Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 8.djvu/381

 9* s. vm. NOV. 2, loci.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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but of facts, I submit, we have had none deserving the name, in opposition to the received belief in Rouget de 1'Isle's author- ship of the ' Marseillaise.' When it is sought to upset such a general belief, let me once more say, facts must be adduced, not mere "statements" ex parte, or at second or third hand. If there be a ' Credo ' by Holtzmann" in existence, containing any phrases so like those of the 'Marseillaise' as to seem to have originated that song, pray let that * Credo ' be produced and published ; let us see it ; and we may yet be convinced, as no one, I venture to think, has hitherto been, by the " mass of statements " which we have seen.

Meanwhile, we shall continue to believe in Eouget de 1'Isle. JULIAN MAESHALL.

JEWS AS "SCIENTISTS" AND PHYSICIANS (9 th S. viii. 205). If one considers the many hindrances which the Jew has had to contend against, the marvel is that Jews can show any at all. Our genuine man of science is Raphael Meldola. We cannot in medicine offer names comparable to Simpson or Lister, or in mathematics comparable to Newton ; but we can show quite a respectable list of men above mediocrity in medicine men like Bertram Abrahams, Schorstein, and Nabarro ; while in mathematics we have quite a distinguished group Sylvester, Gomperts, author of " Gomperts' Law," David Ricardo, and Numa Hartog, Senior Wrangler of Cambridge many years ago. In electricity we have Sir David Salomons, and in che- mistry my friend Gordon Salaman. In the study of bacteria Prof. Haffkine made his mark, and rendered substantial service to the Indian Government. Now as a matter of fact in two departments of science Jews have for generations held more than their own, viz., in mathematics and in medicine. The causes of this are simple. Hygiene and astronomy are so intimately correlated in Judaism that the study of medicine and mathematics was in bygone days well-nigh obligatory upon aspirants to communal preferment. Hygiene may be said to be three-fourths of Judaism, whose due perform- ance depends upon an accurate time-table Most ritual observances, such as the feasts and fasts, rely upon fixed astronomical data requiring considerable powers of calculation. Hence most of the great expounders of the Oral Law were fine mathematicians. Ibn Ezra, who flourished in the twelfth century, besides being a luminous Biblical critic, was so eminent a mathematician that (so report runs) he was invited to lecture upon this subject to the Oxford students. Maimonides,

the greatest Jewish philosopher, was distin- guished as a mathematician, and as physician to Saladin in Egypt in the twelfth century. Spinoza was a brilliant geometrician ; Moses Mendelssohn was clever at figures as well as a fine Greek scholar. The 'Jewish Encyclo- paedia' might usefully be searched by KOM OMBO if he requires further evidence of savants of Jewish origin outside this country. At any rate, if Jews have not yet produced a Newton or a Huxley, one need not despair of them. A race that during the vanished centuries could evolve a Maimonides, a Spinoza, and a Heine may be counted upon to adorn the annals of science in due time with conspicuous work, equalling its achieve- ments in literature, philosophy, and art.

M. L. R. BRESLAR. Percy House, South Hackney.

I think that I am right in stating that Prof. Sylvester, " that eminent Johnian," Second W T rangler in 1837, and Mr. Numa Hartog, Senior Wrangler and second Smith's prizeman in 1869, were of Jewish race.

P. J. F. GANTILLON.

SIR NICHOLAS SMITH (9 th S. viii. 283). I think it most likely that this worthy was the Nicholas Smith, Esq., who was returned M.P. for Truro in 1593 (although then under age) and for Wigan in 1597-8, as he was certainly the Sir Nicholas Smith, Knight, M.P. for St. Mawes in 1614. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, 27 November, 1590, aged fifteen ; B.A. 1594 ; entered Lincoln's Inn 1595. He was seated at Larkbeare in Devon, an estate he had acquired by purchase from George Hull, and was knighted at Whitehall 23 July, 1603. His wife was Dorothy, daughter of Sir Ralph Horsey, of co. Dorset, who after his death married Sir George Parry, Knight, LL.D., who took out letters of administration to her 1 7 October, 1 655. Sir Nicholas was son of Sir George Smith, of Exeter, by his first wife Joan, daughter of James Walker. Sir George who received knighthood at Greenwich 12 June, 1604, a year later than his son was M.P. for Exeter 1604-11 ; Sheriff of Devon 1613-14 ; and died in 1619. The father of Sir George was John Smith, Mayor of Exeter in 1567. I have not discovered when Sir Nicholas Smith died, but he had five sons and two daughters (see Visit. Devon, 1620).

W. D. PINK.

Lowton, Newton-le- Willows.

Sir Nicholas Smith was the son of Sir George Smith, merchant, of Madford House, Heavitree, Exeter, Mayor of that city in 1586 and 1607, and Grace, daughter and coheir of William Viell, of Madford, near