Notes and Queries, Number 212, November 19, 1853

REV. JOSIAH PULLEN

Every Oxford man regards with some degree of interest that goal of so many of his walks, Joe Pullen's tree, on Headington Hill. So at least it was in my time, now some thirty years since. Perhaps the following notices of him, who I suppose planted it, or at all events gave name to it, may be acceptable to your Oxford readers. They are taken from that most curious collection (alas! too little known) the Pocket-books of Tom Hearne, vol. liii. pp. 25-35., now in the Bodleian:

"Jan. 1, 1714-15. Last night died Mr. Josiah Pullen, A.M., minister of St. Peter's in the East, and Vice-Principal of Magdalen Hall. He had also a parsonage in the country. He was formerly domestick chaplain to Bishop Sanderson, to whom he administered the sacrament at his death. He lived to a very great age, being about fourscore and three, and was always very healthy and vigorous. He was regular in his way of living, but too close, considering that he was a single man, and was wealthy. He seldom used spectacles, which made him guilty of great blunders at divine service, for he would officiate to the last. He administered the Sacrament last Christmas Day to a great congregation at St. Peter's, which brought his illness upon him. He took his B.A. degree May 26, 1654. He became minister of St. Peter's in the East anno 1668, which was the year before Dr. Charlett was entered at Oxford."—P. 25.

"Jan. 7, Friday. This day, at four in the afternoon, Mr. Pullen was buried in St. Peter's Church, in the chapel at the north side of the chancell. All the parishioners were invited, and the pall was held up by six Heads of Houses, though it should have been by six Masters of Arts, as Dr. Radcliffe's pall should have been held up by Doctors in Physic, and not by Doctors of Divinity and Doctors of Law."—P. 32.

Dr. Radcliffe's funeral had taken place in the preceding month.

In Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. iv. p. 181., is the following epitaph of Pullen, drawn up by Mr. Thomas Wagstaffe:

"Hic jacet reverendus vir Josia Pullen, A.M. Aulæ Magd. 57 annos vice principalis, necnon hujusce ecclesiæ Pastor 39 annos. Obiit 31^o Decembris, anno Domini 1714, ætatis 84."

From the notice of Thomas Walden, in Johnson's Lives of the Poets, it appears that Yalden was a pupil of Pullen. (See also Walton's Life of Sanderson, towards the end.) I hope this may elicit some farther account of a man whose name has survived so long in Oxford memory.

As to the tree, I have some recollection of having heard that it had a few years ago a narrow escape of being thrown down, sometime about the vice-chancellorship of Dr. Symons, who promptly came forward to the rescue. Was it ever in such peril? and, if so, was it preserved?

Balliolensis.

FOLK LORE

Ancient Custom in Warwickshire.—In Sir William Dugdale's Diary, under the year 1658, is noted the following:

"On All Hallow Even, the master of the family antiently used to carry a bunch of straw, fired, about his corne, saying,

 
'Fire and red low,
Light on my teen low.'"
 

Can any of your readers learned in ancient lore explain the custom and the meaning of the couplet, well as its origin? Does it now at all prevail in that county?

J. B. Whitborne.

Nottinghamshire Customs.—1. The 29th of May is observed by the Notts juveniles not only by wearing the usual piece of oak-twig, but each young loyalist is armed with a nettle, as coarse as can be procured, with which instrument of torture are coerced those unfortunates who are unprovided with "royal oak," as it is called. Some who are unable to procure it endeavour to avoid the penalty by wearing "dog-oak" (maple), but the punishment is always more severe on discovery of the imposition.

2. On Shrove Tuesday, the first pancake cooked is given to Chanticleer for his sole gratification.

3. The following matrimonial custom prevails at Wellow or Welley, as it is called, a village in the heart of the county. The account is copied from the Notts Guardian of April 28, 1853:

"Wellow. It has been a custom from time immemorial in this parish, when the banns of marriage are published, for a person, selected by the clerk, to rise and say 'God speed them well,' the clerk and congregation responding, Amen! Owing to the recent death of the person who officiated in this ceremony, last Sunday, after the banns of marriage were read, a perfect silence prevailed, the person chosen, either from want of courage or loss of memory, not performing his part until after receiving an intimation from the clerk, and then in so faint a tone as to be scarcely audible. His whispered good wishes were, however, followed by a hearty Amen, mingled with some laughter in different parts of the church."

I do not know whether any notices of the above have appeared in "N. & Q.," and send to inquire respecting 1. and 3. whether a similar custom holds elsewhere; and whether 2. has any connexion with the disused practice of cock-shying?

Furvus.

Minor Notes

A Centenarian Couple.—The obituary of Blackwood's Magazine for August, 1821, contains the following:

"Lately, in Campbell, County Virginia, Mr. Chas. Layne, sen., aged 121 years, being born at Albemarle, near Buckingham county, 1700. He has left a widow aged 110 years, and a numerous and respectable family down to the fourth generation. He was a subject of four British sovereigns, and a citizen of the United States for nearly forty-eight years. Until within a few years he enjoyed all his faculties, and excellent health."

The above extract is followed by notices of the deaths of Anne Bryan, of Ashford, co. Waterford, aged 111; and Wm. Munro, gardener at Rose Hall, aged 104.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

"Veni, vidi, vici."—To these remarkable and well-known words of the Roman general, I beg to forward two more sententious despatches of celebrated generals:

 
Suwarrow. "Slava bogu! Slava vam!
Krepost Vzala, yiatam."
 
 
"Glory to God and the Empress! Ismail's ours."
 

It is also stated, I do not know on what authority, that the old and lamented warrior, Sir Charles Napier, wrote on the conquest of Scinde, "Peccavi."

Perhaps some of your correspondents could add a few more pithy sentences on a like subject.

G. Lloyd.

Dublin.

Autumnal Tints.—Scarce any one can have failed to notice the unusual richness and brilliance of the autumnal tints on the foliage this year. I have more particularly remarked this in Clydesdale, the lake districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland, and in Somersetshire and Devonshire. Can any of the contributors to "N. & Q." inform me if attributable to the extraordinary wetness of the season?

R. H. B.

Variety is pleasing.—Looking over my last year's note-book, I find the following morceau, which I think ought to be preserved in "N. & Q.:"

"Nov. 30, 1851. Observed in the window of the Shakspeare Inn a written paper running thus:

 
'To be raffled for:
The finding of Moses, and six
Fat geeze(!!).
Tickets at the bar.'"
 

R. C. Warde.

Kidderminster.

Rome and the Number Six.—It has been remarked lately in "N. & Q." that in English history, the reign of the second sovereign of the same name has been infelicitous. I cannot turn to the note I read, and I forget whether it noticed the remarks in Aubrey's Miscellanies (London, 8vo., 1696), that "all the second kings since the Conquest have been unfortunate." It may be worth the while to add (what is remarked by Mr. Matthews in his Diary of an Invalid), that the number six has been considered at Rome as ominous of misfortune. Tarquinius Sextus was the very worst of the Tarquins, and his brutal conduct led to a revolution in the government; under Urban the Sixth, the great schism of the West broke out; Alexander the Sixth outdid all that his predecessors amongst the Tarquins or the Popes had ventured to do before him; and the presentiment seemed to receive confirmation in the misfortunes of the reign of his successor Pius VI., to whose election was applied the line:

 
"Semper sub sextis perdita Roma fuit."
 

W. S. G.

Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Zend Grammar.—The following fragment on Zend grammar having fallen in my way, I inclose you a copy, as the remarks contained in it may be of service to Oriental scholars.

I am unable to state the author's name, although I suspect the MS. to be from a highly important quarter. The subject-matter, however, is sufficiently important to merit publication.

"The Zend, of disputed authenticity, and the Asmani Zuban, a notoriously fictitious tongue, compared."

"It is well known that Sanscrit words abound in Zend; and that some of its inflexions are formed by the rules of the Vyacaran or Sanscrit grammar.

 

"It would therefore seem quite possible that by application of these rules a grammar might be written of the Zend. Would such a composition afford any proof of the disputed point—the authenticity of the Zend?

"I think it would not, and support my opinion by reasons founded on the following facts.

"The Asmani Zuban of the Desstù is most intimately allied to Persian. It is, in fact, fabricated out of that language, as is shown by clear internal evidence. Now the grammatical structure of this fictitious tongue is identical with that of Persian: and hence by following the rules of Persian grammar, a grammar of the Asmani Zuban might be easily framed. But would this work advance the cause of forgery, and tend to invest it with the quality of truth? No more, I answer, and for the same reason, than is a grammar of the Zend, founded on the Vyacaran, to be received in proof of the authenticity of that language."

Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie.

The Duke's first Victory.—Perhaps it may interest the future author of the life of the Duke of Wellington to be informed of his first victory. It was not in India, as commonly supposed, but on Donnybrook Road, near Dublin, that his first laurels were won. This appears from the Freeman's Journal, September 18th, 1789, where we learn that in consequence of a wager between him and Mr. Whaley of 150 guineas, the Hon. Arthur Wesley walked from the five-mile stone on Donnybrook Road to the corner of the circular road in Leeson Street, in fifty-five minutes, and that a number of gentlemen rode with the walker, whose horses he kept in a tolerable smart trot. When it is recollected that those were Irish miles, even deducting the distance from Leeson Street to the Castle, whence the original measurements were made, this walk must be computed at nearly six English miles.

Omicron.

Straw Paper.—Various papers manufactured of straw are now in the market. The pen moves so easily over any and all of them, that literary men should give them a trial. As there seems considerable likelihood of this manufacture being extensively introduced, on account of the dearness of rags, &c., it is to be hoped that it will not be improved into the resemblance of ordinary paper. Time was when ordinary paper could be written on in comfort, but that which adulterated Falstaff's sack spoiled it for the purpose, and converted it into limed twigs to catch the winged pen.

M.

American Epitaph (Vol. viii., p. 273.).—The following lines are to be seen on a tombstone in Virginia:

 
"My name, my country, what are they to thee?
What whether high, or low, my pedigree?
Perhaps I far surpassed all other men:
Perhaps I fell behind them all—what then?
Suffice it, stranger, that thou see'st a tomb,
Thou know'st its use; it hides—no matter whom."
 

W. W.

Malta.

Queries

LAURIE (?) ON CURRENCY, ETC

I have before me a bulky volume, apparently unpublished, treating of currency and of many other politico-economical affairs; the authorship of which I am desirous of tracing. If any reader of "N. & Q." can assist my search I shall feel greatly obliged to him.

This volume extends to 936 closely printed pages, and is altogether without divisions either of book, chapter, or section. It has neither title-page, conclusion, imprint, or date; and my copy seems to consist of revises or "clean sheets" as they came from the press. The main gist of the work is thus described, apparently by the author himself, in a MS. note which occupies the place of the title-page:

"It is here meant to show that in civilised nations money is an emanating circulable wealth and power, without which individuals cannot go on in improvement on independent principles. It resolves wealth into the forms most conducive to this object, and prepares for the highest services both individuals and communities."

The book, however, is extremely discursive, and no small portion of it is devoted to foreign politics. Thus, of the "Eastern Question," the author disposes in this fashion:

"Austria, to answer its destination, ought to comprise Wallachia, Bessarabia, Moldavia, and, following the line of demarcation drawn by the Danube, the whole territory at its debouchment.... Turkey cannot regard the sacrifices proposed as of much importance, when such security as that now in contemplation could be obtained. The whole strength of her immense empire is at present drained to support her contest on this very barrier with Russia. But that barrier, it is evident, would this way be effectually secured: for Austria has too many points of importance to protect, to dream of creating new ones on this feeble yet extended confine of her domains."—Pp. 835, 836.

From internal evidence, the book appears to have been written between 1812 and 1815. It is printed in half-sheets, from sig. A to sig. 6 B, and three half-sheets are wanting, viz. E, 5 Q, and 5 R. In place of the last two, the following MS. note is inserted:

"The speculations in the two following sheets included views that related to the disorganised state of Turkey, and the unhappy dependence of the Bourbon family; which are now, from the changes which have taken place, altogether unfit for publication."

The sole indication of the authorship which I have observed throughout the volume lies in the following foot-note, at p. 893.:

"This is all that seems to be necessary to say on the subject of education. In a treatise published by me a few years ago, entitled Improvements in Glasgow, I think I have exhausted," &c.⁶

The only treatise with such a title which I find in Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica is thus entered:

"Laurie, David. Proposed improvements in Glasgow. Glasg., 1810, 8vo.—Hints regarding the East India Monopoly, 1813. 2s."

My Queries then are these:

1. Is anything known of such a treatise on "circulable wealth," &c., as that which I have named?

2. Is any biographical notice extant of the "David Laurie" mentioned by Watt?

I may add that the volume in question was recently purchased along with about 1000 other pamphlets and books, chiefly on political economy: all of which appear to have formerly belonged to the late Lord Bexley, and to have been for the most part collected by him when Chancellor of the Exchequer.

E.

Old Trafford, near Manchester.

"DONATUS REDIVIVUS."

Can you, or any of your correspondents, give me any information relative to the history or authorship of the following pamphlet?—

"Donatus Redivivus: or a Reprimand to a modern Church-Schismatick, for his Revival of the Donatistical Heresy of Rebaptization, in Defiance to the Judgment and Practice of the Catholick Church, and of the Church of England in particular. In a Letter to Himself. London, 1714."

The same tract (precisely identical, except in the title-page) is also to be found with the following title:

"Rebaptization condemned. Wherein is shown, 1. That to Rebaptize any Person that was once Baptiz'd, even by Laymen, in the name of the Sacred Trinity, is contrary to the Practice of the Catholick Church in all Ages. 2. That it is repugnant to the Principles and Practice of the Church of England. 3. The Pernicious Consequences of such a Practice. By the Author of Plain Dealing, or Separation without Schism," &c. London, 1716.

I am aware that, according to Dr. Watt, the author of Plain Dealing was Charles Owen, D.D., but he makes no mention of Donatus Redivivus, and I am unable to discover any account of Dr. Charles Owen or his writings elsewhere. There appears to have been a reply to Donatus Redivivus, purporting to be from the pen of a Mrs. Jane Chorlton. This I have never seen, and have only learned of its existence from a subsequent pamphlet with the following title:

"The Amazon Disarm'd: or, the Sophisms of a Schismatical Pamphlet, pretendedly writ by a Gentlewoman, entituled An Answer to Donatus Redivivus, exposed and confuted; being a further Vindication of the Church of England from the scandalous imputation of Donatism or Rebaptization. London, 1714."

The dedication of this last tract begins as follows:

"To the Reverend Mr. L—ter, and the Demi-reverend Mr. M—l—n

"Gentlemen,

"This letter belongs to you upon a double account, as you were the chief Actors in the late Rebaptizaton, and are the supposed Vindicators of it, in the Answer to Donatus: a Treatise writ in Defence of the Sentiments of the Church, which you father upon a Dissenting Minister, and disingenuously point out to Mr. O–n by Name," &c.

The point which I wish particularly to ascertain is, whether Dr. Charles Owen was really the author of either of the tracts I have mentioned; and if so, who he was, and where I can find an account of him and his writings.

Ἁλιεύς.

Dublin.