APRIL 13. 1850.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 391
found it out. In chap. 47. (and see note 26.), Gibbon was too happy to make the most of the murder of the female philosopher Hypatia, by a Christian mob at Alexandria. But the account which he gives is more shocking than the fact. He seems not to have been familiar enough with Greek to recollect that (
Greek characters) means killed. Her throat was cut with an oyster-shell, because, for a reason which he has very acutely pointed out, oyster-shells were at hand; but she was clearly not "cut in pieces," nor, "her flesh scraped off the bones," till after she was dead. Indeed, there was no scraping from the bones at all. That they used oyster-shells is a proof that the act was not premeditated. Neither did she deserve the title of modest which Gibbon gives her. Her way of rejecting suitors is disgusting enough in Suidas.
C. B.
Public Libraries.—In looking through the Parliamentary Report on Libraries, I missed, though they may have escaped my notice, any mention of a valuable one in Newcastle-on-Tyne, "Dr. Thomlinson's;" for which a handsome building was erected early last century, near St. Nicholas Church, and a Catalogue of its contents has been published. I saw also, some years ago, a library attached to Wimborne Minster, which appeared to contain some curious books.
The Garrison Library at Gibraltar is, I believe, one of the most valuable English libraries on the continent of Europe. W. C. T.
Edinburgh, March 30. 1850.
NOSCE TEIPSUM,—AN EXCEPTION.
(From the Chinese of Confucius, or elsewhere.)
I've not said so to you, my friend and I'm not going—
You may find so many people better worth knowing.
Rufus.
MISCELLANEOUS.
NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.
Mr. Thorpe is preparing for publication a Collection of the Popular Traditions or Folk Lore of Scandinavia and Belgium, as a continuation of his Northern Mythology and Superstitions, now ready for the press.
Mr. Wykuham Archer's Vestiges of Old London, of which the Second Part is now before us, maintains its character as an interesting record of localities fast disappearing. The contents of the present number are, the "House of Sir Paul Pindar, in Bishopgate Without," once the residence of that merchant prince, and now a public-house bearing his name; "Remains of the East Gate, Bermondsey Abbey;" which is followed by a handsome staircase, one of the few vestiges still remaining of "Southampton House," the residence of the Wriothesleys, Earls of Southampton. A plate of "Street Monuments, Signs, Badges, &c.," gives at once variety to the subjects, and a curious illustration of what was once one of the marked features of the metropolis. "Interior of a Tower belonging to the wall of London," in the premises of Mr. Burt, in the Old Bailey, presents us with a curious memorial of ancient London in its fortified state; it being the only vestige of a tower belonging to the wall in its entire height, and with its original roof existing. The last plate exhibits some "Old Houses, with the open part of Fleet Ditch, near Field Lane;" and the letter-press illustration of this plate describes a state of filth and profligacy which we hope will soon only be known among us as a thing that has been.
We have received the following Catalogues:—Messrs. Williams and Norgate's (14. Henrietta Street) German Catalogue, Part I. comprising Theology, Ecclesiastical History, and Philosophy; John Petheram's (94. High Ilolborn) Catalogue, Part CX. No. 4. for 1850, of Old and New Books; John Miller's (43. Chandos Street) Catalogue, Number Four for 1850 of Books Old and New; and E. Palmer and Son's (18. Paternoster Row) Catalogue of Scarce and Curious Books.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMKS
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)
Dean Milner's Life of Joseph Milner.
Peck's Catalogue of the Discourses written both for and against Popery in the Time of James II. 4to. 1735.
Letter to Sir James M'Intosh in Reply to some Observations made in the House of Commons on the Duel between Sir Alexander Boswell and James Stuart, Esq., of Dunearn.
Odd Volumes.
Parish Churches, by Brandon. Parts 1. and 2.
Homeri Opera. Glasgow, 1814, Vol. IV. Large paper, uncut.
Moyen Age Monumentale de M. Chapuy. Paris, 1841, &c. (C. W. B. wishes to complete his set.)
(symbol characters) Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to Mr Bell. Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186, Fleet Street.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
W. R. F. and T. P. are assured that the omissions of which they complain have arisen neither from want of courtesy nor want of attention, as they would be quite satisfied if they knew all the circumstances of then respective cases.
Notes and Queries may be procured by the Trade at noon on Friday: so that our country Subscribers ought to experience no difficulty in receiving it regularly. Many of the country Booksellers are probably not yet aware of this arrangement, which enables them to receive Copies in their Saturday parcels. Part V. is now ready.
Erratum. By a provoking accident, some few copies of the last No. were worked off before the words "Saxoniæ," "Saxonia" and "audactes," in p. 365. col. 2. were corrected to "Saxonice" and "audacter."
