The following University appointments of members of the College have been made since the issue of our last number :-Dr Sandys to be Chairman of the Examiners for the Classical Tripos, Part II, 1898; Dr D. MacAlister and Prof Kanthack to represent the University at the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, to be held at Madrid in April 1898; Mr R. F. Scott to be a member of the Financial Board; Prof. E. C. Clark to be one of the Sex Viri; Mr R. F. Scott and Mr A. I. Tillyard to be members of the Agricultural Science Syndicate; Mr A. C. Seward and Mr. F. F. Blackman to be members of the Botanic Garden Syndicate; Mr W. Bateson to be a member of the University Library Syndicate; Professor Kanthack to be a member of the State Medicine Syndicate; Mr J. Larmor to be a member of the Special Board for Mathematics; Mr J. E. Marr to be a member of the Special Board for Biology and Geology; Mr J. R. Tanner to be a member of the Special Board for History and Archæology; Dr D. MacAlister to be a member of the Special Board for Indian Civil Service Studies; Dr J. N. Langley to be a member of the Special Board for Biology and Geology; Mr J. B. Mullinger to be a member of the Special Board for History and Archæology, and to be a member of the Degree Committee of that Board; Dr J. N. Langley and Mr A. C. Seward to be members of the Degree Committee of the Special Board for Biology and Geology; Mr W. E. Heitland to be a member of the Special Board for Classics; Mr H. S. Foxwell to be a member of the Special Board for Moral Science, and to be a member of the Degree Committee of that Board; Mr W. Bateson to be one of the Auditors of the University Accounts; Prof Kanthack to be a member of the Museums and Lecture Rooms Syndicate; Mr W. A. Cox to be an examiner in German for the additional subjects of the Previous Examination; Mr H. R. Tottenham to be an examiner in the Classical subjects, the Acts of the Apostles and Latin Composition for the General Examination; Mr H. S. Foxwell and Mr A. W. Flux to be examiners in the Special Examination in Political Economy.

The following books by members of the College are announced: Fragments of the Book of Kings according to the Translation of Aquila, from a MS. formerly in the Geniza at Cairo, edited by F. C. Burkitt, with a preface by C. Taylor D.D., Master of St John's College; Sayings of the Jewish Fathers, edited by C. Taylor D D., Master of St John's College, second edition, with additional notes and a Cairo fragment of Aquila's version of the Old Testament (University Press); The Mount of Olives. A Poem which obtained the Seatonian Prize at the University of Cambridge 1897, by the Rev J. H. Lupton D.D. (Deighton, Bell & Co.); The Law relating to Markets and Fairs, by Louis Gaches, Counsel to the District Councils Association (Eyre & Spottiswoode); The Citizen of India, by W. LeeWarner, I.C.S. (Macmillan).

By the generosity of our Master the Library has been enriched with a copy of the splendid reproduction of the Codex Vaticanus, published in 5 parts (1889-90) by Danesi of Florence,* a work of which the following extract from the latest edition of Scrivener's Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament (I. 119) deserves to be quoted:

"In this splendid edition the whole is beautifully exhibited in photograph: so that all students can now examine for themselves the readings and characteristics of this celebrated manuscript with all but the advantage of the examination of the original vellum itself; and gratitude is due from all textual scholars to the authorities of the Vatican."

We must not omit to add that copies of this great work have become extremely rare, owing to the fact that the larger number were not long ago destroyed by fire. The publishers on enquiry wrote as follows:-"I rimanenti exemplari dei 100 stampati de Vecchio e Nuovo Testamente andarono tutti distrutti in uno incendio del 1894. Mi duole quindi non potervi favorire, e resta inutile dirvi il prezzo. 14 Gennaio 1898."

JOHNIANA.

It is perhaps not so well known as it ought to be that the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys was first transcribed by a Johnian. Our readers will no doubt be interested to read the following series of notes and letters from The Illustrated London News for 1858. The Rev John Smith (B.A. 1822, M.A. 1836) was ordained Deacon in 1824 by the Bishop of London and Priest in 1825 by the Bishop of Norwich. He was Deputy Esquire Bedell of the University

*Vetus Testamentum juxta lxx Interpretum versionem e Codice omnium antiquissimo Graeco Vaticano 1209 phototypice repraesentatum auspice Leone XIII. Pont. Max. Curante Josepho Cozza-Luzi Abate Basiliano S. Rom. Ecclesiae Vicebibliothecario. 4 Partes. Romae 1890.

Novum Testamentum e Codice Vaticano 1209 nativi Textus Graeci primo omnium phototypice repraesentatum auspice Leone XIII. Pont. Max. Curante Josepho Cozza-Luzi Abate Basiliano S. Rom. Ecclesiae Vicebibliothecario. Romae, 1889.

from 1821 to 1824. Curate of St Clements Eastcheap, London 1824, of Banham, Norfolk 1824-32, Rector of Pwllcrochan, Pembrokeshire 1832, and Rector of Baldock, Herts from 1832 until his death on March 3, 1870.

TOWN AND TABLE TALK ON LITERATURE, ART, &c. The President of the Camden Society, and the editor of "Pepys' Diary," was removed from among us on Saturday last. Lord Braybrooke was not a scholar, nor did he pretend to be one; but he was well read in English history, and told what he had to tell diffidently and not in many words. As Hereditary Visitor of Magdalen College, Cambridge, he had as unrestricted access to Pepys' papers as any person, by the conditions of Pepys' will, can have access. It has been said that his Lordship actually discovered "Pepys Diary;" but this, we believe, is a mistake. The "Diary" is written in shorthand, was deciphered by a clergyman of the name of Smith, and in the year 1825 was first given to the world, in two volumes quarto, edited by Lord Braybrooke. No book dug from the dusty shelves of any collection, after more than a century of neglect, can be compared in importance with " Pepys' Diary." Lord Braybrooke, it is clear, was not at all aware of the treasure his position enabled him to give the public. He was afraid of what he had, and was a little afraid to the very last. In the first edition he cut Mr. Pepys to the quick; to the second edition he did little or nothing; to the third edition he did a great deal - he restored passages which he had cut from his author without any kind of judgment; and when a fourth edition was asked for he called in to his aid more than one person able and willing to assist him. This fourth edition is a well-edited work, and in its full-sized octavo shape a handsomelooking book. Sull, we have not the whole of Pepys ;-and why not? Lord Braybrooke was squeamish. There are suppressed passages current in learned societies that merit publication as Pepys had set them—not separately. The inner thoughts of man as they relate to himself were never so anatomically laid bare as they are by Pepys in that invaluable Diary which the late Lord Braybrooke was the first to give, though imperfectly, to the public. [20 March 1858].

The admirers of Pepys will thank us for the following letter :

(To the Editor of the ILLUSTRAted London News)

I have seen the remarks on "Pepys' Diary "in the "Table Talk on Literature" in your Number for March 20, and, as it may be interesting to your readers to be made acquainted with some facts respecting it, I may be permitted to say that the existence of the "Diary" in its present legible state is owing to my sole exertions. In the spring of 1819 I engaged with the late Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge (I then being an Undergraduate of St John's), to decipher the whole of the "Diary" from the six closely-written volumes of the original short-hand MSS, little thinking how difficult, how laborious, and how unprofitable a task I had undertaken. The distinguished stenographer, the late William Brodie Gurney, to whom I showed the MS at the outset, positively assured me that neither I not any other man would ever be able to decipher it; and two other eminent professors of the art confirmed his opinion, I persevered, nevertheless; and in April, 1822, I completed the deciphering of the whole "Diary," having worked for nearly three years at it, usually for twelve and fourteen hours a day, with frequent wakeful nights. The MS extended to 3102 quarto pages of short-hand, which furnished 9325 quarto pages in long-hand, and embraced 314 different short-hand characters, Comprising 391 words and letters which all had to be kept continually in mind, whilst the head, the eye, and the hand of the decipherer were all engaged on the MS. Much of it was in minute characters, greatly faded, and inscribed on almost transparent paper-very trying and injurious indeed to the visual organs. With the editing of the work I had nothing to do, that being under. taken by Lord Braybrooke, at the request of his brother, then Master of Magdalene.

I may add that in 1836 I deciphered another Diary, written in short hand by Mr Pepys, and deposited in the Bodleian Library, with many other valuable papers which had belonged to him. It comprised, inter alia, A Narrative of his Voyage to Tangier" with the Earl of Dartmouth in 1863; and, possessing much interest, it was published in two volumes, 8vo, 1841, by Mr Richard Bentley, of New Burlington Street, for whom I undertook to decipher it, and who behaved most honourably and handsomely to me in the matter. Palmam qui meruit ferat. With the editing of these volumes I had no concern.

I have prepared a History of the Diary, which may one day see the light, as a sequel to the "Curiosities of Literature," and "The Calamities of Authors." I have the honour to be, Sir, yours faithfully,

We

Baldock Rectory, 23 March, 1858. JOHN SMITH. We have heard the late Dr Bliss confirm Mr Smith's statement. remember to have pressed both on the late Mr Colburn, the publisher, and on the late Lord Braybrooke, the necessity of adding Pepys' "Tangier Diary" to the earlier diary of the same entertaining wiiter. But economic views on the part of Mr Colburn, and a fair share of idleness on the part of Lord Braybrooke, stifled our recommendation, and the " Tangier Diary" is now only to be read in its cut-up and scattered shape in the two volumes referred to by Mr Smith.

[27 March 1858].

Our readers will thank us for eliciting the following letter:Sir, having read Mr Smith's letter in your last impression, I may mention that I have often heard the late Master of Magdalene relate that those to whom he showed Pepys' shorthand MS. agreed with the late Mr Gurney in the difficulty of deciphering it; but that they added, "Only give us a key and the difficulty is at an end." This desideratum was supplied for Mr Smith's advantage by the late Lord Grenville, who, after a little trouble and patience, forwarded a key and a page or two of the Diary transcribed, with a letter, to my father, now in my possession.

I must add that the whole profits of the publication were handed over by Lord Braybrooke to my father, for the benefit of the college at which Pepys was educated, and to which he bequeathed his celebrated library. These were invested, and the interest has ever since been annually distributed in assisting meritorious undergraduates during their college career, many of whom are living, and will testify to the advantages which they have derived from the "Pepysian Benefaction."

I am your obedient servant,

RALPH NEVILLE GRENVILLE.

Lowndes-street, March 30, 1858. We had heard before of the Lord Grenville's key to Pepys. What does Mr Smith say?

[10 April 1858].

The skilful scholar to whose knowledge we are indebted for Pepys (a great obligation) has thus replied to the letter of a former and well-skilled Correspondent:

(To the Editor of the ILLUSTRATED London News.)

66

I have read Mr Ralph Neville Grenville's letter in your Number of the 10th inst., and in reply to your query, What does Mr Smith say?" I beg to remark how far I was furnished with a key, and with what degree of truth it could be said that, by reason of any such key, "the difficulty" of deciphering the MS. "was at an end," will appear from a consideration of the following observations, and of my previous letter to you, the facts of which speak for themselves. It is quite true that the deciphering of the MS. was attempted by the late Lord Grenville, who succeeded in making out, but imperfectly, a few passages. I had an interview with his Lordship, whose noble countenance beamed with delight as I deciphered to him from the original MS. the passages in full. Having received some hints from his

Lordship, and such information regarding the cipher as he was able to afford, I proceeded with my arduous labours on the whole Diary, finding fresh difficulties almost daily, the cipher being varied by Mr Pepys whenever he wished to be more secret than usual; and, in resolving those difficulties Lord Grenville's key, as it is called, afforded me no assistance.

In my former letter I made no remarks with regard to the appropriation of "the whole profits of the publication," the copyrights of which, it was stated in the Times (May 28th, 1857), cost Mr Colburn 2200. But, as Mr Ralph Neville Grenville has mentioned this matter, I may be permitted to add that all I ever received for deciphering this extensive work, occupying three years' time, was £200 from his father. However, I must not forget that I have also the gratification not only of having been the means of affording valuable historical information and intense amusement to multitudes of readers wherever the English language is spoken, but that, likewise, numerous "meritorious undergraduates" of Magdalene College, Cambridge, will, throughout all time, receive pecuniary benefits derived from my labours as the decipherer of "Pepys' Diary," brought into its legible state by my sole exertions.

Had not the credit which justly belongs to me been erroneously transferred to another, I should not have troubled you with these communications.—I have the honour to be yours faithfully,

Baldock Rectory, Herts, April 13, 1858.

JOHN SMITH. Lord Braybrooke was not the most liberal paymaster; nor, to our thinking, has Mr Smith (the real revealer of Pepys) been well used.

[17 April 1858]. Pepys again (can we know too much of Pepys ?), and once more to the point. Our readers will thank us for our Pepysian papers :

(To the Editor of the ILLUSTRATED London NEWS.)

Sir, The inclosed is a copy of Lord of Magdalene to which I alluded.

86, Lowndes-street, April, 1858. Grenville's letter to the late Master Your obedient servant, RALPH NEVILLE GRENVILLE.

LORD GRENVILLE TO THE HON AND Rev George NEVILLE.

Dropmore, Aug. 21, 1818.

My Dear George, -When my brother quitted us for the Isle of Wight he left with me a MS. volume which you had put into his hands. I have a little smattering of the art of deciphering, and I was desirous to try my hand on this MS., which, if it could be made out, would, I was aware, on many accounts be extremely interesting; and would just now, if it could be published, form an excellent accompaniment to Evelyn's delightful Diary. I am glad to say that I have succeeded to the utmost of my expectations, or rather much beyond them.

The character employed is a shorthand, not very different in principle from those in use now, or at least those which were in use when, as a law student, I practised shorthand. The writing is for the most part alphabetical (divided into words, which gives infinite facility for deciphering), but generally leaving out the vowels, and there is a large collection of arbitrary signs for terminations, particles, and words of very frequent occurrence, and some, though not near so numerous, for longer and less frequent words. The alphabet I have entirely mastered; the second class of signs I have so in a great measure, and a considerable proportion. though not nearly the whole, of the third, which, from the less frequency of its occurrence, is, of course, the more difficult to the decipherer.

But, as it is, I could already furnish you with a transcript of the first three or four pages, with a few hiatuses, and those easily supplied (or, at least, for the most part so) by conjecture, which I have no doubt a farther progress in the MS. would soon turn into certainty. But, having got so far as to make the task (I am confident) quite easy to any person who would set himself II

VOL. XX.