"Goethe was extremely mild, quiet, and inwardly cheerful. He soon came to speak of Lord Byron. Byron,' he said, only places Pope (den alten Pope) on so

high a standard on account of having in him an iuvincible drawback. Compared with Pope, Byron has been a giant; compared with Shakespeare, on the other hand, a dwarf. The ode on the death of General Moore [of which Goethe always spoke in raptures, and which for many years was thought to be a poem of Lord Byron in Germany as well as in France] is one of the most beautiful poems of Byron. Shelley must have been a narrow-minded fellow not to feel this moreover, Byron seems to me to have been far too kind to Shelley. That Byron has taken Ugolino as a prototype for his Prisoner of Chillon cannot be blamed at all: the whole universe belongs to the Poet, each spirited work of art becoming in turn a part of nature, and thus the later-born poet may make use of it just as well as of any other natural phenomenon.'"-Antè, p. 94.

The same day he was disparaging Tom Moore, and speaking of the favourable impression Lord Stratford's departure from Constantinople, on account of the state of Greece, had made upon him. Speaking thus of Greek affairs, Goethe expressed a different opinion from that of June, 1824, as regards Lord Byron's influence on Greece and the Greeks :

"If Lord Byron's life had been spared, he would have become a Lycurgus or a Solon for Greece.""-Antè, p. 94. On December 17, of the same year, Goethe had a long talk on Byron's Conversations:

"I am reading them now for the second time. I should not like to miss them although they leave behind a painful impression. How much gossip often about the most futile things; what offences taken at each silly judgment of journalists; what a wild life with dogs, monkeys, peacocks, horses; everything without connecting links! Only as regards taking a view on a thing, Byron judges well and clearly; reflection is not hishis judgments and combinations are often those of children. With what patience he allows himself to be reproached with plagiarisms, firing only small shot at his antagonists for his defence, instead of thundering down upon them with heavy cannons. Does not everything that the past and the present have done belong by right light."- Vide, passim the whole essay on Heinrich Heine; for the above word, Essays in Criticism, 1865, pp. 157161.-H. K.

• As late as 1831 Gries (born 1775, died 1842), the famous German translator of Calderon, Tasso, Ariosto, and Bojardo (whom Panizzi's fine edition has saved from oblivion), translated Wolfe's master-poem as being Byron's. Vide Aus dem Leben von Johann Diederich Gries, N. P., 1855, p. 163.

to the poet? Why should he feel afraid of culling flowers wherever he finds them? Only by appropriating the very best part of other people's [mental] treasures, something great can be produced. Have I not myself made use of Job and of a Shakespeare-song for Mephistopheles? Byron was mostly unknown to himself a great poet; seldom he fully enjoyed his own self.'”—Antè, pp. 95, 96.

In May of the following year (1825) he was speaking of the mental resemblance between Madame de Staël and Byron (antè, p. 101); and in June, 1827, of Parry's narrative of the last days of the great English poet (antè, p. 111), but on both occasions Von Müller does not mention any particulars. Goethe took at that time a great (August 12, 1827) spoke much of Canning and interest in the affairs of Greece, and one day of his premature and untimely death (antè, p. 115.)

Remembering how difficult a thing it must have been to obtain English books in Germany some forty or fifty years ago, we are astonished how many of them found their way to Weimar. I do not wish to speak of standard works, but of less known or less universal books, whose only his charming "Letter" that forms an appendix merit often is their rarity. Thackeray tells us in to Mr. Lewes's Life of Goethe, that even the court of Weimar, the grandduke, and the amiable Grandduchess Luise not excepted, borrowed English books of the young and old English gentlemen and gentlewomen who came to visit Weimar, and Goethe must always, it is evident, have received the lion's share. Thus he is speaking of Roger Bacon's works (whom he greatly and justly admired, antè, p. 4), Moore's Poems, Howard's Climate of London (which he highly praised, antè, p. 47), Flaxman's much admired outlines, Lady Morgan's Italy (he probably read the German Weimar edition, 1821-the authoress he fairly hated-antè, p. 48), Mrs. Roscoe's Floral Illustrations, and many others. Of Carlyle he began to think very highly. "We spoke of Carlyle's article" (probably the one on Goethe in the Foreign Quarterly, 1828) Von Müller observes, "and Goethe said "" (August 16, 1828):

"I have forwarded some little presents to this worthy man, viz. a pocket edition of my works, Faust, a medal, and an engraving [probably portraits of Goethe], an iron breast-pin for his wife, &c. These kind of people,' he added, as we also observe in the Bracebridges, lead a much more intimate and socially connected life than we do in our hasty pleasures. They are as it were united together in a narrow boat in the midst of the ocean, unmindful of the roar and the noise around them.'"-Antè, p. 125.

Next to Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott occupied much of Goethe's attention and serious thinking, but he did not admire him as much as he did "the only great poet of our time." Of Sir Walter's poems he does not speak here. Mentioning one day one of Sir Walter's books, probably a novel, he said: —

"A book which has been of great efficacy can, properly speaking, no longer be judged of. Moreover, criticism is a mere habit of the moderns.""-Antè, p. 48. "Scott's enchanting charm,' he observed another time (September 17, 1823), rests also upon the glory of the three British Kingdoms, and the never-ending variety of their history.' (Ante, p. 55.) [He was then occupied, indirectly at least, with Quentin Durward.]-Antè, p. 57.

Some days after, October 12, 1823 :"Thomas Moore has not pleased me in anything. Of Walter Scott I have been reading two novels, and know now what he intends and what he is able to do. He would always amuse me, but I cannot learn anything of him. I have only time for the truly excellent!""-Antè, p. 69.

Another day (November 25, 1824,) when Von Müller was quite alone with Goethe, the latter was speaking of Sir Walter's success in a pecuniary point, having made 80,000l. by his writings, but having also at the same time sold his true glory as an author for this sum; for most of his novels Goethe pronounced to be of not much value, although yet far too good for the public at large (Publicum). (Antè, p. 95.)

Sir Walter's Letters on Witchcraft and Demonology, which Goethe had read at the end of 1830, he praised highly (antè, p. 146); but the Life of Napoleon he, like many with and after Goethe, did not consider of sufficient cosmopolitan interest:

"Sir Walter Scott's Napoleon could only be read with pleasurable comfort (Behagen), in case one be resolved to get to know a purely English (stock-englisch) way of judging and thinking of that great worldly phenomenon. In this regard, I have had patience enough to read it through from beginning to end in English.'"-Antè, p. 148.

I have just closed the book, and know it will leave upon my mind a more than agreeable impression and effect for a long time. It is not mere everyday gossip recorded to fill a volume; most of its pages have a dewy freshness and balmy wholesomeness about them; and such qualities, methinks, ought to recommend it to many readers. HERMANN KINDT. Germany.

LOCAL RHYMES.

"Deeping and Deeping and Deeping in row, Tallington, Uffington, Barholme, and Stow, At the White House at Greatford there you must turn To Langtoft, Baston, Thurlby, and Bourn." Perhaps this old Lincolnshire rhyme may be interesting to some who, like myself, had forgotten it till reminded of such things by the appearance of "Local Rhymes " in " N. & Q." ROBT. HARDWICKE.

WEATHER PREDICTION: A MARTINMAS WIND. A year ago a Huntingdonshire cottager told me that, whatever quarter the wind may be in at Martinmas, "it keeps mainly to the same point right on to old Candlemas Day," Feb. 14; and that, as the wind was then S.S.W. there would be a prevalence of such winds during those three months, with " a mild winter and no snow to speak of." On Dec. 11, 1868, I sent a note of this to "N. & Q.," which appeared in the 4th S. iii. 10. In the same volume, p. 447, your correspondent PHILAGRICOLA called attention to "the fulfilment of the prognostication," and the way in which it had "been so singularly verified." The same old cottager has this year told me that the wind was N.W. at Martinmas, and he therefore predicts that we shall have a somewhat severe winter. I may add that I find this belief as to the Martinmas wind prevalent among my cottage neighbours in Huntingdonshire; and I was told by several that they went out of doors the last thing on Martinmas night to see where the wind was. from the N.W., "It blew right down the street," they said, i. e. and that betokens a hard CUTHBERT BEDE.

winter."

Nov. 25, 1869.

A MEDIEVAL FARMHOUSE.-The Cornish Telegraph of Sept. 29, 1869, says :

thatched roof of one of the farmhouses on the estate of "It was resolved last week to remove entirely the old Rosekestal [near the Land's End, Cornwall]-a house whose sombre, weather-stained granite walls and quaint chimney speak of at least three or four long-lived generations of owners. To this residence was assigned, by common rumour and one of the county histories, the age of 250 years. The thatch, in some places, was three and four feet thick, and near the west gable it overhung and buried up a portion of the chimney. On making a clearance, to have room for a slate roof, the figures 1457 appeared very plainly cut into a stone. The stone will remain, and the figures be re-cut."

The above cutting is probably worthy of preservation in " N. & Q." as recording the existence of one of the most ancient farmhouses in the E. H. W. D. country.

Greenwich.

POPULAR SAYINGS.-Let me record for the benefit of future inquirers the source, or at all events the early use of, the following phrases: "To reckon without your host"; "To fall between two stools"; and "If the skies fall, we shall catch larks." They will be found in Rabelais' Gargantua, and are thus expressed: "comptoit sans son hoste"; "s'asseyoit entre deux selles le cul à terre"; and "si les nues tomboient, espéroit prendre les alouettes." H. FISHWICK.

SERVANTS' WAGES IN 1724.-The following is an extract from the will of the Rev. Dr. William Hartwell, who lived in state and splendour as rector of the rich rectory of Stanhope in Durham,

"Item. I leave to Thomas Moses, my servant, six pounds; to John Emmerson, my other servant, three pounds; to Sarah, my maid, fifty shillings-being to each a year's wages."

Note, that the doctor does not appear to know that Sarah had a surname; she is simply 'Sarah, my maid.' The will bears date the 9th of March, 1724. A. J. M.

Queries.

BELL TAVERN, KING STREET, WESTMINSTER. Can any one inform me whether the house in which the October Club, so celebrated in the latter years of Queen Anne, held their meetings, is still in existence? It stood, I believe, in King Street, Westminster, and there are two very old projecting houses on the right-hand side near the St. George Street end-the one a coffee-house, the other a small news agency, which I fancy to have heard mentioned as the identical place.

C. G. COLLETON KENNIE.

BRIDGEWATER.-The tactics of the electors of this town have not changed or cheapened much during the last century.

"All this trouble and vexation and expense flows from a set of low worthless fellows who, finding they shall not be bribed without opposition, have prevailed on Lord Egmont to lend his name, to whom they will give one vote that they may sell the other spent these three days in the infamous and disagreeable compliance with the low habits of renal wretches the clection cost me 3,4001.”—Doddington's Diary, August 1753, 1754.

The venality which disgusted Bubb must have been stupendous. In Hogarth's series of The Election, Bubb Doddington is the member who is being chaired. Did the series refer to a Bridgewater or Weymouth election, for both of which places B. D. returned the two members?

"THE FOREST SCHOOL MAGAZINE."—A school magazine, called The Forest School Magazine, Walthamstow, was published about 1866-1867. Who was the editor of this periodical, where was it printed and published, and is it still in existence? R. INGLIS.

HENRY II.-Can any one give me information concerning the statement that Henry II. used to bury women up to their waist and then set bulldogs at them? I was told this the other day as a fact known to students of history, and I should be glad to learn on what authority it rests, and where the statement is to be found. LUMEN.

HOLED-STONE AT ABURY, WILTSHIRE. Stukeley, in describing the stone-circles at Abury, says:

"Exactly in the southern end of the Temple [? line] which connects the two centres of these temples, is an odd stone standing, not of great bulk. It has a hole wrought in it, and was probably designed to fasten the victim in order for slaying it. This I call the ring stone."-Quoted in Duke's Druidical Temples of Wiltshire, p. 62.

Can this monolith still be identified? or has it been destroyed along with other stones of the same group? Perhaps some resident in the neighbourhood or recent visitor will be able to inform me.

Greenwich.

E..H. W. D.

G. W. M.

CAROLVS. SACK

MEDALS. MR. PINKERTON'S obliging reply (4th S. iv. 441) to M. D.'s inquiry about the Gormagon medal emboldens me to ask him to give me any information he can about the following medals:- 1. Obv. "SENSORIVM. ANNO. PRIMO. GEORGII. 1715," around a full-faced sun with rays. Rev. Two female figures-one draped with a scroll in front of her, inscribed " SUADERE; the other semi-nude-a sun in her right hand, a palm branch in her left, her left foot resting upon a globe. Size 10.-2. Obv. VILLE. MAGISTER. F. L." His bust; ex. NATTER, 1731. Rev. "AB. 99 ORIGINE. A nude figure (the genius of secrecy?), left arm resting upon the column supporting the cornucopia; the plumbrule, level, square, and other emblems of masonry at his feet. Size 13.-3. Obv. "OVR. FOOD. IS. SEDITION;" above, a female winged griffin, with the head of a fury, the tail of a dragon, carrying a flag bearing the royal crown, a cap of liberty on point of the staff; at bottom a scroll inscribed "FACTION." Rev. " 'NOURISHED TO TORMENT"; above, rays over a marsh; a snake winding through 66 JVLY 14, 1791." in ex. Size 10.

it.

BELFAST.

MORTIMER PEDIGREE.-Julian Mortimer, 1347; Hugh Mortimer, about 1330; Valentine Mortimer, 1337; William Mortimer, 1374; Henry Mortimer, 1340-50; Katherine Mortimer and her daughters, 1414; heir of John Mortimer, 1415. The above from the Rolls. Lucy Clifford married Bartholomew de Mortimer, eleventh century; Margaret Montacute married Sir John Mortimer; and Isabel Howard married Sir Robert Mortimer, both not far from 1500.

Who were these Mortimers, and what (if any) was their connection with the Mortimers of Wigmore, Earls of March? Was Katherine the wife of Edmund Mortimer of Wigmore, and daughter of Owen Glyndwr? Did Edmund leave any issue? Did his brother John marry or leave

"Ces notes et leur tendance véritable ont été caractérisées avec beaucoup de justesse dans un journal écrit de nos jours par des catholiques anglais. Les notes du N. T. avaient incontestablement pour l'objet de préparer l'opinion publique à l'invasion projetée par Philippe II au moment où ce prince armait dans son dessein son invincible Armada."-Notice sur la Bible de Douai et N. Test. de Reims, 1841.

The above passage is quoted in the catalogue of Dr. Todd's library, p. 20, which was sold by auction last month. I should be glad to get some information about this French Notice, and the Anglo-Catholic journal referred to. I do not remember that Lewis or Dr. Cotton have observed the connection between the Rheims Testament and the Armada, but I have not their works within reach at present. Q. Q.

CARDINAL RICHELIEU.-Where shall I find an account of the appearance of Cardinal Richelieu before Anne of Austria and her maids dressed as a clown? A READER. Dublin.

ON

SELDEN'S TREATISES AND "TYTHES" "TITLES OF HONOUR."-The first edition of Sel

den's Treatise on Tythes was printed in small quarto, London, 1618, and according to a note in the handwriting of the late Mr. Donaldson Selby of Cheswick, Northumberland, was "suppressed by the Court of High Commission in 1619," and the author "prohibited from writing any defence in answer to Dr. Montague and others who assailed him."

Are there any omissions of passages in the original text in the subsequent editions, or any modification to remove the objections of Selden's opponents? The copy of the editio princeps before me was purchased at the sale of Mr. Donaldson Selby's library. It is in fine condition, and the former owner considered it as of uncommon

occurrence.

The second edition of Selden's invaluable Titles of Honour was published in 1631, and in it will be found a charter by William the Lion to Morgund, the son of Gillocher, of the earldom of Mar, printed from the original parchment then amongst the records in the Tower. It is referred to in a document still in existence, printed by Palgrave in his collections relative to Scotland— a valuable work published by authority of the Record Commission, where Donald, or Dovenald, the descendant of Morgund in the reign of Edward I., is mentioned in a roll of the earls as having it in his possession.

The first edition of Selden's Titles of Honour