Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 8.djvu/252

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. vm. SEPT. 21, 1901.

liquid to the air? Also, is not Webster wrong in limiting panshon to an earthen vessel? Is panshon the only orthographical form of the word 1 Does it not sometimes appear as panshin ? E. ST. G. BETTS.

THE BIRTHPLACE OF OLIVES GOLDSMITH. -It has been stated that Goldsmith was born near Athlone, at a place where he certainly spent much of his time. I have, however, just visited the house called Smith Hill, about half a mile from Elphin, on the road to Hill Street, in the county of Roscommon. The Rev. Canon Irwin, principal of Bishop Hodson's Grammar School in Elphin, who accompanied me thither, firmly believes in the local tradition that Goldsmith was born in the now mostly demolished house of Smith Hill, while his mother was on a visit to her relatives of the Jones family. The present owner of the place is Mr. R. J. S. Lloyd. His agent, Mr. John Hanley, maintains, no less than Canon Irwin, who resides at the former Anglican Deanery of Elphin, the truth of the tradition of the oldest inhabitants that Goldsmith was born in the house on the site of which that now occupied by himself was built. Can the question be definitively settled in favour of either Athlone or Elphin 1

E. S. DODGSON.

[The 'D.N.B.' states, on the authority of Prior's life, that Goldsmith was born at Pallas, near Bally- raahon, Longford, 10 Nov., 1728.]

QUOTATION WANTED.

Things that were born when none but the still

night And his dumb candle saw his pinching throes.

H. F. [Ben Jonson, ' The Poetaster,' Act V., last scene.]

PARISH REGISTERS. An article on parish registers appeared in the People's Magazine about thirty years ago. A contribution on the same subject was printed in the Monthly Packet about ten years ago. Will any reader oblige with the dates when these ' articles appeared? I am unable to consult Poole's

lnd e x - H. ANDREWS.

[The third edition of Poole gives references to

Lv M'J ame " Magazine, xii. 369; Macmillaris, xlin. 190; Home and Foreign Revieiv, ii 433- Archvologia, viii 67; Journal of the Statistical Society v. 256; Chamber,^ Journal, xxxix. 300 the Antiquary, i. 197; Fraser, Ixiv. 357; Cornhill

XI. Ol/.J

SETTING A PRICE ON THE HEAD. Can any ot your readers inform me when this bar barous custom was first introduced in Scot- land or m England? I presume the last

.nstance of it was in 1745, when a price was set on the head of Prince Charles Edward, [n the case of Montrose the proclamation Dromises pardon to any one bringing him in alive .or exhibiting his head, " if he should happen to be slain in the taking." Any such person, it said, "should not only be pardoned ! or bygone concurrence in this rebellion and all other crimes formerly committed by him, not being treasonable," but also receive a reward in money. What is the force or significance of the proviso which I have indicated in italics? Was not taking part in the rebellion a treasonable act ?

JOHN WILLCOCK.

Lerwick, N.B.

CAPT. JONES. In 'Elegant Extracts,' ' Poetry,' Book IV., a little before the middle (p. 846 in my edition, which has no date), is the following :

" Epitaph on Captain Jones, who published some marvellous Accounts of his Travels, the Truth of all which he thought proper to testify by affidavit. Tread softly, mortals, o'er the bones Of the world's wonder, Captain Jones \ Who told his glorious deeds to many, But never was believed by any. Posterity let this suffice, He swore all 's true, yet here he lies."

Who was Capt. Jones, and what were his publications? It will be remembered that a few years ago a traveller, M. Louis de Rougemont, confirmed the truth of his mar- vellous statements by affidavit. I do not know the date of the first edition of ' Elegant Extracts,' but I think that was about 1780- 1785. ROBERT PIERPOINT.

St. Austin's, Warrington.

" A VERY JUDICIOUS ACTOR." In his essay on 'Stage Illusion,' almost at the end, Lamb says : "A very judicious actor (in most of his parts) seems to have fallen into an error of this sort in his playing with Mr. Wrench in the farce of 'Free and Easy.'" Who was this very judicious actor? H. T.

ARMORIAL. Whose arms are these ? Quarterly, 1 and 4, Gules, a chevron or, be- tween three roundels sable; 2, Or, three cinquefoils sable, one and two ; 3, Or, a cinquefoil in chief over a lion rampant sable.

S. BAYLEY.

ROBERT SHIRLEY. In February, 1623/4, I find a note of one Robert Shirley, present at a Middle Temple feast, affecting to be an ambassador from Persia. Who was he?

LOBUC.

[Robert Shirley was sent as envoy by the Shah in 1607. See 'D.N.B.']