Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/617

 v. JUNE so. 1906.) NOTES AND QUERIES.

509

are not in Sussex, but in Surrey. Observ that my query is of practical, as well a literary, interest.

To any reader of *N. & Q.' who woul like to make the acquaintance of this song shall be pleased to send a copy on receipt ( a postcard. H. K. ST. J. S.

1, Glebe Road, Bedford.

FLORAL EMBLEMS OF COUNTRIES. I shal be glad if readers of * N. & Q.' can supply complete list of the floral emblems considerec to be appropriated to each country in Europe adding those also which are appropriated tc other countries in the world, or indicate where such information can be found.

F. DE H. L.

" MOTHER OF DEAD DOGS." In Carlyle': '.Reminiscences,' edited by Froude, thii phrase occurs thrice, and seems used o: London. In vol. i. p. 267 Carlyle speaks o 1 DeQuinceyas "launched so into the literary career of ambition and mother of dead dogs.' Similarly in vol. ii. p. 54 he says of Jeffrey, " plunged on the sudden into such a mother of (gilt) dead dogs." Thirdly, in vol. ii. p. 239 he describes "one Parsons" as "swimming as for dear life in a mere 'mother of deao dogs.' "

Again, in 'Carlyle's Life in London,' by Froude, vol. i. p. 196, in a letter dated from Chelsea, Carlyle says of himself: "I take mostly to the lanes and the fields, such as they are, 'grieving by the shore of the mother of dead dogs.'" Here, as in the third example given above, a quotation seems indicated.

What does Carlyle mean by this phrase as applied to the metropolis, if I am right in supposing that reference? and if a quota- tion, what is its source 1 C. L. F.

"SUNKEN LAND OF Bus." In the table of 'Doubtful Shoals' given in 'The North Atlantic Pilot ' appears that of the " Sunken Land of Bus." I am desirous of knowing the authority for the entry and its meaning, interest being in the fact that in the neigh- bourhood a submerged mountain has lately been discovered by the soundings of a cable ship. P,

WHEELS INSTEAD OF FEET. In a novel, the scene of which is laid in America, there is a character who thinks that man should have been made with wheel extremities in place of feet. He makes much fun of this humorous idea. Can any reader supply the name of the novel ? It was read many years ago. Is there one of Fenimore Cooper's with such a character ? SIGMA.

NORTH SEA BUBBLE. In The Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, for 25 January, 1724, appeared the following :

"Francis Cawood, Projector of the North Sea Bubble, who some time ago made his Escape, was retaken last week, aud is now charged in Custody of the Marshal of the King's Bench, in order to receive his sentence this Term, upon being con- victed in Trinity Term, 1721, by acting in Contempt of a late Act of Parliament, intituled An Act for better securing certain Powers and Privileges, &c.

The South Sea Bubble wo all know ; but what was the North Sea Bubble 1

POLITICIAN.

" POOR FOLKS' STAIRS." In the fragmen- tary records of a City parish, prior to the Great Fire, "are several references to a some- what mysterious structure known by this name. Thus the earliest extant parish account (1566) has the entry :

"It'm, receyved of Rycharde Storye for one Quarter's rente for the Bell and one other tene- ment therunto next adioynynge, and one chamber above the poore ffolke's stayres, xxx 8 ."

Something of the nature of an alms- house is doubtless meant, but I have not encountered the expression elsewhere, and shall be glad of expert opinion upon it.

The following item occurs in the accounts for 1647/8 :

"Paid to the Eight Almes folkes of this parrish, received of Mr. Howell's executor, for arrerages of 'ent of a paire of staires taken out of the Almes- lowses, 4 8 ."

WILLIAM McMuRRAY.

HOLDICH ON CROWLAND ABBEY. I have a somewhat rare book :

"The History [ of | Crowland Abbey, | digested rom the | Materials collected by Mr. Gough | and published in Quarto in 1783 and 1797 : I including an abstract of | the Observations of Mr. Essex, | especting the | Ancient and Present State of the ^.bbey, | and the origin and use of | The Triangular bridge. | ' Nihil scriptum miracula causa.' Tac. | ?o which is added, | An Appendix, | concerning he rise and progress of the | Pointed Architecture, Stamford : | Printed and published by J. Drakard : 1 and sold in London by Baldwin, Cradock, and oy ; Nichols and Co. : | Longman, Hurst and Co. ? herwood and Co. : and Simpkin and Marshall | 816."
 * from the Essays collected by Mr. Taylor. |

^e "Advertisement" is signed by the uthor, Benjamin Holdich, and was written r compiled to " show up " the errors of revious writers. Was there a reply by any f the writers to whom Holdich refers?

THOS. RATCLIFFE. Worksop.

ARKLE : NEILSON. On 23 March, 1705, ohn Arkle married Grissell Neilson at