Qnd §, No 8., Fe. 23. °56. ] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
151 
of a copy published by J. Warton in the collec- 
tion of poems called the Union. These variations 
also appeared in Dodsley’s Collection, and they 
are undoubtedly from the hand of the poet: but 
where did they first appear? I am quite aware 
that Dodsley is a bad authority, and that Warton 
is a good one: but it would be interesting to 
know which was the earlier. The reviewer gives 
the date of the appearance of the Union, May, 
1753. I can find no edition of Dodsley in the 
British Museum, earlier than 1755; but the 
Dodsley Collection is alluded to in the Preface to 
the Union, understood to have been written by 
Warton; and I believe that there were one or two 
editions in three volumes (afterwards enlarged 
to six), before the Union. Did the Ode to Even- 
ing appear in any one of these? I should be 
much obliged to any correspondent of “ N. & Q.,” 
having a copy of: an edition of Dodsley, before 
1753, who would answer this question, and in- 
form me whether the variations pointed out by 
the reviewer are to be found therein. 4H. A. T. 
Shakspeare Queries. — Theobald remarks that 
the emendation of busyless in the Tempest is so 
obvious, that he cannot afford to think well of his 
own sagacity in finding it out. Nine editors out 
of ten have adopted the reading without a question. 
Now I do not believe that such a word ever 
existed, nor can I suppdse that Shakspeare coined 
a word in the teeth of analogy. Can any of your 
correspondents produce a compound formed on 
the like analogy? I have never met with one. 
I should be glad also to learn whether there is 
any colour for the common interpretation of 
mortal coil in Hamlet, viz. the body. I append 
two instances (the nearest at hand) of this inter- 
pretation : 
“The mortal coils of beings more lovely, more pure, 
more divine than man, may yet read to us the unexpected 
lesson that we have not been the first, and may not be 
the last, of the intellectual race.”— More Worlds than 
One, p. 52., 1854. 
“Samuel Rogers, the poet, has at last thrown off the 
mortal coil.” — Willis’s Current Notes, Dec., 1855. 
That the popular understanding has been 
duped by the other word coil, I have not the 
least doubt. The equivocation afforded Hood 
material for an excellent joke : 
“ As deaf as the adder, that deafest of snakes, 
That never can hear the coil it makes.” 
I would also ask whether shuffle off in the same 
passage have not a neuter rather than an active 
sense P C. Mansrietp IneiEsy. 
Birmingham. 
Reeve's “ Christmas Trifles.” — There was a 
volume published in or about 1826, under the 
following title: Christmas Trifles, consisting prin- 
Poetical Pieces for Young Persons, by Mrs. Reeve. 
Are those pieces which are called Geographical 
Charades, charades for acting ? R. J. 
Anne Hughes.—Can you give me any account of 
Mrs. Anne Hughes, author of Poems, consisting of 
Eclogues, Pastorals, Inscriptions, and a Legendary 
Tale, London, 8vo., 1784; Caroline, or the Di- 
versities of Fortune, a novel, 3 vols., 1787 ; Henry 
and Isabella, a novel, 4 vols. 12mo., 1788 ; Moral 
Dramas intended for private representation, Lon- 
don, 8vo., 1790? R. J. 
“ The righteous man is merciful to his beast.” — 
Where is this oft-quoted injunction to be found? 
Most people believe it to be a passage of Scripture, 
but I have been unable to trace it in any part of 
the sacred writings. Ine 
Stock Frost. — Can you give me any explana- 
tion of this term? The watermen of Norfolk 
unanimously believe in the possibility of the 
water freezing at the bottom of a river, the sur- 
face still remaining fluid. They assert that boat- 
hooks, eel-picks, &e., constantly come in contact 
with a coating of ice at the bottom, and that large 
masses of ice are often seen rising to the surface 
with mud, weeds, and stones adhering. A miller 
has also informed me that he has known the 
wheel of his water-mill to be frozen to the bottom 
of the stream, so as to stop its revolutions, while 
the surface of the water was still unfrozen. Being 
unable to reconcile these assertions with science 
and reason, disbelieving them in fact, I should 
feel obliged if you would enlighten me in this 
matter. J.B. 
Norwich. 
Thomas Beddoes, Esq., M.D.—This celebrated 
physician, and estimable man, and the early friend 
of that eminent philosopher Sir Humphrey Davy, 
died at Bristol on December 24, 1808; but 
having been unable, after much research, to ascer- 
tain the place of his sepulture, I should feel 
obliged for the information ; and also for a copy 
of the inscription to his memory, if in existence, 
of neither of which mention is made in the Me- 
moirs written by Dr. J. E. Stock. 
In the year 1793, the Doctor published his 
celebrated History of Isaac Jenkins, which occa- 
sioned no little noise at the time; and was, I be- 
lieve, partially suppressed. Can any of your 
numerous correspondents furnish me with a copy 
of the work, either to purchase, or on loan ? 
J. B. Wuirsorne. 
English Pronunciation of Latin. — It is now the 
established custom to distinguish long and short 
vowels in Latin words in every syllable but-the 
last. Is not this custom, however, of recent 
origin? Fifty years ago, was it not usual among 
cipally of Geographical Charades, Valentines, and | good scholars to distinguish in pronunciation the 
