12S. X. MAR. 4, 1922.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 167
On p. 304, Canon Mifsud, after stating that "the Order became the statutory heir of the professed Knight of Malta in respect of that part of his estate of which he had not disposed before making his profession in religion," goes on thus:—
This was in virtue of the Canon Jaw Quidquid acquirit monachus, monasterio acquirit. The declaration of expropriation usually made by the Knights was not so much a testament as a statement of assets and liabilities to serve as guide in the framing and checking of their "spoils." Thus, the declaration of expropriation made by Sir John Kendall, Grand Prior of England, in the deeds of Notary William Ylton, on the 14th of February 1501, was held by the Council of the Order at Rhodes on the 8th of February 1503 to be null and void, inasmuch as Sir John had acted against the statutes by appointing heirs and making bequests.
In 1499 "Johannes Kendal prior sancti Johannis Jerusalem in Anglia" was on the panel at the trial of Edward, Earl of Warwick (see L. W. Vernon Harcourt, 'His Grace the Steward,' at p. 465). John B. Wainewright.
Emerson and Dr. Johnson.—Reading recently Dr. Johnson's description of a poet in 'Rasselas' I was struck with the general resemblance that parts of it bear to Emerson's exposition of the duties of the scholar in his famous address on "the American Scholar" and in his 'Literary Ethics,' though there is, of course, an immense difference between the light, delicate, nervous style in which Emerson veils his ideas and the ponderous, unornamented pomposity of the Johnsonian phraseology. Johnson, like Emerson, is really laying down rules for the man who, with a high purpose, devotes his life to the pursuit of knowledge, and is not describing a poet in our narrower sense of the word. The following are the points of resemblance that I noted:—
1. He must divest himself of the prejudices of his age and country (Johnson).
He is one who raises himself from private considerations and breathes and lives on public and illustrious thoughts (Emerson).
2. He must know many languages and many sciences (Johnson).
He must be be an university of knowledges (Emerson).
3. He must disregard present law and opinions . . . content himself with the slow progress of his name, contemn the applause of his own time (Johnson).
(He must) defer never to the popular cry . . . let him seek the shade and find wisdom in neglect . . . in the long period of his preparation he must betray often an ignorance and shiftlessness in popular arts, incurring the disdain of the able who shoulder him aside (Emerson).
4. He must write as the interpreter of nature (Johnson).
Bend to the persuasion which is flowing to you from every object in nature to be its tongue to the heart of men (Emerson).
Emerson, I believe, also went to Fichte for some of his ideas on this subject. T. Percy Armstrong.
The Authors' Club, Whitehall, S.W.
ST. DUNSTAN'S, REGENT'S PARK. It may
not be generally known that the house used
by the late Sir Arthur Pearson for his
training institution for blind ex -service men
was once the residence of a noted collector,
the late Mr. Henry H. Gibbs. There is in
existence his ' Catalogue of some printed
Books and Manuscripts at St. Dunstan's,
Regent's Park, and Aldenham House,
Berks ' (roxburghe binding, 4to ; privately
printed, 1888). A presentation copy, with
photo and autograph letter (lot 3219) was
in the Huth collection and sold at Sotheby's,
June 6, 1913. ANDREW DE TERN ANT.
36, Somerleyton-road, Brixton, S.W.
WE must request correspondents desiring in-
formation on family matters of only private interest
to affix their names and addresses to then' queries
in order that answers mav be sent to them direct.
TEMPORARY FORDS: "SAND." In an
Inquisition, as to the Sewers of Lincolnshire
of July 2, 25 Eliz., in the possession, in
1851 (when it was printed : B.M., 8775,
c. 73), of William Sowerby, Esq., of Messing -
ham, Lines, is a provision (p. 12) :
That the Township of Burringham in making
their warthes or fordes over the aforesaid dytches
do not cast in more sand then is needfull for
passage of their cattell into the Northmoores.
It seems unlikely that ordinary sand
would be available for this purpose or
would be effective. It is possible that some
sort of gravel is meant ? Are there other
instances of temporary fords ? How was
the " sand " prevented from being washed
away immediately ? Q. V.
" SOWMOYS." By a deed of 1500, enrolled
on the Roll of the Great Seal of Scotland
of the same year (printed 1882, at p. 542),
a grantor
concessit annuum redditum 10 librarum de
terris dominii de Cavertoun, vie. Roxburgh, et
duo cotagia proximo adjacentia occidentalem
partem pomarii ejusdem . . . et pratum vul-
