amidst the warriors of renown whose deeds form the most brilliant themes of history. This was the Honorable Arthur Welsey (for so the name was then written *), of whom the lady related to me the anecdote above referred to. After passing the Christmas festivals at the Castle, Mrs. Woodcock was under the necessity, on some commanding cause, of returning to her own rather distant residence, for which she expressed the most anxious desire: but in the depth of a severe winter, an overwhelming fall of snow had rendered it impossible to obtain a regular conveyance; neither coach nor sedan could be fetched or found; and the lady's disappointment was too visible to escape notice, when young Welsey relieved her by calling to his aid Mr. Edmund Henry Pery, subsequently Earl of Limerick, and, placing his lovely charge in the sedan-chair that always awaited in the hall, carried her amidst a storm of assailing snow to her lodging. This, in itself so trivial a circumstance, was many years since consigned, under my initials, to the pages of the Gentleman's Magazine; but in the reproduction of a mass of anecdotes, such as we daily read in the public prints with pleasure, lest the most insignificant event of such a life should elapse in oblivion, this little fact may not be disentitled to repetition. On the death of Mr. Woodcock, his widow became the wife of the Honorable Christopher Hely Hutchinson, the long cherished member for Cork; and though both had passed the attractive spring. time of life,for he, too, had lost his wedded partner, a handsomer couple could rarely be seen; conspicuous as he was in dignity of manly feature, mien, and aspect, and the lady still all loveliness, "Omnibus una omnes surripuit Veneres." Catullus. in unimpaired and fascinating charms. But even their influence, with the recollection of the feelings she had inspired in early life, sunk obediently submissive to the superior command of what the Duke considered a duty, which is said to have ever swayed his conscience and actions. Reverting briefly to the lady, I should add, that Mrs. Hutchinson's appeal to the Duke on behalf of Ney, and, conjointly with Lady Holland, her exertions to save Labédoyère, a colonel who had also deserted to Napoleon in 1814, caused her to be ordered from Paris with Lady Holland, as N poleon had similarly exiled from the capital ( in French estimation, from France, which it presents) Madame de Staël, Madame Récani the Duchesse de Chevreuse, and others, who become obnoxious to him. She survived Hutchinson (whose son, by his first wife, succes him in the representation of Cork) a few very and died not long since at Florence, where in daughter, Isabella, the wife of M. Brennier, Fres resident at the Archducal court, and since cal to higher stations in the French Republic, a lived. Only two victims, Ney and Labéde expiated by their death the wide-spread treast 1815, it is fair to observe. bir As there appears a short interval hithert find, unnoticed in my illustrious countrys life (for though constantly denominated an glishman, he was not only Irish, but could even trace his family for centuries to an Eng stock),-I mean his sojourn at Angers to come his education, and prepare him for his destin pursuit,-a short paragraph may not be superf on the subject, though presenting no very nificant incident in the recital. However facts may be of more or less interest, they proce from an authentic source. Angers is a city considerable note in various aspects: the capita the ancient province of Anjou, which gave to several men of learning, Bodin (from wh Montesquieu borrowed much), Ménage, the It Johnson of his time, the traveller Bernier; and not the native soil, the domestic residence A many years of the epicene, or semivir, Ge Sand. The city is now the capital of the partement de Loire et Marne, containing a 35,000 inhabitants, and 210 miles south of Pr Its military academy was long the preferred sch for youths destined for the profession; and th being appointed to a regiment, which he w our departed hero was sent preparatory to 1787. Near the town a family of Irish extrac who had realised a considerable fortune in t at Nantes (see Lord Mahon's History, vol P.339.), possessed an estate, and correspond château, under the name of Sérent, exchanged st that of Walsh, when ennobled by Louis XV. advancing a large sum in aid of the young tender's expedition in 1745. On the demise asc feited title, but Marshal Thomond in France, the in 1761, of the late Viscount Clare (his Irish f only Irishman in the French service so promoted "h Pre * It was not till the Duke's brother, the Marquis, became governor of our Indian empire, that the family changed the name, by the addition of a syllable, to Wellesley, its original form; while Napoleon and his family, on the other hand, have abridged their patro- The marshal left two sons, who died without pa nymic by discarding the letter from the name in terity, and a daughter, married to the Duke of Choisel order to Frenchify it. And here I may remark, that Praslin, grandfather of the miscreant who murdered the Duke and his family had not a drop of the Wellesley blood in their veins, nor had Napoleon a particle present the marshal's staff to Wellington, and it is cent Louis XVIII. anxiously desired to of French life-fluid in his, as their respective genealogies said did so, but durst not encounter the unpopularity will show. his wife in 1847. of the act, and withheld it. Charles X, promised it to who had been Colonel Propriétaire of the brigade he Walsh family purchased the property and command of the regiment, which then assumed their name. In their mansion, and in social union with the junior branches, the military aspirant spent many a pleasant day in youthful pastime, hunting, coursing, shooting, &c., as well as in the society of the surrounding noblesse; and often have I heard, not only the inmates of the Sérent château, with whom I became well acquainted, but the officers of their regiment, who frequently visited them, refer, in terms of most pleasing recollection, to their young companion's unaffected, prepossessing, and altogether conciliatory disposition, intelligent mind, and agreeable conversation. Such was the uniform report to me when the earliest of his martial achievements, the victory of Assaye, his first claim to renown, made him a subject of inquiry. Among the most intimate of his associates at Angers was a connexion of my family, then in Walsh's regiment, Mr. Terence M'Mahon, who on emigrating, and the subsequent dissolution of the Irish brigade corps, after a short service in England, obtained the rank of major in an English regiment, but on returning to France, where he had left his wife, in 1802, was included in the mass of British subjects detained the following year by Bonaparte in France. Indulged by special favour to remove from Verdun, the appointed locality of the British subjects' confinement, to Toulouse, where resided his wife's relations, he there lived in his daughter's house in 1814, when the last encounter with Soult ended in our possession of the city. M'Mahon exultingly waited on the victor, who at once recognised his youthful friend, and appointed, for the short period of the English possession of Toulouse, that is, until the general peace became known, M'Mahon governor of the town, though, as then there on favour and parole of honour, he was justly blamed for accepting the place. The Duke has been reproached by his countrymen, and particularly by Daniel O'Connell, with a marked estrangement from them, as well, like Swift, as with a denial, expressed or implied, of his country. Both accusations are, I believe, groundless, especially the latter; for I assisted at a St. Patrick's charity dinner in London, where he presided, when I heard him most distinctly declare the pride he felt in being an Irishman, and glory in the achievements of his compatriots under his Count O'Connell, and no one could have been more worthy of it; but the revolution of 1830 prevented the nomination. The Count had saved the King's life in 1782 at Gibraltar. command, of whom the number considerably, in fact, exceeded the proportion furnished by the British population at large. Another circumstance in reference to the Duke has been told me, and though I cannot vouch for its accuracy, I think it worth communicating. Dining at the old Queen Charlotte's table, on his return in 1814 from the Peninsular campaigns, he happened to be placed next to the Duke of Clarence, our future sovereign, who observed to his mother, in the naval profession in 1787, an escort of "that on entering the port of Cork, while honour awaited to conduct him to the city, commanded by a young officer, whom he was then happy to find seated beside himself, a royal guest, invested with all the distinctions which merit could carry or power bestow." How far the statement may accord with the dates and stations of the Duke's services, I have not at this moment the means of ascertaining; but the prince's visit to this J. R. (of Cork.) city at the mentioned period, and the honours paid him, can admit of no doubt. Minor Notes. Pope Joan. In looking over Dyer's History of the University of Cambridge the other day, I noticed a reference to a manuscript belonging to the college of which I am a member (Trinity Hall). As it is somewhat curious, I have ventured to transmit to you the passage alluded to, which is in the form of a marginal note to a chronological succession of Popes of Rome. The MS. itself is styled "Liber Cantuarensis," and is the history of the foundation of the Augustine Monastery at Canterbury, written on vellum, and beautifully illuminated. At the dissolution of the monastery, temp. Henry VIII., it fell into the hands of the donor to the college, who, in presenting it, added a proviso that, in case the monks should be again restored to their possessions, the book should return to their hands. The passage Dyer refers to appears to have been written by some after-reader or commentator, and the date might probably be somewhere at the end of the twelfth century. I have added to it two other extracts which struck my fancy : puta "A.D. 853. Hic obiit Leo IIII. duo tamen anni usque ad Benedictum tertium (non) computantur, eo quod mulier in papam promota fuit, quæ non . . . Iste non computatur Bndict III.” quia fœmina fuit batur." "A.D. 856. Iohs { "} "Sylvester II. Hic fecit homagium diabolo." Trinity Hall, Cambridge. J. T. ABDY, LL.D. The Bacon Family.—It appears by the Roll of Remembrances ex parte capitalis rememoratoris Hiberniæ of the 15th and 16th years of Edward II., that upon the supplication of Walter de la Pulle praying that Robert de Tuyt, " valetto suo," might have the Sergeantship of the County of Meath during the minority of the heir of Matthew Bacoun deceased, who held the same in capite, an inquisition was taken whereby it was found that Robert de Tuyt was a fit person for the said sergeantship, worth, yearly, twenty marks; and that the said sergeantship was in the Crown by reason of the minority of the son and heir of Matthew Bacoun, who was then aged fourteen years. By enrolments which appear upon the Exchequer Records of the reigns of Edward II. and III., it will be found, that the Chief Sergeantcy of Meath was granted by the Crown to the family of Bacon to be holden hereditarily. By deed of the 17th Edward III., John Bacoun grants "La Bailie de la Sjaundre du Counte de Mid e de la Fraunchise de Trim" to Thomas Peppard for life, rendering a red rose for the first ten years, and after that "deus centz livres dargent." J. F. F. Map for the Use of the National Schools of Ireland. On a large map, conspicuously displayed in a shop window in the Strand, entitled Map of the United States, constructed for the Use of the National Schools of Ireland, under the Direction of the Commissioners, the Andros Islands are erroneously named Ambros Islands. This inaccuracy ought to be rectified; or, at least, the map should be removed from its public position in a leading thoroughfare of London. Generally speaking, as a people, we know rather too little of geography; but why should we proclaim our ignorance in the public streets? W. PINKERTON. Ham. Churchill's Death.-In most of the biographies I have seen of Charles Churchill, he is stated to have died at Boulogne. I believe it will be found, upon proper inquiry, that he died in England, within a few minutes after his landing at Dover, and that his last words were, "Thank God! I die in England." B. G. Mistranslations.-The singularity of the follow ing misconception and confusion of name with office, by an otherwise intelligent writer in a scientific article of the last New Monthly Magazine (No. 383.), page 288., induces me to point attention to it. The subject is "Ballooning in Later Years," where I read, deputy of the "département de la Marne," the identity of their family names making their specia designation necessary; but assuredly he was not a prior of any convent. On the contrary, he was the fiercest enemy of the Church, and altogether a sanguinary terrorist, as his namesake (though no relative) equally was. Both, too, were members of the terrible "Comité de Salut Public," and there, special friends of Carnot, not much to this eminent man's honour. Like him, too, "Prier de la Côté d'Or" had been an officer in the mi tary corps of engineers, and was, in conseque equally employed in the military class of the C vention. He died in August, 1832, at D during my residence in France. No mentis. subsequently made of him in the magazine article in which would offer other observati were this their apposite repository. J. R. (C In the French translation of Stewart's Act and Moral Powers, by De Leon Simon, tom. p. 114., "If men were only obliged" is rendered "s'ils n'étaient pas obligés." Page 185.: "If the were any country where no injustice was appre hended in depriving a man, &c., it would be some thing to the purpose," becomes". où on n'eut point à redouter l'injustice de voir, &c., ce fait prouverait encore plus en notre (!) faveur." Tom. ii. p. 95. "An idol of the cave or den is "L'idole d'un esprit obscur et caverneux." In numerous passages the author's meaning is ridi culously reversed: but it is enough to say that invalidates is translated renferme; little men, pes d'hommes; invaluable, always sans valeur; over looked is admise; and to crown all, a line from Pope (tom. ii. p. 155.),— "Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame," is metamorphosed into "C'est la promenade du soir que fait le sage.” This throws into the shade the translator's refer ence to Berkeley's Le Petit Philosophe, and show what confidence is due to French translations. In the Book of Family Crests, "Utitur ar quæsitis" is explained "It is used before you lo for it." ALTBOX Junius Inquiries. It is an erroneous supp sition, that the inquiry into Junius is a mere ques tion of curiosity. I would sincerely recomme it to the study of every barrister, who would wish to make himself acquainted with the Theory of Evidence. There is scarcely a claim that has been put forward, as yet, but he will find well worthy of his attention, especially when he considers the remarkable coincidences which have generally been Now, this last person's name was Prieur, a de- the occasion of their being brought forward. puty to the French Convention from the "départe-have, during the last thirty years, admitted the it de la Côté d'Or," a part of ancient Burgundy, claims of five or six of the candidates; now I do stinguished as such from another Prieur, not believe in one. "On the outbreak of the French Revolution, military aerostation, of which we shall shortly speak, was discovered by Guyton Morveau, Prior of De la Côté 'd'Or," &c. B. G. Is this assertion correct? and, if so, on what coins are they to be found? If such be the case, I think I can add one to the Rufus's Spur. At the "Queen's House" in Lyndhurst is preserved a curious relic of antiquity (boasting, perhaps, a much more venerable age than it has any claim to), called Rufus's stir-list, viz. the I. B. and denarii of the Empress Julia rup. It has the form of a stirrup, of very large Domna, rev. Venus standing in a rather peculiar dimensions, of steel, with an appearance of gilding attitude, and which, unless I am much mistaken, or lacker on some parts of it, the loop for the is a copy of the famous Venus Callipyge in the leather being in a horizontal instead of vertical Museo Borbonico at Naples. I should like to plate of metal. verify this. E. S. TAYLOR. A doubt is suggested as to its being a stirrup of that date, on the ground that metal stirrups were then unknown in England. Is this so? The common tradition, which assigns it to the custom of "depeditation" practised on mastiffs Coins of Julia Domna. Addison, in his Dialogues upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals, has the following remark: "There are several reverses which are owned to be the representations of antique figures, and I question not but there are many others that were formed on the like models, though at the present they lie under no suspicion of it. The Hercules Farnese, the Venus of Medicis, the Apollo in the Belvidera, and the famous Marcus Aurelius on horseback, which are, perhaps, the four most beautiful statues extant, make their appearance all of them on ancient medals, though the figures that represent them were never thought to be the copies of statues, till the statues themselves were discovered." Pierre Cotton.-Was Pierre Cotton, the Jesuit controversialist, related to any of the English R. W. C. families of the same name? Titus Oates.- Pray what did Dryden, in the first part of Achitophel, mean by these lines? "Some future truths are mingled in his book, What events had occurred in the year 1681, which tallied with declarations that Oates had falsely made three years before? Or if none, what are we to suppose the poet to signify? A. N. Thornton Abbey. -It appears that Thornton Abbey, Lincolnshire, was strongly fortified; presenting a curious mixture of the ecclesiastical and castellated styles. The fine gatehouse, which is late Perpendicular, still exhibits a barbican, battlement, loopholes, a moat, the groove for a portcullis, and indications of a drawbridge. What other examples are to be found of religious houses similarly protected? How could so extensive an inclosure be sufficiently garrisoned? Against what attack was danger apprehended? It has been affirmed that formidable pirates entered the Humber, and committed depredations in the fifteenth century. Is there any authority for such asserC. T. tions? Richardson's "Choice of Hercules."—The original MS., dedicated to his nephew, of Richardson's noble on poem "The Choice of Hercules," having come into my possession, I am desirous to ascertain if it was ever published. If any of your readers could enlighten me, I should feel greatly obliged. CHARLES POOLEY. Cirencester. Curious Marriage Entry.-In the register books of a small village in Wilts I find the following entry, of which some explanation seems desirable: "John Bridmore and Anne Sellwood, both of Chiltern All Saints, were married October 17, 1714. "The aforesaid Anne Sellwood was married in her smock, without any clothes or head-gier on." J. EASTWOOD. Capital Punishment in England. — I am desirous of forming a correct list of capital punis ments sanctioned by law in England from t W. W. La Valetta, Malta. Raising the Wind. Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." explain the origin of this term either when applied by seamen who whistle at sea to raise the wind, or by "fast men," who seek the assistance of money lenders or pawnbrokers for a similar purpose? W. W. Malta. Thomas Bajocencis.-Thomas Bajocensis, Archbishop of York, A.D. 1109, is mentioned by Tanner (after Godwin, Possevinus, and others) as having written, in usum Ecclesiæ Ebor., Cantus Ecclesiasticos, lib. i., Officiarium ejusdem Ecclesiæ, lib. i.: vide Tanner's Biblioth. de Scriptoribus, Lond. 1748, p. 709. Are the above-mentioned books, or any portion of them, known still to exist, either in print or in manuscript? Or are they known to have formed the basis of any ritual or service-book, afterwards in use in the Church of York? I do not find the remotest clue to them in Bot field's account of MSS. in possession of the dean and chapter; though it is possible some notice of them may have escaped my search, owing to Botfield not having favoured us with an index to his useful work. J. SANSOM. Oxford. Richard III.· - On looking over the fourth volume of the Patrician, I find, at page 68., mention made of a curious tradition respecting *For cases of boiling to death as a punishment, see Q.," Vol. ii., p. 519.; Vol. v., pp. 32. 112. 184. - ED.] one “Richard Plantagenet" (who died in the year 1550). It is there stated, that this individual was a son of the king, who acknowledged him as such privately, but delayed doing so publicly until the result of the battle of Bosworth Field (at which time he was between fifteen and sixteen years of age) was known; but, in consequence of the turn of the battle against Richard III., the son left the field and died, as above mentioned, in comparative obscurity; but it is not stated whether he was married, or died sine prole. However, my Query is to ascertain whether it was the fact, that Richard had a son, as history does not record anything respecting him that I am aware of; i it would doubtless be a curious historical fac concerning a person so little known, although traditionally connected with the then reigning power. JOHN N. CHADWICK. King's Lynn. ington is an old oak, or rather the remains of one, Watch Oaks.In the neighbourhood of Leamwhich goes by the name of "the watch oak." Can any of your correspondents explain the origin of such an appellation, and inform me whether it is a common one? ERICA. Another Burns' Relic.-I have in my possession Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, which was a quarto copy (the first edition, I think) of Blair's given by the poet's wife, Jean Armour, to my father. I have been informed that it was presented by the author to Robert Burns, and would like to learn whether the Ayrshire poet ever obtained such a present from Dr. Blair? About one-third of the blank leaf facing the title-page has been cut away by some sharp instrument, and on the inside of the board there is a blotted impression of a name which has been written on the missing portion of the leaf. Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." favour me with any particulars which could guide to the truth in this matter? QUERIST. |