Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 2.djvu/33

 12 S. II. JULY 8, 1916.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

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PERCUSSION CAP. In 1909 I contributed an article on the history of the percussion cap to the special volume on ' The Rise and Progress of the British Explosives Industry ' issued by the Explosives Section of the Seventh International Congress of Applied Chemistry. The history of this invention centres largely upon the classical paper of Goode Wright of Hereford in the Phil. Mag., vol. Ixii., 1823. Wright asserts that his experiments were due to the stimulus of Murray's lectures on chemistry delivered at Hereford in the previous year. I now draw attention to the fact that this Murray is John Murray, F.S.A., F.L.S., and not John Murray, M.D., and that the lectures referred to were issued in book-form under the title -of ' A Manual of Experiments illustrative of 'Chemical Science,' second edition, Longmans, 1828. On p. 85 of this edition Murray states that " fulminating mercury will be found superior to what is called percussion gun- powder ; it is safe, certain and unaffected by damp." I shall be glad to know where a copy of the first edition is to be found. Failing that, perhaps Messrs. Longmans <;ould give the date of its publication. The earliest edition in the British Museum ap- pears to be the fourth.

E. WYNDHAM HULME.

IRISH LEGEND OF THE Two ISLES. According to an ancient Irish legend, there were two isles of yore, the people of one of them being full of life and joy, whilst the inhabitants of the neighbouring other isle were steeped in death and silence. At last the living people, having grown weary of their joyful life, longed to join the state of their neighbours, and settle upon the shore to share their fate. Perhaps one of your readers can kindly refer me to a complete printed text where this Irish legend may be found. INQUIRER.

MADAME E. L. LE BRUN, FRENCH ARTIST. Is anything known of a French artist of this name ? I shall bo grateful for any information respecting her.

LEONARD C. PRICE. Essex Lodge, Ewell.

[Is our correspondent thinking of Marie Anne Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun ? If so, he will find the outline of her life (1755-1842) in any work of reference, while her own ' Souvenirs form the best extended biography. An English edition was brought out in New York in 1903 by Lionel Strachey, and there is also a Life by C. Fillet. In addition, Mr. W. H. Helm has just brought out through Messrs. Hutchinson & Co. an illustrated volume entitled ' Vigee-Lebrun : her Life, Work, and Friendships.']

FAIRFIELD AND RATHBONE, ARTISTS. I have a panel picture by these artists at the back of which is the following inscription : " Landscape by Rathbone, Figures by Fairfield. Sold by C. A. Sturgeon, number 125 Strand." The writing on the label is evidently early nineteenth-con ttiry. Ap- parently, there is very little known about these artists. Rathbone was born in Cheshire about 1750, and died in 1807. He was known as " the Manchester Wilson." Bryan says that many of his pictures are embellished with figures by Morland, Ibbet- son, and other contemporary artists. Charles Fairfield, who painted the figures in my picture, died at Brompton, aged 45, in 1804. Bryan says that he made excellent copies of Dutch paintings.

I should be obliged if any reader of ' N. & Q.' could give me more information about these artists, and where their work may be seen. I should also like to know something about Sturgeon, as none of the dealers to whom I have referred have ever heard his name before. JOHN LANE.

The Bodley Head, Vigo Street, W.

REMIREMONT HAILSTONES, MAY, 1907. It is said that after a hailstorm at Remire- mont in the Vosges, on a May Sunday in 1907, many of the hailstones which fell were found split in two, with a representation on each half of a statue of Our Lady known as Notre Dame de Tresor. This is said to have been put beyond question by an investigation set on foot by the Bishop of St. Die. A scientific explanation of this apparent miracle is also said to have been given at the time by one Professeur de Lapparent. Can any one refer me to any literature on this subject ? Where is the statue of Notre Dame de Tresor ?

JOHN B. WAINEWRIOHT.

DARVELL GADARN. A great image called by this name from North Wales was used for the burning of the Franciscan, Blessed John Forest, May 22, 1538.

Of what saint was it the image, and from what church did it oome ?

JOHN B. WAINEWRIOHT. [See 8 S. xi. 407, 450 ; xii. 57, and the authorities there mentioned.]

IN THE LION'S JAWS. It is commonly stated that a person mauled by a lion or tiger does not feel pain or fear at the time. What justification is there for this belief I It seems to be based on an experience of Dr. Livingstone, related in his ' Life.'

ALFRED S. E. ACKERMANN.