Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/295

 12 8. II. OCT. 7, 1916.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

289

several papers, and return to me the enclosed original. Dont forget my church, and remember me kindly to Mr. Venables. Yours affectionately,

JOSEPH WOLFF.

" I am hard at work on my Commentary of Isajah, and which I hope will be published before the approaching winter."

I have corrected the punctuation. The italics and capitals are the Doctor's own. RICHAKD IT. THORNTON.

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.

NATIONAL FLAGS : THEIR ORIGINS. Where can one find any satisfactory account of the historical genesis of the national flags or " colours '' of the modern European States, most of which appear to be almost as modern as the political communities they are sup- posed to represent ? For instance, does the Greek blue and white national and com- mercial flag in use at the present day date from any period more ancient than the outbreak of the revolt against Turkish rule on the day of the Annunciation (March 25), 1821, or has it any affinity with any standard used by the Byzantine Emperors ? How did the Russians and Servians come by their " colours," which seem identified with the Slavs ?

The French tricolour combines the ancient blue standard of the Middle Ages, the white flag of Henri IV., and the red republican symbol (or, perhaps, the very ancient red " Oriflamme of St. Denis").

How did the Spanish and Italian flags come into existence ?

The German standard is supposed to be derived from the white flag with a black cross of the Teutonic knights.

The encyclopaedias merely describe the recognized national colours without entering into particulars of their origin or meaning, with perhaps the exception of the Union Jack, the expressed sentiment of which is sufficiently well known.

G. J., F.S.A.

Cyprus.

REV. RICHARD RATHBONE. Can any particulars be given about this clergyman, sometime Rector of Llanllyfni, who some- where about 1765 exchanged with the Rev. Ellis Thomas, Rector of LJangelynnin, both benefices in the Diocese of Bangor ?

ANEURIN WILLIAMS.

THE FRIENDS AND CORRESPONDENTS OF IGNATIUS SANCHO. Sancho's ' Letters,' when published after his death in 1782, attracted a list of subscribers " said to have been of a length unknown since the first issue of The Spectator," and subsequently ran through five editions.

The friends and correspondents of a man who, though born a negro slave, numbered Garrick, Sterne, Gainsborough, Mortimer, John Ireland, Nollekens, and J. T. Smith amongst his acquaintances, can hardly be devoid of interest to students of the period, although apparently no attempt has yet been made to prove the identity of those persons whose names are represented in his ' Letters ' by initials.

For instance, twenty-nine are addressed to " Mr. M " (sometimes referred to as

"Johnny M "), but it would appear

rash to connect the talented, if eccentric John Hamilton Mortimer with all, or indeed any, of them.

Are the originals of these ' Letters ' still in existence ? If not, can your readers throw any light on the persons therein men- tioned ? * GILBERT BENTHALL.

205 Adelaide Road, N.W.

RISBY. Will any one enlighten my ignorance by telling me who Risby was ? He is mentioned on p. 58 of Gent's ' History of the Famous City of York.' Speaking of sculptures on the west front of the Minster, the author says :

" On one side of the little door is a man com- pletely arm'd like a Knight Templar, lying in a boat on the sea, whilst a swan is trailing it along by a chain towards a castle, on the top of which is a man wishfully looking towards them: which seems to represent some enchantment like Risby's being miraculously brought in his chains from a dungeon beyond sea after a long imprisonment to his lady in England, who was going to be marry'd."

It may save trouble if I say that I do not want information about Lohengrin, but about Risby. ST. SWITHIN.

' FREDERETTA ROMNEY.' Is anything known of a novel published in the early part of last century, either with this title or under this pseudonym ? The writer is believed to have been a Miss Wolferstan of Hart land, North Devon. R. PEARSE CHOPE.

FARMERS' SAYINGS. 1. What is the mean- ing of the saying that " pigs can see wind," and how has it arisen ?

2. What Is the meaning of the statement, and what gave rise to it, " The growing moon sucks out the marrow of oxen " ? ALFRED S. E. ACKERMANN.