J.W.H.

Irish Bull.—­What is the exact definition of an Irish bull?  When was the term first applied to the species of blunder which goes by that name?

GRIFFIN.

Farquharson’s Observations on Aurorae.—­A translation of the Course of Meteorology, by Professor Kaenitz, of Halle, by Mr. C.V.  Walker, was published at London in 1845, in one volume 12mo.  The work was written in German, and afterwards translated into French, and the English work is derived from the French translation.  In p. 459. the following passage occurs: 

“It is chiefly to the shepherd Farquharson, at Alford, in Aberdeenshire, that we are indebted for a long series of observations on aurorae; and he endeavoured to prove that their height is inconsiderable.”

Lower down it is said: 

“At the same time, another Protestant minister, Mr. James Paull, at Tullynessle, four kilometres from Alford, saw that the aurora possessed an unusual clearness in the zenith, so that its height did not perhaps exeed 1300 metres.”

I have neither the original German work nor the French translation at hand to refer to; but I have a strong suspicion that the word translated shepherd is pasteur, and that it is used to designate Mr. Farquharson as minister of Alford.

L.

Smith’s Vitae Eruditissimorum et Illustrium Virorum.—­In his Life of Sir Peter Young he quotes Ex Ephemeride Cl.  V.D.  Petri Junii, but does not say where it was preserved.  This (so-called) Ephemeris was written by Sir Peter in his later years, partly perhaps from memory, partly from notes, and, as might be expected, is not free from errors of date which admit of correction from other sources.  Smith, following Camden, places Easter Seatown, Young’s chief residence, in Lothian, whereas it is in Forfarshire, about a mile from Arbroath, and was part of the property of the great Abbey to which that town belonged.  Is it known whether this Ephemeris is extant? and, if so, where?

SCOTUS.

{442}

Defender of the Faith.—­In Banks’ Dormant and Extinct Baronage, pp. 408-9., vol. iv., I find the following:—­

    “He ( Henry VIII.) was the first English monarch who obtained the title
    of Defender of the Faith, which was conferred upon him by Pope Leo X.,
    for a book written by him against Martin Luther.”

To which the following note is subjoined:—­