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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. xn. SEPT. 25, im

one that does the least scandal to morality in the whole circle of polite gallantry."

During the next few years we come across occasional references to her in various newspapers. On 27 Feb., 1775, she was present at a masquerade at Carlisle House, given by Goosetree's Club ; also on 27 Jan., 1776, at another famous redoute held at the Pantheon. In April, 1777, Lord Seaforth sat for his portrait to Reynolds, but, if the two following paragraphs are to be trusted, he left England in the course of the year :

" Harriett Powell is not to accompany her noble paramour Into retirement." Morning Post, 14 June, 1777.

" Lord Seaforth nas retired to Calais, where under the name of Captain Watson he enjoya the company of his divine Harriett in lore and poverty. Morning Post, 31 Dec., 1777.

In 1778, when there were fears of a French invasion, Lord Seaforth raised the 78th Regiment, called Seaforth's Highlanders, afterwards the 72nd; and in May, 1778, he and his regiment were in Jersey, where they helped to repulse an attack from the enemy. Evidently his mistress had accompanied him to the Channel Islands, and the following paragraph helps to corroborate the tradition of their marriage :

" Lord Seaforth has now married Harriet Powell and she is visited by the principal people in Guernsey." Morning Post, 10 May, 1779.

Reference to the church registers in Jersey and Guernsey during this year might show that the marriage had taken place.

In Bromley's Catalogue it is stated that Harriet Powell died in 1779, and there is a notice to that effect in the ' Annual Register.' The following obituary notice from The Scots Mag., vol. xli. p. 685, corroborates this statement, and gives strength to the rumour that she had become the wife of her protector :

" 11 Dec., 1779. On board the packet boat coming from Guernsey to Southampton the L^dy of Earl Seaforth, colonel of the 78th regiment of foot."

It is a curious coincidence that Lord Seaforth also died at sea, during the pas- sage to the East Indies with his regiment in August, 1781. HORACE BLEACKLEY.

THE SLOVAKS.

THE position of the Slovaks has always been precarious, but they exhibit a remark- able tenacity among their neighbours. Slight acquaintance with them suffices to dispel any prejudice caused by the unworthy Magyar sneer ' ' Tot nem ember " ( " That thing is not a man "). The poet Jan

Kollar, author of the lengthy ' Dcera Slavi * ( ' Daughter of Glory ' ), ranked as a Cech author, was of Slovak origin. In his youth- ful days he heard Cossacks returning from Austerlitz singing Russian songs, and at- tracted by the kindred Slav tongue he addressed them, and met with a friendly response. Later, Kollar had the oppor- tunity of singing his native airs before Goethe at Jena. In an interesting chapter on Kollar in ' Russes et Slaves, ' Prof. Louis Leger relates his own encounter with a young Slovak at Brest-Litovsk, distressed because his Slav brethren the Russians failed to understand him. He was surprised when his interpreter proved to be a Parisian of more than Teutonic erudition, though his Slavonic chagrin was not appeased.

The Slovaks are located in Hungary, and come in contact with Russians and Mora- vians. The native name is Slovensko or Slovacko. They were among the earliest settlers, and formed an element of the once great Moravian kingdom of Svatopluk. Dis- integration set in after the death of the sovereign, as in the case of the empire of Alexander and the old Russian princedoms, and the Slovaks were reckoned among Magyars and other Slavs. SS. Cyril and Methodius, the Slav apostles, are revered as the introducers of Christianity. The lan- guage resembles Cech, with orthographical differences, and has been styled a dialect of that tongue. The Matice Slovenska, a learned society corresponding to similar institutions among the Slavs, founded in 1863, was prohibited in 1874. Here is a short list of words for comparison :

Slovak. Cech. English.

dufat doufati to hope

dakovat dekovati to thank kostol kostel church (L. castellum}

Uhorsky Uhersky Hungarian striebro stribro silver

lastovicka vlastovka a swallow mesiac mesic moon, month

The following proverbs depend for their value on rimed syllables as much as upon inherent wisdom :

Cistota pol zivota. Cleanliness is half of life.

Oko do srdca okno. The eye is a window to the heart.

Jaka praca, taka placa. As the labour, so- the reward.

The verses which follow are from the popular song in honour of Mount Nitra : Nitra, mila Nitra, ty slovenska mati ! Co ppzrem na teba, musim zaplakati. Ty si bola niekdy vsetkych krajin hlava r j V ktprych tecie Dunaj, Visla i Morava. Ty si bola bydlo krala Svatopluka, Ked tu panovala jeho moena ruka.