Notes and Queries, Number 197, August 6, 1853 | Page 7

sneezed at his
right hand, either before or behind him, he pursued any step he had
begun; but sneezing at his left hand caused him to desist from his
formed purpose. He adds something as to different kinds of sneezing.
To sneeze twice was usual in Aristotle's time; but once, or more than
twice, was uncommon (Prob. xxxiii. 3.).

Petronius (Satyr. c. 98.) notices the "blessing" in the following passage:
"Giton collectione spiritus plenus, ter continuo ita sternutavit, ut
grabatum concuteret. Ad quem motum Eumolpus conversus, salvere
Gitona jubet."
T. J. BUCKTON.
Birmingham.
[Footnote 5: The practice of snuff-taking has made the sneezing at
anything a mark of contempt, in these degenerate days.]
* * * * *
ABUSES OF HACKNEY COACHES.
[The following proclamation on this subject is of interest at the present
moment.]
By the King.
A Proclamation to restrain the Abuses of Hackney Coaches in the
Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs thereof.
Charles R.
Whereas the excessive number of Hackney Coaches, and Coach Horses,
in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs
thereof, are found to be a common nuisance to the Publique Damage of
Our People by reason of their rude and disorderly standing and passing
to and fro, in and about our said Cities and Suburbs, the Streets and
Highways being thereby pestred and made impassable, the Pavements
broken up, and the Common Passages obstructed and become
dangerous, Our Peace violated, and sundry other mischiefs and evils
occasioned:
We, taking into Our Princely consideration these apparent
Inconveniences, and resolving that a speedy remedy be applied to meet

with, and redress them for the future, do, by and with the advice of our
Privy Council, publish Our Royal Will and Pleasure to be, and we do
by this Our Proclamation expressly charge and command, That no
Person or Persons, of what Estate, Degree, or Quality whatsoever,
keeping or using any Hackney Coaches, or Coach Horses, do, from and
after the Sixth day of November next, permit or suffer the said Coaches
and Horses, or any of them, to stand or remain in any the Streets or
Passages in or about Our said Cities either of London or Westminster,
or the Suburbs belonging to either of them, to be there hired; but that
they and every of them keep their said Coaches and Horses within their
respective Coach-houses, Stables, and Yards (whither such Persons as
desire to hire the same may resort for that purpose), upon pain of Our
high displeasure, and such Forfeitures, Pains, and Penalties as may be
inflicted for the Contempt of Our Royal Commands in the Premises,
whereof we shall expect a strict Accompt.
And for the due execution of Our Pleasure herein, We do further charge
and command the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Our City of London,
That they in their several Wards, and Our Justices of Peace within Our
said Cities of London and Westminster, and the Liberties and Suburbs
thereof, and all other Our Officers and Ministers of Justice, to whom it
appertaineth, do take especial care in their respective Limits that this
Our Command be duly observed, and that they from time to time return
the names of all those who shall wilfully offend in the Premises, to Our
Privy Council, and to the end they may be proceeded against by
Indictments and Presentments for the Nuisance, and otherwise
according to the severity of the Law and Demerits of the Offenders.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 18th day of October in the 12th
year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
London: Printed by John Bell and Christopher Barker, Printers to the
King's most Excellent Majesty, 1660.
* * * * *

Pepys, in his Diary, vol. i. p. 152., under date 8th November, 1660,
says:
"To Mr. Fox, who was very civil to me. Notwithstanding this was the
first day of the King's {123} proclamation against hackney coaches
coming into the streets to stand to be hired, yet I got one to carry me
home."
T. D.
* * * * *
SHAKSPEARE CORRESPONDENCE.
Passage in "The Tempest," Act I. Sc. 2.--
"The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch, But that the sea,
mounting to the welkin's cheek, Dashes the fire out."
"The manuscript corrector of the folio 1632," MR. COLLIER informs
us, "has substituted heat for 'cheek,' which is not an unlikely corruption,
a person writing only by the ear."
I should say very unlikely: but if heat had been actually printed in the
folios, without speculating as to the probability that the press-copy was
written from dictation, I should have had no hesitation in altering it to
cheek. To this I should have been directed by a parallel passage in
Richard II., Act III. Sc. 3., which