Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

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Gutenberg ID

28476

Title

Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Notes and Queries, Number 194, published July 16, 1853, serves as a vital medium for literary men, artists, antiquaries, and genealogists to exchange knowledge. This issue features diverse contributions ranging from etymological debates on the word 'island' and weather folklore to heraldic practices and practical advice on cleaning antique furniture. It offers a snapshot of mid-nineteenth-century intellectual curiosity, blending scholarly inquiry with community correspondence.

Summary up to 500 words

Issue 194 of *Notes and Queries*, dated July 16, 1853, serves as a diverse medium for literary men, antiquaries, and genealogists, balancing high scholarship with practical inquiries. The issue opens with a detailed etymological argument by H. C. K. of Hereford regarding the word 'island.' Challenging traditional derivations that link the term to water, he proposes that the Anglo-Saxon 'ea-land' is erroneous. Instead, he suggests 'ea' derives from 'eag' (eye), making an island an 'eye of land,' a concept supported by frequent analogies in nature such as the 'eye of an apple' or the 'eye of a stream.' Following this linguistic analysis, Edward Peacock presents 'Weather Rules' extracted from the works of Thomas Passenger. These folk prognostications link specific dates and animal behaviors to future conditions; for instance, clear skies on Christmas Day promise a peaceful year, while mists on March 10th indicate a plentiful but disease-prone year. The text also lists lucky days throughout the calendar and signs of rain in creatures like frogs and peacocks. A significant portion of the issue critiques the modern practice of assuming heraldic arms without official sanction. The author contrasts the honest practices of earlier 'novi homines' with the 'upstarts' and clergy of the nineteenth century who adopt coats of arms based on caprice or similarity of name, often bypassing the College of Arms. This trend is noted as having reached an absurd height, affecting even those advanced to public offices. Practical correspondence follows, including a letter by L. B. Larking on a historical trial between the families Morlee and Lovel in the Court of Chivalry. Henry Herbert Hele contributes a recipe using caustic soda to remove old paint from oak furniture and kill beetle larvae, a solution he vouches for from personal experience. The issue also recounts the eccentric burial of Job Orton in Kidderminster, who requested an erect posture so he might rise before his wife on Judgment Day. Finally, the publication concludes with a reprint of a letter from J. F. W. Herschel describing a new photographic process. This innovation allows for the creation of positive impressions of varying dimensions from glass negatives, offering advantages in detail reproduction and the ability to print on hard substances like porcelain and ivory.

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• Questions and answers