Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/197

 9* S. V. MARCH 10, 1900.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

189

testimonial. The querist knows what is saic about Warren Lisle in Hutchins's ' History of Dorset.' Replies may be sent direct to W. G. BOSWELL-STONE.

47, Wickham Road, Beckenham.

" STEP." Shakespeare uses "stepmother" ir its right sense. Is any earlier use of "step- mother" or "stepfather" known 1 The confu- sion between stepmother and mother-in-law has been the subject of comment in ' N. & Q.

H. T.

EIGHTEENTH -CENTURY 'HISTORY OF

ENGLAND.' (9 th S. v. 127.)

THERE is a copy of this book in the Library of the British Museum. It is large folio, in the original (half) binding, containing 874 pages (printed in two columns), inclusive of preface, list of subscribers, and a page of " Directions to the Binder for placing the Cuts." The binder "is particularly desired to beat the work before he places the cuts, in order to prevent the letterpress from setting off on the engravings." The price is not mentioned. The wording of the title-page runs as follows :

"A New and Authentic History of England, from the most remote period of genuine historical evidence to the present important crisis : con- taining an interesting chronicle of the monarchs ; an accurate chronological account of remarkable events; an entertaining recital of singular occur- rences : and an impartial biographical narrative of the lives of eminent persons : including, in the whole, all that is worthy of observation in the annals of the British Empire. In which the civil, ecclesiastical, military, naval, commercial, and literary transactions of these realms are circum- stantially and candidly related ; the constitution and political establishments are distinctly traced ; and an estimate of the customs and manners of the times, with the state of the nation, are given for the space of near two thousand years. By Wil- liam Augustus Russel, Esq. Embellished and illus- trated with upwards of one hundred curious copper-plates, engraved (from the drawings of the celebrated Mr. Wale, and other eminent artists) by Grignion, Walker, Taylor, White, JDebroche, and other capital masters, representing the most remarkable public and private transactions that occur in the course of the history ; with whole length figures of all the monarchs, from William the Conqueror, to the present time. [Here follow twelve lines of Drydenesque poetry.] London : Printed for J. Cooke, at Shakespeare's-Head, No. 17, in Pater-noster Row, MDCCLXXVII."

The illustrations (whole page, each en- framed with an eighteenth-century border) are riot devoid of merit, though very tame, and unmistakably "of the period." We now

and then come across them in the windows of old print shops. The book appears well written, yet rather pedantic than brilliant. HERBERT B. CLAYTON. 39, Renfrew Road, Lower Kennington Lane.

The following advertisement, which I tran- scribe from the Morning Post, Friday, 3 April, 1778, will give MR. SPACKMAN the informa- tion he desires :

" An Entire New Work.

To be completed in Eighty numbers only, or the overplus given gratis, making one large volume in folio, elegantly printed on an excellent new letter and superfine paper, and enriched with upwards of 100 beautiful and superb copper-plates, engraved from the drawings of the ingenious Samuel Wale, Esq. : and other capital masters ; by those excellent artists Walker, White, Grignion, Taylor, Chesham, Debroche, &c.

"On Saturday, March 28, 1778, was published, price only Six-pence (adorned with a beautiful frontispiece drawn by Samuel Wale, Esq. : and engraved by Mr. Grignion, and a whole length figure of the victorious Henry V. the Conqueror of France, finely engraved by Mr. Taylor),

" Number I. (to be continued weekly) of A New and Authentic History of England, from the most remote period of genuine historical evidence to the present important crisis : containing an interesting chronicle of the monarchs ; an accurate chronological account of remarkable events ; an entertaining recital of singular occurrences ; and an impartial biographical narrative of the lives of eminent persons : including, in the whole, every interesting transaction in the annals of the British Empire, for the space of two thousand years. " By William Augustus Russel, Esq. "London, printed for J. Cooke, at No. 17, in Paternoster-Row ; and sold by all Booksellers and News-carriers in Great-Britain and Ireland."

The rest of the advertisement, fifty seven lines, contains a list of engravings to appear in the work, with which I will not take up valuable space in 'N. & Q.' W. R. TATE.

Walpole Vicarage, Halesworth.

In the late Mr. Quaritch's Catalogue for 1868 I find on p. 735, No. 10,632 :

"England Displayed, being a Complete Survey

and Description of England and Wales, revised by

P. Russell and Owen Price. Plates and Maps,

2 vols. Folio, Old Green French Morocco, gilt Edges,

ery Fine Copy, 1769, 21. 16s."

2an this be the work 1 ALFRED J. KING. 101, Sandmere Road, Clapham, S.W.

MR. GLADSTONE'S HEIGHT (9 th S. v. 129). Some years ago I had a very excellent oppor- -unity of judging on this matter. The late 3ean Howson, of Chester, died on 15 Dec., 1885, and was buried a few days after in the Jloister Garth. It so happened that J, as an ld prote'f/e of the Dean, and secretary of the Jhester Association of Old King's Scholars, was able to obtain a seat in the Cloister