Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/206

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NOTES AND QUERIES, [9* s. v. MARCH 10, 1900.


Paris and a duke, he never was a marshal. He made so many blunders in the field as a general that Napoleon would not give him the higher dignity. E. YARDLEY.

If D. F. C. will kindly send me his address I shall be very grateful.

(Kev.) W. TUCKWELL. Waltham, Grimsby.

HELEN FAUCIT AND MARGARET GILLIES (9 th S. v. 147). The portrait of Miss Helen Fauci t as Julie de Morternar, painted by Miss Gillies, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1839, No. 884 in the Catalogue.

ROBERT WALTERS.

Ware Priory.

TOAD MUGS (9 th S. v. 8). -"Toad mugs," as they are known, were probably made at several places. I have examples made of Nottingham or Brampton stoneware, and I have others of ordinary "pot" not porcelain which may be of Rockingham make, or come from anywhere in the Potteries. None are of very recent make, and the sizes I have seen are from pint to quart capacity, and the toads within are in every case on the side next to the mouth if the right hand is used. They were made to provide public - house fun, softies and greenhorns being the victims. The surprise of a toad rnug consisted in the toad being seen by the drinker at the bottom of the mug as the last drops were drained, the toad seeming to be in the act of following the liquid. None of the specimens that I know are made with the intention for some of the liquor to spout out on the drinker. The toads seem to have been hollow so as to lessen the weight of the vessel.

THOS. RATCLIFFE,

THE BIBLE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN DUTCH (9 th S. v. 66). In common, no doubt, with many other readers, I have seen a copy of the first Dutch Bible ever printed. It bears the date of A.D. 1542, and is preserved and shown to visitors at Warndorff's "Bible Hotel," in the Damrak, at Amsterdam.

HARRY HEMS.


NOTES ON BOOKS, &c. The Poetical Works of John Milton. By the Rev.

H. C. Beeching, M.A. (Oxford, Clarendon Press.' Milton' ft Poetical Works from the Edition of the

Rev. H. C. Beeching. (Frowde.) THE edition of Milton edited by the Rev. H. C Beeching, to whom we owe many delightful an notable contributions to our knowledge of English poetical literature, is the best in all respects foi the student and the lover of Milton. It is with


some differences, to be noted, issued in two separate "orms. The octavo edition is the more important, ind is that to which more particularly applies the iigh praise we are bestowing. For the first time n any accessible and available edition, Milton's poetry is given from the original texts. Such changes as have been made consist only in the employment of capitals, in which, in the main, the originals are followed, and in punctuation. The minor poems are from the text of 1645, with some additions from that of 1673. 'Paradise Lost' is rom the edition of 1667, with variations from the second edition of 1674; 'Paradise Regained' and Samson Agonistes' from the first edition of 1671. With the exception of the priceless edition of the minor poems of 1645, to which we have never dared

o treat ourselves, its price being practically pro-

hibitory, reaching near 100/., the editions used are those in which we have been in the habit of studying Milton the first three editions of the ' Paradise Lost,' the first edition of ' Paradise Regained ' and ' Samson Agonistes,' and the 1673 edition of the poems being now before us. Between the first and second editions of the poems there are occasional differences of importance, generally to the advantage of the later. A line in the hymn ' On the Morning of Christ's Nativity,' stanza xv., which in the second and all subsequent editions is

Orb'd in a Rain-bow ; and like glories wearing, is in the first edition

The enameld Arras of the Rain-bow wearing. Some valuable light not elsewhere to be gained is occasionally thrown upon Milton's rhythm. Unlike most editions of the works, the present volume begins with the minor poems and ends with ' Samson Agonistes.' We can but repeat our implied advice to lovers of Milton to abandon in favour of this edition all editions except those published in his lifetime. We regard its appearance as an unmistakable boon. In the miniature edition, now also appearing, the spelling and other matters are modernized. The book is printed on the milled Oxford india paper, with the result that the 1,080 pages may well be carried in the waistcoat pocket. So clear and legible is, meanwhile, the type, that old eyes may read it with pleasure and without fatigue. Of the Oxford editions of the poets these are the best and the most to be cherished.

The Life of Charles Tomlinson, F.fi.S. By his

Niece, Mary Tomlinson. (Stock.) THE pious labour of Miss Tomlinson has been worthily accomplished, and a lifelike portraiture is given us of an able and interesting man who has recently passed away. Mr. Tomlinson's long life knew many and varied interests. By students of ' N. & Q.' ne is probably best remembered by his numerous and valuable contributions to the Eighth Series on subjects such as ' The Geography of Dante,' ' The Sun putting out the Fire' (an idea which he strongly opposed), ' Literature v. Science,' &c. To the last-named contribution the volume contains a long reference. The range of his scientific knowledge, and that of his literary acqui- sitions, was wide. After his retirement to High- gate he became one of an interesting circle, com- Sising Lovell, of ' The Wife's Secret,' Westland arston, and many others ; and he was a familiar figure at the Highgate Chess Club and literary institutions. It was, however, in science that his mark was made, and his contributions to this are