Notes and Queries, Number 27, May 4, 1850 | Page 3

sixth volume of Churchill's _Voyages_, "The Mosquito Indian and his Golden River, being a familiar Description of the Mosquito Kingdom, &c., written in or about the Year 1699 by M.W.," from which Southey drew some touches of Indian manners for his "Madoc," speaks of another King Jeremy, son of the previous one; who, it is said, esteemed himself a subject of the King of England, and had visited the Duke of Albemarle in Jamaica. His father had been carried to England, and received from the King of England a crown and commission. The writer of this account says that the Mosquito Indians generally esteem themselves English:--
"And, indeed, they are extremely courteous to all Englishmen, esteeming themselves to be such, although some Jamaica men have very much abused them."
I will conclude this communication, whose length will I hope be excused for the newness of the subject, {427} by an amusing passage of a speech of Governor Johnstone in a debate in the House of Commons on the Mosquito country in 1777:--
"I see the noble lord [Lord North] now collects his knowledge by piecemeal from those about him. While my hon. friend [some one was whispering Lord North] now whispers the noble lord, will he also tell him, and the more aged gentlemen of the House, before we yield up our right to the Mosquito shore, that it is from thence we receive the greatest part of our delicious turtle? May I tell the younger part, before they give their consent, that it is from thence comes the sarsaparilla to purify our blood?"--_Parl. Hist._ vol. xix. p. 54.
C.
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NOTES ON BACON AND JEREMY TAYLOR.
In his essay "On Delays," Bacon quotes a "common verse" to this effect:--"Occasion turneth a bald noddle after she hath presented her locks in front, and no hold taken." As no reference is given, some readers may be glad to see the original, which occurs in an epigram on [Greek: Kairos] (Brunck's _Analecta_, ii. 49.; Posidippi Epigr. 13. in Jacob's _Anthol._ ii. 49.).
[Greek: Hae de komae, ti kat' opsin; hupantiasanti labesthai, nae Dia. Taxopithen d' eis ti phalakra pelei; Ton gar apax ptaenoisi parathrexanta me possin outis eth' himeiron draxetai exopithen.]
In Jermey Taylor's Life of Christ (Pref. § 29. p. 23. Eden's edition), it is said that Mela and Solinus report of the Thracians that they believed in the resurrection of the dead. That passage of Mela referred to is, l. ii. c. ii. § 3., where see Tzschucke.
In the same work (Pref. § 20. p. 17.), "?lian tells us of a nation who had a law binding them to beat their parents to death with clubs when they lived to a decrepit age." See ?lian, _Var. Hist._ iv. 1. p. 330. Gronov., who, however, says nothing of clubs.
In the next sentence, the statement, "the Persian magi mingled with their mothers and all their nearest relatives," is from Xanthus (Fragm. 28., Didot), apud Clem. Alexandr. (Strom. iii. p. 431 A.). See Jacob's _Lect. Stob._ p. 144.; Bahr, _On Herodotus_, iii. 31.
In the same work (
Part I. sect. viii. § 5. note _n_, p. 174.) is a
quotation from Seneca, "O quam contempta res est homo, nisi super humana se erexerit!" which is plainly the original of the lines of Daniel, so often quoted by Coleridge ("Epistle to the Countess of Cumberland"):--
"Unless above himself he can Erect himself, now mean a thing is man!"
Perhaps some of your readers can supply the reference to the passage in Seneca; which is wanting in Mr. Eden's edition.
In
Part III. sect. xv. § 19. p. 694. note _a_, of the _Life of Christ_,
is a quotation from Strabo, lib. xv. _Add._ p. 713., Casaub.
As the two great writers on whom I have made these notes are now in course of publication, any notes which your correspondents can furnish upon them cannot fail to be welcome. Milton also, and Pope, are in the hands of competent editors, who, doubtless, would be glad to have their work rendered more complete through the medium of "NOTES AND QUERIES."
J.E.B. MAYOR
Marlborough Coll., April 8.
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DUKE OF MONMOUTH'S CORRESPONDENCE.
Thomas Vernon, author of _Vernon's Reports_, was in early life private secretary to the Duke of Monouth, and is supposed to have had a pretty large collection of Monmouth's correspondence. Vernon settled himself at Hanbury Hall, in Worcestershire, where he built a fine house, and left a large estate. In course of time this passed to an heiress, who married Mr. Cecil (the Earl of Exeter of Alfred Tennyson), and was divorced from him. Lord Exeter sold or carried away the fine library, family plate, and nearly everything curious or valuable that was not an heirloom in the Vernon family. He laid waste the extensive gardens, and sold the elaborate iron gates, which now adorn the avenue to Mere