Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/20

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[2nd g. tfo 1., JAN. 5. '56.

we have a clue to that of the other ; and I am not without -hope that we niay, by this means, recover some knowledge, however small, of the -lost lan- guages of ancient Italy. ANON.

Maidment. Can any light be thrown on the history of the unfortunate Mr. Maidment, the missionary, whose melancholy fate excited so much interest some time since. What was his Christian name ? Any information relative to him would be most acceptable. J. M. (2.)

Leas " Ecclesiastical Registry of Ireland." I have a copy of a 12mo. publication of 264 pages, entitled The Present State of the Established Church, or Ecclesiastical Registry of Ireland, for the Year 1814. It purports to have been "com- piled and arranged by Samuel Percy Lea, Gent.," but on the title-page of my copy there is the fol- lowing statement in writing :

" The whole of this little work was drawn up and com- posed by me, Patrick Lynch, for Mr. Lea, whose pro- perty it is."

How was this ? and who was Patrick Lynch ? The book has been long since superseded by Dr. Erck's Ecclesiastical Register. ABHBA.

Naphthaline. I do not consume "midnight oil," but I write a great deal by gas-light, having gas in my study, and all over my house. It hap- pens several times in every year that my lights begin to diminish in brilliancy, the fish-tails col- lapse, it gets worse and worse every night, till at last, tired of these " ineffectual fires," I call for can- dles, and send for a gasfitter. He comes with many tools, and after putting out all my lights, and per- fuming the house with carburetted hydrogen, sets all to rights again. My burners hiss and war as they were wont, and my friend tells me that the supply-pipe is choked with naphthaline. I gene- rally observe that this pleasant interruption of work and study occurs after a sharp frost. Can any of your scientific readers suggest a remedy ? I do not doubt that it will be very acceptable to many others besides your constant reader, when his gas will allow him to read. PHOSPHILOS.

Custumary of the Abbey of Milton. Hutching, in his History of Dorset (vol. ii. p. 436., edition 1774), mentions a certain Custumary of the Abbey of Milton, " which was in the hands of the late Mr. John Bailey, rector of South Cadbury in Somersetshire." Can any of your readers tell me what has become of it ? C. TV. BJNGHAM.

Steel Bells. About six or eight years ago, some experiments were made on these bells for churches. Can any of your readers tell me how they suc- ceeded ? and whether there is any manufactory of them at present in England ? A. A.

Poets' Corner.

Albert Durer's Picture of " Melancholy." Can any one offer an explanation of the different em- blems in Albert Durer's celebrated picture of " Melancholy " ? Q. F.

Clifford's Inn Dinner Custom. At Clifford's Inn, there being no chaplain, the president, says, " Gentlemen, the usual grace, you know ;" and when dinner is over he takes three loaves, or rolls of bread, and dashes them on the floor. They are twice returned to his hands, and as often thrown down again. Thus three times are they sent to the floor, silently, and with uniform veheflrence. How has this custom originated, and what is its signification ? JJ.

Portrait of FranhKn. In the European Maga- zine for April, 1783, maybe found an engraved portrait of Franklin, " from a painting in the pos- session of F. Schwediauer, M. D., in Newman Street." Can any one tell me what has become of that painting ? T. H. B.

Philadelphia.

Johnston, the Author of " Chrysal" Sir Walter Scott, in his Life of Johnston, the author of Chnjsal, says that, " although by birth an Irishman, John- ston was of the Annandale family." What authority is there for this ? J. M. (2 )

The Eucharist commonly called the Mass. Has this title of the Mass been applied to the holy Eucharist in any document authoritatively issued since the first prayer-book of King Edward, and the first act of Uniformity ? H.

Queen Elizabeth's Letter to Edmund Plowden. Queen Elizabeth wrote a letter to Edmund Plow- den, the great lawyer of her reign, and who was called the oracle of the law, offering him the Lord High Chancellorship and a peerage, if he would conform to the established religion : valuing his faith more than honours and worldly advantages, the offer was respectfully declined. This letter was known to be iriwxistence till a recent period (say seventy years at the utmost). All trace of the document is now lost. 1st. Could any of your readers give any information respecting this letter, as to its being in existence, or its whereabouts ; or where there would be a chance of finding it?* 2ndly. Is a transcript of the letter to be found, or known to be in existence, or any information to be gathered respecting its contents, beyond the simple facts mentioned ? Information respecting this letter of Queen Elizabeth is earnestly re- quested. F. J. B.

[* In 1851, a correspondent in "N. & Q." (iv. 319.) states, that " Elizabeth's autograph letter was until re- cently in the possession of "the family." An extract of Sir E Imund Plowden's letter, in answer to that of the queen's, is given in Sir Francis Plowden's Reply to Sir Philip Musgrave, 8vo., 1806. ED.]