Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/597

 ii s. VL DEC. 21,1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

493

In the words of Carlyle, who translates the whole passage in his ' Essay on Novalis ' : " Only inward disunion among the powers of Nature has preserved men hitherto ; nevertheless, that great epoch cannot fail to arrive, when the whole family of mankind, by a grand universal Resolve, will snatch themselves from this sorrow- ful condition, from this frightful imprisonment ; and by a voluntary Abdication of their terrestrial abode; redeem their race from this anguish, and seek refuge in a happier world, with their ancient Father. Thus might they end worthily ; and prevent a necessary, violent destruction ; or a still more horrible "degenerating into Beasts, by gradual dissolution of their thinking organs, through Insanity."

"That theory," remarks Carlyle, "of the human species ending by a universal simul- taneous act of Suicide, will, to the more simple sort of readers, be new." (Note tKat Mill's language is evidently influenced by Carlyle.)

In ' Sartor Resartus,' ii. 7, 8, the phrase " Mill of Death " is taken literally from this passage of Novalis. In his ' Essay ' Carlyle translates it " Machine of Death." The metaphor of the mill recurs in ' Die Christen- heit oder Europa,' by Novalis, a portion of which Carlyle translated at the end of his ' Essay on Voltaire.'

L. R. M. STRACHAN.

Heidelberg.

THE ORIGINAL "UNCLE TOM" (11 S. vi. 367, 436), I wonder if those who are discussing this problem have read what Mrs. Beecher Stowe herself has to say in a chapter she devotes to the subject in her ' Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin,' published many years ago by Clarke, Beeton & Co. of 148, Fleet Street. If not, they may find it instructive, and, coming from the fountain-head, more reliable than the best conjectures.

WlLLOUGHBY MAYCOCK.

About the time mentioned by W. B. S. the Rev. Josiah Henson lectured on his career at various places in the West of Scot- land. Those managing for him announced that he was the original " Uncle Tom," and his account of himself rested mainly upon that assumption. In simple but effective style he described his bitter experiences of slavery, and showed traces of his sufferings in disfigured wrists and knotted fingers. At the close of his remarks those who cared were allowed to shake hands with him, and as one of his more youthful auditors I readily seized such an opportunity to recognize the hero of a famous book. Who- ever he was, the lecturer, in his own way, was a remarkable man. THOMAS BAYNE.

' BlNGEN ON THE RHINE ' (11 S. vi.

427). This is the title of a poem by the. Hon. Mrs. Norton which appears in vol. vii. of Mr. Miles's ' The Poets and the Poetry of the Century.' It purport, to be the last reminiscence of his native land by a " soldier of the Legion " dying at Algiers.

C. C. B.

This poem, by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, can be probably found in her collected works. But if MR. GOODWIN cannot obtain these, I shall be happy to send him a copy of the verses in question. They were printed in ' The Royal Reader,' No. 6. In Chatterbox, 1877 (the year of the author's death), they were printed with an illustration. Two stanzas are there omitted, the author's name does not occur, and the poem is headed ' The Dying Soldier.' J." PARSON.

Is not this Southey's poem ' God's Judg- ment on a Bishop,' better known as ' Bishop Hatto ' ? In the middle of the Rhine stands the Mditseturm, the tower of Bishop Hatto, as noted by Longfellow in ' The Children's Hour ' :

They almost devour me with kisses,

Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen, In his Mouse-tower on the Rhine.

WM. H. PEET.

I have forgotten the tune and words of this song, which nearly everybody sang fifty years ago ; but if MR. GOODWIN can get a catalogue of The Musical Bouquet publica- tions, he may find it still on the list. C. Sheard was the publisher.

THOS. RATCLIFFE.

This poem of seven stanzas, written by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, is to be found in many collections. Thus it occupies p. 376 of the latest edition of Bell's ' Standard Elocutionist.' J- F. HOGAN.

Royal Colonial Institute,

Northumberland Avenue.

The Hon. Mrs. Norton (1808-77) was second daughter of Thomas Sheridan, and granddaughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. She married as her second husband Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, Bart., 1 March, 1877, but died on 15 June following. There is an interesting ' Life ' of her by Miss Jane Gray Perkins (1909), published by Murray.

The British Museum Catalogue mentions an edition of this poem of hers " with Illus- trations," 1888, 16mo, published by J. W T alker & Co.. London. F. C. WHITE.

Cardiff.