Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/268

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NOTES AND QUERIES. 19 th s. VIL MARCH so, 1901.

natural philosophers of Ionia. Referring here to the beginning of scientific research, he makesk the suggestive remark that it was " a double blessing for the free progress of thought among the Greeks that their predecessors in civilization possessed an organized priesthood, and that they themselves lacked it. The Orphic and Pythagorean sys- tems then engage attention. Book II. is devoted to the metaphysicians and positive-scientists from Parmenides, the founder of the doctrine of unity and the unchangeability of matter, down to that showy charlatan Empedocles, who was nevertheless the father of modern chemistry. Book III. deals with the ' Age of Enlightenment,' which takes in the physicians a chapter of great interest the Atom- ists, and other pioneers of science, ending with the Sophists and the historians, down to Thucydides. A notable passage here occurs on the legitimate use of hypothesis in scientific investigation, when " the golden guess is morning star to the full round of truth," for, as William Blake observed, " what is now proved was once all imagined."

A valuable mass of notes and references is rele- gated to the end of the volume. We confess we prefer the older method of exhibiting these neces- sary aids at the foot of the page. It may detract from the typographical symmetry, but it is much more convenient for the reader. The translator has judiciously furnished a provisional index to the present instalment. The second volume, which will deal mainly with the important personalities of Plato and Socrates, will appear this year ; and the final volume, which we believe is still in the making, will follow in due time. Meanwhile we have enough to secure our hearty commendation of what will be a monumental work.

Byegones relating to Wales and the Border Counties.

Vol. VI. (Oswestry and Wrexham, Woodall

& Co.)

MUCH quaint information is buried in this periodical, which has now enjoyed a life longer than is vouch- safed to many publications of its class. It is, moreover, useful as a work of reference in regard to the Principality and its borders. We welcome its protonged existence, and should have nothing but praise for it if it would rectify the error in its title,

Coutts <fc Co., Bankers, Edinburgh and London.

By Ralph Richardson, F.S. A.Scot. (Stock.) BEFORE a year is put a second edition of Mr. Richardson s memoirs of the Couttses has been demanded. It now appears in an enlarged and amended form, and will doubtless be followed by other editions. The plates are the same as before, and the volume is in all respects equal to its pre- decessor. It is rather deplorable, however, that a mistake in the letterpress so easily remedied as that we pointed out (see 9 th S. v. 507) remains un- corrected.

We have received the third volume of the Annual Transactions of the United Empire Loyalists' Asso- ciation, issued at Toronto from the Church of England Publishing Company. In addition to intro- ductory matter giving the constitution and by-laws with portraits and memoirs of the officers of the institution, the book furnishes various historical and biographical sketches. Many of them open out matter concerning which the average Eng- lishman knows very much less than he ought.

Lady Dilke supplies an account of Samuel Strong and the Georgia Loyalists. How many people know, we wonder, how loyal a state was Georgia ; and how it was recovered from the insurgents, into whose hands it had fallen; or have heard of the brilliant defence of Savannah against the allied " Whigs" and French? Loss of property was not the most humiliating experience of the Strongs during the rebellion, though that was heavy enough. One of them, who was credited with the authorship of some pamphlets written on the Government side, was " tarred and feathered and ridden on a rail." The loyalty then so conspicuously displayed still characterizes the Strongs, three of whom are serving in South Africa. Much interesting information concerning the Fairfaxes is comprised in Lady Dilke's valuable contribution. Other loyalists of whom an account is given include the Leeple family, of Dutch extraction, whose story is particularly romantic. The adventures of the Merritts, originally De Meriet, are told by Miss Catherine Nina Merritt, of Toronto. Mr. Edward Marion Chadwick deals with the Six Nations Indians as United Empire Loyalists. Mrs. Char- lotte Bruce Carey deals with the Bruce family. Dr. William Canniff depicts Adolphustown, the first settlement of United Empire Loyalists, and Mr. Walter Rogers tells the story of his ancestors' sufferings for the cause. It is pleasant to find a worthy tribute at length paid to the steadfast and heroic sons of England, whose history for a hundred years has been strangely neglected. Many of the incidents recorded are eminently stimulating, and the tale of suffering of the founders of empire in Canada is worthy of a conspicuous place in our history.

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M. N. G. ("Cicero on Augurs "). Here is the reference : " Vetus autem illud Catonis admodum scitum est qui mirari se dicebat, quod non rideret haruspex haruspicem quum vidisset" (Cic., ' Div. ' ii. 24, 51).

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