Various

Song in Praise of the Marquess of Granby.—Can any of your correspondents furnish me with the words of a song written in praise of the Marquess of Granby, who was so distinguished as a general officer in the middle of the last century?

I think the first verse ended with—

"But the jewel of Grantham is Granby."

It was sung to the tune of "Over the Water to Charlie."

F. W. S.

Venda.—Can any of your correspondents tell me what is the origin and use of this word, as a prefix to names of places in Portugal; as it occurs, for instance, in Venda da Agua, Venda da Pia, Venda das Monachos, &c., places not far from Torres Vedras?

C. E. F.

The Georgiad.—About 1814, at Cambridge, some lines under this title were commonly attributed to the late Rev. E. Smedley (Seaton prizeman). Can any reader supply a copy? Two stanzas run thus:

"George B——^[1] has turn'd a saint, they say:

But who believes the tale?

George D—— ^[2] might as soon turn gay!

George C——'s^[3] flirting fail!

"George D——^[4] set the Thames on fire!

George R—— his reign renew!

George R—— imitate his sire,

And to his friends be true!"

Aitch.

R. S. Townshend of Manchester.—I know that you have several intelligent correspondents in the neighbourhood of Manchester, and it is probable that they may be able to give me some information respecting a Mr. R. S. Townshend, a person of literary taste and pursuits, who resided in that town about the year 1730. His Common-place Book, or Diary, which has fallen into my hands, contains numerous allusions to the leading gentry and clergy of the neighbourhood; and more than once it mentions the well-known Dr. Byrom, under the title of "Il Gran Maestro de Tachigraphia." Dr. Deacon, a distinguished person among the Nonjurors, is also mentioned. The acting of Cato by the scholars of the grammar-school on Dec. 20, 1732, is also mentioned, with some critiques upon the performers. The elections at the collegiate church are constantly referred to as subjects of all-absorbing interest; there being a strong party, as well in the town as in the church, of Jacobites, and these elections being regarded as a trial of party strength.

O. G.

"Mala malÆ malo."—Will any of your correspondents be good enough to complete the distich of which the following is the first line?—

or something like it. And, as a further favour, finish the hexameter in this epigram?

This is in the style of Audoenus. The former I have heard attributed to Porson.

Balliolensis.

"Dimidium ScientiÆ."—I should be glad if some one of your Baconian annotators would direct me to that famous maxim which Coleridge ascribes to the great philosopher, "Dimidium scientiÆ, prudens quÆstio," in the original.

B. B. Woodward.

Portrait Painters.—I am in possession of some good paintings, portraits, &c., which were taken at the end of the last, and early in the present century. Some were painted at Bath, and others at Derby: and I should feel obliged if, in your Notes, I could obtain information as to what artists of celebrity were known in those places from fifty to seventy years ago. I have heard that White of Derby was an artist of high repute.

J. Knight.

Aylestone.

"An Impartial Inquiry," &c.—Who was author of—

"An Impartial Inquiry into the true Nature of the Faith which is required in the Gospel as necessary to Salvation. In which is briefly shown upon how righteous Terms Unbelievers may become true Christians: and the case of the Deists is reduced to a short Issue, by Philalethes Cestriensis. 8vo., Lond. 1746."

Y. B. N. J.

"As poor as Job's Turkey."—This proverbial expression is used in the United States, sometimes with an addition showing how poor he was, thus: "As poor as Job's turkey, that had but one feather in his tail;" "As poor as Job's turkey, that had to lean against a fence to gobble."

Uneda.

Fuss.—Perhaps some of your correspondents can favour the public with the etymology and date of the word fuss.

W. W.

Suicide encouraged in Marseilles.—In the Lancet of Nov. 30, 1839, it is stated by De Stone that anciently, in Marseilles, persons having satisfactory reasons for committing suicide were supplied with poison at the public expense. What authority is there for this? I should also like to be informed what was the occasion on which a suicidal propensity in the Milesian ladies was corrected by an appeal to their posthumous modesty?

Elsno.

Fabulous Bird.—Among the many quaint and beautiful conceits in Fuller, there is one preeminently fine: in which he likens the life-long remorse of a man who has slain another in a duel to the condition of "a bird I have read of, which hath a face like, and yet will prey upon, a man; who, coming to the water to drink, and finding there, by reflection, that he had killed one like himself, pineth away by degrees, and never afterwards enjoyeth itself."

Where did Fuller read this story? I do not recollect it in Pliny.

V. T. Sternberg.

Segantiorum Portus.—Has there been any locality yet found for this port, mentioned by Ptolemy in his History of Britain?

Prestoniensis.

Stamping on Current Coinage.—Can any of your readers inform me whether the current English coinage may legally be used for stamping advertisements on?

Gregory.

Rhymes: Dryden.—

And again, in Threnodia Augustalis, "these," ending line 410, and "miracles," ending line 414, are made to rhyme.

Was it ever the fashion to pronounce these different terminations alike; or does any other author of repute of that date use such rhymes?

Again, "hour" and "traveller" are made to rhyme in AstrÆa Redux, 147, 148; "stars" and "travellers," in Religio Laici, 1; "are" and "Lucifer," in The Medal; "men" and "sin," in Religio Laici, 89, 90; "convince" and "sense," in Ibid. 148; cum multis aliis.

Harry Leroy Temple.

The Cadenham Oak.—Can any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." inform me if this famous old tree is still alive? It flourished for nearly three centuries in Hampshire Forest; and during this long period was visited by crowds of people, who, it must be confessed, entertained towards it a religious veneration—from its peculiarity of annually shooting forth its buds on old Christmas-day. If dead, as I suppose—for the account which I read some years ago stated that it was fast decaying—then I would like to know if the young tree, one of its progeny, is still flourishing in the forest, and enjoying, from its peculiarity, the same veneration which was paid to the parent stock. Those of your readers who wish to know more of this venerable oak, and of the trees which sprung from it, are referred to Mr. Gilpin's able and interesting work on forest scenery, published, as I believe, in London between sixty and seventy years ago.

W. W.

Malta.

St. Mary's Church, Beverley.—In the memorials of Ray (Ray Society), at p. 138., is a curious account of the church of St. Mary at Beverley. Would some kind antiquary resident at Beverley, or its vicinity, compare the present state of the church with what Ray describes it to have been in his day; and at the same time state whether "the inhabitants of Beverley" now "pay no toll or custom in any city, town, or port in England?"

Enivri.

Tredagh.

The Rev. Joshua Marsden.—I should be glad if any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." could furnish any particulars relative to the above gentleman. He was the author of a most exquisite morceau of about forty lines, entitled "What is Time;" in reference to which, a literary periodical of some thirty years ago says:

"If our readers are half as much struck with the following solemn appeal, as we ourselves have been, they will not wonder at its insertion where poetry so rarely finds room."

Braemar.

Bentley's Examination.—I have found this anecdote of Bentley in Bishop Sandford's Memoirs. Is it authentic?

"When the great Bentley, afterwards so distinguished, was examined for Deacon's Orders, he expected that the Bishop would himself examine him; and his displeasure at what he considered neglect, he vented in such answers as the following:

Chaplain. Quid est Fides?

Bentley. Quod non vides.

Chaplain. Quid est Spes?

Bentley. Quod non habes.

Chaplain. Quid est Charitas?

Bentley. Maxima raritas."

Are not these rhymes older than Bentley?

W. Fraser.

Derivation of "Lowbell."—I see Mr. Sternberg, in his "Dialect and Folk-lore of Northamptonshire," gives a new explanation of the puzzling word lowbell, in Beaumont and Fletcher's Woman's Prize, Act I. Sc. 3. It appears that Northamptonshire peasants have a way of their own for punishing offenders against good morals:

"On the first appearance of the culprit in 'strit,' or on 'grin,' the villagers rise en masse, and greet him with a terrible din of tin pots and kettles, &c.; and, amidst the hooting and vociferation of the multitude, he is generally compelled to seek shelter by flight. This is called 'lowbelling,' and the actors are termed 'lowbells,' or 'lowbellers,' forming a tolerable explanation of the lowbell in Beaumont and Fletcher's Woman's Prize, Act I. Sc. 3., which has so long mystified the commentators:

'Petru. If you can carry't so, 'tis very well.

Bian. No, you shall carry it, Sir.

Petru. Peace, gentle Lowbell.'"

Mr. Sternberg derives it from the Anglo-Saxon lowian, past participle of the Anglo-Saxon lowian, and the verb bellan. This would seem satisfactory; but I should like to know whether the word is current anywhere else besides Northamptonshire.

H. T. W.

Meaning of Assassin.—Can any reader of the "N. & Q." inform me of the correct meaning of the word "assassin?" The old story of the nation of the assassins, under their prince the "Old Man of the Mountain," I reject as absurd, although Gibbon adopts it. I have my own idea, which agrees with Mr. Lane in his account of the modern Egyptians, who derives it from the Arabic word "Hushhusheen, one drunk with hemp." M. Volney says it comes from the Arabic "Hass, to kill, or lie in ambush to kill." Which of all these derivations is correct?

Muhammed.

A. and N. Club, St. James's Square.

Punishment for exercising the Roman Catholic Religion.—In Burton's Narratives from Criminal Trials in Scotland, vol. ii. p. 168., I find the following statement:

"The latest case of punishment under the act is supposed to have occurred in 1759, when Neil M‘Fie was banished by the circuit court of Inverness, for being 'held and reputed a Popish priest.' Later instances might be adduced of punishment for exercising the Roman Catholic religion in England."

Can any of your readers inform me of the date of the last instance in England, and where it is stated?

S. Y.

Hogarth's Pictures.—I have a catalogue of the pictures and prints, the property of the late Mrs. Hogarth deceased, which were sold by Mr. Greenwood on April 24th, 1790. Under the head "Pictures by Mr. Hogarth," I see in Lot 44.: "The heads of six servants of Mr. Hogarth's family." Can any of your numerous readers inform me where this picture is placed, or say in what manner the heads are grouped?

W. D. Haggard.

Lines in a Snuff-box.—The following lines were recently found in a metal (probably silver) snuff-box, which had lain for many years undiscovered in a plate chest. They are engraved inside, on the bottom of the box, and are supposed to be a saying of Cardinal Mazarin. Can any of your correspondents give any account of them, and where they are to be found? They are as follow, verbatim et literatim, punctuation included:

R. Blakiston.

Ashington Rectory, Sussex.

Rosa Mystica.—Where is information to be found on the subject of the Rosa Mystica; and what is the date of its institution?

D. S. A.

Old-Shoe throwing at Weddings.—Can any of your readers inform me what is the origin of the custom of throwing an old shoe over the bride and bridegroom upon their leaving the church, or the "maison paternelle" after their wedding?

This ceremony, though peculiar as I believe to Scotland and our northern counties, has lately been adopted at our aristocratic marriages in London, and more should be known of its history.

Braybrooke.

HerbÉ's "Costumes FranÇais."—The valuable work by M. HerbÉ, Costumes FranÇais; Civiles, Militaires et Religieux, 4to. Paris, is doubtless well known to your readers.

I have heard that after its publication sundry persons, judging perhaps from the eccentricity of many of the costumes, doubted their accuracy, and even considered them the result of M. HerbÉ's fancy; and that that gentleman, annoyed at the imputation, subsequently published another work citing his authorities.

Query, Can any one verify this statement? and if true, inform me of the title of this latter work; and whether it is to be found in any library in this country, and where?

Pictor.