Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/501

 9* S- VI- NOV- M. 1900-] NOTES AND QUERIES. ' 417 more. I did not assert that all James’s protefmfs were of Erse descent, but that those who were so were simply returning to their racial land, and I repeat the statement. The others were immigrants of an alien blood- as much as the Turks are in Palestine or the English in India-albeit generically dubbed “Scottish settlers.” There was nothin “Scottish” about them beyond accident dl birth in or near Scotland. But the “Scot- tish ” element was more discernible in J ames’s than in Elizabeth’s settlement in Ireland. Hence those of it who went over under the former betook themselves under favouring circumstances to the soil of their ancestors. J. B. LICGOVERN. St. Stephen’s Rectory, C.-on-M., Manchester. SUFFOLK NAME Fon LADYBIRD (9"‘ S. v. 48, 154, 274° vi. 255).-The rime referred to, as I remember it to have been pretty generally used by children in my boyhood with the view of causing a ladybird when placed on one’s hand to fly away, was :- Ladybird, ladybird, ily away home; Your house is on tire and your children at home. I have known this little insect to be named also “lady-cow ” and “lady-ily.” W. I. R. V. When I was a child, after admiring to our hearts’ desire the pretty ladybird, we little ones would start it dying again, crying at the same time:- Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home; Your house is on fire and children ’s at home. HARRY Hams. Fair Park, Exeter. In Derbyshire children knew this insect by a variety of names. “ Cow-lad y ” was the most common, and I always understood that it was due to the markings of its wing-cases being somewhat like the markings of red cattle with white spots, which certainly were more plentiful years ago than now. We also called them “cushy-cows,” “lady-cows,” and “ladybix-ds.” It was lucky to find one on our clothing, and it was customary to take the cow-lady in the hand, throw it upwards, and, as it flew away, say :-- Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home; Your house is on fire, your children all gone- All but one- Who ’s writing a letter as fast as she can. Tnos. Rxrcurrs. VVorksop. “Sno'r FREE ” (6"’ S. vii. 287 ; viii. 12, 357, 504 ; 9°" S. vi. 217, 311).-S/wt, a score or reckoning, is still used in this locality. Miss Baker re ers to ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona,’ Act II. sc. v. where Speed says, “I ’ll to the alehouse with you resently ; where, for one shot of five-pence, thou shalt have five thou~ sand welcomes.” JOHN T. PAGE. West Haddon, Northamptonshire. THE BELLMAN (9**' S. vi. 350). -I remember quite well hearing the postman of the Fitzroy Square region passing along in front of my father’s house, carr 'ing a bag and ringing a bell in order that lie might receive letters destined for the General Post. To the best of in recollection this occurred every day at 5 o’cTbck P.M., and a fee of a penny per letter was given to the bellman. This reminiscence is more than fifty years old. 'I`he bellman was, however, a much older institution than this, seeing that among the hand-coloured mezzo- tints published c. 1770 by Carrington Bowles at 69, St. Paul’s Churchyard, No. 133 is styled ‘The Bell Woman,’ and ccipied b Phili Dawe from a picture by enry ilorlandi George Morland s father. It shows a pretty 'oung woman standing near a lantern which hangs against a wall and a placard bearin the royal arms. She is ringing a bell and holding one hand for a penny to a boy, who Eresents a letter addressed “ To Thomas Jones, sq., at Youville, Bucks.” The boy looks im- plorin ly at her because he has not the enny neede<T to secure the desgiatch of his lletter. Below the design the fo lowing verses are engraved :- This simple Boy has lost his Penny, And She without it won’t ta-ke any ; VVhat can He do in such a Plight? This Letter cannot go to Night. See the ‘Catalogue of Satirical Prints in the British Museum] No. 4498. F. G. S. When the custom of sending a bellman round to collect letters for the out-gging mails was discontinued I cannot remem r, but in 1843-4 I was frequently sent out with letters for the bellman when the sound of the bell announced his ap roach. His oflicial costume was a scarlet swalllow-tail coat and a tall hat with broad gold band. J. P. E. S. This must have been so, for it is not very long ago, in a shop where all sorts of old things were to be sold, I saw an engraving (an old engraving) of such a bellman-a man with a bell, evidently ringin it, and calling out for letters. The title, the words of which I forget, indicated as mucig. A C I well remember when letters for the night mails were collected in London by a red- coated post-oiiice ofiicial, who carried a bell and large bag to hold the letters entrusted