The French translations of the same work, according to De Bure (see _Manuel du Libraire_) are very inferior.
_Etymology of "Grasson"_ (Vol. iii., p. 8.).--Grasson appears to be derived front "grassor," "to assail." Livy somewhere has the following--"Grassor in possessionem agri"--which would be rendered, "To enter upon it by force;" it being only by the payment of the fine (Grasson) that the entry, "Grassor," or alienation of copyhold lands, could be warded off: hence the act of the lord of the manor (Grassor) became the name for the fine paid by this tenant, "Grasson."
_Lynch Law_ (Vol. iii., p. 24.).--Webster's { 77} _American Dictionary_ (1848) explains this phrase thus--
"The practice of punishing men for crimes and offences by private unauthorized persons, without a legal trial. The term is said to be derived from a Virginian farmer, named Lynch, who thus took the law into his own hands." (U.S.)
Webster is considered the highest authority in America, or I should not offer the above.
"_Talk not of Love_" (Vol. iii., p. 7.).--The song quoted by your Querist, A. M., was written by Mrs. MacLehose, the "Clarinda" of Burns, and is to be found in most of the lives of the Scottish poet.
[J.H., JR., says it is printed in Chambers's _Journal_, No. 1. New Series. DANIEL FERGUSON points them out at p. 212. of a _Collection of Songs of England and Scotland_, published by Cochrane, of Waterloo Place; and in vol. ii. of Johnson's _Scots Musical Museum_; and G.T. also refers to the last-named collection.]
_The Butcher Duke_ (Vol. iii., p. 8.).--The song referred to by MEZZOTINTO is to be found in most of the collections of Scotch songs, under the name of "Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie," for which old air it was written; or, when only partially printed, by the commencing line of one of its stanzas:--
It is one of the numerous Jacobite songs composed either about 1715, by some one "out in the Fifteen," or later by a poet of "the Forty-five." The author's name is unknown. In the collection of Scottish songs, published by Robert Chambers in 1829, the song, consisting of no less than twenty-two stanzas, will be found at p. 367.
[L.M.M.R. has also kindly transcribed the song from the _Scots Musical Museum;_ and DR. C., of Newcastle, who says "it is well known in the remoter districts of Northumberland," obligingly offers to furnish MEZZOTINTO with a copy, if he should desire it.]