"--(Quoted in Southey's
_Colloquies_, vol. i. p. 414.)
_St. Wylgeforte_ is the female saint whom the Jesuit Sautel has
celebrated (in his _Annus Sacer Poeticus_) for her _beard_--a mark of
Divine favour bestowed upon her in answer to her prayers. She was a
beautiful girl, who wished to lead a single life, and that she might be
suffered to do so free from importunity, she prayed earnestly to be
rendered disagreeable to look upon, either by wrinkles, a hump on the
back, or in any other efficacious way. Accordingly the beard was given
her; and it is satisfactory to know that it had the desired {382} effect
to the fullest extent of her wishes. (Vid. Southey's _Omniana_, vol. ii.
p. 54., where Sautel's lines are quoted.)
J.M.B.
_West (James), President of Royal Society_ (Vol. ii., p. 289.).--T.S.D.
states there "has certainly never been a president or even a secretary
of the Royal Society, of the name of James West." Your readers will
remember that West is mentioned by Mr. Cunningham in his _London_, as
having filled the former distinguished office: his statement, which
T.S.D. thus contradicts, is perfectly correct.
Mr. West's election took place 30th of November, 1768, and he filled the
chair until his death in July, 1772.
J.H.M.
[Mr. Cooper, of Cambridge, J.G.N., and other correspondents, have called
our attention to this oversight.]
* * * * *
MISCELLANEOUS.
NOTES OF BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
Pages:
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57