Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/17

 42 S. II. JULY 1, 1916.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

11

" SICK AS A LANDRAIL." In Jaines Wilson's ' A Voyage round the Coasts of Scotland and the Isles,' 1842, vol. i. p. 39, occurs the sentence :

"One of the crew was so affected by the

violence of the motion [during a squall] that he

'became as sick as a landrail." I am not aware that sickness is a special attribute of the landrail (Crex crex), and possibly the author may have used the ex- pression with a jocular emphasis on the word land. I should, however, be glad to learn whether the expression occurs elsewhere, and whether it may be regarded as a phrase or saying. HUGH S. GLADSTONE.

A LOST LIFE OF HUGH PETERS. The following advertisement appeared several times in 1660, and at the end of the " Fourth and last Part " of Clement Walker's ' History of Independency ' (signed " T. M." and published in that year) runs as follows :

" There is now in the press, ready to come forth* that so much desired book intituled *An Exact History of the Life and Actions of Hugh Peters : as also his Diary. Sold by H. Brome and H. Marsh," &c.

I have sought for this book everywhere, but without success. If Hugh Peters really left a diary, it would be valuable from every point of view. Is any reader of ' N. & Q.' aware of a copy 2 J. B. WILLIAMS.

" EVERY ENGLISHMAN is AN ISLAND." In the recent issue of La Renaissance, May, 1916, devoted to England, M. Paul Deschanel credits Emerson with the saying : " Every Englishman is an island."

Can any reader verify that statement with proper references ? O. G.

["In short, every one of these islanders is an island himself, safe, tranquil, incommunicable." Emerson, ' English Traits," vi. Manners, begin- ning of seventh paragraph.]

'WATERLOO HEROES.' This picture, painted by Knight, was engraved by Lewis, and is said now to be at the Hague. I should be glad to know whether and where a key to it may be obtained. J. GOOD.

Stanley Street, Bedford.

PORTRAIT : CAPTAIN TAYLOR. An in- scription in an eighteenth-century hand on the backboard of the frame, runs : " Captn. Taylor born 1611, died at the Charterhouse 1702." The portrait is executed in crayons on copper, and is evidently the work of the artist whose Christian name is queried by Horace Walpole as " Henry." On the left-hand side of the drawing is engraved in elaborately nourished writing : " E. Lut- terell fecit 1697 " Other works on painting

I have referred to follow Walpole, but my example tends to prove his first name commenced with an E. Is anything known of the career of Capt. Taylor ? AITCHO.

JOHN RANBY: HENRY FIELDING. (12 S. i. 428, 473.)

As certain of your correspondents are manifesting an interest in John Ranby, 1703-73 consequent, perhaps, on his con- tributions to the surgery of gun-shot wounds inflicted in warfare it may be opportune to record the hitherto unsuspected, but not uninteresting, fact that this distinguished surgeon succeeded Fielding as tenant of Fordhook, Baling, the country residence and small farm whence the latter set out for Lisbon on June 26, 1754. The Rate- Books of Baling and Old Brentford show that the rates and tithes in respect of this property were paid either by or on behalf of Henry Fielding till Sept. 18, 1764 ; that the next rates, due on Feb. 12, 1755, were paid in part by John Ranbey (sic) and in part by Fielding's half-brother John, who probably retained control over those farming operations concerning which Henry Fielding made such searching inquiries from Lisbon. The rates on Sept. 3, 1755, were paid by John Ranby (the spelling being corrected), and John Fielding's name disappears.

We know from his Lisbon correspondence that Fielding was anxious to let Fordhook, and it is more than probable Ranby was glad to assist the family of the departed friend who had perpetuated him to posterity in these words :

"This surgeon had the first character in his

S'ofession, and was serjeant-surgeon to the King, e had, moreover, many good qualities, and was a very generous, good -hearted man, and ready to do any service to his fellow-creatures.' ' ' Tom Jones, vii'i. 13.

Readers of the ' Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon' will likewise recall the handsome reference to Ranby in the Introduction.

This additional link between Fielding and Ranby is due entirely to Mr. Austin Dobson, who last year, with the good offices of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor, Mr. \\. H Hicks, made an examination of the old parish Rate-Books in the possession of the Baling local authorities. Mr. AuafcQ Dobson very obligingly placed his notes at my disposal to be recorded in a more permanent form, but the war renders this at present im- practicable. J- PAUL DE CASTBO.