Notes and Queries, Number 33, June 15, 1850

In Short

This installment of a weekly Victorian periodical functions as an open medium of correspondence where scholars, clergarians, and curious readers exchange information on obscure history, folklore, etymology, and literature. Rather than presenting a continuous narrative, the issue captures a dynamic intellectual marketplace where readers submit queries, offer corrections, and share rare textual discoveries. From analyzing regional charms for physical ailments to debating the textual history of rare Renaissance volumes and tracking early descriptions of natural history, the publication serves as an enduring testament to nineteenth-century antiquarian enthusiasm and collaborative scholarship.

The Story

The issue unfolds as an open-ended dialogue among Victorian contributors who write in to solve historical puzzles, correct literary misattributions, and preserve vanishing local traditions. It opens with an examination of theological and philosophical letters involving Lord Shaftesbury, Dr. Whichcote, and John Locke. Contributor S. W. Singer traces the history of these published sermons and letters, weighing Shaftesbury's critique of Locke's rejection of innate ideas and noting how these theological writings passed through various hands and printings over the decades.

Following this heavy intellectual inquiry, the issue shifts tone to present a verse poem titled "The Rebel." The poem portrays an uncompromising, fiery figure who scorns the gentle life of pastoral shepherds to embrace the sword, warfare, and an relentless quest for personal distinction above all others. A brief editorial query appended to the poem asks for the definition of archaic terms like "hodipeke," demonstrating the issue's constant interplay between creative text and immediate analytical scrutiny.

The discourse then turns toward natural history and ancient commentary. A contributor writing under the initial "L." examines the historical record regarding the hippopotamus. Tracing accounts from Herodotus and Aristotle down through Renaissance surgeons, the writer considers how ancient descriptions balanced accurate observations of teeth with errors regarding the animal's physical proportions, ultimately asking whether a live specimen has resided in Europe since Roman antiquity prior to the recent arrival of one at the Zoological Gardens.

Local customs and folk medicine form the next major movement of the issue. A detailed collection of folklore from South Northamptonshire outlines the practice of "charming" practiced by rural healers. The narrative documents specific regional remedies for conditions ranging from nosebleeds to cramp and toothache. These accounts highlight the rigid rules governing these traditional rituals—such as prohibition against saying "please" or "thank you," the use of transfixed toads in small bags around the neck, and the strategic positioning of shoes to mimic the sign of the cross.

The remaining portion of the issue transitions into an array of rapid-fire queries and scholarly replies. Contributors search for lost manuscripts, such as the Spanish writings of Protestant exiles or Sir George Buc's poetry, while others analyze the origins of administrative terms like "imprest" and "debenture." The issue closes with publishing updates, notices of upcoming antiquarian sales, and advertisements for contemporary reference volumes, bringing its sprawling catalog of curiosity to a practical end.

How It Unfolds

The philosophical opening The issue begins with a detailed investigation into the private letters and sermons of Dr. Whichcote and Lord Shaftesbury, outlining how their theological debates on Locke and innate ideas moved through eighteenth-century presses.

The rebel's declaration A dramatic verse submission depicts a warrior rejecting soft pastoral life in favor of the trumpet-blast, blood, and violent pursuit of fame, followed immediately by a quick textual query regarding archaic words in the poem.

Tracking the river horse A scholarly contributor evaluates classical and biblical references to the hippopotamus, comparing Herodotus's early descriptions with Renaissance findings and asking about live sightings in Europe.

Documenting rural charms An extensive record of South Northamptonshire folklore details local faith-healing practices, listing traditional remedies that employ amulets, cramp-bones, and secret verbal formulas for everyday ailments.

Unraveling literary mysteries Correspondents submit queries searching for lost Spanish Protestant manuscripts from the seventeenth century and missing biographical details concerning Renaissance figures like Sir George Buc.

Explaining words and customs A series of brief replies addresses diverse topics, from the biblical origin of the phrase "burial of an ass" to Eton slang and the historical reasons why Durham lacked parliamentary representation prior to 1673.

The antiquarian marketplace The issue concludes with news on public book sales, announcements of upcoming archæological meetings, and lists of recent reference works available from London booksellers.

The People

S. W. Singer A precise literary researcher who seeks to clarify the publication history of Dr. Whichcote's sermons and Lord Shaftesbury's letters. He wants to document the exact historical transmission of these texts and highlight Shaftesbury's early critiques of John Locke's philosophy.

J. Sansom A meticulous bibliographer and scholar based in Oxford who tracks down rare and counterfeit printings. He searches for an elusive 1723 Ratisbon counterfeit edition of a prohibited Roman Catholic index, driven by a desire to locate rare volumes missing from public libraries.

Thomas Corser A clergyman and literary collector inquiring into the life and true birthplace of the poet Sir George Buc. He analyzes manuscript lines and old Chancery suits to challenge existing biographical claims and establish an accurate record of Buc's origin and career.

The Northamptonshire Charmers Traditional village healers, represented notably by a ninety-year-old woman near Brackley who inherited her secret healing formulas from her mother. These practitioners seek to cure local ailments without accepting money, keeping their spoken spells strictly secret lest the magic lose its efficacy.

In Its Own Voice

"'Twas Mr. Locke that struck the home blow, (for Hobbes' character and base slavish principles of government took off the poison of his philosophy), struck at all fundamentals, threw all order and virtue out of the world..."

This observation from Lord Shaftesbury's letters highlights the intense philosophical friction surrounding early eighteenth-century theories of the human mind.

"I'll have no doves--not I-- Their softness is disgrace; I love the Eagle's lightning eye, That stares in Phæbus' face."

These lines from the poem "The Rebel" capture the verse's defiant tone as its speaker rejects peaceful imagery in favor of wild ambition.

"A small quantity of hair is taken frown the nape of the child's neck, rolled up in a piece of meat, and given to a dog, in the firm belief that the disease thereby becomes transferred to the animal."

This entry from the Northamptonshire folk lore notes illustrates the literal, sympathetic mechanisms underlying Victorian rural medical belief.

What It's Really About

Beneath its fragmented collection of inquiries and notes, the issue reflects a collective effort to organize, preserve, and catalog human knowledge. It demonstrates the transition between centuries-old oral traditions and modern systematic scholarship. By placing high-minded theological debates alongside superstitious folk cures for toothaches and cramp, the publication reveals how mid-nineteenth-century intellectuals viewed all information as worthy of recording. The underlying argument of the enterprise is that true understanding relies on open, public collaboration—that no single scholar holds all the answers, but an interconnected network of curious observers can successfully trace the history of a word, a manuscript, or a belief.

Why Read It Today

This publication offers a captivating, unvarnished window into the Victorian mind at work. Rather than reading a polished history book, the reader sits directly with nineteenth-century researchers as they debate real-time discoveries, swap historical gossip, and hunt for missing manuscripts. It feels remarkably like browsing an early, paper version of an online discussion board or collective knowledge wiki, filled with personality, sudden shifts in topic, and polite academic disputes.

The primary hurdle for modern readers lies in its dense, episodic structure and its reliance on untranslated Latin phrases, biblical references, and niche bibliographical details. Because it assumes a high level of classical education, the prose occasionally feels obscure. However, these difficulties are far outweighed by the delightful variety of the entries. Readers who enjoy odd historical tidbits, rural folk traditions, literary detective work, and the history of printing will find this issue an endlessly entertaining snapshot of Victorian intellectual curiosity.