Part 5

As to Colonel Byrd's portrait. There were, I believe, three gentlemen of this name and title, more or less confounded in reputation, the second of whom, generally known as "Colonel Byrd the Elder," by reason of his son's history, was born in 1674. The picture is of his _father_, that is, of "old," or "the first Colonel Byrd," and is in the same style as that of Colonel Hill's, representing a shepherd lad. He was an English gentleman of great wealth, and certainly of some benevolence. In Campbell's _Virginia_, p. 104. (see also Oldmixon, vol. i. p. 427.), it is stated, 1690, a large body of Huguenots were sent to Virginia. "The refugees found in Colonel Byrd, of Westover, a generous benefactor. Each settler was allowed a strip of land running back from the river to the foot of the hill (Henrico County). Here they raised cattle," &c. He sent his son to England to be educated under the care of a friend, Sir Robert Southwell. The son became a Fellow of the Royal Society, "was the intimate and bosom friend of the learned and illustrious Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery," was the author of the _Westover MSS._ (mentioned in Oldmixon's preface, 2nd ed.), portions of which, "Progress to the Mines," "History of the Dividing Line," &c., have been printed, others are in the library of the American Philosophical Society.[3] His portrait is "by Kneller, a fine old cavalier face," says Campbell. The letters received at Westover might prove not uninteresting even to C., seeing that there were so many titled people among the writers; and to a gentleman of education and intelligence, the Westover library would have been a treasure-house. In the Loganian Library in this city is a large MS. folio, whose title-page declares it to be "a catalogue of books in the library at Westover, belonging to William Byrd, Esq.," from which it appears that in Law there were the English reporters (beginning with Y. B.) and text-writers, laws of France, Scotland, Rome (various editions of Pandects, &c.); Canon Law, with numerous approved commentators on each. In Physic a great many works, which, as I am told, were, and some still are, of high repute: I note only one, _Poor Planter's Physician interleaved_. This, to every one who has been upon a great Virginia plantation, bespeaks the benevolence characteristic of the proprietors of Westover. In Divinity, besides pages of orthodox divines, Bibles in various languages (several in Hebrew, one in seven vols.), are Socinius, Bellarmine, &c. The works on Metallurgy, Natural History, Metaphysics, Military Science, Heraldry, Navigation, Music, &c., are very numerous; and either of the collections of history, or entertainment, or classics, or political science, would form no inconsiderable library of itself. {230} An impression of Colonel Byrd's book-plate, given by a friend, is enclosed. I must add that the pictures at Brandon are at that mansion, through the marriage of Mr. Harrison (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) with the daughter of the third Colonel Byrd.

I have occupied much more space than I intended, but I have said enough I hope to show, 1. That it is possible, from dates, from the character, wealth, and position of Mr. Byrd and Mr. Hill, together with the length of time the pictures have remained in the respective families, for Vandyke to have painted these portraits. 2. That as men who directed the energies, developed the resources, of our infant settlements, who brought hither the products of science, literature, and art, who exhibited the refinements of birth, the graces of good breeding, yet were always ready to serve their country in the field or in the council, Mr. Byrd and Mr. Hill are vastly more worthy of commemoration and reverence than all the Earls of Dredlington that ever sat at his majesty's Board of Green Cloth.

J. BALCH.

Philadelphia.

[Footnote 2: It is curious to observe how matters of history appear and disappear as it were. "The mighty Tottipottimoy," says Hudibras (part ii. cant. ii. l. 421.),--on which the Rev. Dr. Nash has this note: "I don't know whether this is a real name or only an imitation of North-American phraseology; the appellation of an individual, or a title of office:"--Tottipottimoy was king of the warlike and powerful Parnunkies, and was defeated and slain by the Virginians, commanded by Colonel Hill, in the action from which Bloody Run takes its name.]

[Footnote 3: There is a curious passage in the Westover MSS. concerning William Penn, of which Mr. Macaulay should have a copy, unless one has been already sent to him.]

* * * * *

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_Cyanide of Potassium._--It may be interesting to our photographic friends to know that cyanide of potassium is capable of replacing hyposulphite of soda in all collodion processes. If used of the strength of five grains to one ounce of water, no danger need be apprehended from it. Its merits are cleanliness, quickness of operation, and the minute quantity of water required for washing the picture fixed therewith.

J. B. HOCKIN.

_Mode of exciting Calotype Paper._--I forgot inserting this plan of exciting in my paper: it is very clean and convenient, simple and sure. Obtain a piece of plate glass, two or three inches larger than your paper, level it on a table with a few bits of wood, pour on it your exciting mixture (say aceto-nitrate and gallic acid, solution of each 20 minims, distilled water 1 ounce), and spread it evenly over with a scrap of blotting-paper. Float your paper two minutes, remove and blot off; this ensures perfect evenness, especially if the paper is large. You may thus excite half a dozen papers with little more trouble than one.

THOS. L. MANSELL.

_The Double Iodide Solution--Purity of Photographic Chemicals._--The observations of MR. LEACHMAN upon the solvent powers of iodide of potassium (Vol ix., p. 182.) are perfectly correct, but I believe our photographic chemicals are often much adulterated. The iodide of potassium is frequently mixed with the carbonate. DR. MANSELL writes me word, in a comment upon your note upon his communication, "What I used was _very_ pure, having been prepared by Mr. Arnold with great care: it was some that had gone to the Great Exhibition as a sample of Guernsey make, and obtained a medal." I have this day used exactly seven ounces avoirdupois to make a pint of the iodizing solution, which, within a few grains, agrees with my former results. Nitrate of silver, I am informed upon a most respectable authority, has been adulterated thirty per cent., and without careful testing has eluded detection; but I am inclined to think our cheapest article has come in for its largest share of mixture. I have lately perfectly failed in the removal of the iodide of silver with a _saturated_ solution of what I purchased as hyposulphite of soda, but which could have been little else than common Glauber's salts; for upon applying a similar solution of some which was made by M. Butka of Prague, and supplied me by Messrs. Simpson and Maule, the effect was almost immediate, demonstrating how much we are misled in our conclusions, from believing we are manipulating with the same substances, when in fact they are quite different.

HUGH W. DIAMOND.

_Hyposulphite of Soda Baths._--Is there any objection to using the same bath (saturated solution of hyposulphite) for fixing both paper calotype _negatives_ and positives printed on albumenized paper from glass collodion negatives?

C. E. F.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Daughters taking their Mothers' Names_ (Vol. viii., p.586.).--BURIENSIS asked for instances of temp. Edw. I., II., III., of a daughter adding to her own name that of her mother: as Alice, daughter of Ada, &c. Though I am not able to furnish an instance of a daughter doing so, I can refer him to a few of sons using that form of surname some years earlier, but the practice seems very limited. Thus in _Liber de Antiquis Legibus_, published by the Camden Society, we have, among the early sheriffs of London in 1193, Willielmus filius Ysabelis, or, as in the appendix 222, Ysabel; in 1200, Willielmus filius Alicie; in 1213, Martinus filius Alicie; and in 1233 and 1246, Simon filius Marie,--the same person that, as Simon Fitz-Mary, is known as the founder of the Hospital of St. Mary Bethlehem Without, Bishopsgate.

W. S. W.

Middle Temple.

_The Young Pretender_ (Vol. ix., p. 177.).--Will CEYREP, or any other correspondent, furnish me with particulars of the Young Pretender's marriage with a daughter of the House of Stolberg; her name, place of burial, &c.? She was descended maternally from the noble House of Bruce, through the marriage of Thomas, second Earl of Aylesbury and third Earl of Elgin, with Charlotte (his second wife) Countess of Sannu, or Sannau, of the House of Argenteau. They had a daughter, Charlotte Maria, I suppose an only child, who was married in the year 1722 to the Prince of Horn. These had issue Mary and Elizabeth, whom also I suppose {231} to have been only children. One of them married the Prince of Stolberg, and the other the Prince of Salm. One of the descendants of this family was an annuitant on the estate of the Marquis of Aylesbury, as recently as twelve or fourteen years ago. Information on any part of this descent would confer an obligation on

PATONCE.

_A Legend of the Hive_ (Vol. ix., p. 167.).--With every feeling of gratitude to EIRIONNACH, I cannot receive praise for false metre and erroneous grammar. In the fifth line of the first stanza of the quoted verse, the first of the above legend, "are" is redundant: and in the first line of the next stanza, "bore" should be "bare." I remember that in more cases than one the printer of my published rhymes has perpetrated this latter mistake.

Suffer me to reply to a question of the same courteous critic EIRIONNACH, in Vol. ix., p. 162., about a "Christ-cross-row." This name for the alphabet obtained in the good old Cornish dame-schools when I was a boy. In a book that I have seen, there is a vignette of a monk teaching a little boy to read, and beneath

"_A Christ-Cross Rhyme._

I.

"Christ his cross shall be my speed! Teach me, Father John, to read: That in church, on holy-day, I may chant the psalm and pray.

II.

"Let me learn, that I may know What the shining windows show; Where the lovely Lady stands, With that bright Child in her hands.

III.

"Teach me letters one, two, three, Till that I shall able be Signs to know and words to frame, And to spell sweet Jesu's name!

IV.

"Then, dear master, will I look Day and night in that fair book, Where the tales of saints are told, With their pictures all in gold.

V.

"Teach me, Father John, to say Vesper-verse and matin-lay; So when I to God shall plead, Christ his cross will be my speed!"

H. OF MORWENSTOW.

_Hoby Family_ (Vol. viii., p. 244.; Vol. ix., pp. 19. 58.).--Sir Philip Hoby, or Hobbie, who was born in 1505, and died in 1558, was not only Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Henry VIII., but, while he held that office, was attached to the embassy of Sir Thomas Wyatt to the Emperor Charles V. in 1538. He was himself ambassador to the same Emperor in 1548, being sent by the Protector Somerset to replace the Bishop of Westminster. It may be interesting to state that two volumes of papers containing instructions and other letters transmitted to Sir Philip during these embassies, and copies of his replies, together with his correspondence with some eminent reformers, were in the possession of Wm. Hare, Esq., M.P. for the city of Cork in 1796. An account of them, drawn up by the Rev. T. D. Hincks, was read before the Royal Irish Academy on December 17 in that year, and printed in the sixth volume of its _Transactions_. It is probable that these papers had formerly belonged to Rev. Sir Philip Hoby, Bart., who was Dean of Ardfert and Chancellor of St. Patrick's; and died without an heir in 1766. He was descended from Sir Thomas Hoby, younger brother of Sir Philip; who was born in 1530, and died in 1566. The father of these two knights was William Hobbie of Leominster. I presume the two volumes of papers referred to are in the possession of the Earl of Listowel, great-grandson of the gentleman who possessed them in 1796.

E. H. D. D.

_Anticipatory Use of the Cross_ (Vol. viii. passim).--

"It is strange, yet well authenticated, and has given rise to many theories, that the symbol of the Cross was already known to the Indians before the arrival of Cortez. In the island of Cozumel, near Yucatan, there were several; and in Yucatan itself there was a stone cross. And there an Indian, considered a prophet amongst his countrymen, had declared that a nation bearing the same as a symbol should arrive from a distant country! More extraordinary still was a temple, dedicated to the Holy Cross by the Toltec nation in the city of Cholula. Near Tulansingo there is also a cross engraved on a rock with various characters, which the Indians by tradition ascribe to the Apostle St. Thomas. In Oajaca, also, there existed a cross, which the Indians from time immemorial had been accustomed to consider as a divine symbol. By order of the Bishop Cervantes it was placed in a sumptuous chapel in the cathedral. Information concerning its discovery, together with a small cup, cut out of its wood, was sent to Rome to Paul V.; who received it on his knees, singing the hymn 'Vexilla regis,' &c."--_Life in Mexico_, by Madame Calderon de la Barca, Letter xxxvii.

E. H. A.

_Longevity_ (Vols. vii., viii., _passim_).--

"Amongst the fresh antiquities of Cornwall, let not the old woman be forgotten who died about two years since; who was one hundred and sixty-four years old, of good memory, and healthful at that age; living in the parish of Gwithian by the charity of such as came purposely to see her, speaking to them (in default of English) by an interpreter, yet partly understanding it. She married a second husband after she was eighty, {232} and buried him after he was eighty years of age."--Scawens' _Dissertation on the Cornish Tongue_, written temp. Car. II.

ANON.

As very many, if not all, the instances mentioned in "N. & Q." of those who have reached a very advanced age, were people of humble origin, may we not now refer to those of noble birth? To commence the list, I would name Sir Ralph de Vernon, "who is said to have lived to the age of one hundred and fifty, and thence generally was called the Old Liver." My authority is, Burke's _Peerage and Baronetage_, edit. 1848, p. 1009.

W. W.

Malta.

"_Nugget_" (Vol. viii., pp. 375. 481.).--A note from Mundy's _Our Antipodes_:

"The word _nugget_, among farmers, signifies a small compact beast, a runt: among gold-miners a lump, in contradistinction to the scale or dust-gold."

CLERICUS RUSTICUS.

_The fifth Lord Byron_ (Vol. ix., p. 18.).--I believe it to be an acknowledged fact, that an old man's memory is generally good of events of years past and gone: and as an octogenarian I am not afraid to state that, from the discussions on the subject, I feel myself perfectly correct as to the main point of my observations (Vol. viii., p. 2.), viz. the error committed in the limitation of the ultimate reversion of the estate; but as to the secondary point to which MR. WARDEN alludes, I may perhaps be in error in placing it on the settlement of the son, inasmuch as the effect would be the same if it occurred in the settlement of the father; and MR. WARDEN'S observations leave an inference that the mistake may have there occurred; as, in such case, if the error had been discovered,--and by any altercation the son had refused to correct the mistake, which he could and ought to have consented to, after the failure of his own issue,--this alone, between two hasty tempers, would have been sufficient cause of quarrel, without reference to the question of marrying an own cousin, which is often very justly objectionable.

WM. S. HESLEDEN.

_Wapple, or Whapple-way_ (Vol. ix., p. 125.).--This name is common in the south, and means a bridle-way, or road in which carriages cannot pass. In Sussex these ways are usually short cuts through fields and woods, from one road or place to another. (See Halliwell's _Dictionary_, and Cooper's _Sussex Glossary_.) The derivation is not given by either writer.

D.

In Manning's _Surrey_, I find not any mention of this term; but apprehend it to be a corruption of the Norman-French, _vert plain_, "a green road or alley:" which, as our Saxon ancestors pronounced the _v_ as a _w_, easily slides into _war plain_ or _warple_. (See Du Cange, _Supp._, _in voce_ "Plain.")

C. H.

_The Ducking-stool_ (Vol. viii., p.315.).--As late as the year 1824, a woman was convicted of being a common scold in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia County, and sentenced "to be placed in a certain instrument of correction called a cucking or ducking-stool," and plunged three times into the water; but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, upon the removal of the case by writ of error, decided that this punishment was obsolete, and contrary to the spirit of the age.

Our fathers held the ducking-stool in higher respect, as appears from the following presentments of the grand juries of Philadelphia, the originals of which have been lately discovered. In January, 1717, they say (through William Fishbourne, their foreman),--

"Whereas it has been frequently and often presented by several former grand juries for this city, the necessity of a ducking-stool and house of correction for the just punishment of scolding, drunken women, as well as divers other profligate and unruly persons in this place, who are become a public nuisance and disturbance to this town in general; therefore we, the present grand jury, do earnestly again present the same to this court of quarter sessions for the city, desiring their immediate care, that _those publick conveniences_ may not be any longer delayed, but with all possible speed provided for the detection and quieting such disorderly persons."

Another, the date of which is not given, but which is signed by the same foreman, presents "Alsoe that a ducking-stoole be made for publick use, being very much wanting for scolding women," &c. And in 1720, another grand jury, of which Benjamin Duffield was foreman, say:

"The Grand Inquest, we taking in consideration the great disorders of the turbulent and ill-behaviour of many people in this city, we present the great necessity of a ducking-stool for such people according to their deserts."

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.

_Double Christian Names_ (Vol. ix., p. 45.).--It is surely not correct to say that the earliest instance of two Christian names is in the case of a person born in 1635. Surely Henry, Prince of Wales, the son of James I., is an earlier instance. Sir Thomas Strand Fairfax was certainly born before that date. Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey was probably an earlier instance; and Sir Robert Bruce Colton, the antiquary, certainly so. Writing at a distance from my books, I can only appeal to memory; but see Southey's _Common-Place Book_, vol. i. p. 510. Venables, in his _Travels in Russia_, {233} tells us that "a Russian has never more than one Christian name, which must be always that of a saint." To these a patronymic is often added of the father's name, with the addition _vich_, as in the case of the present Czar, Nicholas Paulovich, the son of Paul.

W. DENTON.

Torquay.

_Pedigree to the Time of Alfred_ (Vol. viii., p. 586.).--Some ten or twelve years since I was staying at the King's Head Inn, Egham, Surrey (now defunct), when a fresh-looking, respectable man was pointed out to one as Mr. Wapshot, who had held an estate in the neighbourhood from his ancestors prior to the Conquest. He was not represented as a blacksmith, but as farming his own estate. I am not connected with Egham or the neighbourhood, or I would make farther inquiry.

S. D.

_Palace of Lucifer_ (Vol. v., p. 275.).--If R. T. has not observed it, I would refer him to the note in the Aldine edition of Milton, vol. iii. p. 263., where I find "Luciferi domus" is the palace of the sun (see _Prolusiones_, p. 120.); and not, as T. WARTON conjectured, the abode of Satan.

I. R. R.

_Monaldeschi_ (Vol. viii., p. 34.).--_Relation du Meurte de Monaldeschi, poignardé par ordre de Christine, reine de Suède_, by Father de Bel, is to be found in a collection of curious papers printed at Cologne, 1664, in 12mo. It is given at length in _Cristina's Revenge, and other Poems_, by J. M. Moffatt, London, printed for the author, 1821.

E. D.

_Anna Lightfoot_ (Vol. vii., p. 595.).--T. H. H. is referred to an elegantly printed pamphlet called _An Historical Fragment relative to her late Majesty Queen Caroline_, printed for J. & N. L. Hunt, London, 1824, which, from p. 44. to p. 50., contains a very circumstantial account of this extraordinary occurrence.

E. D.

_Lode_ (Vol. v., p. 345.).--It would not appear that this word means "an artificial watercourse," at least from its use at Tewkesbury, where there is still the _Lower Lode_, at which a ferry over the Severn still exists; and there was also the _Upper Lode_, until a bridge was erected over the river at that place. Will this help to show its proper meaning?

I. R. R.

"_To try and get_" (Vol. ix., p. 76.).--UNEDA inquires the origin of this erroneous mode of expression? Doubtless euphony, to avoid the alliteration of so many T's: "_t_o _t_he _t_heatre _t_o _t_ry and get," &c. But evidently the word _to_ is understood, though not supplied after the word _and_. Thus, "to try and (to) get," &c.

CELCRENA.

_Abbott Families_ (Vol. ix. p. 105.).--In reply to MR. ABBOTT'S Query, I have a pedigree of Samuel Abbott, born in 1637 or 1638; second son of Wm. Abbott of Sudbury, who was born 1603, and who was son to Charles Abbott of Hawkden and Sudbury, an alderman, which Charles was son to Wm. Abbott of Hawkden. This Samuel married Margaret, daughter to Thomas Spicer. Should MR. ABBOTT wish it, I would forward him a copy of the pedigree. I can trace no connexion between this family and that of Archbishop Abbott, whose father, Maurice Abbott of Guildford, was son of ---- Abbott of Farnham, co. Surrey.

I wish especially to know what became of Thomas Abbott, only son of Robert, Bishop of Sarum; which Thomas dedicated his father's treatise against Bellarmine in 1619 to his uncle the Archbishop, calling himself in the preface, "imbellis homuncio." His sister was wife to Sir Nathaniel Brent, whose younger son Nathaniel left all his property to his cousin Maurice Abbott, of St. Andrew's, Holborn, Gent., in 1688; which Maurice was possibly son to Thomas.

G. E. ADAMS.

36. Lincoln's Inn Fields.

"_Mairdil_" (Vol. viii., p. 411.).--Is there any affinity between the word _mairdil_, which is used in Forfarshire, to be overcome with fatigue for any oppressive or intricate piece of work, and the word _mardel_ or _mardle_, which signifies to gossip in Norfolk, as stated by MR. J. L. SISSON? What will H. C. K. say to this subject? Jamieson confines _mairdil_ to an adjective, signifying unwieldy; but I have often heard work-people in Forfarshire declare they were "perfectly _mairdiled_" with a piece of heavy work, using the word as a passive verb. _Trachled_ has nearly the same meaning, but it is chiefly confined to describe fatigue arising from walking a long distance.

HENRY STEPHENS.