Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/391

 19., MAY 10. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

383

symbolises authorship and erudition. The balance above him, statics. The syringe on the "round indicates surgery. The lunar rainbow and dog- star in the sky are unusual signs of astronomy. The ladder is probably extended to remind us that we can only attain a certain amount of know- ledge in this world ; or it may mean that the higher the ascent, the deeper is the fall. The bat is the constant, companion of melancholy. The acces- sories', which here Heller merely enumerates with- out explanation, I have omitted.

WILLIAM RADFOKD.

Major Andre (2 nd S. i. 255 ) I am not aware that in the various particles of data respecting Major Andre, which have appeared in " N. & Q.," since information was first requested by his bio- grapher, that reference has as yet been made to page 174. of The Portfolio (Feb. 1817), a monthly magazine published in Philadelphia by Harrison Hall. The following is an extract :

" Maria Edgeworth is the daughter of the celebrated Honora Sneyd (afterwards Mrs. E.), who inspired the unfortunate Major Andre with a passion which she was not permitted to reward, and which is considered by com- mon fame as the cause of his having become soldier."

Richard Lovel Edgeworth, the father of the fair and distinguished novelist, founded a town in North Carolina, which he christened Sneyd- borough, in compliment to Honora.

The above paragraph is extracted from the late Thomas Moore's copy of The Portfolio, six volumes of which are at present preserved with the rest of his books in the Royal Irish Academy.

Perhaps some of your correspondents interested in the history of Major Andre may not be aware that Miss Edgeworth, in the appendix to her Treatise on Female Education, corrects some in- accuracies of statement in Miss Sewanl's Monody on the major's death.

WILLIAM JOHN FITZ-PATRICK. . Dublin. .

English Pronunciation of Latin (2 nd S. i. 218.) Your correspondent E. C. H. must, I think, be mistaken in saying that the usage began at the commencement of the present century. That de- lightful journalist, Samuel Penys, dining with the Spanish ambassador, May 5, 16G9, says that he met " an Oxford scholar in a Doctor of Law's gowne," who " knew only Latin, which he spoke like an Englishman, to one of the Fathers." (Diary, vol.jv. p. 167., ed. 1854.) Lord Bray- brooke adds in a note, " i. e. with the English pro- 'nunciation." R. S.

John Knox's Prophecy (2 nd S. i. 270.) A. M. calls John Knox's prayer a " prophecy," and asks if any French king since Charles IX. has had a direct heir as successor. Henry IV. was suc- ceeded by his son Louis XIII., who was succeeded

by his son Louis XIV. The latter was succeeded by his grandson ; and no French monarch since has been followed in the throne by son or daughter.

B. H. C.

Drinking at Public Feasts (l !t S. xi. 25. 255. 423 ) The following curious passage is from the Life of John Bruen, by W. Hinde, published 1641:

"Being once at a High-Sheriff's feast, where there were some Lords, spiritual and temporal, as they are called, and many other Knights and gentlemen of great place, there was a health begun by one of the Lords to the Prince, which after the manner was entertained, and maintained, with a great deal of ceremonial solemnity ; As it went along, and drew near unto him (many ob- serving what he would say or do) he cast out, in a mo- derate manner, some words to this effect : Here is a so- lemn service to the Prince, yet did he never require it, nor will ever give you any thanks for it.' And when one pressed him to pledge and drink to the Prince's health, he made this mild and gentle answer only ; You may drink to his health, and I will pray for his health, and drink for mine own, and as I wish you may do for yours.' And so he put it off, and passed it over, never sorting with them, nor yielding to any one of their so- lemn ceremonies in this act. He did bear a more ge- nerous mind than to be brought in subjection into every idle fancy and foolery, or to conform himself unto the humours and customs of profane men."

A. ROFFE.

Somers' Town.

Topographical Names (2 nd S. i. 266.) I sup- pose MB. HYDE CLARKE to be aware that Bailey

says :

" OVER, in composition of proper names of places, &c., signifies a bank ; as in Brownsover, &c., from the Saxon operie."

R. W. HACKWOOD.

The Bustard (2 nd S. i. 314) At the latter part of the last century, the bustard, although rare, was not unfrequent on Salisbury plain. My great uncle, the Rev. Henry White, of Fyfiehl, near Andover, about the year 1780, told a shep- herd on the plain he would give a guinea for one, and shortly after the shepherd claimed the reward ; producing a hen bustard he had killed on her nest ! Tlie brother of Gilbert White, of Selborne, paid his guinea ; sorely repenting he had so rashly promised it. A. HOLT WHITE.

Running Footmen (2 nd S. i. 177.) At the present time (or certainly, to my knowledge, within the last few years) the carriage of the High Sheriff of Northumberland, on proceeding to meet the judges of assize, is attended by two pages on foot, holding on to the handle of the carriage-door on either side, and running along beside it. They are dressed in a short livery jacket and white trousers, and generally have a jockey cap. An aged relative of mine well re- membered the custom of running footmen being kept up by some of the nobility in that county, probably within the last eighty years. M. H. R.