any unhappy ringer who should "mar a peal," or o'erturn a bell," in spite of the double fine upon the sexton, I fear that soon no sound except the cry of the Cornish chough will issue from the belfry of St. Keyne. Of the four bells, one lies in broken ruin at the bottom of the tower, and two others are without ropes. The "sound of the church-going bell" may yet be heard from one, but the choughs, which have almost blocked up the turret stairs with the débris of their nests, are fast filling the belfry, where decay also is doing its work. Could St. Keyne, who, out of gratitude for the dedication of the church to her name, laid a spell upon the waters of the crystal well, have foreseen the dilapidated state of the edifice at the present time, I fear our west-country wives would never have experienced the efficacy of a draught, and possibly our west-country husbands would have had no need to lament, in the words of Southey's ballad, "But i' faith she had been wiser than I, The water of St. Keyne's Well is still as clear as ever, and of the five trees once flourishing on the small roof three remain, an oak, an ash, and an elm; and the decayed stump of the fourth is still standing. FRAS. BRENT. Plymouth. DISSOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN UNION. At a time when the attention of Europe, and England especially, is fixed on the social changes now happening in the United States, it is possible that the accompanying extracts, published by an eminent American statesman more than half a century ago, may interest some of the readers of "N. & Q." Associated as Alexander Hamilton was with Washington and Madison, and taking an active part in the formation of the new Union, his remarks possess more than ordinary interest. They are extracted from the Federalist, a series of Essays, of which Hamilton contributed the greater share, and Jay and Madison some of the remainder. Alexander Hamilton was born in the island of Nevis in 1757, and was murdered by Aaron Burr at Weehawken, near New York, June 11, 1804. Of his death I have no details, and should be much indebted to any correspondent of" N. & Q." who could furnish them. On the Effects of a Dissolution of the Union, by Alexander Hamilton. (From the Federalist.) "Assuming it, therefore, as an established truth that, in cases of disunion, the several states, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of the wreck of the general confederacy, would be subject to those vicissitudes of peace and war, of friendship and enmity with each other, which have fallen to the lot of all other nations not united under one government, let us enter into a concise detail of some of the consequences that would attend such a situation. "War between the states, in the first periods of their separate existence, would be accompanied with much greater distresses than it commonly is in those countries where regular military establishments have long obtained. The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the Continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and economy, have notwithstanding been productive of the singular advantage of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation which used to mark the progress of war contributed to the same ends. The nations of Europe prior to their introduction. The art of fortification has are encircled with the chains of fortified places, which mutually obstruct invasion. Campaigns are wasted in reducing two or three fortified garrisons to gain admittance into an enemy's country. ... The history of war in that quarter of the globe, is no longer a history of nations subdued and empires, overturned. but of towns taken and retaken, of battles that decide nothing. In this country the scene would be altogether reversed. The jealousy of military establishments would postpone them as long as possible. The want of fortifications, leaving the frontier of one state open to another, would facilitate inroads. The populous states would with little difficulty over-run their less populous neighbours. Conquests would be as easy to be made, as difficult to be retained. War, therefore, would be desultory and predatory. The calamities of individuals would ever make the principal figure in events, and would characterise our exploits. to war "The violent destruction of life and property, incident will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. . . . The institutions chiefly alluded to are STANDING ARMIES. The weaker states or confederacies would first with their more potent neighbours. They would at the have recourse to them to put themselves on an equality same time be obliged to strengthen the executive arm of government; in doing which, their constitutions would acquire a progressive direction towards monarchy. The expedients which have been mentioned would soon give the states, or confederacies that made use of them, a superiority over their neighbours. Thus we should in a little time see established in every part of this country the same engines of despotism which have been the scourge of the old world. This at least would be the natural course of things; and our reasonings will be likely to be just in proportion as they are accommodated to this standard. These are not vague inferences, deduced from speculative defects in a constitution, the whole power of which is lodged in the hands of the people. They are solid conclusions, drawn from the natural and necessary progress of human affairs. If we are wise enough to preserve the Union, we may for ages enjoy an advantage similar to that of an insulated situation. Europe is at a great distance from us. Extensive military establishments cannot, in this position, be necessary to our security. But if we should be disunited, and the integral parts should either remain separated, or, which is most probable, should be thrown together into two or three confederacies, we should be in a short time in the predicament of the continental powers of Europe. Our liberties would be a prey to the means of defending ourselves against the ambition and jealousy of each other. This is an idea not superficial or futile, but solid and weighty. It deserves the most serious and mature con sideration of every prudent and honest man of whatever party. If such men will make a firm and solemn pause, and meditate dispassionately on its importance, if they will contemplate it in all its attitudes, and trace it to all its consequences, they will not hesitate to part with trivial objections to a constitution the rejection of which would, in all probability, put a final period to the Union. The airy phantoms that now flit before the distempered imaginations of some of its adversaries, would then quickly give place to more substantial prospects of dan gers real, certain, and extremely formidable." Bristol. WILLIAM HENRY WILLS. Minor Notes. DEAN ALDRICH'S LOVE OF SMOKING. - The excellent Dean of Christ-Church was a great lover of tobacco. Mr. Fairholt, in his Tobacco: its History and Associations, 1859, p. 126. says: "There is an amusing anecdote related of the Dean's continuous devotion to his pipe. One of the students betted another that, however early, or at whatever time the Doctor was visited in his own sanctum, he would be found smoking. The bet was taken, and at once the Dean was visited; when the reason of the visit was given, Your friend has lost,' said the Dean, ‘I am not smoking, only filling my pipe."" 2. Oclandii Anglorum Prælia, London. 1582, 12mo. At the bottom of the title-page occurs "G. Whytney, Cestrensis"; at the top the motto, "Constanter et syn. (the rest is missing). Geoffrey Whitney is well known as the author of A Choice of Emblems, Leyden, 1586, 4to. I never saw his handwriting before. It would seem from this specimen, that he was a native of Chester. 3. Cotgrave's Dictionary, Lond. 1650, folio. On the fly-leaf is the autograph of "Charles Cotton," the friend and adopted son of Izaak Walton; and the margins of the book are covered almost throughout with MS. notes in the same hand. A bookseller, who has had half a century's experience of such matters, informs me that he never has seen hitherto a line of Cotton's writing. It is pretty evident that this was the copy of Cotgrave which Cotton used in his translations of The story, however, derived by Mr. Fairholt Montaigne, whom he mentions in one of the notes. from a pleasant little volume entitled Nicotiana, An original letter from Cotgrave to 66 my worthie is not quite correctly told the wager was, that frende Mr Beaulieu, Secretarie to the Lor. Emthe dean was either smoking, stopping, or fill-bassader of Great Brittaine at Paris," came into ing his pipe. The parties called on him, and he who made the bet immediately exclaimed, "I have lost my wager, I perceive," for the doctor was not smoking, but had his hand in his waistcoat pocket. "You have won it," said the Dean, to whom the matter had been explained, "for," said he, withdrawing his hand from its place of concealment, "I am filling my pipe at this very moment;" his pocket being his tobacco-box. EDWARD F. RIMBAULT. my possession with the Dictionary. The date, 27th September, 1610," occurs on the document; but this is in a different hand, though perhaps nearly as old. The seal, with the crest, is still attached to the paper. 4. Poems and Translations, by Thomas Fletcher, Lond. 1692, 8vo. On a fly-leaf is written "Donum Authoris"; and at the end there is a page, also in the author's autograph, in which he gives an improved version of one of the poems in the volume. I also possess several other literary relics of equal or greater curiosity, of which I might say something, if I was not afraid of encroaching on your space too much. H. C. W. TO-FALLS.In Grose's Antiquities of Scotland (vol. ii. p. 274.) there is quoted from Shaw (from the History of the Province of Moray, as I collect), a description of the cathedral church of Elgin, in which occurs the following passage: — "There were porticoes or to-falls on each side of the church eastwards, from the traverse or cross, which were eighteen feet broad, without the walls. To yield sufficient light to a building so large, besides the great windows in the porticoes, and a row of attic windows in the walls, each six feet high, above the porticoes, there was in the west gable above the gate a window," &c. It will at once be perceived that by the "porticoes or to-falls" are meant the aisles, and that what are called the attic windows are those of the clere-story. But my object in quoting the passage is to point out the word to-full, which I do not remember to have met with elsewhere. It is evidently meant to convey nearly the same idea as the word lean-to. P. S. C. A HOUSEHOLD'S PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM. "On the 19th of May, Anni 1565, Mr. Adriaan de Flaming and his Lady, Mrs. Maria Cornelis', proceeded on a pilgrimage from Dordrecht to Jerusalem, and from thence to St. Katharine. On this journey they were accompanied by their whole household-man, maid, dog, and cat-and brought them all safely back to the town of their abode on March the 28th, 1566." See Matthys Balen, Janszoon, Beschryvinge der Stad Dordrecht, 1677, p. 835. JOHN H. VAN LENNEP. Zeyst, March 14th, 1861. NATHANAEL HAWTHORNE. This name, now world-famous, occurs in the registers of New Windsor, at an early date. In 1631 was baptized, "Nathanael, son to Nath' Hawthorne." Queries. C. J. R. ROGER ASCHAM.-Is there any authentic portrait of Roger Ascham; and, if so, where? K. W. BIOGRAPHY OF PRINCESSES. Any correspondent of " N. & Q." who can kindly point out any books or MSS. from which biographical information can be obtained relative to the following princesses, will earn, by so doing, my sincere thanks: Isabel of Gloucester, first wife of King John; Joan, Princess of Wales, natural daughter of King John; Elizabeth, Duchess of Exeter, and Philippa, Queen of Portugal, daughters of John of Gaunt; Valentina of Milan, wife of Louis Duke of Orleans; Jaqueline Countess of Holland; Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy; Anne of Beaujeu; Isabel of Austria, Queen of Denmark; Marguerite, Duchess of Parma, Regent of the Netherlands (not Marguerite Duchess of Savoy); Anna d'Este, Duchess of Guise; Anne of BourbonCondé, Duchess de Longueville; Marie Louise of Orleans, Queen of Charles II. of Spain; Louise of Stolberg-Godern, wife of Prince Charles Edward. HERMENTRUde. of May 7, or 17th, 1603 (No. 71), to Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakspeare, and others, their associates, to perform plays, &c. Now, amongst a number of references relating to players and playhouses which I have in my possession, there is one, which I know to be authentic, bearing a subsequent date, the tenor of which runs thus : "Rex xix. Maij concedit comissionem Willielmo Fletcher, Willielmo Shakespeare, & aliis, to plea comedies & al." Who was William Fletcher? Can it be a clerical error for the Lawrence above mentioned? but then the dates are not identical. I should be glad to know the precise distinction between a privy-seal warrant and a commission; and also if the above-noted commission has ever appeared in RAYMOND DELACOURT. print. "THE ENTHUSIAST."- Who is the author of a drama entitled "The Enthusiast: a Dramatic Essay, with each Scene constituting an Act, of which there are Seven. Berwick, printed for the author by Lochead and Gracie. 1800." 8vo. Immediately after the dramatis personæ is the following, relating to the author: "The following pages are presented to the public by a woman, tremblingly alive to censure or applause, and who, whilst she hopes for one sprig of laurel from her Northern neighbours, will not sigh for a London Fame. Should the hope, thus implied, appear presumptuous, surely goodnature will pardon, perhaps pity the vanity, when it is recollected that expectations of this kind commonly end in disappointment. Nevertheless 'Hope springs eternal in the human breast; - R. INGLIS. "FLORA NOBILISSIMA." -Who is the author. of the above work, published at Coventry about the year 1690 or 1692? WAB. FRENCH CHURCH, DUBLIN. — In a MS. "List, containing all y Payms to be made for Civill Affaires [in Ireland] from y 1st day of August, 1701," and signed by King William III. (which I have in my possession), I find the following entry :-"To the Minister of the French Church, Where may I ascertain full 50%. per annum." particulars of this French church, which is not now to be found in Dublin? Dr. Elias Bohereau (whose son, the Rev. John Borough, was the first chaplain of the Royal Chapel of St. Matthew, of the Edict of Nantes, and not only held the Ringsend) came to Ireland upon the revocation dignity of Precentor of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, but also acted as minister of the French congregation, to which the Dean and Chapter had granted St. Mary's Chapel. Авива. IMPERFECT VOLUME.-Who is the author of the following volume of Sermons, the volume having lost the title? The first sermon is preached to the King at Oatlands, 1638, on John i. 12., and the volume concludes with four sermons preached at Court. There are 13 pages of poetical devotions prefacing the volume, size small 8vo. pp. 336. Each sermon has the signature S. D. G. DANIEL SEDGWICK. ITALIAN "ILIAD."- Some years ago a distinguished scholar, now dead, showed me a copy of the Iliad in Italian verse, remade, as the Orlando of Boiardo was by Berni, and told me that many classics had been so treated by Italian and German writers. He mentioned some, but I do not remember them. Can you oblige me by the title of the Iliad above mentioned, or any other instances of the practice? I do not inquire for mere burlesques, but rifacciamenti. C. F. SIR JOHN LADE, BART.-In the Autobiography of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale), lately published, by A. Hayward, Esq., Q.C., at p. 204. of vol. ii., I find the following extract from a letter, dated from Bath, May 31, 1817: "We have a caricature print here of Sir John Lade, going thro' all the stages of profligate folly, and drowning himself at last, with Dr. Johnson's verses beginning — 'Long expected one-and-twenty, Lingering year, at length is flown,' written under," &c., &c. I am anxious to ascertain if such a print is now in existence, where it could be seen? and whether it could be purchased? and of whom? Rectory, South Hill. H. M. RICE. MEANING OF LAYMAN.. We usually use the word "layman" as applied to a person not in holy orders. It is also, I believe, sometimes used in contradistinction to a lawyer.* Is it ever used similarly with regard to other professions; and, if so, what? In the preface to a work published by Nisbet, The Cartoons of Raphael, it is used as applied to an artist, at least so I understand the following passage: "The profession will immediately detect the hand of a layman in the comments which accompany the illustrations. The writer is no more an artist than a photograph is a picture, &c." ALUMNUS. RICHARD LIGON AND BRIAN DUPPA. I beg to be permitted to add a postscript to my inquiry about Ligon, signed F. S. A., antè, p. 227. The first edition of the History of Barbados, as I stated, was published in 1657, and dedicated to Bishop Duppa, who at that time was living in retirement at Richmond, an outcast from his see. The bishop was "good at commendations," and his reply to Ligon's letter (which is dated July 12, 1653, four years before the publication of his book) is full of strained compliment after the [* See an example of this use of the word by the present Bishop of Oxford in our 2nd S. vii. 235.—Ěd.] "I have one request to you, that your kindnesse to me (who without any designe, gave you the occasion of doing it) may not lead you into such an insufferable errour, as to choose me out as a fit person to inscribe it to, who am so much in the shade that I must not own myself. I am willing to believe that, though Honour be at this time at a very low Ebb, and by the iniquity of the times, is much falne within the Banks, yet the Channell is not so drie but you may meet there with some Noble person, that may with more advantage take you and your Book into the same Cock-boat with him, and keep you this Winter both from cold and hunger, and therefore in great earnestnesse I desire you to look over your Catalogue of Friends, and though you cannot finde one that loves you better, yet, to make choice of him that can protect you better. And so with my Prayers for you that your Afflictions here may be so managed by you as to lead you to Joyes hereafter, I rest your most affectionate Friend, Br: Sar: " At the Restoration Duppa was translated to the see of Winchester, and died in 1662. The second edition of Ligon's book was published in 1673, probably long after the poor author himself had been released by death from the troubles of this world, and the Upper Bench Pri son. ROBERT REECE. MEDALLIC QUERY. An explanation is requested of a bronze medal, diameter 17 inch, now in my possession. On the obverse is a rather young head to the right, with long hair, laurel crown, and toga: legend, HOC. SOLO. VINDICE . TVTA. On the reverse is a youthful warrior in armour, standing, with sword, shield, and spear. Before him is a female in a stooping posture, directing his attention to a shield lying on the ground between them, and bearing upon it a crowned eagle's head: legend REDEO. VETERES AVCTVRA. TRIVMFOS. No date. J. C. WITTON. MADLLE. DE MONTPENSIER. - Can any correspondent kindly point out where information is to be obtained concerning the career of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, after the period at which her own Mémoires conclude ? The "Mercure Galante" gives, I have been told, an account of her death; where is that to be obtained? HERMENTRUDE. PHILIP II. AND QUEEN ELIZABETH.- I have heard it gravely asserted, that the following diplomatic note was addressed by Philip II. of Spain to Queen Elizabeth just prior to the sailing of the Armada, in 1588: "Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas; Que Dracus eripuit nunc restituantur oportet; Quas pater evertit jubeo te condere cellas; Religio Papæ fac restituatur ad unguem." To which Her Majesty, it is said, gave this extempore reply :— "Ad Græcas, bone rex, fiant mandata kalendas." What authority is there for this strange diplomatic communication and its response? X. Also a passage commencing – "So wind in Hypochonders pent," &c. X. MILES. C. W. B. Lackington, in his Biography, quotes "Infants in hell but a span long," and " Hell was paved with infants' skulls," &c., from a deep author. Who was he? C. A. B. ROYAL REMAINS. The following passage, detailing the present state of some of the royal remains at Windsor, is worth a corner in "N. & Q.” Those of your readers whose memory reaches back to the days when George IV. was king, will call to mind the last time when these relics were exposed to the light of day :— "In excavating for the temporary grave, a small opening was made into the vault which contains the coffins of Henry VIII. and one of his Queens, the Lady Jane Seymour, also the coffins of Charles I. and an infant child of Queen Anne. The coffins, and even the crimsons on which are placed the coronets, were in a tolerable state of preservation, and the spear-hole in the coffin of Henry VIII., said to have been made by one of the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell, was clearly discernible." The Times, March 23, 1861. What foundation is there for the story of Cromwell's soldier having driven his spear into the coffin of Henry VIII.? GRIME. SIBBES (RICHARD). This ancient worthy was born in Suffolk. Will any Suffolk reader of “N. & Q." kindly inform me if the name still survives in the county? Any biographic memorials would much oblige. Further, I have succeeded in possessing myself of all the early editions of Sibbes's numerous works, except four, viz., – (1.) "The Saint's Comfort." 12mo. 1638. (2.) "The Spiritual Favourite." 18mo. 1640. (3.) "Consolatory Letter to an Afflicted Conscience." 4to. 1641. (4.) "Antidotum contra Naufragium," &c. Concio. 18mo. 1657. Three of these I have traced to public libraries, but No. 2., The Spiritual Favourite, I have failed to find anywhere. Can any Puritan-collector aid me in securing the use (at least) of a copy? r. SINGULAR CUSTOM IN THE CITY OF LONDON. "1692. The first year I wore the Livery, Sir Wm Ashurst being Lord Mayor, I was invited by our Master and Wardens to dine with his Lordship. We went in a body from the Poultry Church to Grocers' Hall, where the entertainment was very generous, and a noble Spoon he sent to our wives. To speak the truth, I do not think Sr Wm Ashurst ever acted a little or a mean thing in his whole life."-Dunton's Life and Errors. Was this custom general with every company upon the Lord Mayor being selected from it, or was it limited to the Grocers? Is it continued? GEORGE OFFOR. "Glory to thee, great Artist! soul of taste! For mending pig-styes where a plank's misplaced; Thy style shall finish what his style begun. Can any of your readers supply the missing line? And can they inform me the name of the author, and the occasion on which they were circulated? A. A. Poets' Corner, MEMOIRS OF LADY VANE.-It has always been considered that the autobiography of Lady Vane, introduced in the novel of Peregrine Pickle, under |