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

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 pr?ludiis utuntur, ad dirum illud suum propinandi certamen. _Ae maxime quidem commune est proponia absynthites_, quod vim habet stomachum corroborandi et extenuandi, expellendique excrementa qu? in eo continentur. Hoc fere propomate potatores hodie maxime ab initio coen? utuntur ceu pharmaco cum hestern?, atque pr?terit?, tum futur? ebrietatis, atque crapul?.... _amarissim? sunt potiones medicat?_, quibus tandem stomachi cruditates immoderato cibo potuque collectas expurgundi cause uti coguntur."--Stuckius, _Antiquitat? 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, &c., not always very satisfactorily or very intelligently, but still, often amusingly and ingeniously. _The British Apollo: containing two thousand Answers to curious Questions in most Arts and Sciences, serious, comical, and humourous_, the fourth edition of which I have now before me, indulges in answering such questions as these: "How old was Adam when Eve was created?--Is it lawful to eat black pudding?--Whether the moon in Ireland is like the moon in England? Where is hell situated? Do cocks lay eggs?" &c. In answer to the question, "Why is gaping catching?"