St. Lucia.
"_Quod fuit esse_" (Vol. vii., pp. 235. 342.).--In one of Dr. Byrom's
Common-place Books now in the possession of his respected descendant,
Miss Atherton, of Kersal Cell, is the following arrangement and
translation of this enigmatical inscription, probably made by the Doctor
himself:
"Quod fuit esse quod est quod non fuit esse quod esse
Esse quod est non esse quod est non est erit esse.
Quod fuit esse quod,
Est quod non fuit esse quod,
Esse esse quod est,
Non esse quod est non est
Erit esse.
What was John Wiles is what John Wiles was not,
The mortal Being has immortal got.
The Wiles that was but a non Ens is gone,
And now remains the true eternal John."
I take this opportunity of mentioning that my friend, the Rev. Dr.
Parkinson, Canon of Manchester, and Principal of St. Bees, is at present
engaged in editing, for the Chetham Society, the Diary and unpublished
remains of Dr. Byrom; and he will, I am sure, feel greatly indebted to
any of your correspondents who will favour him with an addition to his
present materials. O. G. ("N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 179. art. Townshend)
seems to have some memoranda relating to Byrom, and would perhaps be
good enough to communicate them to Dr. Parkinson.