Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/110

 102

NOTES AND QUEKItiS.

[2nd s. N 5., FEB. 2. '56.

lent the great Milton fifty pounds soon after the Restora- tion, which the bard returned him with honour, though not without much difficulty, as his circumstances were very low. Mr. Hartop would have declined receiving it, but the pride of the poet was equal to his genius, and he sent the money with an angry letter, which was found among the curious possessions of that venerable old man." P. 138.

CESTRIENSIS.

Equestrian Lord Mayors (2 nd S. i. 17.) Under this head D. S. relates what he terms a tradition of a venerable ornament of the bench, who, in proceeding on horseback to Westminster Hall, lost his equilibrium, and was prostrated in the mud. He adds that, in consequence of this accident, it was determined that the procession should in future be made in carriages.

The inference that carriages had not been in use on such occasions previously, is incorrect ; the circumstance alluded to, which was briefly as follows, is described by North in the JExamen, fol. 57.

The Earl of Shaftesbury determined, on the first day of Term, 1679-80 (when the law officers waited on the Great Seal to Westminster Hall), to have the procession on horseback, " as in the old time was, when coaches were not so rife."

The accident alluded to happened to Judge Twisden, who " to his great fright and the con- sternation of his brethren, was laid along in the dirt ; and this," says North, " was enough to divert the like frolic for the future, and the very next Term after they fell to their coaches as before."

This was therefore nothing but an unsuccessful attempt to revive an old custom, and is spoken of as being a freak or fancy on the part of the earl.

Carriages were introduced into England in 1564, and the incident cited above plainly shows that processions on horseback had been in disuse long before 1679-80 ; but when the change was made, or when first a lord mayor's state coach was built, I have no means of ascertaining.

CHARLES WYLIE.

D. S. will find the information he requires re- specting the lord mayor's state coach, in Timbs's Curiosities of London, under the heads " State Coaches," and " Lord Mayor's State."

CHRISTIAN LB Ros.

Maidment the Missionary (2 nd S. i. 12.) I am very glad an inquiry has been made relative to this nran,jwhose memory ought not entirely to sink away. His career would furnish the Edin- burgh reviewer with another proof that faith was not yet dead amongst us. Maidment had been a servant ; he possessed a most retentive memory, and a fluent speech ; and when his religious faith became the most predominant feature in his cha- racter, he earnestly strove to instil its precepts among the class with whom he bad associated, by

no means the most ready to receive impressions of such a nature. I know, however, but little of him ; but as a clew to J. M. (2.), he had a bro- ther (and perhaps he still is there) in the service of Miss Burdett Coutts ; and should this be in- sufficient for the purposes of J. M. (2.), I doubt not but what I can discover him, from whom I dare say all information of his brother can be obtained. H. G. D.

Retributive Justice (1 st S. xii. 317.) Add the case connected with the instrument of criminal execution called the " Maiden." Of this instru- ment the prototype of the guillotine the memorable fact is recorded, that having been in- troduced into Scotland by the Regent Morton, he suffered an ignominious death by that very means in 1581, having been condemned for the savage murder of Darnley. R. W. HACKWOOD.

(1" S. x. 473.) I have been quite un- able to find an example of this word. Still I have little doubt of its being, for I find in Hesy- chius, 2(i5e5, and 2(/H8^=xp8>7. No lexicon which I have consulted refers to any authority, and from several it is altogether absent. B. H. C.

The Wren Song in Ireland (l rt S. xii. 489.) As the same custom is observed in this city, I wish to add a few more verses to those already sent you by my friend MR. HAYMAN.

" On Christmas Day I turned the spit, I burned my fingers, I feel it yet ; Between my finger and my thumb, I eat the roast meat every crumb.

Sing, hubber ma dro my droleen, &c.

We were all day hunting the wren, We were all day hunting the wren ; The wren so cute, and we so cunning, H stayed in the bush while we were a-running. Sing, hubber ma dro my droleen, &c.

" When we went to cut the holly, All our boys were brisk and jolly; We cut it down all in a thrice, Which made our wren-boys to rejoice. Sing, hubber ma dro my droleen," &c.

THOS. GlMLETTE, Clk.

Waterford.

Bonnecarrere (2 nd S. 5. 44.) In addition to our editor's conclusive observations on Bonne- carrere's absurd letter, I would beg leave, as a point of general history, to ask MR. FITZ-PATRICK for the authority on which he pronounces him " a man of the highest integrity"." His historical cha- racter (see Madame Roland, &c.) is by no means so clear. C.

Albany Wallace (1 st S. ix. 323.) The pedigree of Albany Wallace, Esq., of Worthing, co. Sussex, is to be found in Burke's Landed Gentry, p. 1494., and supplementary volume, p. 303.

G. STEINMAN STEINMAN.