we have twenty-five writers in English: three do not mention his name; eighteen spell it as Johnson, using it thirty-eight times; three spell it in both ways, each of them once each; and two spell it Jonson alone, three times. The six writers in Latin use Jonsonus nine times and the Greek one once. Corresponding to this the title-page has Jonsonus Virbius, but immediately after these two words follows the English form Johnson. It is to be remembered also that these writers pose as the companions, friends, and admirers of their chief English poet.

We have therefore evidence that after his death not merely printers but his associates recurred to the spelling "Johnson ;" and from this and from his last printed pieces one may have some slight suspicion that he himself recurred to this form. At least it will be admitted that, as in other cases, such differences were accounted no differences.

This gives also additional proof, if such were needed, that the Mrs. Margaret Jonson married in 1575 to Mr. Thomas Flower was not (the then) Johnson's mother, though Gifford assumes that "she unquestionably was" so. B. NICHOLSON, M.D.

The

Politeness of our Forefathers.

"Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis.”

OT long since, whilst turning over the dusty contents of a box of books labelled ALL AT 6D., my attention was drawn to a rusty little 12mo, bound in well-worn sheepskin. A short examination showed it was complete, and for the small sum of sixpence I became the possessor of a literary treasure, which has since afforded me much gratification and amusement. This shabby little booklet of 178 pages, bearing on its bastard title the mystic words,

remote antiquity, but to a time of which the majority of people know little and think less; that age when our ancestors were commencing the study of home life, the arts of civilization, and breaking away from the coarseness and brutality of the Middle Ages, were gradually adopting tea, coffee, and tobacco, and learning the convenience of night-gowns, newspapers, umbrellas, forks, and stockings. Those worthy people who are constantly regretting the "good old times" are generally somewhat ignorant of the discomforts of that mystic period; a little study in the print-room of the British Museum would somewhat tone down their enthusiasm, without any reference being necessary to the advantages which moderns possess in the shape of lucifer matches, gas, penny postage, railways, cheap books, and steel pens. gay cavaliers of the Stuart period were very brilliant to gaze upon, especially in paintings, but what was their home life like? Those who have seen Van der Helst's masterpiece in the Amsterdam Gallery will remember the jovial scene of the banquet of the officers. of the Guard after the Peace of Munster in 1648-the group of thirty handsome gentlemen, in the tasteful costume of the period, seated round the festive board, busy with their long clasp knives, and not a fork to be seen; indeed, the most prominent member of the party boldly faces you with a knuckle of ham in his fist, from which he is cutting

The

his meal with the same careless ease we see a modern "navvy" affect when sitting on his mound by the roadside he takes his midday bread and cold boiled bacon.

The Rules of Civility; or, Certain Ways of Deportment observed in France, amongst all Persons of Quality, upon Several Occasions. Translated out of French. LONDON, Printed for J. Martyn at the Bell in St. Paul's Churchyard, and John Starkey at the Mitre in Fleet Street, near Temple Bar.

MDCLXXV.

Such is the title of the work which has brought up this train of ideas, and its perusal goes far to convince me that our ancestors were not to be envied. If it may be taken as an index to their manners and customs, it tends to show that they had no manners to boast of, and that their customs were very

F

disagreeable; by a simple line of reasoning one can easily discover what they were accustomed to do by what they are instructed to avoid, and can guess their vices from the pains taken to persuade them to adopt certain virtues.

But it would be no easie matter to prescribe Rules of Civility so exact, as that they should comply with all times, persons and places in the world, seeing nothing is more obvious than variety of Customs, and that what is decent in one Nation is undecent in another; what is useful, and perhaps profitable in one Age, declines, and grows contemptible in the next; in short, nothing is so intrinsically decorous, but the experience or caprice of Mankind alters, or explodes it.

Nowhere could a better illustration of this paragraph, taken from the book, be found than in the book itself, for although professedly written for persons of quality, and teeming with instructions to the nobility, and even royalty itself, it alludes to such topics, and in such plain language, as would now be quite impossible, and fortunately is as unnecessary as impossible. Its twenty chapters contain instructions as to general politeness, conversation in company, deportment towards great Persons (always with a capital P.), behaviour in church, at the table, at play, in riding and driving, and the writing of letters, together with a few concluding remarks "against such as are over-scrupulous."

The first point that strikes one is the extreme deference, the abject humility, that is inculcated as being necessary to be observed towards the Person or Persons of Quality with whom you associate; the next is the necessity the author appears to have felt to impress strongly upon his most noble and gentle readers ("this work," he says," cannot have relation to any but the Gentry"), that obscene and profane language should not be used before ladies, and that even swearing is somewhat reprehensible.

His entrance into the great Person's house; his observations at the door, in the anti-chamber and elsewhere.

To begin with the door of a Prince, or Great Person, it is uncivil to knock hard, or to give more than one knock.

At the door of his Bed-chamber or closet, to knock, is no less than brutish; the way is to scratch only with their nails. When he comes into a great man's house or chamber, it is not civil to wrap himself up in his cloak; but in the King's Court he runs great hazard of correction.

Presuming that our friend has entered the great man's room (without correction, let us

hope), he is next instructed in the art of conversation :

Chap. v. Regulates his Conversation in
Company.

I think it scarce necessary to set down the documents which is given every day to Children; as whenever they answer yes, or no, to give always the Titles of Sir, Madam, or my Lord, as they are due; it is handsome also when one is to contradict any person of quality, and to answer in the negative, it is not to be done bluntly with a No, Sir, that is not so, but by circumlocution, as Pardon me, Sir, I beg your pardon, Madam, if I presume to say, fisking and pratling are but ill ways to please.

This quaintly-worded paragraph is succeeded by one having what Pepys would have called a mighty fine conceit of dry humour:

It is obvious too, that it is but a Rustick and Clownish kind of wit to put Sir, or Madam after any word, so as to render his meaning ambiguous, as to say, this Book is bound in Calf, Sir; this is a fine Mare, Madam; or-he is mounted upon an ass, my Lord. The remaining instructions as to conversation briefly summed up, thus:possess no great interest; they may be

If you your lips would keep from slips,
Five things observe with care;
Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,
And how, and when, and where.

and the chapter concludes with some advice on the topic of " Button-holing," which may be of service even in the nineteenth century.

But being in discourse with a man, 'tis no less than ridiculous to pull him by the Buttons, to play with the Band-strings, Belt or Cloak; or to punch him now and then on the Stomach; 'tis a pleasant sight, and well worthy of laughter, to see him that is so puncht, fall back, and retire; whilst the other insensible of his absurdity, pursues and presses him into some corner, where he is at last glad to cry quarter, before his comrade perceives he is in danger.

It argues neglect, and to under value a man, to sleep when he is discoursing or reading; therefore good Manners command it to be forbid; besides, something there may happen in the act that may offend, as snoaring, sweating, gaping, or dribling.

To keepe your hands in your Pockets is like a Lowte.

We are next to suppose that dinner has been announced, and we have

Observations at the Table. If it so happens that the person of Quality detains you to dine with him, it is uncivil to wash with him unless you be commanded expressly. Grace being said, he is to stand still till he be placed, or dispose himself at the lower end of the Table. When he is set, he must keep himself uncovered till the rest sit down, and the person of quality has put on his Hat.

Several other paragraphs make it quite clear that hats were worn at table, it being held a mark of inferiority to remain uncovered, and even in church hats were worn without any idea of irreverence.

Of the instructions given for behaviour at table the following are the most curious of those that are fit for general perusal :

In eating observe to let your hands be clean; feed not with both your hands, nor keep your knife in your hand; dip not your fingers in the sauce, nor lick when you have done, wipe your mouth, and keep your spoon clean. Gnaw not bones, nor handle Dogs, nor spawl upon the floor; and if you have occasion to sneez or cough, take your Hat, or put your Napkin before your face.

Drink not with your mouth full nor unwiped, nor so long till you are forced to breathe in the Glass.

He must have a care his hand be not first in the Dish, unless he be desired to help his neighbours.

If you be carv'd, 'tis but civil to accept whatever is offered, pulling off your Hat still when it is done by a superior.

To give anything from your own Plate to another to eat of, though he be an inferiour, savours of arrogance, much less an Apple or a Pear that hath been bit by you before. Have a care likewise of blowing froth from off a Cup, or any dust from roasted Apple or a Toast; for the Proverb saith, There is no wind but there is some rain.

We are to wipe our spoon every time we put it into the dish; some people being so delicate, they will not eat after a man has eat with his Spoon and not wiped it.

'Tis rude to drink to a Lady of your own, much more of greater quality, than your self, with your Hat on; and to be cover'd when she is drinking to you. When Dinner is going up to any Nobleman's table, where you are a stranger, or of inferiour quality, 'tis civil and good manners to be uncover'd.

If it so happens that you be alone together with a person of Quality, and the Candle be to be snuffed, you must do it with the Snuffers, not your fingers, and that neatly and quick, lest the person of Honour be offended with the smell.

The instructions given to ladies contain frequent reference to the masks they wore, a custom which enabled them to visit the theatres to witness the wickedly witty comedies of the Restoration period. What other and better ends they served the muse of history telleth not.

As to the Ladies, it is convenient for them to know that, besides the Punctilio of their Courtesies, there is the Ceremony of the Mask, the Hoods, and the Trains; for it is no less than rudeness in a woman to enter into any ones Chamber, to whom she owes any respect, with her Gown tucked up, with her Mask upon her face, or a Hood about her head, unless it be thin and perspicuous.

It is not civil to have their Masks on before persons of honour, in any place where they may be seen ; unless they be in the same Coach together at the same time.

It is uncivil to keep their Masks on when they are saluting any one, unless it be at a good distance: But even in that case they pull it off before any person of the blood.

If a person of Quality be in the Company of Ladies, 'tis too juvenile and light to play with them, to toss or tumble them; to kiss them by surprise, to force away their Hoods, their Fans, or their Ruffs. It is unhandsome among Ladies, or any other serious Company, to throw off ones Cloak, to pull off ones Perruque, or Doublet, to cut ones Nails, to tye ones Garter, to change shoes if they pinch; to call for ones night gown, and slippers to be at ease, nor sing between the teeth, nor drum with ones fingers; all which are as incongruous, as for an officer of Horse to appear in shoes when he is called to attend the General.

Directions for our Demeanour in the Coach.

Being in the Coach, we are not to put on our Hats, but by command, nor to turn our backs upon the person of Quality upon any occasion."

The latter injunction does indeed strike. one as being somewhat superfluous, unless our polite ancestors possessed the enviable power of sitting the wrong side up with care.

It is observable likewise, when we meet with a consecrated Host, a Procession, Funeral, the King, Queen, Princes of the Blood, or persons of extraordinary Dignity, as the Popes Legate etc.; that it is a respect due to them, for us to stop our Coach till they be passed; the Men to be uncovered, and the Ladies to pull off their Masks.

But if it be the Sacrament, we must out of the Coach if we can, and down upon our knees, though in the middle of the street.

Honour to whom honour is due, but the perusal of this book makes one sad, for be it remembered it was originally written for the French people, and all this "booing and booing," this unreasoning and unreasonable worship of the Great and Titled of the World, broke down most fatally a hundred years later, when the mock ceremony and servility of ages were swept away in torrents of blood.

We are happier now in the possession of a more manly and independent kind of politeness, which is as honourable to those who receive it, as to those who offer it, and let us hope that toadyism is nearly extinct, although indeed the satirist says that "Parasites exist alway."

WALTER HAMILTON, F.R.G.S., F.R. Hist. S.

Books Curious and Rare.

By CORNELIUS WALFORD, F.I.A. Being the substance of a Paper read before the Library Association of the United Kingdom, June 4, 1880. Reprinted, with corrections and additions, from "Monthly Notes" of the Association.

OME few years since, when establishing a system of boxes for literary gatherings, I allotted one to "Books Curious and Rare," and in a moment of pedantic reverie, scribbled inside its lid the following words which might have constituted the title of this Article :-" Books I HAVE SEEN; BOOKS I HAVE NOT SEEN; BOOKS I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE; BOOKS I NEVER EXPECT TO SEE." From time to time I deposited in it memoranda of books and tracts, to a very large extent clippings from secondhand book catalogues. I had never made any detailed examination of the contents of this box, and probably should not have done so for a long period, but from the fact of receiving an invitation to read a Paper before the members of the above-named Association. In my perplexity for a subject ready to hand, I turned to the said box, and the following lines will convey some idea of its contents, poor as I fear they will be found.

It will be a foregone conclusion that a collection of odds and ends thus gathered together, mainly because they admitted of no more scientific arrangement, constitute a species of literary scavenging from which little can be hoped.

I need hardly say that the clippings from catalogues were preserved only as indications of the existence of the publications to which they are supposed to relate. They were never designed to be accepted as conclusive, but they constitute very fair prima facie evidence upon which to found further inquiry. In the absence of anything even approaching to a general catalogue of English literature, these miscellaneous records occasionally throw light where otherwise all had been darkness. In this sense I speak with thankfulness of them. If I were to say that misprints, unscientific abridgment of titles, and slips as to dates and authorship, were never found in these catalogues, I fear I should not secure absolute credence. I will, therefore, make no assertion of the kind. I might

accomplish the task before me, by the construction of four several lists, corresponding with the divisions of my title, from the contents of the box; but such a mode of proceeding would be defective in many respects, more particularly as regards the books I have seen, for of these my memory and my library, rather than my box, contain the record. There is yet another difficulty. The scene is changing all the time; every book or tract which falls into the category of those I have seen, lessens in some degree the lists of each of the other classes; and perhaps, I ought to state, by way of avoiding confusion, that I only speak here after the manner of a special collector in certain walks of literature, and a lover of odds and ends in general. To apply any such fancied classification as that now assumed to books en bloc, would be out of the question, the more so that I have seen nearly all the great libraries of Europe and America. In many of the more important libraries the out-of-the-way things do not seem to exist; they have probably been accounted as trash, and made away with accordingly; or, if they do exist, they are not brought into the catalogues specifically. I will illustrate more in detail my meaning about the transition from class to class by the following narration, the main incidents of which are of very recent occurrence.

The first book set up in type at the printing-office of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia, is one with a very remarkable history. Its title was as follows: "Ways and Means for the Inhabitants of Delaware to become Rich: Wherein the several growths and products of these Countries are demonstrated to be a sufficient Fund for a flourishing Trade. Humbly submitted to the Legislative Authority of three Colonies. Printed and sold by S. Keimer, in Philadelphia, MDCCXXV." I was anxious to see this book, or, more properly speaking, tract of sixty-five pages, mainly for the reason that it contained a reference to a proposed scheme of marine insurance which I thought might have borne some fruit, as probably it did. I found that the author of this tract was Francis Rawle. With this fact before me, I searched Watt, but found not a word: the same with Allibone, and this was the more remarkable, in that this latter work was itself

published in Philadelphia, and there is a good deal about the Rawle family-descendants of the person wanted. I tried the British Museum, and in the Catalogue there I found its title, but that was all: the tract itself was not to be met with. I consoled myself with the thought that in a few months I should be in the United States, and a visit to Philadelphia would of course accomplish all I wished. I searched the libraries there, but the result was disappointing; finally in the Loganian Library I found it-i.e., the entry in the catalogue: the tract itself could not be found. It was known indeed to be in the building, and was believed to be the only copy extant. My disappointment was great, but as there seemed to be no help for it, I made the best of my bad luck, and (mentally at least) consigned this tract to the box, to take its place in the list of those I never expected to see! In this last proceeding I was premature. Quite a history has since been developed concerning this tract, which was found in the autumn of 1878, and privately reprinted, as a correspondence which I have had with Mr. William Brooke Rawle, of Philadelphia, subsequently proved. The elegant reprint of the tract which I possess, deserves attention, if for no other reason than that of exhibiting an act of generous regard on the part of a descendant of the original author. I trust that many other rare books and tracts may yet share a like practical resurrection. It is a feature of our age to love revivals of the past.

1. Books I have seen:-First, I will instance a few in my own possession: "Two Godlie and profitable Sermons earnestly enveying against the Sins of this Land in generall, and in particular against the Sins of this City of London. Preached in the City of London by Thomas Hopkins, minister at Yeardley, in the Countie of Worcester." [Then, by way of indicating the drift of the contents, several texts are given in the title-page.]

แ

At London, imprinted by Felix Kyngeston, and are to be sold under Saint Peter's Church in Cornehill, 1615." This publication created a great deal of attention at the time, perhaps more particularly in the light of the plague visitations then prevalent. "London's Deliverance Predicted: In a short Discourse, showing the causes of Plagues in general, and

the probable time (God not contradicting the course of second causes) when this present Pest may abate, etc. By John Gadbury, London, 1665." "A True and Faithful Account of the several Informations exhibited to the Honourable Committee appointed by the Parliament to Inquire into the late dreadful Burning of the City of London. Together with other Information touching the Insolency of Popish Priests and Fesuits; and the Increase of Popery, brought to the Honorable Committee appointed by the Parliament for that purpose. Printed in the year 1667." Pepys, in his Diary, under date Sept. 14, 1667, says, “Here I saw a printed account of the examination taken touching the burning of the City of London, showing the plot of the Papists therein; which it seems has been ordered to be burned by the hands of the common hangman in Westminster Palace." This is a copy which survived. "Usury at Six per cent., examined and found unjustly charged by Sir Thomas Culpepper, and F. C. with many crimes and oppressions, whereof 'tis altogether innocent. Wherein is showed the necessity of retrenching our Luxury, and vain consumption of Foreign Commodities, imported by English Money; also the reducing the Wages of Servants, Labourers, and Workmen of all sorts, which raiseth the value of our manufacturers 15 or 20 per cent dearer than our neighbours do afford them, by reason of their cheaper wayes; wherein is likewise hinted some of the many mischiefs that will ensue upon retrenching Usury; humbly presented to the High Court of Parliament now sitting. By Thomas Manley, Gent. London, printed by Thomas Ratcliffe and Thomas Daniel, and are to be sold by Ambrose Isted, at the Golden Anchor, over against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street, MDCLXIX." This tract, I have reason to believe, accomplished a good deal in the way of diverting the current of anti-usury legislation, and hence of advancing our commercial prosperity. The mere titles of the large number of tracts for and against usury would constitute a very curious collection.

"An Alarm to Europe: By a late prodigious Comet, seen Nov. and Dec. 1680. With a predictive Discourse, Together with some preceding and some succeeding Causes of its sad Effects to the East and North Eastern parts of the World, namely England, Scotland,