Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/520

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NOTES AND QUERIES. m s. iv. DEC. 23, mi.

In the Errata Volume of the 'D.N.B.' the words " was made a Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral " are marked for omission; and " Tharfield " is corrected to " Therfield." A. R. BAYLEY.

FOREIGN JOURNALS IN THE UNITED STATES (11 S. iv. 466). MB. ROBBINS'S interesting enumeration shows a remark- able result in respect of journals in Slavonic languages. Some which are inconspicuous in Europe are highly represented in Ame- rica, e.g., the large number of Bohemian and Polish newspapers, while Russian journals are very few. Lithuanian, known to few besides natives, ranks higher than Croatian, which but for difference of alphabet is usually reckoned with Servian. The figure of Slovak, closely akin to Cech, is high, and it is surprising to find so many Slovene journals. A key is thus provided to the strength and culture of the various immigrants. FRANCIS P. MARCHANT.

Streatham Common.

EDWARD PURCELL (US. iv. 368, 470). 1 possess published copies of songs by Ed- ward Purcell as follows :

"A new Song set by Mr. Edward Purcell (only son to the late Mr. Henry Purcell), ' Lovely fair one, cease to charm me.' "

" A Symphony Song set by Mr. Ed. Purcell, 'Tho' Corinna does deny me.'"

There is no publisher's name attached to either of the above ; they were printed probably about 1700.

Most of the information respecting the Purcell family detailed by MR. HUMPHREYS is to be found in my memoir of ' Purcell ' published in 1881.

WILLIAM H. CUMMINGS.

VANISHING LANDMARKS or LONDON : "THE

Swiss COTTAGE TAVERN " (11 S. iv. 464).

MR. CECIL CLARKE'S note on the proposed removal of this old landmark will renew pleasant recollections in the minds of many " regulars " on the Atlas 'buses in the sixties. The tavern, with the toll-bar, seemed to mark a boundary line of North London, for within a few hundred yards the fields commenced which gradually led to Hampstead village, and which also con- tinued, on a downward slope to the west, to almost equally rural Kilburn. As far as my recollection goes, there were three meadows, with good hedges and some fine trees, good pasture -land highly coloured with buttercups, and watered by the Shepherds' Wells.

The Jehus of the old Atlas and City Atlas 'buses were characters. May I call to memory "Viaduct Tommy" and "The Duke " ? The former (Tony Weller to the life) piloted the first omnibus over Holborn Viaduct. The box-seat, in those days, was a place of honour, and the driver a personage.

Readers of Wilkie Collins will remember that the first scene in ' The Woman in White ' takes place in the lonely Finchley Road, leading to "The Swiss Cottage." It was from the cab-stand adjoining that Hart- wright assisted Anne to escape pursuit from the keepers of the asylum.

I am sure many old North London "boys" of the sixties and early seventies will regret with MR. CLARKE and myself that before very long "The Swiss Cottage Tavern" will cease to exist. W. H. EDWARDS.

Plymouth.

" YARM : PRIVATE BROWN (US. iv. 448). A modern guide-book called ' Rambles in Cleveland,' by M. Heavisides, published in Stockton, 1903, gives the following account of Brown :

" We do not proceed far before we arrive at the ' Tom Brown Inn,' the signboard commemorat- ing this gallant soldier's deeds of daring. This brave son of Mars was born at Yarm and joined a regiment of Dragoons. He was present at the battle of Dettingen, fought on 16 June, 1743. After having two horses shot under him and losing two fingers of his left hand, seeing the regimental standard borne off by some of the enemy in con- sequence of a wound received by the cornet, he galloped into the midst of the foe, shot the soldier who was bearing the standard away, and, having seized it and thrust it between his thigh and the saddle, gallantly fought his way back through the hostile ranks, and, though he was covered with wounds, bore the prize in triumph to his comrades, who greeted him with three cheers. In this valiant exploit Tom received eight wounds in his face, head, and neck, three balls went through his hat, and two lodged in his back, w r hence they could never be extracted. Tom's bravery excited the admiration of his countrymen, his achievement was painted on signboards, and prints representing his heroic deeds were sold in abundance. His body lies in the churchyard, but there is no stone to mark the spot."

A. H. ARKLE.

In an annual called ' Old Yorkshire,' edited by William Smith, new series, vol. iii., 1891, pp. 160-62, there is an account of Thomas Brown and his wonderful exploits, with a portrait, but no mention is made of the inn sign at Yarm. He was a private in Bland' s Dragoons, and his portrait was drawn by Boitard and by George Bickham. According to Baines's ' Yorkshire Directory,' 1823, there was an inn at Yarm with the