Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/462

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. i. JUNE 3, 1916.

made any especiall pilgrimages and offerings, as the images of our Lady of Walsingham, Ipswich, Worcester, the Lady of Wilsdon, the rood of grace of our Ladie of Boxley, and the image of the rood of Saint Saviour at Bermondsey, with all the rest, were brought vp to London, and burnt at Chelsey, at the commandment of the foresaid Cromwell, all the lewels and other rich offerings to these, and to the shrines (which were all likewise taken away, or beaten to peeces) of other Saints through- out both England and Wales were brought into the King's Treasurie." Edit. 1631, p. 111.

The shrine of St. James Major at Compo- stella, which ranks amongst the holiest spots of Christendom, was, I think, in former days as much frequented by English pilgrims as by those of any other nationality. It will be remembered that the Wife of Bath had been " In Galice at seint Jame."

MONTAGUE SUMMERS.

' A SIMPLE STORY ' (12 S. i. 408). The author of ' A Simple Story ' was the fascinating and popular actress Mrs. Inch- bald, and it was published in London in four volumes in 1791. There have been many editions of this romance, as well as of her other novel, ' Nature and Art.'

Mrs. Inchbald also wrote many plays. She was the daughter of John Simpson, a farmer near Bury St. Edmunds, where she was born in 1753 ; and she died in 1821 at Kensington House, London, which has long since been pulled down. She bore an irre- proachable character, and was a devout Catholic. CONSTANCE RUSSELL.

Swallowfield Park, Reading.

' A Simple Story ' was written by Mrs. Elizabeth Inchbald. It was sketched as early as 1777, but was not completely written until 1790, and not published until the following year. The first four editions were all published by Messrs. G. G. & J. Robinson, Paternoster Row, London, between the years 1791-9, each in 4 vols.

ARCHIBALD SPARKE.

The authoress of ' A Simple Story ' was Elizabeth Inchbald. It was published in 4 vols., 12mo, in 1791, and has been fre- quently republished. My copy is in Bent- ley's well-known collection of " Standard Novels," and is dated London, 1833. The title-page reads : " A Simple Story | by | Mrs. Inchbald." The same volume contains her less- known novel ' Nature and Art,' first published in 1796, 2 vols., 12mo.

L. A. W. Dublin.

V

and W.

-', PROF ' BENSL Y, MB. W. A. FROST, also thanked for replies.]

TAVOLARA : MORESNET: GOUST (? LLIVIA):- ALLEGED SMALL REPUBLICS (12 S. i. 42, 129,. 195, 258). At the last reference MR. WAINEWRIGHT wi-ites : " See 11 S. vi. 48, 135." These two contributions assert the- existence of " Goust in the Pyrenees" and " Tavolara, an island off Sardinia," as actual republics. In the first MR. WAINE- WHIGHT puts the population of " Goust " at 140, and that of Tavolara at about 60. In the second H. K. assigns to Goust 70' inhabitants (in 1902), and to Tavolara about 180 (in 1907).

Taking the greater number in each case,, and allowing an average of five per family, we arrive at 28 men and 28 women in Goust, and 36 men and 36 women in Tavolara. If we take the smaller numbers,, viz. Goust 70 and Tavolara 60 inhabitants, we arrive, taking five to a family, at 14 men. and 14 women in Goust, and 12 men and 12 women in Tavolara.

These figures are, I should think, sufficient to throw much doubt on the existence either now or ever of these alleged republics..

Tavolara, as a very small island, forming a minute bit of the kingdom of Italy, is easily found off the coast of Sardinia ; but where is Goust ? Neither MR. WAINE- WRIGHT nor H. K. gives it any place except " in the Pyrenees." In what map is Goust to be found ? And what books of authority describe Goust and Tavolara and their* republican status ?

ROBERT PIERPOINT.

JOSEPH BRAMAH (12 S. i. 166). A diligent search for a portrait of Bramah was made in 1862 by Samuel Walker of Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, who was at that time executing a drawing (afterwards en- graved) of a group of scientific men of the nineteenth century. He was unsuccessful,- although he had the assistance of Mr. Bennet Woodcroft, F.R.S., then head of the Patent Office, who was a well-known authority on. portraits of inventors, and whose collection is now in the South Kensington Museum. Mr. Walker felt that Bramah was too im- portant a man to be left out of the com- position, so he adopted the ingenious ex- pedient of representing him in conversation. with another member of the group, and standing with his back to the spectator. It is quite probable that a portrait of Bramah was painted, and exhibited in due course at the Royal Academy, as was then the general' custom with persons of eminence. A couple of days' work on the old Royal Academy catalogues might settle this point ; but evert