Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/152

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. m. FEB. 24, 1917.

SIB JOHN FIELDING. As it is stated by writers of authority (e.g., Leslie Stephen in 'D.N.B.,' vol. xviii., p. 424; H. B. Wheatley in ' Hogarth's London,' 1909, Constable, p. 381) that Henry Field- ing's half-brother and successor at Bow Street was " blind from birth," a tradi- tion which survives among their present- -day descendants, the following passage from Sir John's ' Universal Mentor, con- taining Essays on the most important Subjects in Life,' published in 1763, deserves to be better known, and may incidentally afford succour to those unfortunately de- prived of sight in the course of the European War. It occurs in the Preface :

" This little book is presented to the public

- as a faithful monitor to inexperienced Youth - to raise in their minds an early sense of the dignity

- of human nature ; to enflame them with a love for virtue, and to teach them to form just esti- mate of men and things .... For nay own part, when an accident, which every one but myself deemed a misfortune, forced me into retirement at the age of 19, the incapacity of enjoying those manly exercises and amusements which my

- youth, and vigour of body and mind, would have naturally led me into, presented study as the only

Cleans of employing the activity of my spirit, and beguiling that time which otherwise must have hung heavy on my hands ; and though necessity, not choice, first put me on this pursuit

of ^ knowledge, choice very soon became the principal motive and incentive to my studies ; and the rational delights of reflection, contempla- tion and conversation soon made me insensible

of any loss I had suffered from the want of sight."

Sir John's enjoyment of eyesight until manhood makes his consummate achieve- ments more easily comprehensible, and explains his ability to spend some portion -of his youth at sea (' An Account of Sir -John Fielding's Plan for preserving Dis- tressed Boys by sending them to Sea,' p. 13) ~It was his combined knowledge of waifs -and wastrels and of seafaring life that made his services so invaluable in founding the Marine Society in 1756. In apprecia- tion of these services the Society presented
 * him with a large silver anchor, the in-

scriptions whereon ran as follows : round the ring, " For the Service of our Country " on one side of the stock :

" The Marine Society was instituted in London

on 22 July, 1756, and within twelve months


 * compleatly fitted out for the service of the Roya

Navy 1911 men and 1580 boys " ;

oa the other side :

" Presented by the Marine Society to John Fielding, Esq., as a token of their just sense o .Ms great services in promoting their design."

These facts respecting the presentation
 * are taken, by courteous permission, fron

he original records of this still active Society, where also appear Sir John's ac- oiowledgments. The anchor probably jerished in the Gordon Riots, when Sir John Yielding and Lord Mansfield were signalled out for the special ferocity of the mob.

J PAUL DE CASTRO. 1 Essex Court, Temple.

THOMAS GORDON : THE DATE OF HIS BIRTH. The ' Dictionary of National Bio- graphy ' records Thomas Gordon as dead n 1750, but leaves the date of his birth an open question. It does not mention among his works ' The Humourist : being Essays upon Several Subjects,' of which vol. i. appeared in 1720, and vol. ii. in 1725. He dedicated it to James O'Hara, Lord Tyrawley and Killmain, who is mentioned in that Dictionary as living 1690-1773. If in vol. i., p. 165, it is of himself that he is speaking as being 29 years old, we see that tie was born in 1691. Is there no register to prove that ? EDWARD S. DODGSON.

The Oxford Union Society.

SHAKESPEARIANA: NEGRO NAMED OTHELLO IN 1685. In The London Gazette for Jan. 1/5, 1684/5, appeared the following advertise- ment, which has special interest for all gleaners in the field of Shaksperiana as well as Pepysiana :

" Bun away the first Instant from Sir Phineas Pet at the Navy Office, a Negro about 16 years of age, pretty tall, he speaks English, but slow in Speech, with a Livery of a dark coloured Cloth, lined with Blue, and so edged in the Seams, the Buttons Pewter, wearing a Cloth Cap, his Coat somewhat too short for him, he is called by the name of Othello, he took with him a new Blue Livery Suite (with several other things) the Suit being laced with Gold Galloom, and lined with Orange Colour, and the Sleeves fringed about with Silk Fringe, and laced upon the Facing with narrow Gold Galloom, Whoever gives notice of the said Negro, so that he be restored to his Master, Sir Phineas Pet, shall be very well rewarded."

It may be that Sir Phineas Pett (who at the moment, according to Mr. H. B. Wheatley, seems to have been Comptroller of the Stores at the Admiralty, prior to his last official appointment, that of Com- missioner at Chatham) shared the low opinion of his colleague, Pepys who several times mentions him in the ' Diary ' as to the play of ' Othello.' The diarist considered it a mean thing by the side of ' The Adven- tures of Five Hours ' ; and it may have been from a like sentiment that Pett assigned the name of the Moor to his young negro lacquey. ALFRED F. BOBBINS.