_Law of Horses._--The following is from Oliphant's _Law of Horses, &c._,
p. 75. Will any of your readers kindly tell me whether the view is
correct?
"It is said in _Southerene_ v. _Howe_ (2 Rol. Rep. 5.), _Si home
vend chivall que est lame, null action gist peur ceo, mes_
caveat emptor: _lou jeo vend chivall que ad null oculus la null
action gist; autrement lou il ad un conterfeit faux et_ bright
eye." "If a man sell a horse which is lame, no action lyes for
that, but _caveat emptor_; and when I sell a horse that has _no_
eye, there no action lies; otherwise where he has a counterfeit,
false, and _bright eye_."
Thus it appears that a distinction is here made between a horse having
_no_ eye at all, and having a counterfeit, false or _bright_ one. And
probably by _bright eye_ is meant _glass eye_, or _gutta serena_; and
the words "counterfeit" and "false" may be an attempt of the reporter to
explain an expression which he did not understand. Because putting a
false eye into a horse is far in advance of the sharpest practices of
the present day, or of any former period.
Note.--_Gutta Serena_, commonly called glass-eye, is a species of
blindness; the pupil is unusually dilated; it is immovable, bright, and
glassy.
G.H. HEWIT OLIPHANT.
April 16. 1850.
_Christ's Hospital._--In reply to "NEMO" (No. 20. p. 318.), a
contemporary of the eminent Blues there enumerated, informs him, that
although he has not a perfect recollection of the ballads then popular
at Christ's Hospital, yet "NEMO" may be pleased to learn, that on making
search at the Society of Antiquaries for Robin Hood Ballads, he found in
a folio volume of Broadsides, &c., one of the much interest and
considerable length in relation to that school. The Ballad must also be
rare, as it is not among those in the two large volumes which have been
for many years in the British Museum, nor is it in the three volumes of
Roxburgh Ballads recently purchased for that noble library. {422}
The undersigned believes that the only survivor of the scholars at
Christ's Hospital mentioned by "NEMO," is the Rev. Charles Valentine Le
Grice, now residing at Trerieffe, near Penzance.
J.M.G.
Worcester, March 22. 1850.
[We are happy to say that one other, at least, of the Christ
Hospital worthies enumerated by "NEMO" still survives--Mr. Leigh
Hunt, whose kindly criticism and real poetic feeling have
enriched our literature with so many volumes of pleasant
reading, and won for him the esteem of a large circle of
admirers.]
_Tickhill, God help me!_ (No. 16. p. 247.).--"H.C. ST. CROIX" informs us
that a similar expression is in use in Lincolnshire. Near to the town of
"merry Lincoln" is a large heath celebrated for its cherries. If a
person meets one of the cherry-growers on his way to market, and asks
him where he comes from, the answer will be, if the season is
favourable, "From Lincoln Heath, where should 'un?" but if, on the
contrary, there is a scarcity of cherries, the reply will be, "From
Lincoln Heath, God help 'un."
"DISS" informs us, too, that this saying is not confined to Tickhill,
Melverly, or Pershore, but is also current at Letton, on the banks of
the Wye, between Hereford and Hay. And "H.C.P." says the same story is
told of the inhabitants of Tadley, in the north of Hampshire, on the
borders of Berkshire.
_Robert Long_ (No. 24. p. 382.).--Rear-Admiral Robert Long died 4th
_July_, 1771, having been superannuated on the half-pay of rear-admiral
some time before his death. His seniority in the navy was dated from
21st March, 1726, and he was posted in the Shoreham. He never was _Sir_
Robert. An account of the charity he founded may be seen in the
_Commissioners' Reports on Charities_, vol. iii. iv. vi.