Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/161

 10 s. XL FK. is, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

129

LADY IN* THE HOUSE OF LORDS : MBS. ELIZ. ROBINSON. I possess a clever oval portrait in oils, 5J in. by 6| in., of this lady, on the back of which is the following in an old style of writing :

" Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson. She was the only lady who ever spoke hi the House of Lords, and came over from Gibraltar to give testimony about the slaves. She was the daughter of William Hastings, P^sq., wife of Anthony Robinson, Esq., an officer in the garrison of Gibraltar, where he died about 1738. She was born in 1695, and died in April, 1779, aged 84. She was mother of the Rev. R. G. Robinson, Vicar of Lichfield Cathedral, and was also the mother of the wife of Joseph Clay, Esq., of Burton."

Can any correspondent give me information relating to the occasion of Mrs. Robinson's speech, whether the speech was printed, and. if so, where it can be found ? I should also like to know if the portrait has been engraved. JOHN LANE.

The Bodley Head.

GREEN DRAGON. What is the device of the Green Dragon ? It is understood that heraldically a dragon can be of any colour ; but there is presumably some reason for the sign of " The Green Dragon," which gives a name to so many inns in widely separate parts of the country. Is it an old English device, similar to the Red Dragon of Wales ?

The dragon in Christian symbolism ex- presses evil ; but is not the dragon known to heraldry of heathen origin, and typical of the heathen ideals of fierceness, strength, and physical courage ? D H.

HESSE-DANISH ALLIANCE. Writing from Hanau on 2 Aug., 1764, Sir William Gordon says of the reigning princess :

" Her Royal Highness is extreamly happy at the approaching nuptials of the Hereditary Prince, her son, with a Princess of Denmark, which, she tells me, is to be celebrated about the latter end of the month, and that in September or October she expects them here."

Who were the royal couple ?

J. M. BULLOCH. 118, Pall Mall, S.W.

CHTJRCH TOWERS AND SMUGGLED GOODS. At the opening excursion of the Hampshire Field Club (4 May, 1893), to Preston Can- dover, Wield, Godsfield, and Medstead, the Rev. A. A. Headley and the late G. N. Godwin recounted tales of the old smuggling days, i.e. about 1750, stating that the busi- ness flourished extensively in the neigh- bourhood, and that the towers of Medstead and Alresford churches were used for the storage of smuggled goods ; while the vestry

of one church was considered a particularly safe place. Information as to other Hamp- shire churches being used for the same purpose would be much appreciated.

F. K. P.

REV. HENRY YONGE. Can any one give me some information as to the Rev. Henry Yonge ? He was Rector of Great Torring- ton, co. Devon, and his daughter Sarah married, 9 Nov., 1786, at Swaffham, Norfolk, the Rev. William Nelson, afterwards 1st Earl Nelson. He is stated in Collins' s ' Peerage ' to have been a cousin of Philip Yonge, Bishop of Norwich, who died 1783. T. PAKENHAM LAW.

15, Ryder Street, St. James's.

W. ARDEN was at Westminster School in 1801. Can any correspondent of ' N. & Q.' help me to identify him ? G. F. R. B.

JOHN AMBROSE of University College, Oxford, graduated M.A. 1791. Particulars of his career and the date of his death are required. G. F. R. B.

HENRY ASTLEY was admitted to West- minster School 18 Nov., 1782. I should be glad to obtain any particulars concerning him. G. F. R. B.

AUTHORS OF QUOTATIONS WANTED.

But the best of our wealth is what comes after, See row by row on their silent shelves

The wise world's wisdom, the gay world's

laughter. In stately folios and tiny twelves.

Singers and sages of every fashion.

Whatever your fancy, there 's food for each Shelley for splendour, Byron for passion,

Pepys to prattle, and Pope to preach.

REX.

Sin amor no hay verdad, Sin ella no hay claridad.

L. L. K.

WOMACK FAMILY. Will some reader give me information as to the origin of this family ? The surname is pronounced Wum- mock or Ummuck in Yorkshire. I have traced early settlements in Essex, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire. Were they originally Dutch or German immigrants ? They are characterized by extreme fairness, some- times reddish hair ; marked use of Biblical names and the Christian names George and Charlotte ; and remarkable longevity. Members living now are aged 91 and 93.

M. SIMPSON.

2, Shorey Bank, Burnley.