layed too long. He could not then remember, though he thought it was from the Clive family EDWARD STRACHEY. Sutton Court. Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, &o. Francis Bacon (Lord Verulam): a Critical Review of his Memoirs of above Half a Century. By "Owen Squire." (John Bumpus.) We cannot make our readers understand the pleasure this book has given us. It is in no sort a great work. The author, we are quite sure, is not under the impression that it is; but though not a work of high class, it is just the volume to take up after a long run with hounds or a heavy day's work in the office. When body and mind are tired we do not want anything exciting or such food for thought as shall set the brain a-working, trying to solve problems the interpretation of which is not for this world. What we desire is a succession of pleasant pictures clothed in clear and homely language, which shall not set us thinking of the last fashions in philosophy or of the words to be added to the vocabulary of Dr. Murray's great dictionary. The gentleman who calls himself "Owen Squire " has just hit our taste. The only fault we shall find-and as reviewers it would never do if we did not carp at something-is that he has not made it long enough. He must in his long experience have noted many other curious facts which he has not committed to paper. "Owen Squire's" memories are just of the kind that would have delighted Lord Macaulay, if anybody of the time of William III. or Anne had been sensible enough to write in his vein. Jottings about what a man has himself heard and seen are much more interesting than what he has gathered from books or the investigations of scientific experts. The author visited Tasmania somewhere about thirty years ago, and that, our readers must remember, is a very remote period in the annals of that lovely dependency. There are a few jokes scattered about, at which we have been inclined to laugh. They are not, however, among the best parts of the volume. The story of the preacher who, on being taken to task for some important violation of one of the ten commandments, said, “God's lambs will play," is not, as the author thinks, a new perversity. We have met with it in more than one obscure tract of the time of our great Civil War. No one has yet found out what is the lowest depth of imbecility to which the designers of sepulchral monuments can sink. The Pembrokeshire sculptor who carved on a monument to one of the Bulkeleys a tear surrounded by a laurel wreath must have gone very near to reaching the bottom. We have heard of the woodwork of a church being, when a great man died, painted black, picked out with white tears, looking for all the world like wriggling tadpoles, and we have seen the marble tears in the eyes of certain cherubs round the tomb of William the Silent at Delft; but a tear treated as a separate object is new to us. It is worthy of the inventive faculties of the eighteenth century heralds, who have done their best to fill the peerage with hideous monstrosities. The Two Town Halls of Liverpool. By Sir J. A. Picton. (Liverpool, Walmsley.) Notes on the Local Historical Changes in the Surface of the Land in and about Liverpool. (Same publishers.) THE present town hall of Liverpool is one hundred and forty years old. With the exception of a part of the Bluecoat School it is the oldest public building in the city. It replaces an older building, covered originally with thatch, which can have had little claims to architectural beauty. Though Liverpool is not a new city-it was incorporated by John-it has so few antiquities that the inhabitants have come to look upon their town hall as a venerable antiquity. Sir James Picton's history of it will, we are sure, be of service to many. The interest that a building has to men of the present generation cannot be measured by years. As an architectural composition the Liverpool town hall is pleasing, though built at a time when English architecture had sunk to low-water mark. We should be very sorry if we heard of any plan being on foot for replacing it by any "Early English" or "Queen Anne" structure such as it is now the fashion to admire with sectarian exclusiveness, which is sure to produce a violent reaction. The vast accumulation of buildings around what was old Liverpool has so altered the features of the country that no one but a local antiquary can reconstruct in imagination what the neighbourhood was like in Plan tagenet or Tudor times. Where are now streets and squares was then a land of streams and jutting rocks. The valleys have been filled up and built over, the rocks hewn away for building material. We do not grudge the fact that these features of natural beauty have been replaced by the abodes of humanity, but we are very glad to have at hand what we may call a guide-book to Liverpool before it fell under the domain of man. Old Chelsea: a Summer Day's Stroll. By Benjamin Ellis Martin. Illustrated by Joseph Pennell. (Fisher Unwin.) THIS is a charming book; text and illustrations are alike. That is just what they should be. The only fault we have to find is that it is far too short. Chelsea is an historic village, connected with the national life in a thousand ways; and when we reach the last page we are still hungry for more. We do not know whether Mr. Martin is an antiquary or not. We should conceive he slight as are his sketches, he has avoided blunders, or we is, though he keeps his feelings in the background; for, have not been keen enough to detect them. A good history of Chelsea is much wanted-one that shall give us minute details, and, above all things else, shall have maps showing us the state of the village from time to time. One of these should mark the spots memorable for the abode of persons we all love and reverence. How few of us there are who identify as we go along the place that was once the home of the holy chancellor Sir Thomas More, the house where L. E. L. (Miss Landon) was born, or that in which Carlyle lived for so many years. We believe that Mr. Martin could produce an excellent book of this kind, embodying all that is valuable in Faulkner's now antiquated volume and giving much new knowledge. Mr. Martin's English is remarkably good; but, like the rest of us, he trips now and then. Speaking of families in pre-Reformation times building chantries attached to their parish churches, he tells us of the founders "deeding or bequeathing it, as they did any other real estate." Deeding is a frightful word. He may have authority for it. We fear he has; but that makes it none the less hideous. "Conveying by deed" is the proper form, which we trust will take the place of "deeding" in any new edition. Fragments of the Greek Comic Poets. With Renderings into English Verse. By F. A. Paley. (Sonnenschein & Co.) Ir we were to call in question English Greek scholarship, we should be most justly taken to task for showing either ignorance or extreme prejudice. Several names at once occur to us which rank on a level with the best of the German students. It is, however, none the less true that the instruction in Greek furnished by our universities is of a far narrower kind than is to be wished. The "good men" who come out in honours know their books well, but few know anything beyond them. Englishmen have not yet freed themselves from the narrow surroundings of the revival of letters. They do not seem to be aware that the use of learning a language is not to be able to construe, but to master its literature. The literature of Greece that has survived-leaving out of consideration the Christian authors, which belong to a different category-is so vast that but few persons can master it all; but it is not well that men's reading should be cabined in within the rim of a circle of short radius. Mr. Paley is admitted on all hands to be one of the greatest living scholars. We are thankful to him for having produced the little book before us. It is in itself, from the first page to the last, interesting to those even who do not know a word of the Greek language. The translations are excellently done, and show a complete mastery of English as well as Greek. They are a thought too free, perhaps, to give satisfaction to persons of very rigourist tendencies, but they admirably give the sense. Had Menander or Antiphanes been Englishmen we can imagine that they would have used the very words in which Mr. Paley has re-vested their ideas. We confess, however, that the chief value of the book in our eyes consists in the fact that it opens out new lines of thought to young scholars, who have been but too apt to think that there was little worth reading in the tongue of Hellas outside the books used in their university course. THE "Record Series" of the Yorkshire Archæological and Topographical Association is making good progress. We have received the fifth volume, which consists of the second portion of a calendar of The Feet of Fines for that shire. The years covered are from 1571 to 1582 — a short period, yet one embracing vast changes in landed ested in the manorial or genealogical history of that great property. Such a book is not meant to be read; but it will be constantly referred to by every one who is intershire. So far as we have been able to test it, we are work excellently. There is a twofold index, one of perbound to say that Dr. Collins, the compiler, has done his testing it, made many references, and have not detected sons and another of places. We have, for the purpose of a solitary error. Le Livre for March 10 opens with a further and encouraging report upon M. Uzanne's scheme for the formation of the projected Société des Bibliophiles Contemporains. The correspondence, not wholly edify. ing, of the Prince de Ligne with Casanova is closed, and there is an excellent paper on 'L'Euvre Poétique d'Alexander Dumas.' Notices to Correspondents. We must call special attention to the following notices: address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but ON all communications must be written the name and 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." STEPHANIE (A Mad World, my Masters').-This is the title of a play by Thomas Middleton, the Elizabethan dramatist, 1608, 4to. of Dates' the American Civil War ended with the surAN ENGLISHMAN.-According to Haydn's Dictionary render of General Kirby Smith, May 26, 1865. LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1889. CONTENTS.-N° 170. ing Medium-Burnside Family-Douglas- Harvey Duff' REPLIES:-Cistern for a Dinner Table, 249-The Orthodox great Skill and Experience in Physick,* who after Perusal, told me, he had read my Book all over and consider'd every Line of it, and that he liked it all. Sir NOTES:-W. Lynn, 241-The "Ram Jam Inn," 243-Henry Richard Blackmore declared, that I had showed MasterMartyn, 245-Book bound in Human Skin-Bombastes ship, other more particular Encomiums will be met with in the Second Part,† which was wrote as a Supplement, Furioso -Salope-Falstaff and Wyclif, 246-"To lister"and to answer a groundless Objection to the first. NeverIrish Folk-lore, 247. QUERIES:-Christmas Tree-Circulating Library-Circulat-theless, both these Parts had the same Fate I was partly foretold they would; for shewing the first only to Dr. Mapletoft (who had been once President of the College of Physicians) he, upon hearing of the Preface read, asked me if I was qualified, or had a Licence to practice in London? upon my answering him, no! he advised me to get one before I published my Book, intimating, that it would be difficult, if not impossible for me to procure it afterwards. This was plainly his Meaning, as will appear clearer from the rest of my Conference with him, which is in the Beginning of my second Book, published in the Year 1715. I at that Time neglected to procure any such Licence, having not Money to bestow upon it, and had less Inclinations after, not only from the Hazard of a Disappointment, but from a greater Unfitness I had found in my self for the Employ; for running over the whole Works of Hippocrates, while I was writing these two Treatises of my own, found him absolutely condemning, and discouraging any Person in the Practice of Physick, who was not both of excellent Qualities and Endowments, but who had not, besides a perfect sound and strong Constitution naturally! Mine I found was bad by Experience, and what was the most melancholy part of the Case 'twas Hereditary, so that it would admit of no Cure or firm Establishment; and of Consequence it must often happen, that when my Patients would want me to look after them, I should either be laid up my self, or want perhaps another Physician to take care of me. This, with the ill Will I had gain'd amongst my Fraternity by the Freedoms I had used in my second Part, being justly provoked, as I thought, must of necessity cast me out of all Business; and having then nor since never met with a Gratitude suitable to my sincere Intentions to serve the Publick, especially the Ladies and Gentry. No wonder that I have appear'd morose, lazy, discontented and melancholy to most Persons ever since: these are Faults, I am sensible, that I am taxed with, but will admit of some Excuse from the foregoing Precould, and mises. However, in this State I found no Relief, but by diverting my self with Musick, as well as by giving up my Thoughts, to another Manner of Employment, which I had always a natural Bent and Inclination for, and that was Mechanicks. Many of my Attempts may perhaps be reckoned Trifles, yet some of these were well approved, and by one of the highest Judges; for Brevity I omit the Order of them, till what happen'd in the Year 1721, when being in Town I observed the Variety of Bubbles which bore a Vogue in Change-Alley, where every thing almost that had ever been contrived or thought of before, made a new Appearance, and bore a real or imaginary Value; yet one Engine that I expected to see there was wanting, which was the Engine for raising Water by Fire: Speaking of it to a certain Person, and asking him the Reason of it, he told me, that that Engine was under a Cloud from some Defects found in it, which he mention'd. I had perused an Author, who was rightly judged to be the true original Inventor of that Machine; but 'twas so obscurely described in him, that none could make out his true Meaning; and tho' Captain Savery wholly founded upon him, and made some Experiments that prov'd its force, yet he could never make it answer in his Time; so he * Dr. More, late Bishop of Ely. † P. 22. Notes. WALTER LYNN, M.B. A "case" printed for distribution to the House of Commons in 1726 introduces a fresh name into the history of the steam engine-that of Walter Lynn, who claims to have made considerable improvements upon Capt. Thomas Savory's invention. This document is, I think, worthy of preservation in 'N. & Q.': The Case of Walter Lynn, M.B. In relation to divers Undertakings of his; particularly for the Improvement of an Engine to raise Water by Fire, which would save a vast Expence of Coals to the Nation, &c. offer'd to the Parliament in 1726. With other Essays for the draining of Mines, improvement of Lands, &c. The Petition of Walter Lynn, M.B. humbly represents, that your Petitioner has for divers Years endeavoured to serve the Publick in different Ways and Capacities: as in the Year 1714, by publishing an Essay about the SmallPox; wherein he plainly shews what Methods might be used, easier and safer, than what were at that Time in use; and of so great Excellence, that the Patients managed in that Manner, should not only run no Hazards either of damaging their Face or Eyes,* but 'twas absolutely more secure than any other for the whole Body, there being scarce any one Chance against their doing well in this Way, tho' there is always a great many in the common Methods. This Treatise was show'd after publishing (as well as some Parts of it had been before) to a Person of very * P. 59. sold his Patent at a low rate to the present Proprietors, who thought fit to fix it more securely by an Act of Parliament after. They have improved it in some Things, yet the main I found was wanting; I therefore address'd my self to these Gentlemen, offering my Service, and upon this equal Lay (which I thought was proper at that Time) to throw them down my Scheme upon these Conditions, (viz.) that if upon admitting or trying of it, the Shares of their Engine offer'd to sale, rose ten per Cent upon it, I should have a Claim of such a stated and moderate Reward, if higher in proportion: This would not be hearken'd to, they pretending, that I could have no Knowledge of their Engine, and that it had no Defects! As to this last, I was satisfied of my Intelligence, which was originally from one who had seen and examined divers of them. I knew, likewise, that I could supply those very Defects, which were not in the original Invention; what private Reasons the Patentees had for their great Reservedness, I won't positively determine, but when I offer'd to get my Scheme approv'd by the best esteemed Judge in the Kingdom, I could yet have no answer. However, I attempted it, but was repulsed where I at first designed; but afterwards trying another Person, who, for some Reasons, I knew must have a better Knowledge or Judgment in my Matters than any other, and who, besides was a very eminent Person, I was not only heard but approved by him. I afterwards took the Judgment of two more, and they all three joined their Hands to the same Certificate, (vid. ad finem) the Original of which will be laid before you. This I carry'd to the Patentees, and had three Conferences with them upon it, but with little good Effect; they demanding, that I should lay down my Scheme before them, without any previous Articles or Agreements for Rewards, which I must stand to their Courtesy, when or whether I should receive or not. This, considering their shyness, and a sort of Threatning from one of them, to get my Scheme from one of my Judges that he was acquainted with, gave me little Confidence, Faith or Relyance upon any of them. One Thing they told me, (viz.) that they were under Contracts and Bargains for their Engines as they were already; and for all Improvements, they were under no Bargains, nor could Demand any thing of their Contractors, so should be all out of Pocket. This, tho' admitted, could be but part of an Objection, for they might make the better Bargains for new Engines, which they were setting up daily. However, the Matter was thus put off, and I had no Recourse, but to put out an Advertisement to the Miners or those who had purchased their Engine. This I did by Advice; in the mean Time improving my Draught or Scheme, so as to make it answer and more than answer all the Objections they were able to raise against it. These additional Parts I endeavoured also to get approv'd, and part of them were BO, as the Whole would have been, had it not been for the inflexible Obstinacies* aforementioned. I had but one Man came in upon my Advertisements, who shew'd himself of a very good Temper, and willing to come to Measures, but would not answer for more than himself. fter this I took the Pains to travel into those Parts where some of the best of their Engines were, that I might be satisfy'd of their Deficiencies or Goodness, but found them all defective in those very Parts I had described. Towards the End of the last Parliament, I endeavour'd to bring in a Representation of my Case, but met with such Delays, that I found it would not be done. Since that I have proposed another Engine, which I have *These were so apparent, that two Lawyers who were with me at the last Conference I had with them, could not forbear declaring, that these were not Men proper for me to deal with. Reason to think excells this for many Uses: Most of it has been approv'd, but designing to have it try'd by the Royal Society, and entirely confiding that it would be so, I am in this Thing disappointed; for which I humbly crave a Redress. Whatever Reasons are given for this hard Usage, I am ready to answer 'em all. I have heard of but one that is material, and a matter of State that may be reckon'd, (viz.) that if the Charge and Expence of Fuel be lessen'd, the New-Castle Trade will be less, and our Nursery and Employment for Seamen diminished; but this is whole and entirely false, as I am ready to prove when required. I hope from the Premises you will consider candidly the State of your Petitioner, not only his Merits, but how low he is reduced, and that only by his Endeavours for the Publick Good; which is both the Nations general, and every one of your particular Concerns. That it is wholly impossible for him to follow the Employment of Physick, not only for the foregoing Reasons, which are very weighty, but from an ill Education early in his Yooth, which he could never recover; that he is at present stopt in his other Employs, but not for reasons sufficient, as he offers to maintain, and attends for that Purpose, hoping your Redress, and a Requital of his Labours, which should be his Support and Maintenance, that he is deprived of. This Kindness would still encourage and enable him to compleat every Thing begun; and not only so, but to undertake new ones that may be for the Publick Good, which none wishes or endeavours more than Your Petitioner, &c. WALTER LYNN. This is much too short to have the Justice or Merits of it throughly understood, but will be cleared up before the House. P.S.-I desire at least a Day's Notice beforehand by the Votes or Gazette, when I am to attend the House, for Reasons I shall give when I attend or appear in the House. Answers to some Objections. I have been told that a Parliament would hardly meddle with this Affair, and that for two or three Reasons. First, Because it would be reversing their own Act and Deed. But do we not see this done frequently, when there happens to be Inconveniencies in an Act which were not foreseen. It falls out so in this present Case; the Act being given for the Improvement of the Engine, which we see by the foregoing Matters, is rather a Lett Faults, or quite denying them; and standing out to the and Hindrance, and a Cause of their concealing its very last against the best Testimonies that can be given, rather than part with a very moderate Sum, demanded in Hand; and which every body but themselves think Defects now, why may they not deny its Excellencies, reasonable should be allowed: For if they conceal its when brought to its utmost perfection? Or deny that to already frequently, I believe; for they have been used one which they allow to others! This they have done to give out to most People, that their Engine takes but little Fuel, yet all who use it relate the Contrary. Thus I may be deceived by taking their Report, and loose my due by that Means. great Expence of Fuel is for the Good of the Nation, But a farther Objection some will have, is, that this especially the Newcastle Trade. But sure here must be a Fallacy, for tho' the Newcastle Colliery and Navigation is a great Branch of Trade; yet Coals are not so cheap here or any where, that we don't know what to do with them. If they were but cheap enough, we shou'd have Fire here in Middlesex and about; whereas we have but a great many of these Engines erected to raise Water by in one Place in Westminster, and that like to be a Grievance to the Poor and almost all sorts. But if my Schemes and Advice were followed, and the Expence of this Engine lessened at least one half, it would then be fit for many Peoples Use; and neither the Poor nor any one repine, for the Price of Coals need not be raised or fallen; and yet there would be a great deal of necessary Service done, for which we now employ Horses at a great Expence. And this would turn to the Advantage of the Colliers, by at least equalling the Demand at present made, which they will be able to furnish more easily than now, when they themselves shall be eas'd of much Labour and Expence. My Petition is for some Reward, and for a Support and Maintenance: For this farther Reason I demand it, because I have shewed my self absoluty the best Geometrician in the Nation, by divers Facts, and solving several Problems and Difficulties not solveable by others. | These have been proved before Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Christopher Wren, Mr. Wren, Dr. Taylor, and since them a Noble Peer, who has seen and observed things well both at Home and Abroad. Every one of these were most proper Judges of those particular Matters lay'd before them, even so proper, that I could not have chose better any where; and 'tis an unalterable Maxim with me, to take particular Judges for particular Things, pitching upon those who are well vers'd in a Matter, if they be Men of probity, rather than depend always upon the greatest Name. This must appear rational to any unprejudiced Reader. Why I farther presume to call my self the best Practical Geometrician, is, from a peculiar Bent I have always had that Way. My Delight in Mechanicks, Natural Philosophy, and Physick, have carry'd me beyond the common Rules of Art. This seems to be confess'd by one of my Subscribers, (viz.) Dr. Taylor, who, after hearing one of my Proofs and Schemes drawn up, could not forbear expressing himself in this Manner: I see you have a Talent, and are resolved to mend your Fortunes by it, I don't discommend you for it. other Hearing of a second Part, which was before Sir Christopher Wren, and his Son (Dr. Taylor being absent upon an Affair of some Importance to himself) a certain Person in that Family, who happened to be within hearing all the Time, and had the Opinion of one of them, even before I could take it my self, expressed thus, I see your Matters are right again, I am pleased to see a Gentleman aiming to mend his Fortunes by doing something for the Publick. Here was a truly generous Thought and Expression! But are there no others that have the same Sentiments and Wishes? I believe there may, but that I am hindred by some self-interested or ill-designing Persons, from coming at them, or they to What unfair Things I have reason to suspect, have been practised upon me with this Design, I shall not recount, being willing to pass them by, if I may but have Justice and my Due, which hope to obtain from this August Assembly; who certainly have the Power, and I hope, the Will, to right me. Trusting upon this, and the real Merits of my Cause, I remain me. Your Petitioner, &c. At an WALTER LYNN. June 22, 1721. These are to certifie, that I have discoursed with Dr. Walter Lynn, and examined his Proposals for the Improvements of the Engines and Vessels for raising Water by Fire, and am of Opinion, they will fully answer the Purposes he intends thereby for the publick Service, and that his Scheme very well deserves Encouragement. CHR. WREN. I am of the same Opinion CHR. WREN. I am of the same Opinion BR, TAYLOR. The only additional fact about Lynn in the ordinary books of reference is the title of the book or pamphlet on the small-pox which he issued in THE "RAM JAM INN," RUTLAND. (See 'Inn Signe,' 7th S. vi. 427; vii. 92.) Since the year 1871 I have, at various times and in divers publications, written many notes concerning the celebrated “Ram Jam Inn," Rutland, and I imagine that some of my notes thereon appeared in 'N. & Q.'; but I write this away from home and my papers and books, including the index volumes of N. & Q.,' and I am unable to give any precise reference to what I have heretofore written on the subject. I can, however, claim as my own the paragraph signed "Viator," and copied by Sr. SWITHIN (p. 92) from the Grantham Journal, October 26, 1878. The "Ram Jam" stands in the parish of Greetham, but the high road in front of it is in the parish of Stretton, to which living I was presented by Lord Aveland (now Lord Willoughby de Eresby) in the year 1871. I lived fourteen years at the rectory, which is a very short distance above the "Ram Jam," and I was, therefore, well acquainted with the inn. For the first two years of my residence the Stretton school was held in the largest room of the "Ram Jam," a room built on to the main building as a sort of Ram The family then living at the club-room. Jam" was named Spring, and they were there during the greater part of my residence at Stretton. Spring had a little land, but was more of a He had a wife day labourer than anything else. and family, his two elder sons being among the best performers in my cricket club, and one of them, who was taken into the gardens at Stocken Hall, Stretton (Lord Francis Cecil), has since then been my guest more than once in my Lincolnshire home when we have had a special cricket match. The real keeper of the "Ram Jam Inn" was Spring's unmarried sister, whose unmarried brother, Joseph Spring, was the master of the Stretton school. There, in the club-room, the boys and girls assembled on the five mornings of the week, the girls in the afternoons having to go to a cottage for their instruction in sewing. When I attended the school I had to run the gauntlet of the tap-room, with its drinkers and smokers, before I could get into the schoolroom. Mr. Joseph Spring was paralyzed in his right arm and leg, but he was an excellent schoolmaster and disciplinarian, and with his left hand wrote the most beautiful " copperplate." He gave his country scholars an education that was thoroughly suited to their position in life, and did not attempt to cram them with that varied miscellany of useless information which Her |