Notes and Queries, Number 27, May 4, 1850 — John Shaqi
Notes and Queries, Number 27, May 4, 1850Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 27, May 4, 1850
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
A quarto volume published by Cadell in 1789, entitled _The Case of His
Majesty's Subjects having Property in and lately established upon the
Mosquito Shore_, gives the fullest account of the early connexion
between the Mosquito Indians and the English. The writer says that
Jeremy, king of the Mosquitos, in Charles II.'s reign, after formally
ceding his country to officers sent to him by the Governor of Jamaica to
receive the cession, went to Jamaica, and thence to England, where he
was generously received by Charles II., "who had him often with him in
his private parties of pleasure, admired his activity, strength, and
manly accomplishments; and not only defrayed every expense, but loaded
him with presents." Is there any notice of this visit in any of our
numerous memoirs and diaries of Charles II.'s reign?
A curious tract, printed in the sixth volume of Churchill's _Voyages_,
"The Mosquito Indian and his Golden River, being a familiar Description
of the Mosquito Kingdom, &c., written in or about the Year 1699 by
M.W.," from which Southey drew some touches of Indian manners for his
"Madoc," speaks of another King Jeremy, son of the previous one; who, it
is said, esteemed himself a subject of the King of England, and had
visited the Duke of Albemarle in Jamaica. His father had been carried to
England, and received from the King of England a crown and commission.
The writer of this account says that the Mosquito Indians generally
esteem themselves English:--
"And, indeed, they are extremely courteous to all Englishmen,
esteeming themselves to be such, although some Jamaica men have
very much abused them."
I will conclude this communication, whose length will I hope be excused
for the newness of the subject, {427} by an amusing passage of a speech
of Governor Johnstone in a debate in the House of Commons on the
Mosquito country in 1777:--
"I see the noble lord [Lord North] now collects his knowledge by
piecemeal from those about him. While my hon. friend [some one
was whispering Lord North] now whispers the noble lord, will he
also tell him, and the more aged gentlemen of the House, before
we yield up our right to the Mosquito shore, that it is from
thence we receive the greatest part of our delicious turtle? May
I tell the younger part, before they give their consent, that it
is from thence comes the sarsaparilla to purify our
blood?"--_Parl. Hist._ vol. xix. p. 54.
C.
* * * * *
NOTES ON BACON AND JEREMY TAYLOR.
In his essay "On Delays," Bacon quotes a "common verse" to this
effect:--"Occasion turneth a bald noddle after she hath presented her
locks in front, and no hold taken." As no reference is given, some
readers may be glad to see the original, which occurs in an epigram on
[Greek: Kairos] (Brunck's _Analecta_, ii. 49.; Posidippi Epigr. 13. in
Jacob's _Anthol._ ii. 49.).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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