Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 8.djvu/124

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NOTEB AND QUERIES. [9* s. vm. AUG. 3, 1901.


third bell bears the motto "Clara vocor, et clarior ero."

It is claimed for the Bath Abbey Church that it is the last complete ecclesiastical building erected before the dissolution of the monasteries. It is accordingly treated by Mr. Perkins as the last expression of Gothic, then "rapidly approaching the hour of its death." In its favour it is also advanced that the fine west front is "a genuine termination of the building behind it, not a mere screen for the display of statuary." Of the Abbey Church of Malmesbury but a fragment remains. Its towers and transepts have disappeared, and it is ruinous at both ends. Its superb south porch constitutes its chief glory, and, though now crumbling rapidly away, repays a visit to the place. The Church of St. Lawrence at Bradford- on-Avon is the earliest complete church of which we have documentary evidence fixing its dates within the limits of a few years.

The Complete Works of G. 8. Calverley. With a Biographical Notice by Sir Walter J. Sendall, G.C.M.G. (Bell & Sons.)

A COMPLETE edition of the works of Calverley can scarcely be said to supply a popular want, but it is sure of a welcome. Calverley's fame is almost confined to academic circles, and his writings may never reach the masses. They will never even be so well known as the ' Bon Gaultier ' of Aytoun and Martin, and will not approach the popu- larity of the ' Ingoldsby Legends.' To educated men, however, Calverley makes irresistible appeal, and such constitute a world large enough to dis- pose of successive editions of the work. His muse is not strong on the wing, and there is no poem in the present volume equalling in mock intensity Aytoun's 'Dirge of the Drinker.' His poems have, however, grace and delicacy as well as humour and lightness of touch, and they will always delight the man of taste. We remember to have heard ' Gemini and Virgo ' recited by Sir Henry Irving, and are never likely to forget either poem or recitation. Many of the translations are admir- able. We know no translation from Horace quite so good as that of the 'Ode to Lyce,' Book IV. Ode 13. The renderings from English into Latin are beyond praise. It is too late now to attempt a fresh eulogy of Calverley, and Sir Walter SendalPs bi9graphical notice is adequate. The volume con- tains also a capital portrait.

Index Biblioyraphique. Par Pierre Dauze. (Paris,

Repertoire des Ventes Publiques Cataloguees.) THK new ^volume of the excellent ' Index Biblio- graphique' of M. Dauze covers the period from 1 October, 1897, to 30 September, 1898. It will thus be seen that some headway has yet to be made before the author and editor comes up to date. It represents an immense labour for one man to execute the work, which occupies between nine hundred and a thousand pages, chronicling the sale of nearly thirty thousand items. A table of statistics that would enable us to compare the sales in Paris with those in London recorded in 'Book -Prices Cur- rent' would be of interest. This we are, of course unable personally to supply. To the merits of the work we have borne frequent testimony, it is practically indispensable to the collector, the book- buyer, and the bookseller. The only fault we can find with it cannot easily be remedied. It is so heavy and cumbrous that it is very apt in use to


become torn. At the same time, useful as it is, it is scarcely the book to put in a good binding. If it could be issued in a stiff and strong canvas cover, at an enhanced price, it would be welcome, and would then be one of the works most frequently taken off the shelves for the purpose of consulta- tion. The price of the lots is much less than in sales in England. We have come upon several lots sold for 2 fr. each. We hope that the pub- lication will be continued, and that it will in time get more nearly up to date.

The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift. Edited by Temple Scott. Vol. V. Historical and Politico. Tracts. (Bell & Sons.)

THE fifth volume of Swift's works, now added to " Bohn's Standard Library," comprises twenty-two tracts, beginning with the very trenchant 'Short Character of Thomas, Earl of Wharton.' Though constituting an indispensable portion of Swift's literary baggage, and thoroughly characteristic of the author, these things commend themselves rather to the student of history and politics than to the general reader. They are, however, all worth study for the sake of the style, and are necessary to a comprehension of Swift's personality. Mr. Temple Scott's introductions and notes are excellent in all respects, and this edition of Swift is likely to be one most acceptable to scholars.

Problems and Exercises in English History Book B, 1399-1603, by J. S. Lindsey (Cambridge, Heffer & Sons), is a mere cram-book, so we canno' notice it at length ; but it is well suited for it purpose. The hints at the beginning for candidates are good.

We must call special attention to the following notices :

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rules. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. When answer- ing queries, or making notes with regard to previous entries in the paper, contributors are requested to put in parentheses, immediately after the exact heading, the series, volume, and page or pages to which they refer. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second com- munication " Duplicate."

W. H. B. H. We must really ask you to add the references to your replies, as the rules direct.

CORRIGENDA. P. 92, col. 1, 1. 8 from bottom, for " Colombo" read Colombia; col. 2, 1. 10, for "Gara- palta " read Garapata.

NOTICE.

Editorial communications should be addressed to The Editor of ' Notes and Queries '"Advertise- ments and Business Letters to " The Publisher" at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception.