Notes and Queries, Number 42, August 17, 1850 | Page 4

through
Bornholm, of which the eastern part is called the Cwen or Serminde, or
Samatian Sea.

Be that as it may, the above is one of a series of deductions by which I
am prepared to prove, that as the land geography of Germany by Alfred
is restricted to the valleys of the Weichsel (Wisle), the Oder, the Elbe,
and the Weser, so the sea voyages are confined to the debouchures of
such of these rivers as flow into the Baltic. This would give a combined
action of purpose to both well suited to the genius of the monarch and
the necessities of an infant trade, requiring to be made acquainted with
coasts and countries accessible to their rude navigation and limited
commercial enterprise. So prudent a monarch would never have
thought of noting down, for the instruction and guidance of his subjects
and posterity, the account of a voyage which even now, after an
interval of ten centuries of continued nautical improvements, and since
the discovery of the compass, is not unattended with danger, nor
accomplished in less than a year's time wasted.
WILLIAM BELL, Phil. Dr.
British Archeological Association.
* * * * *
REMARKABLE PROPOSITION CONCERNING IRELAND.
The following passage, which contains a curious proposition relating to
Ireland, will probably be new and interesting to many readers of
"NOTES AND QUERIES," since the book from which I extract it is a
scarce one, and not often read. Among the many various schemes that
have of late been propounded for the improvement of our sister country,
this is perhaps not the least remarkable, and shows that the _questio
vexata_, "What is to be done with Ireland?" is one of two centuries'
standing. James Harrington, in his _Oceana, the Introduction_, {180}
(pp. 35, 36., Toland's Edition, 1700), speaking of Ireland under the
name of Panopea, says,--
"Panopea, the soft Mother of a slothful and pusillanimous people, is a
neighbor Iland, antiently subjected by the Arms of _Oceana_; since
almost depopulated for shaking the Yoke, and at length replanted with
a new Race. But (through what virtues of the Soil, or vice of the Air,
soever it be), they com still to degenerat. Wherfore seeing it is neither
likely to yield men fit for Arms, nor necessary it should; it had bin the
Interest of Oceana so to have dispos'd of this Province, being both rich
in the nature of the Soil, and full of commodious Ports for Trade, that it
might have bin order'd for the best in relation to her Purse, which, in

my opinion (if it had been thought upon in time), might have bin best
don by planting it with _Jews_, allowing them their own Rights and
Laws; for that would have brought then suddenly from all parts of the
World, and in sufficient numbers. And though the Jews be now
altogether for merchandize, yet in the Land of Canaan (except since
their exile, from whence they have not bin Landlords), they were
altogether for Agriculture, and there is no cause why a man should
doubt, but having a fruitful Country and excellent Ports too, they would
be good at both. Panopea well peopled, would be worth a matter of
four millions of dry rents; that is besides the advantage of the
Agriculture and Trade, which, with a Nation of that Industry, coms at
least to as much more. Wherfore Panopea being farm'd out to the Jews
and their Heirs for ever, for the pay of a provincial Army to protect
them during the term of seven years, and for two millions annual
Revenue from that time forward, besides the customs which would pay
the provincial Army, would have bin a bargain of such advantage both
to them and this Commonwealth, as is not to be found otherwise by
either. To receive the Jews after any other manner into a
Commonwealth, were to maim it; for they of all Nations never
incorporat, but taking up the room of a Limb, are no use or office to the
body, while they suck the nourishment which would sustain a natural
and useful member."
HENRY KERSLEY
Corpus Christi Hall, Maidstone.
* * * * *
NEWS.
A FEW OLD MATERIALS FOR ITS ELUCIDATION.
"_Novaum_, vulgo Nouvelle. Ugutio: '_Rumor, murmur, quod vulgo
dicitur Novum._' Occurit non semel in Epistolis Marini Sanuti. 'Novis
de Obitu Papæ auditis,' in Regesta Universitatis Paris, an. 1394,
_Spicileg. Acher._, tom vi. p. 60."
So far Ducange, who also refers to the following:
"Supervenerunt nobis Nova certa de morte, videlicet quorundam
Nobilium, nobis adhærentium, captorum per partem dieti Philippi in
Britannia, et de speciali Præcepto suo Parisiis ignominiosæ morti
traditorum; nec non de Strage, &c. &c."--Charta an. 1346, apud Rymer,
t. v. p. 497.

The derivation of this word has been so strenuously and ably discussed
by the contending