Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850 | Page 2

renders that word by vinegar. What is meant, however, is
Absinthites or Wormwood wine, a nauseously bitter medicament then
much in use; and this being evidently {242} the bitter potion of Eysell
in the poet's sonnet, was certainly the nauseous draught proposed to be
taken by Hamlet among the other extravagant feats as tokens of love.
The following extracts will show that in the poet's age this nauseous
bitter potion was in frequent use medicinally.
"ABSINTHIUM, [Greek: apsinthion, aspinthion], Comicis, ab insigni
amarore quo bibeates illud aversantur."-_Junius, Nomenclator ap.
Nicot_.
"ABSINTHITES, wormwood wine.--_Hutton's Dict_.
"Hujus modi autem propomatum hodie apud Christianos quoque
_maximus est et frequentissimus usus_, quibus potatores maximi ceu
proemiis quibusdam atque præludiis utuntur, ad dirum illud suum
propinandi certamen. _Ae maxime quidem commune est proponia
absynthites_, quod vim habet stomachum corroborandi et extenuandi,
expellendique excrementa quæ in eo continentur. Hoc fere propomate
potatores hodie maxime ab initio coenæ utuntur ceu pharmaco cum
hesternæ, atque præteritæ, tum futuræ ebrietatis, atque crapulæ....
_amarissimæ sunt potiones medicatæ_, quibus tandem stomachi
cruditates immoderato cibo potuque collectas expurgundi cause uti
coguntur."--Stuckius, _Antiquitatæ Corviralium. Tiguri_, 1582, fol.
327.
Of the two latest editors, Mr. Knight decides for the _river_, and Mr.
Collier does not decide at all. Our northern neighbours think us almost
as much deficient in philological illustration as in enlarged
philosophical criticism on the poet, in which they claim to have shown
us the way.
S.W. SINGER.
Mickleham, Aug. 1850.
* * * * *
AUTHORS OF THE ROLLIAD.
To the list of subjects and authors in this unrivalled volume,
communicated by LORD BRAYBROOKE (Vol. ii., p. 194.), I would
add that No. XXI. Probationary Odes (which is unmarked in the
Sunning-hill Park copy) was written by Dr. Laurence: so also were Nos.
XIII. and XIV., of which LORD BRAYBROOKE speaks doubtfully.

My authority is the note in the correspondence of Burke and Laurence
published in 1827, page 21. The other names all agree with my own
copy, marked by the late Mr. A. Chalmers.
In order to render the account of the work complete, I would add the
following list of writers of the Political Miscellanies. Those marked
with an asterisk are said "not to be from the club:"--
"* Probationary Ode Extraordinary, by Mason.
The Statesmen, an Eclogue. Read.
Rondeau to the Right Honourable W. Eden. Dr. Laurence.
Epigrams from the Club. Miscellaneous.
The Delavaliad. Dr. Laurence.
This is the House that George built. Richardson.
Epigrams by Sir Cecil Wray. Tickell and Richardson.
Lord Graham's Diary, not marked.
* Extracts from 2nd Vol. of Lord Mulgrave's Essays.
* Anecdotes of Mr. Pitt.
Letter from a New Member.
* Political Receipt Book, &c.
* Hints from Dr. Pretyman.
A tale 'at Brookes's once,' &c. Richardson.
Dialogue 'Donec Gratus eram Tibi.' Lord J. Townshend.
Pretymaniana, principally by Tickell and Richardson.
Foreign Epigrams, the same and Dr. Laurence.
* Advertisement Extraordinary.
Vive le Scrutiny. Bate Dudley.
* Paragraph Office, Ivy Lane.
* Pitt and Pinetti.
* New Abstract of the Budget for 1784.
Theatrical Intelligence Extraordinary. Richardson.
The Westminster Guide (unknown).
Part II. (unknown).
Inscription for the Duke of Richmond's Bust (unknown).
Epigram, 'Who shall expect,' &c. Richardson.
A New Ballad, 'Billy Eden.' Tickell and Richardson.

Epigrams on Sir Elijah Impey, and by Mr. Wilberforce (unknown).
A Proclamation, by Richardson.
* Original Letter to Corbett.
* Congratulatory Ode to Right Hon. C. Jenkinson.
* Ode to Sir Elijah Impey.
* Song.
* A New Song, 'Billy's Budget.'
* Epigrams.
* Ministerial Undoubted Facts (unknown).
Journal of the Right Hon. Hen. Dundas. From the Club. Miscellaneous.
Incantation. Fitzpatrick.
Translations of Lord Belgrave's Quotations. From the Club.
Miscellaneous."
Some of these minor contributions were from the pen of O'Beirne,
afterwards Bishop of Meath.
Tickell should be joined with Lord John Townshend in "Jekyll." The
former contributed the lines parodied from Pope.
In reply to LORD BRAYBROOKE'S Query, Moore, in his _Life of
Sheridan_, speaks of Lord John Townshend as the only survivor of
"this confederacy of wits:" so that, if he is correct, the author of
"Margaret Nicholson" (Adair) cannot be now living.
J.H.M.
Bath.

* * * * *
NOTES AND QUERIES.
"There is nothing new under the sun," quoth the Preacher; and such
must be said of "NOTES AND QUERIES." Your contributor M. (Vol.
ii, p. 194.) has drawn attention to the _Weekly Oracle_, which in 1736
gave forth its responses to the inquiring public; but, as he intimates,
many similar periodicals might be instanced. Thus, we have _Memoirs
for the Ingenious_, 1693, 4to., edited by I. de la Crose; _Memoirs for
the Curious_, 1701, 4to.; _The Athenian Oracle_, 1704, 8vo.; _The
Delphick Oracle_, {243} 1720, 8vo.; _The British Apollo_, 1740,
12mo.; with several others of less note. The three last quoted answer
many singular questions in theology, law, medicine, physics, natural
history, popular superstitions,