Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 5.djvu/567

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that I might be permitted to have this gathered together and forwarded to me, and the Canon in residence at that time most courteously had it all packed up, and sent it to me. Much was, of course, only worthless, torn, and soiled ; -but some things I still possess well worth the having. And amongst these are the following fragments of letters, from which the addresses (except in the first case) have been torn off, but which had been mounted on a folio sheet, relating to a publication of some of Handel's Anthems. By the kind- ness of Mr. Ivor Atkins, the organist of the Cathedral, I learn that they must be parts of letters written to Mr. Thomas Pitt, who was a member of the choir, and was appointed organist in November, 1793. He pub- lished two volumes of Handel's Anthems, the first in 1788, and the second in 1789 (of which a second edition appeared in 1793). Of these King George III. took ten sets :

From the Rev. Dr. Langford, Canon of Windsor and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty.

Eton Coll., Nov. 1, 1789. Your copy for his Majesty is very neat indeed, and will be highly approved. When you send me the other copies (which I wish you to do immediately) I will send them to his M. and let you know what he says.

Eton Coll., Nov. 9. I yesterday had the honor to present your book to his Majesty, which he received very eagerly, ar.d hoped you would go on with the work. He would not trust it to one of the Equerries, but put it into the care of the Prin- cess Elizabeth, who carried it home herself. I hope therefore you are satisfied.

Eton Coll., Feb. 16, 1790. I have just time to tell you that I have presented your second volume to his Majesty, which he received very graciously. The other copies I sent to the Lodge.

From Dr. Aylward, Organist of his Majesty's Col- legiate Chapel of St. George's at Windsor.

Sir, Windsor, 20 Decem. '89.

I should have answer'd your letter before now, but waited for the King's Books, which our worthy Friend Dr. Langford enquir'd about a few days since ; him (sic) and self will be happy in doing whatever you wish relative to the delivering them. Your work I have no doubt must give sattisf action, as it truly deserves ineourigement from all lovers of Handel's Music. That you may enjoy the feljcities of the aproaching season and many is the sincere wish of, Dear Sir, yours ever to command,

THEODORE AYLWARD.

I have sent with this letter a triffle for the favour you did me in your publication, which we often use, and always with great pleasure to his Majesty, which gives an additional pleasure to, Dear Sir, yours truly to command,

THEODORE AYLWARD.

Windsor, 1 May, 1793.

I think these fragmentary illustrations of the good King's appreciation of Handel's music are worth recording in ' X. & Q.'

Among other disjecta tnembra were a full set of voice and orchestral parts of a Te Deum and Jubilate in F by James Harris, and an organ score of Boyce's ' Solomon,' both of which I gave to the Bodleian Library. W. D. MACBAY.

A FOLK-LORE XOTE FROM PHILADELPHIA. There is a saying in Philadelphia, " It always rains Quaker week." As the Friends' (Orthodox) Yearly Meeting now occurs in April, one naturally concludes that this rainy month is meant in the proverb. But the recent publication of the editio princeps of George Fox's ' Journal,' as written by him (uncensored by the Society of Friends, unlike all editions before 1911), reveals a far more primitive significance.. In the first place, Yearly Meeting has not always been in April, and even now the important Hicksite branch of Quakerism meets annually in May. George Fox settles the meaning of our phrase in these words :

" It was a noted thing generally amongst people, that when I came still I brought rain, and it had been so for many years. . ..

" And the like observation and expectation they have beyond the seas : when there is a drought they generally look for the Quakers' General Meetings, for then they know they shall have rain. And as they receive the truth and become fruitful unto God, they receive from Hii their fruitful seasons also.'" ' The Journal of George Fox,' edited from the MSS. by Xorman Penney, F.S.A., Cambridge, 1911, vol. i. p. 273. Spelling, &c., modernized by me. The words which I italicize show that Fox en- dorsed the belief. ALBERT J. EDMUNDS.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

BAG-ENVELOPES. These that is. enve- lopes having the flap at the end instead of at the side were registered under the Act for protecting designs for articles of utility, by Henry Tuck, of 138, Aldersgate Street, London, on 28 May, 1840 i.e., a few month? after the introduction of the penny post. They were manufactured by Marc La Riviere of Hackney, who was at one time well known as the inventor and patentee of highly ingenious machinery for perforating metals.

I possess an unused sample of these envelopes, measuring 4|in. by 3 Jin., and having the above information printed on the inside of the flap. There are no signs of adhesive matter on the flap, but this may have disappeared after more than seventy years.

So far as my memory goes, the bag-shaped envelope did not come into general use till long after its first introduction.

R, B. P.