Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 3.djvu/486

 480

NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. m. JUKE 17, m

present volume is intended for the antiquary and the amateur rather than the expert. It supplies an historical and a descriptive account of the different styles of clocks and watches of past times in England and abroad, and furnishes a list and, in many cases, a biography of over eight thousand makers. This last feature is of exceptional interest. We are amply justified in recommending it to the attention of our readers, seeing that a consultation of its pages would save us from constantly recurring questions. We are not grudging the space accorded to queries and replies on the subject, and are, of course, glad that through our pages our readers should obtain the information they require. It seems worth while, however, to commend to the collector and the amateur the book as one indis- pensable to him, and to be kept on his table for purpose of constant reference.

The opening portion of the work is that which will be read with most interest. After dealing briefly with standards of time and primitive methods of notation, and supplying a brief account of sundials, clepsydrae, and other inventions, Mr. Britten gives an historical account of the gradual introduction of clocks. Definite information as to the first introduction of clocks consisting of " an assemblage of wheels actuated by a weight " is not yet obtainable, and an attempt to fix the date when they first appeared would be guesswork. We hear of a clock in Magdeburg Cathedral, placed there by Pope Sylvester II. so early as the end of the tenth century. This, however, is believed to have been a kind of sundial ; and though clocks ot a sort existed in cathedrals and monasteries during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, proof that an escapement was constructed for more than two centuries after the time of Sylvester II. is wanting. Towards the close of the thirteenth century there was a clock at St. Paul's Cathedral, on the bell of which mechanical figures referred to by Dekker in the 'Gull's Hornbook' as "Paul's Jacks" struck the hour. Concerning these "Jacks" much curious information is given, and an illustration is

formerly.

seen at St. Dunstan's Lodge, Regent's Park, are also depicted. The French appellation "Jaque- mart" given to these figures Mr. Britten, after Gabriel Peignot, holds to be a contraction of Jaccomorchiadus, i.e., a man in a suit of armour. This seems strange. Littre favours Dutch or Flemish Jackman, which, however, is much the same thing. A special feature in the volume consists of the illustrations, which are numerous and excellent. These are, indeed, over four hundred in number, and include representa- tions of many of the most famous clocks at Strasbourg, Beauvais, Lyons, Niort, and else\vhere. There are moreover, views of the dial of Glastpn- bury clock, now in Wells Cathedral, that 9f Wim- borne and the famous Exeter clock, with its three figures of Matthew the Miller and his two sons. Very remarkable are some of the presentations of watches, including those in the likeness of a skull, surely the grimmest form in which the flight of time can be chronicled. In addition to the great national collections at the British Museum, South Kensington, and elsewhere, private collections have been open to Mr. Britten. Our friend Mr. J. E. Hodgkin has aided him in the framing of a list of clock and watch makers. The Windsor Castle

collection has been open to him by the express order of the Queen. Prince Soltikoft' and the Hon Gerald Ponsonby have helped in various ways. The result is a book which may be augmented in the future, but will scarcely be replaced, and which holds, in its way, a unique position in literature. We are not quite sure to whom Mr. Britten refers when he speaks, p. 11, of Athenee. Surely in a book for Englishmen Athenseus would be better. Does Athena?us, moreover, refer to a clepsydra? Again, what is the style of Henri VI. ? There were but four Henris in France. Mr. Britten's volume is eminently desirable and useful.

A CAPITAL number of the Journal of the Ex-Libris Society reproduces the fine armorial plate of Charles Wilbraham Pretty man, and has good notes on ' Festoon Plates,' by Mr. J. F. Vorster, of Amster- dam. The secretary, Mr. Wright, gives an account ot Miss C. Helard under 'Book-plate Designers.' He also announces his intention to publish an article on ' Urn Plates,' and will be glad of the loan of plates of this description.

WE hear with regret of the death, in his thirty- seventh year, of Mr. Charles Edward Gildersome- Dickinson, an occasional contributor to our columns. In his later years Mr. Dickinson was .known as a record agent and searcher at the British Museum ano Rolls and Record Offices. He died on 25 May and was buried on the 27th in the churchyard at Crockham, Edenbridge, Kent.

COL. FISHWICK, the author of 'The History of Rochdale,' is engaged on a ' History of the Parish of Preston. It will contain information about the township and hamlets in the parish, and the families which have dwelt there, and will be illustrated with views, architectural drawings, and plans. It will be published by Mr. Elliot Stock.

ta

We must call special attention to the followino notices :

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspond- ents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication "Duplicate."

H. HEMS ('H.E.D.').-These " mystical" initials stand for the Historical English Dictionary,' as the editors desire that the 'New English Dictionary' shall be called.

(" Am Persand"). -See 4* S. viii. 311, 387,

4ba, ooo.

NOTICE.

Editorial Communications should be addressed to " The Editor of 'Notes and Queries '"Advertise- ments and Business Letters to "The Publisher" at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.G.

We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print ; and to this rule we can make no exception.