Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/357

 us. v. APRIL 13, 1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

293

MISTAKE OF SCOTT'S (US. v. 188). The correspondent who inquires about Scott's supposed error in making " the sun to rise in the west, or set in the east," has in view, no doubt, the well-known episode in ' The Antiquary,' chap, vii., where Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour are overtaken by the tide on the Forfarshire coast. It is supposed to be late in the afternoon :

" The sun was now resting his huge disk upon the edge of the level ocean, and gilded the accumu- lation of towering clouds, through which he had travelled the livelong day.... The distant sea, stretched beneath this varied and gorgeous canopy, lay almost portentously still, reflecting back the dazzling and level beams of the descend- ing luminary, and the splendid colouring of the clouds amidst which he was setting."

Since it is the North Sea the spec- tators are looking on, it seems clear that Scott made a slip (as he did often enough in both historical and literary affairs). The error has been repeatedly noted: the last occasion I observed was by Sir W. M. Ramsay, in his brilliant little critical study of last year, ' The First Christian Century.' Yet it is by no means quite certain that Scott was in error. Talking over this matter recently with a Forfarshire lady, I was informed that it is possible to see the sun petting over the sea from the point where Scott's characters are supposed to stand. There is a deep bay there Lunan Bay, I <hink and when you are on the rocky promontory, looking backwards (west- wards), you see the sun set over the waters of the bay. Whether this would correspond with Scott's " the distant sea " is another question. We have to remember that Scott actually visited the neighbourhood, and knew exactly the situation. It would be interesting if some Forfarshire correspondent who knows the coast well would deal with this point. G. M. FRASEB.

Public Library, Aberdeen.

The incident probably relates to the perilous walk of Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour by the sands from Knockwinnock to Monk- barns, described in chap. vii. of ' The Antiquary.' As the scene is laid upon the east coast, when " the sun was now resting his huge disk upon the edge of the level ocean," the novelist is accused of describing sunset in the east. But Sir Walter knew his locality too well, to mistake his right for his left. There are, in fact, many parts of the east coasts of England and Scotland where the sun in summer makes his bed in the sea, and it requires but slight familiarity with a large - scale map to vindicate the

accuracy of the description. Incidentally might be noted the other fact, that a pedestrian may start from English ground in Northumberland and by walking due south may arrive in Scotland.

R. OLIVER HESLOP. Newcast le-upon-Tyne.

An even more grotesque blunder than Scott's is made in a series of illustrations to ' The Antiquary,' published as one of a series some years ago. In it the sun is represented pictorinlly as setting in the east. The cliffs are on the left of the picture and look towards the right, and the sun is declining towards the right. I am under the impression that the artist was Sam Bough, but I may be mistaken.

JOHN WILLCOCK.

Lerwick.

[The REV. C. B. MOUNT, MR. THOMAS BAYNE, MR. W. BOT.TON, C. C. B., and D. A. also thanked for replies.]

EARLDOM OF DERWENTWATER (11 S. v. 109, 196). When Mr. Surtees compiled the Radclyffe of Dilston and Derwentwater pedigree, in which he is said to have been materially assisted by William Radclyffe, Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms (vol. i. of his magnificent ' History of Durham '), he- appended to it this note :

" By the death of Anthony James [Radclyffe], Earl of Newburgh, without issue, 28 Nov., 1814, the issue male of Sir George Radclvffe, who died 30

Bliz. [31 May, 1588], became extinct and the

male representation of the honour of Radclyffe of Derwentwater [and Dilston] devolves on the issue of Anthony Radclyffe of Cartington Castle, co. Northumberland, younger brother of the said Sir George Radclyffe."

Of this line was probably Dr. John Rad- cliffe, the celebrated Court physician of Queen Anne's time, who was recognized as a kinsman by the second and third Earls of Derwentwater, and was actually a trustee of the third earl's marriage settlements, dated 24 June, 1712. William Radclyffe, Rouge Croix, claimed to be of this stock, of which it is quite possible that male descend- ants are still in existence.

When, moreover, Edward Radclyffe grandson, and eventually heir, of Nicholas Radclyffe (second son of Thomas Radclyffe of Wymersley, co. Lane., esquire to John of Gaunt), who had espoused the heiress of Derwentwater in 1417 married about 1494 a still greater heiress Anne Cartington, of Dilston, &c. and moved off into Northum- berland, he left behind him nephews and cousins whose descendants continued to live in, and eventually moved away from r