Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 2.djvu/290

 238

NOTES AND QUERIES,

s. n. SEPT. 17, 190*.

Brigstocke, wife of Owen Brigstocke, M.P., was at the time of her death the only sur- viving child of Dr. Edward Browne (ob. 1708), of St. Bride's parish, London, and of Northfleet, Kent, and therefore granddaughter of the renowned Sir Thomas Browne, Knt., M.D. (ob. 1685), of Norwich; her only brother, Dr. Thomas Browne, died without issue in 1710, and she, having become her father's heiress, likewise died without issue in April, 1746, a month before her husband. The Brigstockes came to Carmarthenshire from Croydon, Surrey, circa 1625-9. The first who settled in Wales was John Brig- stocke (will proved at Carmarthen, 1640), who married Mary, co- heiress of Morris Bo wen, of Llechdwny, parish of Kid welly, co. Carmarthen, and thereupon purchased that property from his father-in-law. This John Brigstocke was only son of Robert Brigstocke (ob. 1618), of Croydon, by Elizabeth (ob. 1663), daughter of Edward Heighten by Joane, daughter of ...... Wakerell. John's step-

father, William Nicolson, was master of the Croydon Free School, then rector of Llandilo Fawr, co. Carm., and finally at the Restora- tion Bishop of Gloucester, in the Lady Chapel of which cathedral he and his wife and some of her family are buried.

G. R. BRIGSTOCKE. Hyde, I.W.

LADY ELIZABETH GERMAIN (10 th S. ii. 88, 156). There is a portrait of Lady Betty Germain in her room, so called, at Knole. It is a small full-length. It may be of interest to state that her book-plate is well known to collectors of ex-libris. ALLANBANK.

MANZONI'S 'BETROTHED' (10 th S. ii. 169). In 1876 Messrs. G. Bell & Sons published a new translation of the complete work, 724 pages, small octavo. L. D. FRY.

Barnet.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &o.

A History of the British Empire, in the Nineteenth Century. By Marcus R. P. Dorman. Vol. II. 1806-1825. (Kegan Paul & Co.) THE first volume of Mr. Dorman's ' History of the British Empire in the Nineteenth Century ' carried the action from the year 1793 when, on the trial and execution of Louis XVI., Chauvelin, the French Ambassador, was ordered to leave London, and war was declared between England and France to the death of Nelson in 1805. The second, which ends in 1825, deals with the campaigns of Welling- ton and the policy of Castlereagh. Upon the con- duct of the Peninsular War much fresh light is cast, and an animated picture is presented of the battle of Waterloo, the occupation of Paris, and the strife generally between Napoleon and England.

What is most interesting is, however, the vindica^ tion of the action of Lord Castlereagh, perhaps the most hated public man that England has seen since the days of Lord Chancellor Jeffreys. Mr. Dorman is not so wholesale in praise as was Alison ; he, indeed, censures at times the schemes of Castlereagh. None the less, he gives him at others unstinted commenda- tion, and says that the ministry of 1814 deserves "the admiration and gratitude of every British. subject." Concerning the question of the territory which, with the exception of France, all the lead- ing Powers had gained, he says : " Great Britain, added Malta, Ceylon, and the Cape of Good Hope- to her dominions ; and who can estimate their value ? Who can say how greatly the addition of these small places has affected the destiny of the- British Empire as a whole? Malta, although a. tiny island, is capable of sheltering a large fleet. The route to India by the Suez Canal is thereby ensured, and the Mediterranean commanded. Cey- lon is an outwork of India, and on the highway to Australia and the Far East. The Cape of Good Hope is the base from which South Africa has been conquered. The extraordinary value of these pos- sessions is now apparent to every one ; but what marvellous judgment was shown in 1814, when it was decided to retain them ! " In this flood of Imperialism the recession of Java to the Dutch because, as it is said, the minister did not know where it was is forgotten. The work is well,, though rather floridly written, and its perusal is- pleasant as well as edifying. There are some mis- takes, but few of them are of any significance. The- name of Montauban is misspelt, but this is probably a press error. The intelligence that Wellington was created a marquis and that the Spanish Cortes- admitted him to the most sacred order of the Joison (sic) d'Or is rather comic. Like the previous- volume which, however, we have not read the- work is built up from national records, and deserves- close study. It contains brilliantly executed por- traits in photogravure of George IV. and his un- happy queen, of the Duke of Wellington, and of Castlereagh. How many further volumes are to be expected we know not. There must be several if the work is to be kept up as it is begun. However many there may be, they will be -welcome. An index renders the history available as a work of reference.

The Dukery Records. Being Notes and Memoranda illustrative of Nottinghamshire Ancient History, &c. By Robert White, of Worksop. (Privately printed for Subscribers.)

DURING many years Mr. White, a competent and an assiduous antiquary, and a valued contributor to our columns, has collected matter relating to- Nottinghamshire. This he now issues to subscribers in a handsome volume with interesting illustra- tions, the whole constituting a work of much value to archaeologists generally and of almost unparal- leled worth to local antiquaries. Important help has been rendered him by some of those most com- petent to assist, and the contents, miscellaneous as they are, may be studied with the certainty of advantage and a fair prospect of delight. The opening portion consists of articles by the late Rev. John Stacye, M.A., a local antiquary, the only son- of the Rev. Thomas Stacye, during sixty-six years vicar of Worksop. First in order comes from this source ' Studies of the Nottinghamshire Domesday.' In publishing this Mr. White has had the advice-