Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 11.djvu/194

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. XL MARCH 7,

evidently unknown to Mr. Bedwell, thoug in existence when he wrote, which disclose somewhat different signification of the pro verb from that suggested in the above quo tation. In one such document, being declaration by Lady Tasburgh, dated 18 Nov 1605, it is stated that a Mrs. Elizabeth Vau: a relative of a Romish priest who wa visited at Tottenham by the notorious Rober Uatesby and others wrote a letter to Lady Wenman, bidding her to be of good comfort for there should soon be toleration for religion The letter in question likewise contained the following significant injunction: "Fast anc pray that that may come to pass which wee purpose, which yf it doe, wee shall see * Tot nam turned French.'" Under the circum stances, this evidently implied that, in th( event of the Plot proving successful, Roman Catholicism would be as much in the ascend ant in England as it was in France.

J. BASIL BIRCH. 28, Bade Road, Finsbury Park, N.

LETTER OP LORD BYRON. In correcting the catalogue of the books of my library I found slightly pasted upon a fly-leaf of a copy of Byron's poems an autograph letter. In the latter part of the letter are many erasures and alterations. The title of the book, 8vo, is "The Works of Lord Byron, including the suppressed Poems, com- plete in one volume. Paris, published by A. &^ W. Galignani, No. 18, Rue Vivienne, 1828." I suppose this book to have been purchased in Paris by my father, who was a great admirer of Byron's works.

W. CLINTON BAKER. Bayfordbury, Herts.

[The letter to which you refer, relating to the authorship of a work called 'The Vampire,' was printed at 8 th S. ix. 86. At p. 132 of the same volume MB. JOHN MURRAY stated that the fac- simile letter had " taken in several persons," and that copies had been offered for sale as Byron autographs.]

" pAR, VANIMITY -"- In his 'Sketch of Prof. Wilson, contributed in 1829 or 1830 to the Edinburgh Literary Gazette, De Quincey alludes to " the meanness and parvanimity of Bonaparte." To this he appends a charac- teristic note, explaining that he has just invented the word and advancing reasons to justify the proceeding. He says :

"I coin this word parvanimity as an adeauatp antithesis to magnanimity ; for the word pnsMant Mty has received from usage such a confined deter- mination to one single idea, viz., the defect of sprit and courage, that it is wholly unfitted to be the antipode to the complex idea of magnanimity. >'

This is a reasonable and explicit statement,

and the word deserves consideration, if not recognition. In his ' Modern English,' p. 33, the late Mr. Fitzedward Hall gives it a con- crete application, and in his own impassioned style sweeps aside certain hapless victims as " parvanimities of the true insular stamp." This is an interesting development within half a century. For the statement of De Quincey's invention see * The Uncollected Writings of De Quincey,' i. 260, ed. Hogg (Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1890).

THOMAS BAYNE.

MEMORIAL TO " NETHER -LOCHABER." The late Rev. Dr. Alexander Stewart, who for the long period of over forty years contributed, as related in ' N. & Q.' of 6 December, 1902, a fortnightly letter, under the above heading, to the Inverness Courier, won a sufficient reputation by the character of his literary work to justify the inclusion in * N. & Q.' of the following. A memorial to the late Dr. Stewart, consisting of a Celtic granite cross, the shaft of the cross bearing elaborate Celtic interlacings, has just been completed. The die bears the inscription :

"In memory of Rev. Alexander Stewart, LL.D., F.S.A.Scot. For fifty years minister of Ballaehu- ish and Ardgour. Died 17th January, 1901, in the 72nd year of his age. Scholar, naturalist, seanna- ihie, bard. Distinguished for the variety and harm of his writings ; dear to all who knew him, md most dear to those who knew him best."

[his inscription is followed by an appro- mate verse from the Gaelic Scriptures 1 Kings iv. 33), and the intimation that the iross is being erected by his friends under he auspices of the Stewart Society. The

memorial is to be placed on a knoll by the oadside at Onich, not far from the manse

which Dr. Stewart occupied for half a century.

Overlooking the sea as it does, it will form n important landmark for future genera- ions. JOHN GRIGOR.

WE must request correspondents desiring infor-

ation on family matters of only private interest

o affix their names and addresses to their queries,

n order that the answers maybe addressed to them

SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL. In Archceo- ogia, vol. xxxix., the late Thomas Wright ublished a Sutton Valence time-table, 1540,

most interesting relic of Tudor school fe. Now the Sutton Valence people tell me le school (their school) was founded in 1576, nd they "have no knowledge of a former hich I send you an " incorrect " copy ?
 * hpol." Can you throw any light on this, of