CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE.—(Concluded.)

Curious Address to the Late Queen Charlotte.

“Illustrious Dutchess, most gracious Princess and Lady; your Royal Highness is at present leaving that country whose happiness it has hitherto been to admire you, the model of a perfect Princess; you leave it to share with the greatest monarch in Europe, a throne respected through every part of the universe. The instant is at hand when your Royal Highness will for ever be withdrawn from our eyes: but it affects us the more sensibly, from the apprehension that the many great and brilliant objects, with which you will henceforth be connected, will efface so small a place as ours from your inestimable remembrance. Yet that goodness which we have hitherto with transport admired in your Royal Highness, revives our spirits; it assures us, that you will ever from the throne condescend graciously to look back on our town; and continue the patroness of those whose happiness it is to be the subjects of your illustrious Family. We, therefore, in full confidence, give ourselves up to that lively joy excited in us all, on the glorious union to which the Divine Providence has called your Royal Highness, and beg leave to accompany you with our most cordial wishes for your safe journey and continual welfare and prosperity. May the Eternal Ruler of all things, who has appointed this great event, make your Royal Highness the most perfect instance of felicity, the delight of that Royal Family into which you are now entering, the joy of Britain, and the glory of the illustrious Mecklenburg! May our illustrious Sovereign, the beloved Adolphus Frederic, long, and in all earthly happiness, together with his faithful and happy subjects, rejoice in these felicities! Your Royal Highness will graciously permit that Twelve of our Daughters, here present in the attire of innocence, may, as a memorial of this fortunate event, second the ardent sentiments of their Fathers, and in artless words, most humbly wish you a safe and pleasant journey:—

Eleonora Dorothea Maria Bentghoven.
Hail Princess! with each shining virtue bright,
All pure within, without all glorious light,
Whose form divine, whose goodness we adore;
Heaven bless thy parting from the German shore!
Christiana Juliana Elizabeth Berendsden.
As Consort of a mighty Monarch shine,
Restore the honour of an ancient line;
For this thy coming, Britain’s King invites,
For this he calls to Hymen’s soft delights.
Dorothea Elizabeth Tetlington.
Thy soul with each divinest virtue fraught,
Thy wisdom perfect, both in word and thought;
Each British bosom shall with rapture fire,
And faction sleep whilst gazing crowds admire.
Sophia Elizabeth Gradhandlan.
When seated by thy royal Consort’s side,
New lustre he shall gain from such a Bride;
Her worth shall grace the sacred nuptial ties,
And Britain’s throne in dignity shall rise.
Carolina Henrietta Tangate.
O God! whose mercies through the world abound,
Whose power supports the King thy hand has crown’d,
Waft o’er the main the Bride’s transcendent charms,
In safety to the Bridegroom’s longing arms.

Dorothea Gaven.
May she, with each endearing art possest,
To pleasure ever soothe the Monarch’s breast!
May all the royal virtues of her heart,
To faithful subjects joy sincere impart!
Anna Maria Elizabeth Christen.
Britons, rejoice, receive with loud acclaim
Sophia Charlotte, ever dear to fame;
Delight of Mecklenburg! she comes to shower
On Britain’s isle new blessings every hour.
Madalen Elizabeth Colterjahn.
Thrice happy Bride! who soon shall cross the main,
Whom to behold again we wish in vain;
May happiness increasing with thee dwell,
To every age may fame thy glory tell!
Christiana Sophia Sealon.
From Ganges to where Mississippi flows,
Diffusing wealth and plenty as it goes;
From Senegal, still scorch’d by Phoebus’ beams,
To where St. Lawrence rolls his silver streams,
Proclaim Britannia’s bliss the world around,
From pole to pole, to earth’s remotest bound.
Christiana Elizabeth Phoelen.
It’s wish auspicious Flavel hastes to bring,
For fair Charlotta and his Britain’s King;
On Britain’s isle all blessing he implores,
And rolls his friendly wave to Albion’s shores.
Dorothea Christiana Elizabeth Rexsehen.
Beneath the Lord’s anointed may she thrive,
Still may his influence keep the palm alive,
Still may it flourish, branches still extend,
Afford us shelter, and from heat defend.
Catharine Sophia Bertrowen.
Nought can our brothers’ ardent zeal restrain,
Fain would they tempt with thee the roaring main;
Permit them, Queen, thy person to be near,
That of thy safety tidings we may hear.
Chorus.
Yet for one favour more we must apply,
But little can these barren tracts supply;
Permit us, since both gold and pearls you scorn,
Your royal brows with myrtle to adorn!”

Quaint Lines on Queen Elizabeth.—Queen Elizabeth, who died at Greenwich, was brought thence to Whitehall by water, in a grand procession. On this occasion, as Camden informs us, the following quaint lines were written:—

“The Queen was brought by water to Whitehall;
At every stroke the oars did tears let fall;
More clung about the barge; fish under water
Wept out their eyes of pearl, and swam blind after.
I think the bargemen might, with easier thighs,
Have row’d her thither in her people’s eyes;
For howsoe’er, thus much my thoughts have scann’d,
She had come by water, had she come by land.”

Curious Names adopted in the Civil Wars.—A curious style of naming individuals was exceedingly common in the time of the civil wars. It was said that the genealogy of our Saviour might be learned from the names in Cromwell’s regiments. The muster-master used no other list than the first chapter of Matthew.

A Jury was returned in the county of Sussex of the following names:

Accepted Trevor, of Horsham.
Redeemed Compton, of Battle.
Faint-not Hewet, of Heathfield.
Make-peace Heaton, of Hare.
God-reward Smart, of Fivehurst.
Stand-fast-on-high Stringer, of Crowhurst.
Earth Adams, of Warbleton.
Called Lower, of Warbleton.
Kill-sin Pimple, of Witham.
Return Spelman, of Watling.
Be-faithful Joiner, of Britling.
Fly-debate Robert, of Britling.
Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith White, of Emer.
More-fruit Fowler, of East Hadley.
Hope-for Bending, of East Hadley.
Graceful Harding, of Lewes.
Weep-not Billings, of Lewes.
Meek Brewer, of Okeham.

A noted character in those days was a divine of the name of Praise-God Barebone. He is little known as a divine, but is celebrated for having been an active member in Cromwell’s parliament, and indeed for giving a name to it which is yet preserved in history. Praise-God Barebone had two brothers, namely, Christ-came-into-the-world-to-save Barebone, and If-Christ-had-not-died-thou-hadst-been-damned Barebone: some are said to have omitted the former part of the latter name, and to have called him only “Damned Barebone.”

The reader will be amused with the following Curious Extracts from the Will of an Earl of Pembroke.

“Imprimis.—For my soul; I confess I have heard very much of souls, but what they are, or whom they are, or what they are for, God knows, I know not: they tell me now of another world, where I never was, nor do I know one foot of the way thither. While the king stood, I was of his religion, made my son wear a cassock, and thought to make him a bishop, but then came the Scots, and made me a Presbyterian; and since Cromwell entered, I have been an Independent. These, I believe, are the kingdom’s three estates; and if any of these can save a soul, I may claim one; therefore if my executors do find I have a soul, I give it to him who gave it me.

“Item.—I give my body, for I cannot keep it, to be buried. Do not lay me in the church-porch, for I was a Lord, and would not be buried where Colonel Pride was born.

“Item.—My will is, that I have no monument, for then I must have epitaphs and verses, and all my life long I have had too much of them.

“Item.—I give all my deer to the Earl of Salisbury, who I know will preserve them, because he denied the king a buck out of one of his own parks.

“Item.—I give nothing to the Lord Say; which legacy I give him, because I know he will bestow it on the poor.

“Item.-To Tom May I give five shillings: I intended him more: but whoever has seen his history of the parliament, thinks five shillings too much.

“Item.—I give Lieutenant General Cromwell one word of mine, because hitherto he never kept his own.

“Item.—I give up the ghost, concordat cum originati.”

Curious Letter from Pomare, King of Otaheite, to the Missionary Society.

(Translation.)

Matavae, Otaheite, Jan. 1, 1807.

Friends,

I wish you every blessing, friends, in your residence in your country, with success in teaching this bad land, this foolish land, this wicked land, this land which is ignorant of good, this land that knoweth not the true God, this regardless land.

Friends, I wish you health and prosperity; may I also live, and may Jehovah save us all!

Friends, with respect to your letter you wrote to me, I have this to say to you, that your business with me, and your wishes, I fully consent to, and shall consequently banish Ore (his chief idol) and send him to Racatea.

Friends, I do therefore believe and shall obey your word.Friends, I hope you also will consent to my request, which is this; I wish you to send a great number of men, women, and children, here.

Friends, send also property and cloth for us, and we also will adopt English customs.

Friends, send also plenty of muskets and powder, for wars are frequent in our country:—should I be killed, you will have nothing in Tahete; do not come here when I am dead. Tahete is a regardless country; and should I die with sickness, do not come here. This also I wish, that you would send me all the curious things that you have in England: also send me every thing necessary for writing; paper, ink, and pens, in abundance; let no writing utensil be wanting.

Friends, I have done, and have nothing at all more to ask you for: as for your desire to instruct Tahete, ’tis what I fully acquiesce in. ’Tis a common thing for people not to understand at first; but your object is good, and I fully consent to it; and shall cast off all evil customs.

What I say is truth, and no lie; it is the real truth.

This is all I have to write. I have done. Friends, write to me, that I may know what you have to say. I wish you life and every blessing. May I also live, and Jehovah save us all!

Pomare, King of Tahete, &c. &c.

For my Friends, the Missionary
Society, London.

Curious Love Letter.

Madam,—Most worthy of estimation! After long consideration, and much meditation, on the great reputation you possess in the nation, I have a strong inclination to become your relation. On your approbation of this declaration, I shall make preparation to remove my situation, to a more convenient station, to profess my admiration; and if such oblation is worthy of observation, and can obtain commiseration, it will be an aggrandization beyond all calculation of the joy and exultation,

Of your’s,
Sans Dissimulation.

The Answer.

Sir,—I perused your oration with much deliberation, and a little consternation, at the great infatuation of your imagination, to shew such veneration on so slight a foundation. But after examination and much serious contemplation, I supposed your animation was the fruit of recreation, or had sprung from ostentation, to display your education, by an odd enumeration, or rather multiplication, of words of the same termination, though of great variation in each respective signification.

Now without disputation, your laborious application in so tedious an occupation, deserves commemoration, and thinking imitation a sufficient gratification, I am, without hesitation,

Your’s,
Mary Moderation.

Creeds of the Jews.—The following piece is transcribed from the Common Prayer now in use among the Jews, and is entitled the Thirteen Creeds. It will give some idea of the theoretic branch of religion now prevailing among this singular people.

1. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God is the Creator of all things; that he doth guide and support all creatures; that he alone has made every thing; and that he still acts, and will act, during the whole eternity.

2. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God is one; there is no unity like his: he alone hath been, and shall be eternally, our God.

3. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God is not corporeal; he cannot have any material properties; and no corporeal essence can be compared with him.

4. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God is the beginning and end of all things.

5. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God alone ought to be worshipped, and none but he ought to be adored.

6. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, whatever hath been taught by the Prophets.

7. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that the doctrine of Moses is true. He is the father and the head of all the doctors that lived before or since, or shall live after him.

8. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that the law we have is the same as was given by Moses.

9. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that this law shall never be altered, and God will give no other.

10. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God knoweth all the thoughts and actions of men.

11. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that God will reward the works of all those who perform his commandments, and punish those who transgress his laws.

12. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, that the Messiah is to come. Although he tarrieth, I will wait, and expect daily his coming!

13. I believe, with a firm and perfect faith, the Resurrection of the Dead shall happen when God shall think fit. Blessed, and glorified eternally, be the name of the Creator! Amen.

The Unbeliever’s Creed.

“I believe that there is no God, but that matter is God, and God is matter, and that it is no matter whether there is any God or not. I believe, also, that the world was not made; that the world made itself; that it had no beginning; that it will last for ever, world without end.

“I believe that a man is a beast, that the soul is the body, and the body is the soul; and that after death there is neither body nor soul.

“I believe there is no religion; that natural religion is the only religion; and that all religion is unnatural. I believe not in Moses; I believe in the first philosophy; I believe not in the Evangelists; I believe in Chubb, Collins, Toland, Tindal, Morgan, Mandeville, Woolston, Hobbes, and Shaftsbury; I believe in lord Bolingbroke; I believe not in St. Paul.

“I believe not in revelation; I believe in tradition; I believe in the Talmud; I believe in the Alcoran; I believe not in the Bible; I believe in Socrates; I believe in Confucius; I believe in Sanchoneathon; I believe in Mahomet; I believe not in Christ.

“Lastly, I believe in all unbelief.”

Explanation of the Terms “Whig” and “Tory.”—Burnet, who was contemporary with the introduction of these terms, gives the following account of the former:—

“The south-west counties of Scotland have seldom corn enough to serve them through the year; and the northern parts producing more than they need, those in the west come in the summer to buy at Leith, the stores that come from the north; and from a word (whiggam) used in driving their horses, all that drove were called Whiggamors, and, shorter, the Whigs. Now in that year, before the news came down of the duke of Hamilton’s defeat, the ministers animated the people to rise and march to Edinburgh; and they came up, marching at the head of their parishes with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching all the way as they came. This was called the Whiggamor’s inroad; and ever after, all that opposed the court came in contempt to be called Whigs.”

Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, quotes this passage; yet by placing against the term Whig, the Saxon word Whoeg, synonymous to whey, or sour milk, he seems not to reject another derivation, which has been assigned to it by some writers.

Echard says—“Great animosities were created by these petitioners and abhorrers, and they occasioned many feuds and quarrels in private conversations; and about the same time, 1680, and from the same cause, arose the pernicious terms and distinctions of Whig and Tory, both exotic names, which the parties invidiously bestowed upon each other. All that adhered to the interest of the crown and lineal succession, were by the contrary branded with the title given to the Irish robbers; and they, in return, gave the others the appellation of Whig, or sour milk, formerly appropriated to the Scotch presbyterians and rigid covenanters.”—p. 988.

Tindal, in his introduction to the Continuation of Rapin’s History, notices the distinction between the principles of the parties, but does not inquire into the etymology of the terms.—Vol. i. p. 15.

Toland, in his State Anatomy, considers the words as mere terms of reproach, first applied to each party by its enemies, and then adopted by each as a distinction.

“The words themselves are but late nicknames, given by each party to the other in King Charles the Second’s reign: Tories in Ireland, and Whigs in Scotland, being what we in England call highwaymen; and you, public robbers.”—Part I.

Hume, the historian, says—

“This year, 1680, is remarkable for being the epoch of the well-known epithets Whig and Tory, by which, and sometimes without any material difference, this island has been so long divided. The court party reproached their antagonists with their affinity to the fanatical conventiclers, who were known by the name of Whigs; and the country party found a resemblance between the courtiers and the Popish banditti in Ireland, who were known by the name of Tories.”—Vol. VIII. p. 125.

These are the principal writers in which the origin of the terms is noticed.