QUESTIONS REQUIRING ANSWERS.

401. Kirke White concludes one of his letters thus:-Vale, S. R. V. B. E. E. Q. V.-What do these initials signify ?-S. S.

402. Could any of your philosophical readers refer me to any work where I can obtain a critical estimate of the metaphysical writings of Lady Mary Shepherd? She is the author of "An Essay upon the Relation of Cause and Effect," and "Essays on the Perception of an External Universe, and other Subjects connected with the Doctrine of Causation." I have a copy of the latter work, in the preface of which Lady Mary Shepherd describes her work in the following terms:-“I propose in this essay, as in the former one, to consider Mr. Hume's notions, as expressed first of all in his Treatise upon Human Nature,' and afterwards as resumed in his essay entitled, 'On the Academical or Sceptical Philosophy;' yet to conduct the argument rather by stating what I conceive to be truth, than by a minute examination of his reason. ing. In doing this, if any thoughts should appear of such a nature as to afford a prospect that the doctrine first

set

up by Bishop Berkeley is capable of being modified in such a manner as not to be at variance with the common experience of life, much less to afford a supply of arguments in favour of atheism, the author will be rewarded for the labour of thought which has been found necessary in the consideration of it."-JESSE.

403. Where can I find an account of the philosophical system of Averroes? Not being a French scholar, I cannot avail myself of Renau's dissertation on the Arabian philosopher-JESSE.

404. I was interested by a notice of Hugh Macdonald in "In Memoriam 1861," and have recently purchased a copy of his "Poems and Songs," with a

memoir of the author. Can you tell me who the author of the Memoir is? He seems to have been a friend of the poet, and to have formed an idea of him much the same as that expressed in the "In Memoriam" article. Are they written by the same pen?-JABEZ

405. Has the Queen a revenue derived from the duchy of Lancaster in addition to the revenue allowed her by Parliament?-S. S.

406. Is there any edition of Shakspere's Works published in weekly numbers or monthly parts at a moderate cost? W. L. W.

407. Is there any poetical magazine at present in course of issue?-W. L. W.

408. Will you kindly inform me who is the author of the poem, "Wat Tyler," and where it can be obtained, with the price? Also where I can obtain the poem, "Erminia's Lay," and the price of it?-WEATHERLEY.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

394. Ebenezer Elliot.-A work entitled, "The Life, Poetry, and Letters of Ebenezer Elliot, the Corn Law Rhymer," with an abstract of his politics, was issued in July, 1850, by John Watkins, the son-in-law of the Sheffield bard,

author of "Runnymede," ""Wat Tyler,"

Madeline," and several other contributions to the unacted drama. Не was at one time a Chartist leader, and contested supremacy both with O'Connor and Ernest Jones. The work consists mainly of a republication of papers on the Corn Law Rhymer contributed to the Athenæum by the author in 1849. He, we think, died almost immediately after the issue of the book. It is not well written nor tastefully put together, and it tells almost as much of its author as of its subject. Such as it is, however, it seems to be the only biographical memorial of the Corn Law Rhymer of any length. Elliot's works were issued by Tait in

"

a large 8vo. volume, just after the poet's death, at 4s.; and a copy of this edition is often to be had on old bookstalls: it was sold as a remainder at 2s. A better bound edition has been published at half a guinea; but Elliot's fame is already dwindling from remein. brance. "Cradled into poetry by wrong and a sense of it, be embalmed more hate than love in his verse; or as we said publicly, on a former occasion, he was 66 a poet native and endued, who illustrated the life of handicraft labour-as Hogg illumed the pastoral life-with song; a man of rough, energetic, graphic power, but with a monotone of sympathy for 'wrath like a serpent wrinkled on his brow' somewhat too frequently." The monument referred to we have seen; the statue is said to be vraisemblant, but neither the pedestal nor the position seems suitable to the elevation and repose of a poet's memorial. Elliot was a native of Masborough (born 1781), and died at Argilt Hall, near Barnsley, 1st December, 1849. For his aid in untaxing the bread of the British people he is not likely soon to be forgotten.-R. M. A.

The works of Ebenezer Elliot have been published in 8 or 10 volumes, at 1s. each, and in a people's edition at 3s. 6d., but these have long been out of print. If "A Young Reader" will forward four stamps to W. P. W. Buxton, 7, Castle Folds, Sheffield, he will forward "Ebenezer Elliott: a Sketch; with copious extracts from his Descriptive Poems." By J. W. King, pp. 48.W. P. W. B.

A biography of Ebenezer Elliot may be found in "Chambers's Papers for the People."-S. S.

395. Hexapla (vrλa, sextuplex, sixfold). In the disputes between the Jews and the Greek Christians, which were very frequent during the early ages of the church, the Bible was generally appealed to by both parties. Christians, however, were often disappointed in finding that the Greek version, owing to the numerous errors which had crept into it, did not truly represent

The

the Hebrew. Epiphanius says that Origen, observing this, determined to restore, as far as possible, the Greek text to its original purity. He collected the best manuscripts of the f ur Greek versions of the Old Testament, the Septuagint version, and those by Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus; and arranged them in paralel columns. This collection was termed the "Tetrapla ' (TETpaTλa, fourfold). To these he afterwards added, in two other columns, the Hebrew text in its original characters, and also in Greek letters, which made altogether six columns. This was known as the "HEXAPLA." It was called "Octopla" when to these six columns were added, in a seventh, the version of Jericho, and in an eighth that of Nicopolis. Sometimes even a ninth column was added, containing a version of the Psalms. To this collection the name of " Enneapla" was occasionally given, but never generally adopted; and the same remark applies to Octopla. The learned Bernard de Montfaucon is of opinion that Origen edited only the Tetrapla and Hexapla, and that the others were later collections-a supposition which has been pretty generally regarded as highly probable. It is also to be remarked that the seventh, eighth, and ninth columns contain only portions of versions. Το render this collection still more valuable, Origen marked all the alterations he made, and what was superfluous or awanting in each version; and also gave explanations of the Hebrew names. The Hexapla itself has long since perished. Several fragments of it have, however, been recovered, which have been several times edited. One of the best editions is that by Montfaucon (Paris, 1713, folio, 2 vols.), to which is prefixed a "Dissertation on the History of the Hexapla" Short specimens are also to be found in various works. See Horne's "Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures," vol. i, pp. 273, 274 (ed. 1818); "Fabricii Bibliotheca Græca," tom. ii., pp. 346-359 (Hamb., 1707). In imita

tion of Origen's" Hexapla " Mr. Bagster has published an English "Hexapla," containing six English versions of the Scriptures.-D. Mr.

Hexapla is the name given to a combination of six versions of the Old Testament by Origen. These six versions are the Septuagint, Aquila, Theodotion, Symmachus, one found at Jericho, and another found at Nicopolis. -S. S.

396. The line quoted occurs in the 66 Judgment of the Flood," a poem published in 1834, by John Abraham Heraud, a man of stupendous epic genius, and extraordinary erudition, long connected with periodical literatäre. He had previously issued, " The Descent into Hell," and he has since published" Israel in Egypt." He contributed a series of able articles, entitled "Foreign Aids to Self-reflection," to the Monthly Magazine half a century ago; and very recently, papers of his on "Shakspere's Sonnets, and W. L. Lowles," appeared in Temple Bar. He is the author of several plays, viz., 66 Salavera," "The Two Brothers,"" Videna" (at the first representation of which the writer was present), &c. He is an excellent expositor of German philosophy, and somewhat of a Mystic in religion. He has long been honourably known for his aversion to capital punishment, and is said to have been the person who instilled into Douglas Jerrold the intense hatred he felt against the immedicable vulnus of the gallows.-S. N.

Capital Punishment-poetical quotation. The line mentioned appears in "The Judgment of the Flood," an epic poem, issued in 1834, by the author of "The Descent into Hell" (1830), of "The Judgment of Israel" (1861), as well as of several dramas, e g., "Salavera," "The Two Brothers," "Videna," &c. He is probably one of the most learned and profound of our modern writers. Almost his whole life has been spent in catering for the popular periodicals, and these poems have, we believe, been composed in the

rare leisure afforded by the brainracking toils of hack-writing.-A. A. R.

397. Music. As an elementary work on the Theory of Music, perhaps one of the most readily attainable and easily understood is "The Elements of Musical Analysis," by James Currie, A.M., Rector of the Normal College, Edinburgh. It is comprehensive, well illustrated by examples of different sorts. It is not intended to be exhaustive. George Farquhar Graham's "Essay on the Theory and Practice of Musical Composition" would be a suitable work on the second department of M. H.'s query. Mr. Graham is the author of the papers on Music and on Mozart. It would be easy to name numerous other books, but this would more probably tend to confuse than to instruct. Speculative music is metaphysical, mathematical, and acoustical. Practical music is Vocal or instrumental. The vocabulary of music has of late become very extensive, and is tolerably perfect. On few subjects does there exist more empiricism, and on few arts are greater efforts and expenditures bestowed; yet the general culture of the people is only a thing attempted, as it were, yesterday. The names of Mainzer and Hullah are worthy of honourable mention in this connection. On the Continent, the works on music most highly prized, we believe, are those of Marx, Röhner, and Catel. "A General History of Music" is in course of publication at Stuttgard. -R. M. A.

404. Memoir of Hugh Macdonald. -The Memoir of Hugh Macdonald was to have been written by Alexander Smith, who owed Hugh Macdonald much for helping him to fame. That gentleman seems to have found it more congenial to forward his MS. to Macmillan's Magazine than to let it appear before a book published for behoof of the widow and orphans. The Memoir prefixed now, and the editorial labour connected with getting out the book, are the work of W. W. Scott, one of the ablest and most genial of Scottish journalists.-S. N.

he was unprepared, he has found it necessary to return to his former business, or has ended, like the Hebrew sage, in declaring all to be vanity and vexation of spirit? Would you see such a one at business, call upon him and attempt to interest him in something not connected with his ledger,-talk to him of his wife and family, and even then he will be unimpressible; for his children are fed by double entry, and educated by brought forwards. And all this comes from ignoring the principle that it is possible to combine success in life with a fair cultivation of the pleasures of literature." The address, which contained many other points worthy of extraction, did our space permit, was of a very able character, and was received with unanimous hearty expressions of approval.

The secretary, Mr. Frank Schnadhorst, read the Committee's Report, from which we extract the following facts:-The association had been in existence seven years, during which its career had been one of uninterrupted

prosperity. During the past session 12 debates had been held on a great Variety of subjects. The average attendance had considerably improved,39 new members had been received, making the total number 135. A conversazione and excursion had been held, both with great success, and the prospects of the association for the next session were brighter than ever.

The adoption of the report was moved by Mr. T. Griffiths, and seconded by J. A. Cooper, Esq. Various resolutions were passed, appointing the officers for the next session, and conveying the thanks of the association to the retiring officers.

The following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing vear:-) -President, Mr. G. Lair; Vice-President, Mr. H. S. Pearson; Secretary, Mr. H. Allbutt; Treasurer, Mr. C. Lean; Auditor, Mr. F. Blackburn; Committee, Messrs. S. Edwards, F. Schnadhorst, A. Freeth, T. Griffiths, and W. Graham. Twenty new members were nominated on the opening night.

PART I.

I. Figurate.-A garrison has provisions for 153 soldiers for 54 days: how long could it support 459 soldiers? Explain the rule. A watch loses 4 minutes per day: how far would it have gone wrong in a year? A train leaves Edinburgh, and proceeds for 3 hours at the rate of 24 miles per hour, for 3 hours thereafter at 15 miles per hour, and during the next 3 hours at a speed of 27 miles per hour, then reaching Liverpool: what is the railway distance between Edinburgh and Liverpool? Show that the difference of the squares of 5,793 and 3,847 is equal to 1,916 times their sum. Ex

plain the words in italics. How many cwt. of coals are consumed in a day, at the rate of 1,343,565 tons annually? and what is the cost per cwt., at an average of 8s. per ton?

Commercial-A society, through the mismanagement of its officials, incurs liabilities to the amount of £50,490 16s. 24d.; seven of the 200 members refuse payment: what must each of the others pay to make up the deficiency? In a public work, wages to the amount of £101,486 Os. 2 d. were paid in a year: what does that amount to per day? and how many are employed in it, if the average wages of men, women, and boys-of each