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MISTLETOE (11 S. iv. 502).—I remember once reading somewhere that there were (?at that time) only thirteen oak trees in England on which the mistletoe was known to grow. May it not be that the exceeding rareness of this conjunction was such as to make the oak (on which mistletoe grew) a sacred tree?

In the Californian forests the mistletoe grows freely on certain trees-I forget which. But while most unmistakably a mistletoe, it is not the same as ours it grows in a large and compact bush, almost solid with leaves. DOUGLAS OWEN.

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If the newt could see, and the viper hear, they could pull a man down from horseback (Mistral, 'Trésor d'ou Felibrige '). Whence come these ideas of blindness and of venom? I find the explanation in the mutation of Provençal consonants, of b, m, v, of r, l, n. 66 The word salamandra," passing from In his article on this plant MR. TOM JONES Greek through Latin to Provençal, became states that "sculptured sprays and berries escamandre, figuratively for a hideous creawith leaves of mistletoe fill the spandrels ture, and talabrando, alabrando, for the newt. of the tomb of one of the Berkeleys in Bristol The latter word then became alabreno ; Cathedral." This is an often-repeated mis- and the adjectives talabrena, alabrena, mean take. There is no mistletoe represented in Bristol Cathedral, and the original mis-speckled like the newt and some of the lizards. Another change was dropping statement arose from the fact that the the first part of the name, which became straight-winged samara fruit of the maple blando, blendo, even blounde. Variants of amongst its foliage, bordering one of the the rime are given in Mistral's Trésor '; eight stellated arches, has a remote resemin these the blind reptile is arguei, ourguei, blance to the twin leaves and sessile berries aguioun, all from L. anguis, the Fr. orvet, meaning the blindworm or slowworm. one of these rimes it is nadiuel,

of the mistletoe.

Bristol.

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SALAMANDER,'

IDA M. ROPER.

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A HEAVY BLOW (11 S. eyes.' The blindness of this snake-like lizard iv. 427).-It need scarcely be said that appears, through these rimes, to have passed Benvenuto Cellini's story of his father to the newt, our witch's "eye of newt" notshowing him a salamander enjoying itself withstanding. And once it was confounded in the hottest part of a wood fire lighted with a snake, the attribute of venom would in the wash-house was probably based be a natural consequence. Indeed, the on a torpid lizard or newt having been deafness of the viper passes to it in the name brought in with the wood. Similar events la sourdo. But how could a newt or a would, in early times, confirm the idea that blindworm attack a horseman, even with fire, as well as earth, air, and water, must good sight? The explanation seems to be contain life of some kind; and the immunity this: aguïoun also means a dart, sting, or of the salamander to heat was attributed goad (L. aculeus); SO to the harmless to its fireproof wool. Asbestos was con- blindworm was probably attributed the sidered to be this wool (N.E.D.' quotations). power of darting at man, like the jaculi The common land newt, supposed to be of Lucan and Dante, our wyvern," and the salamander, thus became an uncanny the harmless eye-snake of India, whose reptile; in the South of France, probably in long, pointed nose was evidently meant to other countries, it is believed to be venomous, dart at men's eyes. The newt which reblind, and deaf. The reasons for this belief placed the blindworm in the rimes also form a curious piece of folk-lore, interesting acquired the power of darting and using with to me as long familiar with the fallacies fatal effect the "blindworm's sting" of believed about snakes and other reptiles, Macbeth's witches. I may say that no one and possibly interesting to others, inasmuch who has not had opportunities of observing as it rests largely on the fallacies of word- and studying snakes scientifically, who has resemblance, and affords some curious in- not heard the stories told, and believed, stances of the mutation of words in that about them, especially in India, can have central language of the Latin nations, any idea of the credulity, even among Provençal and its kindred dialects. educated Englishmen, about them or reptiles resembling them. As Sir Arthur Helps said, a good sound prejudice is not to be contradicted by mere eyesight and

The peculiarities attributed to the newt have given rise to a number of sayings, such as "verinous coume uno blando," venomous

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observation" ('Friends in Council'). Study of the etymology of the Provençal names for the newt, for the blindworm, and even for their venom, shows that these words have been largely affected by the credulity of the people, not only of Southern France, but probably also of ancient Italy.

At blando the evolution from "salamandra ceases, but here the newt acquires a new but somewhat similar name from another

source.

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OF LONDON AND

CORPORATION It is lou brenous, the venomous, a nonce-word as a noun, changed slightly from its adjectival form berinous, verinous, in mimic relationship to alabreno, as blando to alabrando. From alabrando came blando; to alabreno came brenous. And berinous is from veri (thirteenth century), verin, which passed into French as verin, velin, becoming venim, venin, under the influence of the Latin word, though this became veleno in Italian.

Thus the newt has come to be considered blind, deaf, and venomous, though its fireproof nature has been almost forgotten. EDWARD NICHOLSON.

Neuilly.

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There is a ceremony, much in vogue in German students' Kneipen," called 66 einen Salamander reiben." According to Spamer's Konversations-Lexikon,' it originated in Jena over a century ago, when it became the custom at the close of every drinking-bout for each one present to drink a glass of " Schnaps." A small portion of this brandy was poured on the table as a libation to the fire-god (Salamander) and set on fire, all lights being extinguished. One of the students then delivered a speech, addressed to the fire-god, whilst the others rubbed their glasses on the table and repeated several times the word "Salamander." On the burning brandy being extinguished, all glasses were emptied and set down on the table with one sounding blow ("mit einem Schlage").

There are other explanations of the custom, but there are several local superstitions in Germany about the salamander, i.e., its incombustibility, use in case of fire, &c. May this have any connexion with your correspondent's quotations?

H. S. BERESFORD WEBB.

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THE

MEDICAL PROFESSION (11 S. iv. 425, 496).— PELLIPAR states that I am incorrect in supposing that the Lord Mayor of London is chosen from a restricted number of Livery Companies. The only work of reference I have at hand is Sydney Young's Annals of the Barber-Surgeons." From it I make the following extracts, which appear to support my statement. They refer to the only four members of that Company who became Lord Mayor.

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1. June 8, 1622. At a Court held this day Alderman Proby was ordered to be transferred to the Grocers' Company in view of his election as Lord Mayor."-P. 533.

2. "In 1661 Sir John Frederick was translated the office of Lord Mayor.-P. 551. to the Grocers' Company to enable him to take

3. "Sir Humphrey Edwin was elected Lord Mayor of London (1697), he having been previously translated from the Barber-Surgeons' Company to the Skinners' Company."-P. 561.

4. " July 21, 1720. The Master acquainted the Court that Sir William Stewart, a Freeman of this Company, did make his request to this Court that he might be translated from this Company to the Company of Goldsmiths, forasmuch as it was required by the custom of London that he should be free of one of the first twelve Companies of London before he could be put in election as Lord Mayor.”—P. 562.

Similarly, I believe that an examination of the annals of the Apothecaries' Company would show that no member of that Company has been elected Lord Mayor unless he has become a member of one of the twelve Companies referred to in the preceding paragraph.

S. D. CLIPPINGDALE.

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WASHINGTON IRVING'S SKETCH-BOOK known. There are several publications

(11 S. iv. 109, 129, 148, 156, 196, 217, 275).

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3. 'Darkness and the grave" (p. 109).— This appears to be a misreading of the Sketch-Book.' In The Broken Heart' Irving quotes the half-line darkness and the worm from Young's Night

Thoughts' :

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The knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the grave;
The deep damp vault, the darkness, and the worm.
Night IV.

14.

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When this old cap was new,

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In 1651 The 'Hue and Cry

with somewhat similar titles.
the Rev. Richard Culmer wrote.
Minister's Hue and Cry.'

after the False Prophets and Deceivers of
our Age' was written by Edward Bur-
Somewhere I have seen
rough in 1661.

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a title, Hue and Cry after the Christian,' but have mislaid my note of it. There are several other similar titles, but the reference by Irving does not seem to apply to any of them.

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9. 'Corydon's Doleful Knell' (p. 129).— In my copy of Percy's Reliques' it is 44. Cupid's Solicitor for Love' (p. 148). stated that the poem Corydon's Doleful-Richard Crimsall was the author of Knell' is given, with corrections, from Cupid's Solicitor of Love,' presumably two copies, one of which is in The Golden the same publication as that mentioned W. S. S. Garland of Princely Delights.' The by Washington Irving. author, I believe, is quite unknown. 'THE CATALOGUE OF HONOR' (11 S. iv. "Tis since two hundred yeare. P. 129. 488). I subjoin a copy of the title-page of Some versions of this song are signed with this book on heraldry and genealogy, &c., It is a folio volume, the initials M. P.," supposed to indicate by Thomas Milles. Martin Parker, for an account of whom Pp. x+100, viii+36, and ii+1131. There is an engraved title-page by Renold Elsee the 'D.N.B.' stracke, six engravings of the costumes of the nobility (pp. 33-49), a portrait of the King in State (p. 61), and a plate of the King in Parliament (p. 69). Pp. 493-4 are usually mutilated, but in my copy they are perfect.

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The author, a native of Orkney, served
as an officer in the Army, and died com-
paratively young.
His poem The Cast-
away Ship' appears in several Scottish
school-books of fifty or sixty years ago,
and is painfully associated in my recollec-
tion with the tremulous tones of scholars
in terror of the teacher's taws. Malcolm
published three volumes, mostly in verse,
and contributed largely to periodical
literature, but does not find a place,
strangely enough, in the 'D.N.B.,' where,
without doubt, he should have appeared.
38. Apparition in the Tower (p. 148).-
See The Romance of London: Super-
natural Stories,' by John Timbs, in the
"Chandos Classics," pp. 18-26.

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39. Lyly's writings perpetuated in a proverb (p. 148).-Is not the allusion to Lyly's Euphues,' which added to the English language a new word, euphuism," commonly employed to designate an affected or inflated style of writing?

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"The Catalogue of Honor | or | Tresury of True Nobility, peculiar and proper to the Isle of Great Britaine. | That is to say: A Collection historicall of all the Free Monarches as well Kinges of England as Scotland (nowe | united togither) with the Princes of Walles, Dukes, Marquisses, and Erles; their wives, child: | ren, Alliances, Families, Descentes, & Achievementes of Honor. Wherunto is properly prefixed: A speciall Treatise of that kind of Nobility which Soverayne Grace, and favour, Contryes Customes, have made meerly Politicall | and peculiarly Civill (never so distinctly handled before). Translated out of Latyne into English: | London. | Printed by William Jaggard. | 1610."

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MAIDA (11 S. iv. 110, 171, 232, 271, 334, 492). I can raise no objection to MR. 41. Hue and Cry after Christmas RHODES making use of any books or army (p. 148). The author is probably un-lists which he thinks proper, and I only

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He now mentions Hart,' but does not give the year. However, I may point out that his latest statement, to the effect that "there is nothing in Hart' between the 79th and the 83rd Regiment," &c., is not correct, because these two regiments have not been named at all in Hart's Army List' since the year 1881. They have not existed, as such, for the past thirty years. Probably MR. RHODES is confusing the "Regimental Districts" with the Regiments.' The former are entirely different organizations from the "Regiment." J. H. LESLIE.

Sheffield

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Now in my query I referred to an article by Mr. Ely Bates in No. 1 of the Transactions. This article is entitled 'A Method

of Determining the Time of Exhausting any Fluid,' &c., and it closes with the sentence :— given Vessel filled with Water or any other

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We might now go on to determine the times hemispheres, paraboloids, spheroids, &c., but this of exhausting other sorts of vessels; such as shall be reserved for the next number."

A plausible inference from the above is, that not later than 1775 the single number of the Mathematical Transactions was published. R. C. ARCHIBALD.

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. 'SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY" (11 S. iv. 429).

of rimes called 'The Lays of Modern Oxford,' in which, I remember, the following doggerel occurs :

"RIDING THE HIGH HORSE (11 S. iv.-In the sixties there was published a book 490). Brewer, in 'Phrase and Fable,' 8.v. Horse,' considers the phrase "to get upon your high horse." After explaining that it means "to give oneself airs," he continues thus:

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"Messrs. Carey & Hart of Philadelphia have reproduced in a very neat volume, clearly and distinctly printed, Capt. Marryat's Diary of a Blasé,' which has appeared in successive numbers of the London Metropolitan Magazine. It is a spirited and racy collection of notes upon men and manners on the sea-coasts of England and Flanders, with a discursive range to the East Indies and Rangoon, quorum pars fuimus, and cannot fail to interest every reader."

I may add that I have not seen this reprint.

Wandsworth.

LIBRARIAN.

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There was a young Freshman at Keble Whose legs were exceedingly feeble. He hired a fly

To drive to "The High,"

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in the

The quotation from the 'N.E.D.' in your foot-note calls for some modification. The measured 1,225 yards were not the utmost limits of permitted travel on the Sabbath." True enough, during the Babylonian captivity it was so (Tractate Sabbath,' 152). But we are now concerned with the period of Hebrew civilization, mirrored Talmud, under the rule of Rome. The Jews were mainly an agricultural people, with lesser interests in the walled or castellated cities that sprang up in their midst to overawe them into servility. Within these, Jews of a lower grade went in for trades Kiddushin,' 33, 70, 83) (Pesachim,' 65; beneath the dignity of the yeomen and farming classes. They had the yards, slaughter-houses, bakeries, smithies, &c. These walled cities became nuclei for all communal organizations, which the Parnassim and the Gabboeem

tan

the

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the aldermen and the treasurers of charity funds-could attend only on the Sabbath day, owing to living at a distance on their farms (Tractate Sabbath,' 150). The hardship entailed on the yeomen was as nothing compared with the suffering of the labouring classes under the obnoxious "Techum," the "measured distance." Numberless evasions are recorded in the Talmud, until the Rabbins bethought themselves of a way to defeat the Roman tyranny. They had kiosks or hostels, called "Burgeen," erected along the main highways leading to the big cities (Erubin,' 21; 'Succoth, 8) for all kinds of wayfarers travelling on the Sabbath on foot. For doctors visiting patients or going to perform Abrahamic rites there were no Techums" at all. They could post at all hours and times; but the Parnassim had to go on foot always. Much inconvenience and risk to life and limb were the lot of those public servants in the ante-burgeen" days. They had either to set the law openly at defiance by ignoring "the Techum,' or else to rise with the lark, if they did not wish to sleep sub Jove overnight under the shadow of those terrible towers. In the days of the " Amoraim (editors of the law) these unpaid and zealous proctors were in better case for coping with social evils than their predecessors were in earlier times, inasmuch as they were not called upon to sacrifice their religious scruples or much of their Sabbath leisure in the prosecution of their unsavoury duties, and were always sure of food and shelter in the hostels. The "hedyouteem," or "laymen," were trained to regard wilful breaches of the Sabbath as one of the three cardinal crimes for which "Koruth" (early death) was the sole expiation.

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M. L. R. BRESLAR.

Percy House, South Hackney.

REV. PATRICK GORDON'S 'GEOGRAPHY' (11 S. iv. 188, 237).—I happen to have the fourth edition of Gordon's Geography Anatomiz'd.' The title-page is the same as that of the eighth edition quoted by MR. BULLOCH, except that, towards the foot of the page, my copy reads thus :

"The Fourth Edition Corrected, and somewhat Enlarg'd By Pat. Gordon, M.A. F.R.S. | Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci.'-Hor. | London | Printed for S. and J. Sprint, John Nicholson, and S. Burroughs in Little Britain; And Bell at the Cross Keys and Bible in | Cornhill, and R. Smith under the Royal Exchange, 704."

From MR. BULLOCH'S information and the replies already given, together with a

few notes I have been able to make, it would appear that the first edition of Gordon's Geography' was issued in 1693 (see 11 S. iv. 188); the second in 1695 (there is a note to this effect in Watt); the third in 1699 (see 11 S. iv. 237); the fourth in 1704, as noted above. The fifth and sixth editions I have not heard of, but the seventh appeared in 1716, the eighth in 1719 (see 11 S. iv. 188), and the ninth in 1722 (see 11 S. iv. 189). Between 1722 and 1741 several issues must have appeared, the seventeenth edition being dated 1741 (see 11 S. iv. 237). There was an edition in 1749, possibly numbered the nineteenth. The twentieth was published in 1754 (see 11 S iv. 189). Many of these issues were probably impressions rather than editions in the true sense of the word. W. SCOTT.

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LACKINGTON THE BOOKSELLER'S MEDALS (11 S. iv. 470).-Perhaps the word "token is more appropriately applied to the several coins issued by James Lackington. The following is a list of all known, with numerous variants noted. James Lackington made over his business to his "third cousin,' George Lackington, in 1798, after which date no tokens were issued by the house. No more vain person than Lackington has ever followed the calling of bookseller, and the issuing of these "tokens" is further proof than even his 'Life' affords of swelled head." Mr. Tedder's excellent notice in the 'D.N.B.' does not mention these "tokens," which are fully dealt with in The Tradesmen's Tokens of the Eighteenth Century,' by James Atkins (W. S. Lincoln & Son, 1892), pp. 98–100.

1. O. A three-quarter bust to left. J. LACK1794.

INGTON.

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