Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 4.djvu/278

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. iv. OCT., wis.

WORDSWORTH : SENECA. Can any of your readers oblige me by telling me whence the motto of Wordsworth's ' Ode to Duty ' ia taken ?

" Jam non consilio bonus sed more eo perductus, Ut non tan turn recte facere possim, sed nisi recte facere non possim." Mr. Summers, in his ' Select Letters of Seneca,' attributes it to him, but does not say in which of his works it occurs. I have, so far, failed to find it.

2. Where do " the celebrated lines of Seneca " (Jowett) occur in which he antici- pated the discovery of America ? I am aware of the passages ' Nat. Quaest.' vii. and xxi., but have not the tragedies to refer to. H. E. G. EVANS.

St. Mary'g House, Tenby.

CROMWELLIAN BIBLES. Some libraries contain a volume entitled : " The Holy Bible, Containing the Old Testament And The New : Newly translated out of the Original Tongues : and with the former translations diligently compared and revised : By his Majesties speciall commandment. Appointed to be read in churches. LONDON, Printed by E. T. for a Society of Stationers. 1655." " E. T." means Evan Tyler. Does the reference to " his Majesty " imply that Oliver Cromwell wished to be proclaimed king ; or that the " Society of Stationers " defied him, and recognized the legitimate claim of Charles II. to the thrones of England and Scotland ? EDWARD S. DODGSON.

[Are not the^words "By his Majesties speciall commandment," like the preceding portion of the title, merely repeated from the title-page of the Authorized Version of 1611?]

GEORGE CROMWELL c. 1619. In the Archdeaconry of Middlesex the records of which are preserved at Somerset House occurs the will of one George CromweH. In his will, proved Jan., 1619/20, he refers to property in the manor of Colkenington alias Kempton and the honour and manor of Hampton Court. He also refers to his two sons Oliver and John and to eight daughters. Can any of your readers kindly suggest from which branch of the Protector's family George Cromwell is descended ?

H. T. McELENEY.

FRENCH REVOLUTION : " EAT CAKE." What is the authority for the oft-repeated story of the French lady who, on hearing that some poor folks could get no bread, asked : " Why do they not eat cake ? "

C. A. J. SKEEL.

HOTELS BRISTOL. The Bristol seems to be a favourite name for hotels on the Continent. Whence comes the name ? It is sometimes stated that a rich nobleman of the name was a prominent visitor in days gone by. Is any further explanation available ? J. H. RIVETT-CABNAC.

Vevey.

TEAL. I should be glad to obtain any information about the following Teals who were educated at Westminster School :

(1) Isaac, admitted in 1732, aged 14.

(2) James, admitted in 1734, aged 7.

(3) Richard, admitted in 1732, aged 13.

G. F. R. B.

WADE. I should be glad to obtain any information about the following Wades who were admitted to Westminster School :

(1) Charles, admitted in 1726, aged 12.

(2) George, admitted in 1734, aged 11.

(3) John, admitted in 1734, aged 9.

(4) Walter, son of Walter Wade of Head- ingley, Yorkshire, who matriculated at Oxford from Univ. Coll. in 1741.

G. F. R. B.

"SYLVESTER NIGHT." In 'Esmond,' nearly at the end of chap. vii. of the second book, Thackeray writes : " And so, the Sylvester night passed away," &c. This was the night of Dec. 31, 1702. In the Roman Catholic calendar Dec. 31 is the day on which Pope Silvester I. is commemorated. Thackeray, however, spelling the word, as his " Cymon Wyldoats " would say, with a y, seems to use it as a picturesque or poetical adjective. Have other writers called New Year's Eve " the Sylvester night " ?

B. B.

" MANTLE-MAKER'S TWIST." Can any one explain this quaint expression for stirring the brew in the teapot to make it stronger ? My mother, who was born in 1834, had it from her mother, and remembers that it was commonly used when she was young, but she can give no explanation as to its origin. " The tea is weak ; I will give it the mantle - maker's twist." I myself have never heard it used except at home. A. F.

LAND TAX AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. In 1806, by Act of Parliament 46 Geo. III. cap. 133, certain houses and charitable institutions (over five hundred in number) were exempted from Land Tax from Christmas, 1806. I believe that a list of these was printed. Can any reader eay where I can see or find a copy of this list.

J. W. F.