QUIVIS might find such a work as he desires in John Timbs's Popular Errors Explained' (Crosby Lockwood & Co., London). In another work of his, Curiosities of History,' he, to use his own words, "examines a few of the popular errors of history, of which there exists a plentiful crop.' As with most of Mr. Timbs's productions, the contents of the books consist mostly of compiled matter; but his work is always interesting. 45 Wilmot. St. h. 2. O. P. HALE. Twickenham. nature than by imitation of the Scythians, of the whom Mr. Colgan has this note : "It is not quite clear whether this gorging of the mere Irish was done with trefoil cakes, or with some ordinary food; but the whole passage occurs in a section devoted to the meadow trefoil." C. C. B. finds it very difficult to accept this "mysterious shamrock-bread," and I, too, am forced into the same position. I have had some correspondence with Mr. Colgan on the subject; and an extract from one of his letters touching on C. C. B.'s comments to me in a letter may be of general interest : "I agree with him [C. C. B.] that one of the most interesting questions raised by my paper is this: Whence did Lobel draw his circumstantial knowledge (?) of the Irish shamrock bread? I can easily understand swallowing the shamrock bread of Lobel; but no one, in the intellectual and physical difficulty C. C. B. finds in modern times at least, seems to have made any attempt to test the nutritious value of a shamrock diet. The value of Gerard's evidence is, of course, not that he confirms Lobel's story of the cakes, but that he first tells us what name the Irish gave to Lobel's bread stuff. I am quite convinced that a good deal of early shamrock literature still remains to be discovered, and my compila tion does little more than sum up the very meagre extent of our present knowledge." The studies of your readers carry them into many an obscure volume. Perhaps stored away in their note-books are some references to these strange shamrock cakes. Now would be a fitting time to bring them to light. The hope of such a result prompted this note. SHAMROCK AS FOOD (8th S. xi. 505; xii. 37).—In response to a request at the last reference I have had the pleasure of communicating direct with C. C. B. Mr. Colgan has discovered in Lobel's 'Stirpium Adversaria Nova,' 1570, a hitherto unique piece of evidence in connexion with a phase of this subject. Both the author of 'The Shamrock in Literature' and your erudite contributor C. C. B. consider this passage of extraordinary interest, and I take the liberty of transferring it to the pages of 'N. & Q.' for the benefit of your readers. I give Mr. Colgan's translation from Lobel's "decidedlyx. thorny Latin": "The meadow trefoil......with a purple flower is called purple trefoil, and with a whitish flower white trefoil......and there is nothing better known or more frequent than either, or more useful for the fattening, whether of kine, or of beasts of burden. Nor is it from any other than this that the mere Irish, scorning all the delights and spurs of the palate, grind [the meal for] their cakes and loaves, which they knead with butter, and thrust into their groaning bellies, when, as sometimes happens, they are vexed and nigh maddened with a three days' hunger. But it is chiefly with the freebooters the like endurance is used, as it is, moreover, with the soldiery. And certain gentlemen of our acquaintance being amongst them on war service, some years since, by reason of the revolt of the mercenaries in Ireland, were astonished to see them, after they had well stuffed themselves with food, go most straightly girt round the navel with their belts for three days' space, till once again they might gorge themselves with victuals, For they were persuaded it would much advantage their strength and nourishment if, with tight-girt belts, they should thus keep their food in durance as long as might be, lest it should too quickly digest itself. And this, it seems to me, they had rather by the teaching of Yet I'd rather have a guinea than a one-pound note. This inquiry was made in some local 'Notes and Queries eight years ago, and elicited the somewhat meagre information that both will be found in a burlesque entitled 'Don Giovanni in London.' I have no opportunity of verifying this statement, and no author's name is given. Urmston. RICHARD LAWSON. ['Don Giovanni in London' is by Moncrieff. It was played at Bath 11 Nov., 1820, with Mrs. Gould as the hero, having previously been given at the Olympic 26 Dec., 1817. An earlier line ran, if we remember rightly, A guinea it will sink and a note it will float.] SHORTAGE (8th S. xii. 286).—As you point out in your editorial note, K. P. D. E. is scarcely correct in calling this a new word. I have often met with, and used, the word in relation to matters of business. On referring to the 'Encyclopædic Dictionary,' I find the word is duly noted, with the following explanation: "Amount THE WANDERING JEW (8th S. xii. 247). Without pretending to reply to K. J. A.'s inquiry, might I suggest that he would do well to read Champfleury's monograph on Le Juif-Errant,' on pp. 1-104 of his 'Histoire de l'Imagerie Populaire' (Paris, Dentu, ed. 1869)? It is concise, but gives many references, and some interesting facsimiles of old "portraits" of the poor wanderer. On p. 5 Champfleury says :— "A proprement parler, il n'existe qu'un seul document ancien relatif au Jaif-Errant, le passage de la Chronique de Matthieu Paris [moine anglais qui vivait du temps de Henri III., et mourut en 1259]." Nisard's 'Histoire des Livres Populaires' might St. Petersburg. Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, &c, Life and Letters of Mr. Endymion Porter. By Dorothea addressed poems to him and his wife. Herrick has five A A bibliographical list of the works, both English and foreign, on the subject of the Wandering Jew would occupy, many pages of 'N. & Q.' I therefore give the names of some of the works which are likely to be accessible to your correspondent romances of Eugène Sue and the Rev. Dr. Croly's, under the title of Salathiel'; Bent-painters. He was himself a purchaser of pictures, and ley's Miscellany, xiii.; Curious Myths of the Middle Ages,' by S. Baring-Gould; Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, First Series, ix., and his Book of Days,' i. 534; Brand's 'Popular Antiquities'; and Blackwood's Magazine, vii. Should further information and references to many English and foreign works be required, consult N. & Q.,' 1" S. vii., X., xii.; 3rd S. i., x.; 6 S. iv.; 7th S. xii. EVERARD HUME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road. An account of this legend is given in the Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Myths of the Middle Ages, towards the end of which he makes mention of several other works on this subject.us. Pardon are acknowledged.] Hermona Immunes mmouth ASHBURNHAM HOUSE, DOVER STREET (8th S. xii. 221). Most certainly this house stands, and always stood, on the west, not on the east, of Dover Street; and the date of the death of Henry, Lord Jermyn of Dover, was 1708, not 1782. I can account for my blunders only by my own carelessness. E. WALFORD. ARMS ON POTTERY (8th S. xii. 327).-The arms described at above reference are those of the noble Prussian family of Wied, and the initials will doubtless be found to stand for Friedrich, Graf zu Wied, Herr (zu) Runkel vnd Ysenburg. 25 Cranbourn St., O CULLETON. other poets who dedicated their works to him in language no less flattering. Equally great was his intimacy with he aided Charles I. in forming his great collection. No fewer than four portraits of Porter were painted by Vandyck and two by Dobson. Historically be is best to which country, on account of his knowledge of the remembered in connexion with negotiations with Spain, language and a Spanish strain in his blood, he was often sent, and sometimes on missions of considerable delicacy and difficulty. He accompanied Charles and Buckingham in their famous visit to Madrid, and acted at times as their interpreter. These things are, however, matters of historical knowledge. Mrs. Townshend tells pleasantly the story of Porter's loves and life, and especially of his marriage, prosperous as regards the influence it brought suspicion attaching to him through the proselytizing zeal him, and detrimental subsequently in consequence of the of his wife, a convert to Catholicism. Much interest, both private and historical, attends the letters from Porter to his wife, and his correspondence generally will be read with much pleasure and advantage. Among the numerous illustrations to a beautiful volume are portraits of Porter by Vandyck and Dobson, a portrait by Vandyck of Olivia, Porter's wife, and another by the same artist of Porter with his wife and sons. Townshend's task has been ably executed, and we are thankful for the light thrown upon one of the bravest and noblest of the Cavaliers and upon his family, some of the members of which rival their father in merit, while others lived to be classed among the most debauched products of the Restoration. Mrs. The Poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Edited by, To the lovely "Muses' Library" of Messrs. Lawrence & Richard Garnett, C.B., LL.D. (Lawrence & Bullen.) Bullen has now been added an edition of Coleridge; and who shall say that any edition of the poets would approach completeness in which Coleridge did not find a place? In one respect, however, the present volume stands apart from the others of the series. Occupying a position midway between the eighteenth and the nineteenth century poets, Coleridge, in Dr. Garnett's opinion, was influenced by his models. Only after he had come across Wordsworth did he begin to supply his best work. Some of his early poems are, it is held, unworthy of preservation, and some of them are omitted from the volume. With all respect for Dr. Garnett's taste and opinion, and with a total absence of sympathy for literary resurrectionists, we are disposed to regret the plan adopted. Welcoming in anthologies the taster, we rather resent his work in collected editions. We remember well when pretensions to select were put forward by Gilfillan, and were not too favourably received. All that is best in Coleridge is in the volume, and some ingenuity is requisite to trace an omission. Such we have not our. selves detected; but though the volume is a thrice welcome addition to our shelves, we are glad that we can boast another edition. Dr. Garnett's introduction is a piece of sound criticism, with which we are generally in accord, and the notes are excellent. In the note on 1. 7 of Christabel' there seems to be an error or omission. French Idioms and Proverbs. By De V. Payen-Payne. (Nutt.) MR. DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE'S eminently useful volume of French idioms, intended as a companion to Deshumbert's Dictionary of Difficulties,' has reached a second edition. It is a work of extreme utility to the student, and may be read with pleasure and gain by the most advanced English scholars. An appendix, which adds to its claims, gives a new reading of an English equivalent for the French proverb "Femme qui parle comme homme et geline qui chante comme coq ne sont bonnes à tenir." The equivalent, familiar enough in another shape in our columns, is (Elkin A whistling woman and a crowing hen Masters of Medicine.- John Hunter. By Stephen POPULAR medical biography has hitherto hardly existed, simply told, lucid, and appreciative life of John Hunter by Mr. Paget. From the elegant dedication to his father-in-law to the appendix there is not a dull page in it. The most striking feature of Hunter's life is the vast amount of energy which he devoted-equal, one would think, to the lives of eight or nine ordinary individuals-to the multitudinous subjects of scientific research and of surgical and medical work. Sir James Paget, in his brief but eloquent introduction, ascribes John Hunter's position and influence "to the degree in which he introduced the exercise of the observant scientific mind into the study and practice of surgery." A grand memorial of Hunter is to be found in the magnificent museum in the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields; but a greater one is to be found in the numbers of men of science, physicians and surgeons alike, who have caught something of Hunter's spirit and Hunter's diligence in dealing with the subjects of their study and profession. As the late Sir W. Savory said ten years ago, Hunter was and is, beyond all surgeons, a philosopher in surgery," and Mr. Paget's monograph will serve to explain to the non-medical public the place of John Hunter-universally acknowledged to be histhe highest in his profession. Stories of Famous Songs. By S. J. Adair Fitzgerald (Nimmo.) In an interesting and an amusing volume Mr. Fitzgerald tells the story, so far as it is known, of most celebrated English, Scotch, and Irish songs, and of some French and German. We credit the compiler with knowledge of his subject and with a large amount of industry. We should be more confident, however, in his assertions if he were less careless in detail. We found out so many verbal innaccuracies that we had to give up the task of noting them. Is it possible that, translating the Marseillaise,' John Oxenford wrote Already on our plains we hear The murmurs of a savage hoard? And what is a "" savage hoard"? Two to One,' in George Colman the Elder, as is said, but by George which the tune of 'Yankee Doodle' occurs, is not by Colman the Younger; and it is not "the great George Colman," again, who, writing "the veriest trash imaginable......too vulgar to be quoted......when he was appointed examiner of plays, expunged the mildest of oaths and expletives." We never heard of Hood's 'Ancient and Modern Songs,' of which a second edition was published in 1776. A second edition of Herd's Ancient and Modern Scots Songs' bears that date. The French abounds with misprints, and the English is not free from them. "Moutoune" for moulonne, 66 orferverie" for orfévrerie, "Andre" for André, "cachats" for cachots, guerrers for guerriers, &c. Some of these mistakes are of very little importance, though some are, of course, otherwise. Mr. Fitzgerald owes it to himself, however, to remedy in a useful and agreeable volume a series of errors the effect of which is to convey an unmerited, as we hope, impression of carelessness. The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. Edited by THE first volume of Swift's prose works, added, under Mansel pictures in the possession of Sir F. R. Falkner and Mr. G. Villiers Briscoe, are given, and there is a long facsimile of one of the letters constituting the 'Journal' in Swift's wonderfully neat and minute handwriting. Mr. Frederick Ryland has edited the text. To study well what is said in the introduction concerning the "little language," or "baby language," will add much to the reader's comfort. The Maiden and Married Life of Mary Powell. With an Introduction by the Rev. W. H. Hutton, B.D. (Nimmo.) THE most popular of Miss Manning's works and the best Golspie: Contributions to its Folk-lore. Edited by W. B. IN collecting the folk-lore of this romantic little Suther- The conditions of the competition are described in the volume, which is mostly made up from its results. Seven children in all Ssent in papers, which furnish a large amount of interesting material. Games, rhymes and songs, fairy and ghost stories, beliefs in witchcraft and magic, and details of customs were all collected. These things, with an account of the place, some pretty illustrations, and Mr. Nicholson's comments constitute a volume of remark. able interest to folk-lorists, and one which will repay Minutes of the Bury Presbyterian Classis, 1647-1657. tory. When the Civil War between Charles and his was ever New Presbyter is but old Priest writ large, or whether he was led away by prejudice. The evidence furnished by the papers of the Bury classis, so for as we at present know them, does not show that the ministers composing it were more rigid than other ecclesiastios of the seventeenth century and the earlier years of the eighteenth. The original of the Bury minutes is not known to exist. The copy here used is one made for John Walker, the author of the well-known book on the Sufferings of the Clergy......in the Grand Rebellion.' A memorandum in Walker's autograph states that it has not been made "by an accurate hand." So far, however, as we have been able to observe, the errors are few and slight. No one but a Lancashire antiquary can detect such blunders as there may be in personal names. MESSRS. LAWRENCE & BULLEN have issued a cheap. edition, in two volumes, of Handley Cross, with reproIn ductions in the text of Leech's famous illustrations. this form, and at the price at which it is published, it is likely to enjoy much popularity. We have received prospectus and specimen pages of a Bibliography of Australia and Polynesia, by Mr. E. A. Petherick, reprinted from the Torch. Notices to Correspondents We must call special attention to the following notices: ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately. To secure insertion of communications correspondents must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication "Duplicate." A. LYBBE ("Used Penny Postage Stamps ").-There is, we believe, no charitable use to which these can be put. NOTICE. Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries"-Advertisements and Business Letters to "The Publisher"-at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return com. munications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception. J. WHITAKER & SONS' PUBLICATIONS. The DAILY ROUND. Meditation, Prayer, and Praise. Adapted to the Course of the Christian This favourite Manual is issued in Ten Editions, ranging in size from the smallest pocket Prayer Book to a large octavo, printed in very plain type, suitable for aged people whose eyesight is failing Some of the editions are handsomely printed with red-line borders, &c. The DAILY PSALMS. Vol. I. MornING; Vol. II EVENING. Each Volume complete in itself (sold separately); Meditations for Every Day in the Year. By the Author of The Daily Round.' Fcap. 8vo. cloth, 4 6d.; Persian roan, gilt edges, 6s.; morocco, gilt edges, 9s. A Smaller Edition for the Pocket, imperial 32mo is also ready, cloth, 3s.; Persian roan, gilt edges, 4s. 6d.; morocco, 6s. DAILY LIFE: its Trials, Duties, and DIFFICULTIES. Short Practical Essays. By the Author of The Daily Round.' Fcap 8vo. cloth, 4s. 6d.; roan, gilt edges, 6s.; morocco, gilt edges, 9s. The BOOK of PRIVATE PRAYER. Issued by Authority of the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury. I. 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