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NOTES AND QUERIES. [10* s. i. JUNE 25, im

logy are to count for nought in the matter. It consorts well with Australian, Canadian, Rhodesian, and with the names of many powerful nations occupying large territories either at the present time or in the past, such as the Russians, Egyptians, Persians, Germans, Romans. On the other hand, the suffix -ese is associated in English mostly with peoples who have played a comparatively inconspicuous role in the world's history, if we except the Chinese, Japanese, and perhaps the Portuguese. This may be exemplified by the Navarrese, Maltese, Tyrolese, Pied- montese, Aragonese, Burmese, and Cingalese, as well as by such civic names as Genoese, Viennese, and Milanese the addition of a final s for the plural of which, by the way, ceased a couple of centuries ago. From its use, too, in connexion with the language of various uncivilized races, this termination has a pejorative tendency, as one notices in the depreciatory significance of journalese, Carlylese, and so on. Finally, on etymo- logical grounds Natalese is open to objec- tion. As Natal was so called by Vasco de Gama from its discovery on Christmas Day, 1497, the Latin origin is clear. But the addition of the Romanic suffix -ese would imply an unknown Latin natalensis, belong- ing to a birthday, just as Australese would imply an aiistralensis. This would be, per- haps, an argument of small weight, did there not exist the alternative, Natalians, which has the advantage of being historically significant not only from the discovery of the country, but also from its occupation by the Boers. On such grounds, therefore, ft appears that "Natalese" might well be consigned to oblivion. J. DORMER.

Here are some names of the sort for which H. 2 asks -.Bernese, Bolognese, Genoese, Maltese, Milanese, Piedmontese, Siennese, Tyrolese, Veronese, Viennese. I suppose Livornese and Ticinese are not yet English. JOHN B. WAINEWRIGHT.

INSCRIPTIONS ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS (10 th S. i. 448). Consult 'House Mottoes and Inscrip- tions, Old and New,' by S. F. A. Caulfeild. Suggestions might also be found in 'The Book of Sundials,' by Margaret Gatty, 1890, and in a later work on the same subject by an author whose name for the moment escapes my memory. There are two articles on Sundials,' by Mr. Warrington Hogg, in the Strand Magazine, the first of which appeared in June, 1892. The idea, so far as private houses is concerned, seems to have taken the form of a questionable taste for hackneyed Bible texts, the absurd impro-

priety of which is, in many instances,, nauseating in its familiarity. But no one could, of course, object to the inscription, rand in its simplicity, over the Royal Exchange, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof," a suggestion, I believe, of the late Prince Consort. Over the en- trance to a house in ancient Pompeii was found "Hie habitat felicitas," and in the ladies' tea-room at the House of Commons is the curt, if salutary, advice, "Get under- standing." There is said to be a mansion in Ireland with a quaint and appropriate motto over every door ; and these are so well chosen and expressive that, however often seen, they appear ever fresh and new, proving really useful to visitors as well as interesting. At Harleyford, a little village in Bucking- hamshire, it is said that there is a row of some thirty-one houses, each bearing an inscription. One reads, "If thou speakest evil of thy neighbour, come not nigh the door of this house." Another runs, "Peace on earth, goodwill towards women." And another, "An obedient wife governs her husband." A most interesting collection of house mottoes was contributed by Mr. William Norman Brown, F.R.H.S., to Country Life for 8 April, 1899, and there are many happy selections made by the London Borough Councils. For instance, Hammersmith has " Spectemur agendo." Dr. Alfred C. Fryer read a paper on ' Sundials ' in December, 1891, before the members of the Bristol Literary and Philosophic Club. The lecturer had collected a large number of mottoes, arranged under the heads of Clas- sical, Sententious, Alliterative, Hospitable. One of the last was " Amicis qurelibet hora" (To friends any hour they please). In the place of a sundial with " Pereunt et impu- tantur," removed during the Restoration from the south porch of Gloucester Cathedral, the Dean erected one in the cloister-garth with the motto, " Give God thy heart, thy service, and thy gold ; the day wears on, and time is waxing old."

J. HOLDEN MAcMlCHAEL.

May I express a hope that MR. McCARA will finally decide on an inscription in English 1 ? Why should we continue to use a foreign language for this purpose, more especially in our villages'? I am entirely in favour of the teaching of Latin, but not by- inscriptions on buildings.

RALPH THOMAS.

30, Narbonne Avenue, Clapham Common, 8.W.

These are commonly to be found in books dealing with topography, archteology, and