Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/119

 -xJ S. N 6., FEB. 9. '56.] !

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Ill

It is more probable that Narcissus was connected with the Devonshire family of that name, than with the Irish Luttrells. J. Y.

The Vessel which brought William III.

" Dr. Lushington stated the other day, in the Admiralty Court, that forty years ago he was counsel in a cause relating to the very ship which brought William III. to this country."

I noticed this extract in The Examiner of the 12th instant. Can any of your readers refer me to the case in which the learned judge made this remark? or, better still, to the one to which he alluded ? It would be worth a Note.

G. BKINDLET ACWORTH.

Star Hill, Rochester.

[We are indebted to a correspondent of the Durham County Advertiser for the following interesting memo- randa, connected with the fortunes of this " ever-to-be- remembered" craft. The Princess Mary, according to the most reliable accounts, was built on the Thames in the earlier part of the 17th century, and was afterwards purchased by the Prince of Orange,, or his adherents, as an addition to the fleet which was destined to effect the glorious Revolution of 1688. The Prince expressly se- lected this vessel to convey himself and suite to England, and he bestowed upon her the above name, in honour of his illustrious consort, the daughter of James II. When the Revolution was un fait accompJi, the claims of the Princess Mary to the royal favour were not overlooked. During the whole of William's reign she held a place of honour as one of the royal yachts, having been regularly used as the pleasure yacht of Queen Anne. By this time, however, her original build was much interfered with from the numerous and extensive repairs she had from time to time undergone. On the death of the queSh, she came into the possession of His Majesty King George I., by whose order she ceased to form part of the royal establishment. About the middle of the last century, during a fit of economy, she was sold by the Government to the Messrs. Walters, of London, from whom she received the name of the Betsy Cairns, in honour, we are told, of some West Indian lady of that name. Having been long and profitably employed -by her new owners in the West Indian trade, she was after- wards disposed of to the Messrs. Carlins, of London, and, alas for the mutability of fortune ! the once regal craft was converted into a collier, and employed in the convey- ance of coals between Newcastle and London. Through all her varied vicissitudes of fortune, however, she is still said to have retained her ancient reputation, "as a lucky ship and fast sailer." She was afterwards (circa 1825) transferred by purchase to Mr. George Finch Wilson, of South Shields, and finally, on the 17th of February, 1827, while pursuing her voyage from Shields to Hamburgh, with a cargo of coals, she" struck upon the " Black Middens," a dangerous reef of rocks north of the mouth of the Tyne, and in a few days afterwards became a total wreck. The news of her disaster excited a very lively sensation throughout the country. She had always been regarded, especially by the sailors, with an almost superstitious feeling of interest and veneration, and at the time of the wreck this feeling was doubtless in no small de- gree enhanced by the recollection of a "memorable pro- phecy " said to be associated with her fortunes viz., " that the Catholics would never get the better while the Betsy Cairns was afloat ! " In length the Betsy Cairns was

80 feet 3 inches by 23 feet broad. She had two decks, the height between which was 6 feet 6 inches. She was carvel built, was without galleries, square- sterned, and devoid of figurehead. She had two masts, and was square-rigged, with a standing bowsprit. The remnant of her original timbering, though but scanty, was ex- tremely fine. There was a profusion of rich and elaborate oak carvings, the colour of the wood, from age and ex- posure, closely resembling that of ebony. As soon as the news of her wreck became known throughout the country, the people of Shields were inundated with applications for portions of her remains. The applications on the part of the Orange Lodges were especially importunate. Snuff- boxes and souvenirs of various kinds were made in large numbers, and brought exorbitant prices. Each of the members of the then Corporation of Newcastle was pre- sented with one of these boxes, which exhibit, in a marked degree, the durability and inimitable qualities of the British oak. A painting of the Betsy Cairns was made by Mr. J. Ferguson, of North Shields. Two carved figures, part of the nightheads, are, we believe, now in the possession of the Brethren of the Trinity House at Newcastle, and a beam, with mouldings covered with gilding, and forming a part of the principal cabin, is now the property of Mr. Rippon, Waterville, North Shields.]

iHtnnr

Pascal Paoli. Enabled as I have been, through the medium of your pages, to give an ac- count of the schools or institutions called " La Martiniere," as founded at Calcutta and Lyons, some excuse may be allowed me if I venture to record the foundation of a similar establishment in Corsica, instituted by an individual of more exalted fame, possessing a mind of equal libe- rality, although of more limited means.

The celebrated Gen. Pascal Paoli, the governor of a kingdom, after a period of success and sub- sequent reverses not in the least discreditable to his fame, but which will hold a place in Euro- pean history sought an asylum in this country, and, enabled by the generosity of an English government, passed a lengthened life of comfort in the society of a large circle of friends. Carry- ing out his feeling of liberality and patriotism, he left by will a considerable sum of money to esta- blish a college at Corte, the capital of the island and the seat of his government, more particularly for the education of youth, as well as means to enlarge the schools of his native village, Rostino.

That two individuals, foreigners to us, should die virtually British subjects, and that their be- quests should require the investigation of an English court of law, and under the same lord chancellor (Eldon), is not the least remarkable part of their history. The dearth of education in Corsica, which Paoli must too often have wit- nessed, led him, no doubt, to this act of generosity, as I cannot think that the knowledge of Col. Martin's bequest to Lyons influenced him ; al- though it might have been known to him, it must