Notes and Queries, Number 212, November 19, 1853. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ the lake districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and in Somersetshire and Devonshire. Can any of the contributors to "N. & Q." inform me if attributable to the extraordinary wetness of the season?

R. H. B.

      Variety is pleasing.—Looking over my last year's note-book, I find the following morceau, which I think ought to be preserved in "N. & Q.:"

      "Nov. 30, 1851. Observed in the window of the Shakspeare Inn a written paper running thus:

      'To be raffled for:

      The finding of Moses, and six

      Fat geeze(!!).

      Tickets at the bar.'"

R. C. Warde.

      Kidderminster.

      Rome and the Number Six.—It has been remarked lately in "N. & Q." that in English history, the reign of the second sovereign of the same name has been infelicitous. I cannot turn to the note I read, and I forget whether it noticed the remarks in Aubrey's Miscellanies (London, 8vo., 1696), that "all the second kings since the Conquest have been unfortunate." It may be worth the while to add (what is remarked by Mr. Matthews in his Diary of an Invalid), that the number six has been considered at Rome as ominous of misfortune. Tarquinius Sextus was the very worst of the Tarquins, and his brutal conduct led to a revolution in the government; under Urban the Sixth, the great schism of the West broke out; Alexander the Sixth outdid all that his predecessors amongst the Tarquins or the Popes had ventured to do before him; and the presentiment seemed to receive confirmation in the misfortunes of the reign of his successor Pius VI., to whose election was applied the line:

      "Semper sub sextis perdita Roma fuit."

W. S. G.

      Newcastle-on-Tyne.

      Zend Grammar.—The following fragment on Zend grammar having fallen in my way, I inclose you a copy, as the remarks contained in it may be of service to Oriental scholars.

      I am unable to state the author's name, although I suspect the MS. to be from a highly important quarter. The subject-matter, however, is sufficiently important to merit publication.

      "The Zend, of disputed authenticity, and the Asmani Zuban, a notoriously fictitious tongue, compared."

      "It is well known that Sanscrit words abound in Zend; and that some of its inflexions are formed by the rules of the Vyacaran or Sanscrit grammar.

      "It would therefore seem quite possible that by application of these rules a grammar might be written of the Zend. Would such a composition afford any proof of the disputed point—the authenticity of the Zend?

      "I think it would not, and support my opinion by reasons founded on the following facts.

      "The Asmani Zuban of the Desstù is most intimately allied to Persian. It is, in fact, fabricated out of that language, as is shown by clear internal evidence. Now the grammatical structure of this fictitious tongue is identical with that of Persian: and hence by following the rules of Persian grammar, a grammar of the Asmani Zuban might be easily framed. But would this work advance the cause of forgery, and tend to invest it with the quality of truth? No more, I answer, and for the same reason, than is a grammar of the Zend, founded on the Vyacaran, to be received in proof of the authenticity of that language."

Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie.

      The Duke's first Victory.—Perhaps it may interest the future author of the life of the Duke of Wellington to be informed of his first victory. It was not in India, as commonly supposed, but on Donnybrook Road, near Dublin, that his first laurels were won. This appears from the Freeman's Journal, September 18th, 1789, where we learn that in consequence of a wager between him and Mr. Whaley of 150 guineas, the Hon. Arthur Wesley walked from the five-mile stone on Donnybrook Road to the corner of the circular road in Leeson Street, in fifty-five minutes, and that a number of gentlemen rode with the walker, whose horses he kept in a tolerable smart trot. When it is recollected that those were Irish miles, even deducting the distance from Leeson Street to the Castle, whence the original measurements were made, this walk must be computed at nearly six English miles.

Omicron.

      Straw Paper.—Various papers manufactured of straw are now in the market. The pen moves so easily over any and all of them, that literary men should give them a trial. As there seems considerable likelihood of this manufacture being extensively introduced, on account of the dearness of rags, &c., it is to be hoped that it will not be improved into the resemblance of ordinary paper. Time was when ordinary paper could be written on in comfort, but that which adulterated Falstaff's sack spoiled it for the purpose, and converted it into limed twigs to catch the winged pen.

M.

      American Epitaph (Vol. viii., p. 273.).—The following lines are to be seen on a tombstone in Virginia:

      "My name, my country, what are they to thee?

      What whether high, or low, my pedigree?

      Perhaps I far surpassed all other men:

      Perhaps I fell behind them all—what then?

      Suffice it, stranger, that thou see'st a tomb,

      Thou know'st its use; it hides—no matter whom."

W. W.

      Malta.

      Queries

      LAURIE (?) ON CURRENCY, ETC

      I have before me a bulky volume, apparently unpublished, treating of currency and of many other politico-economical affairs; the authorship of which I am desirous of tracing. If any reader of "N. & Q." can assist my search I shall feel greatly obliged to him.

      This volume extends to 936 closely printed pages, and is altogether without divisions either of book, chapter, or section. It has neither title-page, conclusion, imprint, or date; and my copy seems to consist of revises or "clean sheets" as they came from the press. The main gist of the work is thus described, apparently by the author himself, in a MS. note which occupies the place of the title-page:

      "It is here meant to show that in civilised nations money is an emanating circulable wealth and power, without which individuals cannot go on in improvement on independent principles. It resolves wealth into the forms most conducive to this object, and prepares for the highest services both individuals and communities."

      The book, however, is extremely discursive, and no small portion of it is devoted to foreign politics. Thus, of the "Eastern Question," the author disposes in this fashion:

      "Austria, to answer its destination, ought to comprise Wallachia, Bessarabia, Moldavia, and, following the line of demarcation drawn by the Danube, the whole territory at its debouchment.... Turkey cannot regard the sacrifices proposed as of much importance, when such security as that now in contemplation could be obtained. The whole strength of her immense empire is at present drained to support her contest on this very barrier with Russia. But that barrier, it is evident, would this way be effectually secured: for Austria has too many points of importance to protect, to dream of creating new ones on this feeble yet extended confine of her domains."—Pp. 835, 836.

      From internal evidence, the book appears to have been written between 1812 and 1815. It is printed in half-sheets, from sig. A to sig. 6 B, and three half-sheets are wanting, viz. E, 5 Q, and 5 R. In place of the last two, the following MS. note is inserted:

      "The speculations in the two following sheets included views that related to the disorganised state of Turkey, СКАЧАТЬ