2"* S. VIII. Dec. 31. '69.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



531 



Cudworth. — Lord Brougham, in his Discourse 

 of Natural Theology, in a note asks the question, 

 *' Why are the manuscripts of the author still 

 buried in the British Museum?" This question his 

 lordship puts after remarking on the profound 

 learning of Cudworth's Intellectual System, al- 

 though unfinished, and its satisfactory exposition 

 of the ancient philosophers, rendering his work 

 above all praise. Qdassatio. 



Thomas Irson. — In a note of Moses du Soul 

 (Solanus) on Lucian's Alexander, c. 26 (vol. ii. p. 

 234. ed. Hemst.) occurs an anecdote of the court 

 of Charles II., which I do not remember to have 

 met with elsewhere. As few students of the his- 

 tory of English manners are likely to consult 

 commentators on the classics for materials, (if in- 

 deed they do not regard such commentators and 

 their calling as behind the age), I venture to ex- 

 tract the passage at length, and shall be glad to 

 hear more of the adventurer Irson, if that is his 

 true name : — 



"Simili artificio callidus Anglus, quem ipsi vidimus, 

 Thomas Irsonus, caput ligneum loquax concinnarat, quo, 

 ut ipse narrabat, tota Caroli II. aula et Rex ipse viso ob- 

 stupuit. Immurmurabat spectatorum aliquis ori istiua 

 capitis hianti verba, quae in buccam venerant, quacumque 

 libitum erat lingua; quo facto mox responsum eadem 

 lingua et ad rem accommodatissimnm ex ligneo capite 

 reddebatur. Percrebuerat jam per totam urbem monstri 

 fama. Frequentes ad tantse rei miraculum, data pecunia 

 quisque, advolant. Nee dubium quia brevi de rebus ar- 

 canis futurisque tarn doctum caput consulendum fuerit 

 (quidni enim lignum loquax et futura et arcana pandere 

 valeat?) cum subito adolescens ex nobilium famulitio, 

 qui tum spectabant, in proxime adjacens cubiculum irre- 

 pens hominem os tubo admoventem, et clamantem con- 

 spicit; neque ullis muneribus et promissis deterreri 

 poterat, quin tantum arcanum divulgaret. Innotuit ita- 

 que fraus, et patuit sacerdotem pontificium, multarum 

 linguarum hominem, capiti oracula, auditis per tubum e 

 conclavi proximo quajstionibus, dictasse et revera inspi- 

 rasse. Eem totam Irsonus ipse ante aliquot aunos viro 

 nobili, me audiente, narrabat." 



Who was the many-languaged Roman Catholic 

 priest ? I commend the question to Dr. Russell 

 for a new edition of his curious Life of Mezzofanti. 



J. E. B. Mayor. 



St. John's College, Cambridge. 



William Constantine. — Any account of this gen- 

 tleman or his family would oblige. In a marriage 

 settlement dated 1695 he is described of the Mid- 

 dle Temple. It is believed he was of a family in 

 the Home or Midland Counties. J. F. C. 



Irish Banlii'upts. — Can any one refer me to a 

 published list of bankrupts in Ireland a century 

 back ; or to any records whence such information 

 may be obtained? A Citizen or London. 



This Day Eight Days. — In Eome parts of the 

 county of Antrim it is a common reply to receive 



from the poor people, if you ask them "Were you 

 at church last Sunday?" " Yes, I was out this 

 day eight days," I shall be glad if any of your 

 Irish correspondents can tell me the origin of this 

 expression. Alfred T. Lee, 



William Winstanley, author of England's Wor- 

 thies, 1684; Lives of the most famous English 

 Poets, 1687. Can you give me the date of this 

 author's death (about 1690), and inform me where 

 he is buried ? R. Inglis. 



J. Walker Ord, author of England, an historical 

 poem, 2 vols. 8vo., 1834; The Bai-d and other 

 Poems, 12mo. 1841. Can you give me the date 

 of this gentleman's death? I think Mr. Ord is 

 also the author of a History of Cleveland, York- 

 shire. R. Inglis. 



Gift of Children. — In the Privy Purse expenses 

 of King Henry VIII., in the third year (Dec. 28, 

 1512), is the entry "Itm. to a woman that gave 

 the king two children, 0. 13. 4." Can this gift be 

 explained ? W. P. 



Henry VI. — Can you tell me where I shall find 

 a satisfactory explanation as to whether the body 

 of Henry VI. was or was not removed fi*om 

 Windsor to Westminster. Ackermann's West- 

 minster Abbey states that the removal cost the 

 abbey 500Z, ; whilst Gough, Sepidchral Monuments, 

 adopts the view that it was at Windsor at least as 

 late as the time of the death of Henry VIIT. Or 

 is it still a point upon which antiquaries are dis- 

 agreed ? In The Pictorial History of England 

 it is stated that when Henry VII. desired to re- 

 move the body to Westminster it could not be 

 found. W. P. 



Webster's Dictionary. — I observe this work is 

 often quoted as an authority for the definitions of 

 words. Will you or some of your correspon- 

 dents kindly inform me when and where the first 

 edition of the work was published? and the years 

 and localities of the publication of subsequent 

 editions ? Vrtan Rheged. 



Incorporated Society of British Artists. — Where 

 is it likely I could peruse the catalogues of 

 the " Incorporated Society of British Artists ? " 

 This society preceded the Royal Academy, and 

 was formed about the year 1765. E. T. C. 



Heraldic. — In the church of St. Mary's, Clon- 

 mel, Ireland, there is a tomb recording the death 

 of Ann, the wife of Edward Hutchinson, who died 

 Nov. 30, 1682. Her armorial bearings are im- 

 paled beside those of her husband. Omitting the 

 tinctures, they may be described thus: — A chevron 

 between three gouttes : on a chief, a demi-savage 

 holding a club. The family name of the wife, 

 before she was married, is earnestly desired. 



P. Hutchinson. 



