Minor Notes.
_A Dutch Commentary on Pope._--
"As what a Dutchman plumps into the lakes,
One circle first, and then a second makes."
_Dunciad_, b. ii. 400.
"It may be asked," said Bilderdyk in a note to his imitation of
the _Essay on Man_[1], "why the little stone is thrown into the
water by a Dutchman in particular. The reason is, that the Dutch
sailors when lying idle in the Thames, often amuse themselves in
calm weather by throwing little stones along the surface of the
water, so as to make ducks and drakes, as it is called. This
practice the English look at with great astonishment, and wonder
at a use of the hands so different from that which they make of
their own in boxing."
[Footnote 1: De Mensch. Pope's _Essay on Man_ gevolgd door Mr. W.
Bilderdyk. Amsterd. 1808.]
Bilderdyk speaks contemptuously of Pope: yet it may be surmised, from
the above commentary, that he was but ill qualified to criticise him,
otherwise he would not have supposed that "plump" could have the
remotest allusion to the light skimming amusement of "ducks and drakes;"
not to mention that he would have suspected that it was no "steentje"
that plumped into the lakes.
_Satirical Verses on the Chancellor Clarendon's Downfall._--In MS. Add.
4968., British Museum, a duodecimo volume containing a collection of
arms and achievements tricked by a painter-stainer in the reign of
Charles II., at fol. 62'o. is the following poem "On the Chancellor's
Downfall," which, if not already printed, may be worth preserving:--
Pride, lust, ambitions, and the kingdom's hate,
The Nation's broker, ruin of the State:
Dunkirke's sad loss, divider of the fleet,
Tangier's compounder for a barren sheet;
The Shrub of Gentry married to the Crowne,
And's daughter to the heir, is tumbled downe.
The grand contemner of the Nobles lies
Groveling in dust, as a just sacrifice,
T'appease the injured King, abused Nation,--
Who could beleeve this suddaine alteration!
God is revenged to, for stones he tooke
From aged Paules to build a house forth' Rooke.
Goe on, great Prince, thy People doe rejoyce,
Meethinks I heare the Nation's totall voyce
Applauding this day's action to bee such,
As rosting Rump, or beating of the Dutch.
More cormorants of State as well as hee,
Wee shortly hope in the same plight to see.
Looke now upon thy withered Cavaliers,
Who for reward hath nothing had but teres.
Thankes to this Wiltshire hogge, son of ye spittle,
Had they beene lookt on, hee had had but little.
Breake up the coffers of this hording theefe,
There monies will be found for there reliefe.
I've said enough of lynsey woolsey hide,
His sacriledge, ambition, lust, and pride.
μ.
_Execution of Charles I._--In a letter which is preserved in the State
Paper Office, addressed to Secretary Bennet, by Lord Ormonde and the
Council of Ireland, and dated the 29th of April, 1663, their Lordships
request the Secretary to move his Majesty that "Henry Porter, then known
as Martial General Porter, standing charged as being the person by whose
hand the head of our late Sovereign King Charles the First, of blessed
memory, was cutt off, and now two years imprisoned in Dublin, should be
brought to trial in England."