Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/451

 2 nd s. NO 22., MAY 31. '56.]

NOTES AND QUEEIES.

443

lusion " to use means to hasten the end of persons afflicted with this cruel malady when there was no hope of relief. Inhumanity was not at all the motive, rather the reverse ; nor do I think the practice proceeded from any superstitious feeling, but from the general terror struck around through the operations of the disease, and the mischief it might occasion. What is said to have been the common mode of terminating their sufferings was to smother them between two feather-beds. An old gentleman mentioned to me thirty years ago, in such a manner as if he had entertained his suspicions, of a young man belonging to a re- spectable family who died in the last rabid stage of hydrophobic Delirium. In Scotland the want of coroners' inquests as in England prevents many interesting circumstances connected with extra- ordinary cases from coming to light. No doubt matters are now better managed than in bygone times by the diligence of sheriffs and of other authorities, in making investigations and thorough legal examinations and " proofs," but the result of whose labours are little known unless the sub- ject of criminality be such as to induce a p*ublic trial. Some discussion has occasionally taken place on this as a topic for legislation, but nothing has ever been done, and the country wags on.

G. N.

Spelling of Names Uncertain (2 nd S. i. 372.) P. B. has started a subject .very suitable to the pages of " N. & Q.," and its investigation may explain some of the incongruities of nomenclature. As a small contribution this way, I may mention that I have a couple of books before me which furnish an example, viz. The Highland Spectator, Svo., 1744 ; and The Chain of Fate, ^c., or, Ad- ventures of a North Briton, 8vo., 1756. On the title of the first the author calls himself John Breuhowse, of Perth ; while in the latter, although anonymous, we can clearly trace the same in- dividual as John Breues. He seems to have given his friends in the north the slip, but in a dedica- tion "To my worthy and much honoured cre- ditors," engages to set aside for them the profits of The Highland Spectator. The man who could thus reduce Breuhowse to Breues, might commit the atrocity of deriving both from Bruce. . J. O.

Holly Fences (2 nd S. i. 33-5. 398.) I omitted to answer the inquiry of W. P. A., because I thought it most likely the owner of those initials was resident, about ten yeai'S ago, within a hun- dred miles of Blackheath, and knew a great deal more about planting holly or anything else for fences, than I, or most of your other correspond- ents, could tell him. As, however, three of your correspondents have answered his inquiry, and not one of them has given a direction which I have found most essential to the growth of the plant, I am induced to send it to you for their

benefit. It is this : Plant in September and Oc- tober in damp weather only, not before the rains have penetrated far enough into the ground to moisten it, and whilst the ground is yet warm. Be very careful of the roots ; and if the supply comes from your own nursery, or from a nursery close adjoining, never lift more plants at one time than can be again planted before their fibres be- come affected by drought. If supplied from a distant nursery, the lifting and packing should be done with great care, the roots should be covered and packed in damp moss, and on no account ex- posed to the air during their transport ; and on their arrival be carefully covered with earth for the present, and planted as soon as possible.

ALGERNON HOLT WHITE has surely forgotten the yew, the box, and the spurge laurel, when he writes " holly, the only indigenous English ever- green." GEO. E. FKEKE.

Koyden Hall, Diss.

Macaulay and the Editor of the Sidney Papers (2 nd S. i. 266.) DR. ROCK is quite right in stating that the editor of the Sidney Papers was not Serjt. Blencowe; but he is mistaken in suppos- ing that the gentleman is not in any way connected with the profession of the law. He was called in due course to the Bar by the Hon. Society of the Inner Temple ; and, but for his other qualifica- tions as a county magistrate, it might be thought this circumstance had some influence in his se- lection for the office of Deputy Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for East Sussex, the duties of which he continues to discharge with his accus- tomed ability. This communication has been de- layed, thinking DR. ROCK would discover his error and correct himself. W. S. W.

Perpetual Curates not represented in Convoca- tion (1 st S. 5x. 351.) I have received an answer to this Query from the Rev. J. M. Neale, and I insert it for the advantage of other readers of " N. & Q." Mr. Neale writes to me that,

" In the contested election for Ely Diocese of 1734, the numbers were, Perkins 40, Hetherington 36, Colbatch 36. Colbatch protested, on the ground that a perpetual curate had voted for Hetherington."

He says also that he had other instances in his mind when he wrote the passage which occasioned my query on the right of perpetual curates to convocation;il suiFrages. Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." supply me with them ?

WILLIAM ERASER, B.C.L. Alton, Staffordshire.

Minster Lovel (2 nd S. i. 230. 401.) W. II. W. T. will find a long account of Lord Lovel of Tich- marsh in Hutchins's History of Dorset, and .also in Anderson's House of Yvry, in both of which the legend of his being found walled up in jNlinster Lovell is given. M. C.