126 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 171. 



tlons; whilst, from its abundance of intermediate sounds 

 l^Mitteltone*'], tones not even to be taught, but only to 

 be learned, it has derived a characteristic power of 

 expression such as perhaps was never yet the property 

 of any other human tongue. Its higlily spiritual genius, 

 and wonderfully happy development, have proceeded 

 from a surprisingly intimate alliance of the two oldest 

 languages of modern Europe — the Germanic and Ro- 

 manesque, f It is well known in what relation these 

 stand to one another in the English language. The 

 former supplies the material groundwork, the latter 

 the higher mental conceptions. Indeed, the English 

 language, which has not in vain produced and sup- 

 ported the greatest, the most prominent of all modern 

 poets (I allude, of course, to Shakspeare), in contra- 

 distinction to the ancient classical poetry, may be called 

 justly a LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD : and seems, like the 

 English nation, to be destined to reign in future with 

 still more extensive sway over all parts of the globe. 

 For none of all the living languages can be compared 

 with it as to richness, rationality, and close con- 

 struction [Vernunft und gedriingter Fiige], not even 

 the German — which has many discrepancies like our 

 nation, and from which it would be first obliged to free 

 itself, before it could boldly enter the lists with the 

 English. 



I transmit the text, as many of your readers 

 may prefer the extract — as most " foreign extracts " 

 are preferred — "neat as imported:" although, 

 owing to the kindness of a friend, it is foirly repre- 

 sented in the translation. It is however very 

 difficult to find words which precisely express the 

 meaning of German scientific terms. S. H. 



PEESEaVATION OF VALUABLE PAPERS FEOM DAMP ; 

 DRYING CLOSETS. 



The deslccative powers of lime are familiar to 

 chemists, and, I believe, to many practical men ; 

 but I do not know of lime having been used for 

 the above purpose. 



A strong chest, in my possession, containing Im- 

 portant papers (title-deeds, marriage certificates, 

 &c.), gradually became damp, and subjected its 

 contents to a slow process of decay. This arose, I 

 found, from a defect in its construction, wood 

 having been improperly introduced into the latter, 

 and concealed; so that some singular chemical 

 compounds would appear to have been formed. 

 The papers were gradually injured to an extent 

 enforcing attention; and the process continued in 

 them after their removal into a well-constructed 

 chest, giving me the impression of a process re- 

 sembling the action of a ferment. Several attempts 



* Mitteltone are those sounds which stand between 

 the three fundamental vowels, a , i , u, as pronounced 

 bjT' the continental nations. 



f Romanesque. Those languages which have de- 

 scended from the Latin, as the Spanish, Frank, or 

 French, &c. 



were made to dry them by fires, the rays of the 

 sun, &c.; but the damp was always renewed. 



They were thoroughly dried in a very few days, 

 and permanently kept dry, by placing and keeping 

 in the chest a box containing a little quicklime. 



At a later period, a large closet, so damp as to 

 render articles mouldy, was thoroughly dried, and 

 kept dry, by a box containing lime. 



The chest was about 2 feet 6 inches, by 2 feet 

 1 Inch, and 1 foot 8 inches ; and the box placed 

 In it for several months was about I foot 2J^ 

 Inches, by 8^ Inches, and 3 inches. After about a 

 year, although no very perceptible damp was dis- 

 covered, yet. In consequence of the value of the 

 papers, and the beauty of some of them as manu- 

 scripts, I introduced two such boxes. These pro- 

 portions were selected to enable the boxes to stand 

 conveniently on a shelf with account-books and 

 packages of papers. 



The closet is about 1 1 feet 4 Inches, by 2, Irre- 

 gular dimensions, which I estimate at about 6 feet, 

 and 2 feet 4 inches. The box used in this case Is 

 I foot 4 Inches, by 11 Inches, and 7 inches. 



The lime should be in pieces of a suitable size. 

 For the chest, I prefer pieces about the size of a 

 large English walnut ; for the closet, of an orange. 



It is necessary either that the box should be 

 strongly made, or be formed of tin, or other metal, 

 on account of the lateral expansive force of the 

 lime. Room for expansion upwards Is not suffi- 

 cient protection. The same expansion renders It 

 necessary that the box should not be more than 

 two-fifths filled with fresh lime. 



I leave the tops open. If covered, they must be 

 so disposed that the air within the boxes shall freely 

 communicate with that of the chest or closet. 



I have used these boxes several years, and only 

 changed the lime once a year. B. II. C 



Philadelphia. 



POSITION OF THE CLERGY IN THE SEVENTEENTH 

 CENTURY. 



The Proceedings and Pape7's of the Historic 

 Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Session IV., 

 1851-2, Include a paper contributed by Thomas 

 Doming Hibbert, of the Middle Temple, Esq., 

 being the second of a series of " Letters relating 

 to Lancashire and Cheshire, temp. James I., 

 Charles I., and Charles II." 



One of these letters, written In or about the 

 year 1605, by the Rev. William Batemanne, from 

 Ludgarsall (Ludgar's Hall), " a parish which lies 

 In the counties of Oxford and Bucks," and ad- 

 dressed " to his louinge father Ihon Batemanne, 

 alderman at Maxfelde" (Macclesfield), contains, 

 as the learned contributor remarks, " strong con- 

 firmation of Mr. Macaulay's controverted state- 

 ment, that the country clergy occupied a very 

 humble position In the sixteenth and seventeenth 



