Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/254

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. i. MA*. 25, me.

Death, where is thy sting ? " and such like. Two verses of a consoling nature are printed on the label, and are given as by Henry Norris, Bradshawgate, Boltori, as follows :

When ghastly Death, with unrelenting hand, Cuts down a Father, Brother, or a Friend ; The still small voice should make you understand, How frail you are how near your final end.

But if regardless, and still warn'd in vain, No wonder if you sink to endless pain ; Be wise, ere 'tis too late, use well each hour, To make your calling and election sure.

Were such labels or " biscuits " common ? Why were they so called ? and were they distributed to the mourners at the funeral, with a view to consoling them during the mournful proceedings ?

ARCHIBALD SPARKE.

THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS. I should be glad to be referred to any account of this regiment, and to know what truth there is in the legend that at Minden they then the 25th Regiment charged through the rose gardens, and were granted a red tuft on their caps in memory of that charge. S.

[It was stated at 6 S. ii. 73 that A. K. Murray's ' History of the Scottish Regiments in the British Army' (Glasgow, J. Murray & Sons, 1862) con- tains an account of the King's Own Borderers from 1688 to 1825.]

THE COLOUR OF MEDIAEVAL WAX SEALS. Is any instance of a blue seal known in England, and can definite reference to one be given ?

Bed and green are by far the most common colours. Brown, yellow, and black are also found ; but blue appears to be exceedingly rare. I do not know of any example in the Public Record Office or the British Museum.

The reason is probably the high price of ultramarine (derived from lapis lazuli) as compared with vermilion (mercuric sulphide) and verdigris. R. C. FOWLER.

EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY PLATE. I wish to ascertain the maker's name of some silver plate made some time before 1800 ; it bears the initials P. R. three times on each article. The book ' Old Enjglish Plate,' by Cripps, states that Patrick Robertson, silversmith of Edinburgh, made silver plate previous to the above-mentioned date. Usually on Edinburgh-made silver there are a thistle and a triple-towered castle. I shall be grateful to any one who can say if I. may regard the silver I have as made by Patrick Robertson, although the thistle and castle are not marked on it.

A. H. MACLEAN.

Dean Road, N.W.

" PAT (MARTHA) ALEXANDER, TAVERN KEEPER " (sic). A portrait of this female., painted by R. Mortimer and engraved by Faber, 1739, is catalogued by W. Bromley under ' Notorious Characters, &c.' Can any reader of ' N. & Q.' enlighten me as to who she was, what tavern she kept, and what is her claim to notoriety ? Was she the mother of the two brothers Alexander whom Sarah Malcolm alleged to have been the murderers- of Lydia Duncomb in 1733, for which crime Sarah was duly executed at Tyburn ?

WlLLOUGHBY MAYCOCK.

ORDER FOR THE ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION OF LATIN. I have heard and seen it stated that at the time of the Reformation an order was issued that Latin should be taught with the English pronunciation. What evidence is there of any such order ? What was the order, when was it issued, who issued it, and to whom ? Let me add that my inquiry has nothing to do with any questions about the pronunciation of Latin in Rome in the days- of Plautus or of Quintilian. H. E. P. P.

JOHNSTONS OF LOCKERBIE, DUMFRIES. Where can I find the pedigree of William Johnstone of Lockerbie, co. Dumfries ? His daughter married, 1772, Sir William Douglas, 4th Bart., and was mother of the 5th and the 6th Marquesses of Queensberry. Among th& many branches of Johnstone in Dumfries- shire I can find no pedigree of this branch of the family. The present Johnstone- Douglas family of Lockerbie descends from the third son of the above Sir William. Douglas only.

MARY TERESA FORTESCUE.

11 Smith Square, Westminster, S.W.

THE THIRD YELLOW QUILT. This was at one time in the collection of the Rev. Richard Rouse Bloxam of Rugby. Where is it now ? One of the three yellow quilts belonged to the Emperor of China ; another to Queen Victoria ; and this third one was presented to the Rev. Richard R. Bloxam by the Emperor of China in acknowledgment of some service. It is made entirely of yellow feathers from some rare bird.

(Mrs.) G. A. ANDERSON.

The Moorlands, Woldingham, Surrey.

JAMES SCOTT, ENGRAVER, c. 1820-40: PRENTIS. Is anything known of Scott as an engraver in mezzotint ? I cannot find ny mention of him in the ordinary book of reference, e.g., ' D.N.B.' or Armstrong and Graves's edition of Bryan.

I have two mezzotints by him after Prentis (ob 1854), which seem to me of