Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/540

 446 NOTES AND QUERIES. [io«- s. iv. DEC. 2. iw. -ence to a continental tour which is contained in the following extract from The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction for 30 May, 1835 :— The late Charts* Lamb. 'Did this delightful writer ever prepare for the press, those papers appertaining to a continental tour which he speaks of in the correspondence of the London M'".!"• in', as being busy then in arranging? To what part of the European terra firma did he go ? if to Holland, how graphically would he have described the Dutchman, with a tread like his ' < .cut !i: Giantess,"and his immovable attitude and pilent puffs, over his pipe of Kynaster or Virginia. I know many anecdotes of this witty and open- hearted man:—If ever human being detested hypo- crisy, Lamb did; if ever human being delighted to perform a generous action, reckless of worldly ostentation or public appreciation, from pure •motives alone, it was the author of ' Charles \ood- ville.' How pregnant with meaning are his deli- neations : for instance, in speaking of his erudite friend, George Dyer, the learned explorer of college and other libraries, he says, " I will have him bound in Russia"; who would not recognise the learned author of 'The Privileges of the University of Cambridge,' the moment he reads this flashing sentence. Mr. Moxon's tribute to the memory of his highly-valued friend is indited with true spirit of feeling and taste. Lamb was like a beam of sunshine on his threshold,—his nearest, his most intimate friend. ENORT. Marlborough Terrace, Albany Road. Lamb's only continental tour consisted, I imagine, in a visit to Paris in 1822, though he may have contemplated at some time or other a more extended trip. It is curious that the writer's glowing anticipation of a visit to Holland should have been fulfilled by the latest biographer of Lamb in his recent book, ' A Wanderer in Holland.' If Lamb ever contemplated visiting that country, and was prevented by_ circumstances from carrying out his intention, some tele- pathic influence may have unconsciously been Mr. Lucas's motive in wandering among the flats and dykes of that country. Who, by the way, was " Enort" ? He was a con- tributor in prose and verse to The Mirror, though, in misnaming Lamb's play, not perhaps a very accurate one. As Mr. Lucas says he may perhaps on some future occasion issue a revised list of the books in Lamb's library, I will venture to name one in my own possession, which •came to me after the death of the late Thomas Westwood. It is that curious work " Memoirs and Anecdotes of Philip Thick- nesse, late Lieutenant Governor of Land •Guard Fort, and unfortunately Father to George Touchet, Baron Audley. Dublin 1790," and is in the original calf binding. On the inside of the cover is written : " Dear Clarke, I suspect this was the Book you meant to have sent for. C. L." Westwood has attested this as the "autograph ••: Charles Lamb," and lias also written " Cowden Clarke" below Lamb's note. On the title-page is the inscription, in West- wood's handwriting, " Tho" Westwood from C. Lamb, Esq.," and the inside cover also bears Westwood's book-plate. Another relic I value is the copy of 'Elii' (in boards, uncut, with the first title-page) that Lamb presented to John Payne (Jollier in exchange for 'A Poet's Pilgrimage,' as recorded by the latter in 'An Old Man's Diary,' part iv. p. 84, and that contains at the top of the title-page Lamb's presentation inscription. I purchased it at the sole of Collier's books in August, 1884. W. F. PRIDEAUX. FIFTEENTH - CENTURY BANQUET. — The following forms No. 27 in Harl. MS. 7017 in the British Museum :— "A Bill of Fare for the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers the 29"' Octo: 1478, [being] the Lord Mayor's Day, 18° Edwd. 4th: For a Capoo. 6'1; A Pig, 4d ; A Loin of Beef, 4'1; A Leg of Mutton, 2id; A Coney, 2'; A Dozen of Pigeon*. 7'1; A Hundred Eggs, 84J; A Goose, 6"; 2 Loyns of Mutton and 2 Loyns of Veal, 1" 4'1; One Gallon of Red Wine, 8d ; One Kilderkin of Ale, 1-8': [Total,] 7". — Extracted from the Companies Book." One can imagine that the difference between the cost of the above banquet and one held on a like occasion at the present day would be very considerable, notwithstanding the fact that the relative value of money in the fifteenth and twentieth centuries has to be taken into account. W. McM. "COME OUT, 'TIS NOW SEPTEMBER." (See ante, p. 351.) — " Come out, 'tis now Sep- tember," was composed by Elizabeth Stirling, and was first printed in Novello's ' Part-Song Book' in 1850. The words were written for that work by A. T., and a prize of eight guineas was awarded to the composer of the music. She was an accomplished organist and composer ; in 1863 she married Mr. F. A. Bridge, and died in London in 1895. WILLIAM H. CUMMISGS. The lines quoted by MR. HICHAM are from a glee published in the early fifties of the last century, entitled 'All among the Barley,' composed by Miss Elizabeth Stirling:, at that time organist of All Saints' Church, Poplar, E. The lyric was frequently carolled in the East-End of London long before, on its emigration west, it became familiar at the long since defunct Evans'* Music - Hall and Supper Rooms in Covent Garden. At my advanced ago memory fail*