MARQUESS.

Ir is but a short time since our English Marquesses got to spell their titles properly; or resumed at least the ancient mode. I belive the present D. of Mh, when Marquess of B-d, was among the first who tried to revive the old mode of writing it. Marquis was always objectionable, as being much more French than English; and though a high title in the former country, much more common there than with us. A sort of travelling title also, I should presume, from the phrase amongst them, "se Marquiser," to assume the title of Marquis; nay, I should scarcely attempt to say, what the title might not include, according to the character assigned to it by the Diable Boiteux, when speaking of the forms he assumed; " J'empruntai ceux d'un petit Marquis François pour me faire aimer brusquement;"-and again, " Car dans le commerce de l'amour, les Marquis sont des Negocians qui ont grand credit sur la place." The pronunciation moreover of the words in French and English being

so different, might be reckoned another objection. The Marquess is, I believe, well understood to represent the præses limitaneus of the Romans the German Marck-grave Comes or Count of the Frontiers; for Grave or Graffe is equivalent to the Latin Comes, and is thus annexed as a title to many other words; as, Landgrave Count of the Provinces; Burgrave, Count of Cities, Castles, or Fortresses; Pfaltsgrave, Count Palatine; Rhingrave, Count of the County of the Rhine. The Mark-grave therefore was the title of the Count of the Frontiers, from Marken, Mark, March, or limit; whence the French term Marquiser to border upon or be adjoining to. Marquis well enough expresses this amongst the French, but amongst ourselves Marquess undoubtedly is the oldest way of spelling the title; which if it do not so exactly express the Marckgrave of the Germans and Dutch, or the Latin Marggravius or Marchio, nearly resembles the Spanish Marquez, the Italian Marchese, and most of all, perhaps, the μαρκεσιος and μαρκεζίνη, Marquess and Marchioness of the later Greeks. I hope this will come then to be generally adopted again, which is not the case at present, many of our newspapers still having it Marquis, and I am

sorry to say, I find it invariably spelt so even in the Court or Royal Kalendar for 1823!

Before it became a distinct title with us, (which happened in the reign of Richard II. Robert Vere being made Marquess of Dublin,) it was sometimes given to Earls and Barons, if they happened to be Lords of the Frontiers; which plainly, I think, proves its true meaning and derivation, in contradiction to those who have talked about its being derived from an old Celtic word, signifying to ride; from whence also they would have us believe the Marcomanni had their name, as a people who excelled in horsemanship. The fact seems to be, that in the Celtic, there was a word from whence the Latin term Marchio might be said to be derived, signifying " Prafectus Equitum;" but there is no doubt but that the very same word, and in a much more regular manner, derived from March, a limit, expressed the Præfectus limitum or limitaneus, and that our title of Marquess belongs to the latter. Having observed that the French title, Marquis, used probably to be a travelling title, adopted by those who wished to pass for persons of consequence or distinction amongst strangers, I cannot help relating, in order to mark the spirit of

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the times referred to, the following embarrassments of a French Marquis, in the early part of the late Revolution in that country. Being about to quit Paris for a tour, he was required, at the barriers of that Capital, to give an account of himself, his name, style, titles, &c. "I am," saith he, "Monsieur le Marquis de Saint Cyr."Oh, oh," replies the revolutionary democrat of an officer, we have no Monsieurs now." "Put me down as the Marquis de St. Cyr, then,” said he." All titles of Nobility are abolished;" answered the man." Call me De Saint Cyr only." "No person is allowed to have De before his name in these days of Equality."—" Write Saint Cyr then."-" That won't do either," said the gruff centinel; "all the Saints are struck out of the calendar."—" Let my name be Cyr then," said the Marquis.-" Sire!! (Cyr is thus pronounced) that is worse than all; all Sires, thank God, are quite done away with." And thus for want of a name sufficiently republican, antimonarchical, and profane, was the unfortunate Marquis kept confined within the barriers ;—a pretty trick to play to a " Præses limitum, or Prefectus limitaneus !"

BISHOPS.

SOME Confusion arises from the mode adopted by our Bishops of using the ancient Latin appellations of their Sees, instead of the English modern ones. What country gentleman would know at first sight, that C. Cantuar meant His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury?

A country apothecary shewed me some time ago, a note he had received from a true John Bull, to the following effect.

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My wife's stomach is no better, and she wants more physic. Send it soon and safe, with plain directions, and none of your Latin stuff. My people can scarcely read English, and how are they to understand what you mean by your Anodynes and Analeptics, Sudorifics and Laxatives?"

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Ma'am," says Dr. Fossile to Mrs. Lovelight in the Plain Dealer, "I have ordered Mr. What'shis-name, your spouse's apothecary, to phlebotomise him to-morrow morning. To do what