Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, &o. 66 edition of Boswell's 'Johnson' and other works in eighteenth century literature. Hume's letters are in themselves both interesting and valuable. Though Major Fraser's Manuscript. Edited by Alexander written principally on matters of business, they cover a Fergusson, Lieut. Col. 2 vols. (Edinburgh, Douglas.) wide range. What is of personal interest makes, perA SERVICE to the scholar has been rendered by Col. Ferhaps, the most direct appeal. Very curious revelations as to the fate of Hume's successive writings are furgusson in printing for the first time the curious and interesting MS. of Major James Fraser of Castle nished, and his own opinion upon their respective and Leathers. Valuable for the light it throws upon the relative value is edifying. He thus expresses his coneccentric and lamentable career of Simon Fraser, Lord viction that, in his private judgment, the first volume of Lovat, it is even more precious for the insight it affords his history is by far the best. He is bewildered at the into life in Scotland and in France at the close of the charges of partisanship which everywhere encounter seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries, him, and states that whatever alterations he has made and the revelation it furnishes of a shrewd, loyal, hard- in the reigns of the first two Stuarts have invariably headed, passably prejudiced, and pragmatical gentleman. been to the Tory side. He declares the intention he Documents such as this constitute the very marrow of once entertained of changing in the second edition his history. Long, persistent, and heroic, since they in-orthography, but on the whole decides to retain the volved a journey alone and on foot through a large part of northern France with no more than three words of the language, were the services of "Castle Leathers" to his chief, in search of whom he went, and his reward was worthy of the man he sought to benefit, a man who, according to one account, united "the arts of a Machiavel with the tyranny of a Cæsar Borgia," and of whom Mountstuart Elphinstone said that he knew an Afghan chief the absolute duplicate of Simon Fraser in ferocity, cunning, and plausibility.'' It is impossible to give an insight into this curious and important MS. How a soldier such as " Castle Leathers" could ever have written it is not easy to conceive. A desire to ventilate his wrongs must have been a strong motive. Its unconscious revelations are, however, delightful, and one can understand how the sturdy Scot won favour at the Court of Louis among those whose language he could not attempt to speak. His orthography is as sturdy as his character, and sometimes leaves his capable and energetic editor at fault. On p. 155 we venture, rather wildly perhaps, to suggest that "make the Frasers opish," which Col. Fergusson queries "upish?" might possibly be "Popish," with the initial letter dropped out. Upish," in the sense of "tipsy," is used by Vanbrugh, but "uppish," in that of "proud," "arrogant," is surely of much later growth. The major spells "renunciation renunesation." In another case, vol. i. p. 182, the phrase "be way of a Jesuite" surely means a jest! "Jesuit" is a word the major is fond of using. By writing in the third person, "like another great commander," as Col. Fergusson adds, the major is enabled to express very plaintively the pity for himself with which he is filled. We owe, indeed, Col. Fergusson our best thanks for introducing us to this worthy, whom we shall not soon forget, and whose adventures constitute the backbone of a romance. The book is admirably got up, with a portrait of Lord Lovat from the scarce mezzotint of Le Clare, one of great interest of the major himself after John Sobieski Stuart, and one of Duncan Forbes, of Culloden, concerning whom, in an appendix no less valuable and readable than the original work, some striking stories are told. Head and tail pieces and other embellishments from contemporary sources add greatly to the attractions of a captivating work. 66 Letters of David Hume to William Strahan. Now first To the energy of Dr. Birkbeck Hill and to the liberality spelling as it is." In his letters it may be noted that most substantives are assigned a capital letter. He is very particular concerning correctness, quoting more than once (pp. 200 and 308) a saying he ascribes to Rousseau, that "one half of a man's life is too little to write a book, and the other half to correct it." He shows himself a good hater, speaking of Warburton as "the most odious writer," and of England as "a stupid factious nation, with whom I am heartily disgusted." Some of his literary opinions are strongly expressed. He speaks of Macpherson sHistory' as "one of the most wretched productions that ever came from your press "; and holds that, “bad as it is, 'Tristram Shandy' is the best book that has been written by an Englishman these thirty years." Hume's political opinions are, of course, not less freely expressed. How much Dr. Hill has added in his invaluable notes will not readily be surmised by those who have not seen the book. Where it is possible every allusion is explained at full length, and every particular the reader can possibly demand is supplied. The notes, indeed, constitute by far the largest and, it must frankly be owned, the most valuable part of the volume. A capital specimen of the manner in which illustration is supplied is furnished in the matter of Rousseau's mad quarrel with Hume. A few references to this are all that occur in the letter. A full account and explanation of all the particulars is Hume," Dr. Hill finds, "was wantgiven in the notes. ing in that happy humour which enables a man, in the midst of the most violent attacks, to laugh at the malicious rage of his adversary." "It was the same want of humour," he continues, "which made him take 80 much to heart the coarse abuse which Lord Bute's ministry brought upon the Scotch." It is hopeless to attempt to convey a full idea of the contents of this delightful work, which is a credit to Dr. Hill and to all concerned in its production. In the case of a work published under such supervision it is needless to say that the index is exemplary, and adds greatly to its utility and value. 64 A Catalogue of the Printed Books bequeathed by John A CATALOGUE of the Forster collection of books in the of a worker, and is naturally richest in those departments of literature with which John Forster was most busily occupied. Charles I. and the Civil War is perhaps the most interesting heading, many of the tracts indicated being very rare. Under Dickens and Goldsmith very numerous articles appear, and the influence of Forster's early practice as a theatrical critic will be found in the works under such names as Cibber and Garrick. Prefixed to the volume is a judicious and wellwritten memoir of John Forster, by Mr. W. Elwin, together with a portrait. A second volume will contain a catalogue of the MSS., &c., constituting the remainder of the bequest. Mean time, not only as a specimen of thorough and conscientious workmanship, but for its intrinsic value this first volume is welcome. It is hand some and creditable in all respects, and shows how great is the advance that England-not before it was time is making in bibliographical studies. A not very formidable table of errata appears at the end. It is to be regretted that the last but three of this is itself an erratum. Foreign Visitors in England, and what They have Thought of Us. By Edward Smith. (Stock.) THIS volume is one of the most thorough in workmanship of the series (the "Book-Lover's Library") to which it belongs. Mr. Smith might easily have multiplied the books from which he quotes, and may do so in a second series. So far as it extends, however, his work is entertaining and instructive. Great Writers.-Life of William Congreve. By Edmund Gosse. (Scott.) Or Congreve's life the details are scanty. Of many of the inferior men of his time much biographical material remains, but the great comic dramatist led a quiet and regular life, and therefore there has not been much recorded of him. He must have written many letters, but nearly all have perished, or remain undiscovered. Mr. Gosse has made the most of what has been preserved, and by diligent search in pamphlets, newspapers, and other out-of-the-way places has succeeded in adding much to our knowledge. The scarcity of material is an advantage in one respect. Had Congreve's life been crowded with incident, there would have been far too little room for exposition. The excellent account Mr. Gosse has given of the theatre in Congreve's time would have had to be cut down, and we should probably have had few of the interesting details he has now given concerning the fierce warfare that arose from the publication of Jeremy Collier's attack on the shameless dramatic literature that was then popular. Collier's 'Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage' is a powerful book with many faults. It did a work such as could never have been hoped for by its author. In the whole course of English literature we cannot call to mind any one book which has caused so rapid and so marked a change in popular feeling. The only English thing we can compare it to is the "Tracts for the Times," but there is no true parallel between them. The "Tracts" were a serial written by many authors. The influence attributed to them has also been much exaggerated. The revolution in religious opinion which inaccurate persons have attributed solely to them was, in a great measure, brought about by the personal action of the tract writers and those who worked with them. Collier had no personal influence whatever except over a few nonjurors. We are glad to find that Mr. Gosse takes a kindly view of this remarkable man. His career is not known to most persons as it ought to be, and many moderns have an unfounded prejudice against him, because they think that his attack on the stage arose from an unreasoning prejudice against dramatic representations in themselves. This, however, is a mistake. His comparatively temperate views must not be confounded with the fanaticism of Law and of the French ecclesiastics who denounced all scenic representations whatsoever. We are glad to find that Mr. Gosse speaks kindly of Mrs. Anne Bracegirdle. She was an innocent and a beautiful woman, two reasons which were quite sufficient to induce the men about town, and the scribblers who echoed their words to speak evil of her. Paddington Green, contains many quaint and curious THE catalogue of Mr. U. Maggs, of Church Street, works, some of them not easily encountered. 'A COMPLETE CONCORDANCE TO THE POEMS AND SONGS OF ROBERT BURNS,' by J. B. Reid, M.A., is announced by Mesers. Kerr & Richardson, of Glasgow. The words of this are over 8,000, and the quotations more than four times that number. 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." G. J. GRAY ("St. George's Fields, Southwark," 7th S. vii. 69).-Mr. W. Rendle will feel greatly obliged if Mr. Gray will inform him where the MS. folio volume, "Algebra, H. O.. 1680," is to be seen-measuring in St. George's Fields from Slut's Well to Restoration House. Please address direct, Treverbyn, 111, Sunderland Road, Forest Hill, London, S. E. R. B. STANTON (?), E. I. U. S. Club.-1. ("Chess.") "Grammatically chess is the plural of check" (Skeat, 'Etymological Dictionary'). 2. (“Stale-mate.") A stale is a "laughing-stock." See To make me a stale among these mates. Encyclopædic Dictionary.' LENA MAYOR ("Pouring oil on troubled waters ").— Every few weeks we have to repeat that there is no complete answer to this question. See 6th S. iii. 69, 252, 298; iv. 174; vi. 97, 377;* x. 307, 351; xi. 38, 72, &c. A. J. M. (Sermon on Malt').-This is by Mr. (or Dr.) Dodd, not, assumably, the too notorious poet. It can be found in the Penny Magazine, old series, vol. i. p. 7; or in N. & Q.,' 1st S. xii. 497. E. WALFORD ("Skit on Darwinism ").-These clever lines are by Mortimer Collins. They will be found 5th S. iv. 149. 7th S. ii. 117. F. WILSON ("Bronze Penny of 1864 ").-See ' N. & Q.,' CORRIGENDUM.-P. 80, col. 1. 1. 22 from bottom, for "Andrew Buer" read Andrew Brice. NOTICE. Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of Notes and Queries'"-Advertisements and Business Letters to "The Publisher"-at the Office, 22, Took's Court, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, E.C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception. LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1889. CONTENT 8.-N° 163. NOTES:-Precious Metals in the British Isles, 101-The Can- QUERIES:-Chopness-English-Medal of the Pretender- Long Perne Court-Smut-Villon, 109. clay slates, as in the Snowdonian range, and traces of gold have been found in the toadstone of Derbyshire. A cobalt mine was also discovered at Gwenap, Cornwall, in 1754, and gold and silver have both been found at Helston and Endillion, in the last-mentioned county; antimony also at the latter place. As regards various stones; agates, jaspers, cornelians, and Scotch pebbles are to be found in most trap rocks, and amethysts were unearthed in Kerry in 1755. The Romans worked gold in Carmarthenshire, and the washings down of the Carnon Stream Mine, near Perran, "used to bring away many REPLIES:- The Ingoldsby Legends,' 109-Chains of Straw-sorts of metal with curious bits of gold." Genealogical, 110-"Dolce far niente "-Silvain-Mermaid At Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire, gold is said Once a Week-Touch, 111-T. Dray-Cromwell and to have been worked in the granite (?) some years Carlisle Cathedral-A Mayor's Title-Carbonari-Anson's Voyages, 112-Herrington Churchyard - Seringapatam, ago, and a piece weighing 26 oz. was found in 113 The Fox and Vivian"-Death Warrant of Charles I. Wicklow in 1795. In the papers of the Bannatyne -Proverb-Arrant Scot"-Crabbe's Tales of the Hall,' Club (1825) is one on the 'Discoverie and Historie 114-Frances Cromwell-Early English and Late GothicRelics of Charles I., 115-Comitatus Cereticus-Westgate of Gold Mynes in Scotland, 1619.' The Termination "kon"-"Sneck posset "-T. Payne-T. Harrison-Society of Kabbalists, 116-Corfe Castle-Kissing under the Mistletoe -Sandal Gates-J. Rollos-Porchas, 117-Kissing-Sons of Edward III.-Iron Coffins-The Dominican Rule-Heraldic-' Christa Sangítá,' 118. Camden mentions gold and silver mines in Cumberland, and a mine of silver in Flintshire. In the former county the finding of gold and silver intermixed with common ore gave rise to a lawsuit NOTES ON BOOKS:-Farmer's Americanisms, Old and between the Earl of Northumberland and another Notes. PRECIOUS METALS IN THE BRITISH ISLES. The question of royalties in connexion with goldmining industry in the British Isles having been lately (November 8) debated in Parliament, the following notes, gathered from time to time from miscellaneous sources, may not prove uninteresting. At all events, if added to, or otherwise enlarged upon, by the correspondents of 'N. & Q.,' they may possibly form the nucleus of a collection of valuable material bearing upon the question and its bibliography. I have not at hand the sources from which the extracts and condensed accounts were made, nor (except where stated) the references as to whence derived, so that a few errors of transcription may possibly occur. In other respects the whole may be taken as from fairly trustworthy sources. Gold, silver, and copper are all stated to be held in solution, in appreciable quantities, in sea water, and enough silver has been found in the worn copper of some ships to make it worth while to extract it. All copper mines contain silver to a greater or less extent, and it is found similarly in all lead mines and lead ore. Such argentiferous ores are the common lead ores of the northern counties of Wales, of Derbyshire, Cumberland, and Durham. Gold, silver, and cobalt occur in nearly all the claimant. A paper concerning gold mines in Scotland also occurs in appendix 10 to the second part of 'Pennant's Tour in Scotland,' 1772; and in September, 1853, Mr. Calvert read a paper on the production of gold in the British Isles before the British Association, in which he stated that, from his own explorations and researches, he believed gold was to be found in forty counties in these islands, and over an area of 500 square miles. "The largest known nuggets hitherto were one of 3 lb. from Lanarkshire, and three of 2 lb. from there and Wicklow." He predicted the finding of gold fields in the clay slate of Canada. With respect specially to gold, in Pollux Hill, near Silsoe, Beds, was discovered in 1700 a mine of gold, which, being immediately seized for the king, according to law, it was let to some persons who employed labourers and artificers to purify it"; but it was not found sufficient "to answer the expense." In the same year another mine was discovered in a village called Taynton, on the northern borders of the Forest of Dean, of which a lease was granted to some refiners, who extracted gold from the ore; and Borlase, in the History of Cornwall,' relates that in 1753 several pieces of gold were found in what the miners call "stream tin." In Wales, 5,300 oz. were produced near Dolgelly in 1863, and 720 oz. in 1875-8. This, I believe, refers only to the mines worked in the Mawddach Valley, where the present operations are being carried on. In Scotland operations appear to have extended king in the shape of a basin of natural gold filled over a much longer period, particularly in the six-with gold pieces, also the production of Scotland. teenth and seventeenth centuries, and over a wide area. In 1511-13 James IV. had gold mines worked "in Crawfurd Muir, in the upper ward of Lanarkshire," a peculiarly sterile tract, scarcely any part of which is less than a thousand feet above the sea. In the royal accounts for those years there are payments to James Pettigrew, who seems to have been the chief of the enterprise; to Simon Northberge, the chief refiner; Andrew Ireland, the finer; and Gerald Essemer, a Dutchman, the "milter of the mine." In 1526 James V. gave a company of Germans a grant of the mines of Scotland for forty-three years, at and they are said to have "toiled laboriously gold digging for many months in the surface of the alluvia of the moor, and obtained a considerable amount of gold. In 1563-4 the queen granted to John Stewart, of Tarlaw, and his sons, licence "to win all kinds of metallic ore from the country between Tay and Orkney. In the event of their finding gold or silver, "where none was ever found before," they had the same licence, paying one stone of ore for every ten won, and the arrangement to last for nine years, the first two of which were to be free. In 1567 the Regent Murray granted licence to Cornelius de Voix, a Dutchman, for nineteen years to search for gold and silver in any part of Scotland; and he so far persuaded the Scots to " confederate," that they raised a stock of 5,000l. Scots (equal to about 4167. sterling), and worked the mines under royal privilege. He appears to have had "six score men at work in the valleys and dales." He employed "both lads and lasses, and the men and women who before went a-begging." He profited by their work, and "they lived well and contented." They sought for the metal by washing the detritus in the bottom of the valleys, and received a mark sterling for every ounce they realized. One John Gibson survived so late as 1619 in the village of Crawford to relate how he had gathered gold in these valleys "in pieces like birds' eyes and birds' eggs, the best being found," he said, "in Glengaber Water, in Ettrick, which was sold to the Earl of Morton." "Cornelius within the space of thirty days sent to the cunyie-house, Edinburgh, as much as eight pound weight of gold, a quantity which would now bring 4501. sterling." The adventure was subsequently taken up by one Abraham Gray, a Dutchman, resident in England, "commonly called 'Greybeard,' from his having a beard which reached to his girdle." He hired country people at fourpence a day to wash the detritus round the Harlock Head for gold, some of which was presented by the Regent Morton to the French In 1580 one Arnold Bronkhorst, a Fleming, and a group of adventurers worked gold mines in Lanarkshire, and one Nicholas Hilliard, goldsmith, of London, and miniature painter to Queen Elizabeth, is said to have belonged to the company. 1582-3. A contract was entered into between the king (James VI.) and one Eustachius Roche, "a Fleming and mediciner," whereby he was to be allowed to break the ground anywhere, and use timber from the royal forests in furthering the work, without molestation, for twenty-one years, on the sole condition that he "delivered for his Majesty's use for every 100 oz. of gold found 7 oz.," and "for all other metals (silver, copper, tin, and lead) 10 oz. for every 100 oz. found; and sell the remainder of the gold for the use of the state at 221. per ounce of utter fine gold, and of silver at 50s. the ounce." This must be, of course, Scots currency. (Privy Council Records.) In 1596 an edict was issued to Robertson and Henderland forbidding them to continue selling their gold gotten in Crawfurd Muir to merchants for exportation, "but to bring it to the King's cunyie-house to be sold there at the accustomed price for the use of the state" (Privy Council Records). In 1616 Stephen* Atkinson was licensed by the Privy Council" to search for gold, and the Saxeer, and Alumeer and the Salyneer stanes" in Crawfurd Muir, on conditions similar to the former grants; and in 1621 a similar licence was granted to a Dr. Hendlie ('Domestic Annals of Scotland'). During the eighteenth century there appears to have been a lull in gold seeking and finding in the North. In the Moffat Times, however, of July, 1859, it is stated that "Mr. Griffin, a gentleman from Leamington, has this week passed through Moffat provided with all tools necessary for gold digging and washing, accompanied by two miners from Leadhills. The scenes of their explorations are to be the head of Moffat side and in the neighbourhood of St. Mary's Loch." With regard to the finding of silver in England, the most interesting particulars are to be found in connexion with the well-known Combe Martin Mines, Devon. These are known to have been worked in or about 1300, in the reign of Edward I., and with great success during the French wars of his grandson and Henry V. Circa 1587, in the reign of Elizabeth, a new lode was discovered here by Sir Beavis Bulmer, who was able to present Her Majesty with a cup made out of the ore. This cup, or one similar to it, was presented by the queen to W. Bouchier, Esq., of Bath, when lord of the manor, as appears by the inscription : *This is elsewhere given as Samuel. In Martyn's Coombe long lay I hydd Till Bulmer came, whose skille and toyle As richer nowhere els is seene. These mines were tried again in 1813. In 1835 the works were opened without success, and they were closed in 1848. The smelting-house was erected in 1845. Ecton Copper Mine, in Staffordshire, was at one time rich in the ore, as was also Crennes Mine, in Anglesea; whilst the value of silver produced by the lead mines of Col. Beaumont, in Northumberland and Durham, was not less than 4,000l. per annum. Scotland again comes to the front with this precious metal :— "On the west of Linlithgow there is a place called Silver Mill, where there was a silver mine. Silver was taken from it and coined at Linlithgow during the reign of one of the Scottish kings......Some of the groat pieces so coined are to be found in the cabinets of the curious. ......The mine and tract adjoining is now the property of the Earl of Hopetoun." Prisons of Mary, Queen of Scots.' Some, at least, of the "Eccles silver pennies" found in 1864, and evidently minted at Edinburgh, were no doubt of Scottish silver. They are of William I. ("The Lion") of Scotland. May 8, 1608. "This day commenced an unfortunate adventure of the king [James I.] for obtaining silver in certain mines at Helderstone, in the county of Linlithgow. Some years before a collier named Sandy Maund, wandering about the burn sides in that district, chanced to pick up a stone containing veins of clear metal, which proved to be silver." This he was advised to submit to Sir Beavis Bulmer at Leadhills, who was engaged gold seeking there. The consequence was that some very hopeful masses of ore were found, and "a commission was appointed by the king, with the consent of Sir Thomas Hamilton, his Majesty's Advocate, the proprietor of the ground, for making a search for silver ore with a view of trying it at the mint." In January, 1608, thirty-eight barrels of ore, weighing in all 20,220 lb., were packed and sent to the Tower of London. This ore is said to have given "24 oz. of silver to every hundred weight," and some double the quantity. Samuel Atkinson, who was engaged working the mine, tells how "on some days he won as much silver as was worth 1001. The shaft, indeed, received the name of 'God's Blessing."" A result so favourable aroused the king's cupidity, and, advised by Hamilton, he purchased "God's Blessing" for 5,000l., and worked it at the public expense. Bulmer was its governor. A mill for refining the metal was established at 66 on the water Leith, and others, with workshops, running out of Linlithgow Loch." No substantial success, however, appears to have resulted. The same mine was granted to Sir William Alexander, Thomas Foulis, and Paulo Pinto, a Portuguese, in 1613, on condition of their paying a tenth of the refined ore to the crown." The scene of these mining operations is still to be found to the east of Cairn-apple Hill, four miles south of Linlithgow, and a neighbouring excavation for limestone is named from it the "Silver Mine Quarry." Many further particulars respecting these mines will be found in Chambers's 'Domestic Annals of Scotland,' and in extracts given from the Privy Council Records. It seems also that silver was discovered in Ireland as early as 1294. There appears little doubt from the foregoing imperfect collection of notes that Mr. Calvert's surmise that the precious metals are to be found scattered in varying quantity over a large portion of the British Isles, and that their presence is not confined to Wales is correct; whilst in these days of closer scientific knowledge of the subject and of improved machinery and methods for winning the metals, Dr. Clark's belief, as expressed in the House, that if easy royalties were fixed and licenses for prospecting issued, a great deal of gold and silver would be found "all over the United Kingdom," would be realized. R. W. HACKWOOD. THE CANDLEMAS BLEEZE.-Saturday, Feb. 2, was Candlemas Day. I am reminded thereby of an old custom that I should be glad to have recorded in 'N. & Q.' My father, sometime Governor and Captain General of the colony of Sierra Leone, was born about 1804. As a very small child he attended a parish school in the 'Redgauntlet' country, hard by the Solway. It was then the custom, as I have been informed, on Candlemas Day for every scholar to carry, as an offering to the schoolmaster, a gift of peats, varying in number according to the distance to be traversed and the strength of the pupil. This duty was known by the name of the "Candlemas bleeze" (i. e., blaze). Any one acquainted with the incomparable nature of the peats from the Lochar Moss that terror to English troops and sanctuary for Border reivers-cut from a jetty soil as black as ink and smooth and soft as butter, and, when dried |