Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/492

 520 NOTES AND QUERIES. [^b.iv.dec.23/99. queror of the elephant"). Together with five stars* surmounting a representation of that quadruped, it forms the present borough seal. Locally, the place is rarely given its full name, but is referred to and written about as 'Maritzburg or PM'Burg. Port Elizabeth consisted of a block house and a few huts, known as Fort Frederick, until 1820. The then acting Governor, Sir Rufane Donkin, in that year laid out a town upon the present site, and named it after his recently deceased wife. Upon the heights above he erected a huge stone pyramid to the memory of Lady Eliza- beth. The inscription says she was " one of the most perfect of human beings, who has given her name to the town below. I climbed the hill one hot morning last year to examine it, and then realized it was one of the ugliest monuments I ever saw in my life, standing upon one of the loveliest sea views imaginable. Weenen is Dutch for " weeping." Here, in 1838, some 600 Boers were attacked suddenly by Zulus and killed to a man. Hence its name. Not far off Weenen is Blood River, on whose banks later on in the same year 3,000 natives paid the penalty of their lives as a reprisal. Colenso, or course, is named after the late bishop, just as Frere, close by, per- petuates the name of Sir Bartle Frere, and Greytown that of Sir George Grey (both former Governors of Cape Colony). The Transvaal itself, of course, simply means land across the river Vaal. Verulam (twenty miles or so from Durban) is known locally as the "City of Saints," reminding one of Phila- delphia, U.S.A., where we hear that splendid and hospitable city constantly defined as " of brotherly love." Harry Hems. Fair Park, Exeter. Apropos of Canon Taylor's list of names of places called after two or more personages, it may be interesting to note that savage races nave sometimes adopted a somewhat similar process in naming their rivers. Thus the Thames is supposed to be a contraction of Thame and Isis; the Gyronde, in the Upper Alps, a combination of Gyr and Onde ; while a Virginian river, the Mattapony, is so called, I believe, from four of its component streams, the Mat, Ta, Po, and Ny. Those who believe that the Boers are to be placed below the level of civilized peoples will perhaps be glad to hear of this characteristic which they appear to have in common with barbarians. T. P. Armstrong. in allusion to the discovery of Natal on a Christmas Day, whilst the other four represent the Southern Cross, an emblem of Christianity, and indicative of the colony's geographical position. " Bucks " and " Good Fellows " in 1778 (9th S. iv. 225, 333, 399).—It is to be hoped that Mr. Hodgkin's wish will be gratified as to further attention being bestowed upon the history and economy of the London clubs and societies of the eighteenth and, one might add, those also of the beginning of the nine- teenth century. The following list of sodali- ties and societies—some of the latter famous, like the Royal, Antiquarian, and Humane Societies—which had their birth, and whose meetings were generally held, at the only place conveniently available for such asso- ciation, viz., the tavern, could doubtless be extended. Many of these tavern clubs were, I am aware, mere pretexts for "inebrious extravagances " in the " corapotations " of their members ; but whether for good or for bad, it will not be denied that they had a potent influence on the thought and manners of their time. The Society of Abecedarians.—The brethren of this "antient and honourable" society used to meet at the "Fountain Tavern" in Fleet Street. A meeting was called by the "Grand," 4 February, 1742, "in order to assent to or dissent from the Application of some Money to which such of the Society as shall then attend are conditionally entitled," &c. (Daily Advertiser of above date). The Albion. — It is said that the first modern mansion in Pall Mall which was used as a club in the-present sense of the word was No. 86, now part of the War Office, and originally built tor Edward, Duke of York, brother of George III. It was opened as a "subscription house" and called the "Albion Hotel." This must have been to- wards the end of last century ('O. and N. London'). To the "Albion Tavern and Hotel." No. 26, Russell Street, Covent Garden (but this about the middle of the present century), came lawyers, musicians, actors, artists, and men of letters; and earlier still Douglas Jerrold's "Hook and Eye" Club held its weekly meetings at the " Albion." The Alfred Club. — See Gent. Mag., vol. lxxviii. p. 1016, and vol. lxxxi. p. 221. The Amicable Society of Goldsmiths still (1781) met at the " Anchor " in George Street, Foster Lane (Banks Collection of Admission Tickets, portf. 1). George Street probably disappeared when the Oeneral Post Office was erected. It was on the west side of Foster Lane, Cheapside, opposite Carey Latie, and next to Moldmakers' Row. The Anacreontic Society.—This celebrated society was accustomed to meet in the "Apollo" or South Room of the " Crown and
 * The centre star refers to the Star of Bethlehem,