Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/173

 12 S. I. FEB. 26, 1916.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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her trial, for she was a young and pretty woman. Scawen had made a will in her favour, but, thinking that she had given him poison, revoked it on his deathbed. After her acquittal she contested the validity of the new will on the plea that it was founded on error, but lost her case. In 1783 it was stated by the newspapers that she was going on to the stage. When did she die ? Did she ever marry ? References will oblige. HORACE BLEACKLEY.

" BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH." It has

been said of our new commander on the Western front, Sir Douglas Haig,'that he has more than once escaped death " by the skin of his teeth."

Many users of this familiar phrase would hardly turn to the Bible for its origin, and its inclusion there (Job xix. 20) suggests that the expression was a colloquialism with the translators of the epoch of James I.

Is there any reference in contemporary or other literature as to whence it arose ? Neither Brewer's nor the ' Century ' dic- tionaries throw any light on it.

J. LANDFEAR LUCAS.

Glendora, Hindhead, Surrey.

' LONDON DIRECTORY,' 1677. Oamden Hotten's admirable reprint published in 1863 has made this interesting little work familiar to most students of London biblio- graphy. His introduction is excellent, but would have gained by an attempted census of existing copies and a suggestion of the format of the book.

It may be described as scarce, but not of great rarity ; in little more than five years I have examined and noted fourteen copies, and three copies are before me now.

It may be inferred that Samuel Lee, its publisher, and keeper of "the address shop" in Lombard Street, offered the work as a pocket book, whole bound in russet calf with clasp. This binding had no ornamenta- tion, unless a narrow blind fillet can be so termed.

I have not seen or heard of any copy in original boards or paper covers, so this pocket-book binding desirable for the purpose of the work was probably the publisher's intention when preparing the lists of merchants. The volume of county maps engraved by Hollar, and published 1676 by John Garrett, was issued as a narrow 8vo pocket-book, bound in russet calf and fastened with two clasps. Ready reckoners were also, about this date, offered as pocket-books; and as late as 1734 a less essentially " pocket " volume, Ralph's

'Critical Review of the Publick Buildings,' &c., was also bound in this manner.

Some of the copies of the ' London Directory ' seen have had three or four blank leaves added, presumably for additional names, but I have no note of an extended copy, and if such exists the names would be of the greatest interest. The two pages of names which finish the work were evidently only those of merchants received too late to insert in the body of the work.

The copies in the London libraries are well known to me, but I shall be glad to have particulars of copies in other public libraries or private collections, either at home or abroad. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

51 Rutland Park Mansions, N.W.

DISRAELI AND MOZART. I believe Disraeli would not have excluded even " Dando the Oyster-swallower " from his Hebrew Pantheon ; so that we must look warily whenever he proposes any one for admission to " the select circle." In his tinck ' he brackets Mozart with Mendelssohn for honour as a distinguished member of the race, adding that " it seems difficult to comprehend how these races [Germans, &c.] can persecute a Jew." Is there ground for including Mozart among Semitic musi- cians ? M. L. R. BRESLAR.
 * Political Biography of Lord George Ben-

Two OIL PAINTINGS WANTED. I am anxious to know where may be found : (1) a picture entitled ' A Dutch Merrymak- ing,' painted in oils on wood, by Polsrierd ; and (2) an oil painting on canvas of the ' Madonna and Child,' by Pellegrirno ?

Please reply direct. L. VENDEN.

12 Quebec Avenue, Southend-on-Sea.

LAWRENCE : GEDDING. It appears from a herald's collection, temp. Elizabeth, that " Mr. Lawrence " bore arms quarterly :

1 and 4, Sable, three pigeons volant or ;

2 and 3, a chevron argent between three griffins' heads erased or (Add. MS. 26,753, fo. 123). The latter are the arms of the Gedding family, Suffolk. I should be much obliged to any one who would give me any information about this Mr. Lawrence and the Lawrerice-Gedding marriage.

G. O. BELLE WES.

13 Cheyne Row, 8.W.

BATTERSEA TRAINING COLLEGE. Are there any registers of this college which can be consulted for the period 1857-77 ?

Louis A. DUKE.

Hornsey.