Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/473

 12 s. vii. NOV. is, 1920] 'NOTES AND QUERIES.

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inscription or elsewhere. However, readers of ' N. & Q. ' may perhaps be able to adduce further instances of comfortably-placed bachelors being classed as " desirable " < their monumental inscriptions.

A. STAPLETON. 29 Shakespeare Villas, Nottingham.

THE EMPRESS EUGENIE AT BOULOGNE, 1854. In view of the recent death of the ex-Empress Eugenie, the following letter written by the late Thomas Beard, when staying with Charles Dickens at Boulogne, to his sister Catherine Beard, may interest many of your readers :

Boulogne, Oct. 1, 1854. MY DEAR CATHERINE,

Thank you heartily for your note and birthday greeting. I am well and jolly to the highest degree. The weather is almost inconceivably fine, and Dickens wholly disengaged, so that I am passing every hour of every day in the open air.

There are great doings at the Camp, the Emperor and Empress visiting it almost daily. I had a fine sight of "the lady " yesterday, when there was a grand inspection of somewhere about 40.000 troops upon the spot where the great Napoleon first insti- tuted the crosses of the Legion of Honour. She was on horseback carried herself with consummate ease and gracefulness in the saddle, and looked exceedingly pretty, but delicate. Just as the in- spection was about to commence the whole body of troops being formed in line on three sides of a huge square, the spectators occupying the fourth side, and the imperial party drawn up on a slight elevation in the centre a courier, " scalded with hot haste and spleen of speed," spurred across the plain and presented the Emperor with a despatch. It announced the fall of Sebastdpol ! Napoleon, having devoured it with his eye, handed it to the Empress, who read its contents aloud, and then pressed it with fervour to her lips. Aides de Camp instantly started at a gallop to every part of the line exclaiming, amidst the shouts of the Army, "Sebastopol est pris." Imagine the scene. 1 cannot describe it.

John's letter does not contain a line from himself, but merely a copy of the Admiral's recognition of the claims of the officers and men engaged in the transport service to pensions in the event of acci- dents. It is dated Sept. 10

Egg [Augustus Egg] is here and likely to remain as long probably as I shall. He is a very agreeable fellow, and we make out together capitally. Horses as yet are not to be had (for love or money, but when the Emperor goes away we hope they will be more come-at-able. The hack horses here, how- ever, appear at best to be but a sorry lot. But if possible we must try their mettle, as the girls seem to depend upon it.

Dickens is roaring for me to join him in a walk, so here ends.

My warmest love to all.

Always your affec* brother,

(Signed) THOMAS BEARD.

NATHANIEL T. BEARD.

WINDMILL TIES. White linen neckcloths tied with two bows and two ends radiating from a central knot were so called in derision about 1860 by young Tractarian clergy, who affected "jampots " or the like.

J. T. F.

Winterton, Lines.

UNCOLLECTED KIPLING ITEMS. (See 12 S. vi- 178 ; vii. 4, 78, 136). I have just come across a review, cut from an old newspaper, of a, book called 'From Pillar to Post,' written by Lieut. -Col. H. C. Lowther and published by Arnold. The book probably appeared not long after the South African war, though my cutting unfortunately has no date. I quote the following extracts from the review :

" Col. Lowther was in South Africa from the beginning to the end of the war.... He tells many good stories, one of a meeting with Rudyaid Kipling, Julian Ralph and Percival Landon at Bloemfontein, when he actually had to ask for a drink, being handed, a few moments after its arrival, a document written by Kipling, and signed by the three hosts :

' In Memory of an Almost Fatal Error.'

Our cheeks turn pink whenever we think of our hospital-i-tee,

And the man who had to beg a drink of Landon, Ralph and me."

J. R. H.

djiierus.

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 maybe sent to them direct.

THE PIPE OF PEACE, 1871. My friend Mr. Alan F. Hooke has kindly presented to the smoking-room of the House of Commons a curious merschaum pipe of great size. It is elaborately carved. On the front of the bowl are the arms of England emblazoned in great detail. At the back is a canopy over a throne on which Queen Victoria is seated. On her left is a female figure representing France and on her right Grermania with a drawn sword and shield in an attitude of defiant protest. Before her is a table ; opposite to her and addressing her is Mr. Gladstone ; behind her chair in a dejected attitude is Napoleon III.

Round the table are four statesmen seated. It is believed that they represent Granville, Robert Lowe, the Duke of Argyle, and one other not identified.

Can any of your readers tell me the listory of the pipe ? It is estimated to be