Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/93

 12 s. vir. JULY 24, i92o.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 73 inclined Dr. Wilson to accede to the demands oP the Joint Vestry, or that both causes combined produced the effect." Against this I may quote James Peller Malcolm's ' Londinium Redivivum,' vol. iv. 1807, p. 617, where it is said that the statue which had been " erected within the church " was removed by order of the Bishop of London. This however was published nearly thirty years after the event. In my note I gave a description of the statue. I may add that on Nov.' 28 and Dec. 5, 1908 a note or article on the statue, Mrs. Macaulay, Dr. Wilson &c., written by me appeared in the Warrington Guardian. This and my ' N. & Q.' note, which was reproduced in The Warrington Guardian of Mar. 5 and 12, 1910, were reprinted " For Private Circulation." Both of these pam- phlets are in the British Museum. I believe that in the earlier one is a photograph of the statue, sent by me together with a few corrections. The same photograph is reproduced in ' Augustus M. Toplady and Contemporary Hymn-writers,' by Thomas Wright, 1911, facing p. 203. I may remark that, although Mr. Wright applied to me for information, I am not responsible for certain errors on pp. 239, 240, e.a., " Bank Hall, Wirrall, Cheshire, now Warrington Town Hall." Bank Hall is in Warrington, Lanca- shire : Wirrall is the hundred in Cheshire in which was situated the Manor of Wood- church, which passed eventually under Dr. Wilson's .will to Thomas Patten of Bank Hall, Warrington. Further in a foot-note, p. 239, it is stated that the estate had belonged to Dr. Wilson's father, i.e., the Bishop of Sodor and Man. It never belonged to him. It was bought by his son Dr. Thomas Wilson, and devised by the latter to Thomas Macklin of Derby, with remainder, in case of his death without male issue, to Thomas Patten, who on suc- ceeding to the estate was obliged by the pro- visions of Dr. Wilson's will to take the name of Wilson, exclusively. See the Lysons' ' County Palatine of Chester,' 1810, p. 822 and Dr. Wilson's will at Somerset House' Further, Catharine Macaulay died and was- buried at Binfield, not Benfield. A note of mine on " John Wilson Patten, Lord Winmarleigh " appeared at 11 S. i. 23, in which are details concerning the connexions of the Pattens with the Wilsons. I am quite willing to lend a photograph of the statue to W. B. H. if he will write to me. ROBERT PIEBPOINT. 8 Cleveland Square, W.2. JOHN AIKIN' s EXCURSIONS (12 S. vii. 21 r . 43, 61). It is perhaps noteworthy that Aikin's opinion (June 6) of the beauty of Southampton more than a century ago i corroborated by other contemporary writers. " 30 July, 1792. Southampton is one of the most neat and pleasant towns I ever saw. . . .It consists chiefly of one long fine street of three- quarters of a mile in length, called the High. Street " ' Passages from the Diaries of Mrs. Philip Lybbe Powys,' 1899, p. 273. "1798. Southampton is an elegant well-built town. It stands on the confluence of two large waters ; and when the tide is full is seated on a peninsula. . . .The country around is beautiful." ' Gilpin's ' Observations on the Western Parts o~ England,' p. 347. "3 Sept., 1812. I have just returned from Southampton. Have you ever been at that lovely spot which combines all that is enchanting," in wood and land and water with all that is 'buxom, blythe and debonair' in society?.... It has an attraction independent even of its- scenery, in the total absence of the vulgar hurry of business or the chilling apathy of fashion.. It is, indeed, all life, all gaiety: but it has au<. i airiness, an animation, which might become the- capital of fairyland...." L'Estrange's 'Life of Mary Russell Mitford,' 1870, vol. i. p. 207. If, as was said nearly a century ago, by a distinguished Recorder of Salisbury, " It is the delightful task of the topographer to adorn localities with mental associations," then these recollections of a town numbering : 7,600 inhabitants only when Aikin visited it, may. be occasional balm to the- weary soul that finds itself jostled by 100,000- more. It is significant that Aikin makes no- mention of the Abbey at Rumsey [Romsey] because Mrs. Powys, who also visited the town in 1792, is silent thereon. To her the attraction was* Broadlands then the seat of the Palmerstons, and previously occupied, by Sir John St. Barbe (Fielding's ' Parson Adams,' 12 S. i. 224). Were they unaware^ that the Abbey contained Norman work of the very best kind ; or was Gothic archi- tecture in such high repute that they hurried 1 on to Winchester ; or perchance, that the~ Abbey at that period was closed on week- days ? Scarcely the last t as a golden key- will open most church doors. J. PAUL DE CASTRO. 1 Essex Court, Temple. SARAH'S COFFEE-HOUSE (12 S. vi. 41). Miss ANSTEY may be interested to know- that the Search Court of the Clockmakers*' Company met in 1718 at " Sarah's Coffee- House in Cheapside." J. P. r>E C.