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NOTES AND QUERIES, tio s. vm. NOV. 9, 1907.

13. A mountebank about 1710 sold pills as "good against the earthquake." Who was this ?

14. What author uses the phrase " rubbed him down with an oaken towel " ?

15. What was a " Bath shilling " ?

K. K.

[7. The practice is referred to in Lamb's ' Essay on Roast Pig.' 15. See 7 S. iii. 328, 417, 484.]

" ALL HISTORY PROVES IT." What is the locus classicus for the mot, " When a man tells you that ' all history proves it,' it only means that he cannot prove the thing him- self " ? Q. V.

' THE DUKE OF MANTUA.' Can any of your readers tell me the name of the author of this tragedy ? The description of the book runs : " The Duke of Mantua, a

Tragedy, by " ; portrait of Lord Byron

on title, the features partly concealed by a mask ; " To Lady Byron the following

?ages are dedicated by ." T. Davison, 823, 8vo. The author contributed to various annuals, such as ' The Forget-Me- Not.' R. A. POTTS.

LONDON PENNY POST: WILLIAM DOCKWRA. I am compiling a history of the penny post established in London in 1680, and should feel greatly obliged for any informa- tion on the subject. William Dockwra, a prominent City merchant, is generally accepted as the originator of the project ; but claims have also been advanced on behalf of Robert Murray, a London up- holsterer, Henry Neville Payne, " Dr." Hugh Chamberlen, " Dr." John Chamberlen, and (I suppose) others. Murray was un- doubtedly one of the original partners, but he appears to have quarrelled with Dockwra, and to have set up a rival establishment at Hall's Coffee-house in Wood Street (Timbs's ' Curiosities of London,' 1855, p. 628). Joyce states in his History of the Post Office ' that Dockwra was deserted at an early period by his co-undertakers, and had to carry on the work unaided for six months, until other citizens came to his assistance and formed a fresh partnership. What authority exists for these statements ? and where can information be found as to the promoters, management, capital, and profits of the post ? The proprietors published a number of advertisements, besides which there must be many references in contem- porary and modern works, newspapers, and documents, of which I should be glad to have a list. Particulars of Dockwra's career and of his birth, marriage, family,

&c., will also be welcome. A little list of London merchants was published in 1677 and has been reprinted, and it would be interesting to learn whether his name is included. I have seen the brief account of him in the ' D.N.B.'

HARRY J. MAGUIRE. 54, Lower Mount Street, Dublin.

SHAKESPEARE ALLUSIONS. We are pre- paring for " The Shakespeare Library " of Messrs. Chatto & Windus a new edition of the ' Shakspere Allusion Books ' issued by the New Shakspere Society in 1879 and 1886. Many new and interesting allusions have come to hand, but there are doubtless still many more, as yet not noticed, in different MSS. and printed books. The allusions commence with Spenser in 1591, and end with Dryden in 1694. If any reader should discover new allusions between these dates, and will have the kindness to forward them to Dr. Furnivall at 3, St. George's Square, Primrose Hill, N.W., or to me at 18, Ton- bridge Houses, Tonbridge Street, W.C., we shall be very grateful. JOHN MUNRO.

THE SWORD OF BRUCE. (10 S. viii. 261, 334.)

IF half the swords which are venerated as having belonged to Robert the Bruce are genuine, then must that monarch have left them about in different houses as carelessly as modern heroes do their umbrellas. Those of the double-handed type may be written off as impossible, seeing that two-handed swords were not known in Britain till the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Among the heirlooms preserved in Douglas Castle is a sword corresponding in fashion to the straight single-handed weapon used in the fourteenth century. It is said to have been given by King Robert on his death-bed to the "Good Sir James of Douglas." The blade very possibly is genuine, but the inscription bitten into it with acid is certainly much later. It is in Roman characters, and runs as follows :

SO MONY GVID AS OF THE DOVGLAS BEINE

OF ANE SVRNAME WAS NEVER IN* SCOTLAND SEINE.

SO I PROTEST IN TYME OF AL MY RINGE [reign], YE LYK SUBIECTIS HAD NEVER ONY KEING.

I WIL YE CHARGE, EFTER THAT I DEPART,

TO HOLY GRAVFE, AND THAIR BVRY MY HART.

LET IT REMAIN EVER, BOTH TYME AND HOVR, TO THE LAST DAY I SIE MY SAVIOR.