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From a Miniature in the Possession of the Right Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke, M.P.

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II. HISTORICAL.

THIS last year but one of the nineteenth century has been remarkable for the number of its centenary and jubilee celebrations.

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teresting if it would open its columns to correspondence on the manners, customs, observances, superstitions, ballads, proverbs, &c., of the olden time. Mr. Dilke was so much struck with the idea that he invited On the 16th of January three hundred Mr. Thoms to call upon him at the office in years had passed since the death, at his Wellington Street, when, with certain limitalodgings in King Street, Westminster, of tions, the plan was agreed to, and on the Edmund Spenser. On the 5th of June the 22nd of August the first article appeared, centenary of the Royal Institution was cele- Mr. Thoms writing under the pseudonym of brated. On the 13th of the same month was "Ambrose Merton," and giving to his investithe jubilee of the first municipal public free gations the title of "Folk-Lore." In the library in the United Kingdom, that in the number published on the 4th of September, Peel Park, Salford. The 28th of August 1847, Mr. Thoms revealed himself to be was the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of "Ambrose Merton," and at the same time the birth of Goethe. Festivities commemo- claimed the honour of introducing the rating the event were commenced on the expression "Folk-Lore," "as Isaac Disraeli 19th of August, and not concluded until does of introducing 'Fatherland' into the the 6th of September, when the Goethe Platz literature of the country." The Athenæum was decorated and lighted in "hervorragender of the same date states "that in Weise"; but amid all the rejoicings it is than twelve months the word 'Folk-Lore' beautiful to record that the graves of Goethe's has almost attained to the dignity of a parents in the old churchyard of St. Peter household word." Mr. Thoms at this time were not forgotten, lovely wreaths of flowers commenced a series of nine articles on the and laurels being placed upon them. Other Folk-Lore of Shakespeare, little realizing that events include the centenary of the Church this special subject was to assume such dimenMissionary Society, founded on the 14th of sions. In 1849 it was found that the Folk-Lore April, 1799 (to commemorate the event Mr. articles and correspondence had become so Eugene Stock, the editorial secretary, has extensive that it was impossible, having rewritten a full history of the Society, pub- gard to the increasing demands that literalished in three volumes); the centenary of ture, the fine arts, and the other subjects the Religious Tract Society, founded by the treated in The Athenæum made on its Rev. George Burder, of Coventry, on the 9th space, that they should be continued. Mr. of May, 1799 (the Rev. Samuel G. Green, Thoms, therefore, felt that the time had come D.D., the secretary, has sketched 'The when a journal entirely devoted to the subStory of the Religious Tract Society for jects in question might be started with a One Hundred Years.' This contains a fac-fair chance of success. The title of Notes and simile of Tract No. 6, 'The Repentance and Happy Death of the Celebrated Earl of Rochester.' It is curious to note that the name of the printer of this tract is Rousseau); the jubilee of "that dream of Father Newman and Father Faber of bringing Rome to London," the founding of the London Oratory, this being opened in King William Street, Strand, on the 31st of May, 1849. Among anniversaries of inventions must be mentioned the diamond jubilee of photography and the centenary of the yet more important discoveries by Volta as to the properties of electricity.

It is in this eventful year we celebrate the jubilee of, to speak of it in the terms of its founder, "dear old Notes and Queries," the first number of which was published on the 3rd of November, 1849. In the summer of 1846 Mr. William John Thoms, the founder and first editor of Notes and Queries, wrote to The Athenæum, suggesting that it would be both useful and in

Queries, "after much cudgelling of brains," was hit upon, and with a hearty greeting from The Athenæum the new paper started on its way.

Mr. Thoms, in his interesting reminiscences of the founding of the journal, gives a record of the first six numbers, and renders, with true old-world courtesy, full tribute to those whose contributions had been so largely helpful to its success (5th S. vi. 1, 41, 101, 221; vii. 1, 222, 303). He also says that the title of Notes and Queries was not considered by many of his friends to be a good one, but that he himself, being so well pleased with it, determined to stand fast by it. Mr. Peter Cunningham suggested for its motto the words of Cowper :

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