Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 1.djvu/35

 io* s. i. JA*. 9.19M.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

their own bounds, they might questionlesse haue done good seruice to the Commonwealth of Learn- ing. But when the seruant presumes to controlle the Mistrisse, the house seemes much out of order."

It is interesting to note such personal allu- sions as the following (book i. p. 247) :

" This way I first found in Mr. Purchas his rela- tion of Halls discouery of Greenland, written by William Baffin since this Chapter came vnder the Presse : the expression of which, being as I suppose shorter and easier then in the Author, I doe owe for the most part to my worthy Chamberfellow, Mr. Nathanael Norrington, to whose learned conference, I confesse my selfe to owe some fruits of my labours in this kinde, and all the offices of friendship."

Serpents not found in Ireland (book ii. p. 24) :-

" Some Beasts and Serpents are in some places seldome knowne to breed or Hue, wherewith not- withstanding other Regions swarme in abundance : as for example, Ireland, wherein no Serpent or venomous worme hath beene knowne to Hue, whereby Africa and many other Countries finde no small molestation."

There is something droll in the coupling of authorities in the next extract (book ii. p. 76) :

" That Sea Water strained through clay, will turne fresh : as likewise powdred flesh being layed to soake in salt water, will sooue turiie sweet : The former is verified by Baptista Porta : of the other, euery kitchin maide on the Sea side will informe vs."

Carpenter refers to the possibility of a canal between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which, as we all know, is now an accom- plished fact. The passage in his book need not therefore be quoted.

Edmund Bolton, in his ' Nero Csesar,' 1627 (first published in 1624), has a reference to the Isthmus of Panama. Carpenter re- cords a conjectural reason why a canal had not been cut through it, probably long before his day (book ii. p. 112):

" Moreouer it is obserued that the sea on the west part of America commonly called Mare Del Zur, is much higher then the Atlantick Sea which bordereth on the Easterne part of it : which gaue way to the coniecture of some, that the Isthmus betwixt Panama and Xombre De Dios had bin long since cut through to haue made a passage into the Pacifick Sea, without sayling so farre about by the straits of Magellane; had not many inconveniences bin feared out of the insequality in the hight of the Water."

Discussing the possibility of a North-East Passage, our author interpolates the follow- ing (book ii. p. 121) :

" Lastly, there is a fish which hath a Home in his fore-head, called the Sea Vnicorue, whereof Martin Frobisher found one on the coast of Newfoundland, and gaue it to Queene Elizabeth, which was said to be put into her Wardrobe : But whether it be the same which is at this day to be seene at Windsor Castle, [I] cannot tell."

He also discusses at considerable length the

possibility of discovering a North-West Pas- sage. The opening words of his statement are interesting (book ii. p. 122) :

" Hitherto haue we treated of other passages, either effected or attempted to Cathay and the East Indies. The last and most desired and sought in our time, is that by the North-west. This way hath bin often attempted, as by Cabot, Dauis, Frc- bisher, Hudson, S r Thomas Button and others, but as yet not found out. Neither hath it more troubled the industry of Marriners, then the wit of Schollers."

Speaking of mountainous countries and their inhabitants, he mentions, among other?, the Scottish Highlanders (book ii. p. 258) :

" The like ought to be spoken of the Welch and Cornish people amongst vs, as of the Scottish Highlanders : all which Huing in mountanous countries haue withstood the violence of forraigners, and for many yeares preserued their owne liberty."

A. S. (To be continued.)

THE CHURCHYARD OF ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER, AND ITS IMPROVEMENT.

FOR many years this interesting little " God's acre " had been in a most deplorable condition, and was noted as being a public scandal. The gravestones were not level, many were broken, and on nearly all (or at least a great proportion) of them the inscrip- tions had become unreadable, owing to the constant traffic over them, there being a right of way through the churchyard from end to end, and also to a point nearly opposite the building now rebuilt as the Middlesex County Hall, but then known as the West- minster Sessions House. The ground, where there were no stones, was in great holes and ruts, which held the water in wet seasons, and at all periods of the year presented both difficulties and dangers to those who had to- cross it. Many attempts were made to put it into something like decent order, but without anything like permanent good resulting; consequently as time went on bad became worse, and the dangers and difficul- ties were intensified.

Among the many proposals for improve- ment, the most notable was one made by Mr. Austen H. Layard, M.P., who at the time held the office of First Commissioner of Works, and under whose auspices the im- provement in the adjoining St. Margaret's Square was made. The extremely orna- mental railings by which the square is sur- rounded, and the very fine granite columns upon which the lamps at the angles are mounted, we owe to the fine taste of that gentleman, who desired that the churchyard should be improved in a like manner, as it was thought the cost could be included in.