Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 11.djvu/55

 n s. XL JAN. is, 1915.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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to hoist a flag to serve as a rallying point to the Gymnasts, many of whom hardly knew where to find us. What would the Editor of the John Bull say if he knew that the flag was the identical one hoisted on Hammersmith Church in honour of Queen Caroline, that much injured woman? Expect he'll call us to ace* very soon. . . .Soon after Dr. Gilchrist came like an East Indiaman in full sail had lost his way.... By seven upwards of two hundred Gymnasts were present ; never saw so many full-grown boys men I mean before. Dr. G. then began to harangue the assembly on the importance of exercise for the promotion of health, but soon forgot what he was talking about and diverged and got immerged into his favourite topic, viz., his Universal language." " Professor " Voelker then commenced the tuition, and finally called another meeting " at his Gymnasium at Mary-le-bone."

The diarist records his experiences and impressions at very great length, but only one other passage is worth transcribing now:

" Tuesday, May 9 th [1826]. Walked about the exercise ground, enjoying the panoramic view Highgate and Hampstead very conspicuous to the right ; Primrose Hill, crowned with a few tall and almost leafless trees, rose next in a cone-like form and next it the huge dome of the new Panorama in the Regent's Park appeared at the end of a long [row] of Bricks and Mortar, like the bulky head of a basking shark. A little advanced in the fore- ground was Pancras New Church .... and still more advanced, but more immediately before us, rose the New Church building near Gray's Inn Lane, and her rival the Kirk erecting for that singular-eyed, bush-headed, wan-faced idol of eloquence after his own kind, Irving."

The reference to Voelker' s pre-existing gymnasium in Marylebone is interesting, as this was evidently a rival to the " Gym- nase " of M. P. G. Hamon, established at 26, St. James's Street, in 1824.

In 1827 there was published by the last named ' Manuel ou Cours d'Exercices de Gymnastique.' This scarce pamphlet has an exceedingly interesting folding frontis- piece, showing the interior of the Gymna- sium at 26, St. James's Street. The fact that it was " designed and drawn on stone by R. Seymour, and printed by W. Day, 59, Gt. Queen St.," enhances its importance. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

PROVINCIAL BOOKSELLERS, SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. There have been several lists of provincial booksellers in ' N. & Q.,' and I. think the one printed below is quite equal in interest to any previously published. It is found at the end of

" Bromfield (M.). A brief discovery of the

Scurvy. . . .whereunto is added a short account of

those Pills called Pilulae in omnes Morbos :

or, Pills against all diseases. London, Printed in the Year 1685." 4to.

In the long list of agents for these wonder- ful pills, among mercers, grocers, "linnen- drapers," "barbar-chyrurgeons," &c., book- sellers and stationers take quite a prominent place. I have omitted the word "book- seller " in each entry, but have included any additional description or address. Where the agent is described as a "stationer," that is the way it stands in the list, and not "bookseller."

1685.

Alisbury. Matthias Dagnal.

Worcester. John Philips (and Postmaster).

Banbury. John Ball (Stationer, against the Shambles).

Hereford. Richard Hunt.

Daventry. Obed Smith.

Harborow. Thomas Batten (and at his shopsr in Lutterworth and Kettering).

Derby. Thomas Cadwell.

Warington. Widow Tomlinson (and at her shop in Leverpool).

Manchester. Ralph Shelmerdine (Stationer)

Canterbury. Rest Fenner.

Chatham. Tho. Heaviside (and Scrivener, near " The Sun ").

Mosbrough, near Cookoo's Haven. Tho. Robins (and at his shops in Chesterfield and Sheffield).

Lichfield, Burton-upon-Trent, Tarn worth, Wol- verhampton. William Bailey.

Leverpool. Tho. Gerrard.

Nantwich. Humphrey Page (Stationer).

Leicester. Francis Ward.

Glocester. Samuel Palmer (and at his shop' near the Tolsey in Tewksbury).

Dublin. John North, against the Tolsel.

R. A. PEDDLE.

St. Bride Foundation, Bride Lane, E.C.

LINKS BETWEEN THALLIUM AND GREAT PLAGUE. Since his father had lived for many years in Hammersmith, we ven- tured to invite the distinguished President of the Boyal Society (Sir William Crookes,. O.M.) to distribute the prizes at the Latymer Upper School in December last.

He very obligingly consented, and in the course of a most interesting and useful address gave some particulars which, I think you will agree with me, ought to find a. record in ' N. & Q.' I therefore send the following extract :

" I feel a special interest in your school and in Hammersmith firstly, because of the great interest my father took as a trustee in the early years of the Latymer School, and secondly ,. because much of my early work in science was. done in the suite of chemical and physical labora- tories which my father built for me about 1850 in the garden of Masbro' House. It was there I carried out the preparation of the element Thal- lium. For this discovery I was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and received a Royal medal. Whilst we lived at Brook Green I made the acquaintance, through my father, of one of the most celebrated inhabitants of Hammersmith Professor (afterwards Sir Charles) Wheatstone. I