Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/348

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. m. APRIL 15. IMS.

^analysis of the -whole body of modern geography after a new, plain, and easie method, whereby any person may in a short time attain to the know- ledge of that most noble and useful science. Com- prehending a most compendious account of the continent, islands, peninsula's [.'c], isthmus, pro- montories, oceans, seas, gulphs, straits, lakes, rivers and chief towns of the whole earth. As also the divisions, subdivisions, situation, xtent, air, soil, commodities, manners, govern- ment, religion in all countries of the world. To which is subjoined the present state of the European Plantations in the East and West Indies with a reasonable proposal for the propagation of the Blessed Gospel in all Pagan Countries. The whole work carefully performed according to the exactest and latest discoveries. Illustrated with divers maps. By Pat. Gordon. London. Printed by J.R. for Robert Morden and Thomas Cockerill at the Atlas in Cornhill and at the Tone Leggs in the Poultry. 1693."

His style is curiously old-fashioned. Take, for instance, his definition of his subject :

" Geography (or rather Cosmography), that most pleasurable and useful science, which is the subject of the following treatise, needs no rhetorick to recommend, the great utility and the no less plea- sure that attends the knowledge thereof, rendering it acceptable and delightful to all persons who engage in the study of it. By the help of this the merchant may take a view of those several coun- tries from whence his Factors make him such profitable returns, and may know what commodities are peculiar to every country, and consequently what merchandise to export and import to and from the several parts of the Universe. Nor is it less useful to seafaring men who, without danger of shipwreck, may with pleasure take a view of the ocean and of those several seas, straits, and gulphs he hath sailed through and cast anchor in those ports and pleasant harbours which he so longed for, and desired, when tost and tumbled by the tempestuous waves. Here the valiant souldier may take a view of his enemies camp, without fear of murdering cannon, or danger of an ambuscade. The Divine may travel through the Holy Land and view the several places mentioned in sacred or ecclesiastical history, and may trace the travel and pilgrimages of prophets and apostles and of the Blessed Saviour himself."

His enthusiastic description of Scotland, which 1 have never seen quoted, seems to ^betoken, as I have said, the fervour of the native born :

" The air of this Country is generally very pure, and so extraordinary wholesome to breathe in that several persons in the northmost parts of that kingdom do frequently arrive to greater ages than are usual in other nations of Europe.

" Notwithstanding this Country is of a climate considerably northern, yet it produceth all neces- saries, and many of the comforts of human life.

" The Scots for the most part are an active, pru- dent and religious sort of people. Many abomin- able vices too common in other countries are not so much as speculatively known among them. They generally abhor all kinds of excess in drinking and effeminate delicacy in diet, choosing rather to im- prove the mind than pamper the body. And as for

their singular fidelity (although slanderously spoken of by some) its abundantly well known and ex- perienced abroad, for an undoubted demonstration thereof is publicly given to the whole world in that a neighbouring Prince and his Predecessors (for almost three hundred years) have committed the immediate care of their Royal Persons to them, without even having the least cause to repent a ground of change.

" The inhabitants of this country are of the true Reformed Religion. Here the Protestant Doctrine

is carefully taught in purest splendour No

Christian Society whatsoever doth excel them for their exact observation of the Sabbath day : and few can equal them in their singular strictness in punishing scandals and severely censuring of all vicious persons."

At this moment it is interesting to recall his observations of the Russians :

" The Muscovites are generally lookt upon as a rude, deceitful and ignorant sort of people. They are much addicted to excessive drinking, and to unlawful and beastly pleasure. They are said to be great abhorrers of Tobacco."

J. M. BULLOCH. ( To be continued. )

BOSWELL'S ' JOHNSON.' At p. 100 of the handy Globe edition of Boswell's ' Johnson ' there is a note of Boswell's own referring to Johnson's dictum (in the 'Grammar 'prefixed to his ' Dictionary ') on the non-occurrence of h at the beginning of syllables other than the first : "In the third edition, published in 1773, he left out the words perhaps never," &c. It is surprising that Boswell's error in calling this edition the third, instead of the fourth, has not been corrected by the Globe editor. The third edition was published in 1765, and the revision undertaken for the fourth in 1772-3 is described by Bos well in the proper place (Globe edition, pp. 227, 247). In Croker's one-volume edition of Boswell (1860, p. 99) there is also no correction of the error. I should like to know if it has been put right in any other edition, say that of Dr. Birk- beck Hill.

The same curiosity attaches to a misprint, or at least an orthographical peculiarity, in another of Boswell's notes which has gone uncorrected in Croker (p. 56) and the Globe edition (p. 60). Speaking of the famous "Plan" of the 'Dictionary,' Boswell tells how Johnson explained to him the circum- stances of its dedication to Lord Chester- field : "Johnson told me [22 September, 1777, going from Ashbourne in Derbyshire, to see Islam]," &c. He means Ham, a little place on the border of Staffordshire, as can be seen by a reference to the later passage (Globe edition, p. 426) where the excursion is described in detail. Is there any authority