generally are, a proof we think of high antiquity, and which frequently occurs, although, in the opinion of Mr. Rickman, few ancient fonts are here to be found.

The church-yard is spacious, and contains a handsome cross, but has not the usual English orthodox accompaniments of yew trees, or any others which might be deemed appropriate to a burying ground, by the more poetical imaginations of our Gallic neighbours. PLANTAGENET.

MR. URBAN, Cambridge, Sept. 1. CERTAIN correspondents in the last two numbers of your Magazine, who respectively sign themselves J. I. and T. W. have complained of your excellent and spirited article on Mr. Thorpe's "Analecta Anglo-Saxonica." I confess that I cannot understand exactly the grounds on which they found so querulous and indeed peevish an attack, nor can I see the object at which they aim. The first letter promised us a complete vindication of the unerring accuracy of the old school of Saxon scholars, and in addition to that an undeniable proof of the ignorance of the writer of the article alluded to the second correspondent, as far as I can judge, seems to have done much less towards proving the aforesaid writer's ignorance, than towards exhibiting his own. It is not by such violent and injudicious proceedings that learning is likely to be benefited.

The same experience which has shown to me the feebleness and unsafeness of the writers, in whom your correspondents glory as guides, has proved to me that the Analecta of Mr. Thorpe is an admirable book; and, "meagre" as those correspondents may think the glossary, because it does not seem to them to cover much paper, I am inclined to think that, if either of them were properly acquainted with it, they would know more Anglo-Saxon than to abuse either that book or Mr. Kemble's Beowulf, to attack which, the latter of them seems to have gone a long way from his proper and congenial path. I can very easily imagine that he may find some difficulty in understanding that poem; but is it right to lay the blame of this upon its editor, or upon his

accents, which, evidently not understanding them, he is simple enough to deride? In your article on the Analecta, the critic complained, justly enough, of the heterogeneous mass of words of all periods and dialects, which are jumbled together in Lye's Dictionary. In noticing which, your correspondent T. W. says, "Does not the glossary to the Analecta contain words even from Lajamon and the Ormulum, and without reference?" What excuse can this afford for Lye? Does not the Analecta contain extracts from Lajamon and the Ormulum? and could T. W. or his friend J. 1. read any of them, if the words were not given in the glossary. That they are given "without reference," is not true; for if T. W. will look to this glossary again, he will find all the semi-Saxon words carefully marked with an asterisk. If, too, be will again refer to the article which seems so much to have stirred up his gall, he will, if I remember well, find a suggestion that the semi-Saxon and middle English poems hardly belong to the work as an Anglo-Saxon Analecta. At the same time I do not regret that, in the case of the Ormulum, a specimen is given of a poem which justifies altogether the system of accentuation which appears to afford so much amusement to your correspondenta poem which proves that the system of philosophy, which seems to scare him so much, is true and certain.

I am sorry, Mr. Urban, that this subject should have been entered upon in the spirit which characterises the letter of both your correspondents. Let them examine candidly this "German" system, as they call it, let them make themselves acquainted with it, and if they find that it is false, then let them expose it openly, and show its defects. If it be unsound it will not long stand the test. But I am certain that no good can come of people laughing at what they will not labour a little first to understand.

he has, in fact, only followed one of our Oxford men. In 1807, Dr. Ingram published his Inaugural Lecture, in which he recommends this mode of printing, and gave a specimen of it.

In his preface to Beowulf, p. xxv. Mr. Kemble says, "I have printed the text letter for letter, as I found it." This I deny; for, though the other day I had only a few minutes to examine the MS. I found, in the first folio, fyen-dearfe, printed by Mr. Kemble, 1. 28, for fyren-pearfe. If, in the first few lines, we discover accents misplaced, and an error in the literal expression of a word, what may we expect in the whole book? In the progress of his work he acknowledges he has found some words ought to have been differently accented. What then can be more applicable than your critic's own words? "He has begun by editing a book which he could not hope to understand," and "though he may have succeeded, during the progress of the work, in picking up a little of the grammar, we could mention the name" of a would

be Anglo-Saxon Professor, "whose doings in the way of false" accentuation, false etymology, &c. "would, if perpetrated by a boy in the second form of a public school, have richly merited, and been duly repaid by a liberal application of ferula or direr birch." (p. 392.)

Your critic asserts, "Etymology must be inborn; Poeta nascitur, non fit. Very few persons will consequently be found either capable of pursuing etymological inquiries, or justified in doing so." How can we account for this poetical flight into the regions of nonsense? Your critic shall answer in his own elegant style. "The only approach we can make to the solution of this strange problem is, that the study being a little out of the way of men's usual pursuits, has been stared at, and wondered at," and that he, "who gave himself to it, and became péya baupa thereby, has had his head turned, and lost the better part of his

senses."

I beg your readers will recollect this is not an unprovoked attack upon Mr. Kemble and his friends, but an answer excited by their unwarranted aspersions. Yours, &c. T. W.

MR. URBAN, Cambridge, Sept. 5. TRUTH, and not the predominance of a party, ought to be the pursuit of every scientific and literary man. I wish our Anglo-Saxon students would constantly bear this in mind when they write on disputed points. There is room enough for all. Should any one imagine that he has superior powers, and more extensive knowledge, then let him not attempt to shew them by haughty or angry expressions, but by his useful and valuable publications. I am no enemy to discussion, for by the collision of opposite opinions new light is often elicited; but the greatest benefit is derived where the discussion is calm, and a dignified tone of writing sustained. In the few remarks I have to make, it will be my endeavour to avoid the influence of a party spirit.

I think T. W. must acknowledge that accents are found in Anglo-Saxon MSS. and that they are useful. In many cases they serve to distinguish one word from another; as, ac but, and ác an oak; is is, and ís ice; þe the, and pé thee; for for, and fór went. The acute accent, placed over vowels by the Anglo-Saxons to denote their long sounds, was discontinued by the Norman scribes, and its place supplied by a union of two vowels, or by postfixing it in the form of a final e. Hence the origin of some of our double vowels, and the extensive list of words in e final, such as gód good, gós goose, bóc book, líf life, wif wife, hál hale. The difficulty is to know what words should be accented. Some aid may be derived from the analogy of our own language, and from others of co-equal origin; but infallible information can only be obtained from the best MSS. As very few can have access to these, it is highly necessary that those who publish Anglo-Saxon works, should be especially careful to give all the accents found in the MSS. and no more. I have great pleasure in referring to Mr. Thorpe's edition of Apollonius, just published on this plan; it is a very neat and cheap work, equally creditable to Mr. Thorpe the editor, and Mr. Taylor the printer. The Anglo-Saxon text of this interesting story is correctly printed with a strict attention to the accents. Mr. Thorpe's English translation, though

literal, is spirited. It is the publishing of such interesting works, that will most effectually promote the cause of Anglo-Saxon literature.

With a revival of our Anglo-Saxon studies, I hope to see a moving in our early English authors. A very early, if not the first English poet and satirist, Peirs Plouhman, deserves the first attention. The able hand that gave us an ample specimen of his powers in your No. for April last, could not be better employed than in an edition of this interesting poet. Mr. Pickering, or some other spirited publisher, could not render English literature a greater service, than by sending forth a neat and cheap edition of Peirs Plouhman.

It would be unjust to Mr. Kemble, not to state that he has a new edition of Beowulf, with an English translation, and a glossary, in the press. When this appears, many of the objections of T. W. may be removed. Yours, &c. B.

Camberwell.

Mr. URBAN, IN reply to the letter of Dr. Lips comb, impugning the correctness of my statement, that Sir Edmund Verney, the Standard-bearer, was the son of his father's third wife Mary Blackney (the spelling of whose name I derive from the funeral certificate of Sir Edmund the elder, and from the various pedigrees of the family, compiled by the heralds in their visitations,) I shall first submit in its support those very facts which the learned Doctor advances against it.

Lady Awdrey, second wife of Sir Edmund Verney the elder, was buried in Aldbury Church in the month of July 1588.

Sir Edmund the younger was born, according to Lloyd, on the 7th of April, 1590, which date is incontestably established by the inquisition held after his father's death at Mis. senden, 15 May, 42 Elizabeth (1600),

* Vide Parish Register.

To Dr. Lipscomb I put the following questions. Did not Queen Elizabeth ascend the throne in November 1558?

Does not the second year of her reign commence in Nov. 1559? Then how can the 15th May, 42 of Eliz. be the 15th May, 1599?

in which he is stated to be of the age of ten years and upwards. And again, by the inscription on his monument in Middle Claydon Church, which tells us that " he was slayne on the 23d of October, 1642, being then in the two and 50th year of his age."

For the following document, also confirmative of my statement, I am indebted to the archives of the College of Arms: +

"15 February, 1599.

"Sr Edmund Verney of Pendley in the countye of Hartfs. Knight, deceeased att his house called Stonehouse nere Chalfaunt St. Gyles, within the countye of Buck. on Frydaye the xi of Januarye 1599 [1600]. The said St Edmund mar. to his first wife Frauncys, daughter of John Hastings of Elfuard in the countye of Oxfs. by whome he has no issue. After he maryed to his second wife Awdreye daughter of Will'm Gardener of Fulmer nere Chalfaunt aforesaid, gen. and wydowe of St Peter Carewe, Knight, and by her had issue Frauncys, his sonne and heire, att this p'nt of the age of xv yeares or thereaboute, who hath maryed Ursula daughter and one of the Blackney, daughter of John Blackney of heires of Will'm St. Barbe, by Marye Sparham in the countye of Norff. gent. and third wife, survivour of the said S Edmund Verney, by whome the said Sir Edmund hath yssue Edmund Verney his second sonne. His funeralls were according to his degree solemnized the 15th daye of February, as above said, att the p'ish church of Alburye in the countye of Hartfs. aforesaid, where he lyeth interred in the chappell on the south side the same church.

"In wyttnes of the truith of this certificate, wee have hereunto subscribed our hands the daye and yeare first above wrytten."

(Subscribed)

JA. PHILLIPS.
JOHN TERING.
THOM'S BRETON.

ROBERT TRESWELL, Som'sett h.

Let us now, Mr. Urban, examine the inquisition, the only document in truth which need have been consulted. We there find, as Dr. Lipscomb correctly informs us, that Edmund the younger brother is heir to Francis the elder,a circumstance from which he vauntingly affirms that they must have been brothers of the whole blood. Is the learned historian of Bucks so dull,

Funeral Certif. I. 16, p. 73.

that he cannot perceive a father, cognoscent of a law which tells him that of two half-brothers, his only sons, the younger shall not inherit from the elder, availing himself of that power which the law has given him, to remove the disabilities of his second-born? That in the present instance, the father did not neglect to accomplish such an arrangement, is proved by the in. quisition; wherein it appears Edmund was made remainder man in tail to Francis by virtue of certain deeds of settlement, executed by Sir Edmund the elder; of which one relating to the manor of Quainton, and the advowson of the church of Quainton, was confirmed by Act of Parliament, 24th Oct., 39 of Elizabeth (1598). In other deeds of settlement he is even preferred to his elder brother; and the lands in Wigginton and Tring (subject to a life estate to Lady Mary the wife of the devisor), (in the words of the Inquisition) "descendebant p'fat. Edv. Verney ut filio et hered. masculo de corpore p'd'ci Edv. Verney militis, super corpus p'd'ce Marie le'time p’creat.” (!!!) and in default of issue male to his brother Francis and his issue male.

The question is now at rest; and the tradition, though upheld by a second (?) champion (D. P.) again slumbers in Yours, &c.

its "idleness!"

G. STEINMAN STEINMAN.

P.S. Dr. Lipscomb has further thought proper to remark on my want of 'condescension' in omitting to mention the fact, that Lady Mary Verney "had a former husband," and also the dates of her marriage and death. That she had a former husband, I am well aware. His name appears in the certificate above; but that she had two former husbands Dr. Lipscomb is not aware, or then the name of the other would have graced his pedigree. This gentleman's name was Geffery Turville, and he preceded St. Barbe. The date of her marriage or marriages, and the date of her death, my censor himself cannot favour me with nor in fact do I require them. That Sir Francis Verney was knighted on the 14th March 1603, and died in Sicily; that Urian Verney, died between the 14th June and the 5th July,

* Visit. Bucks, c. 26, Coll. Arm.

The Reviewer begins by affirming that the object of my Essay is "to prove, or rather to assert, that Iran is the same as Erin ;" and concludes with a sneer, that if I be right herein, and in making out the Round Towers to have been temples of the worship which I have specifically elucidated, viz. Budhism; in the first place, there was no occasion for so long a treatise as I have exhibited; and in the second place, that the sooner they be pulled down the better! to which he invites the co-operation of all boys and young maids!

I now beg leave merely to say that the magnitude of my work was not owing to any prolongation of its ostensible subject, the Round Towers, which in fact are disposed of in a very early stage; as from the numerous other inquiries collaterally but inseparably connected with the investigation; and which a kindred Reviewer, with very little of friendship towards the author, is obliged reluctantly to acknowledge to be "full as many in number as the work itself has pages, viz. 524! And now that I have resuscitated their gross aggregate from your Reviewer's extinction, let us see how far cor

+ On the first date, his will, wherein he styles himself of Fynmor Lodge, Middle Claydon, is subscribed. The second is the date of its probation.

"The Round Towers of Ireland;" or, The History of the Tuak-de-Danaans, for the first time, unveiled. By Henry O'Brien, Esq. A.B."

rect he is as to his insinuation respecting the only two of them which he has traducingly named.

My words are as follow:

"Iran, then, and Irin, or, as more correctly spelled, Eirean and Eirein, with an e prefixed to each of the other vowels, as well initial as intermediate, is the characteristic denomination which all our ancient MSS. affix to this country.-The prefixing of this letter (e) in both instances of its occurrence, whether we regard the eastern or the western hemisphere (Persia or Ireland) was neither the result of chance, nor intended as inoperative in the import of the term. was a mere dialectal distinction appertaining to the court language of the dynasty of the times; and, what is astoundingly miraculous, retains the same appellation with literal precision, unimpaired, unadulterated, in both countries, up to the moment in which I write.

It

"The import of this appellative (Irin, compounded of Ir, sacred; and in, island) having spread itself over the globe before Rome was ever known under that name as a city; and when Greece was but just beginning to peep into the light, the Pelasgi, who were partly Budhists, allied somewhat to them in religion, and still more akin in birth and endowments, conveyed in conjunction with the Phoenician merchants to the early Greek inhabitants; and they by a very easy process, commuted Iren into Ierne, which is but a translation of the word epos, signifying sacred; and nos, an island.

"Of this Greek form lerne, there were again various inflections and depraved assimilations, such as Iernis, Iuernia, Ivernia, &c.; and from this latter, the Latins without at all knowing what the term meant, conjured up Hibernia; but which, however, with soul-stirring triumph, retains uninjured our original root, the initial H being nothing more than the aspirate of the Greek inpos, sacred; vnos, island, remaining unaltered; and the letter b only interposed for sound sake. So that whether we consider it as Irin, lerne, or Hibernia, or under the multiplied variations which diverge, almost interminably, from those three originals in the several languages, which they respectively represent, they will be found each and all to resolve themselves into this one great, incontrovertible position of the Sacred Island."

I now appeal to yourself and to your readers, whether all this savours more of assertion or of proof? Nay,

• Round Towers of Ireland, pp. 120, ', 128, 129.

whether it be not downright actual and irrefragable demonstration? And as to my solution of the "Towers," from the analysis of the epithet by which they are registered in our ancient annals, viz. Fidh-nemphed, that analysis requires but to be made known to insure for it universal assent.

"Fidh, then, as the Ulster annals, or Fiadh, as those of the Four Masters spell it, is the plural of Budh, i. e. linga; the initial F of the former being only the aspirate of the initial B of the latter, and commutable with it. Syncellus accordingly spells Budh even in this singular with an F, while Josephus, from the Scriptures, additionally commutes the final d into t; and Nemphed is an adjective, signifying divine or consecrated, from nemph, the heavens: so that Fidhnemphed, taken together, will import the consecrated Lingas, or the Budhist consecrations." +

That this solution is satisfactory, and has already received the sanction of the learned of the day, is evident, from the annexed lines, extracted from the last Number of the Freemasons' Quarterly Review.

"Few subjects," says this critique, "have more puzzled the zeal of the antiquary than the Round Towers of Ireland. Treatises have been written by members of the most learned bodies in Europe; but, however ingenious their suppositions, however supported by seeming proofs, their theories failed to produce that satisfaction, that perfect conviction, which the irresistible voice of truth can alone command. To Henry O'Brien belongs the honour of deciding the question of their origin, antiquity, and purpose. With a power whose strength appals us, he has cast back upon the vast sea of Time its destroying surge, and from oblivion drawn the history of a people, the Tuath-de-Danaans, to whose name the literati of Europe were almost strangers. The peculiar formation of these celebrated structures, the exquisite workmanship of their building, had long attracted the attention of the learned. Some had supposed them to be ancient beacons; others intended for purgatorial columns, or penitential heights. Montmorency makes them dungeon-keeps; while General Vallancey stoutly asserts that they were receptacles of the sacred fire. No man could have been found more capable of investigating the truth of these several positions than our author, who, to an intimate acquaintance with

+ Round Towers of Ireland, pp. 104,

105.