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NOTES AND QUERIES. [HS.VIH.NOV. 29,1913.

" SPINET." Prof. Skeat gives as deriva- tion the Italian spinetta (a little thorn) : " it was so called because struck with a thorn or pointed quill." The ' C.O.D.' accepts this ; so does Weigand, ' Deutsches Worterbuch,' s.v. * Spinett ' :

" Klavier, dessen Saiten rait Federkielspitzen

angeschlagen wurden Das Tonwerkzeug hat

also seinen Namen von den zugespitzten Feder- kielen."

This is the only etymology I have known hitherto of the word. But in a pamphlet, Gesellschaft, Berlin, October, 1913, I find, in relation to Giorgione's painting ' The Concert' at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence : " In connexion with this picture it is important to know that, in 1502, Giovanni Spinetti of Florence invented the ' spinet' named after him."
 * Xeue Kunst,' of the Photographische

Is there any truth in this statement ? or is Spinetti one of the many inventors in- vented by would-be etymologists who remedy their want of facts by imagination ?

G. KRUEGER. Berlin.

THOMAS PARKINSON, ARTIST. Can any correspondent give me information regarding this accomplished artist which is not con- tained in the notice of his life in the ' D.N.B.,' Bryan, Redgrave, or Graves ? He nourished between 1769 and 1789. I am particularly anxious to know when and where he was born and died, and where I can see specimens of his work besides that known to be in the British Museum and the Garrick Club. Mr. Phene Spiers kindly sup- plied me with particulars of his studentship at the Royal Academy. JOHN LANE.

The Bodley Head, Vigo Street, W.

BRITISH INFANTRY. It is said that one of Napoleon's marshals once declared that " the British Infantry is the best in the world ; thank God there are so few of them ! " Can any of your readers tell me who it was that said it, and where it is to be found ? Also, is the above the exact wording ? ARCHIBALD SPARKE.

Reference Library, Bolton.

LADY HUNTINGTOWER'S POEMS : TOONE. 1. It would be very kind if any of your correspondents could let me know if they come across a copy of Catherine Lady Huntingtower's poems. She published, I believe, several books. She died at Leam- ington on 21 March, 1852, arid was a daughter of Francis Grey, Esq., of Lehena, co. Cork. Her sister, Mrs. Toone of Keston Lodge, Kent, was my great -great -aunt, whose

daughter, Maria Elizabeth, married her first cousin, Lord Dysart, Lady Hunting- tower's eldest son, and was the grandmother of the present peer.

2. Also, if any one could tell me whether there exists an account of the life of my great-great-grandfather, Major-General Sir William Toone, I should be very glad of the information. JAMES DURHAM.

Cromer Grange, Norfolk.

HARRY DAVIS. Can information be afforded respecting one Harry Davis who, about the year 1840, was on friendly terms- with county gentlemen of sporting tastes in East Anglia e.g., Norfolk ? He may have resided in that part of England, and appears to have been well known in the racing and coaching world. W. B. H.

JENNINGS OF SALEHURST, SUSSEX. Can any reader inform me where Daniel and Mary Jennings of Salehurst, Sussex, were married, and when ?

All their children were baptized at Sale- hurst, the first child (Mary) on 24 Aug., 1679. I have the family Bible w r hich belonged to William Jennings, a son of Daniel and Mary, dated 1637. J. J. PIPER,

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL QUERIES. 1. I should feel grateful for any information as to whether there exists any work which gives alphabetically the second or sub- titles of books, poems, &c.

2. Is there any work in which reference can be found to passages occurring in dif- ferent authors with only slight variations, or in their entirety ?

S. TAPRELL HOLLAND.

THOMAS BURBIDGE AND OTHER POETS. Can any one supply information respecting the following poets, especially as to place of birth ?

1. Thomas Burbidge, \vhose * Poems, Longer and Shorter,'" were published by W. Pickering in 1838. He was of Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1849 was also published ' Ambarvalia,' by Thomas Bur- bidge and Arthur Hugh Clough.

2. J. Laurens Bicknell, whose ' Original Miscellanies in Prose and Verse ' appeared in 1820, dedicated to Rev. C. P. Burney and other members of the Burney Club. One poem is ' The Butterfly's Funeral,' which I have also seen attributed to "Beau" Brummel.

3. Rev. Theodore Shurt, M.A., whose ' Lindsey, and Other Poems,' was published in 1875 by Wippell, Leamington, and Simpkin & Marshall.