Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/537

 ns.v.jLNE8,i9i2.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

LOXDOX, SATURDAY, JUNE S, 1912.

CONTENTS. -No. 128.

NOTES : The Bogdani Family of Hitchin, 441 Charles Dickens, 442 The Hidage of Oxfordshire, 444 -"Sleeve less errand" ' Vivian Grey 'and Bulwer's First Meeting with Rosina Wheeler, 445 Latin Quotations in Abraham Fraunce's ' Victoria' F. E.B.T. Edward Barker, Cursitor Baron of the Exchequer, 446 Curiosities of the Gregorian Calendar "Pointers" Bishop R. Foxe, 447.

QUERIES : Campione and the Ambrosian Rite, 447 Lord Barrymore : White and Gold Theatre Rev. G. Jerment Atkyns Family Morant's ' Campaign ol Flanders '" Dr. Syntax "-Pausanias, 448 Authors of Quotations Wanted "Shieve" Descendants of Sir Erasmus Dry den Breton Song Biographical Informa- tion Wanted, 449 Count Dillon William Shakespeare of Mansfield, 1561 Fitzwhymark or Fitzwymark Family, 450.

REPLIES : Brodribb of Somerset : Sir Henry Irving, 450 'No Thoroughfare' Stanton and Dickens Whittington and his Cat, 452 Shropshire Adventurers Macaulay on " Fen Slodgers "Office of St. Werburgh -The Australian Coat of Anns, 453 Branding of Hounds Incidents at Dettingen--Mazzini and Voltaire "Splendid Isolation" Fitz william Family, 454 Snake Poison, 455 -Legend of the Last Lord Lovell Percival Banks Londres : Londininm, 456 Pronunciation of " Idea " Jennings Case, 457 C. L. Christinecke Heraldic Charge : its Meaning" Statio bene fida cariuis "Miss Howard and Napoleon III., 458.

NOTES ON BOOKS: 'Widsith' ' Nineteenth Century' ' National Review.'

Booksellers' Catalogues.

Notices to Correspondents.

THE BOGDAXI FAMILY: LORDS OF HITCHIN MANOR, 1720-1825.

THE English branch of the Bogdani family, who were by nationality Hungarians, was founded by one James Bogdani, son of a deputy of the Hungarian states, born at Eperjes. The family was sufficiently affluent to enable him to be brought up to independ- ence, but natural inclination led him to adopt an artist's career. While still a young man, he came to England it is pre- sumed, in the train of William, Prince of Orange, afterwards King AVilliam III. ; and for some time, although he early became a naturalized Englishman, he was known only as " the Hungarian." His natural abilities, unaided though they had been by any artistic training, soon brought him fame, and his skilful treatment of still life, animals, and especially birds, attracted the patronage of Queen Anne. Law's ' Hampton Court ' names eleven subjects which he painted for the Queen, and which still hang at the Palace. Naturally, he is represented in the

gallery of the Musee des Beaux-Arts at Buda-Pest, \vhere are ten pictures from his brush. Two other paintings, both portraits, which were in the nature of curiosities rather than serious works, are named in the cata- logue of the European Museum (King Street, St. James's Square) for 1804. One repre- sented a Hungarian peasant and his wife, the former aged 172 years, the latter 164 ; they lived in wedlock 147 years. The other was that of a Hungarian peasant aged 185 years.

In private life James Bogdani became lord of the manor of Hitchin, through his marriage with the daughter of Samuel Hemmings. This gentleman, receiver to Queen Anne, had been lord of the manor, but was deprived of the property by 'John, Lord Hollis, Duke of Newcastle, " by surreptitious means," as it is said. In 1720 James Bogdani regained the manor a decisive step for such " a man of a gentle and fair character," as Walpole describes him. But the same authority reveals the reason which led him to it. His son wished to marry a reputed heiress, and considered that his chances of gaining the lady's hand would be greatly enhanced, could he woo her as a man of property. But although the lady was won, she proved to be devoid of cash. " He had raised an easy fortune, but, being persuaded, made it over to his son, who was going to marry a reputed fortune, who proved no fortune at afl." Thus the father, as soon as Ms claim to the manor was granted, on a thirty-one years' lease, assigned it to his son. The subsequent dis- appointment and other misfortunes preyed upon his mind as well as his purse, and he died in comparative poverty at his house at the sign of "The Golden Eagle," in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, early in 1724. He was buried on 11 February at Finchley, where he had some property. His pictures and goods were afterwards old by auction.

William, his son, was born in 1700. Walpole says that he " painted in his father's manner," but for a livelihood he entered jrovernment service. W T hen Walpole wrote circa 1762-71) he occupied a post in the Board of Ordnance, and was also a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1747 he obtained a renewal of the lease of Hitchin manor, aut before it expired he died, and was buried at Hitchin on 6 December, 1771 ; his wife Penelope died 13 June, 1774, aged 75, and

s interred with him.

William Maurice, their son, inherited the manor, and renewed the lease on 28 January,