their own bounds, they might questionlesse haue done good seruice to the Commonwealth of Learning. But when the seruant presumes to controlle the Mistrisse, the house seemes much out of order." It is interesting to note such personal allusions as the following (book i. p. 247) :— "This way I first found in Mr. Purchas his relation of Halls discouery of Groenland, written by William Baffin since this Chapter came vnder the Presse: the expression of which, being as I suppose shorter and easier then in the Author, I doe owe for the most part to my worthy Chamberfellow, Mr. Nathanael Norrington, to whose learned conference, I confesse my selfe to owe some fruits of my labours in this kinde, and all the offices of friendship." Serpents not found in Ireland (book ii. p. 24): "Some Beasts and Serpents are in some places seldome knowne to breed or liue, wherewith notwithstanding other Regions swarme in abundance: as for example, Ireland, wherein no Serpent or venomous worme hath beene knowne to liue, whereby Africa and many other Countries finde no small molestation.' There is something droll in the coupling of authorities in the next extract (book ii. p. 76): "That Sea Water strained through clay, will turne fresh as likewise powdred flesh being layed to soake in salt water, will soone turne sweet: The former is verified by Baptista Porta: of the other, euery kitchin maide on the Sea side will informe vs.' Carpenter refers to the possibility of a canal between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which, as we all know, is now an accomplished fact. The passage in his book need not therefore be quoted. Edmund Bolton, in his Nero Cæsar,' 1627 (first published in 1624), has a reference to the Isthmus of Panama. Carpenter records a conjectural reason why a canal had not been cut through it, probably long before his day (book ii. p. 112):- "Moreouer it is obserued that the sea on the west part of America commonly called Mare Del Zur, is much higher then the Atlantick Sea which bordereth on the Easterne part of it: which gaue way to the coniecture of some, that the Isthmus betwixt Panama and Nombre De Dios had bin long since cut through to haue made a passage into the Pacifick Sea, without sayling so farre about by the straits of Magellane; had not many inconveniences bin feared out of the inæquality in the hight of the Water." Discussing the possibility of a North-East Passage, our author interpolates the following (book ii. p. 121):— "Lastly, there is a fish which hath a Horne in his fore-head, called the Sea Vnicorne, whereof Martin Frobisher found one on the coast of Newfoundland, and gaue it to Queene Elizabeth, which was said to be put into her Wardrobe: But whether it be the same which is at this day to be seene at Windsor Castle, [I] cannot tell." He also discusses at considerable length the possibility of discovering a North-West Passage. The opening words of his statement are interesting (book ii. p. 122):"Hitherto haue we treated of other passages, either effected or attempted to Cathay and the East Indies. The last and most desired and sought in our time, is that by the North-west. This way hath bin often attempted, as by Cabot, Dauis, Frobisher, Hudson, Sr Thomas Button and others, but the industry of Marriners, then the wit of Schollers." as yet not found out. Neither hath it more troubled Speaking of mountainous countries and their inhabitants, he mentions, among others, the Scottish Highlanders (book ii. p. 258) :— THE CHURCHYARD OF ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER, AND ITS IMPROVEMENT. FOR many years this interesting little "God's acre" had been in a most deplorable condition, and was noted as being a public scandal. The gravestones were not level, many were broken, and on nearly all (or at least a great proportion) of them the inscriptions had become unreadable, owing to the constant traffic over them, there being a right of way through the churchyard from end to end, and also to a point nearly opposite the building now rebuilt as the Middlesex County Hall, but then known as the Westminster Sessions House. The ground, where there were no stones, was in great holes and ruts, which held the water in wet seasons, and at all periods of the year presented both difficulties and dangers to those who had to cross it. Many attempts were made to put it into something like decent order, but without anything like permanent good resulting; consequently as time went on bad became worse, and the dangers and difficulties were intensified. Among the many proposals for improvement, the most notable was one made by Mr. Austen H. Layard, M.P., who at the time held the office of First Commissioner of Works, and under whose auspices the improvement in the adjoining St. Margaret's Square was made. The extremely ornamental railings by which the square is surrounded, and the very fine granite columns upon which the lamps at the angles are mounted, we owe to the fine taste of that gentleman, who desired that the churchyard should be improved in a like manner, as it was thought the cost could be included in the funds to be voted by Parliament for that minutes of this committee, and as they have purpose. The rector, church wardens, and passed into private hands, and may, and not others were called together, and the pro-improbably will, in the course of time get posals submitted were agreed to, it being further alienated, I think it advisable that then thought that better days were in store some portions of them should be preserved in for this somewhat desolate-looking spot. But the pages of N. & Q.' a change in the Government was made, and The General Committee was as here given : Mr. Layard became Ambassador at Madrid, Canon Farrar, Chairman; the Dukes of Bucand at the Office of Works Mr. Acton Smee cleuch and Westminster, the Lord Chancellor, Ayrton reigned in his stead. It is common the Speaker, Lord Richard Grosvenor, M.P., knowledge that the ideas of the latter gentle- Lord Henry Scott, M.P., the Right Hon. W. H. man upon the subject of art and embellish- Smith, M.P., Sir Rutherford Alcock, Sir Henry ments generally were, to say the least of Hunt, the Dean of Westminster, Archdeacon them, peculiar, the ultimate outcome of the Jennings, and Canon Prothero; Messrs. J. H. negotiations being that the plan as proposed Puleston, M.P., Herbert Gladstone, M.P., by his predecessor was indefinitely shelved, Edward Easton, J. F. Bateman, F.R.S., G. and the place remained, to the annoyance of Brown, W. D. Barnett, J. M. Hora, Stewart all interested in the matter, just as it was Helder, Harry W. Lee, J. L. Pearson, R.A., before. No one was more vexed at the turn G. F. Trollope, T. J. White, and J. Hockridge; things had taken than Dr. Farrar, who in the Rev. E. A. Browne, the senior curate of one of his best-remembered sermons spoke St. Margaret's, Hon. Secretary. The first in no measured terms of the iniquity of the meeting was held on 18 June, 1881, in the offence of leaving in such a neglected state vestry room of the church, the rector being what might be a beautiful and restful spot, in the chair. A proposition was made by and pointedly asked if it were not time the Speaker, and seconded by Sir Rutherford that something should be done, so that the Alcock, that "the concession of ground (as generations of Westminster people might indicated on a plan laid before the Comrest again under the green turf." There were mittee) be made to the Metropolitan Board some people who, in advocating the restora- of Works." The next proposition was moved tion of the churchyard to something like by Mr. W. H. Smith and seconded by Mr. order and decency, wished the stone pyra- J. F. Bateman, that "Sir Rutherford Alcock mids placed at intervals between the railings and Messrs. Helder, Easton, Barnett, White, to be removed. I am pleased to be able to Trollope, and Lee do constitute a sub-comput upon record that one powerful voice mittee to draw up a petition for a faculty to was raised for their retention. Sir Reginald carry out improvements in the churchyard, Palgrave protested against any removal, and to consider details to be laid before the declaring that they had remained landmarks next meeting of the General Committee." through a long series of years, and should Further propositions were made that subcontinue to mark the boundary of the church-scriptions be invited to supplement the grant yard, no matter what was done in the way of beautifying or improvement. 66 The late Mr. T. C. Noble, a well-known and frequent contributor to 'N. & Q.,' wrote in the Builder of 27 August, 1881, as follows: "After a long series of years there is some chance now of its being made a more pleasing place to look at than it has hitherto been. About an acre in extent, its dilapidated appearance has long been an eyesore both to the church and the Abbey authorities; but as the only way of remedying the evil was by obtaining something like 3,000l., the amount required to plant and ornament the grounds, that step could not be readily taken." This was certainly the position of affairs, but in that year Dr. Farrar, the rector of St. Margaret's, decided to make a great effort to improve matters, and an influential committee was formed to take the matter in hand, and it is pleasing to record that its labours in the end were crowned with success. I have been permitted to see the of H.M. Office of Works, and that a special appeal be made to members of both Houses of Parliament to contribute to the Improvement Fund. The report of the sub-committee appointed at the first meeting was duly presented, and as it is of much interest and of some importance, it is here given in extenso :— "That it appeared to them that the simplest plan for carrying out the proposed improvement is- ciently deep to admit of the ground over them "Firstly: To sink the gravestones in situ suffi to the level of the north entrance to the Abbey, being covered with turf, the surface being reduced and to deposit the surplus within the boundaries of the churchyard. For this purpose levels have been taken, so as to have an accurate profile' of the churchyard, and some of the stones have been raised The sub-committee have the pleasure to report that to ascertain the condition of the ground underneath. the conditions were found to be most favourable to the undertaking, both in the churchyard generally and in that small portion which the General Committee have already agreed to make over to the Metropolitan Board of Works. The sub-committee therefore recommend (1) that an exact plan of the churchyard be made, showing the present position of the gravestones, and that such plan be kept in some part of the church; (2) that a copy be made of the inscriptions on the gravestones, to be retained among the records of the church; and (3) that the churchyard be laid down with grass in the manner already indicated (without the addition of any trees or shrubs). Secondly: That, aware of the importance of obtaining the very best professional advice in carrying out this worl, hey have secured the services of J. L. Pearson, Esq., R.A., Architect to the Abbey, and have entrusted to Mr. Wills, of the Floricultural Hall, Regent Street, the laying out of the ground under his superintendence. The sub-committee recommend for the approval of the General Committee the plans for the laying out of the ground (and for the railings with which it is proposed to surround it) as prepared by Mr. Pearson, which are submitted herewith. "Thirdly: That, in accordance with the resolution of the General Committee, the following letter, as written by the chairman, and approved by the sub-committee, has been sent to the members of both Houses of Parliament. [I would note that a copy of the letter alluded to does not appear to have been attached to the minutes.] "Fourthly: That, with a view to immediate action, arrangements have been made to hold a meeting of vestrymen and other parishioners on Friday next, 8th of July, in the vestry room of St. Margaret's Church, for them to receive the plans as approved by the General Committee, and to sanction an application to the Bishop's Court for a faculty authorizing the proposed improvements in the burial-ground and the widening of the footway. "Fifthly: That the following petition to the Chancellor of the Diocese has been drawn up by Harry Lee, Esq., and is now submitted for the approval of the General Committee. (Signed) "Y. W. FARRAR, Chairman." There was no copy of the petition attached. W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY. C2, The Almshouses, Rochester Row, S.W. (To be continued.) LEONARDO DA VINCI: 'THE LAST SUPPER, (See 8th S. vii. 488; viii. 136.) Frequent reference to this subject in the columns of 'N. & Q.' prompts me to supplement previous contributions by some notes made on a recent visit to Milan. Since my last visit the following copies of the Cenacolo' have been affixed to the walls of the refectory. 2. Smaller copy, by Cesare Magnis, also showing the feet of Christ. Not a pleasing copy. It is gross, and lacks sublimity. Drinking glasses half full of red wine. 3. Copy by Marco d' Oggiono. The table is bare. No plates, glasses, or edibles. Although the doorway had not been pierced in 1510, when, presumably, this copy was made, the feet of Christ are not depicted. If we assume that this copy was made in presence of the original, my italicized words are significant. Possibly important additions were made to the fresco after Leonardo's departure. 4. Photograph of the fresco at Ponte Capriasca (Canton Ticino). Here the feet of Christ (as in No. 2) are seen. Drinking glasses void of wine. In the background we behold the sacrifice of Jacob; also Christ praying in the garden. On the lower portion of the frame the Apostles are thus named, from left to right as they appear in the original: St. Bartholomew, St. James the Less, St. Peter, Judas, St. John, St. James, St. Thomas, St. Philip, St. Matthew, St. Taddeus, St. Simon. Henry Beyle (De Stendhal) says in his History of Painting in Italy,' referring to the fresco at Ponte Capriasca : "In spite of local tradition-which fixes 1520 as the date when a brilliant youth from Milan' came there to escape from the turmoils of that great city, and, in gratitude for the protection afforded to him, painted the 'Cenacolo-I am of opinion that this picture was executed by Pietro Luini, son of the celebrated Bernardino, and was not painted prior to 1565." It is especially noteworthy that in the picture there is no wine on the table. Possibly the monks, more nearly to approach the Roman formula in administering the Sacrament, removed all traces of wine from the glasses. Only the figures representing Christ and the Apostles Peter, Thomas, Bartholomew, and James the Less pretend to be copies of Leonardo's 'Last Supper.' The others are purely fanciful. The features of Judas are remarkable. 5. Etching, by Rembrandt, in matita rossa, lent by George, the present King of Saxony. It has no pretensions to be a copy of the masterpiece. It is merely a fanciful sketch. 6. A terrible performance by Antonio de Glaxiate, now almost entirely defaced. RICHARD EDGCUMBE. 1. Copy of Leonardo's 'Last Supper' by Andrea Solari. Painted on canvas. The feet 33, Tedworth Square, Chelsea. of Christ portrayed. Drinking glasses on JAPANESE NEW YEAR'S DAY.-The Daily the table, empty. It is alleged that Leo-Chronicle of the 1st inst. had the following nardo's fresco was mutilated by the Dominicans in 1652, a door having been placed at the centre of the wall. If the lower portion of the central figure was thus removed, this copy is interesting. interesting notice: Day is a religious rite. No ordinary dishes are con"To a devout Japanese breakfast on New Year's sumed. The tea must be made with water drawn from the well when the first ray of sun strikes it, a pot-pourri of materials specified by law forms the staple dish, at the finish a measure of special saké from a red lacquer cup must be drained by whosoever desires happiness during the coming year. In the room is placed an elysian stand,' or red lacquer tray, covered with evergreen leaves, and bearing a rice dumpling, a lobster, oranges, persimmons, chestnuts, dried sardines, and herring roe. All these dishes have a special signification. The names of, some are homonymous with words of happy omen; the others have an allegorical meaning. The lobster's curved back and long claws typify life prolonged till the frame is bent and the beard is long; the sardines, which always swim in pairs, express conjugal bliss; the herring is symbolical of a fruitful progeny. These dishes are not intended for consumption, although in most cases the appetite is fairly keen. The orthodox Japanese not only sees the old year out; he rises at four to welcome the newcomer, and performs many ceremonies before he N. S. S. breaks his fast. ments in the archives of Milan show that the painter was established there in 1487, 1490, and 1492 (Leon. da Vinci,' English edition, 1898, i. 86). Mrs. Ady has recently suggested ('Beatrice d' Este,' London, 1899, p. 136) that he was the painter referred to, but not named, in the Duke of Milan's instruction issued to Maffei of Treviglio, his ambassador going to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, in April, 1485. In order not to run any risk of infringing any copyrights held by Signor Alessandro Luzio and Prof. Rodolfo Renier, I will quote the passage in question in its original text from a collection published by the Hungarian Academy in 1877. The Duke of Milan, and not Lodovico il Moro, states therein that : 66 perche havemo inteso, che la Sua Maesta [the BERLIOZ AND SWEDENBORG.-To the new King of Hungary] se delecta multo de belle picture, and revised edition of Hector Berlioz's presertim, che habino in se qualche devotione, "dramatic legend" Faust,' published by ritrovandose de presente qua uno optimo pictore, al Messrs. Novello & Co., are prefixed 'His- quale havendo reduto experientia del ingenio suo, torical Notes,' signed F. G. Edwards. From pictore, che ne facia una figura de Nostra Donna non cognoscemo pare, havemo dato ordine cum epso these one learns that the greater part of the quanto bella excellente et devota la sapia piu fare, libretto of Faust' was written by the com- senza sparagno de spesa alcuna, et se accinga ad poser himself. Among the portions so lopera de presente, ne facia altro lavoro finche specified is, apparently, "Scene xix. Pande-l'abia finita la quale poi mandaremo ad donare alla monium," which opens with a prefata Sua Maesta. Datum Mediolani die 13 "Chorus of Aprilis, 1485." Monumenta Hung. Historica, Devils (in snarling tones)." In earlier editions, Acta Extera,' iii. (on British Museum copy vi.) 44. but not in this of Messrs. Novello, the Mrs. Ady is probably right in her surmise "gibberish" which follows is ascribed, pre- that the painter who in the Duke of Milan's sumably by the librettist, to Emanuel Sweden- estimation had no equal was no other than borg. He, however, had been dead for Leonardo da Vinci. The passage quoted upwards of seventy years when the libretto above has, however, hitherto escaped the first appeared, and certainly his voluminous notice of his biographers. writings will be searched in vain for such stuff or for any suggestion of it. The writer CAUL.-The following advertisement apof the Argument furnished in the pro-peared in the Globe of 24 July, 1903 :gramme of the performance of Faust by the Dulwich Philharmonic Society at the Crystal Palace on 12 December, 1903-I note the fact with pleasure-is careful to inform his readers that this "unearthly language: is "wrongly ascribed to Swedenborg." CHARLES HIGHAM. L. L. K. "CAUL.-Large Male Caul for Sale; no reasonable offer refused.-Address Mrs. S. Harris, Broadlane, Bracknell, Berks.” Surely the name should be Gamp, not LEONARDO DA VINCI IN MILAN.-The modern biographers of Leonardo, after having dismissed as purely imaginary his travels in the East, have not yet been able to fill up the gap in his life-story between 1482 and 1487. They are, however, all agreed on the point that there is no documentary proof forthcoming of his residence in Milan before 1487, although one of them, Adolf Rosenberg to wit, mentions "several testimonies by contemporaries" which make it probable that Leonardo went to live at Milan not later than 1483 (Leonardo da Vinci,' Bielefeld, 1898). According to Eugène Müntz, docu Bion, 25 June, 1894.-Authority uncertain. Cindiniah.-Ditto. Cuckoo, Standard, 9 May, 1898. Cymbeline, Standard, 25 November, 1903. Darius, Guardian, 2 July, 1884. Demosthenes, Times, 30 January, 1882. Donatilla, Standard, 2 June, 1903. Dorinda Cassandra, Times, 12 February, 1895. Evacustes, Standard, 4 September, 1890, p. 2, col. 8 (foot). Gam, Times, 6 January, 1882. Jugurtha, Standard, 2 August, 1897, and 21 October, 1898. Kenaz, Times, 9 August, 1898. Kerenhappuch, Times, 28 November, 1884. Lois, Morning Post, 1 March, 1888. Lysander, Times, 6 or 7 August, 1900. Marmion, Standard, 21 April, 1900. Neptune, given as having been born at sea, Gloucestershire Echo, 10 December, 1903. Oriana, Standard, 3 November, 1903. Othniel, between 14 and 19 May, 1894.Authority uncertain. Pamela, name of a patient at the Cheltenham Hospital. Parmenas, borne by an artisan at Henbury, Bristol. Phosphor, Standard, 29 June, 1903. Puah.-Authority uncertain. Venice, Morning Post, 1 March, 1888. Zelpa, Times, 31 December, 1880. There was once a patient in the Cheltenham Hospital with the name of Omega; also one with that of Thermuthias. I have a slight acquaintance with a lady, one of whose Christian names is Alpha. A man named Deborah Haris appeared at Worship Street Police Court, 8 November, 1894. A female with the name of Peter is noted by myself. Also Thalia appears in the Cheltenham Free Press, 19 October, 1899. But Ohe iam satis! P. J. F. GANTILLON. "ACERBATIVE.' "I see this word is not in the 'N.E.D.' It was used by the late Lord Salisbury some years back in a public speech with reference to the hostile tone of some of our continental critics. I have not got the reference by me, but no doubt some reader can supply it. A. T. K. "TUNNELIST": "TUNNELISM."-These words occur in a rare tract entitled 'Observations on the Intended Tunnel beneath the River Thames,' by Charles Clark, F.S.A. (Gravesend, 1799). They are to be found in the following expressions: "the tunnelist and his friends" and "a complete system of tunnelism." L. L. K. Queries. We must request correspondents desiring information on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. ST. BRIDGET'S BOWER.-In Spenser's 'Shepheards Calender, Julye,' occur the lines (37–44) :— In evill houre thou hentest in hond For sacred unto saints they stond, St. Michels Mount who does not know, All Kent can rightly boaste. Where is, or was, St. Briget's Bowre? From the context it was evidently a hill well known to all Kent, either from its conspicuousness or from some other distinction. For the mere fact that it bore the name of a saint would hardly justify the statement here made of it. So far as I see, no editor of Spenser has commented on the name, and some distinguished local antiquaries and historians have confessed their ignorance of the locality. Is the name, then, quite lost? And if so, can conjecture adduce any hill to which the name St. Briget's Bowre would be for any reason applicable? Bower is, of course, not necessarily a place overarched with shrubs or foliage; the word has also signified a cottage, dwelling, or abode, a booth, and a chamber. But it would seem to follow that a hill so named must have been distinguished by a bower of some kind dedicated to St. Bridget. Perhaps it was a sacred spot, dismantled or abandoned at the Reformation, the very name of which has since been forgotten, although it was evidently very well known in 1579. But in this case there would surely be other references to it, in sixteenth-century or earlier literature aid in the identification of the locality, but or records. I venture to ask "all Kent" to shall be satisfied if even one man or maid of Kent furnishes a certain answer. J. A. H. MURRAY. 'MEMOIRS OF A STOMACH.'- Does any reader know the authorship of a humorous little book, which was published anonymously, I think, about forty-five years ago, with the title "Memoirs of a Stomach. Edited by a Minister of the Interior"? It is brought to mind by the fact that, in the pantomime at Drury Lane, the king's cook is called "Minister of the Interior" as well as "Little Mary," a very obvious association. W. R. G. |