202 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[Sept. 15. 1655. 



It is very evident tliat a long time elapsed before 

 the systematic and uniform method of pointing 

 was adopted with which we are so familiar ; and 

 the same may be said of the mode of indicating 

 quotations and emphatic passages. On the former 

 of these I would observe, that marks of quotation, 

 similar to our inverted commas, have been found 

 in very ancient oriental manuscripts, the said 

 marks being placed in the margin, opposite each 

 line of extract. After printing was introduced, 

 quotations were frequently undistinguished by the 

 printer ; sometimes they were printed in a dif- 

 ferent type, as the text and its commentary, and 

 lastly, either inclosed in brackets, or marked by 

 commas. These last again were placed either at 

 the beginning of every line, or at the commence- 

 ment and conclusion of the quotation. Having 

 said so much, I would only add, that it is pecu- 

 liarly interesting to observe the successive steps 

 which brought the noble art of printing to that 

 degree of perfection which it has now attained. 



B. H. C. 



Minav ^attg. 



'■'■Hoop and Hollow" (Query, Whoop and Hal- 

 loo'). — Much has been written in "N. & Q." con- 

 cerning " by hook or by crook." In a collection 

 of songs', &c., about 1730, are the following lines : 



" An elderly lady, whose bulkj'^, squat figure 

 By hoop and white damask was rendered much bigger, 

 Without hood and bare-necked to the park did repair, 

 To show her new clothes and to take the fresh air — 

 Like a full sack before her, her wide hoop confined her 

 - With two peckloaves above, and two bushels behind 

 her. 

 Her bulk and attire raised loud shouts with laughter. 

 Away Avaddles madam ; the mob hurries after — 

 Quoth a wag then, observing the noisy crowd follow, 

 As she came with a hoop she is gone with a hollow.*' 



E. D. 



Liberty. — The Japanese, whom we regard as 

 being at best only semi-barbarians, never punish 

 any one for escaping from prison. They hold 

 that it is the natural right of every one to exert 

 his ingenuity for regaining his liberty, and, when 

 retaken, no harshness is used in the conveyance 

 back or subsequent detention. If there be blame 

 anywhere, it is with those who suffered him to 

 escape through remissness in vigilance. This we 

 have on the authority of a Russian, who was one 

 of the few survivors from a vessel wrecked on 

 their inhospitable coast. After being incarcerated 

 according to their accustomed rule, he escaped to 

 where he expected a boat would take him to some 

 of the European ships in the offing, but he was 

 recaptured, and lodged again in prison. He was 

 greatly surprised at his mild treatment afterwards, 

 which he feared was only preparatory to a cruel 

 death, till he learned their criminal escape law. 

 No. 307.] 



But he took care not to test its leniency too far 

 by a second attempt at evasion, and he was 

 liberated by some particular treaty or convention. 

 Query, would not this refined notion of liberty, 

 entertained by those generally deemed barbarians, 

 be worth imitation by what we call polished 

 nations ? When we capture an escaped delin- 

 quent we load him with fetters, and punish him by 

 various restrictions on his usual indulgences, and 

 sometimes even in his food. Besides these se- 

 verities by underlings, the law deems escape from 

 prison a crime, and the culprit feels its effects 

 accordingly. C. B. A. 



Moustache worn by Clergymen. — When the 

 episcopal wig came into fashion, it would seem 

 that the beard was no longer worn by clergymen. 

 In looking over a collection of prints, I find Wick- 

 liffe, William Tyndale, Dean Donne, George 

 Herbert, Robert Herrick, Robert Burton, Bishop 

 Jeremy Taylor, Archbishop Spottiswood, Thomas 

 Fuller, Usher the Primate, and Robert South, all 

 using the moustache ; as did John Knox and 

 Bunyan. The Jesuits in India, I believe, still 

 wear it. 



I have been unable to trace the latest instance 

 of a clergyman wearing his gown and cassock in 

 the streets ; the custom apparently died out in the 

 reign of one of the early Georges, 



Mackenzie Walcott, M.A. 



An American Medical License of the Olden 

 Time. — Here is a sample, granted by the general 

 assembly of Connecticut in 1652 : 



" Thomas Lord, having engaged to this Court to con- 

 tinue his abode in Hartford for the next ensuing year, 

 and to improve his best skill among the inhabitants of 

 the towns upon the river within this jurisdiction, both for 

 the setting of bones and otherwise, as at all times, occa- 

 sions, and necessities may require, this Court doth grant, 

 that he shall be paid by the country the sum of 15Z. for 

 the ensuing year ; and they also declare that for every 

 visit or journey that he shall take or make, being sent for 

 to any house in Hartford, 12d is reasonable; to any 

 house in Windsor, 5s. ; to any house in Withersfield, 3s. ; 

 to any house in Farmington^ 6s. ; to any house in Mat- 

 tasebeck or Middletown, 8s. (he having promised that he 

 will require no more) ; and that he shall be freed, for 

 the time aforesaid, from watching, warding, and training, 

 but not from finding arms, according to law." — Boston 

 Post. 



w. w. 



Malta. 



Russia and Turkey. — Among the medals struck 

 during the Congress of Verona in 1822, is one in 

 honour of the Emperor Nicholas. Surrounding 

 the bust is " Emperor of Russia, Verona, Oct. 

 1822," and on the reverse these significant words, 

 " I should like Constantinople." C. R. 



Paternoster Row. 



Staffordshire Sayings. — At Marchington, a 

 village in this neighbourhood, there is a saying 



