Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 3.djvu/97

 ii s. in. FEB. 4, ion.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

91

articles were written with special knowledge of the circumstances attending the dis- appearance of Benjamin Bathurst.

ROLAND AUSTIN. Public Library, Gloucester.

The Morning Post of 13 December, 1910, had at p. 7 two columns on this subject. This article was followed up in succeeding issues, including one on the 16th. The issue for the 24th contained a long and very important letter from the great-niece of the diplomatist, signed Katharine Bathurst, and dated 20 December from 10, Bloomfield Terrace. This letter occupies over two columns. There is also another short letter from a niece by marriage of the Hon. Algernon Percy, the fianct of one of Benjamin Bathurst's daughters, signed Emmeline Drummond, and dated 23 December from Bardon Hill, Leicester.

As the skeleton to which L. L. K. alludes was smashed into fragments before the authorities came on the scene, it is unlikely that its discovery will throw any light on the old mystery. JOHN B. WAINEWBIGHT. [W. H. B. B. also thanked for reply.]

FIFIELD ALLEN, ARCHDEACON OF MIDDLE- SEX (US. ii. 449, 517). In his will, dated 19 November, 1756, Dr. Allen mentions his wife by name as Frances, she being then alive ; therefore he must have been twice married not once merely, as would be inferred from my communication at the second reference. WILLIAM MCMTJRRAY.

THACKERAY AND THE STAGE (11 S. iii. 28). Thackeray contributed ' Jeames's Diary ' to Punch from 16 August, 1845 ; and the last instalment appeared on 31 January, 1846. In this it is stated that Jeames de la Pluche had only one thing in life to complain of that a witless version of his adventures had been produced at the Princess's Theatre, "without your leaf, or by your leaf." I have hitherto failed to trace the date and particulars of this production. Can any one assist me ?

S. J. A. F.

THACKERAY'S LAST WORDS (11 S. iii. 47). Dickens (see " National Edition " of his works, vol. xxxiv. p. 453) wrote an ' In Memoriam : W. M. Thackeray ' in The Cornhill Magazine of February, 1864. In this paper he speaks of going over " all that he had written of his latest and last story," and the next paragraph begins :

"The last line he wrote, and the last propt he corrected, are among the papers through which I

have so sorrowfully made my way. The condition of the little pages of manuscript where Death stopped his hand, shows that he had carried them about and often taken them out of his pocket here and there, for patient revision and interlineation. The last words he corrected in print, were, * And my heart throbbed with an exquisite bliss.' "

NEL MEZZO.

Thackeray was found dead on the morning of 24 December, 1863, not that of Christmas Day. A. N. Q.

MATTHEW PRIOR'S BIRTHPLACE (11 S. iii. 47). In 'The Life of Matthew Prior,' prefacing his ' Poetical Works,' printed for and under the direction of G. Cawthorn, British Library, Strand, 1797, it is stated that the poet was the son of Mr. George Prior, joiner and citizen of London, where he was born 21 July, 1664.

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

The following reference to a Matthew Prior is given for what it is worth. John Fawconer of Kingsclere, Hants, Esq., refers in his will (P.C.C. 708 Wootton), dated 21 June, 1658, to " Matthew Prior and his wife." Places mentioned in the will are Thatcham, Berks, Winchester, and Salisbury. F. S. SNELL.

The admirable and fully annotated edition of Johnson's ' Lives of the Poets ' by Dr. Birkbeck Hill (Clarendon Press, 1905) might be consulted with advantage. See vol. ii. p. 180. NEL MEZZO.

[MR. M. L. R. BBESLAR also thanked for reply.]

WILLIAM FITZGERALD, BISHOP OF CLON- FERT (11 S. ii. 489; iii. 53). He was the elder son of John FitzGerald, Dean of Cork (1628), by Catherine, 6th dau. of Richard Boyle, Archbishop of Tuam (1638- 1644) ; was born in Cork in 1641, educated there under Mr. Bate, and matriculated at Trin. Coll, Dublin, 22 June, 1660, aged 19. His degrees are not recorded. He was appointed Dean of Cloyne 13 June, 1671 ; Archdeacon of Ross 24 Nov., 1675 ; and Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh 1 July, 1691, being consecrated in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 26 July following. He m. 1st, in July, 1684, Letitia, 2nd dau. of Sir John Cole, 1st Bt., of Newlands, co. Dublin ; and 2ndly Salisbury, 2nd dau. of Sir Thomas Taylor, 1st Bt., of Kells, co. Meath ; but left no issue. He d. 7 Aug., 1722. His widow m. 2ndly General James Crofts, and d. at Bath 5 Jan., 1724.

G. D. B.