Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/62

 48 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9°‘ S- VL JULY 2» 190°- “ PHU'rAToH1Us ” AND “ GAS'1'RIPHBRES.”- These occur in the ‘Essay on Progress’ in Froude’s ‘Short Studies on Great Subjects/ vol. iv. p. 313:- “Those who go for information to novels may remember that there was a Yorick, as well as a Phutatorius or a Gastripheres.” In what novels are these characters to be found? JAMES WATSON. PETER PHILIP VAN-VIRGILO DE BRUYN was admittpd to Westminster School on 16 April, 1823, and left at Christmas, 1825. Any par- ticulars concerniug his parentage and career are desired. G. F. R. B. EDWARD BoxsDANNs was admitted toWest- minster School on 10 March, 1773. I should be glad to obtain any information concerning him. G. F. R. B. CRYPTOGRAPHY.-I should like to know what works have been published in England during the last fifty years on the above subject. Sir Charles Wheatstone, in a letter dated 26 Sept., 1856, informed me that he should shortly pub- lish for general use several secure and sim ple ciphers. Has, however, any simple and absolutelyisecure cipher ever yet been pub- lished? he only recentl ublished work on cipher writing which I have succeeded in getting is by. E. Hulme, and is entitled ‘Cryptographyf In this work I do not find any mention of Wheatstone’s promised cipher pu hcation, nor an account of any cipher proof against the labour and art of a staff of skilled deciipherers. In ‘Encyc. Brit.,’ ninth edition, un er the head ‘ Cryptography] Prof. Wheatstone is mentioned as the inventor of the cryptomachine, but no hint is iven that Wheatstone published for general use any simple and secure cipher, nor is it stated that such a cipher exists. N. G. WILKINS, LL.D. Stourmouth, Dover. ST. PATBICK’S Caoss.-In connexion with the interesting articles that have lately ap- peared with reference to the Union Jack, I should be glad to learn something about the origin of t e cross of St. Patrick, which may be eraldically described as Argent, a cross saltire gules. I have heard that when the Order o St. Patrick was instituted by Kin George III. in 1783, the cross was invented ad hoc, but I do not know how far this state- ment I8 correct. I should also like to know if there is any heraldic rule about fimbriation. It will be observed that in the coloured illus- tration which accompanied MR. HOPE’S inter- esting article, the fimbriation of St. George’s cross is at least double as wide as that of the cross of St. Patrick. Does the fimbriation of a cross always bear a certain proportion to the width of the cross? W. F. PRIDEAUX. ST. ANNE’S CHURCH, BLACKFRIAR8.-MP; Wheatley in ‘London Past _and Present gives the following description of Black- friars :- “Blackfriars, a church precinct and sanctuary with four gates, lying between Ludgate Hill and the Thames and extending westwar from Castle Baynard (St. Andrew’s Hil ) to the Fleet river. So called from the house of Black, Preaching, or Dominican friars founded in 1221. Their first London house was in Holborn, near Llncolns Inn, where they remained fifty-five years. In 1276 they removed to Blackfriars. In l3ll Ed- ward I'* confirmed a gift ,to them of two lanes adjoinin to his place of Castle Baynard and the tower 0% Mounttitchet. The friars’ church was given to the parishioners of St. Anne’s for a parish church in the 3" Edward 6"*‘ [i.e., l&30].” This description appears to be accurate with the exception of the last paralgrapgi relative to the church of St. Anne, _ 1ac_- friars, which I have reason to believe is inaccurate, or is at least contradicted by other authorities, and I should be glad to have some further information on the sub]ect. JOHN Hass. Canonbury Mansions, N. “ HURTLING.”-Vvlll any reader of ‘ N. & Q. explain the word “hurtling” as used _by Matthew Arnold in his poem entitled ‘ Saint Brandan,’ iii. 3? The hurtling Polar lights are near’d. “Hurtling ” I find, according to dictionaries, to mean “a crashing noise, such as the travelling sound of thunder ”° and “hurtle,” “ to dash against, to move violently, to clash or rattle.” How do these apply to Polar lights? QUIZ. [You will find the explanation in the ‘ Hint. Eng. Dict.’] KATHERINE, LADY OGLH, wife of Sir Charles Cavendish, created Baroness Ogle b Charles I. in 1628, died 18 April, 1629. Vghere was she buried? PERCY SIMPSON. IVATCH CANDLE.-Bacon says (‘ Adv. of Learn.,’ i. 2); “ Better ...... a branching candle- stick than to go about with a small watch candle into every corner.” What was a watch candle? H. N. ELLACOMBR. LATON CHARTULARY.-ID a note in vol. liii., Surtees Society publications, ‘ Testaments Eboracensia,’ p. 207 mention is made of the above chartular. I should be much obliged lif any reader of ‘ N. dz Q.’ would inform me