Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/291

 iv. OCT. 28, mi NOTES AND QUERIES. 355 Hookhara, 1810, 12mo. Each volume contains about 260 pp. Though small, it is ex- tremely interesting, and manifestly authen- tic. It contains names and dates concerning well-known persons, and the names of many Detenus. It relates the horrible cruelty of General Wirion to the unfortunate English under his control, and the secret means by which Napoleon governed France through his gendarmes in league with the tax-gatherers and parish cures. It also narrates some marvellous escapes by heroic Englishmen from their barbarous French gaolers, and tells about the schools established by the philan- thropic prisoners, and the prodigality and excesses of the dissipated. An interesting notice of the Detenus will be found in Fitz- gerald's 'Life of George IV.,' 1881, vol. ii. p. 212. A description of the wretched state of the French prisoners at Knowle, near Bristol, in 1759, will be found in ' Extract of Wesley's Journal,' 1805, vol. xi. p. 83, and vol. xii, 1791, p. 32. D. J. W. T. will find a good deal of information in Capt. Edward Boys's 'Narrative of Ad- ventures,' published by T. C. Newby, 30, Welbeck Street, in 1863. Besides "moving accidents by flood and field," in which a great- uncle of mine took part, it contains many references to les detenus in Verdun and other towns of France. E. HANSEL SYMPSON. "SMOAK"=TO "TWIG," TO "FIND OUT" (9th S. iii. 406 ; iv. 78, 132, 215).— "Captain Sentry, seeing two or three wags who sat near us [in the theatre] lean with an attentive ear towards Sir Roger, and fearing lest they should smoke the Knight, plucked him by the elbow, and whispered Homething in his ear that lasted till the opening of the fifth act." — Spectator, No. 335 (Addison's). " ' Very well, sir," cried the Squire, who immedi- ately smoked him [Moses], and winked on the rest of the company to prepare us for the sport."—' The Vicar of W akeneld,' chap. vii. " 'I did not let the olcf gentleman, Mr. Mowbray, of St. Ronan's that was then, smoke my money- bags.'"—'St. Ronan's Well,' chap, xxxvi. (Mr. Touchwood). JONATHAN BOUCHIER. Twenty-five years ago, " to smoke," in my school slang, meant to blush, or to make blush by staring at. • E. H. L. O. Miss Di BERTIE (9th S. iv. 206).—I am indebted to my cousin for the following information extracted from Dean's 'Croome d'Abitot':- "Thomas, first Earl of Coventry, was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Winifred, daughter of Pierce Edgcombe, of Mount Edgeombe, Devon, Esq., and of several children issue of this marriage, two only, Thomas and Gilbert, survived him. His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Graham, Esq., by whom he had no issue. But this second marriage was not agreeable to the children of the first; and when his widow had caused to be pre- pared and conveyed to Croome a splendid monument consecrated to his memory, his heir, with feelings which did him no honour, opposed its erection in the church. It was therefore on her marriage some time after with Thomas Savage, Esq., of Elmley Court, Worcestershire, removed by his order and erected in the church of that village, where it still stands. The first Earl of Coventry succeeded to the title and estates 1687, died July, 1699." f imagine that possibly Grimes may be, as I believe Grteme to be, another form of Graham. CELER ET AUDAX. MARGARET BLOUNT (9th S. iv. 287).—This is the pseudonym of Mrs. Mary O'Francis, the writer of at least nine novels published in the United States and in London during the sixties. J. POTTER BRISCOE. Nottingham. "By THE HAFT" (9th S. iv. 287).-A haft, or heft, is a handle. A sword-heft is a sword- handle. The cross of the sword - heft or the sword-heft was frequently sworn by, and on solemn occasions was kissed as we now " kiss the book." H. SNOWDEN WARD. Hawthornden, Woodside Park, N. Does not this mean "by the haft of a cross-hilted sword," that is, " by the cross " ? F. J. CANDY. Norwood. ASKELL FAMILY (9th S. iv. 269).—For a similar inquiry respecting Katherine and Sylvester Askell, see ' N. & Q.,' 6th S. xii. 9, to which no reply has been given. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road. SCOTTISH ARMY (9th S. iv. 288).—The follow- ing documents relating to the Scottish army am in the General Register House, Edinburgh, where they may be consulted by M. :— Accounts of the Army in Sixteenth and Seven- teenth Centuries. Accounts of the Expenses of Various Garrisons in Scotland, 1696-1710. Muster Rolls of Foot and Horse in Various Posts and Castles in Scotland, 1667-1691. J. G. WALLACE-JAMES, M.B. Haddington. For ' The Siege of Reading,' in the month of November, 1642, see ' N. & Q.,' 8th S. x. 295, 344, 525. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road. " LE MOT DE CAMBRONNE " (9th S. iv. 265). —As a matter of fact the so-called "mot de Cambronne," which a Frenchman lately