Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/258

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. v. MAR. IG, 1912

GLASGOW GRAMMAR SCHOOL CLASS MEET- ING OF 1762. In Dr. Cleland's 'The History of the High School of Glasgow,' 1825, as reissued by J. Cleland Burns in 1878, occurs, on p. 52, reference to

" the original correspondence which the Class [of 1762] has retained in their Safe-Box, now [i.e., in 1825] in possession of Mr. Alexander Wilson."

Can any reader disclose the name of the present holder of this safe -box, or the nature of the correspondence which, a century ago, it contained ? I specially want a complete transcript of the letter of James Glen (11 S. iv. 150), a portion of which is quoted by Dr. Cleland upon the same page. CHARLES HIGHAM.

169, Grove Lane, S.E.

AMERICAN POLITICAL VERSES. Can any reader of ' N. & Q.' supply me with the original verses from which those given below are quoted ? They are supposed to have been current in American politics in the nineties :

Eggs, eggs, cabbages and eggs, Well-directed age affected ected eggs.

LIONEL CRESSWELL. The Hall, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

CUMBERLAND EPITAPH. Will some reader kindly inform me in what Cumberland churchyard the following lines appear, and to whose memory they relate ? I should like to be favoured with the full inscription if still decipherable :

My cutting board's to pieces split, My size-sticks will no measure make ; My rotten last's turned into holes, My blunted knife cuts no more soles ; My hammer's head's flown from the haft, No more " Saint Mondays " with the craft ; My nippers, pincers, stirrup rag, And all my kit have got the bag ; My lapstone's broke, my colour's o'er, My gum-glass froze, my paste's no more ; My heel's sew'd on, my pegs are driven I hope I'm on the road to heaven.

Amersham.

L. H. CHAMBERS.

LIEUT. -GENERAL CHARLES CHURCHILL, D. 1745. Is there any published work giving the descendants of Lieut. -General Charles Churchill, by Mrs. Oldfield, the actress, down to the third or fourth genera- tion ? If not, how could I obtain the in- formation ?

E. HAVILAND HILLMAN, F.S.G.

13, Somers Place, Hyde Park, W.

[See 3 S. vi. 148, 216, 318.]

LORD GEORGE GORDON IN 'BARNABY RUDGE.'

(11 S. v. 88.)

Charles Dickens had probably read Robert Watson's ' Life of Lord George Gordon,' published in 1795. The following extracts refer to his conversion to Judaism :

" He had long entertained serious doubts con cerning the truths of Christianity, and observed that its professors were both at variance Avith revelation and reason ; whilst the Jews literally adhered to the Laws of Moses .... He embraced Judaism." P. 77.

" The magistrates of Amsterdam, at the request of his friends, sent a guard with him to Harwich, where he arrived upon the 22d of July, 1787. He retired incog, to Birmingham, and he resided at the house of a Jew, disguised by a long beard and a broad shaded hat, after the Polish fashion. He strictly adhered to the religious ceremonies of his new brethren, underwent the holy operation of circumcision, and was called by the name of Israel Abraham George Gordon. . . ." P. 83.

" Ever since his confinement in Newgate, he had been visited by Britons of every description, and by foreigners from every quarter of the globe ; the Jews looked upon him as a second Moses, and fondly hoped he was designed by Providence to lead them back to their fathers' land. . . .yet, as he conformed to all the outward ceremonies of the antient fathers himself, he expected the same conformity from those who professed a similar faith. This practice, to which he invariably adhered, induced him to refuse admittance to all those Jews who, in compliance with the modern customs, shaved their beards and uncovered their heads." P. 89.

The following extract is from a con- temporary magazine, of which I have neither the name nor date :

" Lord George Gordon appeared in the Court of King's Bench for the purpose of giving bail for his good behaviour for the term of 14 years. His sentence was also to pay a fine of 10.000L, and find two sureties for his good behaviour, himself in 5,OOOZ., and his two sureties 2,500?. each. His Lordship entered the Court with his hat on, but it was pulled off by the Cryer, by the order of Mr. Justice Buller. Lord George Gordon said to the officer, ' Remember you have taken it off by force and violence.' His Lordship then proceeded to state by petition, which he presented to the Court, under the description of Israel Abraham Gordon, commonly called Lord George Gordon, his reasons for appearing before the Court with his head covered. The petition stated that he did so from tenderness of conscience, and not from contempt of Court. It contained many quotations from scripture in support of the pro- priety of the creature having the head covered in reverence for the Creator. It stated also, that the Dukes of York, Clarence, Gordon, several members of the National Assembly of France, &c., &c. had visited him in Newgate, and had