Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/254

 208 NOTES AND QUERIES. [io-s. iv. S^T. 9,1905. Gustav Frenssen, at p. 487, in the clause "Indena ich ihm mit Hundefulirwerk, bush and grease, vors Haus fuhr." This novel has just been translated by F. S. Delmer, and published in London and Boston, but the translator has dropped the phrase. My guess is that " bush " is the bus/t, sb.2, bouche, sb.3, of the ' Oxford Dictionary," meaning " metal filling," "nave-box," and that the whole phrase means " with well-greased axle," fig. " at full speed." AMERICUS. AUTHORS OF QUOTATIONS WANTED.— She has come unarray'd in the pomp and the splendor, That royalty throws round the steps of a queen ; And turns to her foes without guard or defender, Majestic in sorrow, in danger serene. These are the first four lines of a poem con- cerning Queen Caroline, "at this time (1820) written on the distressing situation of her majesty." It appears in ' Memoirs of her late Majesty Caroline, Queen of Great Britain,' by Robert Huish (London, 1821), vol. ii. p. 430. KOBERT PIEEPOINT. I who a decade past had lived recluse Left for a while the smoke and dust of town. I thought they were by Calverley (C. S. C.), but cannot find them. E. P. WOLFERSTAN. FADED DAGUERREOTYPES.—Can they be restored ] If so. the address of the restorer will oblige. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road. WELSH POEM.—These four lines of Welsh poetry, consisting entirely of vowels, have, I believe, never appeared in ' N. & Q.' Thev are attributed to Goronwy Owen (eighteenth century). As my knowledge of the language is slight, I shall be glad if any Welsh reader will tell me if I have given them correctly, and favour with a literal translation. I have heard these lines recited at an Eisteddfod. O'i wiw wy a weuae, leuau o la, ai e yw ? Ai o au weuau a we A'i au i wau ei we wyw ? JAS. PLATT, Jun. " BOBBY DAZZLER."—This is a very common expression in the Midlands. A boy or girl, or indeed any person, putting on new or fine articles of clothing, becomes "a regular bobby dazzler," and is told that he or she is so. It is the same with other things, and a child's new bright-looking toy is "a bobby dazzler." What may be the origin of the term ? I have always supposed it to be in some way con- nected with bobby=a policeman. THOS. RATCLIFFE. Worksop. THE PURPOSE OF A FLAW.—In 'Inner Jerusalem' Miss A. Goodrich-Freer notes of Jewish dwellings (p. 59):— "In reminder of the Temple destroyed, no house is ever entirely finished : one stone at least is left unplastered, and shows conspicuous in its native baseness in some prominent part of hall or chamber.1' I suspect that this defect may have " a double debt to pay " : it may not only serve as a memorial, but may be supposed to act as a charm against the Evil Eye. What says Dr. Gaster as to that1} ST. SWITHIN. "JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE, MOTHER." — Some weeks ago I was standing at my gate, when, after a lapse of thirty years, the melody of this song of my childhood came into ray head. I have since asked several friends if they could repeat the verses or tell me who was the author of this quaint melody, which I fancy is a reminder of the terrors of the Crimean war. Will some kind reader of ' N. & Q.J refer me to the complete song and tell something of its history? Many of these old songs would well repay republication by some enterprising firm. M. L. K. BRESLAR. Percy House, South Hackney. [" Just before the battle, mother," was composed by G. F. Root, and is published in a cheap form by Air. W. Paxton, of 19, Oxford Street. We have forwarded a copy to MR. BRESLAR. The song wu a production or the American civil war, not the Crimean war. The titles of other popular songs by this American composer may be seen under his name in '< hambers's Encyclopaedia.'] GEOFFREY WHITNEY'S AUTOGRAPH.—I have before me a page from a book catalogue issued by Mr. Francis Harvey, of 4, St. James's Street, but no date given, describing a copy of 'Suidse Historica,' folio, 1581, containing on the title-page the autograph of Geoffrey Whitney. The price of the book (which was rebound in dull blue morocco) was 5l. 5*. Where is the book now ? T. CANN HUGHES, M.A., F.S.A. Lancaster. WHITCOMBE FAMILY. — At 9th S. v. 515 appears a query as to Whitcombe or Whet- combe. I wrote to MR. J. J. WITCOMBK at the address lie gave at Bath, but since Jane, 1900, he had moved, and my letter was returned. May I repeat his query with some additions ' I shall value date of death of William Whitcomb, of London, who was High Sheriff of Radnorshire in 1674. He is stated to have been ancestor of Robert Whit- combe(died 1 July, 1811, aged seventy-ninefX who is given as having married one of th« daughters of Richard Hooper, of the Whit- tern, in the parish of Lyonshall, Hereford-