■Mab. 3. 1855.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



163 



via me pone rezelo pensar si la polvora y el estauo me 

 hiiu tie quitar . la ocasion de hacerme famoso y conoeido 

 por el valor de mi brazo y filos de mi espada, per todo lo 

 descubierto de la tierra." 



" Happy were those blessed ages that were strangers to 

 the horrible fury of those infernal instruments of artillery, 

 whose inventor, I very believe, is now in hell, receiving the 

 reward of his diabolical invention, by means of which the 

 hand of an infamous coward can deprive the most valiant 

 cavalier of life, and through which without knowing how 

 or from whence, in the midst of that courage and reso- 

 lution which fires and animates gallant spirits, comes a 

 chance ball, shot off perhaps, by one that fled and was 

 frightened at the flash of his own accursed machine, and 

 in an instant puts an end to the life and purposes of him 

 who deserved to have lived for ages. And therefore, 

 when I consider this, I am almost ready to regret having 

 taken up the profession of a knight-errant in an age so 

 detestable as this in which we live ; for though no danger 

 can daunt me, still it gives me some concern to think 

 t\\a.i powder and lead may deprive me of the opportunity 

 of becoming fiimous and renowned through the whole 

 world, for the valour of my arm and the keenness of my 

 Steel." — Tom. ii. 1» parte, cap. xxxviii. 



J. W. Thomas. 



Dewsbury. 



Nugent. — As some workmen were repairing 

 the floor of the church of St. Mary's, Tuani, they 

 dug up a coffin plate, on which was the following 

 inscription : " John Nugent, second son of ye 

 Rt. Hon. ye Earl Westmealh, aged 26 years ; 

 died 30 June, Anno Dom. 1725." (From Saun- 

 ders's Newspaper, Dec. 8, 1853.) Y. S. M. 



Lord Carlisle on ^^ latebrosvs." — Lord Carlisle, 

 in his Dia7-y, lately published, challenges any of 

 his readers to translate the word latehrosus by an 

 English equivalent, also one word. Now, it rather 

 surprises me, that his lordship (evidently, from his 

 beautiful Latin and English poetry, one of our 

 most accomplished and classical scholars), should 

 apply to others to do what, if he could not manage 

 it, few would be likely to strive after : but, using 

 the privilege he grants, I would venture to sug- 

 gest that our adjective obscure renders the mean- 

 ing as nearly as one language can the other. 

 Thus : 



" . . . . ! might I here, 

 In solitude, live savage, in some glade 

 Obscure, where highest woods, impenetrable 

 To sun or starlight, spread their umbrage broad." 



If obscure is not satisfactory, then we have 

 hidden, which also expresses concealment and um- 

 brageousness ; and lastly snug, which appears best 

 of all to correspond with the sense of latebrosus. 



Would his lordship allow me, in return, to ask 

 him how he construes the " improbus labor" of 

 Virgil ? 



" . . . Labor omnia vincit, 

 Improbus " 



More puzzling, I am inclined to think, than late- 

 brosus. M. 



University Club. 



Inherent Strength and Sap of Nationalities and 

 Hereditai'y Principles : — • The French Protestants 

 and the Poles. — This subject having been recently 

 touched upon in " N. & Q.," will you permit me 

 to say, that in the present eventful crisis of poli- 

 tical affairs in Europe, and when the meditations 

 of statesmen and warriors are wistfully directed 

 towards the best means of counteracting the 

 enormous ambition of Russia, it is well to draw 

 consolation and instruction — as regards the resto- 

 ration of Poland as a barrier on the West against 

 Russian aggression — from observing the vital 

 strength and permanency of nationalities and 

 far-descended principles, even when long down — 

 trodden and oppressed, and threatened, of set pur- 

 pose, with utter extinction. Every means that a 

 ruthless despotism can devise have been set in 

 operation by Russia to extinguish national feelings 

 and spirit in Poland, but in vain ; and whenever 

 the hour of her deliverance sounds Its joyous peal, 

 we shall see her start from her wakeful watch, 

 burning with life and energy. Thus it was with 

 the Protestants In France, when restored to a part 

 only of their natural rights by Louis XVI., in 

 1787, just before the great Revolution. 



Weiss, In liIs valuable History of the French 

 Protestant Refugees, says : 



" It was admirable to observe that this people, excluded 

 for more than a century from all employments, impeded 

 in all professions, hunted like wolves in the forests and 

 mountains, without schools, without any family recog- 

 nised by law, without any certain inheritance, had lost 

 nothing of its ancient energy." 



The imperfect legislation of 1787 was soon com- 

 pleted by successive decrees of the revolutionary 

 government, which, la this respect at least, Is en- 

 titled to the eternal gratitude of mankind. 



R. M. O. P. 



Apple-trees in America. — In 1 629 apples were 

 cultivated In Massachusetts, the seed having been 

 imported from England by order of the governor 

 and company of the colony. Governor's Island, in 

 Boston harbour, was given to Governor Winthrop 

 in 1632, on condition that he should plant an or- 

 chard upon it. The famous Baldwin apple, not 

 unknown in England, originated in Massachusetts, 

 and In that portion of the State now known as 

 Somerville. (New York Sun, Dec. 1854.) 



w. w. 



Malta, 



Longevity. — Last evening (Feb. 2, 1855) died 

 in Wade Street, Poplar, Mr. G. Fletcher, who was 

 born on February 2, 1747. He therefore died on 

 his birthday, and was aged exactly one hundred 

 and eight. His personal appearance was tall and 

 spare, somewhat stooping in his gait. He fought 



