Notes Queries No. 29, Saturday, May 18, 1850 | Page 6

for the Benefit of the Foundling Hospital_, 1751.
Who was ROBERT DEVERELL, who privately printed, in 4to., _Andalusia; or Notes tending to show that the Yellow Fever was well known to the Ancients_? The book seems a mass of absurdity; containing illustrations of Milton's _Comus_, and several other subjects equally incongruous.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
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MINOR QUERIES.
_Seager a Painter.--Marlow's Autograph._--In a MS., which has lately been placed in my hands, containing a copy of Henry Howard's translation of the last instructions given by the Emperor Charles V. to his son Philip, transcribed by Paul Thompson about the end of the sixteenth century, are prefixed some poems in a different handwriting. The first of these is an eclogue, entitled _Amor Constans_, in which the dialogue is carried on by "Dickye" and "Bonnybootes," and begins thus:--"For shame, man, wilt thou never leave this sorrowe?" At the end is the signature, "Infortunatus, Ch.M." Following this eclogue are sixteen sonnets, signed also "Ch.M.;" in two of which the author alludes to a portrait painter named Seager. One of these sonnets commences thus:--
"Whilest thou in breathinge cullers, crimson white, Drewst these bright eyes, whose language sayth to me. Loe! the right waye to heaven; Love stoode by the(e), _Seager!_ fayne to be drawne in cullers brighte," &c.
I should be glad to receive any information respecting this painter: as also any hints as to the name of the poet Ch. M. May I add, also, another Query? Is any authentic writing or signature of Christopher Marlow known to exist?
M.
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_MS. Diary of the Convention Parliament of 1660_.--The editors of the Parliamentary History give some passages from a MS. Diary of the Convention Parliament of the Restoration, and state that the Diary was communicated to them by the Rev. Charles Lyttleton, Dean of Exeter (vol. iv. p. 73.). I am anxious to know where this Diary now is, and if it may be seen by--
CH.
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Etymology of Totnes.--Can any of your readers suggest a probable etymology for Totnes, the "prime town of Great Britain," as it is called by Westcote[1], who supposes it to have been built by Brutus, 1108 years before the Christian era. Mr. Polwhele, who supposed the numerous Hams in Devon to have owed their names to the worship of Jupiter _Hammon_, would, I imagine, have derived Totnes from the Egyptian god Thoth or Taut; or, perhaps, directly from King Thothmes. Westcote observes that some would have the name from,--
"The French word _tout-��-l'aise_, which is in English, all at ease; as if Brutus at his arrival in such a pleasant soil ... should here assure himself and his fellow-travellers of ease, rest, and content; and the _l_, in this long time, is changed into _n_, and so from _tout-��-lesse_ we now call it _tout-��-nesse_, and briefly Totnessse. This would _I willingly applaud, could I think or believe that Brutus spake so good French_, or that the French tongue was then spoken at all. Therefore, I shall with the more ease join in opinion with those who would have it named _Dodonesse_, which signifieth [in what language?] the rocky-town, or town on stones, which is also agreeable with the opinion of Leland."
Totnes is denominated Totenais and Totheneis in _Domesday Book_; and in other old records variously spelt, Toteneis, Totteneys, Toteneys, Totton', Totte?, Totenesse, Tottenesse, Tottonasse, Totonie, &c. Never, Donodesse.
J.M.B.
Totnes, April 23. 1850.
[1] _A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX._, by Thomas Westcote, Esq., Exeter, 1845.
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_Dr. Maginn's Miscellanies_.--Towards the end of 1840, Dr. Maginn issued the prospectus of a work to be published weekly in numbers, and to be entitled "_Magazine Miscellanies_, by Dr. Maginn," which was intended to comprise a selection from his contributions to Blackwood, Fraser, &c. Will any one of your multitudinous readers kindly inform me whether this work was ever published, or any portion of it?
J.M.B.
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_Dr. Maginn's "Shakspeare Papers."_--The Doctor published several very able critical dissertations under this, or some similar title, about the year 1837, in one of the monthly magazines, for references to which I shall feel obliged.
J.M.B.
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_Dr. Maginn's Homeric Ballads._--Between 1839 and 1842, the "Homeric Ballads," from thirteen to sixteen, appeared in _Fraser's Magazine_. Will any correspondent favour me with specific references to the numbers or months in which they were published? I may add, that I shall esteem it as a very great favour to receive authentic reference to any articles contributed to Blackwood, Fraser, &c., &c., by Dr. Maginn. The difficulty of determining authorship from internal evidence alone is well-known, and is aptly illustrated by the fact, that an article on Miss Austen's novels, by Archbishop Whately, was included in the collection of Sir Walter Scott's prose works.
J.M.B.
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_Poor Robin's Almanack_.--Who was the author or originator of