Notes and Queries, Number 218, December 31, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc

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Minor Notes.

Italian-English (Vol. viii., p. 436.).—The following wholesale assassination of the English language was perpetrated in the form of a circular, and distributed among the British residents at Naples in 1832:

"Joseph the Cook, he offer to one illuminated public and most particular for British knowing men in general one remarkable, pretty, famous, and splendid collection of old goods, all quite new, excavated from private personal diggings. He sells cooked clays, old marble stones, with basso-relievos, with stewing-pots, brass sacrificing pots, and antik lamps. Here is a stocking of calves heads and feets for single ladies and amateurs travelling. Also old coppers and candlesticks; with Nola jugs, Etruscan saucers, and much more intellectual minds articles; all entitling him to learned man's inspection to examine him, and supply it with illustrious protection, of which he hope full and valorous satisfaction.

"N. B.—He make all the old thing brand new for gentlemans who has collections, and wishes to change him. He have also one manner quite original for make join two sides of different monies; producing one medallion, all indeed unique, and advantage him to sell by exportation for strange cabinets and museums of the exterior potentates."

V. T. Sternberg.

American Names.—In the Journal of Thomas Moore, lately published in Lord John Russell's memoirs of the poet, is the following passage, under date of October 18, 1818:

"Some traveller in America mentions having met a man called Romulus Riggs; whether true or not, very like their mixture of the classical and the low."

The name was borne by a very respectable man, who, in the year 1801, was in partnership with his brother Remus Riggs, as a broker in Georgetown, in the district of Columbia. Romulus, who survived his brother, afterwards became an eminent merchant in Philadelphia, where he died a few years ago.

Uneda.

Philadelphia.

Rulers of the World in 1853.—Perhaps the following table, which I have recently met with in a foreign journal, may be thought of sufficient interest to make a Note of. In these unsettled times, and in case of a general war, how much might it be changed!

There are at present eighty-three empires, monarchies, republics, principalities, duchies, and electorates.

There are six emperors, including his sable highness, Faustin I. of St. Domingo; sixteen kings, numbering among them Jamaco, King of all the Mosquitoes, and also those of Dahomey and the Sandwich Islands; five queens, including Ranavalona of Madagascar, and Pomare of the Society Islands; eighteen presidents, ten reigning princes, seven grand dukes, ten dukes, one pope, two sultans, of Borneo and Turkey; two governors, of Entre Rios and Corrientes; one viceroy, of Egypt; one shah, of Persia; one imaun, of Muscat; one ameer, of Cabul; one bey, of Tunis; and lastly; one director, of Nicaragua.

W. W.

Malta.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.—The immense loss sustained by France in all her great interests, as affecting her civil and religious liberties, her commerce, trade, arts, sciences, not to speak of the unutterable anguish inflicted upon hundred of thousands of individuals (among whom were the writer's maternal ancestors,—their name, Courage), by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, has lately called into action the pens of some industrious and talented men of letters, among whom M....