Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 1.djvu/256

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[9 th S. I. MAR. 26, '98.

PASSAGE PROM VICTOR HUGO. M. Zola's new novel 'Paris' commences with a long quotation from Victor Hugo. I should like to know from which of the latter's works it- is taken. W. G.

To " BULL - DOZE." The Weekly Times and Echo of 30 January, p. 8, said, "The Kaiser thinks it will be rather a clever thing to bull-doze his grandmother." What is the origin of the verb in italics 1 Is it derived from bull-dog ? If dog is already a verb, why should not bull-dog become one also, without any further doctoring ? PALAMEDES.

BRUMMELL. Is the family of Brummell (Beau Brummell) now extinct ?

E. E. THOYTS. Sulhamstead Park, Berks.

Du PLESSY FAMILY. Can you refer me to any books where I could get a full account of the old French family of the Du Plessys, or give me any details of their later histor} r ?

ENQUIRER.

CARMICHAEL OF MAULDSLAY. Among the sons of John, first Earl of Hyndford. was the Hon. Daniel Carmichael of Mauldslay (ob. 1707), who had a son Daniel (ob. 1765), who in turn had a son Daniel. Did this branch of the Carmichaels difference the Hyndford coat (Argent, a fesse tortile azure and gules) ; and, if so, in what manner ? Where did the last-named Daniel die, and when ?

BERMUDA.

EGYPTIAN MEAL. In a recent number of the Hotel World the following paragraph appeared. I was under the impression that this story had been proved to be entirely untrue. Is not that so ?

"Some grains of the wheat found by Belzoni in his explorations amongst the colossal and enduring edifices of Egypt were sent by him to England, where, being sown, they germinated, and in the result wheat has been raised from these relics of the past."

D. M. K.

[See ' N. & Q.,' 6 th S. ii. 306, 415, 452 ; iii. 135, 158, 212, 278 ; ir. 173 ; 8 th S. i. 224, 363, 479, where the subject is so thrashed out that further discussion is superfluous.]

" KEG-MEG." In North Lincolnshire this is an epithet applied to a gossiping woman. What is the origin of the term ? Is it known elsewhere? H. ANDREWS.

KEY. JOHN B. SMITH, POET, AUTHOR OF 'SEATON BLACK,' 1835. I much want this author's second Christian name. He was minister, 1830-32, of the Old, or George's, Meeting, Colyton, and died at Seaton, 1837, where he was buried on 10 April. The register

only says " B." Any information about him, his widow, or son, other than that given in Wright's 'West-Country Poets,' will really be of help to me for my coming work on 'Colytonia.' GEO. EYRE EVANS.

Small Heath, Birmingham.

THE TODS OF EPSOM. I have a family letter of the last century, addressed to care of "Mrs. Tod's, Meikelham, Epsom, by way of London"; the writer of the same alluding to her in another epistle as " a lady of fashion, sister of Mrs. Shaw, at whose house in Gerard Street, Soho, I was once every day when I was at London in 1769." Perhaps some one may recall the family. The Gentleman's Magazine for 1759 gives the death of James Tod, Esq., of Epsom. C.

ORFORD, SUFFOLK. Has the history of this ancient borough been published 1 I heard a year or two ago that Mr. Sancroft Randall, of Old Charlton, Kent, had undertaken this work, and that Lord John Hervey was editing the muniments of the dissolved cor- poration of Orford. I shall be glad to hear if there is any truth in these statements.

W. G. PENGELLY.

Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

LORD RANCLIFFE. Details wanted of the career of George, second Lord Rancliffe. He was M.P. for Nottingham early in the present century. JOHN T. THORP.

Leicester.

VALENTINES. Can any one inform me the date when pictorial valentines first came into use, give the names of the manufacturers, and state where early examples can noAv be found 1 Are there any collectors of ancient valentines in England 1 FRANK H. BAER.

Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

BICYCLES IN THUNDERSTORMS. During a thunderstorm is a person riding a bicycle in greater danger than if walking ?

ELECTRON.

MARQUIS DE MIREMONT. An entry in the Home Office Warrant Book (indexed in ' Calendar of State Papers : Domestic Series, William and Mary ') runs : " Pass for Samuell Serse for Holland, Feb. 18, 1689/90. Marq. de Miremont." Who was the Marquis de Miremont ; and under what circumstances did he sign passes for Holland ? MARKEN.

THE USE OF MORTAR AND PESTLE IN FARMHOUSES. In farm life, even in the earliest ages, grinding material, both for use in the farmer's house and on the farm, must have been an absolute necessity. Was this