Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 8.djvu/507

 ii s. VIL JUNE 21, i9i3.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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There are some minor mistakes in the notes, two of which are on subjects recently discussed in our columns. On p. 1 it is said that the regi- cides John Jones and Miles Corbet met their fate (in 1660 and 1662) " with dignity and equa- nimity." Of none of the regicides can this be said, and Mr. Dunlop could not have hit upon two more unfortunate examples. Corbet, the Kingdom's Intelligencer for 10-17 March, 1662, states, was reduced to the last physical result of extreme fear in men when he was arrested in Holland in that mo nth; and Jones died " express- ing very much sense of the horror of his fact. Nor did he offer to justify it at the trial."

The second mistake is about the headsman of Charles I. A note on p. 33 says that William Hewlett " was hanged for his share in the execu- tion of Charles I.," and hanged in the year 1667. William Hulett, or " Hewlett alias Howlett," was sentenced to death on 16 Oct., 1660, and afterwards reprieved, probably because the evidence proved that " Walker ' (surely Henry Walker, the " author " of ' Severall Proceedings ') beheaded the King. There is no evidence that this Hewlett was ever executed. Capt. Wm. Hewlett (probably a cousin) was imprisoned in Dublin Castle in 1663 on account of his share in the plot of that year. Writing to Secretary Bennett on 7 March, 1663 (the letter is on p. 34 of the Calendar), the Lord Lieutenant said : " I find no one better in it [the plot] than Wm. Hulett, who has been accused of bragging that it was he that had murdered the late King." By 1(367, when Capt. Wm. Hulett took part in forging documents, his " bragging " assertion was treated by many as a fact. This is an excellent illustration of how many of the stories about people who were said to have been the headsman of the King grew up.

Caravanning and Camping Out. By J. Harris

Stone. (Herbert Jenkins.)

Mu. STONE is an enthusiastic caravanner, and his book, coining as it does in the caravanning season, should be found serviceable to those who decide upon this pleasant form of holiday. For the jaded literary man we can conceive of nothing more likely to bring about restoration to health than the freedom of this open-air life, and Sir James Moody, at one of the annual dinners of the Caravan Club, said " he knew of no life that gave such a complete brain- rest as caravanning." Its first advocate, Mr. Stone tells us, was Dr. Gordon Stables, who for more than forty years toured over a considerable portion of England and Scotland, preferring van life to settled house life. There is a restfulness which the caravanner enjoys " in direct antithesis to the motorist, for he is never in a hurry." " Choose good-tempered, useful companions," advises Countess Russell in her ' Five Women and a Caravan,' " who will keep cheerful under all circumstances, and will be, rc;i(ly to put their hands to any necessary work." Mr. Stone recommends that there should be assigned to each the share in the work he or she Should undertake : "A simple and clear under- standing to this effect before starting will save much unpleasantness afterwards."

.Mr. Stone gives directions as to the choosing of a van, the arrangement of its contents, plans for lighting, the rule of the road, times for starting in the morning, and how and where to put up at

night. The all-important matter of cooking i* not forgotten, and there are many recipes for dishes that can be made easily.

Of course no book on caravanning would be complete without gipsy folk-lore, and we have references to Leland, Borrow, and others. The account of the funeral of a gipsy in Germany is quoted from ' N. & Q.,' 9 S. i. 304. W T e are glad- to hear that Dr. Black, of the New York Public Library, has been attempting to produce a com- plete list of gipsy literature the result, com-- prising 4,577 titles, will be awaited with interest.

The numerous illustrations of vans, and plans of their interiors, add greatly to the value of this- deligfhtful contribution to caravan literature,, while, facing the title, the author and his dog. " Caravan Jack " stand at the door of his caravan^ as if giving an invitation to join him^in his next- tour.

The Entail. By John Gait. (Frowde.) THE OXFORD PRESS has done well to include ' The Entail ' in the beautiful little volumes of " The World's Classics," and the Introduction? by Mr. John Ayscough gives in a few words a just appreciation of the author. Mr. Ayscough has fop years " been wondering why John Gait's works are fallen into such neglect," and if his Autobio- graphy were not a rare book, an explanation- might suggest itself, for " a more tedious, flat,. and dull book was never written by a man of genius." Mr. Ayscough suggests that the rarity of the work is caused by the copies having, been burnt by the author's admirers.

' The Entail ' was published in 1822, and " Christopher North " in Blackwood declared it " out of all sight the best thing he [Gait] has ; done," and stated that Gait had now proved himself " inferior only to two living writers of fic- titious narratives, to him whom we need not- name, and to Miss Edgeworth." Scott read ' The Entail ' three times, and Byron even read it three times within a year of its appearance. Mr. Ayscough says : " That Gait was inferior to Scott as a romancist is what no. one can deny.. As a romancist he should not be brought in com- parison with Sir Walter at all ; but as a painter* of genre he is not surpassed even by him whom ' Christopher North ' would not name."

AT Norwich on July 5th is to be held a George Borrow Celebration. The Committee which has- arranged it desired to make it also the occasion for setting up a permanent memorial of Borrow in the city, and decided that this should take the form of a museum established in the Borrow house in Willow -Lane. The freehold of this little house has been generously purchased by the Lord, Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel),, and, at the reception to be held at St. Andrew's Hall in the afternoon of July 5th, the deeds are to be presented to the Corporation of Norwich.. The Committee appeals for funds to alter the house into its original condition (it is at present divided into two) and to acquire furniture, as well as objects of Borroyian interest, for exhibition there. Particulars with regard to the conducted visit to places in Norwich connected with Borrow and to other parts of the celebration may be obtained from the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Frank J. Farrell, Guilderoy, Great Yarmouth.