Notes and Queries, Number 201, September 3, 1853 | Page 3

"the six British regiments of infantry" on the "ever memorable 1st August, 1759," and a note affixed states that "Book the Second" will be published on 1st January, and "Book the Third" on 1st of August.
But the public, as Swinney says, were kept "in suspense" almost three years for the second book, which was not published until 1772; and in the dedication of this second book, also to Earl Waldegrave, Swinney says:
"Doubtless many of my subscribers have thought me very unmindful of the promise I made them in my printed proposal, in which I undertook to publish my poem out of hand. Ill health has been the sole cause of my disappointing their expectations. A fever of the nerves ... for these four years, has rendered me incapable.... In my original proposals I undertook to publish this work in two books. [In the introduction he says, as I have just quoted, one book.] Poetical {215} matter hath increased upon me to such a degree, in the genial climate of Languedoc, as to have enabled me to compose several more books on this interesting subject, all which I purpose presenting my subscribers with at the original price of half a guinea.... Many months ago this Second Book was printed off; but on my arrival in town from Montauban (whither I purpose to return), I found there were so many faults and blunders in it throughout, that I was under the necessity of condemning five hundred copies to the inglorious purpose of defending pye bottoms from the dust of an oven.... Profit, my Lord, has not been my motive for publishing: if it had, I should be egregiously disappointed, for instead of gaining I shall be a considerable loser by the publication; and yet many of my subscribers have given me four, five, and six times over and above the subscription-price for my Poem. How even the remaining books will see the light must depend entirely upon my pecuniary, not my poetical abilities. The work is well nigh completed; but not one solitary brother have I throughout the airy regions of Grub Street who is poorer than I. It is not impossible, however, but when some of my partial friends shall know this, they may enable me by their bounty to publish out of hand."
This leads me to doubt whether the third book was ever published, for I think the most "partial" of his friends--those who had given "four, five, and six times over and above the subscription price"--must have had enough in two books. If it were not published, it is a curious fact that, in a poem called The Battle of Minden, the battle of Minden is not mentioned; though not more extraordinary perhaps than the omissions of the "Explanation of the Apocalypse" in his previous work.
I come now to the question, Why did Junius speak so passionately and disrespectfully of Swinney, and what are the probabilities that Swinney had never before (July) 1769 spoken to Lord G. Sackville? These I must defer till next week.
T. S. J.
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MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION IN PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL.
The following Notes occur on a fly-leaf at the end of a copy of Gunton's History of Peterborough Cathedral, and appear to have been written soon after that book was printed:
"Among other things omitted in this history, I cannot but take notice of one ancient inscription upon a tomb in y^e body of the church, written in old Saxon letters, as followeth:
[Cross] 'WS : KI : PAR : CI : PASSEZ : PVR : LE : ALME : ESTRAVNGE : DE : WATERVILLE : PRIEZ.'
"This inscription may seem to challenge some relation to William de Waterville, one of the abbots of this church. (See p. 23.)"
"On Sennour Gascelin de Marrham's tomb, mentioned p. 94., these letters seem to be still legible:
'CI : GIST : EDOVN : GASCELIN : SENNOVR : DE MARRHAM : IADIS : DE : RI : ALM.. ^{DI} EV EST MERCIS : PATER : NOSTER.'"
"In St. Oswald's Chapel, on y^e ground round the verge of a stone:
'HIC IACET COR.... ROBERTI DE SVTTON ABBATIS ISTIVS MONASTERII CVIVS ANIMA REQVIESCAT IN PACE. AMEN.'"
"In y^e churchyard is this inscription:
[Cross] 'A?A IOANNIS DE S[=C]O IVONE QVO[=A] P[IO]RIS PMA [=A] M [=D]IIII PACE REQVIESCAT. AMEN.'
"This may probably relate to Ivo, sub-prior of this monastery, whose anniversary was observed in y^e Kalends of March. (See page 324. of this book.)"
"In y^e churchyard:
'Joannes Pocklington, S. S. Theologi? doctor, obiit Nov. 14, A. D^i. 1642.'
'Anne Pocklington, 1655.'
'Mary, y^e wife of John Towers, late Lord Bp. of Peterborough, dyed Nov. 14, A.D. 1672.'
'Quod mori potuit pr?stantissim? foemin? Compton Emery Fili? Joannis Towers S. T. P. Hujus Ecclesi? quondam Episcopi Vidu? Roberti Rowell LL. D. Nec non charissim? conjugis Richardi Emery Gen: In hoc tumulo depositum: Feb. 4. A^o ?tatis 54, A^o