Notes and Queries, Number 71, March 8, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

In Short

This installment of the weekly periodical Notes and Queries presents a diverse array of short essays, open inquiries, and reader responses compiled for nineteenth-century antiquaries, genealogists, and scholars. Published on March 8, 1851, the issue functions as an open forum for literary and historical detective work. Readers and contributors submit research on Shakespearean textual corruptions, early printing history, local folklore, and family lineages. The publication has endured as a primary historical record, offering a vivid, unedited window into Victorian intellectual culture, early modern church architecture, and the collaborative preservation of public and private heritage.

The Story

The issue opens with literary and architectural analysis. Scholar S. W. Singer investigates textual difficulties in Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well, establishing a tone of critical inquiry. This is followed by a detailed physical description of the church of Leighton Bromswold, examining the nave, transepts, uniform oak seats, double pulpit, and communion table as preserved from the time of poet George Herbert. The narrative of the issue then shifts to regional tradition and archival preservation. Notes on folk lore record local charms and rural customs, while a correspondent reporting under the pseudonym "Corporal WHIP" provides a detailed summary of historical documents preserved in the Record Office at Malta, highlighting papal bulls, royal charters, and letters from Charles II and the Pretender.

As the issue progresses into its central section, the focus moves to unresolved questions, genealogical queries, and bibliographical research. Correspondents submit minor queries regarding historical artifacts, unusual epitaphs, and regional landmarks, including a curious stone at Little Casterton Church and an early paper-mill near Stevenage. A writer named J. H. challenges a previously published history regarding the epitaph of Dr. John Mawer in Middleton Tyas, defending the late vicar's linguistic accomplishments and noble lineage. Meanwhile, contributor B. G. seeks details on John Collard, an eighteenth-century logician who wrote under the pseudonym N. Dralloc while facing personal distraction and hardship.

The final third of the issue provides answers to previous queries alongside editorial notices. Contributor J. H. van Lennep responds to questions regarding a Dutch popular song-book, revealing his own identity while engaging in warm literary banter. Other writers evaluate theological interpretations of biblical miracles, such as Joshua's command to the sun, arguing that scripture uses phenomenological language rather than astronomical instruction. Correspondents also track historical customs, such as knightly oaths sworn upon swans and pheasants, legal rulings on swearing by animals, and the etymological origins of terms like "waste-book" and "ledger." The issue concludes with brief reviews of recent books, catalog announcements, and notices to correspondents, resolving administrative details before closing.

How It Unfolds

The architectural and textual openings The issue begins with textual commentary on Shakespeare by S. W. Singer, followed by an architectural survey of George Herbert's church at Leighton Bromswold, detailing its seventeenth-century oak furnishings, open roof, and bell inscriptions.

The call for archival preservation A correspondent summarizes a report on the Malta Record Office, drawing public attention to ancient papal bulls, royal correspondence, and newly cataloged records of English noble families.

The collection of minor queries A series of brief inquiries opens debate on diverse subjects, including an ancient stone at Little Casterton, references to the hippopotamus in Greek texts, and instances of humorous English translations found abroad.

The examination of literary and genealogical puzzles Correspondents submit longer queries regarding rare liturgical printings, the lineage of Admiral Joseph Peyton, and the obscure life of logician John Collard, who wrote his logic treatises under severe personal interruptions.

The resolution of past queries Contributors provide answers to earlier issues, discussing Dutch song-books, the genealogical claims of Archbishop Cranmer's descendants, and chivalric oaths taken upon birds.

The final notes and commercial notices The issue closes with short reviews of new publications, notices regarding rare book sales, advertisement listings for anti-logarithmic tables, and brief editorial responses to readers.

The People

S. W. Singer A literary contributor who seeks to restore correct readings to textual corruptions in Shakespeare's plays, opening the issue with textual commentary.

George Herbert The deceased seventeenth-century poet and prebendary whose structural design and uniform oak furnishings at Leighton Bromswold Church are carefully documented and praised for their historic integrity.

M. Luigi Vella The keeper of the Record Office at Malta, commended by contributors for systematically organizing and preserving centuries of royal charters, papal bulls, and genealogical documents.

Dr. John Mawer The late Vicar of Middleton Tyas, whose monument claims he spoke twenty-two languages and proposed a mission to Abyssinia, prompting ongoing debate among contributors regarding his true ancestry and scholarly achievements.

John Collard An eighteenth-century logician and chairmaker who published works under the name N. Dralloc, remembered by contributors for writing rigorous logical treatises amidst constant life distractions.

J. H. van Lennep A Dutch contributor who writes to clarify the publication dates of a rare song-book while playfully addressing his use of a pseudonym in correspondence with fellow scholars.

In Its Own Voice

"The seats are all uniform, of oak, and of the good old open fashion made in the style of the seventeenth century."

A description of the preserved interior of George Herbert's church at Leighton Bromswold highlights the architectural care of the period.

"And let me inform the reader also, that this work was not composed in the pleasant tranquillity of retirement, but under such untoward circumstances, that the mind was subject to continual interruptions and vexatious distraction."

A quoted preface by the logician John Collard reveals the personal strain behind his intellectual output.

"Inspiration was not bestowed to make men wise in astronomy, but wise unto salvation."

A contributor assessing biblical interpretation framing the distinction between theological message and scientific instruction.

What It's Really About

Beneath its fragmented collection of inquiries and notes, the issue addresses the collective nature of historical truth and the preservation of culture. The issue argues that historical knowledge is not built by single authorities, but gathered incrementally through open communication among scholars, amateurs, and custodians of local traditions. By investigating obscure church ruins, corrected printings of old missals, and forgotten local registers, the contributors seek to rescue perishable human records from oblivion. The text continually contrasts ephemeral popular claims with verified documentation, asserting that careful research, precise citation, and open debate are essential to understanding the past.

Why Read It Today

This issue of Notes and Queries appeals to readers fascinated by Victorian intellectual history, local archaeology, and the evolution of literary scholarship. Rather than offering a single sustained narrative, it presents an immersive experience of nineteenth-century curiosity, capturing the exact questions, arguments, and discoveries that occupied Victorian minds.

Readers must navigate a dense, highly varied structure filled with Latin phrasing, obscure genealogical lineages, and references to forgotten eighteenth-century texts. However, the reward lies in the issue's quiet charm and intellectual rigor. The back-and-forth exchanges between contributors convey a genuine passion for accuracy, whether they are deciphering medieval church carvings, disputing translation errors on foreign signs, or tracing the history of paper mills. It remains a fascinating read for anyone who enjoys historic research, literary trivia, and the preservation of forgotten lore.