Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 1.djvu/351

 n s. i. APR. so, mo.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

343

1642) in the year 1652. "This may have given rise to the Regicide tradition.

To conclude the story. Sir John St.

Barbe died childless at Broadlands on

7 Aug., 1723, leaving that estate to be sold

by ' ' his only heir and executor Humphrey

Sydenham,' 1 a descendant of Catherine,

sister of John St. Barbe, by her husband Sir

William Pole. The said Humphrey Syden-

ham erected the tomb at Ashington (also

lately restored) to Sir John St. Barbe and

Honor Norton his wife, and sold Broadlands

to Henry Temple, Viscount Palmerston in

1736. But around Sir John St. Barbe's

I tomb at Ashington the Somerset folk still

1 weave a romantic tale connected with Mon-

i mouth's rebellion and one of the St. Barbes.

I If there be any grounds for this tradition,

i possibly future search will bring the truth to

', light, as has now been done> in the case

j of the inmates of the St. Barbe tomb in


 * Romsey Abbey. F. H. SUCKLING.

Ronisev.

AUTOMOBILE AND TAXIMETER

ANTICIPATED : CHRISTOPHER HOLTUM.

IT is possible to find suggestions at un- expectedly early dates concerning most modern inventions ; but it is strange indeed to discover as long ago as the time of iAnne a plain indication of a vehicle which was an automobile provided with a taximeter.

As I have previously stated in 'N. & Q.' (10 S. xii. 414) in The Daily Courant for 13 Jan., 1711, there appeared the following I advertisement :

" This is to give Notice, That at the 7 Stars [under the Piazzas "in Co vent-Garden is to be si ( ii a Chariot in which a Man may travel without I Horses, the like never made nor seen before in i-'.t inland ; it will go 5 or 6 miles an Hour, and I'-nsure the Miles as it goes ; it will turn or go ack, and go up Hill as easy as on level Ground. jBrform'd by Christopher Holtum, the first Author of Alarum for a Pocket- Watch. Where .ttendance is given from 10 in the Morning till
 * il Xight."

I have now further traced this striking announcement. On the following 3 February t was advertised in the same journal :

" By Christopher Holtum, a new Invention f a wonderful Chariot in which Persons may ravel without Horses several Miles an Hour, idmir'd by the Quality and by the Ingenious, t is to be seen at the Sign of the Cabinet opposite o the Globe Tavern near St. Martin's-lane end f the Strand."
 * nd measure the Miles as they go : It is much

Twelve days later another advertisement indicated that the machine was attracting much public attention, this saying :

" An Invention of a wonderful Chariot, in which Persons may Travel several Miles an Hour,, without the assistance of Horses, and Measure the Miles as they go. 'Tis one of the greatest Curiosities that ever was seen in England, having the praise of all Persons of Quality and ingenious Men that have seen it. Which was at the 7 Stars in Covent-Garden, is now Remov'd to a Cabinet's Shop over against the Globe Tavern near St. Martin's-lane-end in the Strand. It may be seen to the 1st or 2d of March, being then to Travel into the Country."

This advertisement was precisely repeated on 19 February ; but seven days afterwards it was elaborated into the following :

" An Invention of a wonderful Chariot, in which Persons may Travel several Miles an Hour, without the assistance of Horses, and Measure the Miles as they go, it turns or goes back ; having the Praise of all Persons of Quality, and in- genious Men that have seen it. Note, That it is convenient for any Gentleman that is incapable of walking thro' Lameness, to ride about his Park or Garden, without damaging his Tarris- Walks or Glass - Plats. The invention is so highly approv'd, that there is already one be- spoke by a Person of Quality, which is to go on 4 Wheels, and swing in the Nature of a large Coach ; which, according to a modest Computa- tion will travel at the Kate of 7 or 8 miles an Hour. If any Person of Quality is desirous to use them with Horses, they may either travel as far again in a Day as they can with another Coach, or go as far with a Pair of Horses, as the Coaches hitherto in Use can with 6. Note, That such as are bespoke for Parks or Gardens only, will come very reasonable, others at Proportion- able Prices. It is now to be seen at the Cabinet shop, over against the Globe Tavern, near St.. Martin's-lane in the Strand ; where Attendance will be given at all times till the 2d of March."

When this advertisement was repeated two days later, it was altered only in the last half -sentence, which ran : " where Attendance will be given till 11 a Clock at Night, this being the last Day."

But this announcement proved to be premature, for on 7 March the additional announcement was forthcoming :

" Notice is hereby given, That by the desire of some Persons of Quality that have not yet seen the Invention of the wonderful Chariot, in which Persons may Travel several Miles an Hour without the Assistance of Horses, and measure the Miles as it goes ; it is to stay one Week longer at the Sign of the Cabinet opposite to the Globe Tavern near St. Martin's-lane-end in the Strand."

In the usual tantalizing fashion, this wonderful machine then disappears entirely from sight ; but further particulars concern- ing it would be decidedly welcome.

ALFRED F. ROBBINS.

[For other anticipations of the automobile see 10 S. xi. 305, 374, 431, 498 ; xii. 31, 90, 158, 414.]-