522 Anstruther Musomanik Society. cited an humorous invocation to Fun, which, from its length, cannot be here inserted. He then gave the following toast: Rhyme and Reason. We've paiddel't in Castalia's burn; We've drank the true sublime; And we hae borne the critic's scorn A' for the love o' rhyme. It's for, &c. [Jan. 1, After which, he delighted the com- But there's a hand, my trusty feire, pany with the following song: Is there wha lightlies poetry, An' rudely dare misca' that? The college ha' may brag an' blaw For a' that an' a' that, His gibes and jeers an' a that; As come it shall for a' that, For a' that an' a' that, May Fun extend every where his Empire, till every Face grin, and every Throat labour with laughter. May our great l'atron, Dan Apollo, Ne'er find our brains so boss and hollow, If he should knock,butRhyme may follow. May the Shield of good Humour throw back on our Assailants the Arrows of saucy and presumptive Criticism. This last toast was succeeded by the following song: TUNE" Auld lang syne.” It's for the love o' rhyme, my boys, An' gie's a hand o' thine; We'll crack the crowns o' critic lowns, A' for the love o' rhyme. It's for, &c. Auld Anster town stands high in fame; It's for, &c. "The memory of our great elder brother, Robert Burns," was drunk in solemn silence. After this followed, The bright-burning candles of British song-Walter Scott, Lord Byron, and Themas Campbell. The kingdom of Fife, and may she long retain her supremacy for fun, frolic, and hospitality. It would be tedious to quote all the toasts and songs of this happy and social evening; it may be sufficient to say, that never, in any society instituted för the purpose of mutual entertainment, has been witnessed so much innocent and good-humoured bilarity. We shall conclude with the following original song, to a favourite Scots air, sung by the laureat; observing, however, that no part, except the chorus, was sung in character. CHORUS. Blythe, blythe, an' merry are we, But sic a night we never saw! The Auld Kirk has clinkit twall; Wha cares tho' she had chappit twa? We're light o' heart, an' winna part, Tho' time an' tide should rin awa. Blythe, &c. But never spier how wears the morn; The moon's still blinkin' in the sky; And if, like her, we fill our horn, I dinna doubt we'll drink it dry! Blythe, &c. Then fill we up a social cup, And never mind the dapple dawn; Just sit awhile, the sun may smile, And light us a' across the lawn. Blythe, &c. 1815.] Etymology; or, Philological Ventilations. For the New Monthly Magazine. ETYMOLOGY; or, PHILOLOGICAL VENTILATIONS. By HUMFREE TELLFAIR, M. A.-Part III. (Concluded from No. 11, p. 427.) IN conclusion of these learned labours, and to crown all our etymological researches, it may be proper, lastly, to apply our ventilatory engine to proper names, whether of places or persons; and to try what intellectual instruction may be thence elicited, As for places, beginning from the east, the very cradle of the new born world, we might be able, perhaps, by a sort of etymological boxing of the compass, to give a sketch of nominal propriety through the four quarters of the globe. Due east from us lies Po-land, of which I can only negatively say, that it seems not northerly enough to mean Pole-land; and far too northerly, and wrongly placed, to be washed by the river Po-but let that pass. As to its capital, it might be conjectured to have been named by transposition, War-saw, because, from its being unluckily placed amongst the nations, it so often saw war at its gates. From the wise measures now pursuing, let us hope that it will not be so in future. Another name of a place at no very great distance, scems to have been given in anticipation of a future event, for posterity will know that one of the first teeth, or tusks, of the tyrant, was pulled out at the battle of Pull-tusk. Veering hence magnetically towards the north, we may learn that that word, from its broad pronunciation by the natives, who should know it best, noarth, must have arisen from an opinion, however erroneous, that there was no-earth beyond the frozen sea. But what shall we say to the curious blunder of calling one of the most northern counties of Scotland (it should have been of Ireland,) Souther-land, or Sutherland? Another Caledonian name, (by the way, if Caledonia is from calidus, or caleo, it is as big a blunder as the other,) I mean Dumfries, from dumb and freeze, (just as we write Friesland for Freezeland,*) though more southerly, indicates a liability to intenseness of frost. this tend to justify the report of the May not noted Sir John Mandeville, about the freezing of words in the north seas, till Ice-land is fairly spelt; and it is hoped that in the present apportionment of states, the little ultima Thule will fall to our share, that with a fostering hand we may ameiorate its wretched condition. It is not likely to repay us with base ingratitude. 523 at length, on the return of the thaw, oaths, curses, prayers, blasphemies, defamation, &c. began to crack and bounce about the ears of the astonished ship'scompany; for who would care what he uttered where nothing could be heard? There are also, I think, in the same district, the names Overdumfiddling and Underdumfiddling, which are proofs of the frost's being so severe, that even the fiddle-strings became inaudible; and this may shew us how wrong it is to question any gentleman's veracity, Sir John's, for instance, or my own, &c. merely upon the strength of pre-conceived opinions.-The geography of Scotland, indeed, seems oddly confused, for could it be turned topsy-turvy, Dumfries would be at the northern extremity, and Sutherland where it should be. Turning westward, we find a kingdom too justly, I fear, called Ire-land, from its unhappy propensity to duelling. Now, as I promised, (V. I. p. 341,) to notice the odd circumstance of Dublin's having been anciently styled Deviling, (Strype's Ann. of Ref. p. 263,) let me here conjecture that it might have been at first the city of Duelling, and then, as the devil used formerly to be printed diuel, or, because he is the inspirer of such animosities, it might come to be spelt Diuelling, or Deviling. Stretching from hence across the Atlantic, we behold a shameful phenomenon-infant colonies, to whose assistance the mothercountry rushed forwards with ardour, when they cried out, that" the enemy was pushing them into the sea;” but now, the moment they have acquired strength of their own, rushing forward with equal ardour to assist the same enemy, for the parricidal purpose of destroying the most generous of parents!! But what I meant to note was, that they had long ago evinced their democratical love of dis-union and dis-memberment, by the very name of one of their provinces; by which the unnatural child seems to say to the parent-state, "You may strive for union and friendship, and talk of affection and gratitude, and even of my own interest, but it won't do, for, see! as fast as you CONNECT-I-CUT." Lastly, directing our ideas southward, dom, another name, Vittoria, which seems we may find, in a newly-rescued kingto have been given in anticipation of a glorious event; for, if the tyrant's first tooth was drawn at Pull-tusk, here, it might be said, his very jaw was broken. Our matchless hero, indeed, has strewed the Peninsula all over with Vittorias 524 Etymology; or, Philological Ventilations. from one end to the other.-Onward, far beyond this, we may arrive at a mighty empire, which heaven has permitted British valour to subdue, (with the view, let us hope, of diffusing light and truth amongst benighted nations ;) and here two names occur apposite to our present subject. When the Mogul signed over to us the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, (Aug. 11, 1765,) Lord Clive, and the rest, observed, "Aye, we're in luck now, in luck now, however;" and the place has ever since been entitled the city of Luck-now. But the empire so acquired was nearly overthrown by a rebellion that reared its hydra-head in 1810, and a very bad hydra it was, whence the place of its origin is with equal propriety styled Hydra-bad. We come now to proper names of individuals; and here I might pretend that New-ton was so called because he gave a new ton to philosophy and human knowledge; and Shake-spear, (so spelt in spite of Mr. Capel's anathema, and his own careless signature, a thing common in those times,) because he could shake the literary spear, i. e. the pen, more powerfully than all his competitors. But as any thing fanciful might only disgrace these profound speculations, let us rather try whether we cannot substitute two names of equal celebrity, and whose etymologies will be undeniable. First and foremost shall march our renowned Al-fred, properly so called, since by him not only all were freed, but by his last will he ordained, " that the people of England should be as free as their own thoughts." (Hume, V. I. p. 100.) A royal boon! and which by royalty may best be secured and perpetuated. Nor less renowned is our second deliverer, or spiritual champion, Luther, from xgor, free; for he himself was free, zal', and rescued from slavery, not the bodies, but the souls, of men. And here let me subjoin two or three other classical derivations :-Columbus, from xxpca, to swim or sail-Doctors Mead and Akenside, from medeor and Ex, to heal-not forgetting our late patriotic, and truly respectable poetlaureat, Pye, or Pie, from Pierides. A very significant and expressive name too is given us by Dr. Buchanan, in his Christian Researches, in 1808, who tells us (p. 147) that the second inquisitor at Goa was called Joseph a Doloribus. This last name is highly appropriate; though nothing can be more unlike than the amiable patriarch Joseph to an accurs [Jan. 1, ing and accursed minister of that terrible tribunal which is just now re-esta blishedt in Spain, in obedience to a Vir Dei (!!) as he is styled by his Irish sycophants in their late congratulatory ad * Wickliffe informs us, (see his Life in Wordsworth, V. I. p. 57,) that of the two popish curses, the lesser is that of the Almighty, and the greater, or more curse, that of the pope. Hence, he who was doomed to set himself above all that is worshipped,' is said not merely to curse, but to accurse. In cursed Lewis and all his adherents;" for, as the first of Hen. III. "the pope's nuncio acthe crown of England had been resigned to (Kennet's Hist. V. I. p. 171.) Johnson also the pope, he thought proper to protect it. quotes from Sir Walter Raleigh, “When Hil debrand," (the founder of the papal tyranny,) "accursed and cast down from his throne H. IV. there were none so hardy as to defend their lord." This was Spenser's 'Sir Bourbon who threw away his shield.' Our H. IV. like all usurpers from Phocas to Buonaparte, clung to the pope, and first brought burning into England; otherwise Wickliffe might have reaped all the glory that Luther did afterwards, and effected much sooner a real upon serious matters, I shall produce that emancipation. And here, having entered admirable erratum hinted at in my first note, In Rivington's edit. of Secker's Lectures, had observed that the 7 popish sacraments 1771, Vol. II. p. 214, after the archbishop had not been fixed above 200 years, the prin ter goes on to say, and now they accurse us for acknowledging only two." The archbishop had tamely and insipidly written, 66 accuse us!" Romanists, however, deceive themselves, if they think that any of them ever had, or can have, 7 sacraments. The pope and his priests have not matrimony-They, and their favourites, do not do pe The laity, and all women, (Pope Joan e1but half the Eucharist. Baretti has recorded cepted,) are without orders, and can receive that " he would not take orders, because marry, because then he could not take erthen he could not marry, and he would not ders;" so a sensible man befooled himself out of both! Lay persons, then, can at most have but 5 sacraments and a half; yet the council of Trent accurses them if they refuse to believe that this half is equal to the whole!! nance-millions die without extreme unction. The Inquisition is twofold. One end of it is a house of torture, into which the British ambassador would be cast, did not much more than they do of their Maker. its managers stand in awe of this nation, The brave and virtuous Alava, aid-de-camp within these "gates of hell." The other to their great Deliverer, is already immured end is a brothel, to which such females, of whatever quality, as the inquisitors may take 1815.] Etymology; or, Philological Ventilations. dress. As Dr. B. has not told us the name of the principal inquisitor, I am glad that I happen to be gifted with an insight into concealed names, because it enables me to inform the public that it is Dominick de Horroribus. Here let me just observe, what I had almost forgotten, that even an historical incident may sometimes give rise to a familiar phrase. Take the following instance: May 25th, 1660, Charles II. landed near Dover pier, where the general (Monk) stood ready to receive him on his knees, and was raised, kissed, and embraced by his Majesty." ""Then the King took coach," (the only one, we'll suppose,) "his brothers and the general sitting with him, and the Duke of Buckingham in the boot." (Kennet's Hist. vol. iii. p. 241.) Might not this, then, be the first instance of saying, "So and so were together, and such-a-one to boot ?"* But to return --As to names, that of Old Nick, which is clearly a nick-name, may have given rise to the verb to nick, cheat, or cajole. I own, indeed, that there is another derivation of this, which the sagacity of Johnson did not olfact I mean the custom of making a nick in a fancy to, are fetched at midnight by their myrmidons, consigned to a bawd, and treated with every delight, amongst the sisterhood, to induce compliance. If refractory, they are shewn the engines of torture, which is always effectual. When the holy fathers are satiated, they are somehow got rid of, to make room for others. (Hist. of Inquis. Stockdale, 1610; or, as that is costly, see Anti-Jacobin, for July, 1810, p. 295; also Quarterly Rev. No. XII.; and Brit. Crit. for March, 1811.) Does this vir Dei, as they call him, mean to restore both these depart ments? * This was a season of joy and exultation, charmingly depicted in the Gentle Shepherd of Allan Ramsay. But though we have lately experienced a similar jubilee, we should by no means deem ourselves safe on that account. Foreign enemies are conquereddomestic ones are scarcely checked; the temporal tyrant is put down-his spiritual brother is more and more confident; underminers are daily and hourly at work, laying Priestley's gunpowder, grain by grain, under our citadel; and puritans are as numerous, and as active as heretofore, though disguised under different names. (See Norris on the Bible Society.) The great danger, therefore, is, lest we should be lulled by our successes into a fatal security, "Unconscious of the sweeping whirlwind's sway, That, hush'd in grim repose, expects his evening prey." 525 the chalk at ale-houses, that the landlady might chalk double behind the door; and hence the poet Cleaveland talks of "the nick, and the froth, of a penny pot-house." But supposing this verb to refer to Old Nick, then it reminds me of my promise to say something more about imp-posing, i. e. posing the imps themselves, or cheating the devil, which the monks perpetually brag of doing, because monks, and not imps, were the authors of popish legends. Of this I shall crave leave to produce two instances, the latter of which will furnish us with a further etymology. The first of these attempts at impposing was successful,-it was shewn me in one of his curious books by Dr. Farmer,* the substance of which was as follows: "St. Bernard was one day told by the satyr-hoofed gentleman, (who seems to have forgotten his wonted infallibility on this occasion,) that a certain passage in the Psalms, if repeated every day, would ensure salvation. Unable to get any thing farther out of Belzy, the saint at last formed the reso lution of reading the whole Psalter every day. Here the baffled fiend,-shaking his ears, no doubt, and cursing his folly, rather than suffer the saint to acquire so much additional holiness, e'en told him the secret!" Here Old Nick was nicked himself. But what a rascal must this boasted saint have been, for keeping entirely to himself the spiritual nostrum of so curious a doctor, instead of charitably divulging it for the benefit of mankind! Far less wise, or successful, was my who, like many others, fancied he could second hero, the Emperor Leopold I., dupe the Old One by being buried in a capuchin's hood, whereas he was only the dupe himself of his own monks and confessors. Thus sings our divine poet : "And they who, to be sure of Paradise, Dying, put on the weeds of Dominic, Or in Franciscan think to pass disguis'd." And we read in Wordsworth (vol. ii. p. 18) * Johnson-Farmer. Though liberties have been here taken with the former of these great men, yet the writer of these papers knew him well, which is the same thing as saying-loved and revered him. Early in 1765 he had the singular happiness of introducing these two literary luminaries to their first personal interview, at Em. Coll. Camb. and of enjoying the intellectual banquets which ensued, especially that attempted to be described by Dr. Sharp of Benet, in the Gent's Mag. for March of that year. Sed non nunc his locus. 526 Etymology; or, Philological Ventilations. was a that "to be buried in a cowl or hood, and the rest of a frier's habit, especially if accompanied with a letter of fraternity," (to St. Peter, I presume,) sure protection against all harm!" Yet surely the above imperial wiseacre should have known that his brother monarch of the infernal regions was far too knowing and subtle to be so egregiously hoodwinked? and this derivation of hoodwink will not, I think, be disputed. This indeed is priesteraft, if human credulity can be so far imposed upon as to believe that the next world may be entered in masquerade! But, allowing this for a moment, yet surely, since the prince of darkness is constituted the grand INQUISITOR, and the final FRIER of all who commit deliberate murder, and especi-, ally under the prostituted name of religion, the assumed habit of a brotherfrier, instead of repelling, would have rather forcibly attracted him, through its congeniality of appearance. The indulgent reader may, perhaps, be surprised, as I own I was myself, at first, on a revision of these papers, that so many opportunities have been found for holding up a mirror to the Italian superstition. In truth, many more opportunities might have been found; nor do I regret having, once at least, lighted up a fire with faggots, that the true lineaments of its features might be the more discernible. I well know that its votaries are most politicly restrained from reading any thing respecting themselves; but my aim and wish is, that, whatever may be thought of these Essays, they should have less and less reason for saying, that "English stupidity is become proverbial." But now, gentle reader, whether our intercourse be grave or gay, it is high time that it should cease; and Humfree Tellfair hopes you will acknow Though deep policy first engendered the Catholic Question, yet it was not so much through stupidity, as through a confiding goodness of heart, that such vast indulgences were granted. Some of the best, as well as the most learned and ingenious men I have the happiness of knowing, are so enamoured of concord, as to regard even its phantom with complacency. But they fail to perceive that truth and falsehood were not created to coalesce; so that they can never safely meet half way, shake hands, and be friends. The Grand Apostacy is a grand probation, and when this great end is answered, we may rest assured that the Almighty will no longer tolerate a rival, under the assumed character of a vicegerent. [Jan. 1, ledge that, adhering strictly to his motto, he has not been merry with out a serious intention of doing good. His unwillingness to part has given this section an undue prolixity; and yet, having been forced occasionally by his subject into horrible ideas, or into a more frequent repetition of the name of the Evil Being than some, perhaps, may deem eligible or decorous, he wishes to efface all disagreeable impressions by closing his researches with the following etymological anecdote:-A gentleman having purchased an elegant walkingcane for five guineas, met a friend who seemed to have got the fellow to it. On Comparing them no difference could be perceived, though the friend had given but two guineas for his, at the very same shop. Enraged at the discovery, the party aggrieved vowed that he would make the fellow feel the weight of his own cane for his rascality. On his entering the shop, full of choler, for that purpose, the vender, with great composure, begged him to be pacified, and to suffer him to examine the cane. Ilaving accordingly received, and silently conned it over with the most profound attention, "Phoo!" said he, why this is as clear as noon-day. Bless me, Sir, why yours is a right bamboo, whereas his was nothing in the world but a plain dragon!"-Hence evidently the verb to bamboozle; and persuaded I am that the great Bamboozlebergius himself, were he here present, could produce not the smallest objection to so obvious an etymology. 66 And here, as the moral of my tale, let me in the most serious mood express my hope and confidence, that the truly worthy and beneficent Mr. Bull will in future be less liable to be hood-winked by monks and friars, or bamboozled by sham patriots and re-formers. My heart tells me that I have been aiming at something far better than amusement only. And let me beseech my countrymen, that they would study to know things by their right examine into all specious and alluring prenames; and jealously to scrutinize and tensions; lest an inordinate good-nature should render them the dupes of hypocrisy, or an ill-placed LIBERALITY expose them to the most sanguinary malevolence. N. B. I have to request the attention of your readers to the following ERRATA. Vol. I. p. 223, col. 2, line 50, for i àv, i à, read i áv, i àu. Vol. I. p. 339, col. 2, line 3 from the commence. |