Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 3.djvu/73

 9* s. in. JAN. as, ,] NOTES AND QUEKIES.

67

,'ith the "strange fancy," as Proctor justly alls it (* Old and New Astronomy,' p. 355, tote), of Sir John Herschel that the so-called vlllow leaves of Nasmyth overspreading the urn's visible surface "are organisms of some )eculiar and amazing kind." This is quoted lote on Isaiah vi. 2 in the * Speaker's Com- nentary on the Bible.' We know now that 10 such objects described as resembling willow leaves exist on the general surface of the sun. It is only in the immediate vicinity of large spots that anything of that shape can be perceived, and the granulated or mottled appearance over the general surface is probably produced by ascending and con- densing currents of intensely heated matter, the tops of which represent the granules, whilst the darker interstices mark the posi- tions of descending and cooler currents. (See Miss Clerke's ' History of Astronomy,' third edition, p. 205.) Proctor remarks (in the place previously cited) that " Sir John Her- schel was one of the last to abandon the belief in Nasmyth's willow leaves." It was in 1862 that the latter described the appear- ance of the solar surface under that name ; the untenability of the idea was shown by Dawes about two years afterwards. The "strange fancy" that the so-called willow leaves were living organisms was put forth by Sir John Herschel, not in his ' Outlines of Astronomy,' but in an article contributed to the first volume of the Quarterly Journal of Science, which appeared early in 1864. Dr. Kay's commentary on Isaiah was published in 1875, four years after Sir John's death.
 * md reflected on by the late Dr. Kay in his

Blackheath.

W. T. LYNN.

OMDURMAN. There seems to be widespread misapprehension as to the pronunciation of this name. In a book called 'Alfred the Great,' published by Arrowsmith, it is made to rhyme with Hermon. The Literary World in October last suggested sermon as a suit- able rhyme, and printed some verses from a correspondent in which it rhymed with^r- man. Truth, about the same time, made a similar error in some verses. I venture to point out that the accent should be upon the final syllable, which is long. The Arabic spelling will be found in Major Wingate's man in his book * Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp.' JAS. PLATT, Jun.

SIR CHARLES SEDLEY: VOLTAIRE. ' The Grumbler 'of Sir Charles Sedley, 8vo. 1702, 12mo. 1719, of which imitations were produced at Drury Lane, 1754, and Covent Garden, 1773, is a translation of 'Le Grondeur' of

Brueys, played at the The'atre Fran9ais in 1691. This indebtedness has not, I fancy, been previously mentioned. Voltaire told a friend that his father was a grumbler such as Grichard, the hero of ' Le Grondeur.' After having scolded and thrashed his gardener, Arouet pere said to him, " Va-t-en, coquin ; je souhaite que tu trouves un maitre aussi pa- tient que moi." Taking his father to see the piece, Voltaire induced the actor charged with the role of Grichard to insert these words. Voltaire added, " Mon bonhomme de pere se corrigea." URBAN.

WE must request correspondents desiring infor- mation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct.

OIL PAINTING. On the frame of an oil painting not unlike General Wolfe in youth is an engraved visiting card, " Major-General Kenah, 35, Albemarle Street." If I could be put into communication with the represen- tatives of this officer, the authenticity of the portrait might be established. It is claimed to be that of the hero of Quebec.

DAVID Koss McCoRD, M.A., Q.C.

Temple Grove, Montreal.

HENRY ALKEN. Could any reader of tion concerning the birthplace, parentage, and family life of the famous painter of sporting pictures *? E. D. C.
 * N. & Q.' tell me where to look for informa-

[Have you consulted the ' D.N.B.' ?]

EDWARD MARSH. He was elected from Westminster School to Trinity College, Cam- bridge, in 1588. I should be glad to receive any particulars concerning him.

G. F. E. B.

FRANCIS GIFFORD. He was elected from Westminster School to Trinity College, Cam- bridge, in 1585. Any information concerning his parentage and career would be of use.

G. F. K. B.

SEWARDSTONE. Can any one tell me where an estate bearing this name is ? I believe it is somewhere in Essex, but in what part of that county I have in vain tried to ascertain.

M.A.OxoN.

Ivy House, Clapham, Bedford.

PORTRAITS AT OXFORD. Where can I find

ll, if not descriptive, lists of the very many

portraits in the various colleges at Oxford?

The average guide-book is not a reliable work

of reference in such a matter, and the so-