LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873. CONTENTS.-No. 44. MISCELLANEA:-Macaulay's New Zealander, 1-Excerpts from the larities of ideas which are frequently met with in different NOTES: Contemporary History, 3-Ancient Punishment-Francois de Chevert-Scamels-Prices of Corn in 1587-Cruikshank Illustrations Numismatic Portrait of Queen Elizabeth-Christmas Toast-Pin-Caesar's Landing-place- Professor Conington's Grave-Singing Combat, Greenland-Inscribed Cross, Endellion, Cornwall-Albert Durer-Bruce of Clackmannan's Apology It is told of the late Lord Macaulay that he had read to Dame Margaret Schaw-Herefordshire New Year Customs- everything, and that he forgot nothing he ever read. It is Edinburgh and Dublin: Contest for Precedence (1863)—Folk | possible, therefore, that in his multifarious literary excursions Lore-Ear Nailed to a Post-Old Ballad. QUERIES:-Landscapes Burned into Wood, 8-Quotations: Authors which he developed in the celebrated New Zealander, who, he had more than once come upon the germ of the idea Wanted-Lord Justice Selwyn-River Lossie, N.B.-Arms of Playfair-Abbey Church, Paisley-Hoax-The Cruel Black-it has been well said, has certainly earned the privilege of a Leslie Controversy-Factology: Factologist-Vicarage House, free seat on London Bridge, by the frequency with which Cranbrook, Kent. he has "pointed a moral and adorned a tale." M. Volney, in his "Ruins, or a Survey of Empires" [Ruines ou Méditations sur les Revolutions des Empires], thus wrote:-. "Who knows but that hereafter some traveller like myself will sit down upon the banks of the Seine, the Thames, or the Zuyder Zee, where now, in the tumult of enjoyment, the heart and the eyes are too slow to take in the multitude of sensations; who knows but he will sit down solitary amid silent ruins, and weep a people inurned, and their greatness changed into an empty name?" [Pp. 7, 8, of the fifth edition, published in 1811.] REPLIES:-Gavelkind, 9-Monumental Brasses-Burn-Curmudgeon OBITUARY, 12. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS, 12. Miscellanea. In our "Table Talk" (see No. 84) attention was called to" Macaulay's New Zealander," and several instances were given of the idea having been used long before the time of our brilliant historian. A most alarming influx of letters upon the subject has induced us to insert this article, giving the information so earnestly requested : Gibbon, in the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," before this, however, had written :-" If, in the neighbourhood of the commercial and literary town of Glasgow, a race of cannibals has really existed, we may contemplate in the period of the Scottish history the opposite extremes of savage and civilised life. Such reflections tend to enlarge the circle of our ideas, and to encourage the pleasing hope that New Zealand may produce in some future age the Hume of the southern hemisphere." [Vol. iv. c. xxv. p. 298.] Horace Walpole, in one of his celebrated letters to Mann [Nov. 11, 1774], thus wrote:-"For my part I take Europe to be worn out. When Voltaire dies we may say Good night! The next Augustan age will dawn on the other side of the Atlantic. There will perhaps be a Thucydides at Boston, a Xenophon at New York, and in time a Virgil at Mexico, and a Newton at Peru. At last some curious traveller from Lima will visit England and give a description of the ruins of St. Paul's, like the editions of Balbec and Palmyra." [Vol. ii. pp. 297, 301.] Henry Kirke White, in his poem "Time" [Poetical Works, and Remains, 1837], pp. 83, 84, thus expresses the idea. Where now is Britain? O'er her marts, Dryden, I believe, somewhere said that it is not unamusing to track a favourite author "in the snows of others." I remember, however, that Sir Walter Scott deprecated this species of research, and characterised it as the favourite theme of laborious dulness. Opposed to Scott is the authority of D'Israeli. In his chapter on "Poetical Imitations and Similarities," this well-known bibliographer says, " One of the most elegant of literary recreations is that of tracing poetical or prose imitations and similarities. Assuredly, among the curiosities of literature, few are more interesting than the coincidences which are to be found in the ideas of authors. "A book," says D'Israeli, "professedly on the History and Progress of Imitation in Poetry" (and prose, he might have added), "written by a man of perspicuity, and an adept in the art of discerning likenesses, even when minute, with examples properly selected and gradations duly marked, would make an impartial accession to the store of human literature, and furnish rational curiosity with a high regale." Our French neighbours seem to be more alive to this interest than we are, since the scholars of that Shelley, in his "Dedication of Peter Bell the Third " nation have made volumes of such collections. The gather-[Works vol. ii. p. 377], employs thus the idea. ings of Nodier and Querard are rich in the extreme, and their books are, as contributions to the library, quite without equal in this country. It is not always, as Scott said, that the search is with the view to bring the author to a level with his critic. The cultivated man of letters knows that similarity is not always imitation, and he does not confound accidental likeness with studied resemblance. His distinctions are just, and the entertainment he affords cannot be deemed despicable. It would be an interesting inquiry to ascertain how far the electric genius of thought will account for the curious simi Her crowded ports, broods Silence; and the cry * "In the firm expectation that when London shall be an habitation of bitterns, when the piers of Waterloo Bridge shall become the nuclei of islets of reeds and osiers, and cast the jagged shadows of their broken arches on the solitary stream, some transatlantic commentator will be weighing it in the scales of some new and unimagined system of criticism." Mrs. Barbauld, in a poem [see the Works of Anna L. Barbauld, in 2 vols. 1825, vol. i. pp. 239, 240], entitled, "Eighteen Hundred and Eleven," speaks of a time, whenEngland, the seat of arts, be only known By the grey ruin and the mouldering stone. I have found the idea, I think, four times in the productions of Macaulay. In "The Prophetic Account of a Grand National Epic Poem, to be written by Bichard Quongti, and to be entitled 'The Wellingtoniad, and to be published A.D. 2824," I believe we possess the crude embryo of the New Zealander. [See pp. 674 & 5, of the 7th vol. of his Works, edited by his sister.] This piece was one of his contributions to "Knight's Quarterly Magazine," and appeared in November, 1824. slumber. It is more likely than that these islands will ever It would seem that we are indebted, after all, to a very ancient Hebrew writer for the germ of this thought. The prophet Ezekiel, who wrote B.C. 595, in the 26th and in the 47th chapters of his Book, undoubtedly furnishes the suggestion which Macaulay has so felicitously employed, OF DUNDEE. The first distinct sketch is in his eloquent description of the influence of Athenian literature. It is in these words:-new "The Dervise in the Arabian tale did not hesitate to abandon to his comrade the camels with their load of jewels and gold, while he retained the casket of that mysterious juice which enabled him to behold at one glance all the hidden riches of the universe. Surely it is no exaggeration to say that no external advantage is to be compared with that purification of the intellectual eye, which gives us to contemplate the infinite wealth of the mental world; all the hoarded treasures of the primeval dynasties; all the shapeless ore of EXCERPTS FROM THE BAPTISMAL REGISTER its yet unexplored mine; this is the gift of Athens to man. Her freedom and her power have for more than twenty cen- THE subjoined memoranda are excerpts from the Register turies been annihilated. Her people have degenerated into of Baptisms of the town of Dundee, in North Britain. They timid slaves; her language into a barbarous jargon, her are in the handwriting of my late father, Mr. Charles Roger, temples have been given up to the successive depredations still well remembered as an antiquary of local note, and at of Romans, Turks, and Scotchmen; but her intellectual the time of his decease (March 26th, 1865) one of the oldest empire is imperishable. And, when those who have rivalled inhabitants of that ancient burgh. They were extracted by her greatness shall have shared her fate; when civilisation him many years ago for genealogical purposes. It has and knowledge shall have fixed their abode in distant con-occurred to me that they may be of sufficient importance to tinents; when the sceptre shall have passed away from find a place in the columns of the Antiquary. The excerpts England; when, perhaps, travellers from distant regions in question have reference to the families of Balgay and shall in vain labour to decipher on some mouldering pedestal Wedderburn (local magnates of the county of Forfar), and the name of our proudest chief; shall hear savage hymns include incidental mention of individual members of the chanted to some misshapen idol, over the ruined dome of families of Fintrie, Dudhop, Duntroon, Claverhouse, and our proudest temple; and shall see a single naked fisher- others. John Graham of Claverhouse, afterwards Viscount man wash his nets in the river of the ten thousand masts-Dundee, was cousin german of Elizabeth Graham of Dunher influence and her glory will still survive-fresh in eternal youth, exempt from mutability and decay, immortal as the intellectual principle from which they derive their origin, and over which they exercise their control." [See Article on Mitford's Greece; Works edited by his Sister, vol. 7, p. 703.] may He employs it again in his Review on "Mill's Essay on Government." Thus: "Is it possible that in two or three hundred years a few lean and half-naked fishermen divide with owls and foxes the ruins of the greatest European cities? may wash their nets amidst the relics of her gigantic docks, and build their huts out of the capitals of her stately cathedrals?" [Ibid., vol. v. pp. 264, 265.] In his finished form the New Zealander, busy at his melancholy work, appears in the article on "Ranke's History of the Popes," to illustrate the learned author's opinion of the perpetuity of the Roman Catholic Church. "She was great and respected before the Saxon had set foot in Britain-before the Frank had passed the Rhine-when Grecian eloquence still flourished at Antioch-when idols were still worshipped in the temple of Mecca. And she may still exist in undiminished vigour when some traveller from New Zealand shall, in the midst of a vast solitude, take his stand upon a broken arch of London Bridge to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's." [Idem, vol. vi. p. 455.] 66 Since Macaulay, several writers have appropriated the figure. Sir Archibald Alison, in the first volume of his Principles of Population," worked it thus into his florid Appendix, No. III., p. 571: "A long decay is destined to precede the British empire. . . . and at length the Queen of the Waves will sink into an eternal though not forgotten trune, the wife of Robert Davidson of Balgay, hence the presence of that gallant but ill-starred nobleman at the several baptisms recorded. William Duncan of Sea Side (afterwards of Lundie) was one of the progenitors of Admiral Adam Duncan, who was raised to the peerage of Great Britain in reward of distinguished service at the battle of Camperdown. The beginnings of great families, where such can be satisfactorily determined, can hardly fail to interest and instruct. 1648. Nov. 7th. Robert Davidson, younger, merchand, a man childe, named Robert. Robert Davidson, elder, Robert Bultie, and Rob. Stirling Witnesses. 1650. Jan. 17th. Robert Davidson, younger, merchand, a woman childe, Margaret. John Scrimger, uncle to the Vicount of Dudop, John Peirson, &c., Witnesses. "1651. May 15th. Robert Davidson, younger, merchand, a man child, named Alexander. Alex. Bowar, younger, bailie, Alex. Bowar, elder, Alex. Edward, younger, Alex. Davidson, and Alex. Alison, Witnesses. "1652. Sept. 21st. Christian Davidson law, daughter to Robt, Davidson Thesaurer, & Grissell Browne, was baptized. "1653. Decem. 18th. George Davidson law, sone to Robert Davidson Bailyea, & Grissel Brown, Bap. "1655. Jan. 21st. John Davidson law, sone to Robert Davidson Bailyea, & Grissell Brown, Bap. Witness, Mr. John Rob'soun, minr. John Scrymgeor, uncle to my Lord Dudop, &c. Graham, L. Dundie, his ladie, Jean Cochron, Jas. Man, lait Bailie, Jas Wedderburn, cl. "1691. March 23rd, Monday. Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, and Eliz. Graham, a daughter Marie, Bap. Witnesses, Jas. Man, lait Bailie, & Mr. Alex. Graham. 66 1693. April 1st, Saturday. Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, & Eliz. Graham had ane daughter, bap. in the meeting "1656. Sept. 9th. Bessie Davidson Law", daughter to Robt. Davidson & Grissell Brown; Bap: Wit: Wm. Dun-house be, Mr. Milne, called Margrat. can Bailyea, Geo. Brown & Patrick Tindel. 66 1657. March 11th. William Davidson Lawll, sone to Robert Davidson, Dean of Gild, & Grissell Browne, Bap. The Gossops are William Duncan, bailie in Dundie, Sir Wm. Davidson, merchd. in Rotterdam. Willm. Watson, Willm. Guthrie, merchands. 1659. Aprile 28th. John Davidson Lawll, sone to Robt. Davidson Baillie & Grissell Browne, Bap: The godfathers are John Peirson, John Arbuthnot, & John Fithie. "1660. Feb. 23rd. Robert Graham Lawll, sone to Honorable John Graham, younger, of Fintrie, & Mistres Jean Scrimscor, Bap. Robert Lord Carnegie. Robt. Scrimseor, brother to John, Lord Viscount of Duddop, Godfathers. "1660. Oct. 18th. Margaret Davidson Law, daughter to Robt. Davidson & Grissell Brown, Bap. Witnesses, Willm. Duncan, George Browne, & Wm. Watson. "1673, Sept. 6th. Robt. Davidson Law, sone to Robt. Davidson of Balgay, & Elizabeth Grame, Bap. "1675. Aug. 12th. Walter Davidson Law, sone to Robt. Davidson, of Balgay & Eliz. Graham, Bap. Wit. Walter Graham of Duntroone, Walter Philip son of 66 * 1677. May 6th. George Davidson Law, sone to Rob Davidson, of Balgay, & Elizabeth Graham, Bap. Wit.: George Brown, of Horne, Mr. Geo. Graham, minister of Ennverarity, George Brown, Brother to Balgay, George Brown, younger, of Horn. "1678. April 30th. James-Davidson Lawll, sone to Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, & Eliz, Graham, Bap. Wit: Jas. Alison, lait baillie. Jas. Graham, sone to the laird of Duntroon, Jas. Man lait thesaurer, Jas. Wedderburn, clerk, Jas. Clayhills, of Innergowrie. 66 1679. Sept. 13th. Grissell Davidson Law, daughter to Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, & Eliz. Graham, Bap.: Wit.: Jas. Man, merchd., Willm. Watson, lait ballic, Alex. Blaire, merchd., & Bernard Sanderson. 66 1679. Oct. 27th. James Wedderburne Lan1l, sone to Jas. Wedderburne & Eliz. Davidson, Bap.; Wit.: Alex. Wedderburne, Provost, Thos. Watson, John Scott, John Man, Hendrie Crawfurd Bailies, John Scrymseor, dean of Gild, Jas. Graham, of Monorgan Blacknes, Balgay, Craigie, Kingennie, George Davidson, &c. "1680. Dec. 29th. Grissell Wedderburne Law, daughter to Jas. Wedderburne, clerk, & Bessie, alias Eliz. Davidson. "1681. March 15th, John Davidson Law, sone to Rob. Davidson of Balgay, & Elizabeth Graham, Bap.: Wit: John Graham, marehd., John Man, John Graham of Claverhouse, John Wedderburne, John Maitland, John Wedderburne, son to the clark of Dundie. "1681. Sept. 24th. Isobell Man Law, daughter to James Man, bailyie, and Grissell Davidson, Bap. Wit. Mr. John Guthrie, minister, Jas. Fletcher, bailzie, John Man, lait bailzie, &c. "1683. July 13th, Friday. Robert Davidson, of Balgay, & Elizabeth Graham, had a sone named Alexander Wit: Mr. Alex. Graham, Alex. Duncan, Provest, Alex. Watson, lait Provest, Alex. Rait, Bailie, Alex. Keith Sess. cl. 66 1685. March 2nd, Wed. Robert Davidson, of Balgay, & Eliz. Graham, a daughter, Bap. Elizabeth: Wit. Mr. Robert Rait, minister, James Wedderburn, clerk, Alex. Watson, merchd. "1689. May 6th, Thursday. Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, & Eliz. Graham had a daughter, Jean, Bap.: Wit.; Jo. * MS. illegible. "1693. March 21st, Tuesday. Mr. John Watson, Dr. of Medicine, & Eliz. Graham had ane daughter, bap. in the meeting-house called Grissell, by Mr. Willm. Milne. Grissell Cochron Grandmother, Grissell Watson, Ant, Grissell Davidson, relict of Umq. Bailie Wm. Watson. Grissell Davidson, daughter of Rob. Davidson, of Balgay, were her Godmothers. Alex. Watson, lait Provest & Grandfather, David Graham of Duntroone, Grandfather, & Robt. Davidson, of Balgay, Godfathers. 66 1699. June 22nd. Mr. Jas. Scott, Prob, & Eliz. Scott, had a daughter Bap. Elizabeth, Eliz. Davidson, rel. of Umqlle Willm. Duncan, of Seasyde, &c. "1707. Jan. 9th. George Paton, mariner, and Marjorie Scott, had a son bap., called David. His godfathers are David Brown, merchd., David Davidson, son to Robt. Davidson, of Balgay. "1707. June 1st. Alex. Watson, of Vallis Craigie, & Grissell Davidson had a daughter Bap. called Elizabeth; her namemothers are Eliz. Graham, grandmother, Lady Balgay, Eliz. Watson, rel of Pat Balnaves, &c. They were married 27th April, 1706." 66 Notes. I THINK the enclosed short article on Contemporary HisCONTEMPORARY HISTORY. tory, which some time since appeared in the Trade Publicaof your columns, and the preservation of it which your tion called the Bookseller, is worthy of the wider circulation publication will insure.-J. B. B. Mr. Foster's Life of Charles Dickens shows how difficult it is to write contemporary history. Dickens lived in no narrow circle; his life and doings spread over a comparatively short span, and hundreds of persons are still alive with whom he was on intimate terms. Yet no sooner does the first part of his Memoirs appear, than some of its most Prominent facts are disputed. First, there is his connection with the late Mr. Bentley, who, to all appearance, acted most liberally to a then all but unknown author, and bore with his waywardness and, what must be candidly termed shuffling, as but few men would have done. In all this his biographer has made out Dickens to be the sufferer, and the publisher to be the only one in the wrong. Posterity will come to a different conclusion. Mr. Cruikshank has also of the other characters immortalized in "Oliver Twist ; " but felt it necessary to maintain his paternity of Fagin and some who could have doubted their origin? We all remember the inimitable scene of Oliver Asking for More, of Fagin in Prison, of the scene on the bridge when Nelly reveals the plot, and of Bill Sykes's exit from the world; but did any picture most impressed itself on the memory? We strongly one ever ask the question whether the narrative itself or the incline to the belief that the pictures served to make the had to struggle many years before his great claims would reputation of Dickens, and but for their aid he would have have been recognised. justice done him-Seymour. Here, again, it was the burly Another artist, too, has had scant and the Widow Bardell that impressed their features upon Pickwick, the versatile Sam Weller, the groggy Shepherd, the eye of the reader. We know all the members of the Pickwick Club as though they had been our intimate acrecognise Silas Wegg, Mrs. Wilfer, even with her gloves, quaintances; but who, if he met them in the Strand, would Bella, John Harmon, or any of the other characters in "Our Mutual Friend"? They all exist in the pages of the novelist, but they had no Seymour, Cruikshank, or Phiz to form |