Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 11.djvu/155

 9*8. XL FEB. 21, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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in the new theatre, I suffered it to pass unnoticed, but understanding that the paragraph had been copied into most of the London journals, I am urged by my friends to contradict a report for which there is no foundation.

The fact is that for the additional security of the audience in case of fire all the entrances, together with wardrobes, green-room, dressing-rooms, and offices, are placed on the outside of the main wall of the theatre, and the staircase to the gallery is in that compartment on the north side which is de- voted to the dressing-rooms, green-room, &c. ; and it not being within Mr. Arnold's plan to erect that compartment of the building until the theatre (the main point) was completed and open, it of course became necessary to construct a temporary staircase to the gallery until that part of the building could be finished. An inspection of the original plan, copies of which may be seen at the Woods and Forests, at my office, and at my builders' Messrs. Grissel & Peto, will convince anybody of the truth of this statement. I can only add that the tem- porary staircase has been constructed with every regard to security, and has been inspected by the architects to the Woods and Forests, the district surveyor, and the surveyor of the pavement, as well as built under my own superintendence.

Your giving publicity to this fact, and contradict- ing the rumour, will add to the obligation already conferred by your favourable report of my building. I remain, Sir, your most obedt. servant,

SAMUEL BEAZLEY.

29, Soho Square, July 16, 1834.

The Athenaeum, 19 July, 1834, remarked : "We are happy to perceive by Mr. Beazley's letter to the papers that he has explained away his supposed omission of a gallery staircase. The tem- porary wooden stairs at present seen outside the theatre might very naturally lead people up to such a belief; but the judicious steps taken will set all right again and bring people's understandings down to the real ground on which the matter rests."

There was no London County Council at that time, or a temporary wooden staircase would not have been suffered to endanger the safety of the public. JOHN HEBB.

[It may be worth recording that the Criterion Theatre, which reopened on the 10th inst. after extensive alterations, no longer possesses a gallery, and that some disturbance took place on that night in consequence of the change.]

WE must request correspondents desiring infor- mation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers maybe addressed to them direct.

MRS. GLASSE. The following little note of mine appeared in the Dublin Penny Journal, 18 October, 1902, re Mrs. H. Glasse, of cookery and confectionery fame. For clearness' sake I ask you, though not customary, to print it in full. I have received several letters affirm- ing as fact that something more is known

about her than I have stated. Where shall I find that information in print ? My corre- spondents, though people of some importance, do not gratify my curiosity, and I trust some kind readers of ** N. & Q.' will give me the references, if they exist. I have her book (1742) before me, and I write nothing from hearsay :

UNIQUE BOOKS UNKNOWN TO BIBLIOGRAPHERS.

DEAR SIR, The English literary bookseller for last couple of years is becoming quite an interesting and picturesque character.

The Irish bookseller is not yet, in this respect, to the front, though he has had for many years a good hunting-ground for unique copies of books unknown to bibliographers. I shall give a sample or two for your next issue, to be followed by five or six others "pour encourager les autres."

(1) The Compleat Confectioner ; or, the Whole Art of Confectionery Made Plain and Easy. By H[annah] Glasse, author of 'Art of Cookery.' Dublin : John Exshaw, 1742.

Mrs. Glasse, up to the publication of this letter, seemed a literary myth, her name being put in square brackets, and with note of interrogation, and described by Mr. W. Davenport Adams in his ' Dictionary of Literature ' (' English Authors and their Works,' Cassell) as a " habit-maker," " a real or fictitious author," &c., and her works were attributed to Sir John Hill, physician.

Though her ' Art of Cookery ' was a well-known book in Dublin in 1742, an edition of it published in London in 1747 (folio) was and is called the first edition, and sells for 30. or 40.

Mrs. Glasse, in her dedication of this ' Compleat Confectioner' "To the Housekeepers of Great Britain and Ireland," says: "I have said nothing on cookery, having already written fully on that subject in a work entitled ' The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy,' which, together with this book, I flatter myself will be sufficient to compleat the young and inexperienced ladies in every branch of housekeeping. I am, with the greatest respect, ladies, your most obedient humble servant H. Glasse." 1742.

This clever lady, who made " habits" of "taste and "skill" more durable than brass, will probably yet figure among our "Irish Worthies." Her mythical character is now dissipated, and her nationality being most probably Irish, it behoves the leisured and studious to find her a pedigree. JAMES HAYES.

Ennis.

[See the account of her in the 'D.N.B.,' which give r 1747 as the date of the first London edition.]

"SHOULD HE UPBRAID." Can any of your readers name the author of the words of the song bearing the above title 1 The music is by Bishop. The song is frequently introduced into 'The Taming of the Shrew.' In several collections of songs the author of the words is stated to be Shakespeare, but this I under- stand is not correct. G. T. S.

[The lines are varied by Bishop from ' The Taming of the Shrew,' Act II. sc. i. 1. 171, beginning " Say that she rail."]