Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 11.djvu/193

 9*8. XL MARCH?, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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period, writes of Charles : " His moral character was irreproachable, and he used to blush whenever an immodest word was uttered in his presence." ALEX. LEEPER. Trinity College, Melbourne University.

THE FIRST CUNARD STEAMERS. The follow- ing extract from the Times of 11 February seems worthy of permanent preservation for reference in the pages of ' N. <fc Q.' :

"The contract for the first Cunard steamers, which were built in 1839, is in the possession of Miss Napier, of Saughfield, and some of its contents are not without interest at the present time, in view of the attention which has been given to recent events affecting the Atlantic trade and the great develop- ment which has taken place in the size and speed of vessels since the contract was signed. The vessels contracted for were to be in each case not less than 200 ft. long ' keel and fire rake,' not less than 32 ft. broad between the paddles, and not less than 21 ft. 6 in. depth of hold ' from top of timbers to under- side of deck amidships.' Accommodation was to be provided for from 60 to 70 passengers, or a greater number if the shipbuilder should find that the space would 'conveniently and com m odiously admit thereof.' Each vessel was to be fitted with two steam engines, having cylinders 70 in. in diameter and 6ft. 6 in. in length of stroke, with malleable iron boilers ; but there is no condition as to the speed or horse-power in the contract itself. Apart from the small size of these early Atlantic liners not the least interesting feature of the contract is that the price of each ship was only 32,OOOZ., which is very insignificant in comparison with the price paid for Atlantic liners nowadays. The contract is signed by Mr. (afterwards Sir Samuel) Cunard and Mr. R. Napier, and these two gentlemen were brought together through Mr. Cunard's writing to Messrs. Kidston & Sons, of Glasgow, on February 28, 1839, telling them that he would require one or two steamboats of 300 horse-power and of about 800 tons. These steamers were the Britannia, Acadia, and Caledonia, to which a fourth the Columbia- was afterwards added. Mr. Cunard in his letter says : ' I shall want these vessels to be of the very best description and to pass a thorough inspection and examination of the Admiralty.' From that day until now the connexion between the Cunard Company and the Admiralty has been closely main- tained. '

A. F. R.

MOTTO FOR THE ARMS OF THE CHELSEA BOROUGH COUNCIL. In a paragraph in the Daily Telegranh of Saturday, 14 February, it was stated that the Chelsea Borough Council has adopted as its motto the words "Nisi Dominus frustra" officially trans- lated, " Unless God be with us all will be in vain "and these are to be added to the municipal coat of arms. "Nine members favoured the English motto 'The Lord up- holdeth,' but the dead language won the day by a large majority." I regret that I cannot give the names of the proposer and seconder, &c., but the matter was not mentioned in the

report of the meeting which appeared in she Westminster and Pimlico News. As this .s likely to be a subject upon which inquiry may be made, it would be well for it to be noted in ' N. & Q.'

W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY.

C2, The Almshouses, Rochester Row, S.W.

SIMPSON'S IN THE STRAND. The closing of
 * he doors of this well-known restaurant at

midnight on 14 February seems worthy of mention in the pages of 'N. & Q.' Since John Simpson opened it in 1848 as a " Grand Restauratum for those who like good living,

hoice wines, and fine cigars, blended with eco- nomy," it had been for many years a favourite resort for authors, journalists, lawyers, and artists. The names of well-known literary men associated with Simpson's during the past fifty years would fill a good-sized volume, while its famous waiter Paul had a book filled with the cards of visitors from the four corners of the globe. The comfortable old- fashioned tavern will soon be a thing of the past, but many an old Londoner will look back with regret to the " passing of Simp- son's." FREDERICK T. HIBGAME.

[It was also famous as a resort of ohess-players. ]

"TOTTENHAM is TURN'D FRENCH." In the Brief Description of the Town of Tottenham High Cross in Middlesex' (1631), by the Rev. Wilhelm Bedwell (then vicar of the parish, and one of the translators of King James's Bible), the learned author, after stating that all the "memorable things" appertain- ing to Tottenham k 'do sort themselves by ter- narys or threes," proceeds shortly after as follows :

"The third ternary are three proverbs, commonly by the neighbours used and spoken of Tottenham. The first of these is. ' Tottenham is turn'd French ' : the reason of the Proverb I doe not understand, except it arose upon occasion of many French, which herein former times had their abode or dwelling. But that you may see first that I doe not abuse you, and secondly in what sense it hath bene used, heare M. John Hey wood, of whom I had it; his words are these :

The blacke Oxe had not trode, or his or her foote, But ere his branch of blisse could reach any roote ; The flowers so faded, that in fifteen weekes, A man might espye the change in his cheekes, Both of this poore wretch, and his wife this poore

wench, Their faces told toyes, that Tottenham was turn'd

French

And all their light laughing, turn'd and translated Into sad sighing, all mirth was abated. Thus farre hee : the Booke was printed by Thomas Bartlet in the Year of our Lord M : D : XLVI." There are, however, certain documents re Gunpowder Plot in the Public Record Office,