Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/221

 9* S. VII. MARCH 16, 1901.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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antiquity; it was called "buying the small- pox." It was vaccination that was introduced oy Jenner, i.e., inoculation with cowpox, which has entirely replaced the older small- pox inoculation.

For further information M. may refer to Crookshank's 'History and Pathology of Vaccination,' vol. i., 1889.

W. R. B. PRIDEAUX.

Royal College of Physicians.

[Many other replies received.]

" CURTANA " (9 th S. vii. 187). At the corona- tion of Her late Majesty in 1838 the Sword of State was carried by Viscount Melbourne ; the Curtana, or Sword of Mercy, by the Duke of Devonshire ; the pointed Sword of Spiritual Justice (or "second sword ") by the Duke of Sutherland ; and the pointed Sword of Temporal Justice (or " third sword ") by the (then) Marquess of Westminster. The Curtana was the first sword. The Sword of State was offered by Her Majesty on the altar, and was subsequently "redeemed for one hundred shillings by Viscount Mel- bourne " At one of the earlier coronations I think that of William III the hundred shillings were overlooked, and, as every one was in ceremonial dress, were not forthcoming for some time, a messenger having to be dis- patched for them before the service was proceeded with. R. B.

SUWARROFF AND MASSENA (9 th S. vii. 108,

192)." Non tutti ma Buona parte " is also given by Story in his ' Roba di Roma ' (edition of 1864, p. 212), where it is followed by another caustic pasquinade on the French, at that time plundering Italy

In tempi men leggiadri e piu feroci S' appicavano i ladri in su le croci ; In tempi men feroci e piu leggiadri S' appicano le croci in su i ladri. In times less pleasant, more fierce, of old The thieves were hung upon the cross, we 're told ; In times less fierce, more pleasant, to-day, Crosses are hung upon the thieves, they say

alluding to the Legion of Honour instituted about that time. R. B.

Upton.

WELSH MANUSCRIPT PEDIGREES (9 th S. iv. 412, 483 ; v. 109, 358 ; vii. 131). It is some- what disconcerting to find a correspondent of ' N. & Q.' writing that " the sooner modern Welsh is forgotten the better." This sort of obscurantism ill becomes a gentleman who professes to be devoted to "old Welsh." He ought to know that modern spoken dialects are the only key to ancient literary languages. As an Englishman who has acquired both old and modern Welsh, and

knows the value of both, I protest against MR. PYM YEATMAN'S dictum. If he is not forgotten till " modern Welsh " is, he will be fortunate. JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS.

Town Hall, Cardiff.

CHARLES LAMB AND 'THE CHAMPION' (9 th S vi. 442 ; vii. 12, 131). Your correspondent J. A. R. is of opinion that further evidence is needed before the lines printed in the 'Poetical Recreations of the Champion, 1 which are subscribed with the initials " M. L.," can be accepted as the composition of Mary Lamb. Certainty on this point is doubtless im- possible in the absence of the original manu- script, but I submit that internal evidence is strongly in favour of my conclusion. This opinion is shared by a literary correspondent, who is one of the first authorities on Lamb in England, and who, after consulting the ori- ginal files of the Champion in the Newspaper Room in the British Museum, informs me that in the Saturday edition of that paper, which first printed the 'Lady's Sapphics,' the lines are signed " M. S." On the next day, how- ever, the initials were altered to " M. L.," and my friend adds, " One can see Lamb hurrying round to Thelwall's office to put the matter right."

I regret that I overlooked the fact that the epigrams were reprinted in Mr. Percy Fitz- gerald's edition of Lamb. Perhaps J. A. R. may be able to say whether the reprint was made direct from the Champion or from the 'Poetical Recreations.' A criterion may be found in the apparent fact that Thel- wall in reprinting * The Uribeloved ' dropped out a line of the original. Being at present abroad, I am unable to verify this circum- stance.

My friend further informs me that the Latin verses to Haydn were signed "Carl- agnulus," and thrown open to all readers as an exercise in translation. This seems to have been an early example of the " Literary Competition " which, between Saturday and Tuesday, stimulates so many active brains in these busy times. But in the case of the Champion it was a failure, for when next week came round, only one version had turned up, and that was signed "C. L." Perhaps the attraction of "the guinea's stamp " was wanting. W. F. PRIDEAUX.

Davos-Platz.

THE ACACIA IN FREEMASONRY (9 th S. vii. 9, 112). Apart from any special craft signi- ficance, your correspondent will find that in ancient Egypt the acacia tree is connected with the doctrines of the immortality of the soul, resurrection, and perhaps reincarnation,