Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 1.djvu/425

 io* 8.i. APRIL so, 190*.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

349

issue. On the other hand, the ' Diet. Nat. Biog.' states that a monumental tablet to his memory was placed in South Tedworth Church, Hants, by his "fourth" son, Henry Smith. Among Musgrave's ' Obituaries ' is that of Thomas Smith, Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen Consort and M.P. for Tregony, died 3 August, 1728, being "son of John Smith, Speaker of the House of Commons.' 1 Any information as the family of this some- what obscure Speaker will be acceptable.

W. D. PINK.

PRINTING IN THE CHANNEL ISLES. At what date was the art of printing first practised in the Channel Islands ? and what were its first fruits there ?

E. S. DODGSON.

[Stead's ' Cresarea ; or, History of Jersey,' has the rubric Jersey, 1798. This appears to be the earliest instance.]

4 IRUS,' SUPPOSED PLAY BY SHAKESPEARE. A book called Edward Pudsey's book, pub- lished in 1888 at Stratford, contains extracts from a play called 'Irus.' Is anythin more known about this play ? I can find n other reference to it in Shaksperian literature

REGINALD HAINES. Uppingham.

Turkish fleet in the Bay of Chisney, 1770. This event led to the Crimea being annexed to Russia. In his efforts for the improvement of the Russian navy Admiral Greig, in 1776, drew into it a very considerable number of British officers, principally Scotchmen, result- ing in a permanent benefit to the navy. I should feel greatly obliged if any of your readers could refer me to any books which would give the names of the officers in question. ALAISTER MACGILLEAN.

INDIAN SPORT. Can any one kindly refer me to any complete list of record " bags " in India such as the largest tiger, the largest number killed by any sportsman, the heaviest "bag" of snipe, and so on ] I should also like to have references to the elephant which carried Warren Hastings. It was used by several succeeding Governors-General. Is the animal still alive ? EMERITUS.

STOYLE. As I am seeking for the pedigree of Stoyle families, and wish, if possible, to join them, I should be grateful for any in formation bearing thereon.

(Rev.) B. W. BLIN-STOYLE.

Langden House, Braunston, uear Rugby.

" BARRAR." In the overseers' accounts o: this parish for the year 1719 is the following entry : " For a pese of flannel for an under pettey coat and a barrar, 00. 01. 06." What was a " barrar " ? FRANCIS R. RUSHTON.

Betchworth.

ST. FINA OF GIMIGNANO. A painting or fresco by Ghirlandaio has for its subject the death of St. Fina of Gimignano. Can any one give me any information of this saint?

W. T. H.

MILITARY BUTTONS : SERGEANTS' CHEVRONS. Am I right in conjecturing that there is some explanation for the fact of military buttons being of oval shape 1

About what period did the custom of non- commissioned officers wearing chevrons pre- vail ] And did sergeants previous to that have any particular distinguishing mark ?

R, S. C.

ADMIRAL SIR SAMUEL GREIG. This British officer entered the Russian navy in 1763. He was instrumental in the destruction of the

JOHN WESLEY AND GARDENS. 1. Wesley seems to have been an admirer of gardens. In his journal (22 March, 1775) he mentions " Mr. Gordon's curious garden at Mile End," and that he " learned there the real nature of the tea-tree." Is anything to be found about this garden ? and is this Gordon con- nected with " Gordon, James, sen., botanist and gardener, at Barking, co. Essex," whose death is announced in the Gentleman's Maga- zine, 20 December, 1780]

2. On 16 October, 1782, Wesley "saw such a garden at Oxford as I verily believe all England cannot parallel," and after some description says, " for all which why should not Mr. Badcock's name, as well as Mr. Roberta's, be consigned to posterity ] " Is anything to be found further about this garden or these two names ?

3. On 11 November, 1773, Wesley " met with a great natural curiosity, the largest elm he ever saw ; it was 28 ft. in circumference, 6 ft. more than that which was some years ago in Magdalen College walks at Oxford." Is this elm still in existence, and where ? He says it was between North- ampton and Towcester. F. M. J.

REV. ARTHUR GALTON. I shall be glad of any particulars concerning the writings, &c., of the Rev. Arthur Galton, of the Record newspaper. M. C. BOYLE.

NICOMEDE BIANCHI. Is it known what has >ecome of the collection of notes, letters, official documents, &c., once in the possession of the late Nicomede Bianchi, the Italian historian 1 He died quite recently in 1888, I believe. L. L. K.