without requiring special leave from their sovereigns. Mr. Thomas Carlyle and Mr. Humphrey Lloyd have lately been elected foreign members of the Ordre pour le Mérite. The word "diva," now so commonly given to foreign female singers, was first applied to Vittoria Colonna (the widowed Marchesa Pescara,) the noble Italian poetess, who died in 1547. Michael Angelo kissed her hand as she died, in homage to her great qualities. We regret that we have to add to our obituary the name of the well-known antiqurian bookseller of Philadelphia, Mr. John Campbell. He was long and favorably known to us, and we regret his demise as making, since the death of Wm. Gowans, an other breach in the circle of old booksellers. CORRESPONDENCE. a Monastery. I well recollect, when a boy, often seeing on Piney Branch, about a mile and half north of Washington, D. C., a stone shaped like a tombstone, on which letters were cut. When I first saw the stone I took little notice of it, but I distinctly remember that there was something about monastery having been founded there at a very early date. When last I visited the place the stone had been very much broken, and the following was all that remained of the inscription: a were broken off. The The parts letters were very peculiar. Perhaps some of your antiquarian readers may be able to clear up the mystery. F. A. HASSLER, M. D. P. S. Upon first inspection this would appear to be a tombstone, but in the position in which a grave would be in such a case there was a large tree; and although I was a boy when I first saw it, I feel quite positive that the words "founded a monastery" were then upon it. I am sure that we boys searched in every direction for ruins, but without success. Epitaphs.-Will some antiquarian readers of the BIBLIOPOLIST enlighten me to a right understanding of the use, common in the last century, of inscribing dates upon tombstones in fractional numbers? Among the curious epitaphs found in this ancient bone-yard is one which I do not remember to have seen in print, but which is odd enough perhaps to preserve amongst quaint specimens of grave-stone literature: Reader, pass on, nor waste your time This citation marks the grave of the erratic Ichabod Woodruff, whose eccentricities have been handed down to the old villagers amongst the many legends of this settlement. Ichabod becoming weary of the cares and tribulations of this mundane sphere, resolved upon his own “taking off," just previous to which his blasphemy and wit was guilty of perpetrating the following as he passed hurriedly by the sexton of the old church: Old Bob Wade, go toll the bell, Author Wanted. Can you give me the name of the author of an old work, entitled, "Adam and Eve Stript of their Furbelows; or, the Fashionable Virtues and Vices of both sexes expos'd to publick view. In Two Parts; I., of the Ladies; II., of the Gentlemen. With Familiar Descants upon each character. "The needy knave is punish'd for his faut, And with a richer Mantle, hide their Vice. Literary Productions of the Bonaparte Family.-Napoleon I. wrote: 1. "A History of Corsica," in two vols. 2. "A Discourse on the Truths and Sentiments which it is of the most consequence to know." 3. A collection of Verses, including a fable entitled "The Dog, the Rabbit, and the Huntsman." 4. The "Memorial of Saint Helena." 5. Letters, Speeches and Proclamations. Joseph Bonaparte wrote a romance, entitled, "Moïna, or the Nun of Mont Cenis." Lucien Bona 66 parte wrote: 1. Charlemagne," a poem in twenty-four cantos. 2 "La Cyrnéïde, a poem in twelve cantos. 3. "Stelina, or the Indian Tribe" (afterwards reprinted under the title of "Les Tédénaires). 4. His Memoirs. Louis Bonaparte wrote: 1. An Essay on Versification. 2. A Romance entitled " 'Mary, or the Penalties of Love." 3. Historical Documents bearing on the Government of Holland. 4. Several Plays, including "Lucrèce," a tragedy in five acts, with Moliere's "l'Avare" versified. 5. Memoirs. The Princess Zénaïde Charlotte Julie, daughter of Joseph, and wife of her cousin Charles Lucien, translated the works of Schiller. Charles Lucien, Prince de Canino, and Musignano, eldest son of Lucien, was the author of the wellknown work, Ornithology of North America, or Natural History of the Birds inhabiting the United States, which have not been described by Mr. Wilson." Louis Lucien, second son of Lucien, is the author of numerous learned and able writings and compilations on languages and dialect, and is still an esteemed writer on philological subjects. Pierre Napoleon, third son of Lucien, published-1. A translation into French verse of Niccolino's "Nebuchadnezzar." 2. A historical romance in Italian, entitled, The Rose of Castro." Madame Rattazzi, a granddaughter of Lucien, has written several romances, besides contributing to a great number of periodicals. Napoleon Louis, second son of Louis, published-1. A translation of "Tacitus Agricola." 2. A History of Florence. Charles Louis Napoleon, third son of Louis, and late Emperor of the French, with the title of Napoleon III., wrote: I. "Reveries Politiques." z. "Considerations Politiques et Militaires sur la Suisse." 3. "Idees Napoleoniennes. 4. "Vie de César ;" the last two being most widely known, and having been translated in various languages, including the English. The above com prise all the writings of the Bonapartes known to me. Any addition to the list, and to my knowledge on this subject, will be gladly accepted. In Bernard Quaritch's General Catalogue for 1868 a work is mentioned which has been attributed to a member of the Bonaparte family. It is entitled, "Storia Genealogica della Famiglia Bonaparte" ("Scritta da un Samminiatese"), Firenze, 1846. I am unacquainted with the work, and solicit information respecting it, together with the name of the author, if known. ERL RYGENHOEG. Greenville, Ala. "Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire."Tertullian quotes a proverb very much like this, and from which, it is not improbable, our English version comes, Pervenimus igitur de calcaria (quod dici solet) in carbonariam," De Carne Christi, vi. Where he got it from, I cannot tell, but it was evidently a well-known one even in his time. He was very fond of proverbs, and must have had a plentiful stock of them. There is no wonder in this, for he seems to have read everything. Edmund Tew, M. A. Shakespeare-Shotten Herring.-A shotten herring, in the north of England, does not mean a gutted herring, but a fish out of condition, having just shot forth its spawn: hence the term, a peculiarly "low-lived one, is proverbially applied to a person looking miserably thin and ill. Spoken of a fish, one might hear, "Oh, it is a nasty shotten herring," or applied ironically or compassionately to an individual, "Why, whatever is the matter with you? You look like a shotten herring." P. P. Wonderful Automata.-Mr. J. Loaring, in his "Common Sayings," gives a curious list. Archytas, of Tarentum, about 400 B. C., is said to have made a wooden pigeon that could fly. Albertus Magnus made an automaton to open the door when any one knocked. Regiomontanus made. an iron fly, which flew out of his hand, and returned, after moving about the room. In 1738 an automaton flute-player was exhibited at Paris. In 1741 Vaucanson made a duck which dabbled in the water, swam, drank, and quacked, like a real bird. During the present century, a Swiss, named Mailardes, constructed a female figure, which played eighteen tunes on the piano, and continued in motion an hour. To Mr. Loring's list may be added the calculating machine of Babbage, and the automaton chess-player of Mazziel (more wonderful than all). But is not this last to be attributed to human agency? It did not always win, whereas a pure machine would have always won. Can your readers inform me ? F. B. DOVETON. Bindings. On Friday, the 22d May, the sale of the first part of the library of the late M. Lucien Rosuy was commenced in Paris. This magnificent library, besides containing a large number of valuable manuscripts and printed books, is peculiarly rich in every variety of binding, from the masterpieces of Bouzerain, Derome, and Thouvenin down to specimens of cat skin. The hide of nearly every possible animal has been made into a covering for the books. Crocodiles, seals, wolves, tigers, panthers, foxes, and serpents have all had to supply a contingent. THE ACADEMY. BOOK NOTICES. KING EDWARD THE THIRD. A Historial Play attributed by Edward Capell to William Shakespeare, and now proved to be his Work by J. Payne Collier. (E (Printed for Private Circulation only.) If Mr. Collier has not exactly proved it to be Shakespeare's work, he has gone closely to prove that Shakespeare must have had a hand, and also a head and heart, in it. At all events, Mr. Payne Collier, in editing, and in his remarks upon, this noble and picturesque drama, has worthily supplemented much worthy and noble work of his own in illustration of Shakespeare and of our old drama generally. He may rest satisfied that no generously-minded lover of these of the drama and Shakespeare-will ever forget, or cease to be grateful for, what Mr. Collier has done in this respect during his long and industrious life. We cannot but wonder that Edward III. has been so little pressed by dramatists into dramatic purposes. Bancroft's old play, acted in 1691, was revived at the Haymarket in 1731 In 1763 it was republished, as politically applicable to the times, with additions from Ben Jonson, who had begun a tragedy on the subject of the fall of Mortimer, Wilkes wrote the savage dedication to Lord Bute, in which Wilkes entreated his lordship to assist Murphy in completing the play: "It is the warmest wish of my heart," wrote the witty demagogue, "that the Earl of Bute may speedily complete the story of Roger Mortimer." We express our best acknowledgments to Mr. Payne Collier for this valuable reprint, and for the zealous painstaking by which he discovers Shakespeare's share in the work. *THE SIEGE OF SAVANNAH IN 1779; As Described in two Contemporaneous Journals of French Officers in the Fleet of Count D'Estaing. Such is the title of a quarto volume, printed in handsome style by Munsell for the translator and annotator, Col. Charles C. Jones, Jr., of this city. The first journal-which Col. Jones has specially annotated so far as has been ascertained, exists only in manuscript, and until now has never been given to the public. It was purchased at the Luzarche sale, in Paris, on the first of March, 1869, and came into the possession of Mr. J. Carson Brevoort, of Brooklyn, whose library-as many of our readers know-is so rich in rare, valuable and interesting treasures. The present was evidently a contemporaneous document, and seems to have been penned, from day to day, by some prominent officer in the land army of D'Estaing, who participated in and had an intelligent appreciation of the events of which he speaks. Commencing with the appearance of D'Estaing in the roadstead of Basse-Terre, on the 19th of July, 1779, it minutely describes the preliminary movements of the fleet, the landing upon the Georgia coast, the advance upon Savannah, the daily progress of the siege, the brave and unsuccessful assault of the 9th of October, the losses sustained, the retreat, the evacuation, and the return of the ships. The names of all French officers killed and wounded during the siege are given, and the entire details of this memorable expedition are presented with a particularity we do not remember to have seen in any other account. The second part of the volume before us consists of a translation of such portions of the journal of a naval officer in the fleet of Count D'Estaing as relate to the siege of Savannah, and chronicle the movements of the fleet antecedent to and consequent upon that event. We have here a vivid picture of the dangers encountered and the privations endured by the French vessels while upon the coast of Georgia. Happily supplementing each other, these journals constitute an important contribution to our Revolutionary history, and as such will be welcomed. Upon their translation and annotation Col. Jones * 4to cloth, on tinted paper. Only 20c copies printed, mostly for presentation. A few copies are offered by J. Sabin & Sons at $350. has bestowed much pains, and they could scarcely have been presented in more attractive form. more ex The interest and the value of this publication are greatly enhanced by an admirable reproduction, by the photolithographic process, of a MS. military map of the siege, obtained in London at the late sale of the Marquis of Hastings' papers. Apart from the fact that it comes directly from the military portfolio of Lord Rawdon, the map seems act and elaborate than any other which has fallen under our observation. The location of the French and American troops; the development of the trenches; the position of the investing batteries and their respective armaments; the disposition, form, armament and garrison of the various British redoubts; the trend of the abatis; the opposing lines of fire; the stations occupied by the French and English vessels, and the lines of march of the assaulting columns, are all clearly delineated. GOSSIP ABOUT PORTRAITS. IV. ON ENGRAVED PORTRAITS, AND WITH REMARKS ON PLAGIARISMS. To return to our inscriptions, and to certain plagiarisms suggested by them, of which, perhaps, Sterne has put us in mind. The portrait of Col. Giles Strangeways by Loggan, about 1670, is noticeable for having an inscription which contains a line which must have been the original of almost the only one that survives of Theobald's: "The rest Fame speaks, and makes his virtues known' But if his steel could his great mind express, "None but himself can be his parallel," is in his "Double Falsehood," and may well be called "profundity itself;" unless, as Pope suggests, the showman's encomium on his elephant as the biggest in the fair except himself,"* may be thought *This may be matched by an expression of William Browne's. In "Britannia's Pastorals," Book iii, Song 1, (about 1616,) he says: "This Mushrome Serv'd for a Table: then a little Elfe (If possible, farre lesser than itselfe) Brought in the covering, made of white rose leaves." a deeper depth. An earlier instance of the use of this expression even than the print here noticed is in Massinger's "The Duke of Milan," act iv., scene 3: "An, but herself, admits no parallel," which is given in Mr. Grocott's "Index to Familiar Quotations." It is curious to trace some of these well-known lines beyond their reputed authors. The verses supposed to originate with Butler, "He that fights and runs away May live to fight another day, Will never rise to fight again," are not in the Hudibras; and lines very similar are traced to a much earlier author. In the apophthegmes of Erasmus, by N. Udall, 12mo., London, 1542, we have, "That same man that runeth awaie The lines in Hudibras, Part i., Canto iii., 607, &c., are: "In all the trade of war no feat Is nobler than a brave retreat : (The last two lines were added in the edition of 1674.) And in Part 3, Canto iii., lines 241, &c., we have: "To make an honorable retreat And wave a total sure defeat: A question then arises on the point as to who first used the lines as usually quoted (the sentiment being as old as Demosthenes.) Goldsmith quotes them, evidently from memory, as from Hudibras, in a work entitled "The Art of Poetry on a New Plan," 1762. But they have been found in an earlier work. Mr. Middleton, of Salisbury, discovered them in an edition of "Ray's History of the Rebellion," printed at Bristol, 175, and they appear also in another edition printed at York, 1749. In this work they read: "He that fights and runs away May turn and fight another day; But he that is in the battle slain Will never rise to fight again." Sir John Mennis, who published a book called "Musarum Deliciæ," 1656, has been stated to have written the lines much as they are now quoted, but the book is exceedingly scarce, and some obscurity attaches to the statement. The lines are not to be found in any of the editions in the British Museum. What we have ventured to say about this world not be complete without the anecdote given by Thomas Byerly, which is as follows: "These lines are almost universally supposed to form a part of Hudibras; and so confident have even scholars been on the subject, that in 1784 a wager was made at Bootle's of twenty to one that they were to be found in that inimitable poem. Dodsley was referred to as the arbiter, when he ridiculed the idea of consulting him on the subject, saying Every fool knows they are in Hudibras! George Selwyn, who was present, said to Dodsley, Pray, Sir, will you be good enough, then, to inform an old fool, who is at the same time your wise worship's very humble servant, in what canto they are to be found?' Dodsley took down the volume, but he could not find the passage; the next day came, with no better success, and the sage bibliopole was obliged to confess that a man might be ignorant of the author of this well-known couplet, without being absolutely a fool." As a note to Hudibras we will add an extract from our friend Pepys' Diary, 1662, Dec. 26: "To the Wardrobe. Hither come Mr. Buttersly; and we falling into a discourse of a new book of drollery in use, called Hudibras, I would needs go find it out, and met with it at the Temple: cost me 2s 6d. But when I come to read it, it is so silly an abuse of the Presbyter Knight going to the warrs, that I am ashamed of it; and by and by meeting a Mr. Townsend at dinner I sold it to him for 18d." Pepys tried this book again some months after, finding it stood its ground; and again on the publication of the Second Part, but he evidently never took kindly to it. The popularity of Butler, even in his own time, was, perhaps, simply the popularity of a few odd and very quotable couplets; and it is certain that, even if some people may be supposed to have read his poem through, he was himself much neglected and died poor-although a monument was erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey. This contrast between the poverty of his life, and his grandeur when dead, occasioned the following epigram: "While Butler, needy wretch! was still alive, No gen'rous patron would a dinner give. See him, when starv'd to death and turn'd to dust, The poet's fate is here in emblem shown; Mr. Middleton has also pointed out that the lines of Defoe, in the " 'True Born Englishman," "It is the Devil's policy that where God hath his Church, his Chapell should be there," are almost identical with two lines which appear in Charles Aleyn's remarkable poem of Henry the Seventh, 1638, (p. 136): "Wherever God erects a house of prayer The Devil always builds a chapel there." And in George Herbert's "Jacula Prudentum" the same thought occurs: "No sooner is a temple built tɔ God, but the devil builds a chapel hard by." The cases of identity of thought and expression among poets are many and striking, and convict many great men of plagiarism, though in some cases it was doubtless an unconscious fault, the writer perhaps repeating some proverbial expression or household word that required at the time no acknowledgment. Gray's lines, Rape of the "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen," And waste its sweetness on the desert air," are very like Pope's in the " Lock :" "These kept my charms concealed from mortal eye, Like roses that in deserts bloom and die." Lord Palmerston's "Fortuitous Concourse of Atoms" is in a translation of Cicero's "De Natura Deorum," 1741; and Mr. Disraeli's short way of expressing a "break," viz.: 66 A solution of continuity," is to be found in Burke "On the French Revolution." Even the originality, or the paternity rather, of the epitaph on the Countess of Pembroke, usually ascribed to Ben Jonson, but mentioned in the Spectator as being by an uncertain" author, has been challenged! In a MS. collection of Epitaphs and minor poems, by William Browne, in the Lansdown MSS. British Museum, this epitaph appears, with the following additional stanza: 66 "Marble piles let no man raise Both her mourner and her tomb." And it seems very probable that the epi |