Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/154

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. iv. A, w, mi.

JAMES I. ON DOCTORS. James I. is re- ported to have expressed the opinion that " physicians were of very little use and hardly necessary." Can any reader give me the reference to this ? M.D.

JOHNSON AND TOBACCO. In his recently published and very readable book on (p. 4) of old taverns that
 * London Clubs,' Mr. Ralph Nevill says

" they carry one's thoughts irresistibly to the days when Dr. Johnson blew his cloud by the [side of an old-fashioned fireplace, and occasion- ally floored some unhappy wight with the sledge- hammer of his conversation."

Is there any evidence that Johnson smoked ?

G. L. APPERSON. [See review of the book on 20 May last.]

CHARLES CORBETT, BOOKSELLER. The only notice I can find about the above person is in Nichols's ' Literary Anecdotes,' vol. iii. p. 719, where he is described as Sir Charles Corbett, Bart. In explanation of this Nichols says that a baronetage " de- scended " to him, but was not recognized by the Heralds' College, and that he died in penury.

This notice is almost word for word a copy of what appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine in June, 1808, and is copied again, almost verbatim, by Timperley.

Can any of your readers tell me how I can find out anything about this Corbett baronetage ? Did Charles Corbett claim it, and if so, where can a record of the pro- ceedings be found ?

Nichols is very vague about dates, but Charles Corbett died in May, 1808, so pre- sumably the question arose between 1750 and 1800. HENRY K. PLOMER.

' PARIS ILLUSTRE ' (ENGLISH EDITION). In the weekly papers of 1888-9 advertise- ments appeared of an "English edition " of Paris Illustre, a weekly illustrated journal. The British Museum has only the French edition. Can any one tell me if the "English edition " was a translation, or was simply the French edition issued with a London imprint ? STUART MASON.

WELLINGTON'S PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. Is it known by whom was written " Journal of a Regimental Officer during the recent Campaign in Portugal and Spain under Lord Viscount Wellington. London, Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Churchyard. 1810" ? ST. CLAIR BADDELEY.

[Halkett and Laing attribute the book toCapt. Hawker of the 14th Light Dragoons.]

WASHINGTON IRVING' s ' SKETCH-BOOK/ I now conclude my list (see ante, pp. 109,. 129) of quotations and allusions in the ' Sketch-Book ' that I have been unable to identify, and once more ask the aid of readers- of ' N. & Q.' :

31. Sugared suppositions.

32. Like the lion bold,

Which whilom so magnanimously the lamb- did hold.

33. The ship sailed from her port, " and wa* never heard of more."

34. What philosophers said that all animals, including man, degenerated in America ?

35. As the dove will clasp its wings to its side,, and cover and conceal the arrow that is preying^ on its vitals.

36. An old Arabian tale of a philosopher shut up in an enchanted library, in the bosom of a mountain, which opened only once a year, where- he made the spirits of the place bring him books- of all kinds of dark knowledge, so that at the end of the year, when the magic portal once more swung open on its hinges, he issued forth so- versed in forbidden lore as to be able to soar above the heads of the multitude, and to control the powers of nature.

37. Who wrote the song ' The Merie Garland of Captain Death' ?

38. What is the apparition that guards- the regalia in the Tower ?

39. How have Lyly's writings been apparently perpetuated in a proverb ?

40. What sarcophagus was known as Alexander's before the discovery of the so- called Sarcophagus of Alexander now at Constantinople ?

41. Who wrote the book or pamphlet called ' Hue and Cry after Christmas ' ?

42. What is the game called " Steal the- white loaf " ?

43. What is the game called " Tom,, come tickle me " ?

44. W T ho wrote " an excellent black- letter work entitled ' Cupid's Solicitor for Love,' " and where is it to be found ?

45. The nightmare with her whole nine fold. 40. The Arabian breeze will sometimes waft

the freshness of the distant fields to the weary pilgrim of the desert.

T. BALSTON.

DEEDS AND ABSTRACTS or TITLE : SOCIETY FOR THEIR PRESERVATION. In the course- of practice a solicitor frequently has passing through his hands old deeds and old abstracts of title which, although absolutely valueless, he feels some hesitation in destroying, and which might, if preserved, be at some time- useful for topographical or genealogical purposes.