July 16. 1853.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



53 



in support of his thesis. Professor Hilgers says 

 that emendation of the text, by means of such a 

 mode of correction as would restore the corrupted 

 verses to their original form, has hitherto been 

 almost entii-ely neglected by commentators, or 

 else employed by them with very little ability and 

 success. I have not seen the Professor's Treatise, 

 and only write from a short notice which I have 

 just perused of it in a German review ; but, if 

 what Professor PI. states be correct, the subject 

 appears to deserve more particular attention from 

 the writers in the " N. & Q.," who have devoted 

 their ingenuity and research to the illusti-ation of 

 Shakspeare. In the hope of attracting them to 

 " fresh fields and pastures new," in which to re- 

 ci'eate themselves, and to instruct and delight the 

 world-wide readers of the great dramatist, I ven- 

 ture to solicit attention to Professor Hilger's pam- 

 phlet and its subject. In this I only echo the 

 German reviewer's language, who most highly 

 praises the Professox-'s acuteness, and the value of 

 his strictures, and promises to return to them at 

 greater length in a future number of the periodical 

 in which he writes. John Macray. 



Oxford. 



UNPUBLISHED LETTER. 



I have thought that the following old letter, 

 from a retired lawyer of the seventeenth century 

 to his future son-in-law, might not be altogether 

 unintei'esting to your readers, as referring to the 

 value of land and money at the period when it was 

 written. C. W. B. 



S', 



July yM6'S (16)95. 



Since you are pleased to demand my opinion 

 concerning your intended purchase, I shall give 

 you it as well as I can upon so short a warning. 

 You say, if lett, you suppose It was worth a ISOl. 

 per annu. I cannot tell by your letter whether 

 the mills, lett at 201. per annu, are a part of y^ 

 1301. : if it be, I think 2600Z. a great price, being 

 much above twenty years' purchase, considering 

 the lord's rent. But if they are not included in 

 that sum, 'tis a good twenty years' purchase. Now 

 you must consider what returne this will make for 

 your money. I am sure, as times goe, not three 

 per cent ; and money makes full five, and very 

 seldom, if ever, pays taxes. I believe it may be 

 very convenient for you, and it is very advan- 

 tageous to be entire ; but if you should contract a 

 debt to buy this estate you will be very uneasy, 

 and, if you marry, the first setting out will be 

 expensive, and it will be ill taking up money to 

 defray necessary charges. I conceive tiie land is 

 in hand, and not lett ; so that, if you have not a 

 tenant, you must be at the expence of stocking, 

 W" will sett very hard upon you. And you know, 



w" your sister marrys, there is a 1000 pounds 

 more to be provided. Pray putt all these things 

 together, and propose some way of solving all 

 these difficultys ; and, if you can, I should be glad 

 to have it annexed to your estate, and settled upon 

 the heirs male of your body. Upon w'^'' consider- 

 ation I shall be more inclined to farther your 

 desires in a reasonable manner. 



Pray, w" you hear any more of that couselor's 

 amours send me word, but lett me advise you 

 never to say anything of him or his estate that 

 may come to the lady's ears. I hope my Lady 

 Morton will not tell M" Tregonell any more than 

 what all the world should know. I heard the K' 

 had bid adieu to the Woodland Lady. I am very- 

 glad of it, for I wish him better ffbrtune. I writt 

 lately to S"^ John, who honoured me with a letter. 

 As for public news, you have heard, I suppose, of 

 our burning St. Malos and Grandvlle ; and that; 

 wee have left a great many of our men before 

 Namur, but they continue the siege vigorously. 

 They say the ffrench are about to sett downe be- 

 fox'e Dixmude, to bring us of by revultion. Pray 

 p''sent mine and my daughter's service to your 

 sister, and believe me to be, S'', your affectionate 

 kinsman and servant J. Potenger. 



Remember, at this time there is a great deal of 

 land to be sold, but few purchasers. I have 

 spooke to S"" Miles Cooke, who promises to lett 

 me have your settlement to peruse, and to end 

 matters fairly. Since I writt my letter 'tis re- 

 ported .... is surrendered or taken. 



These fTor Richard BIngha, Esq., at 

 Bingham's Malcombe, to be left at 

 the post-house in St. Andrew's, ^ 



Milborne, Dorsett. ; 



Lines on the Institution of the Order of the 

 Garter. — I send you the following, which may be 

 worth a corner In " N. & Q." The only account 

 I can give of them is that I found them in MS. 

 among other poetical extracts, without date or 

 author's name : — 



" When Salisbury's famed Countess was dancing with 

 glee, 



Her stockhig's security fell from her knee. 



Allusions and liints, sneers and whispers went round; 



The trifle was scouted, and left on the ground. 



When Edward tlic Brave, with true soldier-like spirit. 



Cried, ' The garter is mine ; 'tis the order of merit ; 



The first knight in my court shall be happy to wear, 



Proud distinction! the garter that fell from the fair: 



While in letters of gold — 'tis your monarch's high 

 will — 



Shall there be inscribed, "III to him that thinks 

 ill." ' " 



Tee Bee. 



