_Vellum-cleaning_ (Vol. viii., p.340.).--In the Polytechnic Institution
there are specimens of old deeds, &c., on vellum and paper, beautifully
cleaned and restored by Mr. George Clifford, 5. Inner Temple Lane, Temple,
London.
J. McK.
Shoreham.
_Wooden Tombs_ (Vol. viii., p. 255.).--In the church at Brading, Isle of
Wight--
"There are some old tombs in the communion place, and in Sir William
Oglander's chapel, or family burial-place, which is separated from the
rest of the church by an oak screen. The most ancient legible date of
these monuments is 1567. Two of them have full-length figures in armour
of solid elm wood, originally painted in their proper colours, and
gilt, but now disfigured by coats of dirty white."--Barber's
Picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight, 1850, pp. 28, 29.
J. McK.
Shoreham.
_Solar Eclipse in the Year 1263_ (Vol. viii., p. 441.).--In the
_Transactions of the Antiquarian Society of Scotland_, vol. ii. p. 350.,
there are "Observations on the Norwegian Expedition against Scotland in the
year 1263," by John Dillon, Esq.; and at pp. 363-4, when speaking of the
annular eclipse, he says:
"The eclipse above mentioned is described to have occurred between
these two dates [29th July and 9th August]. This being pointed out to
Dr. Brewster, he had the curiosity to calculate the eclipse, when he
found that there was an eclipse of the sun on 5th August, 1263, and
which was annular at Ronaldsvo, in Orkney, and the middle of it was
twenty-four minutes past one."
These "Observations" contain much curious information; but are deformed by
the author attempting to wrest the text of the Norwegian writer (at p. 358.
and in note I.) to suit an absurd crotchet of his own. Having seen that
essay in MS., I pointed out those errors; but instead of attending to my
observations, he would not read them, and got into a passion against the
friend who showed the MS. to me.
J. McK.
Shoreham.
_Lines on Woman_ (Vol. viii., pp. 292. 350. &c.).--The lines on Woman are,
I presume, an altered version of those of Barret (Mrs. Barrett Browning?);
they are the finale of a short poem on Woman; the correct version is the
following:
"Peruse the sacred volume, Him who died
Her kiss betray'd not, nor her tongue denied;
While even the Apostle left Him to His doom,
She linger'd round His cross and watch'd His tomb."
I would copy the whole poem, but fear you would think it too long for
insertion.