Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/640

 530 NOTES AND QUERIES. [io» s. iv. DEC. so, MOS. Queensberry, towards the end of the eighteenth century 1 He was in Calcutta when Memory Middleton was there, and was official horse-breaker to the Government, and there he was killed, having been thrown by an Arab horse. Who was Memory Middleton 1 and at what time did he live in Calcutta ? FITZ-ALLEN. 'THE COMPLETE DRILL SERJEANT.' —Will any reader kindly tell me who was the author of this little book ? The title-page bears that it was "by a late Lieutenant in his Majesty's Marine Forces." My copy is of the second edition. London, 1798. It is " exemplified with prints," which are coloured. W. S. MACDONELL.—Major Macdonell, of Tern' dreich, who was executed at Carlisle in 1746 for his complicity in the uprising in Scotland, married as Iris second wife his cousin Mary Macdonell, daughter of Macdonell, of Killi- chonate. Can any of your readers tell me how the connexion existed, and where the Killichonate family worked into the main line ? R. S. CLARKE (Major) Bishop's Hall, Taunton. ' THE GKOATIE BucKiE.-Can any one tell me, or refer me to any book where I can find the myth in connexion with the Groatie buckie? These buckies are found on the Caithness coast, near John o' Groats, and also near Birsay, in Orkney. ALEX. RUSSELL, M.A. Stromness, Orkney. THE LINCOLN IMP.—A friend of mine informs me that, according to a ladies' fashion-paper which she was reading not long ago. a trinket in the form of " the Lin- coln Imp" will prevent its wearer losing things. I am anxious to know whether this super- stition has been made to order. It does not seem probable that it is veritable folk-lore, as no evidence is yet forthcoming that the quaint figure in the Minster which is known as " the Imp" was originally intended to represent the devil, or till recent days had any connexion with the devil-legend of the city or other traditionary beliefs. S. A. HERALDS' VISITATIONS, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 1681. — The original visitation of North- amptonshire in 1681 by St. George, Burghill, and King is said by Moule ('Bibliotheca Heraldica') to have been when he wrote (his book was published in 1822) in the possession of the Earl of Egmont. Where is it now ? There is a copy of this visitation at the Heralds' College marked K.I. Is this the original, or only a transcript 1 BERNARD P. SCATTEEGOOD. Moorside, Far Headiogley, Leeds. MRS. FrrzHERBERT. — What is the real Christian name of this lady, now often styled Maria? In vol. i. of Burke's 'Commoners' (1836) she is twice named as Mary Anne, youngest daughter of Walter Smytne, Esq., of Bambridge, Hants. See pedigrees of Fitz- Herbert of Norbury and Swiunerton, p. 78, and Weld of Lulworth, p. 197. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A. Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge. [The ' D.N.B.' gives her names as Maria Anne.j ENIGMA BY C. J. Fox.—In an old book of newspaper cuttings I find the following enigma, which is ascribed to Charles James Fox. Can any reader of 'N. <fc Q.' give the answer 1— What though some boast through ages dark Their pedigree from Noah's ark, Painted on parchment nice; I 'm older still, for 1 was there, And before Adam did appear With Eve in paradise. For I was Adam, Adam I, And I was Eve, and Eve was I, In spite of wind and weather ; Yet, mark me, Adam was not I, Neither was Mrs. Adam I, Unless we were together. Suppose, then, Eve and Adam talking, With all my heart; but if they 're walking, There ends my simile; For though I 've tongue, and often talk, And though I 've legs, yet when I walk It puts an end to me. Not such an end but that I 've breath, Therefore to such a kind of death 1 make but small objection ; For soon I 'm at my post anew. And though oft Christian, yet't is true I die by resurrection. E. S. DEATH - BIRDS IN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND. —In England it is esteemed unlucky if a bird enter a house, especially should it be a robin or a pigeon, which are both death- boding in a high degree. Are there similar superstitions in Scotland and Ireland ' G. W. [Reference is made, ante, pp. 465, 515, to the pigeon superstition.] JOHN DYER, POET.—I should be glad to obtain the date of his birth (1700?), the name of his mother, and the date of his marriage with " a Miss Eusor, said to be a descendant of Shakspeare." See • D.N.B.,' xvi. 287. G. F. R. B.