Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/515

 9* 8. IV. Dec. 30,'99.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 539 If so it would be well if the slight error were corrected, as all who read his lines would wish there was nothing, even in a note, to leave room for cavil. The linos are most excellent. It would be easy to suggest an appropriate chapter? but the point is the actual heading. An Admirer of the Verses. " Jumble."—At a police court in Glamorgan I heard recently a new meaning to this word, which I think worthy of a place in ' N. & Q.' " She had sent the child," said a witness, " for a 'jumble' of beer," and in answer to the stipendiary magistrate it was explained that a "jumble" was a big bottle holding about half a gallon of beer, which the publican filled for eightpence. What can be the origin of the word) Is it used elsewhere ? D. M. R. "Sock."—To give a person "sock," or "a good socking," is to thrash him soundly. Last week a woman told me she had a son engaged at the front in South Africa, and when I said, " You will be anxious about him," she replied, " Nay; I don't know as I am, particular. If many on em 's like our Tom we shall soon gio 'em sock." In South Notts " Bell sock," or " Bell's sock," is a more emphatic phrase. Is it known elsewhere ? There was an idea current in my native village that a member of my own family (but of an earlier and a more heroic generation) was responsible for its origin, but I do not know how this may be. C. C. B. Epworth. Jarndyce v. Jarndyce. — Was Dickens's Chancery suit of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce based on any real case of litigation ? I have heard that there was an actual Chancery case as to an estate in Southwark about the time that he was writing ' Bleak House,' on which he based that part of his story. I should like to have this verified. Albert Fleming. [See articles on the Jennens case, 8tb S. iii. 34, 97; iv. 356.] " Brotherhood of Fools."—This " compact of the olden time " is mentioned with approval in 'Love's Labour Not Lost' (York, 1761), an "open epistle "addressed to "my good cousin Marius, by V. D'Assigny, a pamphlet of forty pages. I should be glad of information about the Brotherhood. (Mrs.) Ellen Randolph. James Douglas Stoddart Douglas, born 1793, served in Royal Navy, 1805-51, M.P. for Rochester, 1841-7. Married, first, Miss Brasier; second, Jane Sarah, d. of James Jenkin, R.E. In 1873 inherited the estates of his cousin, Mrs. Houston Douglas. Died 25 February, 1875, at Chilston House, Tun- bridge Wells. Can any one inform me if he was entitled to armorial bearings; and if so, what were they ? Ayeahr. Lord Chesterfield's Library.—Does there exist any catalogue of the books of Philip Dormer, fourth Earl—the Earl—of Chester- field f Was the library retained intact by later possessors ? Q- * • THE PICKET. (9th S. iv. 471.) W. S.'s note must remind many of the readers of ' N. <k Q.' of General Picton's trial in 1806 in the Court of King's Bench before Lord Ellenborough. When Picton resigned the governorship of Trinidad in 1803 he came to England, and was arrested by order of the Privy Council upon the oaths and depositions of Louisa Calderon and three other persons in Trinidad. He was bailed by his uncle in the sum of 40,000£. The indictment charged him with the unlawful application of torture to extort confession from Louisa Calderon respecting a robbery. In accordance with Spanish law, which was at the time the law of the colony, the alcalde, or judge of the court, Begorrat, desired to have recourse to the piquet " as a slight torment to be inflicted for the purpose of investigating the truth relating to the robbery." Picton consented to this, and wrote, "Appliquez la question a Louisa Calderon," and signed this order. The piquet was first introduced in Trinidad by Picton for the purpose of military punishment, and was fixed in a room of the gaol. It was said that Louisa and her paramour had robbed her master. She, under the torture, confessed : the man was convicted and punished, but she was released in consideration of eight months' imprison- ment which she had already undergone. General Picton's trial is a long and remarkable one. After the first trial in 1806 a second was ordered, which took place in 1808. The second jury found " that by the law of Spain torture existed in the Island of Trinidad at the time of the cession of that Island to Great Britain ; and that no malice existed in the mind of the defendant against Louisa Calderon, independent of the illegality of the Act." A special verdict of great length was found setting out all the facts, and the Court had to say whether upon the facts so found by the jury the defendant was in law guilty;