Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/153

 9*8. VII. FEB. 23, 1901.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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century, and he founded the Michell scholar- ships of Queen's College, Oxford, and left the College land at Old Windsor, which it now possesses.

I have entered fully into the relations of Francis Michell of Old Windsor, for there has always been confusion about the two men, Francis Mitchell of Essex and Francis Michell of Old Windsor, for they were both much before the public at the same period of history, and it is therefore necessary to explain who their brothers and sons were, in order to prove their individuality.

With regard to the descendants of (Sir) Francis I believe I can satisfy your corre- spondent. In 1660 Francis Mitchell, of Kilkenny, petitioned about certain matters, and I find that Philip Mitchell died in Dublin, 1687. I have little doubt these gentlemen were the sons of (Sir) Francis. The Rev. Thomas Mitchell, of Dublin, in the early part of last century registered a

Eedigree with Ulster King-at-Arms showing is descent from Francis Mitchell, of Kil- mallock, an officer in the army, who, about 1700, married a daughter of Col. Holmes, of Kilmallock. The Rev. Thomas Mitchell did not claim any arms. I believe the family of this gentleman are all dead. I think Francis Mitchell, of Kilmallock, was son of Francis of Kilkenny, who was son of (Sir) Francis. In Burke's 'General Armory' there is this entry of arms allowed :

"Mitchell (Mount Mitchell, Leitrirn) allowed by McCulloch, Ulster 1760, to Patrick Mitchell, of Bordeaux, in the Kingdom of France, merchant, great-grandson of Lawrence Mitchell, Esq., of Fingal, co. Meath."

It appears more than probable that this Lawrence was the brother of (Sir) Francis, for all the Mitchells left Theydon Garnon and Essex in the middle of the eighteenth century, and I have shown gentlemen of the same name then appearing in Ireland. It is probable that all the descendants of (Sir) Francis and Lawrence Mitchell have died out, for none of the present families of Mitchells I have been able to trace have the characteristic family names, which were continued down to last century in the families 1 have mentioned. Your corre- spondent must not confuse any Michells or Mitchells who bear arms with the descendants of Sir Francis Mitchell, for that gentle- man had no arms, and those granted by MpCulloch, Ulster, to Patrick Mitchell, o1

Bordeaux, are the arms of the Michell; of Old Windsor with a little fancy em bellishment. Neither Sir Francis nor Law

rence Mitchell was in any way connectec

vith the Old Windsor family, who have a joat of arms of three leopards' heads erased, ranted to Humfrey Michell, of Old Windsor, n 1581, in substitution of the ancient arms >f his family (three escallops) borne by Sir fohn Michell, of Yorkshire and Berkshire 1424), his immediate ancestor. S.

PLOTS OF PLAYS. Playgoers have pro ver- bally short memories, and, provided they ire amused, care very little as to whether he piece presented to them is new or old.

farce entitled ' Le Coup de Fouet,' by MM. lennequin and Duval, has been recently produced at the Nouveautes, Paris, in vhich the hero Barisart, in order to conceal lis infidelities from his wife, invents the egend that there is a gay man about town exactly like him, for whom he is con- inually being mistaken. The wife turns the cables upon her husband by affecting to relieve this legend, and recalls to his mind ndearments and caresses bestowed upon her y him of which he has no recollection. The critics have acclaimed this idea as a novelty, 3ut it is as old as the hills, or, to be more precise, it is more than half a century old. [n the year 1847, or perhaps earlier, a iece was brought out in Paris by MM. Anicet Bourgeois and Eugene-Marin Labiche, entitled 'Deux Gouttes d'Eau,' in which the same idea was employed. The piece was ublished in 1847 in the " Bibliotheque Dra- matique," tome xlv., and was translated and adapted for the English stage by Hubert Lille, and was first performed at the Hay- market Theatre on 30 June, 1854, with Mr. Buckstone and Mrs. Fitzwilliam in the prin-
 * ipal characters. The dramatic critic of the

ithenceum, describing the piece, identifies it as having been taken from the French omedy ' Deux Gouttes d'Eau,' and goes on to say, "A pleasure-loving husband makes his wife believe there is another Richmond in the field of Vauxhall and Cremorne so like himself as to cause serious scandal" (Athenaeum, 8 July, 1854, p. 852).

Some idea may be formed how old-fashioned the piece is from the fact that the hero is described as wearing a brown overcoat or " talma " (so called from the great actor), and another character is taken for a military man on account of his spurs and his " muscovites," the latter being his side-whiskers. If the play were reproduced it would require a glossary. JOHN HEBB.

PROHIBITION OF " HEATHEN " WINE AMONG

THE HEBREWS. In the ' Chronicles of Jerah-

, meel,' edited by Dr. Gaster, 1899, p. 163,