Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850

In Short

This publication is a single, sixteen-page weekly issue of a Victorian literary journal dedicated to public inquiry, academic exchange, and historical research. Scholars, clergymen, and amateur historians write in to solve obscure textual puzzles, debate etymologies, dispute local legends, and record historical anecdotes. The issue proceeds through structured sections: short scholarly notes, open queries, detailed replies, and notices of recent publications. It has endured as an irreplaceable window into early Victorian intellectual life, preserving mid-nineteenth-century antiquarian methodology, literary controversies, and the collaborative nature of period scholarship before the advent of modern reference networks.

The Story

The issue opens with detailed textual analysis of early modern literature, launching immediately into a debate regarding Shakespeare's obscure word choices in Hamlet. S.W. Singer scrutinizes the famously ambiguous phrase "drink up Eisell," reviewing previous editorial attempts to classify the phrase either as a river or a draught of vinegar. From Shakespearean philology, the textual notes shift to political history, recording a precise itemization of the authors who contributed to the eighteenth-century satirical work The Rolliad, attributing individual odes and epigrams to Dr. Laurence, Tickell, and Richardson based on archival correspondence.

The journal then moves from textual criticism to historical anecdotes and local folklore. A account details the preserved body of King James II, recorded directly from an eyewitness interview. Folk tradition is examined through the legend of Sir Richard Baker, where a contributor uses church monuments, genealogies, and property transfers to debunk a popular tale of "Bluebeard atrocities" as a simple misinterpretation of a red-gloved effigy. Further entries explore natural phenomena, such as a Kentish spring whose water flow traditionally predicted crop prices, and a printing error that transformed a line by the French poet Malherbe into a celebrated verse.

The Query section expands the field of inquiry, opening the floor to unanswered questions from readers across the country. Scholars request the precise patristic sources for Latin quotations in Bishop Andrewes's sermons, suggest the creation of a systematic lexicon of visual symbols on ancient monuments, and investigate the identity of "Honoria," the pseudonymous translator of Montaigne's essays. Readers ask about historical customs, such as the exposure of the breast in Elizabethan attire, and seek interpretations of Milton's mysterious "two-handed engine" in Lycidas. Tactical developments like the Prussian needle-gun are analyzed alongside heraldic rules and gruesome legal practices, such as the public display of miniature gibbets following a suicide in custody.

The final third of the issue provides answers to previously published questions. Legal historians argue over the origin and entitlement of the golden Collar of SS, debating whether it represents general knighthood or specific feudal allegiance to the House of Lancaster. Etymologists trace words like "alarm" to the Italian military cry all'arme, while local historians dispute whether Sir John Perrot died on the scaffold or in the Tower. The issue closes with publisher advertisements for classical textbooks, archæological works on Roman mosaics, and notices of upcoming sales.

How It Unfolds

The literary opening Scholars analyze complex textual puzzles, beginning with S.W. Singer's examination of Hamlet's challenge to Laertes at Ophelia's grave. The section continues with an attribution list of anonymous contributors to the satirical Rolliad.

Historical notes and lore Contributors present historical observations, including eyewitness accounts of King James II's remains and genealogical evidence disproving a murderous legend attached to Sir Richard Baker. Minor notes record printing errors in French poetry and early travel accounts to Jerusalem.

Open questions The journal opens its query pages to the public, accepting submissions on Latin quotations, architectural symbolism, Elizabethan fashion, and the range of newly invented military firearms like the needle-gun.

Debates and corrections Correspondents submit answers to earlier questions, launching a detailed debate over the legal right to wear the Collar of SS. Additional replies explore the etymology of everyday terms, the details of historical executions, and local church traditions.

Literary notices The issue concludes with publisher advertisements, announcements of archæological publications, notifications of upcoming book sales, and notices regarding organizational mergers between historical societies.

The People

• S.W. Singer: A meticulous textual scholar writing from Mickleham; seeks to settle long-standing disputes in Shakespearean philology through careful comparison of early editions and regional dialects.
• John Gough Nichols: An authoritative heraldic and historical scholar; aims to correct public misstatements regarding feudal titles and privileges, strongly opposing the claims of the Baronetage Committee regarding the Collar of SS.
• Pitman Jones: An inquisitive recorder of living memory residing in Exeter; seeks to preserve historical facts by interviewing aging witnesses, such as Mr. Fitz-Simons, regarding the fate of King James II's remains.
• Edward R.J. Howe: A Chancery Lane legal professional interested in rural traditions; documents how agricultural communities historically monitored water table fluctuations to forecast grain prices.
• R.S. Hawker: A Cornish clergyman writing from Morwenstow; explains traditional burial practices by detailing early Christian beliefs regarding spatial orientation and the spiritual symbolism of the north side of churchyards.

In Its Own Voice

"Were these twin worthies, Obadiah Bull the lawyer, and Joe Dun the bailiff, men of straw for the nonce, or veritable flesh and blood?"

A contributor named Corkscrew questions the popular etymologies attributed to common English terms.

"The doctrine of regions was coeval with the death of Our Lord. The east was the realm of the oracles; the especial Throne of God."

R.S. Hawker explains the ancient theological reasoning behind traditional cemetery layouts.

"The invincible pedantry and amour-propre of our armourers and inspectors of arms in England... will, undoubtedly, exercise the usual influence over giving this powerful weapon even a chance in England."

A correspondent critiques British military bureaucracy when comparing traditional muskets to Prussian needle-guns.

What It's Really About

The issue highlights the mid-nineteenth-century effort to organize, verify, and democratize historical and literary knowledge. At its core, the text poses fundamental questions about how history is preserved and verified. It pits empirical archival research against oral tradition, demonstrating how local legends—such as the violent tales surrounding Sir Richard Baker—are often built on misinterpretations of physical artifacts like colored church monuments.

The journal demonstrates an early crowd-sourced research network, where authority is established through citation, genealogical records, and textual evidence rather than raw assertions. By treating high literature, heraldry, military technology, and rural superstition with equal seriousness, the publication reflects a society systematically cataloging its cultural past while attempting to understand rapid technological and social changes.

Why Read It Today

This publication appeals to historians, etymologists, and lovers of Victorian miscellany. Reading it feels like sitting in an intellectual salon where the era's curious minds discuss everything from obscure Latin syntax to gruesome execution customs. It provides an immediate, unvarnished look into how mid-nineteenth-century thinkers debated facts before the existence of modern digital archives or standardized encyclopedias.

The reader must navigate period-specific difficulties, including untranslated Latin passages, dense heraldic terminology, and complex references to forgotten eighteenth-century political satires. The language reflects Victorian formal prose, requiring patience with minute genealogical tracing and legal history. Yet what stays with the reader is the enthusiasm of these contributors. Their devotion to settling tiny historical details—whether proving the exact date a judge died or explaining why the north side of a churchyard was avoided—renders the issue a charming portrait of Victorian intellectual curiosity.