Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/550

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NOTES AND QUERIES. rio s. XL JUNE 5, im

metaphorically of the approach or presenc of misfortune, suspicion, or whatever may dim the brightness of reputation or prospects

A. T. M.

There can be little doubt that this phrase had its origin in the wanderings of the Israelites, who, so long as the cloud " at the commandment of the Lord " abode upon their tents, rested from their journey: {vide Numbers ix. 18-23). It is used in connexion with a person whose case is legally sw6 judice, and the Italians, I think have an expression in the vernacular, " In disgrazia della giustizia," which is equivalent to being " under a cloud."

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

"UNE SEVIGNE" (10 S. xi. 410) was a sort of brooch or pendant consisting of two or tliree divisions. I have one which came from my great-grandmother, about 1740 ; it is made of strass and marcasite (sulphate of copper). There is a square piece beauti- fully chiselled ; then a sort of pentagon (smaller), which fastened to the larger piece, then three pendants which could be arranged in different ways.

A. GUTHRIE.

A Sevigne was the centre ornament of a lady's corsage in the seventeenth century; They were originally bows or rosettes of fine enamel work, set with table-cut stones or rose diamonds, and hung with pear- shaped pendants of fine pearls. Towards the end of the century the original elegant design was overloaded with ornament, and the stiff bodices became (devant le corsage) covered with large and heavy pieces of jewellery.

J. F. R.'s description will apply to this period. The Sevign6 came into fashion again about 1830 as a brooch for the cor- sage with the correct three pendants. My mother wore one of filigree gold set with stones, and an aunt one in a design of seed pearls with amethysts. Earrings were always worn to match. M. E. B. C.

PLACE-NAMES : BOOKS ON THEIR ETY- MOLOGY (10 S. xi. 288, 398). The following are authoritative works :

The Old Shetland Dialect and Place-Names of fenetland. By J. Jacob .-en. Lerwick.

Place-Names of Ross and Cromarty. By W. J Watson. Inverness and London.

^n^ 6 ?J a e ~ N ? me ? of Ar gyll- By H. Cameron Onaes, M.D. London.

The Viking Club have in hand a survey of the place-names of Orknev.

Tl * T I *. * v -

trustworthy work. Farmar's ' Place Name Synonyms Classified ' is not of much use.

A complete dictionary of the place-names of Britain would be a work of great interest and value. ALEX. RUSSELL.

Stromness, Orkney.

A model volume of local topography, both in arrangement and in production, is one printed for private circulation in 1899 by a Berks antiquary " Place- and Field - Names, Cookham Parish, Berks, by Stephen Darby " a book which from its careful compilation sometimes gives a clue to words us^i in other localities. R. B.

Upton.

NAMES TERRIBLE TO CHILDREN (10 S. x. 609 ; xi. 53, 218, 356). The mention of Lord Talbot in 1613 (ante, p. 357) is specially interesting because Shakespeare makes a point of it in ' 1 Henry VI.,' I. iv., where Talbot is scorned as

the terror of the French, The scarecrow that affrights our children so,

and II. iii.,

the scourge of France

the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad

That with his name the mothers still their babes.

I beg to thank those correspondents who have kindly added to my list. W. C. B.

LORD BEACONSFIELD'S FIRST SCHOOL- MASTER (10 S. xi. 362). The following extract, referring to the Unitarian chapel at Deptford, may be of interest :

Some eminent men are said to have attended the services here ; notably the late Earl Beacons- fteld when a youth at an academy on Blackheath, Mr. Moon being at that time Minister ; Milner jibspn, Esq., M.P. for Manchester ; and Thomas EEollis, one of the regicides of King Charles I. who fled to America at the Restoration, where he died. There is a tomb in the chapel yard to his wife, who was buried here." Dews, ' History of Deptford,' 2nd ed., p. 129.

The inscription to Mrs. Hollis is now illegible,

>ut I have a copy of it.

A. RHODES.

CAPT. RUTHERFTJRD AT TRAFALGAR (10 S.

xi. 10, 73). Capt. Rutherfurd was presented the City of London, after Trafalgar, with sword of honour, which is still in the oossession of his descendants. His male epresentative is now, or was lately, residing n New Zealand. JOHN BEDDOE.

SHIPS' PERIODICALS (10 S. xi. 328, 376, 418). It has been customary to produce newspapers or periodicals on some of the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, when the long periods of enforced idleness during

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-vir. Johnstons Place - Names of Scot- | the dreary winter months require some land, mentioned at the first reference, is a extraneous effort to relieve their tedium.