not possessed by more than one in two thousand, and attributes the power to electricity. Those persons in whose hands it will work must possess a redundancy of that fluid. He also states that metals are discovered by the same means.

K. B.

Slow-worm Superstition (Vol. vii., p. 33.).—The belief that the slow-worm cannot die until sunset prevails in Dorsetshire. In the New Forest the same superstition exists with regard to the brown adder. Walking in the heathy country between Beaulieu and Christ Church I saw a very large snake of this kind, recently beaten to death by the peasant boys, and on remarking that the lower jaw continued to move convulsively, I was told it would do so "till the moon was up."

An aged woman, now deceased, who had when young been severely bitten by a snake, told me she always felt a severe pain and swelling near where the wound had been, on the anniversary of the occurrence. Is this common? and can it be accounted for?

W. E.

Pimperne, Dorset.

Ravailliac (Vol. viii., p. 219.).—The destruction of the pyramid erected at Paris upon the murder of Henry IV., is mentioned by Thuanus, Hist., lib. 134. cap. 9. In your correspondent's Query, Thesaur. is, I presume, misprinted for Thuan.

B. J.

Lines on the Institution of the Garter (Vol. viii., p. 182.).—A. B. R. says, "as also from the proverbial expression used in Scotland, and to be found in Scott's Works, of 'casting a leggin girth,' as synonymous with a female 'faux pas.'" I may mention to your correspondent (if he is not already aware) that the expression is taken from Allan Ramsay's continuation of Christ's Kirk on the Green (edit. Leith, 1814, 1 vol. p. 101.):

"Or bairns can read, they first maun spell,I learn'd this frae my mammy;And coost a legen girth mysell,Lang or I married Tammie."

and is explained by the author in a note, "Like a tub that loses one of its bottom hoops." In the west of Scotland the phrase is now restricted to a young woman who has had an illegitimate child, or what is more commonly termed "a misfortune," and it is probable never had another meaning. Legen or leggen is not understood to have any affinity in its etymology to the word leg, but is laggen, that part of the staves which projects from the bottom of the barrel, or of the child's luggie, out of which he sups his oatmeal parritch; and the girth, gird, or hoop, that by which the vessel at this particular place is firmest bound together. Burns makes a fine and emphatic use of the word laggen in the "Birthday Address," in speaking of the "Royal lasses dainty" (Cunninghame, edit. 1826, vol. ii. p. 329.):

"God bless you a', consider now,Ye're unco muckle dantet:But ere the course o' life be thro'It may be bitter santet.An I hae seen their coggie fou,That yet hae tarrow't at it;But or the day was done, I trow,The laggen they hae clautet."

which means, that at last, whether through pride, hunger, or long fasting, the appetite had become so keen, that all, even to the last particle of the parritch, was clautet, scartit, or scraped from the bottom of the coggie, and to its inmost recesses surrounded by the laggen girth. Of the motto of the garter, "Honi soit qui mal y pense," I have heard a burlesque translation known but to few, in "Honeys sweet quo' Mally Spence," synonymous with Proverbs, chap. ix. verse 17: "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

G. N.

Passage in Bacon (Vol. viii., p. 303.).—I had, partly from inadvertence, and partly from a belief that a tautology would be created by a recurrence to the idea of death, after the words "mortis terrore carentem," in the preceding line, understood the verse in question to mean, "which regards length of life as the last of Nature's gifts." On reconsideration, however, I do not doubt that the received interpretation, which makes spatium extremum equivalent to finem, is the correct one.

L.

What Day is it at our Antipodes? (Vol. viii., p. 102.).—A person sailing to our Antipodes westward will lose twelve hours; by sailing thither eastward he will gain twelve hours. If both meet at the same hour, say eleven o'clock, the one will reckon 11 A.M., the other 11 P.M.

Este.

Calves' Head Club (Vol. viii., p. 315.).—In Hone's Every Day Book, vol. ii. pp. 158, 159, 160., some more information is given on the interesting event referred to in the Note made by Mr. E. G. Ballard. A print is given of the scene; and the obnoxious toasts are also quoted; they are: "The pious memory of Oliver Cromwell;" "Damn—n to the race of the Stuarts;" "The glorious year 1648;" "The man in the mask," &c. The print is dated 1734, which proves that the meeting at which the disturbance arose was not the first which had taken place.