impartial view of the question.-D. N. M. 122. Can you inform me of whom, or by what means, it is likely I could obtain a recommendation which is necessary as a voucher to entitle me to the privilege of a reader at the readingroom of the British Museum?-J. SARGEANT. 123. Will any of your readers be kind enough to inform me where I can procure a first-class work on foreign words, with their English derivations and meanings? Also, say whose English dictionary is considered the bestPrice no object.-S. S. 124. When, and by whom, was the variation of the compass discovered?M. G. 125. What is meant by "Accepting the Chiltern Hundreds"?-Y. W. 126. I have seen it somewhere asserted that the philibeg, or short kilt, worn by the Highlanders, and which appears so picturesque in the London Scottish Volunteers, is an invention of the sixteenth century. Is this true or false?-ANGLO-SCOTUS. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. 112. The National Anthem. — A definite and satisfactory answer cannot be afforded, I fear, to the question of J. Evans. The following excerpt may be of use to him. "Our National Anthem of God Save the King,' composed in the time of George I., has always been considered of English origin; but on reading the amusing 'Memoirs of Madame de Cregny,' it appears to have been almost a literal translation of the Cantique, which was always sung by the demoiselles de St. Cyr, when Louis XIV. entered the chapel of that establishment to hear morning prayer. The words were by M. de Brinon, and the music by the famous Lully: 'Grand Dieu sauve le Roi. Que toujours glorieux, Toujours soumis! It appears to have been translated and adapted to the House of Hanover by Handel, the German composer." J. E. is doubtless aware of the antiquity of the expression, "God Save the King." -J. R. PAGE. In answer to your correspondent who inquires about the "National Anthem,” I refer him to "Notes and Queries" for October 10th, No. 151. It there states that it was composed by Dr. Henry Carey, a natural son of the Earl of Halifax; he was born about 1696, in London. The anthem, both words and music, were composed by him in honour of the birthday of George II. Henry Carey died, in 1744, by suicide. The article is signed, "Francis Dickins, Dusseldorf."-C. 118. I think the best works on the Isle of Wight are "The History, Topography, and Antiquities of the Isle of Wight," by W. Davenport Adams, price 25s.: Smith, Elder, and Co. And "The Isle of Wight," by the Rev. E. Venables, 7s. 6d. Stanford. Edward Knight. 121. The following list will supply D. N. M. with a collection of the chief works, chronologically and controversially arranged, which have appeared in English literature during the two prerious centuries: LIBERTY. Of Free Will, in Reply to Hobbes, 1838. The Boyle Lecture Sermons, by Sam. Clarke, D.D., 1704. Defence and Vindication of Human Liberty, by Rev. John Jackson, 1730. Review of the Principal Questions in Morals, Chap. VIII., Richard Price, D.D., 1769. Origin of Evil, Book V., W. King, D.D., 1781. Essays on the Active Powers, VIII., Thomas Reid, 1785. Essays, Philosophical and Literary, by James Gregory, M.D., 1792. Active and Moral Powers, by Dugald Stewart, 1828. Review of Edwards on the Will, by H. P. Tappan, 1839. Lectures, by Thomas Brown, 1820. 1839. On Human Nature, Rev. J. G. MacVicar, 1853. Moral Freedom, Cairns, 1838. NECESSITY. Treatise of Liberty and Necessity, by Thomas Hobbes, 1654. Philosophical Enquiry concerning Human Liberty, Anthony Collins, 1717. Observations on Man, by D. Hartley, LL.D., 1749. Sketches of Man, Morality, and Religion, by Lord Kames, 1751 and 1774. Essays and Treatise on Human Nature, D. Hume, 1777. Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will, by Jonathan Edwards, 1757. Philos. Necess., Illustrated by Joseph Priestly, LL.D., 1778. Essay on Philosophic Necessity, by Alexander Crombie, LL.D., 1793. Political Justice, by Godwin, 1793. Moral Philosophy, by T. Belshaw, 1801. System of Logic, J. S. Mills, 1838. Philosophy of Necessity, by Charles Bray, 1840. An excellent essay on the general question will be found in Hazlitt's "Remains," vol. i., worthy of study.NEMASIL. 121. Liberty and necessity.—I find it stated in a work entitled "Notes to assist the Memory" (Murray, 1825) that "Among the necessarian writers, Hume, Hobbes, Collins, Hutchinson, Edwards, Hartley, Priestly, and, perhaps, Locke, may be classed. The principal advocates for philosophical liberty are Clarke, Beattie, Butler, Price, Law, Bryant, Wollaston, and Horseley." Perhaps this may be of use to your inquiring correspondent. If so, I shall be glad.-T. L. B. 123. We know of no first-class work of the kind desired. In Ogilvie's Dictionary (Blackie, £4 10s.), the greater part of the most common foreign words will be found explained. It is the best. Worcester's (by Bohn), 16s., is fair and useful.-W. F. 124. Variation of the compass.The variation of the compass was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, circa 1500; the variation of that variation by one Gillebrand, circa 1625; the dip or inclination of the needle was discovered by a Mr. Norman, circa 1576. 125. A Member of Parliament cannot resign his seat, but if he accepts an office in the gift of the Sovereign, he must vacate his seat. When, therefore, a member wishes to resign, the Sovereign bestows upon him the nominal office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, a range of chalk hills in Bedford and Buckingham, not far from Aylesbury, which are Crown lands; and so, by a convenient fiction, he gets quit of his M.P.-ship.-WIGHT. lator of Events," has been lately started." Wilkie Collins's "Woman in White" has been put upon the stage. Two bronze doors, for the capitol of Washington, have just been finished in Munich. They are devoted to scenes in the life of Columbus, in compartments between which are niched busts of all those who have written his history. A fine head of Washington Irving is conspicuous. The University of Naples has been reorganized. A list of plays acted before the Court, in 1638, has been found. "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and "Julius Cæsar," were in the programme. Henry Butterworth, law-publisher and literary man, died 2nd Nov. "Prison-books, and their Authors," is the title of a book from the pen of J. A. Langford, now in the press. A Biography of Beethoven is shortly to be issued. Signor Ruffini, author of "Lorenzo Benoni," &c., has "Lavinia" nearly ready. Meyerbeer's opera, "L'Africaine," is re-christened "Vasco di Gama," and is still promised, at an interval. 66 "Great expectations" of delight" all the year round," are entertained about Charles Dickens's new story. It is believed that this serial will not be an uncommercial traveller," even though its dénouement, like "Oliver Twist," and "Little Dorrit," may be "hunted down" by some obscure dramatist before its author's éclaircissement has been put under cover. The Anti-Hegelian philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, born at Dantzic in 1788, died in Frankfort-on-the-Maine, 21st September. His first work, entitled, "The World Regarded as Will and Thought," was published in 1818, and he revised, a few days before his decease, the proof sheets of the second edition of a work to be published by Brockhaus, of Leipsic, which discusses "The Two-fold Fundamental Problem of Ethics." A genealogical tree, tracing the pedigree of Thomas Campbell to "the Bruce of Bannockburn," has been published. Dr. Lankester's "Lectures on Food" are to be published at a low price. Servian song is to find a translator in Owen Meredith (Bulwer). Mrs. Oliphant's new novel will bear the title of "The House on the Moor." George Macdonald, author of the weird poem, "Phantastes," is engaged on a novel. Wright's (Thomas) "Archæological Essays" are in the press of J. R. Smith. "Paul the Pope, and Paul the Friar; the Story of an Interdict," is the subject of T. A. Trollope's new sketch of Italian History. The tenth library edition of Alison's "History of Europe" is announced. W. S. Landor's "Complete [?] Works" are issued by Ticknor and Field, New York. "The Vestiges of Creation" has reached the 11th edition. Theodosia Trollope, sister of Messrs. Anthony and T. A. Trollope, and Italian correspondent to the Athenæum, has in the press "The Last Eighteen Months in Italy." The Messrs. Griffin promise the concluding portion of the Rev F. D. Maurice's "Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy" this month. Butt's "History of Italy," vol. iii., is to be issued in December. Dr. Jos. Angus has in the press "A Handbook of the English Tongue." The favourable reception which Mr. Neil's "Shakespere Papers" received from several critics of status has induced him to extend and enlarge them, so as to form a small volume, which will be, at an early date, laid before the public. Herschel's "Elements of Astronomy," and De Morgan's "Algebra," have been translated into Chinese, and published at Shanghae. Dr. Roscher, Professor of Political Economy-the most profound Statist in Germany-as Rector, in succession to Dr. Wachter, Professor of Jurisprudence of the Leipsic University, delivered an inaugural address on University education. The Caledonian Mercury, a Scottish newspaper, published in Edinburgh, established 1724, is the property of Mr. Allen, the improver of the Electric Telegraph, and has been the property of his family since 1772. A memoir of Kepler, by M. O. Struve, published in the "Memoirs of the Academy of St. Petersburg," contains many new facts regarding him, especially in his relations with Schiller's hero, Wallenstein. The Toronto Globe has been printed on paper made from straw. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the British and Foreign Bible Society,issue annually 38,000,000 Bibles, Testaments, and religious works, in about 150 languages. Messrs. Williams and Norgate announce a quarterly "Natural History Review," to be an organ of biological science, and to have each department under able editorial superintendence. A memoir of Professor George Wilson, the Technologist, by his sister, Jessie Aitken Wilson, is almost ready. A second volume of Cooper's "Athenæ Cantabrigenses" is in the press. Bancroft's "History of the United States," vol ix., is in the press. "Cromwell, the Protector of the English Republic," is the title of a tragedy in verse, by A. de Maziere, published by Hachette and Co., Paris. "Temple-Bar" makes its appearance this month. J. W. Parker, junior, managing editor of "Fraser," died 10th ult. The Earl of Airlie has been lecturing in Forfar on "Adam Smith." "Scottish Life in the Last Century is about to receive fresh illustration by the publication of the autobiographies of Rev. Alexander Carlyle, D.D., Inveresk, and Rev. Dr. Somerville, of Jedburgh. The record will extend from the '45 Rebellion till Napoleon's capture, and will be rich in anecdote of Hume, Home, Smith, Blair, Robertson, Burns, Dugald Stewart, Ferguson, &c. Messrs. Mansel and Veitch are to superintend the completion of Sir William Hamilton's "Reid." Hepworth Dixon's "Personal History of Lord Bacon" is to be published simultaneously in London and Boston. 1,400 were disposed of at Murray's sale. Songs of the Covenant Times," by an Ayrshire Minister (Rev. James Murray, of Crannock), are now in the press. Much of the author's MS. we have been privileged to see; and we can assure our readers that the "songs" have pith, power, and poetry in them, which are far from common. A memoir of the Right Hon. James Wilson, the Neckar of India, appeared in a supplement to The Economist of 17th ult., from the pen of the present editor, Walter Bagehot, his son-in-law. "The proverbs and sayings of Scotland are to be edited by Mr. A. Hislop, of Glasgow. Materials for a third volume of the late Lord Dundonald's memoirs are understood to exist. |