Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/20

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. iv. JULY i, ion.

history of the organ, expressed surprise, saying, " I did not know that Judge Jeffreys was a musical man," adding, after a pause, " although of course I am aware that he made many a vox humana stop."

J. E. LATTON PICKERING. Inner Temple Library.

From the records of the Inner and Middle Temple there seems to be no doubt that the organ was bought entirely at the expense of the two societies of the Temple, both contributing 500/. Moreover, from Baylis's ' Temple Church ' I find that Harris, the unsuccessful competitor, was recompensed for his trouble out of the funds of the two societies.

As for Lord Chancellor Jeffreys' s musical qualities, his whole claim to be called a lover of music seems to me, on reading Woolrych's and Granger's account of him, to rest solely on this arbitration. It must be remem- bered, however, that the two societies on more than one occasion referred other matters of dispute between themselves to the judgment of the Lord Chancellors, who seem to have been looked on by the Inns of Court as standing arbitrators. Besides, this matter of the organ had been referred to Lord North, who died before he delivered his verdict, leaving the question for his successor, Jeffreys, to settle. I think, therefore, that the services of Jeffreys as mediator were only invoked on account of his office. C. H. R. PEACH.

' THE CHURCHES OF YORKSHIRE ' ( 1 1 S. iii 366, 418, 473). The following letter is in my possession, and the inference to be drawn from it is that Mr. Hugall was the principal person concerned in the production of the work :

Cheltenham, 14 March, 1856.

SIR, 1 offer a suggestion to you upon which you can act as you may think best. I purpose reading a paper before the Literary Institution in Hull on luesday evening next on Ecclesiastical Architec- ture, and intend mentioning my 'Churches of \orkshire, and stating where they may now be purchased ; but it occurs to me that if you were to send to Mr. Leng, the bookseller in Hull, some copies of Patrington, Skirlaugh, &c., &c., on sale or return, you might find some customers. I go to Hull to-morrow and my address will be at Kilburne King Esq., M.D., 26, George Street. You should give Leng prices of entire vol. in various bindings.

T? Yo T urs, trul y' J - w - HUGALL.

Mr. Fenteman, Leeds.

I wish there were on the fly-leaves of each copy : " This work was originated by J. W. Hugall, architect, Cheltenham."

Leeds. G ' D ' LTO -

BURNS AND ' THE WEE WEE GERMAN LAIRDIE ' (11 S. iii. 286, 354, 430). The alternatives presented in this discussion are these either (1) that Allan Cunningham was the sole author of ' The Wee Wee Ger- man Lairdie,' or (2) that he had an older version before him when he constructed the song. The arguments in favour of the second alternative have been powerfully put forward at the last reference. Perhaps I may be allowed to advance some considera- tions by way of showing the first view to be on the whole more probable.

1. Writing of Allan Cunningham in an early number of Fraser's Magazine, and speaking of the ' Nithsdale and Galloway Songs,' Maginn says :

"They are simply chefs dceuvre, and are almost, but not entirely, equalled by the Jacobite relics, which he [Cunningham], at an earlier period, but in a similar mood of humbug and inspiration, gave to the not-altogether-unsuspecting, nor the altogether- in-such-arts-unpractised Hogg."

The points to be noted here are these : (1) that there was a collection of songs earlier than that of Cromek ; (2) that this collec- tion was described as " Jacobite relics " ; (3) that the collection was given (? lent) by Cunningham to Hogg, apparently with intent to deceive ; and (4) that Hogg had a guilty knowledge of the fraud which Cunningham contemplated. Where Maginn obtained his information is not stated, but at all events his aspersions on the literary reputation of both Hogg and Cunningham are singularly harsh and cruel. At the same time his insinuations are not altogether un- supported by evidence from another, more friendly quarter.

2. About fifty or sixty years ago there was a story current in the Scottish border counties, which found its way into print, but, not having the account before me, I am compelled to trust to memory in reciting it. The story was to the effect that Hogg and Cunningham, who were intimate friends, had met on one occasion to exchange views and compare notes on poetry and literature generally. In the course of conversation Hogg, who was somewhat addicted to play- ing practical jokes, made an attempt to mystify Cunningham as to the genesis of one of his own poems. Cunningham, a much younger man, and standing somewhat in awe of his friend's superior attainments, perceived that he was being fooled, and in order to change the subject he opened his scrapbook or portfolio, took out a poem printed on a separate slip of paper, and, handing it to Hogg, asked him what he