Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 11.djvu/346

 338

NOTES AND QUERIES,

XL APRIL 25, 1903.

meaning of it may be. The word, or a variant of it, occurs in the 'Expedition of Humphry Clinker,' published originally in 1771, and I regret, from not possessing the work, being unable to cite the 'Letter' in which it occurs. Thackeray said that 'Humphry Clinker ' was a book " which had kept people on the broad grin for many generations, 1 ' and a distinguished classical scholar at Cambridge considered it " as one of the wittiest books ever written." JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

HELL-IN-HARNESS (9 th S. xi. 187). Fifty years ago " hell," to denote anything done in a violent hurry, was very common. There were in use many expressions, such as "He drives like Hell and Tommy ! " "He went (or goes) like Hell !" " It's all Hell with him (or it) ! " " Like Hell upo' Moses ! " a curious con- nexion. These were Midland expressions. THOS. HATCLIFFE.

Worksop.

INDIGO IN DANTE (9 th S. xi. 184). A memo- randum in one of my copies of Dante ex- Elains the "Indico legno," or Sanders wood, santalinus, which yields the red Indian dye, and we know how brilliant the Hindu fabrics are, found in early Egyptian interments. For " Sanders " read sandal wood : santalum.
 * om India, understood as the Pterocarpus

LYSART.

" BAGMAN "= COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER (9 th S. xi. 149, 232). There is no misprint in Gold- smith's essay describing various clubs : bug- man is a member of the Harmonica! Society who will not listen while a song is sung, and he joins in a babel of talk such as

" Dam blood bugs fire whiz blid tit rat trip The rest is all riot, nonsense, and rapid confusion."

For early references for bagman, there is the bagman's story in * Pickwick,' chap, xiv., and "Shy the poker at that rascally bagman !" in Maxwell's ' Stories of Waterloo ' (' My Own Adventure'), and the scene between Meg Dods and Francie Tirl :

"Truth is, she thought she recognized in the person of the stranger, one of those useful envoys of the commercial community, called, by themselves and the waiters, Travellers, par excellence by others, Riders and Bagmen.

"'Ye '11 be nae bagman, then, after a'?' ' No,' said the traveller ; ' not since I have laid the saddle- bags out of my hand.'"' St. Ronan's Well,' ch. ii. ADRIAN WHEELER.

THACKERAY AND ' VANITY FAIR ' (9 th S. xi. 128, 213, 296). " The Sunday side." At the last reference MR. ADRIAN WHEELER'S shot at the sense of this phrase is wide of the

mark. It refers to the undercut of a sirloin of beef, and was a very common expression a quarter of a century ago (and may be still), probably owing to Thackeray's allusion to it. The] application of the term to this part of the joint is unmistakable. In small fami- lies, where economy was desirable, the joint was roasted for Sunday, and the undercut eaten hot on that day the other side being cold meat for the rest of the week. By leav- ing the "week side" uncarved when hot, it was rendered more juicy and palatable as a cold collation. J. S. McTEAR.

HOPS (9 th S. xi. 248). According to Traill's 'Social England,' vol. iii. p. 535, "in Suffolk, in the days of Tusser, hops were extensively cultivated." Thomas Tusser died in 1580.

G. F. E. B.

" CYCLEALITIES " (9 th S. xi. 109, 192). Ill weeds grow apace ; I see " motoralities " as a sign in a window to-day in Earl's Court.

H. P. L.

MAP QUERIES (9 th S. xi. 248). A series of articles on ' Mediaeval Maps ' appeared in ' N. & Q.,' 2 nd S. iv. A correspondent stated that the ' Mappa Mundi ' still exists in the Camera dei Mappi at the Ducal Palace, Venice. In this map the south .is at the top, and the east on the left hand. The British Museum possesses a reprint or copy.

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.

Dictionary of National Biography Index and Epitome. Edited by Sidney Lee. (Smith, Elder & Co.)

DURING the entire progress of the noble work of which the present forms the supplementary and final volume, we have drawn attention to the appearance of each successive number and attested the value of the information supplied, not a little of which has been garnered in our own columns. How amply the opening promises of the management have been carried out, and how far in advance of any kindred work in any other country is this undertaking, is now generally known, and the whole is, by universal consent, accorded a foremost place among works of reference. Of every good working library it has long constituted an indispensable portion, and a knowledge of its sixty-six volumes forms a necessary part of all literary and journalistic equipment. An account of the growth and development of the work is given in the present volume, as is a descrip- tion of the manner in which the epitome has been made. The new volume seems likely to be to the average worker the most useful of all ; and while the other sixty-six should be within easy reach, the present should be under the hand. Its proper place is on the revolving bookshelves which the