Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/68

 52 NOTES AND QUERIES. [io» s. iv. JPLT is. IDQS. Horseferry tolls were very considerable when London had but one bridge over the Thames, so that it must have been very desirable for persons arriving at the "Westminster side to know how they stood with regard to the distance at which they found themselves from London. The Westminster horse ferry was the only one allowed on the Thames at or near London, a circumstance which would give the spot on the Middlesex side an importance for travellers which probably suggested the iron tablet in question stating that the ferry was " 2i miles from the Post Office." J. HOLDEN MAcMlCHAEL. CARNEGIE : ITS PRONUNCIATION (10th S. iii. 487).—This surname is common in Forfar- shire and not unfamiliar in Fife. As pro- nounced in my hearing hundreds of times in both counties it rimes conveniently with "plaguy." In a Glasgow suburb I once heard the philanthropic millionaire named Carnegie, but the pronunciation was obviously due to unfarailiarity, and it was used by only one person in a company of over a dozen, the others all beiug orthodox in treatment. THOMAS BAYNE. The bearer of a name is commonly estimated to be a good judge of its pronunciation, and I think Mr. Andrew Carnegie pronounces his name so as to rime with " plaguy," and this is the usual phonetic sound given the name. WM. JAGGARD. SARAH CURRAN, KOBERT EMMET, AND MAJOR SIRR'S PAPERS (10th S. iii. 303, 413, 470).—If MR. MACDONAGH had been a loyal clergyman living in the earlier part of the last century, possibly he would have described as wicked, projects violently revolutionary which must have entailed bloodshed. I know of noreason why Dr. D'Arcy Sirr's wordsshould not be taken in their apparent sense. MR. MAcDoNAGH, however, says of Dr. Sirr's note that it is "a notable illustration of how the events of history are perverted, and the repu- tation of historical personages is undeservedly besmirched," and he further says of it, " All this is atrocious aspersion upon the memories of Robert Emmet and Sarah Curran." " Of course, the calumnies of the Rev. J. D'Arcy Sirr are totally destitute of foundation." I think these assertions show serious mis- apprehension, and a total disregard of all canons of modern historical criticism. Dr. Sirr has not perverted history in any way, and there is not the slightest evidence to show that he would not have tried to defend Robert Emmet or Sarah Cnrran from unfair comment. MR. MACDONAGH even goes further, for he remarks :— " The lettera that passed between them [Miss Curran and Emmet] which fell into the hands of the authorities will be found fully set out in my recently published book." What does MR. MACDONAGH mean by 11 authorities " 1 Surely he would not exclude Major Sirr. It appears that MR. MACDONAGH ought to have said :— "Two or three letters that passed between them [when 'Emmet was banned and harassed], which fell into the hands of the authorities, will be found fully set out," £c. Again, MR. MACDONAGH goes further when, lie remarks that it is sufficient to say the girl's letters " impressed George III." "These letters I found in the Home Office papers." Why is it sufficient to say this ? I understand MR. MACDONAGH is himself the authority for the copy of the King's written comment in a note to the Lord Lieutenant, "Emmet's correspondence with the daughter of Mr. Curran is certainly curious." The ' D.N.B.' refers to Madden's ' Lives of the United Irishmen,' third series, vol. iii. (1846), for the best account of Robert Emmet, and on p. 257 the following words of Madden will be found with reference to Emmet:— " During the whole period of his last residence in Dublin, after his return from the Continent, an active correspondence was carried on between him and Miss Curran. This correspondence, comprising what has been termed * a sheaf of notes and letters,' fell into the hands of the Irish Verres, Major Sirr. They remained long in his possession classed with 'rebellious papers.' The entire of those letters, it is stated on good authority, were burned by Major Birr, some years before hi« death; from compassionate feelings, it is said It is needless to inquire into his motive for this act, as it is fruitless to lament the destruction of them." Mr. Daly, also, has accepted Dr. Sirr's vera- city in revising Madden's book, but doubtless Mr. Daly would have qualified his own declara- tion had he seen the letters brought to light by MR. MACDONAGH. But qualification, so far as evidence goes, could but relate (as I understand) to two letters written by Miss Curran to poor Emmet before his arrest, when he was hiding and disheartened by the failure of his treasonable plans, of which letters MR. MACDONAGH himself writes:— " What appears to us the unseemly gaiety, the ill-timed witticisms of the letters, may have been but the effort of a distracted mind to hide its own grief, and give encouragement and hope to a banned and harassed lover." The letter written to Sarah Cnrran in prison by Emmet, which he tried secretly to send, never reached her. These letters have nothing to do with the correspondence