me to refer to the 'Adventurer,' and in Nos. 20, 21, and 22 I found an account of a ring which was given by the Genius Syndarac to the Sultan Amurath, possessing a property similar to that ascribed by Sharon Turner to Almoran's ring. The query now is, Had Almoran such a ring? I have never seen the story of 'Almoran and Hamet.' Will any one of the correspondents of 'N. & Q.' who has the work kindly lend it to me for perusal ? FRANCIS W. JACKSON.

Ebberston Vicarage, York.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &c. History of the Great Civil War, 1642-1649. By Samuel R. Gardiner, M.A. Vol. II. 1644-1647. (Longmans & Co.) THE second volume of Mr. Gardiner's great history yields in no respect of interest or importance to its predecessor. It deals with the period during which the fortunes of Charles I. waned before those of Cromwell, and ends with the collapse of the monarch's armies and his final abandonment by the Scots. Of that time of struggle and defeat it gives the brightest and most animated picture as yet set before the world. Beginning with a description of Milton, to which we are not prepared wholly to assent, it brings Cromwell at once upon the scene, and supplies an estimate of his political character on which the reader is asked to suspend his judgment, since it is justified by evidence as yet to be given. The combination of the power of enthusiasm with the power of reticence is said to have been the distinguishing note in Cromwell's character as a statesman-"a note," it is added, "which under malignant interpretation led easily to charges of hypocrisy." That such a combination is wholly individualizing may perhaps be doubted. It is rare, however, and we will wait for the forthcoming evidence before pronouncing upon it.

No portion of the volume is more stirring than that in which Mr. Gardiner describes the lightning-like expeditions of Montrose. Towards that gallant soldier our author has feelings, like the character of Cromwell, derived from a "power of enthusiasm" and "a power of reticence." The scenes of Montrose's battles and marches have been explored with patient and unflagging industry, and the pictures of combat would do credit in vigour and in exactitude to a professedly military historian. That they only indirectly, or, at least, partially influenced the result was due to the distance of the combatants from the real seat of war. At best they created a diversion, and in so doing delayed a result already seen to be in evitable. What hopes they inspired in the bosom of Charles is fully shown. A dream of joining Montrose seems to have perpetually haunted the ill-starred monarch. Whatever enemies may be opposed to him, to whatever devices he may resort, and with whatever individuals he may coquet, Charles remains the hero of the volume. Seen in its manifold aspects it is a study worthy of Balzac. Those, even, who will not accept Mr. Gardiner's estimate will admire the boldness of analysis, Such new light as is thrown upon the character is principally derived from the Bellièvre despatches and the correspondence of Montreuil with Mazarin, the latter of which have necessarily been studied in Paris. It is, perhaps, in connexion with the conduct of affairs in Ire land and the constant attempts of Charles to obtain fresh resources from that kingdom that the new matter is most

important. It has, however, signal value as regards the surrender to the Scots at Newcastle. With regard to the defeat of Charles's armies, Mr. Gardiner makes due allowance for the king's "inferior financial position," to the aversion from discipline of the classes from which his principal supporters were drawn, that he had no one to direct his armies who, like Cromwell, possessed the rare quality of military genius, and so forth. In the "entire want of sympathetic imagination" on the part of Charles, which rendered him incapable in the day of his power of "understanding the nation which he claimed to govern," and in subsequent times of rousing enthusiasm in those even "who had rallied to his standard," is found the true cause of failure. Hence he was never able to win back the allegiance of the London citizens, "in spite of the tendency of a great mercantile community to rally to the side of order." The capacity of Charles to become a martyr and his resolution to be no king rather than sully his conscience are plainly shown.

One result of the Bellièvre and Montreuil correspondence is to remove the reproach from the Scots of selling their king for money. From them it is plain "beyond possibility of dispute" that the Scottish leaders, both civil and military, would willingly "have renounced the English gold and have defied the English army to do its worst if Charles would have complied with the conditions on which alone, even if they had been personally willing to come to his help without them, it was possible for them to raise forces in his defence."

Considerations of space forbid further dealing with this scholarly and absorbingly interesting book. Among the minor portraits which are given, those of Prynne, of Goring, and of Digby, with his inexhaustible faith and hopefulness, are worthy of special mention. Naples in 1888. By Eustace Neville Rolfe and Holcombe Ingleby. (Trübner & Co.) A LIGHT and pleasant book, abounding with facts given in such a way that the mind retains them without effort is always a matter for rejoicing. Messrs. Rolfe and Ingleby have given us a work of this kind. It is not deep or learned, but it will, if we are not mistaken, stimulate many readers to consult works of greater pretension to detail. It is the custom to abuse Naples, and, without going beyond the truth, many unsavoury things may be told of the Neapolitans and their city. The authors have felt this, and have given their readers much sunshine as well as shade. They evidently know Naples well, and do not discourse of it after the manner of the mere book-making tourist. The article on "Secret Societies" is remarkably honest. It is very uncommon to find this subject treated upon except from a violently prejudiced point of view. The paper on "Gambling," too, is excellent. We are not rigourists with regard to popular amusements; but from what they tell us and what we have gathered from other sources it seems important that the government lotteries should be abolished. It is more than sixty years since we did away with them in this country. At no time in England were they so corrupting as they seem to be in the Italy of the present. Our columns have contained from time to time several paragraphs concerning pouring oil upon in the habit of doing this frequently for the sake of the waters. It seems that the Neapolitan fishermen are making the water clear and unruffled. Practical experience has taught them that a very little oil dropped on the water makes it smooth.

How to Trace your own Pedigree. By P. Fancourt Hodgson, late Clerk, Heralds' College. (Pickering & Chatto.)

THIS little handbook does not profess to do more than indicate the sources to which the searcher after a genea

logy should direct his attention. The value of the collections, apart from the official records preserved in the College of Arms, is insisted on by Mr. Fancourt from personal experience. But the information given by him as to the college fees for consulting those collections and records is disappointingly vague. "Accessible to the public on the payment of a fee" is, no doubt, a safe formula, but it cannot be said to convey any knowledge which the would-be searcher could not have obtained elsewhere. And with regard to the valuable collections in the custody of Lyon and Ulster Kings of Arms, there is even less information as to search-fees, if any. That such exist we do not doubt, and we also do not doubt that both Lyon and Ulster, so far as they may be empowered to do 80, are willing to facilitate research for historical purposes by the relaxation or remission of fees on due representation made. But, in so far as any scales for general or particular searches may be fixed, we should think it would be to the advantage of all concerned, whether officers or public, that the authorities of the respective colleges and courts of arms should enable Mr. Fancourt in his next edition to add so useful a feature to his

manual.

St. Bartholomew's Hospital Reports. Vol. XXIV. 1888. Edited by W. S. Church, M.D., and W. J. Walsham, F.R.C.S. (Smith, Elder & Co.)

SUCH titles as 'The History of the First Treatise on Rickets,' Our Pharmacopoeia and Apothecary's Shop,' The Orders and Ordinances for the better Government of the Hospitall of Bartholomew the Lesse' (1884), The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's (1885), 'Records of Harvey' (1886), and Notæ Harveianæ (1887), occurring in the volumes of recent years, have almost taught us to expect some paper of antiquarian worth or general interest by way of preface to the sterner material of which hospital reports usually consist. In the present volume no such paper is to be found, the expectant inquirer being immediately confronted with 'The Sexes in Lunacy '-a precipitate entrance this into the subject-matter of hospital reports. Of the various "articles" of which the latter consists several are excellent, either from the intrinsic value of the cases described or the treatment pursued. Where so much is good it is, .perhaps, needless to draw distinctions; but it is gratifying to note that much greater use has been made of the cases occurring within the hospital wards without drawing upon other institutions for examples of disease or accidents as texts on which to found a theory or from which to draw conclusions as to treatment, &c. Surely the field of observation is extensive enough and the harvest sufficiently plenteous.

THE Committee of the St. James's Club appealed to the members to assist by gifts of works of art or money in the decoration of the club. M. Jusserand, one of the secretaries of the French Embassy, whose work on English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages' recently created so favourable an impression, applied to the Minister of Fine Arts in France, with a view to obtaining a contribution from his department in furtherance of the above object. The Minister immediately responded by sending four magnificent engravings, to be presented to the club. These engravings represent the victories of Alexander, from paintings by Le Brun. They were engraved by order of Louis XIV., and bear the date 1670. The British Museum, we believe, possesses copies of these engravings. This very graceful and courteous gift will be fully appreciated, not only by the members of the club, but by all who recognize the value of such genuine demonstrations of international

friendship, Easter

Easter Sunday, 21st April.

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." R. S. W. BELL ("Does London Proper extend to the Surrey Side of the Thames?").-"The limits of London, as defined by Act of Parliament for Parliamentary purposes are the circumference of a circle the radius of which is of the length of three miles from the General Post Office" don'). What you mean by "London proper" is not (Peter Cunningham, Handbook to Lonquite clear. tality, the Metropolis Local Management Act, and the The Registrar General's Tables of MorLondon School Board districts include the southern side of the Thames. The county of London consists of London and it is a curious fact that in the county of London the as defined in the Metropolis Local Management Act,

area south of the Thames exceeds the area north of the Thames.

E. S. ("Cromwell's Descendants").-See N. & Q.,' 1st S. viii. 442; ix. 36; 2nd S. ii. 381; iii. 168; vi. 111; viii. 287; 3rd S. viii. 538; xi. 207, 304, 325, 467; xii. 18, 78; 4th S. ii. 74, 223, 309; vii. 246, 429, 481; viii. 18, 114, 550; x. 246, 418, 476; xi. 66. Consult generally Indexes to ' N. & Q.'

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN,

Perch'd on the eagle's towering wing

The lowly linnet loves to sing.

This refers to the fable that the linnet in some struggle ascendency in flight mounted on the eagle's back and soared higher than he.

for

MR. JAMES YATES, Public Librarian, Leeds, is anxious to trace forthwith in Livy the following quotation: "Civitas ea autem in libertate est posita quæ suis stat viribus, non ea quæ alieno arbitrio pendet."

J. MALCOLM BULLOCK, M. A. ("Ballade ").-This word is correctly pronounced with no accent, and with both syllables of equal value.

A. B.-The Ancient Order of Druids is only one of many sick benefit societies for working men. It is still flourishing.

T. KERSLAKE ("Brice for 'Buer'").-The correction appeared ante, p. 100

HERBERT PUGH ("Tea Rose").-So called, we believe, because the scent is supposed to resemble that of tea.

Baring-Gould's Curious Myths of the Middle Ages,' and A. E. W. ("William Tell").-Consult the Rev. S. N. & Q., 4th S. x. 285.

CORRIGENDA.-P. 287, col. 1, ten lines from bottom, for "Lord Pitt" read Lora Pitt; col. 2, 1. 9, for "1692 read 1693; p. 296, col. 2, 1. 29, for "Dicacopolis" read Dicæopolis; p. 315, col. 2, 1. 4, for " 1877" read 1787.

ww

peared to be continually wandering from his original, to which it required an effort to return. This may be well accounted for by the want of constant practice.

"This display will certainly not raise his reputation. His admirers consider him as unrivalled in tragedy; but the most sanguine must consider him as very different in those accomplishments which he has now attempted. "A rough draught for this account was written on my return from the theatre, and this on the following morning, Tuesday, 13 June, 1820. (Signed) "JOHN HICKS." J. POWER HICKS.

Lincoln College, Oxford.

ENGLISH LONG VOWELS AS COMPARED

WITH GERMAN.

Mistakes are constantly being made in etymology, especially by those who have not made any study of phonetics, of the most elementary character. I here throw together a few remarks to remind your readers that laws regulate vowelsounds, and should be regarded. The student who wishes to compare English with German for the purposes of etymology should consult Silvers's Anglo-Saxon Grammar' on the one hand and Wright's 'Old High German Primer' (Clarendon Press) on the other. He will then not go far

wrong.

Even in my 'Principles of English Etymology' I mention most of the facts concerning the long Vowels. I selected these for the greater clearness; because, if any one can be brought to see that the long vowels follow regular laws, he may then be led to believe that short vowels do the same. A half-knowledge is better than none at all, as it may induce caution. I here give a few elementary facts, selecting only the more remarkable results. Many details are purposely suppressed.

sound to the diphthongal ai, as it is written in "romic." The English and German spellings remain as in medieval times. Hence the English represents its diphthong by means of the A.-S. (which was pronounced as ee), whilst the German represents it by the medieval ei, once pronounced as in French. Both are misleading; but the English is the worse. Dutch follows the English system, but represents the old long i (ee) by the symbol ij, pronounced as E. i in bite.

Teutonic long o.-This was of two sorts, viz., from pre-Teutonic long a (cf. Lat. mäter, frater), and from pre-Teutonic long o (cf. Doric Greek Tús). The usual mod. E. symbol is double o or oo, but the sound is that of Ital. u; as in E. cool, from A.-S. col. The German developed this sound at a very early period; hence G. Mutter, Bruder, Fuss, kuhl. In the last word the u is written as uh, to make sure of the length; so also A.-S. fōr, he went, is G. fuhr. English has shortened the sounds of moother, broother, foot (once rhyming with boot), in ways with which we are all familiar. Cf. A.-S. blod, E. blood, G. Blut. The mutated form of this vowel gave us the A.-S. ē, as in fet, feet. The vowel is also mutated in German, as in Füsse, feet. Hence E. feel, G. fühlen, is derived from a stem fōl; see Kluge.

Teutonic long u.-This has developed just like long i. Just as long i became ai (romic), so long u has become au. In English this is written ou, but German correctly writes au. Thus A.-S. hūs, E. house, G. haus. The English spelling ou is of French origin; the French scribes naturally represented A.-S. u by the F. ou in soup. Soup retains the F. sound because it was only borrowed in modern times. For another G. au, see under au below.

Teutonic long e.—Original examples are scarce. But we have a few cases in which A.-S. e is written ie in modern German. Thus A.-S. her, E. here, is G. hier. A.-S. mēd, E. meed, is G. Miethe. In most cases the A.-S. è arose from a mutation of long o. See, therefore, under "long o."

Teutonic long i.-This is, usually, A.-S. i, modern E. long i. In Old German it was also (pronounced as mod. E. ee), but is now written ei, and pronounced as in mod. English. Thus A.-S. bitan, E. bite, is G. beissen. This is a very interesting case. The old sound is still kept up in Scandinavian; the Swed. bita is pronounced as E. beetah. In the Middle Ages it was pronounced, both in English and in German, like the ei in E. vein; at which time the German spelling was altered to ei, but the English was let alone. Since then both languages have further developed the

Teutonic ai.-This is commonly A.-S. a, E. long o, G. ei. Ex.: Goth. haims, A.-S. hām, E. home, G. Heim. Thus it will be seen that German has two distinct ei's; the other is given under long i The mutated form of A.-S. a is long c; this commonly gives E. ea. Hence from A.-S. hāl, E. whole, comes A.-S. huelan, E. heal. Here the German has no mutation, but derives heilen from heil at once.

Teutonic au.-This is commonly A.-S. ea, E. ea (ee, e), G. au or long o. Exx.: A.-S. heafod, E. head (M.E. heed); Goth. haubith, G. Haupt. A.-S. stream, E. stream; O.H.G. straum, G. Strom. This diphthong can suffer mutation, giving A.-S. long ie (or y), G. ö. Ex.: Goth. hausjan, A.-S. hieran, E. hear, G. hören.

Teutonic eu.-This is Goth. iu, A.-S. éo, E. ee, G. ie. Ex.: Goth. diups, A.-S. deop, E. deep, G.