Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/91

 ii s. ix. JAN. si, i9i4.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

85'

ambition of few eager youths is probably nowadays directed.

Time passed, during which a modest sum was annually remitted to the owner's pocket from the groves of Gray's Inn, until an inauspicious day broke, bringing the un- welcome news, couched in the bald language of the unsympathetic official, that circum- stances required the personal attention of the fee-farmer to his estate.

A rusty tin box, where lurked the fading title-deeds, was then found to contain matter not without interest, the rents in question proving to be a parcel of those sold to private persons under the authority of an Act of Charles II., one conveyance being signed by five of the Royal Commis- sioners, including Francis, Lord Hawley, whose seals, in good preservation, were appended to the deed. But the origin of these rents was discovered to be of far earlier date than the reign of Charles^ the bulk having belonged to religious houses and chantries before the Reformation, at which period they were seized by the Crown, whilst others arose out of lands forfeited by Charles, Earl of Westmorland, and other attainted traitors. The various documents contain the names of a multitude of tenants, both at the Reformation and later ; obso- lete terms relating to land measurement and tenure, such as oxgang, thraves, &c., also occur.

It would appear that the Act of Parlia- ment about the year 1798, for rendering the land-tax fixed and perpetual, affords the last example of the creation of fee-farm rents by the Legislature, such status being thereby for the future guaranteed to existing land-tax charged on the property of one individual, but bought and redeemed by another. Perhaps some contributor to your valuable paper can deal with this point with greater authority than the writer possesses, if the topic is thought worthy of further pursuit. H.

GROSVENOR CHAPEL. (See 11 S. ii. 254, 293; iv. 434; vii. 96, 386; viii. 507.) A few supplementary notes anent this old chapel - of - ease to St. George's, Hanover Square, in South Audley Street, may prove of interest. As mentioned, the building, after having been closed for a long period, was reopened for public worship on 30 Nov. last. Its interior now presents a very bright appearance, in marked contrast to former times, and is well worthy of a visit. The chapel is open daily for private prayer from 11 to 5.30. There is quite a small library

of religious works, pamphlets, and manuals; at the entrance, payments for any purchases made being placed in boxes provided for the purpose a display of confidence one^ trusts may never be abused. Junior Atheiueum Club. CECIL CLARKE.

DICKENS'S SPEECH AT A FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY or MUSICIANS. On 8 March, 1860, Dickens was the President at the- anniversary festival of this society. I was- present, and, wishing recently to read his speech on the occasion, I could not find it in any collection of his speeches which are in the British Museum Catalogue. In The Times of 9 March there is a description of it with quotations, but in The Morning Post of that date there is a full report of it. That journal states that

" the chair was occupied by Mr. Charles Dickens, whose appeal on behalf of the charity was replete- with that intermingling of pathos and humour characteristic of this gentleman's style."

This speech is memorable because Dickens- expressed himself strongly to the effect that ladies ought to be allowed to dine at these^ public dinners, and this was considerably commented upon at the time by the press- Is not this clearly a case of " when found,, make a note of " ? HARRY B. POLAND.

Inner Temple.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries,, in order that answers may be sent to them direct.

EVELYN FAMILY. George Evelyn, not of Wotton, was elected member for Reigate- in the Long Parliament. Was this George the son of Robert Evelyn of Godstone, or George of Everley and West Dean, Wilts,, or George of Huntercombe, the son of Sir Thomas Evelyn of Long Ditton ?

Capt. George Evelyn, " the great tra- veller " who was he ? Dobson says he was- the second son of Sir John Evelyn of God- stone. This is impossible, for he was born in 1641, and could not have been a " great traveller " by 1649. Was he George of Everley, brother of Sir John of Godstone^ and son of John Evelyn, Esq. ? Is any- thing known of him beyond the notes in Evelyn's ' Diary ' ?

Who was the Col. Evelyn, Governor of Wallingford, who refused to receive Ham- mond as a prisoner (Fell's ' Life of Hammond/ p. 53) and was rude to Ashmole (vide his-