Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/57

 9* s. ii. JULY 16, m] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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his 'Italy,' and Dante alludes to it in the sixteenth canto of the ' Paradise. ' HADJI.

TELESCOPE AT SLOUGH (9 th S. ii. 8). When, after 1 remaining for nearly fifty years in a serviceable condition, Sir William Herschel's forty-foot telescope was finally dismantled in 1840, the massive four -foot speculum and the long sheet-iron tube of the instru- ment were preserved. The mirror and a portion of the great tube which carried it are still in the possession of some members of Sir John Herschel's family, who reside in the house at Slough occupied by Sir William, and in the garden of which the telescope formerly stood in its entirety.

A. S. HERSCHEL. Observatory House, Slough.

The fortj'-foot telescope was dismounted and taken down by Sir John Herschel about the end of 1839, and all the family got inside the tube on New Year's Eve. 1840, and sang a song which he had composed for the occasion, beginning "In the old telescope's tube we sit." It has since fallen into decay ; but the speculum is, I believe, still in the possession of Prof. A. S. Herschel at Slough.

W. T. LYNN.

Blackheath.

PORTRAIT OF HENRIETTA, LADY WENTWORTH (9 th S. i. 347, 475 ; ii. 12). I have to plead lapsus calami in my communication at the last reference, where I represented Anne, Countess of Strafford, as sole daughter of Sir Henry Johnson by Martha, Baroness Went- worth, his second wife. The baroness had no child, and Sir Henry's daughter was by his first wife, Anne Smithson, of which family are the Dukes of Northumberland, although, as of Percy descent, they bear the famous name so long associated with their historic title. W. L. BUTTON.

27, Elgin Avenue, W.

In compliance with MR. RUTTON'S sug- gestion, the following is a short description of the portrait in my possession. I shall be pleased to send him a photograph of it should he wish. Seen to below the waist in a standing position, left arm resting on object concealed by her mantle, which she wears over an olive-

reen gown, open at neck and shoulders, he face ana blue eyes toward the spectator, but face turned slightly to right ; right arm hanging down ; pretty face, florid complexion, hair brown and raised above forehead, large curl over left breast ; no rings or other ornaments. HUMPHREY WOOD.

Chatham,

CORONATION PLATE (9 th S. i. 447). The right of claiming the plate used at the coronation is very ancient. In Bohun's ' Privilegia Lon- dini,' 1723, there is a petition to Edward III. by the then (1326) Lord Mayor*, Richard Betayne, showing that he performed the office of butler at his Majesty's coronation with 360 valets, all clothed in the same livery, and each bearing in his hand a white silver cup, " as other maiors of London, time out of mind, used to do at the coronation of the kings your predecessors." The fee appendant to the service was a gold cup with a cover and a ewer of gold enamelled.

In ' London and the Kingdom,' published' by the Corporation, it is stated that in No- vember, 1429, the City made their usual claim to attend the coronation of Henry VI. William Estfeld, the Mayor at that time, attended, and received as his fee the gold cup used at the ceremony. This cup remained in his possession until his death, and by his will, dated 15 March, 1445 (' Calendar of Wills '), he evidently considered it to be his own pro- perty, for he bequeathed it to his grandson, John Bohun.

On the coronation of Richard III., in July, 1483, the City again claimed their right, when Hugh Bryce, the Mayor, received as his fee the gold cup used by his Majesty, which was claimed by the Common Council, as the fol- lowing extract from ' London and the King- dom,' under the date of 13 July, 1486, will show :

"It is agreed this day by the Court that whereas Hugh Bryce, Mair of this Citie, hathe in his kepyng a coppe of gold, garnished with perle and precious stone, of the giite of Richard, late in dede, and not of right, Kyng of England, which gifte was to those of the Cominaltie of the said Citie, and if the saide cuppe be stolen or taken away by thevys out of his possession, or elles by the casualtie of nre hereafter it shall hapne the same cuppe to be brent or lost, that the same Hugh Bryce hereafter shall not be hurt or impeched therefore."

In the account of the coronation of King George IV., on 19 July, 1821, given in Allen's ' History and Antiquities of London,' 1828, I find the office of Chief Butler of England was executed by the Duke of Norfolk, as Earl of Arundel and lord of the manor of Ken- ninghall, who received a gold basin and ewer as his fee. Queen Victoria was crowned on 28 June, 1838, but there was no banquet in Westminster Hall, with its accompanying feudal services. When the City lost their claim to act as chief butler I have not ascer- tained. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.

71, Brecknock Road.

SIEGE OF SIENA (9 th S. i. 168, 369). In addi- tion to MR. W. B. DUFFIELD'S reply to the