Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/243

 10 s. XIL SEPT. 4, 1909.J NOTES AND QUERIES.

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NOTES ON BOOKS, &a

The City of Jerusalem. By Col. C. B. Conder,

E.E. (John Murray.)

THE object of this work, as stated in a short preface, is "to present in a convenient form the results of research and excavation concerning the history and buildings of the city of Jerusalem," relying chiefly upon monumental information. Its author's main preoccupation is to ascertain, as well as may be, the topography of the successive cities from the mountain stronghold of the Jebusite to the proud capital of the crusading hosts. Quotations from ancient inscriptions support the author's theories, and plenty of excellent maps enable the reader to follow his arguments. The work of a former excavator and a keen student of Jerusalem, the whole is very interesting. It would have been even more so, in our opinion, had all reference to the site of Calvary been eliminated. Col. Conder holds a brief for the " green hill " site, which owed its vogue, in the first place, to his championship ; but though we are glad to read what he finds to say in support of it, the question crops up much too often to be entertaining.

The author generally gives due weight to legends and traditions. Why does he scorn the legend of the burial of Adam, curious as alone assigning a reason for the foundation of a city at that spot, and accounting for its sanctity in early times ? In writing of the pillar of Absalom Col. Conder supposes the heaps of stones thereabouts to have been thrown by Jews as a token of abhorrence. Mr. J. E. Hanauer in his ' Folk-lore of the Holy Land ' says that they are thrown at the un- marked grave of a celebrated rabbi, Kolonimos, in fulfilment of the latter's dying wish.

The book is provided with a first-rate index as well as with a map of Modern Jerusalem, which we have found most useful for comparison.

ONE of the August numbers of L' ' Intermediaire contains an illustrated note on a supposed portrait of Calvin's wife. If the painting should ultimately

rove to be an authentic representation of Idelette e Bure, great interest will attach to it ; but the style of the costume and its richness are scarcely in favour of the conclusion. M. Desire Chaineux, who is held to be a judge little likely to err in such masters, believes that the portrait dates from 1565 or later, while Calvin's wife died in 1549. Another article treats of oaths. In the time of the twenty- first Egyptian dynasty, it appears, the name of legal oaths was connected with the root ankh, signifying "life." The Egyptians often swore simply by the life of the reigning king, or by the life of the king, queen, and their ancestors, with that of Isis, Osiris, and the gods and goddesses of the .country. Hence it can be comprehended that such oath-taking naturally led to the execution of any perjurer. He had by f alse- swearing " com mis le sacrilege d'exposer la vie du souverain." Among the Chaldeans the oath was connected with all legal obligations, and men swore by the name of the king, or by the names of certain gods.

L' Intermediaire also contains historical discus- sions of a different order. The subject of Louis XVII, and his fate in the Temple seems inexhaustible. Much can also be written on the

coat of arms of royal France. Are its fleurs-de-lis iris flowers, or are they transformed toads? Another question relates to the tears of Napoleon the Great. Did he weep when thrilled by grief, self-pity, or a certain kind of anger ? Even in the absence of all testimony there would be little reason to doubt that he did. A rigid control of the emotions is not inculcated in the youth of Corsica, nor even of France. Moreover, the literature of the period shows that tears were in fashion durin- the eighteenth century. Revolutionary develop- ment and sensibility went together.

Another point discussed is the colour of episcopal purple. The conclusion reached is that it varies, "French violet" inclines towards blue, "Roman violet" towards red. Of late the cloth-dyers, or ecclesiastical tailors, of Rome have invented a third shade, more brilliant than the old tints. This also is used. " The Church imposes violet on its pre- lates, leaving them perfectly free to choose the tone and shade of it."

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES. SEPTEMBER.

MR. BARNARD'S thirty-first Catalogue issued from Tunbridge Wells contains much of interest under Incunabula. There is a good copy of a scarce edition of the 'Golden Legend,' folio, Strassburg, 1482, 51. 15s. Under Johannes Regiomontanus is a series of astronomical almanacs, 1489-1506, Augs- burg, 1488, 6/. 6s. In the inside of the front board has been drawn an elaborate astronomical diagram. The book is very rare, and Mr. Barnard has been unable to trace the sale of a copy during the last twenty years. Under Niirnberg is a fine clean copy of the large folio Bible in Gothic letter printed by Koberger, 14 April, 1478, 15/. 15s. It is in the original pigskin, the clasps being still intact. The bosses and the chain attachment have been re- moved. There is also a large clean copy of the first volume of the Epistles of Jerome, Rome, 1470, 81. 15s. Suidas's Lexicon was the largest book printed in Greek type during the fifteenth century. Proctor calculates that there are 2,077,650 letters in the edition printed by Bissolus and Mangius, 15 Nov., 1499, Milan, SI. 8.9. There are many books of liturgical interest, Greek, Armenian, Latin, &c. ; also forms of prayer, acts of uniformity, books of devotion, and a number of Civil War Tracts.

Mr. Barnard also sends us the fourth Catalogue from his Manchester house. This contains miscel- laneous books, including a section on Trade and" Commerce. Under Bewick is a collection of im- pressions from woodblocks engraved by Bewick, and used by George Walker in the chapbooks he issued (only three copies of the set printed), crushed green morocco, 31. 3s. Other items include Gibber's 'Lives of the Poets,' 5 vols., 1753, 21. 2s. ; Rabelais, 9vols.,8vo, Paris, 1823, 21. 10s.; Poole's 'English Parnassus,' 1667, 11. os. ; Pope's 'Letters to a Lady/ first edition, wrappers, uncut, 31. 3s. ; and Freeman's 'Federal Government,' Vol. I., all published, 1863, \l. 11s. 6d. Under John Gay are the first edition of 'Polly,' 1729, 21. 2s., and the first edition of the 'Fables' in Latin, 1777, II. Us. Qd. Under Con- greve is the first edition of ' The Double Dealer ' 1694, 11. Ws.

Mr. Bertram Dobell's Catalogue 174 contains a specially interesting collection under America, in a folio volume. Among the contents are 'Considera- tions on the Bill for prohibiting the Export of Corn,