Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 1.djvu/323

 10* s.i. APRIL 2, 1904.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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cryptic on "spriUie," which he defines as " spirited." Does he, perchance, aver that a modern Polydorus suffered unspeakable pangs from the ruthless coulter on the bleak Ayr- shire leas I It is at least self-evident that he never heard of a famous holding in Scotland appropriately named " Sprittie Ha'." It is not necessary to prolong this analysis, but one more specimen may be given to show how indispensable it is to know shades of meaning before undertaking to explain Burns for the English reader. The old farmer declares that iris mare "never reestet" in cart or car, the statement implying that she never stood restive when expected to advance with her load. The only explanation of "reestet" in this engaging glossary is " withered," which is, of course, totally inapplicable to this passage, although it suits the " reestet gizz " in the ' Address to the Deil.'

The writer of the introduction to these selections furnishes in a single sentence a com- plete commentary on such an achievement as the glossary with which his sponsorship of Burns is inseparably associated. " One," he says, "must have been born to the language to understand its delicacies." As a statement of a great general truth this is excellent, and it would be well if many who are prone to rush in as commentators and exponents would realize its full significance in time. The ideal exponent of Burns is to be looked for only in the class to which the poet himself belonged ; he is now, more than ever, likely to be found in the direct line of Allan Cunningham, Robert Chambers, Alexander Smith, and Carlyle. THOMAS BAYNE.

WESTMINSTER CHANGES IN 1903.

FOR the last two or three years I have endeavoured to place upon record most (if not all) of the changes that have taken place during each year in the parishes of St. Mar- garet and St. John the Evangelist, which formerly constituted the "old" city of West- minster. I now purpose to do the same for last year, although in the latter parish they have been so numerous and varied that I fear some may have been missed as I took my walks abroad for the purpose of noting them ; but I hope the omissions, if any, will be found to be few and of only minor import- ance. I must, however, state that I have still been unable to touch upon those in Regency Street, as I have not procured some particulars which I needed ; but I hope shortly to overcome that difficulty, and shal 1 then deal with that locality by itself.

Vincent Square had for many years an

almost complete immunity from building operations, but during the last year some notable changes have been made at this spot. The Exhibition Hall for the Royal Horticul- tural Society has been rapidly proceeded with, and is now nearly ready for roofing, and I believe it is intended to occupy it during the approaching summer. It is very well designed, and will be an ornament to- this part of Westminster. On the same side of the square the two houses numbered 83 and 84 have been demolished, and in their place some flats have been erected in the rashionable red brick with stone courses, omewhat irreverently designated by a corre- spondent in the City Press " the streaky- bacon style of architecture/' This erection has been fancifully named "The Willows"; why is not very clear. It is partly occupied, Dr. Launcelot Archer, an occasional con- tributor to 'N. & Q.,' being one of the resi- dents. In this connexion it may be noted that the "handsome price of eighteen hun- dred pounds" (so says the Westminster and Pimlico News of 19 February) "has just been obtained for No. 82, Vincent Square, having a lease of twenty-eight years to run, with a ground rent of 15^. This, we believe-, is a record price for Westminster property/* Still on the same side, at the corner of Carey Street, is a building used as a warehouse and offices by Messrs. Coppen Brothers, which r although in part erected in the previous year, was not occupied until the beginning of 1903.

When Messrs. Broad wood migrated east- ward, it was thought that their old premises in Horseferry Road would be at once de- molished ; but they are still standing, and" temporarily occupied : No. 57 by the Husson Safety Acetylene Syndicate, Limited ; and No. 45 by Messrs. Rothschild et Fils, Ltd., of Paris, the well-known automobile coach- builders, and the Provincial Carriers, Ltd. ; but a change may come at any moment. Further down Horseferry Road we come to a very extensive clearance, which I fore- shadowed at 9 th S. xi. 22. the side of Car- penter Street, Nos. 1 to 6, then alluded to as condemned, has been cleared, as well as the site of all the houses to No. 28, Horseferry Road, together with the whole of Champion's Alley, then not touched ; and now, of the houses from that number to No. 2, all are either empty or demolished, excepting Nos. 26, 20, and 18, which are occupied, as is also the- licensed house at the corner of this road and Millbank Street, known as the "Brown Bear."

Turning into Millbank Street, we find No. 80 empty, and from this house all the ground to the corner of Romney Street, and