Nov. 19. 1853.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



491 



note I read, and I forget whether it noticed the 

 remarks in Aubrey's Miscellanies (London, 8vo., 

 1696), that " all the second kings since the Con- 

 quest have been unfortunate." It may be worth 

 the while to add (what is remarked by Mr. Mat- 

 thews in his Diary of an Invalid), that the num- 

 ber six has been considered at Rome as ominous 

 of misfortune. Tarquinius Sextus was the very 

 worst of tlie Tarquins, and his brutal conduct led 

 to a revolution in the government ; under Urban 

 the Sixth, the great schism of the West broke out ; 

 Alexander the Sixth outdid all that his prede- 

 cessors amongst the Tarquins or the Popes had 

 ventured to do before him ; and the presentiment 

 seemed to receive confirmation in the misfortunes 

 of" the reign of his successor Pius VI., to whose 

 election was applied the line : 



" Semper sub sextis perdita Roma fuit." 



W. S. G. 



Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



Zend Grammar. — The following fragment on 

 Zend grammar having fallen in my way, I inclose 

 you a copy, as the remarks contained in it may be 

 of service to Oriental scholars. 



I am unable to state the author's name, although 

 I suspect the MS. to be from a highly important 

 quarter. The subject-matter, however, is suffi- 

 ciently important to merit publication. 



" The Zend, of disputed authenticity, and the As- 

 mani Zuban, a notoriously fictitious tongue, compared." 



" It is well known that Sanscrit words abound in 

 Zend ; and that some of its inflexions are formed by the 

 rules of the Vyacaran or Sanscrit grammar. 



" It would therefore seem quite possible that by ap- 

 plication of these rules a grammar might be written 

 of the Zend. Would such a composition afford any 

 proof of the disputed point — the authenticity of the 

 Zend? 



" I think it would not, and support my opinion by 

 reasons founded on the following facts. 



" The Asmani Zuban of the Desstii is most inti- 

 mately allied to Persian. It is, in fact, fabricated out 

 of that language, as is shown by clear internal evidence. 

 Now the grammatical structure of this fictitious tongue 

 is identical with that of Persian : and hence by follow- 

 ing the rules of Persian grammar, a grammar of the 

 Asmani Zuban might be easily framed. But would 

 this work advance the cause of forgery, and tend to in- 

 vest it with the quality of truth ? No more, I answer, 

 and for the same reason, than is a grammar of the 

 Zend, founded on the Vyacaran, to be received in proof 

 of the authenticity of that language." 



Kekneth R. H. Mackenzie. 



The Duke's first Victory. — Perhaps it may in- 

 terest the future author of the life of the Duke of 

 Wellington to be informed of h\s, first victory. It 

 was not in India, as commonly supposed, but on 

 Donnybrook Road, near Dublin, that his first 

 laurels were won. This appears from the Free- 



man's Journal, September 18th, 1789, where we 

 learn that In consequence of a wager between him 

 and Mr. Whaley of 150 guineas, the Hon. Arthur 

 Wesley walked from the five-mile stone on Don- 

 nybrook Road to the corner of the circular road 

 In Leeson Street, in fifty-five minutes, and that a 

 number of gentlemen rode with the walker, whose 

 horses he kept in a tolerable smart trot. When it 

 is recollected that those were Irish miles, even de- 

 ducting the distance from Leeson Street to the 

 Castle, whence the original measurements were 

 made, this walk must be computed at nearly six 

 English miles. Omickoh-. 



Straiv Paper. — Various papers manufactured 

 of straw are now in the market The pen moves 

 so easily over any and all of them, that literary 

 men should give them a trial. As there seems 

 considerable likelihood of this manufacture being 

 extensively Introduced, on account of the dearness 

 of rags, &c., it is to be hoped that it will not be 

 improved Into the resemblance of ordinary paper. 

 Time was when ordinary paper could be written 

 on In comfort, but that which adulterated Fal- 

 stafF's sack spoiled It for the purpose, and con- 

 verted it into limed twigs to catch the winged 

 pen. M. 



American Epitaph (Vol. vlii., p. 273.). — The 

 following lines are to be seen on a tombstone in 

 Virginia : 



" My name, my country, what are they to thee ? 

 What whether high, or low, my pedigree ? 

 Perhaps I far surpass'd all other men : 

 Perhaps I fell behind them all — what then ? 

 Suffice it, stranger, that thou see'st a tomb, 

 Thou know'st its use ; it hides — no matter whom." 



w.w. 



Malta. 



<lSi\itxiti, 



tAURIE (?) ON CURKENCY, ETC. 



I have before me a bulky volume, apparently 

 unpublished, treating of currency and of many 

 other politico-economical affairs ; the authorship 

 of which I am desirous of tracing. If any reader 

 of " N. & Q." can assist my search 1 shall feel 

 greatly obliged to him. 



This volume extends to 936 closely printed 

 pages, and Is altogether without divisions either of 

 book, chapter, or section. It has neither title- 

 page, conclusion, imprint, or date ; and my copy 

 seems to consist of revises or "clean sheets" as 

 they came from the press. The main gist of the ' 

 work Is thus described, apparently by the author 

 himself, In a MS. note which occupies the place of 

 the title-page : 



" It is here meant to show that in civilised nations 

 money is an emanating circulable wealth and power. 



