Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851 | Page 8

found; and whether such a person as M. L. Alph.
Cahagnet is living in Paris or elsewhere, whether he is a doctor or
pharmacien, what his age may be, and whether the persons whose
letters are given in his book, Arcanes de la Vie future dévoilés, are real
or imaginary beings, they will greatly comfort
ENGASTRIMYTHUS.
Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland.--Can any of your readers refer me
to any printed or manuscript account of the appointment of Roman
Catholic bishops in Ireland by the Stuart family subsequent to the death
of James II., containing names, dates, &c.?
DRUMLETHGLAS.
Derivation of the Word Fib.--Can any of your readers suggest a proper
derivation of this word? Old Bailey, to whom a reference would
occasionally save many doubts and inquiries, connects it with "fable."
Johnson says nothing as to the etymology, but explains it as "a cant
word among children;" while, at the same time, he inserts it on the
authority of Pope and Arbuthnot.
In reading the works of that very learned and instructive author, Samuel
Werenfels, I was struck with a passage in his Diatribe de Meteoris, p.
272. (Amstel. Wetstein, 1702), which seemed to furnish a probable
solution of the question:--"Propter abusum nominis Phoebi evenit, ut
omnes qui, altius in oratione, quam decet, se extollere volunt, Gallis
hodiernis [Greek: phoibologein] Phoebum loqui, Parler Phebus,
dicantur." So far as the sound is concerned, this seems a nearer
approximation to "fib" than the word "fable." The sense, too, is not very

remote from the accepted one of "talking fibs." Query, as to this
conjecture?
C. H. P.
Brighton, Feb. 10. 1851.
Thomas May, the Author of the Supplement to Lucan.--Who was this
Thomas May? To an Elzevir edition of Lucan, 1658, Amsterdam,
"accuranto Cornelio Schrevelio," there is added "Supplementum Lucani
Libri Septem; authore Thoma Maio, Anglo." In the preface it is stated,
"Supplementum Lucani ab Anglo quodam antehâc seorsim editum, et
huic materiæ aptissimum adjunximus, ne quid esset quod hic
desideraretur." In the fourth book of this Supplement, Cato is
represented as soliloquising before his death as follows:--
"Quam diversa, inquit, restant post funera sortes! Credo equidem,
divine Plato, te dogmata vera Hæc ipsum docuisse Deum. Deus ipse
sequendam (Aut Natura homines ratioque innata fefellit) Proposuit
virtutem, et præmia debita justis Hæc quonian justos injusta potentia
fraudat Sæpius in terris, et gens humana rebellat Solvere post mortem
justissimus ipse tenetur."
The famous soliloquy in Addison's Cato seems to resemble this, in its
general tone of thought. In a former passage occur these lines:--
"Solatia sola hæc, Quod meliore frui post mortem lumine sperat.
Immortalem animam spes hæc probat."
The idea is similar to that contained in--
"Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after
immortality?"
Addison seems to me to have had May's description of Cato's death in
his mind, when he wrote the soliloquy.
J. H. L.

Bunting's Irish Melodies.--This admirable musical scholar many years
since promised a new edition of the first two volumes of his Irish Airs.
Is there any hope of this being soon accomplished?
GEORGE STEPHENS.
Stockholm.
Rudbeck, Campi Elysii.--A copy of this work is said to exist in
Sherard's[6] Collection, in the Botanical Garden, Oxford. It must have
been acquired before 1797. (See Bibliotheca Banksiana, iii. 67.)
Vol. I.--The title and some following leaves are written. Does any note
exist as to who copied these leaves, or when, or where?
Is any name of any former owner written on the book-back, title, or
elsewhere; or is it known when it was purchased, or at what price?
{168} Does any library-mark, auction-number, or other identifying
signature occur?
Is it quite complete at the end, or is anything missing after page 224.?
Does the whole consist of figures, or have some leaves an introduction,
text, or corrections, &c.?
Vol. II.--Does anything in this volume illustrate any of the above
questions?
A SWEDISH BIBLIOGNOST.
Stockholm.
[Footnote 6: Sherard, 1738.]
Prince of Wales' Motto (Vol. iii., p. 106.).--The Query of EFFESSA is
one of great interest to us "Taffies," but I wish to add the following to it.
Is there any foundation for the idea, which we so strenuously maintain,
that "Ich Dien" is a misspelled edition of "Eich Dyn," "Behold the

man:" and that the motto was bestowed on Edward of Carnarvon in
consequence of his royal father having learned these two Welsh words,
and made use of them when he presented his infant to the assembled
tribes as a prince who could "speak no word of English?"
SELEUCUS.
Borrow's Danish Ballads.--The singular author of Lavengro, Mr. Geo.
Borrow, some years ago published certain translations of Danish or
other northern ballads, with which I have never been able to meet. Can
you or any of your readers furnish me with the title of the book and
publisher's name?
My