Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851 | Page 5

and corrected copy, he might perhaps discover some reference to the author.
J. M. G.
Worcester, Jan. 1851.
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FOLK LORE.
Lammer Beads (Vol. iii. p. 84.).--If L. M. M. R. had taken the trouble to consult Jamieson's Etymological Dictionary,--that rich storehouse of curious information, not merely in relation to the language, but to the manners and customs, and the superstitions of North Britain,--he would have found interesting notices connected with his inquiry. See the word LAMMER, and the same in the Supplement. We might accept, without a moment's hesitation, the suggestion of a learned friend of Dr. Jamieson's, deriving Lammer from the French, l'ambre, were it not that Kilian gives us Teut. Lamertyn-steen, succinum. In Anglo-Saxon times it was called Eolhsand (Gloss. ?lfr.), and appears to have been esteemed in Britain from a very early period. Amongst antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon age, beads of amber are of very frequent occurrence. Douglas has collected some interesting notes regarding this substance, in his Nenia, p. 9. It were needless to cite the frequent mention of precularia, or Paternosters, of amber, occurring in inventories. The Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, purchased a most costly chaplet from a Parisian jeweller, in 1431, described as "une patenostres à signeaux d'or et d'ambre musquet." (Leber, Inventaires, p. 235.) The description "de alba awmbre," as in the enumeration of strings of beads appended to the shrine of S^r William, at York Minster, may have been in distinction from jet, to which, as well as to amber, certain virtuous or talismanic properties were attributed. There were, however, several kinds of amber,--succinum rubrum, fulvum, &c. The learned professor of Copenhagen, Olaus Worm, alludes to the popular notions and superstitious use of amber--
"Foris in collo gestatum, contra fascinationes et nocturna terriculamenta pueros tueri volunt; capitis etiam destillationibus, et tonsillarum ac faucium vitiis resistere, oculorum fluxus et ophthalmias curare."
By his account it would seem to have been received as a panacea, sovereign for asthma, dropsy, toothache, and a multitude of diseases.
"In summa (he concludes) Balsami instar est, calorem nativum roborans et morborum insultibus resistens."--Museum Wormianum, p. 32.
Bartholomaeus Glanvilla, in his work, De Proprietatibus Rerum, has not overlooked the properties of amber, which he seems to regard as a kind of jet (book xvi., c. xlix.).
"Gette, hyght Gagates, and is a boystous stone, and never the les it is precious."
He describes it as most abundant and of best quality in Britain of two kinds, yellow and black; it drives away adders,--
"Is contrary to fendes,--helpeth for fantasies and ayenste vexacions of fendis by night.--And so, if so boystus a stone dothe so great wonders, none shuld be dispisid for foule colour without, while the vertu that is within is unknowe." (Translation by Trevisa.)
ALBERT WAY.
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ON CATALOGUES OF BOOKS.
A series of notes on the utility of printed catalogues of public libraries may seem to be a superfluity. It may be said, Who ever denied it? Relying on a official document, I can assert that it has been denied--in defiance of common sense, and the experience of two hundred and fifty years!
At such a time, it behoves every lover of literature to declare himself, and to furnish his quota of facts or arguments corrective of this upstart paradox. It is under the influence of that sentiment that I submit, for consideration in the proper quarter, some short extracts from my bibliographic portfolios.
BOLTON CORNEY.
"The forwardness of your CATALOGUE [of the public library at Oxford] is very good tidings.... I would intreat you to meditate upon it, how it may be performed to both our credits and contents."--Sir Thomas BODLEY to Tho. James, c. 1604.
Habes, benigne lector, catalogum librorum, eo ordine dispositum, quo in celeberrima Oxoniensi bibliotheca collocantur; opus diu multumque desideratum, et jam tandem editum."--Thomas JAMES, 1605.
"Quamprimum benignis academicorum suffragiis in bibliothecarium electus essem, viderémque justum bibliothec? public? catalogum ab omnibus desiderari, ego ut gratiis litatum irem, me protinùs accinxi ad conficiendum proprio marte novum catalogum."--Thomas HYDE, 1674.
"The general use of catalogues of [of books], and the esteem they are in at present, is so well known, that it were to waste paper to expatiate on it."--Gerard LANGBAINE, 1688.
"Quelles obligations la république des lettres n'a-t-elle pas aux Anglais, d'avoir donné les catalogues des livres que renferment leurs bibliothèques! Celui d'Oxford est d'une utilité reconnue, par le grand nombre de livres qu'il contient, et par l'ordre alphabétique qu'on leur a donné."--JOURDAN, 1739.
Catalogues of books are of great use in literary pursuits.... We mean not here to enter into all the conveniencies of a more improved catalogue, for it would require a volume to display them."--William OLDYS, 1745.
"Solebat [sc. Ruhnkenius] haud exiguam subseciv? oper? partem tribuere perlegendis catalogis librorum, sive per auctiones divendendorum, sive in bibliothecis publicis servatorum; unde factum est, ut rariorum cognitionem librorum, jam in Bergeri disciplina perceptam, continuo augeret."--Dan. WYTTENBACH, 1799.
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