Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 12.djvu/251

 9* S. xil. SEPT. 26, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

243

" Thursday, Aug. 8th. Bought Drouet's varia- tions of ' Hope told a Flattering Tale,' which I found not in me least difficult.

" Saturday, Aug. 10th. Spots were visible in the Sun's disk about this time.

" Thursday, Aug. 15th. A report about this time in circulation, that the Prince Regent is to be divorced from his Wife, and will take to himself the Princess Sophia of Gloucester. It is likewise said that his daughter, the Princess of Saxe Coburg, has refused to see him on that account.

"Tuesday, Aug. 20th. Mr. Dibdin. the performer, after a very short illness made his final exit, not only from the stage, but from this world, under the hope of appearing in a new and a better character in the world to come.

" Sunday, Sept. 8th. We rowed to Arundel Stairs, where we shipped Mr. N[orthcote], and from thence we advanced up the River, got as far as Putney, overtaking the Richmond Steam Boat on the way.

"Thursday, Sept. 12th. The news arrived by way of France of the Bombardment of Algiers, and the total destruction of their Navy by Lord Ex- mouth. Further particulars respecting this gallant affair wilf appear when the Official Account is pub- lished.

" Friday, Sept. 13th. The weather at last seems to be set in for fair, and promises a fine harvest.

"Friday, Sept. 20th. General consternation in the City and its environs, occasioned by a report that a stop was put to the circulation of shillings and sixpences, not one of either would pass. In consequence of this, great apprehensions were en- tertained that a disturbance would take place.

"Saturday, Sept. 21st. A trial was this day made, for the first time, of a new invention for paving the streets and roads with cast iron. I saw some that was laid down in the Surrey Road, and which appeared to me likely to answer. It will, however, soon be proved.

" Monday, Sept. 23rd. Made a purchase of Lord Byron's Poem, entitled, 'The Siege of Corinth,' and another called ' Parisina.'

" Tuesday, Sept. 24th. Went to the west end in company of Chas. Freeman. Made a purchase of three volumes of Select Poetry, which cost me [private mark], and appear cheap. Left the ' Siege of Corinth ' with Miss Sanders for her perusal.

" Monday and Tuesday [Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st]. Nothing remarkable, except that there was at this time a strong contest among the Aldermen for the Office of Mayor. Wood being proposed to serve again.

" Saturday, Oct. 5th. Took tea with Mrs. Smith, and afterwards went to Drury Lane Theatre with J. Smith and Mr. Phin [of Edinburgh]. We saw ' The Rivals ' and a part of a newly revived Comedy of 'The Blacksmith of Antwerp.' The former afforded us much entertainment, but the other, if it does not improve as it goes on, must be stupid indeed, as it made us so bilious that we were obliged to come away, and got home early in consequence.

"1817.

"[Wednesday,] Jany. 1st. The following you may see written on the first page of my Bank book : This Book will plainly show, What every one should know ; That money in good hands, Remains for e'er secure ; And when you want, you 're sure,

'Twill pay all your demands.

But otherwise, or spent,

In time you will repent,

And wish you had been wiser.

You now will stew and fret ;

Will always be in debt ;

Now pray is that a lie, Sir ? Answer, No.

Then place your money in my care,

For safe it is when it gets there. " Thursday, Jany. 2nd. This evening I made a )urchase at Wright the Stationer's, Aldgate, of 20/- ; also a Prayer Book, for which I paid 9/- ; and n asses' skin memorandum Book 2/-. " Friday, Jany. 3rd. Purchased of a Bookseller n Holborn, 4 vols. in 2 of Addison's 'Anecdotes,' 'or 6'-, half bound.
 * he Spectator, in 6 volumes, bound, for which I paid

" Saturday, Jany. 4th. Bought of Wright, Aid- gate, the 'Vicar of Wakefield,' 'Humphrey Jlinker,' and 'Count Fathom,' [for] 10/-. Very busy Dapering my books these two or three evenings and making a catalogue of them.

"Friday, Jany. 17th. This morning as a genteel ooking man, about 40 years of age, was crossing
 * he end of Gutter Lane, in Cheapside, a cart ana

norse which was turning down the Lane (owing to want of care on b9th sides) ran against the said gentleman, knocked him down, and he very narrowly escaped the wheel. Although he was not materially hurt, yet the streets being very dirty, his situation excited my compassion, and I offered to conduct him to Mrs. Smith's in order that he might relieve himself of the wonder ! that is always perceptible in the Mob, whenever any one has the misfortune to get into such a situation. Upon addressing him 1 found him to be a Frenchman and could not speak any English. I however made him understand that I wished to assist him, and he went accordingly. Having cleans' d him of his impurities, and done up his parcel in clean paper, he took his leave, very thankful for the service I had done him."

A. S.

CHARLES READE.

(See ante, p. 220.)

IN a notice of my book catalogue at this reference the writer says :

"A copy of Cotton's 'Short Explanation ' is said to have belonged to Charles Reade the novelist, and to contain a deeply interesting note relative to him and his wife and their domestic happiness. As Reade was never married, this must be curious."

The MS. note referred to will be of interest to many readers of 'N. Q.' Probably it has not hitherto appeared in print, and may be thought worthy of permanent record'. The "note" takes the form of an "Intro- duction," as follows :

INTRODUCTION.

This little book the title-page of which I have supplied through the kindness of a friend from a copy in the British Museum was originally in the library of the famous collector and antiquarian William Hutchins Callcott, M.A.

I am aware of only one other small work of the kind, called 'Obsolete Scriptural Words,' by Booker the philologist, and of which Archbishop