ceived a boquet. Remarkably good order | The Parks are prairies, sufficiently vast, but was kept all the evening. Every thing was adorned with few trees. The almost conconducted with as much precision and facil- stant absence of the sun, it is true, renders ity as if the affair had been only a little ré them unnecessary. In general, excepting union. The Emperor was charming, and in a new quarter of the Regent's Park, the conversed with me for more than an hour. façades of the houses are unarchitectural He stopped until two o'clock, which for him and inelegant. Regent Street, which conwas an unprecedented hour. He loaded me tains a double colonnade, forming galleries with manifestations of kindness. Át supper, in front of the shops, has been recently the ladies, who alone bad seats at the vari- erected, and is the finest street in London.' ous tables, presented a dazzling coup-d'œil of brilliant dress and jewelry. Seventeen hundred candles illuminated the saloon, and shed a radiance resembling that of the sun. I never lost sight of the Emperor: of course, I did not weary him of my presence; yet I was continually at hand to fulfil his slightest desires. I believe that no fête was better ordered or more successful than mine." From the English metropolis he journeyed to the capital of Austria. His remarks on the physiognomy of Viennese society are not of much importance; but it is interesting to see Marmont at home with the only son of Napoleon. He had long and repeated conversations with the Duke of Reichstadt, detailing to him the entire career of Bonaparte,- -a narrative to which the heir of 80 After this flourish of self-glorification, many broken hopes listened with wrapt toned down by the sketch of Marmont avidity. We find the following anecdote dodging the Emperor, comes a very charac-given in illustration of his prudence: teristic passage: "One of my aides-de-camp, the Baron de "The last fêtes were those given by the La Rue, who had accompanied me to ViDuke of Devonshire, Envoy-Extraordinary from England. They were mediocre, and badly conducted; very few people attended them." Marmont's attentions told, apparently, on the susceptibilities of the Czar, who invited him to take pot-luck at a family din ner. Nicholas said as his guest entered, "Now, I have asked you to a plain dinner; it is with Madame Nicholas that you are dining.' It is easy for pride to be modest. After the cloth had been removed, the hereditary Grand-Duke came in, in uniform, with his little musket, and, like a good child, went through the military exercise "to please the gentlemen." We do not care to follow Marmont through his account of the Revolution of 1830. He was essentially a narrow-minded politician; he went with Charles the Tenth as far as Cowes in the Isle of Wight, and parting from him there, proceeded to London: "London, under various names, is Immensity itself; it is a great country, covered with habitations. 99 He admired chiefly the Docks and the Thames Tunnel: enna, was about to return to Paris. The Duke of Reichstadt had often met him, and behaved to him in a friendly manner. M. de La Rue, when announcing his departure, addressed to the Duke that hackneyed ques tion which is in the mouths of all travellers, -whether he could execute any commissions or deliver any messages for him in Paris. I think I still see the Duke of Reichstadt answering with emphasis and vivacity, In Paris? I know no one there! I know nothing there, except the column in the Place Vendôme!'"' Next day he sent the Baron a message: "When you see the column, present my respects to it." Marmont adds: "Without any kind of doubts, the events of July, 1830, made a profound impression on the Duke of Reichstadt. They developed in his mind ideas of ambition that had pre viously lain dormant." Even by warfare away from France he hoped to attract the notice of the French people. We have seldom seen a hope of governing them so distinctly attributed to the son of Napoleon as by Marmont: "He permitted himself to say Would not military glory, although acquired at the "The public buildings of London, the expense of the French people, aggrandize Palace of St. James, Westminster, appeared me in their eyes? and if I one day should to me destitute of grandeur and dignity.be called upon to reign over them, should I not seem more worthy if I had proved my Duke of Reichstadt was dead: descendant of the celebrated John Huss, The young Princess Metternich hated the Orleans family, and hinted her feeling to M. "The Bonaparte party, reduced to the other members of the family, retained not even a nominal existence. It is gone; noth-St.-Aulaire, ambassador from Louis Philippe ing of it has been preserved, except its mem- to the Court of Vienna. ory." "At a fête the Princess Metternich, radiant In 1833 the Duke of Ragusa set out upon with beauty, with youth, and with rich his "travels," a narrative of which was apparel, wore a splendid diamond diadem, and the ambassador, with his slightly superpublished at Paris five years afterwards, in annuated gallantry, complimented her on five octavo volumes. At Egra, in the the magnificence of the ornament, she anAustrian states of Bohemia, Marmont en-swered insolently, 'At least it was not countered a singular personage-an execu- stolen!' alluding to the usurpation of Louis tioner with numismatic and antiquarian Philippe. This mot, uttered and repeated by the princess with great complacency to "The executioner of Egra, by a peculiar M. de St.-Aulaire treated the matter seriseveral, persons, was talked of by every one. caprice, had a fondness for medals and ously, and the next day wrote to Prince ancient coins. He had spent a lifetime in Metternich requesting an audience, at which forming a collection especially of specimens the Princess should be present. He explained in illustration of Bohemian history. Prince his sentiments with politeness, but with Metternich hearing of this, offered to purchase the whole, to which the executioner consented, agreeing to accept an annual rent, if he were allowed to follow the treasure of his love and care, as its guardian and conservator, and the exponent of its specialities to visitors. The bargain was concluded, and the executioner of Egra, entering the service of the Prince, became an inmate of his castle. Metternich himself told me, one day, that this man was an frankness and in a tone of authority; and showed what consequences might result from similar indiscretions daily committed by the princess. The ambassador, Marmont continues, lectured the princess severely, and the princess, he says, looked spitefully at the ambassador; but the feud was appeased. The beautiful young lady came also into collision with the British representative Lamb. officer of his household. I listened to this as a pleasantry, but I afterwards found that "The union of France and England had the old executioner was actually employed as inspired the princess Metternich with as the antiquary of the palace. He was, more- much irritation against the one as against over, a very excellent man, who appreciated the other. Having warmly adopted the inhis former profession in a spirit quite unique. terest of Charles the Fifth in Spain, the For several days I found it impossible to ap- raising of the siege of Bilbao put her into a proach him; his proximity thrilled me with fury. She expressed herself in my presence a sense of horror. Little by little my pre- and that of three other persons with the judices wore away, and I even began to talk utmost violence. Among other things she with him concerning his original function, dared to say I should like to see Lamb in connection with which he willingly gave hanged; I would go myself and pull his me all the explanations I sought. He even feet. Such a phrase could not remain a showed me his old machinery and instru- secret, and Lamb heard of it. Some time ments of punishment, classified so as to afterwards the princess asked him for his illustrate the description. Upon my observportrait to place in her album, and he proming to him that such a man as he must have ised it. But instead of sending it of the experienced a repugnance to take away the usual size for an album, he forwarded a large life of a fellow-being, he coolly answered portrait drawn in crayon, and framed, inthat an executioner was an august function-timating to the princess that he had selected ary. He was the living law, and in a far this form to afford her the pleasure of hangbetter position than a criminal judge, exposed ing him." to the risk of condemning the innocent. He could commit no error in the performance of In 1841 Marmont went to Venice to pass his duty. This singular man was a direct the winter there. At this point the Memoirs The come to a close. They are the production of the nobility of a man who bequeathed with an able but not of a great man. The Duke the story of his public and private career a of Ragusa was essentially one of Napoleon's vindictive tirade against his wife. creatures, and a favorite, although he accuses Duchess of Ragusa was dead before the last his master of partiality and harshness. He volume of her husband's Memoirs was pubwas scarcely less ambitious than the Consul, lished; he might have spared his own scarcely less an egotist than the Emperor; memory and her few remaining days the but his ambition and his egotism were on a odium of reminiscences so painful and of such meaner scale. Posterity will not rank high doubtful bearing. MISTLETOE, HOW PRODUCED.-As this question is asked in a previous number of "N. & Q.," I will state a fact respecting this parasitic plant which happened under my own notice. On August 6, 1843, a severe hail-storm, which visited many parts of the Eastern Counties, passed immediately over this district. The hailstones were so large in size as to injure the bark of the young trees, destroying many of them. So it was in a garden of thriving young espalier apple trees at this place. The bark of those that recovered from it had, in two or three years, grown very much over the injured places; and into these, in the month of March, I rubbed the berries of the mistletoe. on which it is a parasite; but on the apple I have seen it growing from inserted seed.-Notes and Queries. CYMBELINE, ACT V. So. 5. The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, Upon the passage which contains these lines "It is not easy to conjecture why Shakespeare should have introduced this ludicrous scroll, which answers no one purpose, either propulsive, During the summer I examined the trees, exor explicatory, unless as a joke on etymology." pecting to find the berries germinating; in this-Notes on Shakespeare, i. 131. I was disappointed, as also in the following spring. I now lost all hope of seeing the plant appear. However, in the April of the year following, the gardener called my attention to two small pointed leaves projecting from the bark of "Mulier, a mollitie, tamquam mollier, demany of the trees. These, on examination, I tracta litera et mutata, appellata est mulier." found to be a promise of the long-looked-for-Isid. Orig. ii. 2. mistletoe; which, since that time, has been But, the "joke on etymology "' is somewhat older than Shakspeare's time. In the Origines of Isidorus Hispalensis (circa A. D. 620) is the following passage: established in the garden. I am fully convinced And, moreover, in the Panulus of Plautus these plants were produced from the berries I (circa B. c. 170), i. 2. 86., is, I believe, a simihad inserted. I am disposed to think that the lar derivation of the word mulier. seed is never dropped in the muting of birds. Besides this etymology, it may be worth while I have noticed that when the berries are stripped to place Professor Max Müller's derivation of from other trees and shrubs, those of the mistle-brother and sister: toe have remained untouched. I conjecture that, except when pressed by hunger in severe weather, the birds never try the mistletoe berry, which, from its glutinous nature, adheres to the beak, to clear off which they rub the beak on the rough bark, and thus may insert the seed. W. E. M. I was lately shown, growing most healthily on an apple tree, by Mr. Fruin, of Myrtle Cottage, Petersham, Surrey, some mistletoe that he had propagated by crushing a berry on to a bough, and allowing the seed to stick. The specimen that I saw was about ten years old: the growth, I was told, for the first year, was scarcely perceptible; but after that time the parasite throve apace. I may add, that I made the experiment in my own garden this Christmas. P. J. F. GANTILLON. It may be produced by inserting the berry under the bark of an apple tree with a knifecutting upwards to prevent the rain from lodge ing. As it grows on other trees I have no doubt inserting the seed would produce it on any trees The original meaning of bhartar (Sanskrit, brother) seems to have been he who carries or assists; of svasar (sister), she who pleases or consoles-svasti meaning in Sanskrit joy or happiness."-Oxford Essays, 1856, p. 16. The readers of Fielding will recal the passage in which his hero carries the heroine in his arms through some danger or fatigue; whereupon the novelist takes occasion to advise his countrywomen to make choice of lovers whose stalwart arms should be serviceable on like occasions. In the Romance language the Latin mulier is represented by moller, molher, moiller, moillier; and matrimonium by molieransa, which is yet nearer the derivation of Isidorus: "Ara digam de matremonis, so es de la molieransas (maintenant parlons de mariages, c'est à dire des épousailles)."-See Ragnouard's Lexique Roman, iv. 249. The Italian mogliere, moglie, appears also confirmatory of the derivation from mollis. Notes and Queries. THE CHINA QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR OF 66 THE PRESS. SIR,-There is one feature of the China question which seems to have been overlooked by speakers in both Houses. I mean the risk, should we succeed in the military objects of the war, of so weakening and dis organizing the Chinese Empire as to produce in those regions of the world a diplomatic complication similar to that from which we have just escaped in the case of Turkey. retention of distant dependencies; and with a practically unlimited power of extending their dominion southwards, there seems no reason to anticipate that they will attempt to imitate our proceedings in India by founding an Asiatic empire of their own. But the case of Russia is different. Her territory borders on that of China. Her desire and determination to extend that territory in some quarter is notorious. It is certain that she cannot extend it in the It is impossible to doubt that the war of direction of Europe. In Central Asia there 1840 did much to shake the stability of the is no land worth conquering, except as a Tartar dynasty. By it the military prestige stepping stone to more remote acquisitions. of the ruling race was destroyed in the eyes China is precisely that part of the world of its subjects: the treasury was exhausted; best suited for the furtherance of her aggresto repair that exhaustion money had to be sive designs. The Chinese empire is not yet extorted from the people; and offices which included in the diplomatic system of had hitherto been reserved as the rewards Europe. It is remote from the great centres of merit (though of merit tested after a of political power-London, Paris, Washingpedantic fashion) were openly sold to the ton. It is accessible from Russia, and highest bidder. Thus external weakness from Russia, only, by land. The annexand administrative corruption went to- ation of a million of square miles in gether; the desire to rebel became stronger at the same time that the spectacle of weakness presented by the authorities justified an expectation that rebellion might prove successful. The result is a civil contest, of which the issue yet remains doubtful; one thing only being certain in regard of itnamely, that he conquering party will require many years of repose to reconsolidate its power, a power, in any case, necessarily obnoxious to a large minority of the people. Tartary, if the moment be judiciously chosen, will cause less sensation in England than the accidental arrest of a British subject by Italian or Austrian police. In fact, the free navigation of the Amoor was actually gained, and with it the possession of a vast territory on the northern bank of that river, without a rumor of the transaction reaching Europe. I do not hesitate to say that, looking at the policy of Russia, at the geographical position of China, and at the present situation of that Empire, the conIs it the interest of England to throw quest by a Russian army of the northern still farther into confusion a nation so cir-half of it is an event not beyond the limits cumstanced? I assume that the idea of ter- of possibility. Exclude the chances of inritorial acquisitions in China is not seriously terference by France, England, America, entertained by any Englishman resident in and the possibility would become a cerEurope, although with a part of the Indian tainty. "But," I may be told, "such press that idea has found favor. What we interference would certainly take place." want is simply facility of trading; and be Probably it would: and on that fact I base it observed, that when a trade has once been my argument. Where is the wisdom of set free, it tends, like water, to enlarge for weakening a Power which you may, within itself the channel in which it flows. Access a generation, be called upon to strengthen to, and courteous treatment from, the high- and protect? We are doing at this moment est native authorities, we are entitled to with China what we did with Turkey when demand: every demand beyond this is we destroyed the Turkish fleet at Navarino. superfluous, tending perhaps to gratify na- The results of that "untoward event" are tional pride, but not to promote national now clearly seen. Sinope was one of them. interests. But other Governments have re- Must former experience always be lost upon lations with China besides our own. I say us? Are we always to act from passion, nothing of the Americans, since their form and never from policy? of polity is ill-suited for the conquest and Out of evil, by skilful use of opportuni ties, good may be brought. This war will that Government, and not by the representhave answered one useful end, if it leads us. ative of any one of them singly. And as seriously to consider the necessity of estab- regards the existing civil war, let all four lishing an organized diplomatic system beyond Europe, as well as within it. Let France, England, the United States, and Russia, if she will join the four Powers really interested in Chinese affairs-agree on a policy by which all shall pledge themselves to abide. Let the integrity of the Chinese territory be guaranteed, as is that of Turkey. Let every case of alleged wrong by the Chinese Government be decided by the four Powers jointly, acting on agree to observe a strict neutrality, in fact ONE OF THE MAJORITY OF MARCH 3RD. WORKMEN'S TERMS.-Has any attempt ever been made to form a collection of workmen's terms? I do not mean a Technical Dictionary, by which is generally understood those peculiar words used by the followers of particular arts, which most men of science are familiar with. I allude rather to such household words as the hard handed workman uses at the bench, the lathe, or the smithy, when describing to a brother workman some process in the handicraft in which they are both engaged. I do not know that any such Dictionary exists. I do know that it could not but be very useful to philologists and to antiquaries. As "N. & Q." must, I suppose, by this time have made its way into every Mechanics' Institute in the kingdom, will you allow me a small space to hint to some of the intelligent members of such institutes what good service they might render by forwarding to "N. & Q." a collection of the terms used by them in their various arts and callings? If they do so, and you, Mr. Editor, find space for such contributions, I have no doubt many readers will be gratified, and that many of your more learned correspondents will, on the one hand, pick up much useful information which they would not otherwise obtain, and, on the other, be tempted in return to throw the light of their learning on the origin of many terms, to the great delight and instruction of those who use them. At all events, this hint will not occupy much space, so I hope you will find room for it, and let us see whether some good results may not follow. W. O. W. -Notes and Queries. IRON SLAG: ITS APPLICATION TO COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.-I trust it will be admitted I have proved bricks, tiles, pipes, and pottery can be made cheaper and more durable from iron or clay slags than from any other material; having neither drying nor burning to contend with, wherein lies all the difficulty to be yet overcome by the advocates of machinery versus handmak- OPERA FIRST MENTIONED.-"From a MS. Di urnal of the Parliament, 1658, in the possession of the descendent of Clement Walker, John Walker Heneage, of Compton House, I am able to shew that, besides Anthony Wood's concert at Oxford, in the year 1658, the opera' was first mentioned. This document is singular: "Thursday, Feb. 5, 1658.-The Lords being acquainted that, notwithstanding the Laws against stage-players and interludes, yet there are stage-plays, interludes, and things of like nature called Opera, acted to the scandal of Religion and the government,-ordered a committee.' "I cannot make out the names of the Com mittee, except Lord Claypole."-Bowles' Life of Ken, i. 244. -Notes and Queries. |