Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/609

 10 s. x. DEC. 26, iocs.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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The latter version appears to me the better. It is not improbable that it was on another gravestone. A woman of 38 would scarcely be described as young. I cannot suppose that the differences of the manuscript from the Robinson epitaph were invented by my grandmother.

Is either or any other version extant else- where ? ROBERT PIERPOINT.

St. Austins, Warrington.

THE DUFF, EARLY MISSION SHIP TO SOUTH SEAS. In the Browning Garden (the old burial-ground of York Street Chapel, Walworth j there is engraved on a granite slab, placed at the foot of the Holbert tomb, the following inscription :

James Wilson,

Whose burial in 1814 this tombstone commemorates, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1760. Early in life he went to sea. He was present at the battle of Bvnker's Hill in 1775. He soon became the master of a trading ship in the Indian Ocean. He received the thanks of the General Officer commanding the British troops at Cvddalore for bringing them sup- plies in spite of the French blockade. Later on he was taken prisoner, and after a marvellous escape recaptured by Hyder Ali and shvt vp for twenty- two months in the Black Hole of fceringapatam. On peace being restored he was released, and took vp his abode at Horndean near Portsmovth, where he was converted to Christianity through the ministrations of the Rev. James Griffin, Congrega- tional pastor at Portsea. In 1796-98 he gave his services to the London Missionary Society as the Honorary Commander of the Dvff, one of the first pvrely missionary ships of modern times, and planted missions in Otaheite and other islands of the South Pacific. In 1799 he settled at Denmark Hill and worshipped in York Street Chapel (now Browning Hall), which was fovnded by his father- in-law, Richard Holbert, to whom also the Holbert Charity is due. In 1805 he was enrolled as a member and svbsequently became a Deacon.

" Thou art the God that doeth wonders : and hast declared Thy power among the people." Ps. xxvii. 14.

This tomb was restored and the above inscription added in 1898 by Joseph James Curling, M.A., Vicar of Hamble-le-rice, and grandson of Captain Wilson.

In the Cuming Museum, Walworth Road, close by, stands a glass case containing " Dress and other Material " brought home by Capt. Wilson in the Duff.

HERBERT B. CLAYTON.

39, Renfrew Road, Lower Kennington Lane.

ADVERTISING EPITAPH. In the church- yard of Cornhill, the most northern village in Northumberland, is an inscription in Latin, nearly illegible half a century ago, translated as follows :

"Alas, who shall now retard the scythe of death? James Purdy, at the bridge of Twizel, was an excellent old man, although not exempt from

diseases. He died on the 4th day of December, 1752,. aged 81 years, and, together with Jane his wife and Eleanor his granddaughter, lies under this stone. But, passenger, if thou hast a good heart, perhaps thou mayest live. Samuel, the son of James, sur- vives, and is healthy, and exercising the profession of his father, under his paternal roof. If thou seekest health, go thither !" Berwickshire Natu- ralists' Club, v. 348.

AYEAHR.

WORKSOP EPITAPHS. In the Worksop' Churchyard I read the following curious bits of pietistic doggerel. They may deserve to be recorded in ' N. & Q.' :

1. A sudden change I in a moment fell,

I had not time to bid my friends farewell. Think this not strange : death happens unto all : : This day was mine ; to-morrow you may fall.

2. How mortal fond of life us poor sinners be ! How few who sees my grave would change with-

me!

But, sinner reader, tel me which is best A tiresome journey, or a traveller's rest ?

The last line appealed very strongly to me~. Possibly he also was " a bagman.'*

M. L. R. BRESLAR.

EPITAPH WITH POSTSCRIPT. In Ryton Churchyard (co. Durham) there is a tomb- stone which is probably unique, as a mistake has been made, and a correction in the form of a postscript has been added' on the base, thus :

James Hutchiiison, who died in 1832

married at Hampstead 1808.

P.S. After Hampstead read October 15.

R. B R. South Shields.

THE REV. GEORGE PLAXTON; (Concluded from p. 424.)

IN the second volume of * Hearne's Collec- tions ' (Oxford Hist. Soc., vol. vii. p. 331) is a note of a letter dated 28 Dec., 1709,. from Thoresby to Hearne, in which the former " hopes Mr. Nevile received his letter with Mr. Plaxton's waggish verses " ; and under date of 2 Jan., 1710/11 (p. 333),. Hearne writes down six

" verses by Mr. Plaxton occasion'd by a certain stingy, miserly, irreligious Person of Leeds in York- shire's selling his Vote for a good round sum of money."

The third and fourth volumes also contain references to Plaxton (ibid., vol. xiii. pp. 140, . 333, 364 ; vol. xxxiv. pp. 184, 207, 218, 382, 396-7), most of which are in letters written by Thoresby to Hearne. From these we learn that he was a most enthusiastic anti- quary, who subscribed both to Leland's ' Itinerary,' edited by Hearne in 1710-12,.