Feb. 25. 1854.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



179 



" COULD WE WITH INK, ETC. 



(Vol. viii., p. 648., &c.) 

 I agree with your learned correspondent Mr. 

 Margoliouth, that the authorship of the lines 

 alluded to must be ascertained by comparing the 

 whole, and not by a single expression. It seems 

 tome highly probable that they were suggested, 

 either by the Chaldee hymn quoted by your cor- 

 respondent, or by the lines of Chaucer, quoted 

 " N & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 180. I cannot, however, 

 agree that the popular lines in question are a 

 translation of the Chaldee hymn. The improba- 

 bility will appear, if we compare them (as given 

 "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 127.) with the following 

 version of the hymn ; which, although metrical, 

 will be found sufficiently literal : 



" To write the eternal power of God, no effort would 



suffice ; 

 Although, such writing to contain, the volume were 



the skies ; 

 Each reed a pen ; and for the ink, the waters of the 



sea; 

 And though each dweller on the earth, an able scribe 



should be." 



This hymn, I admit, is more succinct than the 

 popular lines ; but at the same time I cannot but 

 think that its author was indebted to the passage 

 in the Koran (" N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 422.), 

 immediately, or through Chaucer ; who has not 

 only the general sentiment as there found, but 

 also — 



" Eche sticke a pen, eche man a scrivener able." 



I am equally convinced, that Mahomet himself 

 took the thought from the passage in the New 

 Testament, as suggested by your correspondent 

 E. G. R. Each successive writer appears to have 

 added something to what he borrowed. But 

 when the Evangelist, John, had said, " The world 

 itself would not be able to contain the books that 

 should be written," it was easy for one writer to 

 suppose an inkstand capacious as the sea ; and for 

 another to supply parchment, pens, and scribes 

 ad libitum. That the phrase in the Koran should 

 now be common in the East, is not wonderful, 

 considering the extent to which Mahomedanism 

 has prevailed there. After all, I do not think 

 that the additions are any very great improve- 

 ments. Without disputing about tastes, I may 

 say at least that, for my own part, I greatly prefer 

 the simplicity of the original idea, as expressed by 

 the beloved disciple. J. W. Thomas. 



Dewsbury. 



MACKET S THEORY OF THE EARTH. 



(Vol. viii., pp. 468. 565. ; Vol. ix., p. 89.) 



A friend called on me this morning with the 

 Number containing a notice of S. A. Mackey, 



supposing that, being a neighbour, I could furnish 

 a few particulars of that extraordinary man. The 

 whole of his MSS. came into my possession after 

 his demise. Amongst these was a MS. of his 

 Life, written by himself, and of which I took a 

 faithful copy : which I have transcribed for gen- 

 tlemen who wish to possess a copy. I am ready 

 to furnish any gentleman with a copy, neatly 

 written, book included, for 5s. It consists of 

 fifty-two pages large demy 4to, The original is 

 in the possession of a Mr. Brereton of Flitcham, 

 near Lynn, Norfolk, to whom I sold all the 

 MSS., Mr. Brereton being an intimate friend of 

 S. A. Mackey. 



I have on sale a copy of Mr. Mackey 's Works, 

 selected by Mr. Shickle, another intimate friend ; 

 neatly done up in coloured cloth. Also a copy of 

 his Mythological Astronomy, with copious notes, 

 in one hundred pages. Also, an Appendix of 

 forty-eight pages. And another copy of the MS. 

 Astronomy, with notes ; but minus the Appendix. 



I may as well inform you, that a friend of mine 

 has in his possession a half-length full-size por- 

 trait of Mr. Mackey ; admirably executed, and in 

 prime condition, in a handsome frame. I beljeve 

 it is for sale. I assure you, when I first saw it, I 

 felt at the moment a kind of impulse to shake 

 hands with my old friend and neighbour. 



I shall feel great pleasure in answering any 

 inquiries, so far as my knowledge extends. His 

 Life is truly interesting ; being that of a man born 

 in sorrow, and cradled in adversity. Like him, I 

 am a self-taught humble individual, and in my 

 eighty-second year. J- Dawson. 



15. Doughty's Hospital, Calvert Street, Norwich. 



In July, 1830, Sampson Arnold Mackey deli- 

 vered a course of six " astro-historical lectures " 

 in a large room near the Philanthropic Institution. 

 The attendance was full, considering the subject, 

 and I was surprised at the admiration which many 

 well-educated persons expressed for his strange 

 theories, to which they seemed to give full assent. 

 To me his calculations and etymologies appeared 

 as good as those of Pluche, Sir W. Drummond, 

 Volney, and Dupuis, but no better. I met him at 

 the house of the late Dr. Wright, then resident phy- 

 sician to Bethlehem Hospital. He was quiet and 

 unassuming ; but so perfectly satisfied that he had 

 proved his system, that though ready to explain, 

 he declined to answer objections, or defend his 

 opinions. As a remarkable example of " the 

 pursuit of knowledge under difficulties," he ex- 

 cited sympathy, and I believe that he disposed of 

 all the copies of his various works then unsold. 



1 H. B. C. 



U. U. Club. 



