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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. XL JUNK 5, im

mation regarding signatures by the famous adventurer after he took the name of " John Paul Jones " in 1773. Can any of your readers tell me if any other " John Paul " signatures survive, and where they are ?

HENRY ATTON. 89, Hampton Road, Forest Gate.

ADMIRAL VERNON AND SOUTH LONDON. I was informed some time ago that the ships of Admiral Vernon's fleet were largely recruited from the waterside districts of South London, notably Lambeth, Bermond- sey, Rotherhithe, Deptford, &c. I could not get any verification for this, so I shall be glad if any one can prove the truth of the statement. W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY.

Westminster.

DANTE ON OLD MEN. I have somewhere seen it stated that Dante has written that all " old men delight in looking back." Can you do me the favour to tell me where in his writings this passage occurs ?

NORFOLK.

CARLYLE FAMILY. A recent visit to Craigenputtock and Ecclefechan makes one wish for a pedigree of the descendants of James Carlyle (father of the historian) brought up to the present time. Is there such a pedigree in existence ? I know of the list of Carlyle's brothers and sisters given by Mr. Sloan at p. 32 of his book. M.

CAPT. MACCARTHY. One of the Prince Regent's boon companions was a Capt. MacCarthy, who, it is said, lost large sums to the Prince by gambling. Who was this MacCarthy ? He is believed to have been of the Springhouse family. Any particulars regarding him would be acceptable.

SIGMA TAU.

" RHOMBUS." This word means a kind of fish and a geometrical figure. Can any of your readers inform me whether the fish was called rhombus from being of a rhom- boidal figure, or the figure so named from its resemblance to the fish ? Neither Skeat not Littr6 gives this information, in fact,

rhomb " is not in Skeat at all.

C. P. GLOYNE. (jreneva.

[The ' New English Dictionary ' shows by quota- tions that the geometrical use of the word preceded the piscatorial application by a century.]

HOLBECK: DERIVATION or THE PLACE- NAME. Can any one inform me what is the derivation of this name, a place in the parish of Hadleigh, Suffolk 2 I suppose

Holbeach in Lincolnshire is a variant of the name ; and the house (now pulled down) where the Gunpowder Plot conspirators took refuge, was also named Holbeach. A remote chapelry, where Yorkshire joins Westmor- land is named Holbeck Lunds, situate in the extensive parish of Aysgarth.

JOHN PICK.FORD, M.A. Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge,

HENRY EMBLIN AND THEODOSIUS KEEN. I should be glad of information (both personal and professional) respecting Henry Emblin, F.A.S., of Windsor, the architect employed by George III. in the restoration of St. George's Chapel, Windsor ; and also respecting Theodosius Keen, a surveyor, who, in conjunction with Henry Emblin, was engaged in the erection of the Town Hall at Maidenhead in 1777.

ARTHUR L. COOPER.

Reading.

RICHARD LOVELL EDGE WORTH married Honora Sneyd in 1773. She died in 1780, leaving issue, a daughter Honora, who died aged sixteen, and a son Lovell, who was alive in 1793. At what age and in what year, did the son die ?

STAPLETON MARTIN.

The Firs, Norton, Worcester.

THE WHITE HEN. " You are the white hen that never lays astray " is said to children who make great professions of innocence when some fault has been com- mitted by persons unknown. Has the saying any history or vogue ? J. B.

ST. PETER'S AT ROME. Can any one tell me the name of the novel (about 1860) which describes the lighting of the dome of St. Peter's at Rome by convicts suspended by ropes ? The convict at the end of the rope, looking up, saw his mortal enemy next above him in the act of firing the rope beneath, with a view to drop him.

JOHN LANGLEY.

Exmouth.

" OVERFED MEPHISTOPHELES." This is. one of Dickens's phrases in ' Dombey and Son.' Does he quote from anywhere, or is it an advanced " Wellerism " ?

THOS. RATCLIFFE.

GIRDLESTONE. This family has been in North Norfolk for centuries. Is the name derived from some village ? In vol. xiv. part ii. (1899) of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society is a paper called ' A Notebook of Sir Miles Branthwayt.' In