Dec. 23, 1854.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



513 



Beech-trees struck by Lightning (Vol. vL, p. 129. ; 

 Vol. vii., p. 25.), — 



" Fig-trees and cedars are rarely struck with lightning ; 

 the beech, larch-fir, and chestnut are obnoxious to it ; 

 but the the trees which attract it most are the oak, j'ew, 

 and Lombard}' poplar ; whence it follows that the last are 

 the trees most proper to be placed near a building, since 

 thej' will act as so many lightning conductors to it. 

 Again, the electric fluid attacks in preference such trees 

 as are verging to decay by reason of age or disease." 



This extract is taken from Timbs' Year-booh of 

 Facts for 1848, where it appears as a quotation 

 from the Mechanics Magazine, No. 1235. In the 

 index to the former valuable publication there are 

 two references to the above note under different 

 heads, and to different pages. This is evidently 

 an error Avhich might hereafter be corrected, 

 should another edition be published. W. W. 



Malta. 



Kyrie Eleison (Vol. x., p. 404.). — These words 

 in the Roman Liturgy are of high antiquity. St. 

 Augustin in his Epist. 178. mentions this formu- 

 lary as in use among all Latins and barbarians, 

 though this epistle is somewhat doubtful. In the 

 mass this Greek form is retained as well as several 

 Hebrew words, as Alleluia, Sabaoth, and Hosannah, 

 as having been most probably used in the begin- 

 ning, to show that the Church was one, composed 

 at first of Hebrews and Greeks, and subsequently 

 of Latins. Another reason might be to com- 

 memorate the inscription on the Cross in these 

 three languages. The second Council of Vaison, 

 in 529, speaks of the Kyrie Eleison as in common 

 use. Of course J. R. G. is aware that in the 

 Catholic mass the Kyrie occurs towards the begin- 

 ning, and immediately before the Gloria in ex- 

 celsis. F. C. H. 



Epitaph (Vol. x., p. 421.). — The following is, 

 I think, more terse and expressive on a talkative 

 old maid than the epitaph which appeared in 

 "N.&Q." as above. 



" Here lies, retum'd to clay, 

 Miss Arabella Young, 

 Who on the first of May 

 Began to hold her tongue." 



F. C. H. 



^^Emsdorff's fame"' (Vol. x., pp. 103.392.).— 

 Residing as I do in a place where I cannot obtain 

 access to the Vocal Companion, or any copy of the 

 song commencing with these words, will Agmond 

 confer a favour on me by transmitting a copy of 

 the poem to " N. & Q.," for publication in the 

 columns of that excellent journal ? I saw the 

 words circa 1826, in a song-book published by 

 Mr. Bolster, of Cork, 7ro\«i rfOvriKos. Major 

 Charles James, the author, published the Military 

 Dictionary, several poems on military subjects, 

 and a Collection of the Sentences of General Courts - 

 martial, from the last-named of which works I 



learn that the officer tried at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, in 1806 (Vol. x., p. 386.), on the charge of 

 " prostrating himself on the ground, with a view 

 of avoiding the fire of the enemy," was Captain 

 iEneas Sutherland, 93rd Highlanders, and that 

 the court-martial resulted in that person being 

 cashiered. The trial will be found at p. 226. of 

 that work, which was published in 1820, by Mr. 

 Egerton, of the Military Library, 30. Whitehall, 



Loudon. JuVERNA. 



General Prim (Vol. x., p. 287.). — In 1848, 

 General Prim, bearing the title of Conde de Reus, 

 filled the important post of Captain-General of 

 the Spanish colony of Porto-Rico. In the be- 

 ginning of that year the slaves in the French 

 islands had obtained their freedom, and Governor 

 Prim, apprehending that the cry of " Liberty, 

 Equality, Fraternity," might extend to the co- 

 lony under his command, issued a proclamation 

 to the inhabitants of Porto-Rico, which for the 

 severity of its enactments against the African 

 race is unsurpassed even by the Infamous Code 

 Noir of by-gone days. I subjoin two short clauses 

 by way of illustration : 



" 2nd. That should any individual of the African race, 

 whether free or slave, take up any weapon against white 

 persons — though even provoked to do so — he shall, if a 

 slave, be shot dead, and if free, have his right hand cut 

 off by the common executioner ; but if the white be 

 wounded, then the free shall also be shot dead." 



" 5th. That if any slave (which is not expected) should 

 rebel against his master or employer, the latter is allowed 

 to kill the offender on the spot, in order to prevent, by 

 such prompt action, others from rising." 



The local newspaper from which I extract these 

 particulars adds, that in 1835 General Prim was a 

 sergeant in a Spanish regiment of infantry. 



Henrt H. Breen. 

 St. Lucia. 



Two Brothers with the same Christian Name 

 (Vol. X., p. 432.). — In Anthony Wood's Athenee 

 Oxonienses are biographies of two brothers, both 

 named John ; sons of John Hughes, Esq., M.P. 

 for Hereford, in Henry VII.'s reign. The one 

 was a divine ; and some sermons by him I have 

 seen in the Bodleian Library. The other, the 

 younger, was a barrister or judge of the Marches, 

 " linguist and poet." Ben Jonson submitted his 

 works to his revision. His Life occupies much 

 space in the Athena: Oxonienses, and far more 

 than his brother's. Both were at New College, 

 Oxford. From the sergeant I am lineally de- 

 scended. Philologus. 



« Chare'' or " Char'' (Vol. x., p. 435.). — The 

 lines quoted by F. are from the old Scottish bal- 

 lad " The Gaberlungie Man : " 



" Some ran to coffers, and some to kists. 

 But nought was stown that could be mist." 



J.H. 



