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WILLIS'S

CURRENT NOTES:

A SERIES OF ARTICLES

ON

Antiquities, Biography, Beraldry, Bistory, Languages,
Literature, Natural Bistory, Curious Customs, Kr.

SELECTED FROM

ORIGINAL LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS

ADDRESSED DURING THE YEAR

1854,

TO THE PUBLISHER,

G. WILLIS,

GREAT PIAZZA, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON.

MDCCCL V.

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AN
W73

INDEX TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.

* Indicates that woodcuts illustrate those Articles.

Abernethy's tongue restraint, 81.
Album verses, 88.

American Copyright Memorial, 57.
André's exhumation, 67.

Angelo's Damned Soul? reply, 34.
Ant, a provider? reply, 36.
Apollo Statue? reply, 4.
Arch-Treasurer? reply, 103.
Argyle Library? replies, 60, 66.
Arne's compositions, 15.
Arnold of Brescia? 12.
Ausonius' epigram, 68.
Aut C[]sar aut Nullus, 28.
Awakening mallet, 31, 34.
Baltimore family, 3.
Barclay of Urie, 86, 93.
Bardwell inscription, 51.
Barrier Treaty reply, 4.
Barristers' costume, 94.
Baxter, Richard, 66.
Beard in the pulpit, 23.
Bear wants a Tail! 16.
Bells, Dorchester, 102.
Bellman's chant, 56.

?

Bewick's Chillingham Bull, 2, 11.
Biblical variations, 34.
*Bindon Abbey slab, 35.
Border Hospitality, 71.
Bossuet's exhumation, 101.
Bowdich's widow's pension, 67.
Boyce, Scottish historian, 98, 100.
Braithwaite's Whimsies, 18.

Branks or Scold's bridle, 37, 40.
Brussels' Gazette, 74.
Burger's Leonora? 3.

Burial fees remitted, 24.
Burke's copyrights, 90.
Burns' six belles, 10.

Butler's Hudibras, 48, 61, 74, 94.
Byron's Curse of Minerva, 4.
Ca Ira, its origin, 76.

Cards in Fifteenth Century, 42.
Carolan's verses, 41.
Carpet words, 32, 44, 52.
Carrickfergus' ducking-stool, 30.
Cervantes' birth place, 51.

Charles I., Icon Basilicon, 28, 33.
Charter house, 34.
Cherry ripe! 102.

Chess, in fifteenth century, 42.
Chinese, prophecies respecting, 6.
Chinese, religious belief, 13.
Christ's nativity, 27.
Christmas-day, 19, 27.
Christmas Tree, 11, 32.

Christ's Hospital petition, 40.
Christina and singers, 32.

Chronograms, 15.

Church bell inscriptions, 31.
Churches, positions of? 37.
Cibber's Apology, 90.

Claude's Judgment of Paris? 98.
Clean shave, 58.

Closing of Churchyards, 94.
Coffee-house civilities, 4.

Coleridge, inedited letters, 53, 54.
Colman's perversion, 76.
*Coronet for scolds, 79.
Country Book-club, 80.
Cromwell's death, 51.
Cross and Crescent, 68.

*Cucking-stools, 9, 21, 29, 30, 79.
David II., of Scotland, 55.

Devil's Sonata, 24.

Grey, Lady Jane, 6.

Guizot, 28.

Gustavus Adolphus's retort, 79.

Gwynne, Nell, 21.

Hamlet's Grave, 19.

Handel Statue, 60.

Harleston Ducking-stool, 30.

Harvey's Way to Heaven, 50.
Head's pension, 67.
Henry VII., 42.

Heraclea, discovery, 45.
Herd's birth-place, 89.
He that fights, etc. 61.

Hewing blocks with razors, 19; re-
ply, 26.

History, its uncertainties, 73.
Hogg's Widow's pension, 67.

Dining with Duke Humphrey? reply, 11. Hot-pot? with reply, 30.

Divining rod, 48.

Dodo, reply, 4.

Dog-killing, 88.

Dorchester church, 52.

Dublin Traders' Token, 44.
Ducking, see Cucking stool,
Dumb waiter query, 20.

Edward I., Coronation oath, 33.
Eikon Basilike, 28, 33.
Electric Telegraph, 3, 32, 45.
Eleonora Rediviva, 18.
England Europe's glory, 30.

England's Kinges and Governors, 11.
English Mercurie, 89n.
Eotens, or Giants, 50.
Erasmus and Luther, 72.
Escroquer? 10, reply, 52.
Essex, Countess of, 24
Faussett Antiquities, 47, 60.
Fiery Flaming Roll, 94.
Firing of the Bird, 87.

Fontenelle's opinion of Mahomet, 4.
Founders' Company, 65.
Franklin's saying Ca Ira, 76.
Frederic the Great, 18.
Gauden, Icon Basilikè, 33.
Gazettes, their origin, 74.
Giàour aggressions, 74.
Glass-window rhymes, 96.
God save the King, 15.
Golden Grave, 63.
Golden Sickle? 13.

Goldsmith's copyrights, 91.

Graves bedecked with Roses, 59.

Gravesend Ducking-stool, 9.

Human figures, with wings? 51.
Humphrey, Duke, 11.

Hydrophobia Cures, 2, 27.

Hymnus Melitensium Vespertinus, 2.
Incentives to Readers, 16.
Innocent X., 50.
Inoculation, 44.

Intellectual Coincidence, 101.

Ipswich ducking-stool, 9.
Ireland cuneiform slabs, 54.
Irish Fix, 87.

Isabella colour? reply, 35.

Jack the Giant-Killer, 41, 50.

Jermyn of Rushbroke, 22.

Jest, whence derived? replies, 41, 64
Jewish disabilities, 12.
Joan, Pope, 100.

Johnson's Dictionary, Suppl. to, 28.
Jonson, Ben, 22, 35.

Juggernauth car, 32.

Juvenal, translated by Johnson, 90.
Kennedy? 3, reply, 11.

Kenney's daughters' pension, 67.
Kerry Earldom? 52.

Kilclief Castle, 54.

Kingston ducking-stool, 9.
Kitchener's Soirée hint, 76.
Knox's descendants, 58.
Kotzebue's assassination, 36.
Landon's verses, 63.
Lawyers in Westminster, 50.
*Leicester ducking-chair, 29.

Leicestershire poetical signs, 75.
Library advantages, 72.

Licence for Sunday Sports, 85.

Gray's Elegy, omitted verse, 59; Odes, Light and dark sides of God, 94.

etc. 90.

Great effects from little causes, 51.

Great Men's descendants, 58.

Lilly, prototype of Sydrophel, 48.
Literary remuneration, 90.

London Cries, 102.

Long Hair, notes on, 76.

Louis, Dauphin of France, 42.
Luther, 72, His descendants, 58.
Mahomet" horriblement beau !" 4.
Mahommedan gallantry, 72.
Manns epitaph, 34.
Manorial custom, 84.
Manuscript Bible, 76.
Manuscripts' spoliation, 52.

Margaret, Queen of Scotland, 55.
Mary, Queen of Scots, 14.
Mary II., last hours, 25.
Maryland Pattern Shilling, 3.
Masquerade Divinity, 50,
Mendizabal, 12.

Merit an obstacle, 21.

Michaelmas Goose, 79.

Milton's descendants, 58. Statue,

Vauxhall Gardens, 51.
Minute Calligraphy, 95, 104.
Molldavia (Moldavia) 20.
Montagu correspondence, 89.
Montgomery's Lectures, 84.
Montrose kirk candlesticks, 85.
More's descendants, 58.
Mundy, Anthony, 70.
Murray, epitaph, 83.
Muscovite passport, 49.
Musgrave autographs, 52.
Napier correspondence, 7.
Napoleon the First, 104.
Neapolitan Inn-bill, 30.

Newton family particulars, 77, 78.
"Newton's House, 1.

Nicolas' widow's pension, 67.
Nine days Wonder? reply, 6.
*Norfolk ducking-stools, 21, 30.
Norwegian Song, 22.
Numismata Hellenica, 20:
Numismatist's Vicissitudes, 23.
Obituary:

Banks, Tho. Christopher, 92.
Nixon, Samuel; sculptor, 68.
Sowerby, George Brettingham, 68.
Opera in France, 56.

Oriel window explained, 83.
Overbury, Sir Thomas, 24.
Oxtail Soup? reply, 87.
Padua, Image of Virgin, 60.
Paley's lectures, 63.

Paltock's Peter Wilkins, 90.
Panmure Monuments, 100.
Parliamentary costume, 103.
Parochial Deposits, 104.
Patrick's Half-pence, 43.
Pellico, Sylvio, 14.

Percy's Oh Nanny! 64. Copy-right
of Reliques, 91.

Pharmaceutical, 59, 64, 72.
Phoenician Tavern sign? 73.

Pickering, William, 43.

Pindar's (Dr. Wolcot) Annuity, 92.

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Turner's Cologne, 44.

Tythes paid by clergy, 72.
Tytler family, 66.

Quebec Parliament house destroyed, 14. Uncle Sam, 68.

Quo Fas et Gloria ducunt? 70.
Raleigh's descendants, 58.
Raphael's loggie in Vatican, 71.
Red-cap, Mother, 17, 18.
Reed, Isaac, 92.

Ridley's descendants, 58.
Robertson's Charles the Fifth, 4.
Rock struck by Moses, 60.
Roman Era defined, 69.
*Roman pavement, Dorchester, 73.
Romeo and Juliet, 68.
Rooke, Admiral, 24.
Roubillac, sculptor, 60.
Royal Furnishing, 87.
Rule Britannia, 15.
*Rumming, Elinour, 17.
Rutland, Duchess of, 87.
Saladine Tenth, 72.
Schiller's house sale, 78, 92.
Scold's bridle, see Branks.
Scotland's Curse? reply, 10.
Scotland's Hills, 96, 100.
Scott (Sir Walter) Album verses, 88.
Inedited letters, 8, 71. Tally ho! 7.
Sebastopol, 80, 81.

Semel insanivimus omnes? reply, 35.
Sending to Coventry, 88.
Sforza, Isabella? reply, 70.
*Shakespeare's Puck, 47.
Shakespearean references, 35, 47, 51,
62, 68, 72.

Shakespeare and Greyhound, 87.
Sign-boards, 13, 20, 31, 52, 60, 66,
75, 76.

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Untranslatable pun, 73.

Upcott's Living Authors, 88.
Vabalathus? replies, 32, 37, 49, 70.
Verimdr? 32; replies, 37, 49, 70.
Vaillant's mishap at sea, 23. Visited
by Dr. Lister, 70.
Vane's attainder, 33.
Varieties of Literature, 92.
Vatican, decaying splendour, 72.
Vauxhall Gardens, 51.

Veritas Temporis Filia? 104.
Vernon? reply, 21.
Verses:

Bell-rock Light-house, 88.
In Feline obitum, 42.
Letitia's Charms, 41.
On a Garden Seat, 87.

To a Violet, 67.

Man's Life an Hour-Glasse, 52.
Versus Cancrinus? reply, 95.
Voltaire's Niece, 102.

Waller's Calender, 30.
Warner's long range, 83.
Warton's History of English Poetry,
95. Happy quotation, 94.
Watts' pension, 67.
Warwickshire, Sign-boards, 75.
Warwick crest, 16.
Webster's Il Penseroso, 44.
Wesley's Plagiarisms, 90.
Whispering Court, 84.
Whittington's stone, 42.
Willoughby, Dean, 52.
Wilson, Professor, 25, 44.
Wives inimical to studies, 4.
Wolfe's descendants, 58.
Worlidge's Gems, 45.
Wren on eagle's wing? reply, 98.
Ximenes, Polyglot Manuscripts, 51,66.
Young's Night Thoughts, 90.

Errata.-P. 98, col. 2, line 3, for eloquence, read elegance. Ibid, line 4 from bottom, for Aberd. read Aberb. or
Aberbrothoc. P. 99, col. 2, line 28, for William the Norman, read William the Lion.

WILLIS'S CURRENT CURRENT NOTES.

No. XXXVII.]

"Takes note of what is done-
By note to give and to receive."-SHAKESPEARE.

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NEWTON'S HOUSE, ST. MARTIN'S STREET. No circumstance so readily assists topographical researches, or so indelibly impresses the memory of persons, as the connecting their names with things which are permanent, thus the designating the home of genius, as in this instance, Newton's house,' conveys a determinate idea, that would have long since ceased but from this circumstance. Dr. Johnson has not only expressed the wish, that the dwelling of every author should be known, but he seems to have been pleasurably employed in tracing and recording the local situation of Dryden, and also the residential transitions of Milton. The general opinion of the public, it must be admitted, is in full accordance with that of the great lexicographer,

[JANUARY, 1854.

but not unfrequently opportunities of submitting such notices in periodical literature occurring but inopportunely, a slight inattention on the part of the observer, to minute particulars, very frequently rendered almost inscrutable to the most acute, occasions a total loss of all details of notice, accelerated by the rapid annihilation that is occasioned by Time, and the almost worse unobserved engulphment of periodical spoliation and destruction.

Genius, or more properly speaking inspiration, dignifies every spot on which its energies have been elicited; the home of the philosopher becomes in record academical; and its site may be termed classic ground. Let us then, for a moment, consider the situation of the present pictorial illustration, that the once abode of Newton has rendered pre-eminently conspicuous.

The house, the first on the left hand, on entering St. Martin's Street from Leicester Square, was in 1709 the residence of the Danish Envoy. In 1710 it became tenanted by the ever memorable Sir Isaac Newton, his official house as Master of the Mint, being in Haydon Square in the Minories; and as Astronomer Royal at Flamstead House in Greenwich Park. Here he built the Observatory, the square turret shown in the woodcut, and associated with Halley, held frequent disquisitions on the appearances in the starry firmament.

He never married, being wholly busied in profound studies during the prime of life, and afterwards engaged in the important business of the Mint; Sir Isaac Newton seemed quite occupied here with the company of distinguished individuals that his merit drew to him, that he was insensible of any vacancy in life, or of the want of a companion at home; in fact, his housekeeper was his niece, Mrs. Catherine Barton,* with

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The writer of Some Reminiscences of Peter Pindar' relates-I mentioned to Wolcot, that I had known a lady so late as 1814, who had been in a ball room with Pope.

"I knew a lady," said Wolcot immediately, "who was grand-niece of Sir Isaac Newton. Her name was Burr, she died at Bath in 1790, about eighty years old. She lived with an aunt for some time, when young, in Newton's house. I asked, if it was true, that he was apt to fly into it with the well known story of the dog, that threw down a passion with those around him, as I could not reconcile the candle, and burned his manuscript, the labour of years, and yet he only reproved the animal with a few words. She replied, both statements were true; that her great relative esteemed a dumb animal not responsible for its actions, but that he considered the case was different with rational creatures."

B

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