Notes and Queries, Number 185, May 14, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

In Short

This issue of Notes and Queries, published on May 14, 1853, is a period periodical acting as a collaborative forum for scholars, collectors, and curious readers. Readers submit niche historical inquiries, trace literary borrowings, identify rare books, and share practical advice on topics ranging from photography to medical remedies. Rather than presenting a single narrative, the issue captures the mid-Victorian intellectual community at work, demonstrating how public correspondence, meticulous bibliography, and shared enthusiasm preserved obscure history and advanced emerging technologies.

The Story

The issue opens with detailed bibliographical research into early English emblem books, cataloging obscure titles from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This meticulous cataloging establishes a foundation of literary preservation, recording rare editions such as those by Robert Burton, John Castanoza, and Thomas Jenner. From early religious and moral literature, the focus shifts to political economy as James Crossley examines an anonymous 1720 tract on the East India Trade. Crossley compares its sharp insights on international trade and the division of labor with Joseph Addison’s writings in The Spectator, mounting an argument that attributes the anonymous work to Henry Martyn.

The exchange of literary research continues through short notes and queries submitted by various correspondents. A contributor highlights an overlooked item of Stratford-upon-Avon drama: a five-act comedy by Mary Hornby, printed at Shakespeare’s birthplace in 1820. The note outlines Hornby’s dramatic ambitions, her previous theatrical attempt based on the Battle of Waterloo, and her humble preface invoking the muses. Other brief submissions trace verbal parallels between classical literature and modern poets, record early historical grants of domestic slaves by William the Lion to Scottish monasteries, and offer practical domestic advice, such as letting hot sealing-wax cool naturally on the skin to prevent blistering.

The middle portion of the issue presents an array of unanswered queries from readers seeking historical and localized data. Correspondents ask for the etymology of the word purlieu in royal forest law, the botanical identity of Longfellow’s "compass flower" mentioned in Evangeline, and historical records concerning seventeenth-century bankruptcies. Queries also touch upon heraldic traditions, such as Charlemagne’s supposed use of golden bees, and ask after local landmarks like the ancient Grindstone Oak of Alice Holt forest, recently destroyed by fire.

The final section provides extended replies and technical developments. S. R. Maitland offers a nuanced defense of George Psalmanazar, detailing how the famous Formosan impostor was originally manipulated as a teenager by an unscrupulous military chaplain before reforming later in life. Artistic inquiries focus on lost or damaged oil paintings by William Hogarth, while literary contributors debate whether false rhymes in English verse should be branded as uniquely "Irish" or acknowledged as surviving Elizabethan pronunciations. The issue concludes with a practical exchange on the emerging collodion photographic process, followed by publisher notices, book requests, and contemporary advertisements for insurance, school classics, and Victorian panaceas.

How It Unfolds

The survey of emblem books The edition opens with a detailed bibliography of rare English emblem books, listing forgotten printed works, copper-plate engravings, and moral verses from the Tudor and Stuart eras.

The attribution of an economic tract James Crossley presents textual evidence linking an anonymous 1720 pamphlet on East India trade to Henry Martyn, highlighting how its insights on commerce anticipated Joseph Addison's essays in The Spectator.

Uncovering local curiosities and queries Correspondents submit diverse questions regarding the origin of legal terms, forgotten historical manuscripts, local forest traditions, and the botanical nature of prairie flowers.

Reassessing historical character Dr. Maitland responds to earlier entries regarding George Psalmanazar, outlining the youth's exploitation by a regiment chaplain and his ultimate redemption as a respected scholar.

Debating poetic meter and art Contributors trace lost paintings by Hogarth, argue over regional pronunciations in eighteenth-century verse, and exchange advice on chemical procedures for early collodion photography.

The People

• Rev. Thomas Corser: A bibliophile who compiles an extensive descriptive list of rare English emblem books to document early modern woodcuts, engravings, and devotional poetry.
• James Crossley: A literary scholar who uses comparative textual analysis and auction catalogues to prove Henry Martyn authored an influential anonymous tract on foreign trade.
• Mary Hornby: A Stratford-upon-Avon playwright who wrote five-act dramas under Shakespeare's former roof, striving for dramatic success despite limited literary recognition.
• George Psalmanazar: A former imposter who spent his youth posing as a Formosan native under the guidance of a deceitful chaplain, later earning the genuine respect of Samuel Johnson.
• Rev. Dr. S. R. Maitland: A contributor who defends Psalmanazar’s memory by exposing how the young wanderer was exploited by his baptismal sponsor for professional advancement.

In Its Own Voice

"When women teem, be it with bad or good, / They must bring forth--forsooth 'tis right they should"

Mary Hornby turns to verse in the preface of her play The Broken Vow to explain the compelling urge behind her creative labor.

"We taste the spices of Arabia, yet never feel the scorching sun which brings them forth..."

An anonymous 1720 tract on East India trade illustrates the broad reach of international commerce in vivid prose.

"The proper course is to let the wax cool on the finger; the pain is much less, and there is no blister."

A short note from Philadelphia offers sensible, real-world advice for treating common household burns from hot sealing-wax.

What It's Really About

This periodical issue captures the Victorian passion for collaborative scholarship and informal intellectual exchange. Beneath the fragmented queries lies a collective effort to organize, preserve, and clarify historical knowledge before it slips out of memory. The issue treats minor local history, classical philology, and cutting-edge chemical experiments with equal seriousness, reflecting an era when amateur enthusiasts actively built the fields of bibliography, folklore, and art history. By placing public queries alongside scholarly responses, the publication champions open communication across specialized fields, showing how individual observations assemble into a broader understanding of history, language, and culture.

Why Read It Today

Notes and Queries offers a charming, unvarnished window into mid-nineteenth-century intellectual life. Reading it feels like browsing a digital message board from 1853, where scholars, local historians, and curious readers debate obscure facts, track down lost artwork, and offer practical household tips. The magazine's casual yet learned tone renders historic research accessible, showcasing how ordinary people contributed to public knowledge long before modern databases existed.

The text does present minor hurdles for modern readers, as it relies heavily on un-translated Latin tags, brief references to forgotten Georgian literature, and dense bibliographical citations. The entries jump rapidly from medieval slave deeds to early photographic chemical formulas without transition. However, these abrupt shifts reflect the genuine vitality of the period. For anyone interested in Victorian material culture, early photography, or the mechanics of historic research, this issue provides an authentic glimpse into the working minds of nineteenth-century antiquaries.