of words, and to ringing changes, as it were, upon cates, cate, and cat, to prove, if he could, that they all signify 66 a cake, or other aumalette; well knowing, that on failure of doing this, his explanation of the saying would fall to the ground, and that his cat, instead of being in the fryingpan, would be in the fire. His fondness for the non-entity cate, reminds me of a man, who, having but one story, and that about a gun, would mistake any noise for the report of one, that he might introduce his story. Dr. Johnson's definition of saltcat is "a lump of salt," and in this neighbourhood a saltcat is a misshapen mass of clay impregnated with brine, or generally with a less expensive saline ingredient; but in preparing it for use, it is neither baked or fried, and consequently as this cat is not turned in the pan, it cannot have any more relation to the saying, than the owl and gridiron in the sign. "Cat in the pan," says Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, "is imagined by some to be rightly written catipan as coming from Catipania *. An unknown Correspondent imagines, very naturally, that it is corrupted from cate in the pan." "Turning of the cat in the pan," taking the meaning from the Doctor's citation, is, when that which a man says to another, he lays it as if another had said it to him." Our great Lexicographer certainly knew no more of the meaning of this saying than he did of the word pastern when he called it "the knee of an horse;" and how he came to assert that it was naturally imagined" to be a corruption from cate in the pan, when cate is not to be found, as an authorized word, in his own or any other Dictionary, or work, in the English language, seems wonderful. Such slips as these ought, in charity, to be considered as the aberrations of a great mind, which could not bend to trifles as the objects of research. Whether Mr. Gemsege has made out a good case in favour of the saying cut in pan, or I have succeeded in overturning it, by restoring that which I think is the true text, namely, cat in band (see p. 228), I appeal to the judgment of unbiassed minds to * See Gent. Mag. vol. XXIV. p. 172. See Dictionary, ed. 1755. decide; and, willing to allow all men the liberty of their own sentiments, I shall take leave of this subject, after making a few observations on the letter signed W. M. (see p. 308). ungentlemanly, I am charged by In a manner the most gross and W. M. with "seeming to think" that much reading and some ingenuity ought to give way to a deficiency of both of thinking lightly of much learning, and of want of candour. Whether these charges can be supported by what is advanced in my letter, must be determined by other and better judges than W. M. who has wilfully perverted my reasoning in support of cat in band, by making it referable to the corruption cat in pan. He makes me say that delicacies or dainties come from the farm; whereas I classed delicacies or dainties among the purchased provisions, in contradistinction to such as then goes on misquoting, and lays were the produce of the farm. He upon my shoulders the luggage of his own ignorance, by asserting, that, without knowing it, I have proved, in citing the passage from Shakespeare, dainties are all cates," that cates means cake; and then, with great puerility, asks "if we can be otherwise than simpletons, if we do not believe this to be a rich and most delicious cake?" The word cates, in Johnson's Dictionary, is thus defined: "Viands; food; dish of meat generally employed to signify nice and luxurious food;" and Shakespeare, in this passage, intended to designate that which is nice and luxurious for by transposition we have the sense in this sentence, all cates are dainties. To use the simple language of W. M., what "a simpleton" a man must be, to believe that Shakespeare here meant to convey the idea of "a rich and most delicious cake!" It is unquestionably proved, that there is no such word as cate. If the saying took its rise from the plural word cates, then, to be consistent, the advocates for the old should adopt a new reading; and cats i' th' pan would be "illustrative of the subject," by proclaiming its own origin. Now, should these be living cats, and they would answer all the purposes of the saying as well as dead ones, a person prone to mischief (I will (I will not say W. M.) would, "very naturally," be gratified with the employment of "turning" such velvetfooted delicacies, and be highly delighted with the discord which would doubtless attend it. In phrase most singular we are told by W. M. that he started with a quotation from Dr. Johnson ;" and before he has run the length of a decent distance, he insinuates, that he intends to win in a canter, by enlightening the course he has to go over, with some flashes of illustrative wit. Not having any wit of FX own, I do not pretend to judge of it in others; but, I presume, the dread ful coruscation we were led to expect, lies in his observation upon the words "rotary motion," which were innocently used by me, in opposition to motion rectilinear; a word probably not in W. M's vocabulary, as he does not appear to have any practical knowledge of its meaning. Passing over a misquotation where he makes me say "cates signifies delicacies," I come to the last and dying flash of his illustrative wit, on being introduced, in language appropriately elegant, to a salicat,- "the saltcat Mr.Genisege speaks of,whom," says W. M, "I understand to be a very worthy resident of the pigeon-house, and well known to all the people of the farm, so much so, that the most illiterate plough-boy will tell you, in his own dialect, all about the saltcat, just to the same meaning as Mr. Gemsege has done." This story "all about the saltcat" is froth without ink, and too ridiculous for criticism; the meaning of the word having been already explained, it is unnecessary to say more on that head, than merely to remark that W. M. has adopted the most infallible method to prevent the diffusion of knowledge, by setting up something in the room of it; it being fair to conclude that were his friend the "il literate plough-boy" to declare, "in his own dialect," that the sun is no bigger than a cheese-vat, and that the moon is made of green-cheese, he would believe "all about it, just to the same meaning as the plough-boy," and propagate these absurdities. And now, having drawn back the curtain which has hitherto been spread over this subject, I shall take a final leave of it. If I am wrong, I shall acknowledge my error when I am MY wish has long been to gratify myself by commencing a cor respondence with you; but the incessant occupations of a very laborious employment have prevented me hitherto, and even now operate so as to prevent me from writing to you as fully as I wish. The subject of extemporary preaching and extemporary reading (Anglus dixit) I conceive an interesting one; and I hope at some future time to be able to present some considerations to the disputants, which they seem to have overlooked. At present I must content myself with a few observations, as they have been suggested chiefly by articles in your Magazines of March and April last. Mag. for March, p. 239. "Wine of one ear" is supposed to be "wine of one year." But such an expression contains so much of mere matter of fact, that it could scarcely pass into a proverbial saying; besides, it does by no means follow, that wine of one year is crude and immature. The phrase vin d'une oreille has not occurred to me, but that of vin de deux oreilles has, affording, in my opinion, an incontrovertible support to the expression of "wine of one ear." The saying has been, I think, ingeniously supposed to have originated in that shake of the head, by which approbation of a well-flavoured liquor is commonly denoted: disapprobation on the contrary is well marked by only turning the head to › one side, and thus a thing was said to be d'une oreille. Mag. for April, p. 322. your Correspondent R. C. expresses himself thus: "Your learned Correspondent Oxoniensis will permit one, who has no pretensions to Hebrew literature, to enter his most serious protest against the new-fangled word Aleim," &c. The apparent modesty, with which which he prefaces his observation, led me to a prejudgment very dif ferent from the opinion that must be formed from what ensues in his annotation. What right has a man of no pretensions to enter a protest of any kind in a case where, by his own confession, he knows nothing? His confession might seem an humble intimation, in the usual manner, of some acquaintance with the subject; but his mode of observation proves him in earnest in his acknowledgment of ignorance; and for this I acknowledge he has a right to the credit due to his sincerity. But why, under such circumstances, should he at once áttack one who appears to be pos sessed of some knowledge of the subject? In the outset he has actually prejudged the matter, by terming Aleim a new-fangled word. The Hebrew literati have been long divided into two parties, whom we may term the Punctists and the Contrapunctists. The disputed word will be Alcim according to the system of the former, and Elokim according to that of the latter; and perhaps it will appear singular to R. C. that though these words appear to differ so widely as expressed in our characters, in the Hebrew the only difference is in the vowel-points annexed to the component letters, and in the pronunciation as influenced by them; for the component letters are precisely the same. All that is inferred from the use of El as a commencing or concluding syllable, is of no importance; that syllable will follow the fate of the language at large, according as the use or rejection of the points prevails. It is granted, that volumes have been written with Elohim, &c. but R. C. cannot have been very deeply read in the subject, or he might have seen many volumes in which Aleim is used. The word is not of yesterday, and I am convinced, Oxoniensis was well aware of the manner in which it was to be applied. If authorities for that pronunciation of the word be needful, he could produce Capella, Hutchinson, Parkhurst, &c. men who knew at least as much of the subject as R. C. The charge of innovation too will stand or fall on the same ground with the rest. I would charge R. C. with something of a disposition to contend de land caprina s only I feel myself IT is the etiquette, I perceive, of your publication, that you are to be considered as Mr. Speaker in the chair. I had designed to address a few words immediate to Clericus Hibernicus*; but, in compliance with the established form, I address my self to you, requesting the favour of your attention to a statement in some measure opposed to that of Clericus H. The account of the institution, and the tribute to the worthy Archbishop, are strictly just; but, I fear, a wish, natural to us all, and undetected in ourselves, as to its extent, by few, that of endeavouring to give a favourable representation of whatever we happen to be connected with, has had an undue influence over Clericus. I can state from my own personal knowledge, that the attention paid to Hebrew in the University of Dublin is by no means such as his words would appear to imply. The premiums distributed to answerers in that branch are but few; they are chiefly given to lads on examination at entrance; the examination is confined to the more prominent parts of the grammar, and a further acquaintance with the language is not only not encouraged - but I think it not too strong an expression to say, that it is discouraged. Besides, the study is never after resumed, except by the very few who design to read for fellowships. This is a fair statement of the matter; and if after this we can be allowed to boast, the state of Hebrew literature in your Universities must be very low indeed, with the more disgrace to themselves, as they have heretofore produced many ornaments in that department of learning. My intention, in this address to you, is not to attack the representation of Clericus Hibernicus. He seems to have written with a laudable design ; PARTI.] Dublin University.--Original Anecdotes of Bp. Crewe. 631 and the bias in his judgment may plead so amiable a cause, that it would be unjust on that ground to speak severely; nor do I furnish this statement with the trifling view of shewing my superior acquaintance with such little things. My object is, through your publication, which, I know, is read and esteemed in Dublin, to draw the attention of those whom it concerns, to the deficiencies in that particular, so groundlessly praised by Clericus Hibernicus, with the hope, that they may endeavour" to be what they have heard themselves to be." A. O. B. I Mr. URBAN, Mainsforth, Feb. 25. HAVE been much gratified, as with other parts of Mr. Nichols's "History of Sparkenhoe Hundred," so with his analysis of Bp. Crewe's memoirs in particular; and send you the following additional notices, which are at the service of your numerous Readers. P. 832. "My Lord took great care of Bow Church, &c. That Bow Church was in some danger of falling into the hands of the Papists, seems very certain; but what share the Bishop had in preserving it may be doubted." In 1683, Bow Church in the N. Bailey, a very ancient structure, with a projecting arch (under which there was a foot-path) into the street, became entirely ruinous, and divine service was discontinued. The petition of the inhabitants of the N. Bailey parish to Dean Sudbury and the Dean and Chapter of Durham, hints expressly enough at some design to convert it into a Roman Catholic place of worship: "besides what advantages our adversaries may make of it, either to discredit our church, or gratify themselves." On Oct. 3, 1683, Bp. Crewe began the subscription for the repair with 301. and in all (as by an original particular penes me) 1177. 98. 11d. was expended, and only 891. subscribed; on which the Dean and Chapter supplied the deficiency without further assistance; and they, I verily believe, rather than the Bishop, saved Bow Church. A curious old fellow at Durham, one Jacob Bee, Schoolmaster, kept a diary of all events; inter alia, "Upon the 9th of August 1700, my Lord Bp. Crewe came from Auckland to Durham with his Lady, his second wife, madam Forster, and was met with a very great company, both gentry, tradesmen, and others; besides, every street in his way to the castle, the windows were so clad with people as was almost innumerable, and all the Trades' banners were displayed." Mr. Bee then proceeds, much in the style of P. P. the parish clerk, to tell how he shaved the Bishop's Butler, &c. My Lord Crewe, amongst his other eminent qualities, seems to have been very busy in the City Elections for Durham; and, however strange it may appear, he actually voted, followed by two or three of the Prebendaries, as freemen of the city of Durham, 9 Sept. 1679, as appears from a MS Poll Book which did exist some years ago at Durham, from whence Mr. Woodness, on whom I can rely, took the extract. I have a canvassing letter of his steward, Mr. Ardens, on the first Election for the City, 1675, in which he seems to waver as to the Bishop's supporting Mr. Parkhurst, orno; "What if it be my Lord's pleasure my Lord Roscommon should stand; you know it is sometimes the hindmost dog that wins the day?" desiring Mr. Miles Stapylton, to whom it is addressed, to canvass Aldermen Thompson, Gordon, &c. and sound them, but afar off, without bringing in my Lord, &c. Mr. Tempest, of Old Durham, who married Dean Sudbury's niece and eventual heiress, was very intimately connected with Lord Crewe; and was so deep in the interests of the exiled family, that he was arrested under Will. III. and ordered to confine himself to his house at Old Durham till he found security. He very much in jured his fortune in the cause; and died in 1695, partly, it is said, of vexation and chagrin. He seems to have been a friendly, worthy man, who professed his principles very sin cerely, and was led into these affairs in a good measure by Bp. Crewe. There are at Auckland a vast collection of letters to and from Bp. Cosin, which prove his character to have been the reverse of Crewe,-upright, honest, and sincere. I purpose drawing up from them some sort of account of that Prelate in the manner Mr. Nichols has conducted the Exe amen of Lord Crewe. In the British Museum, amongst the Lansdowne MSS. is what is entitled "Part of a History of Durham;" apparently written by one Ralph GowJand, an attorney at Durham, which accuses Bp. Crewe of twenty strange actions of kneeling in private before the Crucifix, and of purloining several valuable MSS. from his predecessor Cosin's library on the Palace green, to which, it seems, he had a private walk from the castle; with a long story of his bearing malice 20 years in the renewal of a lease to Lawyer Middleton's heirs; but the writer's malice seems to have at least equalled the Bishop's. After all, I agree with Mr. Nichols, though without fee or reward, love or fear, for Lord Crewe's relatives, that charity has cast her veil over his failings. He was, with all his faults and tergiversations, liberal in thought and deed, both in life and death; for his benefactions were not all testamentary. Numerous are the Churches which he repaired or restored; and his example certainly influenced the Clergy so far, that more Parsonages were rebuilt or repaired at that æra within the Diocese, than, perhaps, at any other, except the present. Certain it is, the motto, "Who builds a Church to God, and not to fame, &c. hits Lord Crewe hard; for on every story. Mr. URBAN, every person is, therefore, at liberty to make his own remarks upon them. It is evident, then, though they are generally agreed as to the danger, they are far from being unanimous as to the remedy. None of them seem to understand the true cause of the disorder. Some propose building more Churches. To these I would say, First fill those already built. Some recommend applying to the Legislature, to abridge the facilities of Dissenters in obtaining preachers. To such I would say, No, you come a day too late for this; and even if this could be accomplished, it would have the same effect upon them, that the mandate of Pharaoh had upon Israel in Egypt: "the more they were oppressed, the more theygrew." Others have hopes from an increase in the Curates' salaries; a measure too long delayed, but now happily about to be effected by legislative interference. But neither will this, however beneficial to individuals, much benefit the Church. One of your Correspondents, last month, loudly complains (and not without cause) of the exclu sion of strangers from the pews, though empty during Divine Service, in many Churches and Chapels belonging to the Establishment. But he is under a mistake, when he supposes that they have only to throw the pews open, in order to fill them; and that the Sectarians increase because the seats in their places of worship are open for the admission of strangers. On the contrary, it is a fact, that, in general, every sitting in these places is charged at so much per quarter, besides frequent collec tions at the doors. There is a secret in the business, on the part of these Sectarians, which this member of the Established Church, with many others, seems not aware of, that shall be presently disclosed. However, I must previously notice the scheme of another of your Correpsondents in the same month: Ausonius thinks, that the Church would derive incalculable benefit,, if new Parsonage-houses were built; such as acknowledge that you have, par- would induce every Incumbent to reticularly of late, evinced your fi-side in his respective parish; and, lial duty, in calling a consultation upon the supposed alarming situation of the Church. As these gentlemen have requested you to publish their particular opinions to the world, June 29. VERY one who is acquainted E with your Miscellany must having placed them there, he gives, it must be confessed, some excellent hints for their conduct. But, Mr. Urban, small as my acquaintance is with human nature, I venture to af |