Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 2.djvu/303

 io< s. ii. SEPT. 24, 1904.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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toressly affirmed by his intimate friend AVilliamWhiston(Whiston, 'Memoirs,' p. 250; cf. Halkett and Laing, * Dictionary of Anony- mous Literature ') The 'D.N.B.' attributes [to Laurence a work * On Enclosing Commons,' published in 1732. He does not appear to nave published any separate work on that subject ; but some references to it in the 'New System of Agriculture,' published in 1726, caused John Cowper to publish in 1732

an essay "proving that inclosingcommons

is contrary to the interest of the nation, in which some passages in the * New System of

Agriculture,' by J. L, are examined."

G. O. BELLEWES. 6, Crown Office Row, E.-C.

HEACHAM PARISH OFFICERS. I have just been glancing at the Heacham Vestry Minute- book for the years 1846-94. Between the former year and 1865 "Pindars"were regularly appointed sometimes one, but more generally two whose duty consisted in looking after the pound. There is a record that the village pound was still flourishing in 1871, and the lord of the manor was appealed to at that date to stop some nuisances committed there. For a short period the road surveyors are termed " Way Wardens "; and the Dyke Reeve exists to this present day. Though the need for parish constables has long ceased to exist, the overseers still appoint one annually. It is pleasant to find survivals of old institu- tions, even though their use has disappeared. HOLCOMBE INGLEBY.

Heacham.

" DAGO." I was told lately in the United States that a person who cannot speak English intelligibly is called a "Dago," while those who can are known in distinction as "white men." Therefore, paradoxically, a black man may be a white man.

R. BARCLAY-ALLARDICE.

Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

"SHROFF": "SHROFFAGE." The diction- aries that include these wonds are behind the times with their meanings as regards parts of China. The "shroff," besides ringing dollars and other coins to see if they are good, may act as com prad ore's deputy, tally coolie work, see merchandise accepted by the buyers or superintend its weighing, take charge of coolies' wage-books or oversee their work, collect accounts, or, in short, perform any work that a clerk or deputy-foreman would do.

"Shroffage" also, in parts of China, means, in addition to its primary sense of the act of ringing money, cost of shroff's services, as

in the expression, taken from a statement of accounts, "shroffage and postage."

DUH AH Coo. Hongkew.

THOMAS WALKER IN DUBLIN. In his account of the opening of the ill-fated Rains- ford (properly Ransford) Street Theatre, in his 'Romance of the Irish Stage ' (vol. i. p. 14), Mr. Fitzgerald Molloy on one vital point flagrantly misreads Chetwood, the sole authority on the subject. It is absurd to say that Thomas Walker, the original Capt. Macheath, was the manager of a Dublin theatre opened in 1732. From 1730 to 1733 continuously Walker was acting in London under Rich, either at Lincoln's Inn Fields or Covent Garden. In giving his account of the genesis of the Ransford Street Theatre, built under a licence from the Earl of Meath, Chetwood, in his 'General History of the Stage' (p. 64), says nothing about the manage- ment beyond the fact that the company was "under the direction of Mr. Husband," but in a foot-note he adds :

"I saw a Licence granted by that worthy Noble- man [Chaworth, Earl of Meath] to the late Mr. Thomas Walker, Comedian, for Forty pounds per Annum ; which Sum was meant to be given to the poor in the Earl of Meath's Liberty : a pious Ex- ample ! "

The licence here referred to is now in the Earl of Meath's possession at Kilruddery, and bears date 1742-3. Possibly it was Walker's intention to reopen the old Ransford Street house, but it is doubtful whether the grant was ever acted upon. No evidence exists to show that Walker was the manager of any Dublin theatre, but he had certainly been in the Irish capital for some little time previous to his death there on 5 June, 1744.

W. J. LAWRENCE.

(tatties*

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct.

THE TRICOLOUR. (See 2 nd S. vi. 164, 198, 214, 335 ; viii. 192, 218 7 th S. ix. 384, 415 ; x. 157, 174, 210, 314; 8 th S. v. 165, 231.) In the hall of the official residence of the Admiral Superintendentof Devonport Dockyard hangs a large sea battle-piece, the property of the Admiralty. It is doubly noteworthy. One of the two battleships of the foe, flying the large White Ensign of the late monarchy of France, has the tricolour at her foremast, showing the colours vertical and in the order