Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/447

 S.V.MAY 12, 1906.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

367

back some centuries. In Eng. ' pin-pricks ' is found in political use in 1885. On 8 Nov., 1898, the French journal Le Matin deprecated a 'politique des niches a 1'Angleterre,' and 'de continuellespiqiires d'epingle' ; on 16 Nov. The Times, referring to this article, used the words * a policy of ** pin-pricks " ' ; on which Le Temps of 19 Nov. (published, like other morning papers in Paris, on the preceding evening) had an article denying on the part of France the existence of a ' politique de coups d'epingle ' ; The Times of next morning, 19 Nov., quoted this as a ' policy of pin-pricks,' which forthwith became a political phrase."

(Quotations supporting these statements are given in the article.)

It is thus seen that though Le Matin had spoken in the same context of "continual pin-pricks " and a " policy of tricks," it was The Times that first combined these in the expression a "policy of pin-pricks, 1 ' and then, by a slight " terminological inexacti- tude," "put it into the mouth" of Le Temps which had merely trid to render the English phrase of The Times^ by politique de coups cTJpinyle, policy of pin-strokes or pin- blows.

J. A. H. M.

DR. RICHARD GARNETT. Reference has been made in these columns to the death of the late Keeper of the Printed Books at the British Museum, but I presume he was not a contributor to ' N. & Q.' His position at the Museum up to 1899 must, however, have brought him into contact with many of the readers of 'N. & Q ,' by whom his genial urbanity and ready helpfulness will ever bo remembered. To every lover of literature and every literary man the death of Dr. Garnett came as a personal loss.

In 1883 I was bold enough to ask Dr. Gar- nett for his autograph. He responded at once with the following little impromptu : To Mr. J. T. Page, on his requesting my autograph. No liberty is left to me

To shun thy friendly bribe. I would not seem a Pharisee, And so must be a Scribe.

RICUARD GARNETT. March 15, 1883.

JOHN T. PAGE.

"SAMBO": ITS ETYMOLOGY. The dic- tionaries are unanimous in deriving this negro name from the Spanish word zambo, which properly means bandy. Prof. Skeat, however, evidently has misgivings, as in his draws attention to the mention by an old author, circa 1558, of an African tribe called Samboses. I venture to point out that in the Foulah language, spoken in Sene gambia, samlo means uncle, and is also used, with a characteristic change in the final vowel, as a proper name, Samba. TherG
 * Notes on English Etymology,' 1901, he

s an interesting note on this name in Guirardon's 'Manuel Foule,' 1894, p. 140. He shows that it is very old, as it occurs in Greek papyri as 2a/x/3as. I see no reason why our Sambo should not come from this Samba. Prof. Keane, in his * Central and South America,' 1901, ii. 236, suggests another explanation. According to him, Sambo was applied to slaves "possibly because they were shipped at the island of Sambas, on the

oast of Senegambia." It seems to me more

likely that the island was named from the

traffic. In any case it appears that " Sambo,"

is closely connected with the Senegal tribes.

JAS. PLATT, Jun.

CATS : THEIR PRICE. Thprold Rogers does not, I think, record the price of cats in the Plantagenet period. In 1398-9 two were bought in Scotland at twopence each. As they were bought for the service of the State, this was doubtless much higher than the market price :

' In vncto empto ad vnguendos pullanos, \}d. In ij. gatis emptis, iiijr/." ' Ace., &c. Exch. K. K.,' Bundle 7, No. 20, fo. 7 b.

Q.V.

'HOME, SWEET HOME': ADDITIONAL VERSES. In the recently published book 'Antoinette Sterling and other Celebrities/ the author, Mr. Sterling MacKinlay, inserts two verses written by John Howard Payne for 'Home, Sweet Home,' and states that they have never before been printed. They are as follows :

How sweet 'tis to sit 'neath a fond father's smile, And the cares of a mother to sooth and beguile ; Let others delight 'mid new pleasures to roam, But give me, O give me, the pleasures of home.

To thee I '11 return overburdened with care The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there ! No more from that cottage again will I roam : Be it ever so humble, there 's no place like home !

P. JENNINGS.

THE "BLACK BULL" IN HOLBORN. There is an incident in the history of the familiar sign that is well worth tranferring to these pages :-

"A Ball Fight in Holborn. Mr. Gardiner, who has lately rebuilt the Bull Inn, at a very con- siderable expense, erected the figure of a Bull in front of his house. The bull alarmed the Com- missioner of Sewers. Mr. Gardiner had notice to take his bull down, but he refused to comply with their mandate. Accordingly, they procured ladders, &c., &c., and mustered upwards of fifty men, for the purpose of taking him down. Mr. Gardiner, being acquainted with their intention, prepared the means of defeat. The assailants came opposite Mr. Gardiner's house ; the moment they began to make preparations, to the astonishment of every one present, the bull moved majestically to the top