Notes and Queries, Number 185, May 14, 1853 | Page 9

"Life," near the end of vol. iii., we are told that the patriot died on Aug. 16, 1678, "and by poison for he was healthful and vigorous to the moment he was seized with the premeditated ruin." And again, in a summary of his merits, we are told that "all these patriot virtues were insufficient to guard him against the jesuitical machinations of the state; for what vice and bribery could not influence, was perpetrated by poison." This heinous crime, so formally averred against the enemies of Marvell, may have been committed by "some person or persons unknown;" but, as not a tittle of evidence is adduced or indicated by the zealous biographer in support of the charge--Query, had it any foundation in fact? In the court, and out of the court, the anti-popish, anti-prelatical Puritan had enemies numerous and bitter enough; but is there really any other ground for the abominable imputation of foul play alluded to, beyond his actually sudden death? Is the hypothesis of poison coeval with the date of Marvell's demise? If so, was there any official inquiry--any "crowner's quest?" Surely his admiring compatriots on the banks of the Humber did not at once quietly sit down with the conviction, that thus "fell one of the first characters of this kingdom or of any other."
H.
Anonymous Pamphlet by Dr. Wallis (Vol. vii., p. 403.).--Will MR. CROSSLEY have the kindness to give the title of the anonymous pamphlet which, he informs us, was published by Dr. John Wallis {477} in defence of the Oxford decree of 1695, on the subject of the Trinity?
TYRO.
Dublin.
Mrs. Cobb's Diary.--Can any of your readers give me any information as to the following book, Extracts from the Diary and Letters of Mrs. Mary Cobb: London, printed by C. and R. Baldwin, 1805, 8vo., pp. 324.; said to be privately printed?
JOHN MARTIN.
Roxfield, Bedfordshire.
Compass Flower.--
"Look at this delicate flower that lifts its head from the meadow-- See how its leaves all point to the north, as true as the magnet; It is the compass flower, that the finger of God has suspended Here on its fragile stalk, to direct the traveller's journey Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the desert." Evangeline,
Part II. IV. line 140., &c.
Where can I find a description of this flower, and what is its scientific name?
In Abercrombie's Intellectual Powers, p. 49. edit. 1846, I find the following passage:
"The American hunter finds his way in the trackless forests by attention to minute appearances in the trees, which indicate to him the points of the compass."
Can any one tell me what these "minute appearances" are?
A. H. BATTIER.
East Sheen, Surrey.
Nuns of the Hotel Dieu.--What is the religions habit of the nuns at the hospital of the Hotel Dieu in Paris at the present day?
M. L.
Purlieu.--Some of your correspondents seem afraid that an attempt to repair the deficiencies of our English dictionaries, by research into disputed etymologies in "N. & Q.," would tend to produce too much and too tedious discussion, and fill its space too much. Could this, at least, not be done without much objection? Could we not co-operate in finding the earliest known mention of words, and thus perhaps trace the occasion and manner of their introduction?
At any rate, this word purlieu is certainly in want of some examination. Johnson has adopted the wretched etymology of pur, Fr. for pure, and lieu, Fr. for place; and he defines it as a place on the outskirts of a forest free of wood.
The earliest record in which this word occurs, so far as I have seen, is in an act of Edward III., quoted by Manwood, and it is there spelt puraley; and it relates to the disafforested parts which several preceding kings permitted to be detached from their royal forests.
Might I ask if any of your correspondents find an earlier use of the word; and can it be gifted with a probable paternity?
The tracing of the earliest known mention of disputed words is a task capable of being finished, and might perhaps be attended, in many cases, with happy results. It would rid us probably of many puerilities which degrade our current dictionaries.
M. C. E.
Jennings Family.--Some time since I requested as a great favour that your correspondent PERCURIOSUS would kindly inform me where I could get a sight of the Spoure MSS. I repeat that I should feel greatly obliged if he would do so: and as this is of no public interest, I send postage envelope, in the event of PERCURIOSUS obliging me with the desired information.
J. JENNINGS-G.
Latimer's Brothers-in-Law.--In Bishop Latimer's first sermon, preached before King Edward VI., we find the quaint martyr-bishop magnifying the paternal prudence for having suitably "married his sisters with five pounds, or twenty nobles, apiece;" but neither the editors of the sermon, nor the writers of several