Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 3.djvu/193

 n s. m. MA*. 11, mi.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

1ST

WK must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that answers may be sent to them direct.

MOZART'S WORKS. Can any of your readers inform me whether Mozart's sonatas were written before or after his operas ?

(Miss) CONSTANCE SMITH.

13, Trinita de Monti, Rome.

ANCIENT HORN. I am anxious to know in whose possession is an ancient horn formerly mounted in gold, which has been removed. It was the property of the Thrustons of Hoxne, who held it as service for some of their propeity in Norfolk or Suffolk. An antiquary I met says he re- members hearing about it a few years ago, but cannot remember who has it now. Any particulars as to it would greatly interest me. C. S. M. THRUSTON.

14, Tedworth Gardens, S.W.

J. C. LE BLON. I am engaged in collect- ing any printed or MS. references to the career or work of Jas. Christopher Le Blon, an engraver, who was in London from about 1718 onwards, for some fifteen years or so, and produced a number of three-colour mezzotints for a company entitled the ' Picture Office,' formed to operate his patented process. He also patented a method of weaving pictures in silk, and formed a company to exploit it. I have consulted most, if not all, of the obvious and well-known sources of information on the subject, and should be glad of any further particulars, no matter how trivial.

R. M. BURCH. 79A, Woodbridge Road, Guildford.

THE MAGPIE'S DEATH. Can any of your readers kindly tell we where I can find an amusing dialogue between a gentleman (called, I think, "Mr. G.") and his land steward ? The former having recently returned from a long journey is first told that the magpie is dead, and then finds that this is but the prelude to an extraordinary catalogue of misfortunes that have occurred during his absence. M. G.

Dublin.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S STATUE IN ROYAL EXCHANGE. In a niche at the north- eastern ambulatory of the Royal Exchange h the statue inscribed Elizabetha R., the 4UUCH holding orb and sceptre. No name

of the sculptor is given, nor is there any date of execution. Can these be supplied ? As we know (11 S. ii. 454) like omissions occur in respect of the statue of Carolus II. R. in the opposite niche. CECIL CLARKE.

Junior Athena3um Club.

GONDOLA PROW. Can any of your readers give me an explanation ot the curiously shaped prow of a gondola 1 1 have been told that the six projections reler to the subdivisions of the town of Venice, but I cannot find any authority for this. Answers may be sent me direct.

J. H. MATTHEWS.

54, Parliament Street, S.W.

' BIG BEN ' AND PHIL MAY. In my copy of ' The Parson and the Painter ' (a folio ot 78 pages, with paper covers) there is at p. 2b an announcement that

" Big Ben, | the | Great Conservative New Paper, | Weekly, Price Qd., \ will be published m October next. [1892]. | Four Coloured Pages, and | numerous Black and White Illustrations. | Art Editor : Phil May."

Was this paper ever published ? Any information concerning it will be of interest.

E. .N **

UNICORN ON ROYAL ARMS. Can any one give the origin of the unicorn being used as a supporter of the Royal Arms ? I believe it was first used by James I., and had been used previously as a supporter of the Royal Arms of Scotland. But why a fabulous beast ? ^ AVEN '

" To THE WEST ! To THE WEST." It is now many years ago since this song was sung or whistled by nearly every one the street, in the public-house, and in many homes :

To the West ! to the West !

To the land of the Free, Where the roughest torrents,

Roll down to the sea

I never heard more of it, and this appeared to be all that people caied to know. It wes at the time when there was an early and strong tide of emigration westward, tune was not at all catchy, though the words were. Who wrote words and music ? THOS. RATCLIFFE.

GALLOW' s ', BANK : MATHEW COCKLING. I should be "glad to hear something about a Mathew Cockling who was hanged for murder at Gallows Bank, near Derby, about one hundred and fifty years ago. Also something about a story told of this hanging to the effect that at an old ale