Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/427

 i2S.vni.ApiuL3o.i92i.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 349 PREDECESSORS OF ' EDWIN DROOD.' - The recent publication of Mr. Percy Garden's book, ' The Murder of Edwin Drood,' and the reprinting^ of Gillan Vase's work ' The Great Mystery Solved ' the latter published in 1878 for the first time is evi- dence that Dickens's unfinished work still retains a considerable hold on public in- terest. Mr. J. Cuming Walters, in his con- tribution to the solution of the mystery entitled ' The Complete Mystery of Edwin Drood ' (published in 1912), makes an al- lusion in the Introduction, p. xx., to an incident which, unexplained, places Dickens in a very unfavourable light, and indeed might lead persons not acquainted with the great novelist to suspect him of unpardon- able behaviour to another and a younger author. Mr. Walters says : Dickens, in a letter written by him as editor of All the Year Round, explained to the Hon. Robert Lytton why he could not continue the publication of his story ' John Acland ' as origi- nally projected. Dickens^s letter was peculiarly apologetic in tone, and manifestly he desired to s**lve Lytton's wounded feelings, though obviously he had no alternative but to discontinue the story, which he discovered " had been done before." But here follows a bewildering series of facts. The story of ' John Acland,' begun in 1869, was of a man mysteriously murdered by his closest friend, his body untraced, his probable reappearance in the flesh suggested, the corpse ultimately dis- covered in an icehouse and identity established by means of a watch. It is at once apparent that this plot closely resembles in outline the plot of ' Edwin Drood.' Yet Dickens, finding the story " had been done before," stops Lytton's story in 1869, and six months later begins a similar one himself ! On this, the following queries arise : 1. What was the original story that was so like Lytton's ' John Acland,' and where is it to be found ? 2. Are the parallels such as to suggest that Lytton copied from that story or are they merely coincidences ? 3. Has any explanation been given why Dickens, knowing Lytton's work, and aware of its similarity to another story, at a later period de- cided to deal with the same theme ? Mr. Walters then goes on to discuss other matters, but it would be interestiing to know how far Lytton's story was allowed to run, and what excuse Dickens, as editor, made to his readers for stopping the publication of a tale which must, by the description given above, have intrigued their imaginations. Mr. Cuming Walters appears to know the end of the story, but it would seem never to have been completed in All the Year Round. Perhaps it was afterwards pub- lished in book form ? This is an incident very little discussed by " Droodists," and they are much indebted to Mr. Cuming Walters for his interesting dis- closures. Some more detailed information would, however, be exceedingly valuable, and perhaps those of your readers who are in possession of the complete facts would be able to supply the missing links. M. A. ELLIS. 5, Tavistock Street, W.C.2. SULLIVAN, ITINERANT BOOKSELLER. Borrow, in his ' Wild Wales ' (chap, xxvii.), gives an amusing account of an encounter with a travelling Irish " bookseller," Michael Sullivan, near the Menai tubular bridge. Was Sullivan an actual personage ? J. ARDAGH. NOVEL WANTED : ' THE VAGABOND.' Some time about 1885 a serial novel with the above title appeared in the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle Supplement. Who was the author; was the novel issued in book form ; and where can it now be obtained ? ARTHUR BOWES. MICHAEL KEN YON, who had kept com- pany with Dr. Nicolas Sander and also with Thomas Stucley, was one of the soldiers levied in Lancashire who refused to fight against the Irish Catholics. By Dec. 9, 1580, he had been arrested and imprisoned at Chester (Dasent, * Acts of the Privy Council,' xii., pp. 287, 298 ; * Cal. S.P., Irish Series,' 1574-1585, p. 274). What is known of him and of his companions Shute and Chatham ? He accused them and they accused him. T. A. KENYON. 31, Derby-road, Southport. MEANING OF MOTTO WANTED. " Lavins Fit Patientia " appears on a bookplate under a coat of arms in a number of old Illustrated London News I bought many years ago. The owner's name is beneath Frederick Burgess, Burgess Hall, North Finchley. What pos- sible meaning can be attached to " Lavins " ? Even if it w r ere a Latin word, which it cer- tainly is not, the motto would have no sense. Can any reader throw light on the history of this bookplate ? BRA YE. [" Lavins " would appear to be a mistake for levins. "Levius fit patientia " (cf. Hor. Od. I. xxiv. : Durum : sed levius fit patientia Quicquid corrigere est nefas.) is (he motto cf the Surges family, who, in the eighteenth century, changed that name to Lamb. See Burke.]