lie 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 199. 



This work, tlius publlslicd anonymously, was from 

 the pen of the Abbe de Villars. An English 

 translation was published at London in 1714. 



The doctrine of the Rosy Cross entered largely 

 into the literature of the seventeenth century. 

 This applies especially to the masques of James I. 

 and Charles I. To the same source Shakspeare 

 owes his Ariel, and Milton much of his Comus. 



It is strange, but instructive, to observe how 

 variously different minds make use of the same 

 materials. What greater contrast can we have 

 than The Rape of the Lock and Undine? — the 

 one redolent of the petit-maitre and the Cockney ; 

 the other a work sui generis, of human conceptions 

 •the most exquisite and spirit-fragi'ant. Wieland's 

 Idi'is und Zenide, Bulwer's Zanoni, and Mackay's 

 ■Salamandrine, are also based on Rosicrucian prin- 

 ciples. Mention of the llosicrucians occurs in 

 Izaak Walton's Angler and Butler's Hudibi-as — 

 see Zachary Grey's note and authorities referred 

 to by him. See also two interesting papers on the 

 subject in Chambers's Edinh. Journal, ed. 1846, 

 vol. vi. pp. 298. 316. Eirionnach. 



July 20, 1853. 



P. S. — I may as well notice here a very curious 

 book of llosicrucian emblems, as I have it beside 

 me : 



" Atalanta Fuglens, hoc est, Emblemata Nova de 

 Secretis Naturse Chymica. Accommodata partim 

 oculis et intellectui, figuris cupro incisis, adjectisque 

 sententiis, Epigrammatis et notis, partim auribus et 

 recreationi animi plus minus 50 Fugis Musiealibus 

 trium vocum, quarum duae ad unam simplicem melo- 

 diam distichis canendis peraptam correspondeant, non 

 absq; singular! jucunditate videnda, legenda, medi- 

 tanda, intelligenda, dijudicanda, canenda, et audienda. 

 Authore Michaele Majero, Imperial. Consistorii Comite, 

 Med. D. Eq. Ex. etc. : Oppenheimii, ex Typographia 

 Hieronymi Galleri, sumptibus Joh. Theodori de Bry, 

 MDCxviii." Small 4to. pp. 211. 



The title-page is adorned with emblematical 

 figures. The work contains a portrait of the 

 author, and fifty emblems executed with much 

 spirit. Amongst others we have a Salamander in 

 the fire, a green lion, a hermaphrodite, a dragon, 

 &c. Every right page has a motto, an emblem, 

 and an epigram under the emblem in Latin. The 

 left page gives the same in German, with the Latin 

 words set to music. After each emblem we have 

 a " Discursus." 



The following remarks on the title occur in the 

 preface : 



" Atalanta Poetis celebrata est propter fugam, qua 

 omnes procos in certamine antevertit, ideoque ipsis 

 victis pro Virgine, praemio Victoriae proposito, mors 

 Obiigit, donee ab Hippomene, Juvene audaciore et 

 provido, superata et obtenta sit trium malorum aure- 

 orum per Vices inter currendum objectu, qua; dum 

 ilia tolleret, praeventa est ab eo, metam j.im attingente : 



Ha?c Atalanta ut fiiglt, sic una vox musicalis semper 

 fugit ante aliam et altera insequitur, ut Hippomenes: 

 In tertia tamen stabiliuntur et iirmantur, qua simplex 

 est et unius valoris, tanquam malo anreo : Hajc eadem 

 virgo mere chymica est, nempe Mercurlus philoso- 

 phicus a sulfure aureo in fuga fixatus et retentus, quern 

 si quis sistere noverit, sponsam, quam ambit, habebit, sin 

 minus, perditionern suarum rerum est interitum," &c. 

 — Page 9. 



SEA.RSOH S POEMS. 



(Vol.vii., p. 131.) 



John Searson was a merchant in Philadelphia in 

 the year 1766. A few days before seeing the in- 

 quiry respecting him, I came across his advertise- 

 ment in the Peniisylvania Gazette ; but not having 

 made a note of the date, I have since been unable 

 to find it. His stock was of a vei'y miscellaneous 

 character, as " Bibles and warming pans," " spell- 

 ing-books and swords," figured in it in juxta- 

 position. He taught school at one time in Bask- 

 ing Ridge, New Jersey. 



A copy of his poem on " Down Hill" is before 

 me ; and it is quite as curious a production as the 

 volume of poems which he afterwards published. 



He describes himself in the title-page as " Late 

 Master of the Free School in Colerain, and formerly 

 of New York, Merchant." Tlie volume was printed 

 in 1 794 by subscription at Colerain. 



The work is introduced by " A Poem, being a 

 Cursory View of Belfast Town," thus commencing : 



" With pleasure I view the Town of Belfast, 

 Where many dear friends their lots have been cast : 

 The Buildings are neat, the Town very clean, 

 And Trade very brisk are here to be seen ; 

 Their Shipping are numerous, as I behold, 

 And Merchants thrive here in riches, I'm told." 



Here are some farther specimens from this poem : 



" I've walk'd alone, and view'd the Paper Mill, 

 Its walk, the eye with pleasure fill. 

 I've view'd the Mountains that surround Belfast, 

 And find they are romantic to the last. 



The Church of Belfast is superb and grand, 

 And to the Town an ornament does stand; 

 Their Meeting Houses also is so neat, 

 The congregation large, fine and complete." 



The volume contains a dedication to the Rev. 

 Mr. Josiah Marshall, rector of Maghera, a pi'eface, 

 a table of contents, and "A Prayer previous to the 

 Poem." 



The whole book is so intensely ridiculous that 

 it is difficult to select. The following are rather 

 cliosen for their brevity than for any pre-eminent 

 absurdity : 



" The Earl of Bristol here some time do dwell. 

 Which after-ages sure of him will tell." 



