Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850

A snapshot of Victorian scholarly life, this issue of Notes and Queries serves as a lively forum where writers, artists, antiquarians and genealogists exchanged curiosities and expertise. Printed in September 1850, the modest three‑penny pamphlet captures the collaborative spirit of the era, inviting readers to contribute observations, corrections and unanswered questions on a wide range of subjects.

Among its most engaging pieces is a spirited debate over Hamlet’s puzzling line “drink up Eisell.” Contributors dissect the phrase, weighing whether “Eisell” denotes a Danish river or a sour vinegar‑like brew, and draw on early modern dictionaries, Shakespeare’s sonnets and medieval medical texts to argue their case. The discussion illustrates the meticulous, often playful, philological work that characterized 19th‑century literary criticism.

The journal also offers notes on the authors of the Rolliad, clarifications of obscure literary attributions, and brief genealogical snippets, making it a compact treasure trove for anyone fascinated by the minutiae of literary history and the communal quest for knowledge.