Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/257

 i2s. vii. SEPT. ii, 1920.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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LONDON STREET "GROTTOES." Can any reader of 'N. & Q.' tell me the origin of those " grottoes " [sic] which the children in the street lay out with so much care on our pavements, and use as an excuse for begging ?

They have interested me for many years, and although many people have offered suggestions, legendary and otherwise, to explain them I have been unable to associate their deductions with any particular feast- day, or religious period such as Lent or Advent.

Neither have I ever seen them outside Lon- don. Last week I saw one near Kennington. There was the usual border of pulled grass, and inside were three glass vases with flowers, two large spotted cowries, four meat- juice bottles, two much soiled picture post- cards, and some odd pieces of coloured silk, all very daintily arranged.

I could get no information from the children themselves, who only grinned in cheerful expectation of alms.

I would be grateful for any information on the subject. CHAS. SAMPSON.

79 Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square, W.I.

THE WESTMINSTER CHIMES. Many years ago I read, where I unfortunately forget, that the words to the Westminster Chimes were as follows :

O Lord our God.

Be Thou our guide,

That by Thy help,

No feet may slide.

Recently, in reply to a question in a local paper, it was stated that the original words to the chimes at the hour were :

All through this hour,

Grant Lord that we,

Saved by Thy power,

From sin may be.

Which is correct and what authority is there for either ? It has been truly said that some are in trouble, or perplexed, some are on a bed of sickness, some are in the night when sleep would not be wooed, might listen to their sweet sounds and find help and comfort in these words.

H. C. BARNARD. The Warren, Burnham, Somerset.

THE REDDLEMAN. Will some reader kindly tell me what is the old trade or custom connected with sheep alluded to by Thomas Hardy in the occupation of the " reddleman," in ' The Return oi the Native. ' Any details on the subject will be welcome.

FLORENCE NEVILL.

30 York Avenue, Hove, Sussex.

CHARLES LAMB'S PEDIGREE. In 'The Lambs, Their Lives, Their Friends and Their correspondence ' by William Carew Hazlett, on page 7, it reads:

" If researches could be undertaken among the parish registers of Lincolnshire and Hertford- shire, it might transpire that the family once enjoyed a better status. The episode of the rich relative, to whom Aunt Hetty was sent for a while in 1796 furnishes a hint of some such thing."

Were any researches ever made, or a pedi- gree of the Lamb family compiled ?

STEVENSON H. WALSH. Philadelphia, Penn.

"CRUTCHES FOR LAME DUCKS." I am much interested in the above phrase which occurs in a charming article in The Times of Aug. 25 entitled 'Clerical Bookshelves.' I have never heard the words since my childhood when if one shewed undue curiosity the reply vouchsafed to importunate en- quirers was " Layovers for meddlers and crutches for lame ducks ! " Perhaps some correspondent may be able to throw light upon its derivation I cannot.

ELLA MACMAHON.

Belgium.

BROOCH AND MOTTO. I have come across a brooch about an inch long and the same height, shewing an imp with horns and tail, holding a trident in his right hand, at the tail, but depressed to the front, and in his left, sketched to the front, a small object which might be a cup.

As support or base a curved blue enamel scroll with the inscription Hosti Acie Nomi- nati in brass lettering.

Will some one kindly translate the motto and explain the device ? It is quite modern.

F. J. O.

JOSEPH PORTER OF MORTLAKE. Infor- mation respecting " Joseph Porter, Esq., of Mortlake," whose portrait was published by Longmans in 1809 "from a painting by Hogarth " would be of interest to readers of ' N. & Q. ' as well as to the inquirer, who has been unable to find any reference to the family in records dealing with local cele- brities in the past. 'A. J. W.

BEACONSFIELD'S 'SYBIL': "CARAVAN." Beaconsfield opens his novel ' Sybil ' with the words "I'll take the odds against Caravan " and then " It was the eve of the Derby of 1817." Was there ever a race- horse with the slow-going name of Caravan ? J. HARRIS STONE.

Oxford and Cambridge Club, S.W.