The Gentleman's Magazine

A. C. writes: "In the observations upon the early Irish press made by J. R. in February (p. 145), a doubt was expressed whether a copy of the first work which issued from this press, the Book of Common Prayer, is preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. I beg to inform you that the Library contains a copy of this book in fine condition, and that it is generally believed there is no other copy in existence. Your correspondent's acquaintance with the Library of the University connot be of recent date, or he could not have spoken of its treasures as being unrevealed, as if entombed in the cryptic receptacles of the East, described by Colonel Tod. Owing to the indefatigable exertions of the learned Under-Librarian, the Rev. J. H. Todd, the numerous MSS. and printed treasures of this valuable Library have been arranged, classified, and made accessible to the learned inquirer."

J. S. in reply to CANTIANUS on the family of Toke, (Jan. p. 38, where he says, "The ancient Barony of Hoo and Hastings, created 24th of Henry VI. in the person of Thomas Hoo, who died without issue, there is reason to believe is in abeyance in the family of Toke of Godinton, as John Toke of Beere married Joyce, only daughter of Sir Thomas Hoo, brother of the Lord Hoo, from which marriage the Rev. Nicholas Toke, the present possessor of Godinton, is lineally descended,") begs leave to observe, that

as the barony of Hoo was created by Letters Patent it would immediately become extinct on the failure of heirs male, and even if it had been created by writ it would not be in abeyance in the family of Toke, as Lord Hoo left issue (beside a son who died in his father's lifetime issueless) four daughters, of whom Jane married Sir Roger Copley, Knight, from which marriage the present Sir Joseph Copley maternally descends. It is also remarkable that Lord Hoo's name was Thomas, which makes it improbable that he should have a brother bearing the same." This Correspondent is nearly correct in his statement. Lord Hoo left three daughters and coheirs, Anne married to Roger Copley, Eleanor to James Carew, and Elizabeth to Sir John Devenish, whose sons Roger Copley, æt. 40, Richard Carew, æt. 40, and Richard Devenish, æt. 36, in 4 Hen. VIII. were found to be co

heirs, in right of their respective mothers, of Eleanor Lady Hoo and Hastings.

The CORRESPONDENT who inquires, "where was Gernon Castle in Normandy, at which Ranulph third Earl of Chester is said to have been born?" (Burke's Extinct Peerage, p. 347), is informed that he was 66 surnamed Gernons from his moustaches; not, as some say, from the castle of his nativity." (Hist. of Lacock Abbey, by Bowles and Nichols, p. 71.) We perceive that in Burke he is also called "de Meschines," but neither was this an hereditary surname; the distinction of that "le Mescheyn" belongs to his father. It is not complimentary, as will be seen on reference to a French dictionary, hodie mesquin.

C. W. L. writes: "It is with great diffidence that I call in question the explanation of the first common Seal of the city of Bristol given by such a man as the late Mr. Dallaway; but to me it appears that his translation is not the correct one, and therefore submit to your judgment that which follows,-but will first remark that custodio,' among its other meanings, signifies to observe-to watch-to mark diligently,' and that • Porta' means a gate-a port, a narrow passage.' I should then translate the passage 'Secreti clavis sum portûs. Navita navis Portam custodit. Portum vigil indice prodit.' 'I am the key of the secret port. The seaman of the ship observes diligently the narrow entrance. The warder points out the port with his forefinger'-and thus each is engaged in his duty, the warder in pointing out the port, and the sailor in marking the difficulty and danger of entering it." For some animadversions on Mr. Dallaway's hypothesis on the more important part of this legend, the words secreti portus, we beg to refer to our number for August 1835, p. 165.

An OLD CORRESPONDENT inquires, "who is the present representative of the family of Burland," at one time settled in Somersetshire. The last trace he has found of them is, that Mary Burland married James Lloyd Harris, who in 1809 obtained the Royal license to take the name of Burland.

Mr. SAVAGE's communication referring to a pedigree of Girlington in the Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, has been forwarded to the Editor of that work.

THE

GENTLEMAN'S

MAGAZINE.

Letters of the Earl of Dudley to the Bishop of Llandaff. 8vo. Murray.

SOME years have elapsed, which remind us how rapidly the noon of life is gliding away, since, arriving at the Hotel at Turin, we met Lord Dudley, then Mr. Ward, on the staircase; and resumed an acquaintance which had been slightly formed in the "academic bowers," but which had been broken off by subsequent separation. He had lately left Nice and the Mediterranean shores, where he had been passing the winter, and was enjoying at Turin the elegant hospitality of Mr. Hill's table, and the bright delicious progress of an Italian spring;* undetermined whether to return to England,-for the " clangor tubarum" of the distant senate sounded in his ears,-and to see the sun on the northern side of the Alps vanish from him "like a fairy gift," or to remain a few months longer in Italy; when we mentioned our design of proceeding to Florence, with great good-nature he agreed to accompany us, and for about six weeks we had the enjoyment of his constant society. We well remember his first misfortune at Asti, which is not mentioned in his correspondence, and which was subsequently the occasion of much amusement; and his second

a very serious one-which he has noticed, † and which took place when he was riding a wretched post-horse to the quarries of Carrara. At Genoa we found that the new road then forming from that place along the coast towards Lucca--though much unfinished-was to be opened for a single day for the Grand Duchess Constantine, and we obtained leave to follow in her train, being the first Englishmen who ever passed it. The drive from Genoa to Sestri is not surpassed in beauty by any scene even in southern Italy; but the beauty of its winding and varied shores is now well known, and need not detain us. Lord Dudley was always a very leisurely traveller, and his journeys bore a great resemblance to morning airings; and thus a few weeks passed quietly and delightfully, gliding through the olive groves of Spezia, or gazing on the marble splendours of Pisa, or the palaces and galleries of Florence. The day before we left for Rome, we dined with him in company with Sir John Malcolm and his aid-de-camp, who were then on their way to England, having travelled overland from India. Sir John, we remember, amused us much by his description of the Viceroy of Egypt paying him the honours of a grand field-day, in which he showed his Arab army for the first time clothed in European dress, and trained to our tactics. On that evening

*We see by our journal that the Oriental plane was in full leaf in Turin on the 2d of April. So was the Ailanthus glandulosa, the fig tree, and the walnut. The pear tree had fruit set as big as a cherry. The wheat was also in ear. Trees do not leaf in the same order and succession in Italy as in England. We had peas, asparagus, and strawberries at the Palazzo Rosso, in Genoa, on the 7th of this month.

† See Letters, 65, p. 310. When recovered from the surprise and alarm of his first accident, Lord D. joked on the effect of his supposed untimely fate, on his political opponents,-the cruel triumph of Copley and the Latin epitaph by Parr.

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The Gentleman's Magazine, Volumi 167-168