Authentic Examples. Readers who have grasped the principles enunciated by Mr. Stapleton should be equal to taking up a work of importance which needs doing everywhere, and specially in England. We have merely to add that in the case of Latin inscriptions punctuation is of importance, as often indicating abbreviations, and that instead of line-for-line copying the method used by classical scholars for many years should suffice. The insertion of an upright stroke indicates the end of a line. For instance, we can write a famous passage in King Lear' thus: "Men must endure their going hence, even as their coming hither: | ripeness is all." This, without the use of capital letters or help of metre, shows where the line-divisions come.

of an

The Burlington Magazine for January opens with A Retrospect of 1909,' referring to various hopeful aspects of the year, including Governmental recognition of art. There are brief notices of two great collectors, Mr. Salting and Dr. Ludwig Mond. Mr. Sidney Colvin begins a study of Tintoretto at the British Museum,' which promises to be very interesting, and is well illustrated. The frontispiece is a Portrait of a Child' in the collection of M. Gustave Dreyfus, which Mr. Claude Phillips claims as a work of Jacopo Bellini. Cézanne,' by Maurice Denis, with introductory note by Mr. Roger Fry, treats artist who is credited with being the forerunner of the Impressionist movement, and so of first-rate importance. Mr. Lionel Cust writes on John Hoppner, and M. L. Dimier on French Portrait Drawings in Mr. Salting's Collection.' Sir Charles Holroyd has an all too brief note on Florence Revisited.' One of the chief changes he records is the safe housing of Michelangelo's four unfinished heroic figures in the Florentine Academy. They were formerly in the Boboli Gardens, and imitations of them are now placed there-plaster casts that "are skilfully tinted to imitate the stains, rust, and dust of the originals, so as to be absolutely deceptive." The Old English Embroidery of Justice and Peace,' which is illustrated in colour and

described by Mr. W. G. Thomson, is a well-designed piece of work.

While we admire the excellent and thorough way in which The Burlington deals with the scholarship of old masters of all sorts, we still regret that living English art does not, as a matter of course, occupy some substantial space in each number. Fashion and the dealer combine to

daud the dead and put a high price on their work. What of our living masters? and if we have none, could not The Burlington explain what is the matter with our art?

IN The National Review politics, as might be expected, occupy a predominating place, and are dealt with in a trenchant style which is a great contrast to many half-hearted pronouncements on the Tariff Reform side. Miss Jane A. Findlater in Three Sides to the Question' examines the views on social questions of Mr. H. G. Wells in Tono-Bungay,' Mr. Galsworthy in Fraternity,' and Mr. S. Reynolds in A Poor Man's House.' She points out that they chiefly tell us what to avoid doing, and offer but partial solutions of the problems they suggest. But their business is to tell stories, not to proffer a panacea for mankind, and they naturally exag

gerate the views they happen to hold, which may not be permanent. Miss Findlater easily inserts several pinpricks in their social theories, and has produced a highly interesting, if inconclusive article. Mr. Cecil Raleigh in The Player's Poverty' says that the profession is ruined by those who act for nothing, or even pay to appear; so the actor in the provinces is often on the verge of starvation. He says there should be a Trade Union of Actors to insist on a minimum wage of 21. a week. The Union of music-hall performers was strong enough recently to organize a strike which demanded and received Board of Trade Settlement." M. René Feibelmann has a roseate account of 'Belgium's New Ruler, Albert I.,' who has an excellent record in the way of knowledge, sympathy, and resolute study of the questions concerning him as a ruler.

The most attractive article in the number is, however, Holding Her Down,' by Jack London. It is one of the most vivid accounts of adventure and quickly devised expedient we have read for some time. The title, which is as difficult for the ordinary man to understand as much of the author's lingo, refers to getting on a train by stealth, and managing to ride free of charge by jumping back on to the same train when turned off. The tramp who does this, and the officials, called "shacks," are at deadly war, and the former runs the risk of serious injuries. The number concludes with some valuable notes on Colonial ideas, which are always well treated here.

Mededeelingen op het Gebied der Geschiedenis, WE have just received No. I. of Vragen en Taal- en Letterkunde, edited by J. F. Bense, 49, Pels Rijckenstraat, Arnhem. This is a Dutch Notes and Queries, which follows generally our own arrangement and rules. Contributions may The number includes some notes in French on be sent in English, French, German, or Dutch. libraries in the Netherlands in the first part of the seventeenth century; notes in English on the Etymology of "Toucan and The English Pronoun she query on the derivation of "God," answered by by Mr. Jas. Platt, Jun., and a

an extract from the N.E.D.'

Notices to Correspondents.

We must call special attention to the following notices:

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately. nor can we advise correspondents as to the value of old books and other objects or as to the means of disposing of them.

EDITORIAL Communications should be addressed tisements and Business Letters to "The Pubto "The Editor of Notes and Queries'"-Adverlishers"--at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C.

MRS. HAUTENVILLE COPE ("Parish Register Fees"). See the numerous articles at 9 S. x. 148, 394, 428; xi. 130, 252, 453. HABANA.-Forwarded.

Lot 13. Eight relative to Highgate, including 3 of the Ladies' Charity School, the largest one very scarce. 11. 18., Graves." "Lot 12s. 6d.

19. Fourteen prints of Kenwood.

"Lot 20. Fourteen prints and drawings from Kentish Town to Newington Butts, including a Ground Plot of Kilburn Abbey. 11. 18." This ground plot is not cited in Park's 'Hampstead.''

But, after all, the importance of this and other predecessors of the Gardner Collection cannot seriously affect its intrinsic worth. The greater demand for such prints has brought much rubbish into collectors' portfolios, and really good items are rapidly advancing to prohibitive prices. That the efforts to secure the collection for some public institution failed is to be regretted, but I understand the price asked was not considered justified. So it has been catalogued, and, unless the unforseen happens, will be dispersed at Messrs. Sotheby's. Even those who will not be able to compete for some of the choicer items can be grateful for their dispersal; for here is a huge collection of illustrations of London, a complete knowledge of which was confined to its proprietor. That he readily gave permission to consult this rich store deserves general recognition, and many of the producers of books on London published in the last thirty years were greatly indebted to this collection for their illustrations.

It is to be hoped that the catalogue will be a worthy memorial of a great collector. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

GEORGE IV.'S DINNER-TABLE. THE following account is copied from an unprinted MS. in my possession, having been written by a near relation in 1829. It is endorsed June 10, 1829, Memoranda of the King's dinner-table" :

Down the centre of the room was a table for 50 persons, a side table on each side of the room for 25 persons each, total 100 persons.

The table-cloth seemed of British manufacture, as it had the Prince's feathers wove in it, and upon this cloth was a smaller one, reaching to the edge of the table, for removal after the courses.

The plates were placed; they were of French china, white with green edge, and flowers stood in the centre. The side tables nearly all white plates with gilding, also French china. His Majesty uses nothing else. On one side of each plate was a silver fork, on the other a silverhandled steel knife and dessert spoon of silver, all of the pattern called the King's pattern, without any crest engraved; and immediately beyond the top of every other plate was a silver tablespoon, for dinner serving. A large golden salt-cellar, with glass inside, was between every second plate.

The bread (common French rolls) was in the baker's basket behind the door leading to the to be placed in napkins on each person's plate. kitchen. I cannot say whether this was intended I saw no napkins, and the dinner-table was completely laid.

To every person was one wineglass, to every alternate person a rummer; both glasses of quite so good: those for the side tables were notcommon description, not unlike my own, but not even cut glass.

His Majesty sits in the centre of one side of the large table: there is no raised part or platform, as was invariably used by the late King.

On the side tables were some smaller knives,

forks, and spoons, for the dessert, of gold, or gilt.' The centre of the great table was filled by 10 candelabras and nine plateaus containing ornaments. The candelabras were of French design and silver-gilt, each holding 5 candles, so that the centre table had 50 lights upon it.

The ornaments were of silver-gilt and French

biscuit alternately. Thus the first ornament was a rock, with Neptune upon it, his trident, sea ornaments, and the like, or some such allegorical figure. The next plateau bad a biscuit figure in the centre, and a smaller one at each corner of the plateau; and thus the whole nine plateaus were holding alternately gilt or biscuit figures, and between each plateau was the candelabra of lights.

The side tables were not so handsomely decorated. The fireplace was filled with shrubs. At the side table only one side was occupied by company, and they faced the wall.

There were no wineglass coolers upon the table. The end of the room opposite to where the company entered was covered with crimson silk in folds, reaching from the ceiling to a sideboard occupying the entire side of the room, excepting where a door opened leading to the kitchen, which

The sideboard was covered with a white cloth, and folds of white drapery reached from the sideboard to the ground. On this sideboard, and on five small shelves above it, reaching nearly to the ceiling, was placed his Majesty's golden plate, consisting principally of large waiters or salvers, tankards, and old-fashioned cups. Each row had about 11 salvers or tankards; there were 6 rows of these ornaments, and as some vacancies

were supplied by extra cups or other articles, I consider there were about 80 golden articles on this sideboard.

There were no candles to ornament this plate excepting at the end of the sideboard, where were two candelabras, each having about 12 wax candles. In any other place, they would have prevented a complete view of the plate.

There was a large gilt chandelier in the centre of the room, holding 24 large lamps; and one at each corner, holding 12 lamps. Dispersed about the room were, in addition to the 50 candles on the King's table, about 200; so that this room had to bear the heat of 72 large lamps and 250

.candles.

The dessert was in an adjoining room, and consisted of pines, red and white grapes, strawberries, cherries, oranges, rout cakes, and candied sugar in various shapes. The ice plates were small white French china. The dessert was placed upon gilt covered ornaments of figures holding shells, or such-like receptacles for fruit, all having a centre adapted for a pine, and arms for the other fruit. Each pine had a paper, stating in what royal garden it was grown, attached to the stem.

I walked into the ballrooms (very nearly adjoinfor his Majesty's ball. There was nothing very

ing the banqueting-room), which were preparing

remarkable in them, except some fine old pictures of the King's ancestors. I should think each room was lit by about 150 or 200 wax candles.

In order that the banqueting-room with its plate might be seen to better advantage, the window shutters, outside of the room, were covered with black cloth, the more effectually to exclude .daylight.

Of the extent and expense of this party, one single item may be an example. The King's china man supplied 140 dozen or 1,680 plates on hire for this evening's hospitality.

L. M. R.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR HERTFORDSHIRE.-When a statement is made in such a valuable and generally accurate work as the great series of Victoria County Histories, it is likely to be repeated by subsequent writers without further inquiry. For this reason it may be well to put on record a somewhat curious error which I have lately noticed in the List of Members of Parliament for Hertfordshire' forming part .of the volume 6 entitled Hertfordshire Families' (p. 292). We are there told that John Bamford Slack, esquire," turned for the Mid or St. Albans Division in 1904 vice Hon. Vicary Gibbs, a Commissioner of the Admiralty." The last five words are wholly wrong, as may be seen by reference to The London Gazette, the authority said to have been followed. The material part of the entry states that the return is "in the place of Vicary Gibbs, Esq., commonly called the Honourable Vicary Gibbs, who had undertaken and executed a contract made with

.66

was re

the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for the public service."London Gazette, 16 Feb., 1904, vol. i. p. 1014. It may perhaps be added that the foregoing is, as might be expected, in agreement with the entry in the Journal of the House on 3 February, when the writ was ordered to issue (see vol. clix. p. 16). F. W. READ.

MEDICAL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.It may interest some of your readers to know that, by the courtesy of the editor of The British Medical Journal, I have published in that journal for the 8th inst. a list of medical men who have been returned to Parliament from the time of Queen Elizabeth to the end of the year 1909. S. D. CLIPPINGDALE, M.D.

LORD MAYOR'S VISITORS' BOOKS.-Under this heading the following appears in the recently issued catalogue of a well-known firm of provincial second-hand booksellers:

'The Visitors' Books for the whole period of 12 months in which the Right Hon. Sills John Gibbons was Lord Mayor of London, 1871-72, 2 large vols., folio, 212 large pages of autographs, including many of important people, most sumptuously bound in full morocco extra gilt, gilt edges, silk ends, gilt rolls inside (1 red, 1 blue), with a morocco slip case, in fine condition, unique, 107. 10s.

"These two interesting volumes include the signatures of many notable people, English and foreign; among them are diplomatists, statesmen, authors, well-known people of society, members of the legal and other professions." One is tempted to wonder whether it is the practice of the Corporation to allow such records to find their way to the secondhand bookseller. If so, it is surely a matter for regret the Corporation would be better advised to add them to the other City MSS. in the Guildhall Library.

INFRA ALDRICHGATE.