beard or nails, nor ever to stray beyond the limits of the grounds. If he lived there, under all these restrictions, till the end of the term, he was to receive seven hundred guineas. But on breach of any of them, or if he quitted the place any time previous to that term, the whole was to be forfeited. One person attempted it, but a three weeks' trial cured him.

"Mr. Powyss, of Marcham, near Preston, Lancashire, was more successful in this singularity: he advertised a reward of 50l. a-year for life, to any man who would undertake to live seven years under ground, without seeing anything human: and to let his toe and finger nails grow, with his hair and beard, during the whole time. Apartments were prepared under ground, very commodious, with a cold bath, a chamber organ, as many books as the occupier pleased, and provisions served from his own table. Whenever the recluse wanted any convenience, he was to ring a bell, and it was provided for him. Singular as this residence may appear, an occupier offered himself, and actually staid in it, observing the required conditions for four years."

FLORENCE.

Dublin.

DAVID MALLET, HIS CHARACTER AND BIOGRAPHY.

When an editor selects a favourite ballad for notes and illustrations, he may be supposed, naturally, to have a sort of respect, not to say veneration, for its author. Such is the case with the recent editor of Edwin and Emma (Dr. Dinsdale), when, in his brief biography of David Mallet, he glosses over the vices of this man's character in the quietest and most inoffensive manner possible. If he was a "heartless villain" I do not see that we ought to screen him; and I think those who may choose to look into his doings will find him full as "black" as he is painted.

Southey, in his Specimens of the Later English Poets, vol. ii. p. 342., does not mince the matter. His words are these:—

"A man of more talents than honesty, who was always ready to perform any dirty work for interest; to blast the character either of the dead or the living, and to destroy life as well as reputation. Mallet was 'first assassin' in the tragedy of Admiral Byng's murder."

In a copy of Gascoigne's Works, sold in Heber's sale, was the following MS. note by George Steevens:—

"This volume was bought for 1l. 13s. at Mr. Mallet's alias Malloch's, sale, March 14, 1776. He was the only Scotchman who died in my memory unlamented by an individual of his own nation."

David Malloch, or Mallet, is said to have been born about the year 1700, at Crieff, in Perthshire, at which place his father was an innkeeper. A search has been made in the parochial registers of Crieff, from 1692 to 1730, but his baptism is not registered.

The names of various children of Charles and Donald Malloch's in the neighbourhood of Crieff occur, including a David, in 1712. This obviously was not the poet; but it appears that his father "James Malloch, and Beatrix Clark his wife," were brought before the Kirk Session of Crieff in October and November, 1704, for profanation of the Lord's day, "by some strangers drinking and fighting in their house on the Sabbath immediately following Michaelmas." On the 12th of November, "they being both rebuked for giving entertainment to such folks on the sabbath-day, and promising never to do the like, were dismissed."

Some of Mallet's letters are printed in the Edinburgh Magazine, a literary miscellany, for 1793. They contain a number of curious literary notices, including some particulars of the writer's life not generally known.

Much interesting matter concerning the literary career and character of David Mallet may also be found in the recent Life of David Hume by John Hill Burton, Esq., Advocate.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Minor Notes.

The Hyphen.

—Dr. Dobbin, lecturing some time back on physical education in Hull, condemned the practice of tight lacing as extremely injurious to the symmetry and health of the female sex, and jocularly proposed the formation of an "Anti-killing-young-women-by-a-lingering-death-Society." This was gravely reproduced in other parts of this country and on the continent as sober matter of fact, the Germans giving the hyphenated title thus: Jungefrauenzimmerdurchschwindsuchttoedtungs-gegenverein.

I. C.

Old Books New Titles.

—Permit me to say that it is in the power of your London correspondents to do a real service to your country readers, and at the same time serve the cause of honest bibliopoly, by pointing out in the pages of "N. & Q." current instances of what I beg leave to call the fraudulent advertisement of published books under a new title, or one so altered as to produce the impression of novelty in the mind of a reader like myself. For example, being an admirer of Sam Slick's works—and who is not?—I purchased, on its first appearance, his English in America; and seeing lately advertised, as a new work, Rule and Misrule of the English in America, by the same author, I obtained it, and found it the identical work before named, the title-page alone being altered! I mention another instance. I perceive an advertisement of the Letters of Gray the Poet, published from the original MSS. in two volumes, by the Rev. J. Mitford. Now, I should like to know whether this is, as it is called, really a "new work," or merely a part, or at most a revival, of Mitford's Letters, &c. of Gray, published in 4 vols., 1836.

J. H.

Eugene Aram.

—Until the year 1834, when considerable reforms took place in the Court of Exchequer with respect to sheriffs' accounts, a process called "the Summons of the Pipe" issued into each county, charging the sheriff with the levy of divers old rents. In that of Yorkshire I noticed the following entry, which I communicated to Mr. Scatcherd. I am not aware that it has ever been published. By inserting it you will relieve me from the necessity of preserving my "note."

"Of the same Sheriff for the issues of waste building in Knaresbrough, in the said county, in the tenure of Daniel Clarke, of the yearly value of IIII£i and one undivided moiety or fifth part of the whole, to be divided into five equal parts of and in a certain farm called Moat House farm, situate at Wickersley in the said County, which consists [here followed particulars], in the occupation of Samuel Chipchase, of the yearly value of XXI£i of the lands and tenements of Daniel Clarke aforesaid, shoemaker, outlawed at the suit of Philip Coates, gentleman, in a plea of trespass on the case VIII£i IIIs and VIc XXXVIII£i Vs arrears."

"Philip Coates," says Mr. Scatcherd (Gleanings, p. 26.), "attorney-at-law, a very respectable man, married Clarke's wife's sister." It is singular that a murdered man should be outlawed after death and that he should continue to haunt the Exchequer for near a century afterwards. It is a complete confirmation of the statement that Clarke was supposed to have absconded, and that no suspicion of foul play arose at the time of his disappearance.

W. G.