Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/380

 430 NOTES AND QUERIES. in- s. iv. Nov. is, m Some may doubtless find amusement in the visions of the future of a man who was apparently a shrewd observer of the signs of the times, but who could see no further than can most of us into a brick wall. There are, naturally, some happy guesses. These are mostly such as any man with a little more than average perceptions would have formed. Russia is the great bugbear of the author, and her career of aggrandizement is successfully anticipated. On the other hand, France has practically dis- appeared, having been subjugated, and held by English garrisons. There may be edification in some of the forecasts, but the general feeling is that rather of amusement at the irony of fate. The Gentleman's Cellar and Butler's Guide. By H. L. Feuerheerd, of Oporto. (Chatto & Wnidus.) Though intended to serve a technical purpose, and admirably fitted to that end. this work, by a practical wine-merchant, will furnish many hints bv which the gourmet aud the owner of a cellar may profit. With all Mr. Feuerheerd's dicta we do not agree ; with most of them we are in full accord. Much is to be learnt concerning the vintages of different wines, while as to the processes of bottling, decanting, and the like, it is an infallible guide. A more compendious, serviceable, and trustworthy guide to the treatment of bottled wines does not exist. Bristol Lists, Municipal and Miscellaneous. By the Rev. A. B. Beaven, M.A. (Bristol, 'limes and Mirror Office.) Mr. Beaven has occupied a long period in the compilation of lists which will bo invaluable to Bristolians and of interest to many others, it is to hoped that the admirable example he has set will be followed elsewhere. The non-political articles in the October issue of the Quarterly Review are not any of them of striking importance, but all are pleasant reading. That on Leonardo da Vinci shows a knowledge of the art of the Renaissance combined with a wide acquaint- ance with the society in which the painter moved. The exaggerations so common when great artists are treated of do not occur here. One remark quoted from a French writer is strikingly appro- priate. It is that in which we are told that Leo- nardo looked on political revolutions " sub specie eterni"—"from the point of view of the eternal. How very few of us have ever attained to that state of blessedness! It may be but a fancy on our part but we seem to see some relation between this and the fact, to which the writer draws atten- tion that Da Vinci "could tame the most nery horses, and would never allow any living creature to be hurt or ill-treated." The paper on \ llliam Morris is impressive, and will give pleasure to many of those who knew him. We do not, how-- ever, think the author realizes the very high standard to which Morris attained in some of his poetry. ' Zebras, Horses, and Hybrids' contains information not readily accessible elsewhere, which must interest all lovers of horses, and especially those to whom the evolution of that noble animal from extinct forms and its kinship with other seemingly allied families are of more than passing interest. Its attractiveness is much increased by its undogmatic style and by the useful illustrations, which bring some of the characteristics of these beautiful creatures visibly before us. The Civil War of 1745-6 is of undying interest. The feelings of some of us are now almost as deeply stirred by its details as were those of the contemporaries of Prince Charles Edward and the Duke of Cumber- land. The writer of ' Studies of the Forty-five' is, we may imagine, a descendant of one of those who took a side in the events upon which he comments. He does not, however, show any trace of partisan feeling. We cannot tell whether he sorrows or rejoices over the final victory of those whose ideal of statesmanship was the Revolution of 1688 and what followed in consequence thereof. Endeavours have been made to extenuate the cruelties attri- buted to the victors after Culloden. We cannot enter upon a discussion of the question, but may mention that the writer directs attention to the fact that 'The Lyon in Mourning,' a collection of what seem to be truthful memoirs regarding that unhappy time, pictures the atrocities as "worse than the worst that have been reported of the excesses of the British army at Badajoz." Mr. R. C. Hope is well known in connexion with his researches regarding holy wells, and in the number of the Antiquary for October he prints the first of a series of papers upon ' The Holy Wells of Ireland,' which is likely to be of great interest to the students of folk-lore. There is no other article in the number which calls for remark. The Rev. George Eyre Evans, of Aberystwith, will issue about Christmas, by subscription, ' Mid- land Churches: a History of the Congregations on the Roll of the Midland Union,' with biographies of their ministers from 1662 to 1899. The work will be illustrated with over a hundred facsimile autographs. In the preliminary list of subscribers are many of our contributors. We must call special attention to the following 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." M. (" Right to wear Cockade ").—See 4th S. i. 126. 255; v. 81 ; vi. 94. 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.C. 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. Tekms of Subscription by Post. For Twelve Months For Six Months ... d 1 0 6 0 10 3