Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/323

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" RAISING THE WIND " (9 th S. x. 85, 253). It is not only in the Orkney Islands or among the Laplanders and Finlanders that the wise man or woman's art of raising the wind has in comparatively recent times, and perhaps at the present day, been practised. j.n parts of Ireland it is still a common belief that the wind may be literally raised by entering into a compact with the Evil One, when it can be laid again only by the death of a black cock, a black dog, or an un- christened child : " Dear knows what harm she [the Lianhan Shee] might do us may be raise the wind" ('The Lianhan Shee,' in Carleton's 'Stories of the Irish Peasantry').

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

FYNES MORYSON'S 'ITINERARY' (9 th S. x. 247). Has MR. HUGHES consulted the Indexes of ' N. & Q.' ? If not, he should refer to 2 nd S. xi. 321 for a long article by C. H. and THOMP- SON COOPER, of Cambridge, containing ex- tracts from a MS. in the library of Corpus Christi College, pxford, from 1566 to 1613, bearing the imprimatur of Thomas Wilson, 14 June, 1626.

Fuller says that Moryson died about 1614. His works are ' A History of Ireland,' from 1599 to 1603, 2 vols., 1735; 'An Itinerary, containing Ten Years' Travels through the Twelve Dominions of Germany,' &c., 1617.

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road.

SIR WALTER SCOTT AND SIR DAVID WILKIE (9 th S. x. 129,235).-One reference to Wilkie's genius occurs in * The Antiquary,' at the open- ing of chap. xxxi. Speaking of the interior of Mucklebackit's cottage, Scott writes thus in flowing generosity of warm tribute :

"In the inside of the cottage was a scene which our Wilkie alone could have painted, with that exquisite feeling of nature that characterizes his enchanting productions."

' The Antiquary ' appeared in 1816, and the anonymous compliment thus appropriately paid was duly acknowledged in. .a letter written by Wilkie to Scott, when an edition of the novels with new illustrations was pro- posed in 1829. The opening of this letter is

printed in Mr. Douglas's 'Journal of Sir Walter Scott,' ii. 241, and runs as follows :

"DEAR SIK WALTER, I pass over all those disastrous events that have arrived to us both since our last, as you justly call it, melancholy parting, to assure you how delighted I shall be if I can in the most inconsiderable degree assist in the illustrations of the great work, which we all hope may lighten or remove that load of troubles loy which your noble spirit is at this time beset ; con- sidering it as only repaying a debt of obligation which you yourself have laid upon me when, with an unseen hand in ' The Antiquary,' you took me up and claimed me, the humble painter of domestic sorrow, as your countryman."

Surely we have here a very pretty and touching interchange of courtesies on the part of two sovereign interpreters of Scottish life and manners. Allan Cunningham may be justified in saying that there are frequent- references to Wilkie throughout the novels for one may be familiar, like my friend MR. PICKFORD, with these stores of romantic treasure, and not remember all the exquisite touches of a personal nature but this par- ticular instance is rendered eminently note- worthy by the artist* s cordial appreciation.

THOMAS BAYNE.

" Works published by Cadell & Co., 1830, Feb. 1st : ' The Tales of my Landlord,' vol. i. (vol. ix. of the new edition), is published this day. The publishers have the satisfaction of announcing that this volume is illustrated with designs by Wilkie."

The frontispiece of vol. ix. by Wilkie repre- sents the Laird of Milnwood at dinner, and the entrance ofc Bothwell with the Life- Guardsmen. The vignette of vol. x. is also by Wilkie. E. YARDLEY.

THE EVOLUTION OF A NOSE (9 th S. ix. 445 ; x. 34, 236). SIR OSWALD HUNTER-BLAIR has already acknowledged his mistake as to the origin of the Somerset nose, and he and others may be interested in a note I have long intended to send you. Some years ago I came across several members of the family of the main and other branches, and was much struck by the persistence of the feature. My speculations as to its origin were solved one day at Winchester Cathedral, on dis- covering the very same nose on the portrait effigy of Cardinal Beaufort. My friend MR. HARTSHORNE may be interested to know of this instance of a portrait effigy, and I sup- pose it will be difficult to meet with a better authenticated case of persistence of type through five centuries.

I do not think there exists an effigy of John of Gaunt or sufficiently trustworthy portrait, but the effigy of Edward III. has a quite different nose, as has that of Henry III., which latter may, however, not be a portrait.