Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/15

n s. via. JULT s, 1913.] NOTES AND QUERIES. —What is "auditious" intended to signify when prefixed to the word advice?

On 7 June the following advertisement appeared in The Western Morning News (Plymouth):—

"Madame  L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M. A.R.A.M., will visit Plymouth for a short period, and will be pleased to give  or ."

On the 9th the Word "auditions" was substituted for "auditious." Two or three dictionaries I have consulted do not give either word; one gives "audition"="hearing."

Is it a word of modern coinage? and what does it exactly mean? W. S. B. H.

—I should be glad to be referred to a biography of this miscellaneous author, who was writing so lately as in 1873 (in English). One of his historical novels, dealing with the Bastille, was included in "Dicks' English Library of Standard Works," n.d.

' BEARSDENHALL.' Where shall I find an account of the picture entitled ' Bear- denshall ' at Putney ?

ROLAND AUSTIN. Public Library, Gloucester.

PICKETT' s ' LONDON IMPROVEMENTS.' I have before me the small 4to volume pub- lished, without date, in 1789 in which William Pickett introduced his schemes ; its title reads :

" Public Improvement ; or, a Plan for making a convenient and handsome communication be- tween the Cities of London and Westminster."

Also the 8vo volume issued about 1807 under the title of

" The Representation of the Leaseholders and Contractors interested in the Houses and Build- ings in Pickett Street, near Temple Bar ; Skinner Street ; Fleet M.-irket. ;m.l Snow Hill. With the Scheme <>i' the Proposed Lottery."

I shall be glad if some reader will give particulars of any other pamphlets, books, or broadsides relating to the improvements at these dates. I have met with odd plates of some other 4to volume issued about 1795, but cannot trace a copy of the entire work.

The 8vo issue of the Acts of Parliament obtained 1795-1804 for this improvement does not contain either plans or illustrations of the houses. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

ILLEGITIMACY IN THE MIDDLE AGES. Some months ago the social position of ille- gitimate children in the Middle Ages was discussed in the Intermediate, the conclusion reached being that such children were more readily acknowledged and recognized than now. One correspondent says :

" The Acts of Francis I. contain numerous letters of legitimation of bastards, especially of bastards of priests, which is somewhat surprising."

Were the children of celibate priests ever legitimated in England ?

What was the custom in Spain, Italy, and Germany ? I. Y.

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. I shall be glad if any one can give me the name and publisher of a history of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

G. M. H. P.

MATTHEW HENRY BARKER (" THE OLD SAILOR"). During the 'thirties and early 'forties of the last century the aujbhor of ' Jem Bunt.' ' Tough Yarns,' Cruikshank's ' Greenwich Hospital,' and a number of other well -reputed " collectors' books," was resident in Nottingham. For part of that period he was editor of a local weekly newspaper, The Nottingham, and Newark Mercury, wrote his entertaining ' Walks round Nottingham.' and also was respon- sible for the first appearance in serial form of ' The Old Sailor's Jolly Boat,' with en- gravings by the brothers Cruikshank. Is it known definitely in what year he again took up his abode in London, and where ? Born at Deptford in 1790, he achieved very considerable name and fame ere his death in June, 1846 ; and I am desirous of gleaning any available data as to his London literary activities after quitting the Mid- lands, and also a transcript, if possible, of his tombstone epitaph. Copies of his works are not, I gather, to be seen at the Deptford Public Libraries, nor have I been able to obtain there any particulars respecting this cheery Cruikshankian confrere.

CEDRIC BONNELL.

DEMOLITION OF THE KENNELS OF " DOG KENNEL LANE." To the left and at the foot of the declivity sloping from Denmark Hill in the direction away from London, there stood until a short time ago a little group of miniature houses, in which in former days the hounds were kept. The last traces of these are now disappearing, and as I have seen no mention elsewhere of their destruction, I Write in the hope that this loss to a neighbourhood fast losing