Notes on Books. Great Victorians: Memories and Personalities. By T. H. S. Escott. (T. Fisher Unwin, 12s. 6d. net.) MR. ESCOTT from an early age has had the advantage of knowing most of those who had influence during the Victorian era; and his memory extends back to the days of that very High Churchman Phillpotts of Exeter, who predicted that "Peel's apostasy over Catholic Emancipation would surely be followed by vengeance from on high." Among other early memories we find 'The Duke of Wellington at a School Treat,' and Mr. Escott says that "the feature that impressed me even more than the historic aquiline nose was the beautiful, very round, very large blue eyes, which seemed to take in everything at a glance." Before the party broke up, a clerical voice gave out something between a song and a hymn, with the refrain : God bless the squire and all his rich relations, And keep us poor people in our proper stations. By all means," grimly murmured the Duke as a chorus, if it can be done.' course, Another boyish reminiscence was his breaking bounds and rushing off to the hustings at Tiverton to hear Palmerston chaff his champion heckler, Rowcliffe, the butcher, who, as some may yet remember, appeared at all Tiverton elections in butcher's costume, "with certain articles of cutlery dangling from his side." Rowcliffe, of has been immortalized by Punch. "Pam " thoroughly enjoyed the fun; indeed, some playfully accused him of being in conspiracy with Rowcliffe. Years afterwards Mr. Escott visited Palmerston when he was Prime Minister, in Downing Street, and was struck by the arrangement by which the inkpot was placed on a table some three or four yards distant from the writing desk at which he stood. Every fresh dip of the pen thus involved a series of pedestrian exercises. Palmerston told him that he believed in getting whatever exercise one can; and one can do a mile in one's room as well as in the street." 46 "" Mr. Escott records that on a fine afternoon in the summer of 1875, as he was walking in Richmond Park, he " caught sight of a little old gentleman seated on a spacious wicker chair under the veranda of Pembroke Lodge.' This turned out to be Earl Russell. Fscott was met by Sir Henry Calcraft, who offered to take him in and introduce him, and he found Froude, Lecky, Hooker of Kew Gardens, and Carlyle already there. Russell said to him, "I recollect your "There uncle," and, pointing to a medal, he said: is a memorial of a cause in which I had his cooperation, though in his time nothing came of it." The medal contained the inscription : Have we not one Father? Hath not one God created us? Before Carlyle left, he led Mr. Escott to a corner of the veranda, and gave him a few words entirely to himself: You may hear it said of me that I am cross-grained and disagreeable. Dinna believe it. Only let me have my own way exactly in everything, with all about me precisely what I wish, and a sunnier or pleasanter creature does not live. And now," he said, "that I have heard your name, let me tell you I met some one bearing it, maybe your father, on board the steamer by which some time ago I was voyaging to Scotland. It was Sunday; we had a little religious service on deck. He read from the Church of England Prayer Book, delivered a short and sensible discourse, leaving me, like others, with the feeling that the English Establishment is the best thing of its kind out." Tennyson had been introduced to Mr. Escott by his old friend Henry Sewell Stokes, and while the Laureate was on a visit to Stokes at Truro, the great man, then he would frequently meet in a remarkable vigorous middle age, conspicuous chiefly for his brilliantly jet-black eyes and dense Tennyson's favourite crop of hair to match." walk was on the banks of the Fal, and he would often stroll up to Mr. Escott, and they would both watch the fishermen repairing their boats. one occasion took out a pocket. Tennyson on edition of the Odyssey,' and opened it at the description of Ulysses constructing his raft, and turned to the operations then in progress before him. Then, with the Greek classic in one hand, and the other pointing to the details of the boattinkering, he mouthed out, in his deep-chested sing-song, the features of their industry common to the Cornish tribes and their Homeric prototypes. Their next meeting was in Sir James Knowles's suburban garden, where the poet was sitting with Browning in a little tent on the lawn. He still retained his picturesque appearance, with all the added impressiveness of years, and wore his old slouch felt hat and capacious cloak. Another memory is of that "clever and kindly Irishman," W. McCullagh Torrens, "who had long shared the social life of St. Stephen's with Palmerston, and had so caught his phrases that the terse sayings often attributed to Palmerston himself were really those of Torrens." It was Torrens, not Palmerston, who said to Patrick O'Brien, "Eh, Pat, if it weren't for the whisky we'd have you in the Cabinet." Torrens died April 26, 1894, from a hansom cab accident, and not long previous to this he had been our genial companion at the annual Readers' Dinner. Towards the close of his reminiscences Mr. Escott reminds his readers that next year will This will be witness the centenary of Blackwood. in April, when, we feel sure, N. & Q.' will wish for it a second centenary. It seems only the other day when, on the 4th of February, 1899, we congratulated Maga on its thousandth number. Mr. Escott has given us a book full of pleasantreading; his descriptions of his friends are so vivid that they are truly word-portraits. Facing the title-page is an excellent likeness of the author. THE December number of The Fortnightly Review contains a dozen weighty articles upon as many aspects of war, government, and international relations. The names of Sir Frederick Pollock, Mr. R. Crozier Long; Mr. Archibald Hurd, Mr. Sidney Low, Mr. J. D. Whelpley, Mr. J. K. Kennedy, and Mr. Laurence Jerrold are both familiar to readers of this review, and wont to raise expectations justified by previous experience of their counsels. With them are those redoubtable anonymities, Auditor Tantum and Politicus; and between them all they have collected a great store of facts and wisdom, which, however, is not within our scope. Two articles only-and even these not exclusively-deal with similar to the one set out, but the name of Béranger's Chansons,' not bound, but the recipient has been erased. He took a carefully enclosed in a 'pull-off morocco second class. At the foot is the signature case. What he then considered as an "N. Grattan, Proel Princs," and the date, amusing freak, is now a time-honoured custom "Paschæ, 1741." J. Fox, B.A., T.C.D. among bibliophiles; and it is hardly worth 17 Belgrave Crescent, Bath. reminding readers what high prices have been paid for really fine sets of Dickens's works in parts, with the earliest issue of each wrapperfor absolutely perfect copies of Pickwick. as much as 4007.-500l. having been given '' NAMES OF THE MOON (12 S. ii. 429).In the Lennox-the district round Loch Lomond the full moon is, or used to be, known as Macfarlane's lantern," I presume because it was favourable for raiding. I have never met with the term the Hunter's Moon, except in literature; and the only instance I can remember is in the first stanza of the modern glee, All Among the Barley,' which begins : 66 Come out, 'tis now September, Monreith. HERBERT MAXWELL. I BIBLE AND SALT (12 S. ii. 390).-The object of taking salt into the kitchen would be to bring luck. It figures as such in the of the northern counties childs almings Over thirty years ago of England. remember seeing a woman, upon taking up the tenancy of a house, go from room to room with a block of salt under one arm and a loaf of bread under the other and sprinkle salt in each corner. A. E. OUGHTRED. In the eighteenth century wrappers, when used, were of plain, unlettered marbled paper, although a few instances may be quoted of books published about 1770 with printed labels or printed wrappers. I believe that a few printed labels have been discovered pasted on the leather bindings of fifteenth-century books. A history of wrappers and labels would prove an interesting chapter of the annals of book-making. SEYMOUR DE RICCI. 66 66 "YORKER : A CRICKET TERM (12 S ii. 209, 276, 376, 416).-ST. SWITHIN says and yerk york may easily be substituted for each other. In the Isle of Axholme, which is virtually in Yorkshire, the two sounds are sometimes confused. The family name "Torr," for instance, is if written Turr," and pronounced as cork" becomes kurk." I once heard a woman ask a chemist (a newcomer to the neighbourhood) if he sold kurks." Evidently not understanding what was meant he COLOURED BOOK-WRAPPERS (12 S. ii. 390) said"No." Then," asked the woman, -For a long time collectors and librarians" what do you stop your bottles wi'?" thought nothing of wrappers, but efforts are now made by all bibliophiles to preserve the book as it was issued by the publisher, a handsome binding being considered as casket made to preserve the gem enclosed in it. Well," said the woman, "didn't I say kurks?" I do not think, however, that I ever heard this mispronunciation reversed; I doubt whether yerker" would ever become yorker there. C. C. B. 66 MAYORAL TRAPPINGS (12 S. ii. 390).— For the trappings (extra to the usual gown) of the Mayors of Bristol, Great Yarmouth, and Oxford, see the "Introduction,' p. lxxxvii., to Jewitt and Hope's 'The Corporation Plate and Insignia of Office of Continental bibliophiles began to pay the Cities and Towns of England and Wales' proper attention to wrappers and covers (1895). For Wells, p. lxxxviii.; Maidenabout 1872, when they started collecting head, p. 24; Cardiff, p. 212; Bristol, p. 245; early editions of nineteenth-century authors. Andover, p. 266; and in vol. ii., Stamford They had the paper covers bound in-not p. 88; Norwich, p. 195; Great Yarmouth, only the front and back covers, but also the p. 213; Oxford, p. 252; Wells, p. 299; labels from the narrow back of the book. Worthing, p. 281; Worcester (a belt), p. 438; There is a celebrated anecdote about York, p. 476; Hull, p. 535; Southampton, Baron James E. de Rothschild who thought p. 566. The use of most of these appears such fastidiousness somewhat childish and, be now discontinued. one fine afternoon, showed his admiring friends an uncut and unopened copy of Notes on Books. Great Victorians: Memories and Personalities. By T. H. S. Escott. (T. Fisher Unwin, 12s. 6d. net.) the refrain : your name, let me tell you I met some one bearing it, maybe your father, on board the steamer by which some time ago I was voyaging to Scotland. It was Sunday; we had a little religious service on deck. He read from the Church of England Prayer Book, delivered a short and sensible discourse, leaving me, like others, with the feeling MR. ESCOTT from an early age has had the advan- that the English Establishment is the best thing tage of knowing most of those who had influence of its kind out." during the Victorian era; Tennyson had been introduced to Mr. Escott and his memory extends back to the days of that very High Church-by his old friend Henry Sewell Stokes, and while man Phillpotts of Exeter, who predicted that the Laureate was on a visit to Stokes at Truro, "Peel's apostasy over Catholic Emancipation he would frequently meet "the great man, then would surely be followed by vengeance from on in a remarkable vigorous middle age, conspicuous high." Among other early memories we find chiefly for his brilliantly jet-black eyes and dense 'The Duke of Wellington at a School Treat,' and crop of hair to match." Tennyson's favourite Mr. Escott says thatthe feature that impressed walk was on the banks of the Fal, and he would me even more than the historic aquiline nose was often stroll up to Mr. Escott, and they would both watch the the beautiful, very round, very large blue eyes, fishermen repairing their boats. which seemed to take in everything at a glance." Tennyson on one occasion took out a pocket Before the party broke up, a clerical voice gave edition of the Odyssey,' and opened it at the out something between a song and a hymn, with description of Ulysses constructing his raft, and turned to the operations then in progress before him. Then, with the Greek classic in one hand, and the other pointing to the details of the boattinkering, he mouthed out, in his deep-chested sing-song, the features of their industry common to the Cornish tribes and their Homeric prototypes. Their next meeting was in Sir James Knowles's suburban garden, where the poet was sitting with Browning in a little tent on the lawn. He still retained his picturesque appearance, with all the added impressiveness of years, and wore his old slouch felt hat and capacious cloak. Another memory is of that "clever and kindly Irishman," W. McCullagh Torrens, "who had long shared the social life of St. Stephen's with Palmerston, and had so caught his phrases that the terse sayings often attributed to Palmerston himself were really those of Torrens." It was Torrens, not Palmerston, who said to Patrick O'Brien, "Eh, Pat, if it weren't for the whisky we'd have you in the Cabinet." Torrens died April 26, 1894, from a hansom cab accident, and not long previous to this he had been our genial companion at the annual Readers' Dinner. God bless the squire and all his rich relations, Another boyish reminiscence was his breaking bounds and rushing off to the hustings at Tiverton to hear Palmerston chaff his champion heckler, Rowcliffe, the butcher, who, as some may yet remember, appeared at all Tiverton elections in butcher's costume, "with certain articles of cutlery dangling from his side." Rowcliffe, of course, has been immortalized by Punch. "Pam" thoroughly enjoyed the fun; indeed, some playfully accused him of being in conspiracy with Rowcliffe. Years afterwards Mr. Escott visited Palmerston when he was Prime Minister, in Downing Street, and was struck by the arrangement by which the inkpot was placed on a table some three or four yards distant from the writing desk at which he stood. Every fresh dip of the pen thus involved a series of pedestrian exercises. Palmerston told him that he believed in getting whatever exercise one can; and one can do a mile in one's room as well as in the street." Mr. Escott records that on a fine afternoon in the summer of 1875, as he was walking in Richmond Park, he " caught sight of a little old gentleman seated on a spacious wicker chair under the veranda of Pembroke Lodge.' This turned out to be Earl Russell. Escott was met by Sir Henry Calcraft, who offered to take him in and introduce him, and he found Froude, Lecky, Hooker of Kew Gardens, and Carlyle already there. Russell said to him, "I recollect your uncle," and, pointing to a medal, he said: "There is a memorial of a cause in which I had his cooperation, though in his time nothing came of it." The medal contained the inscription :Have we not one Father? Hath not one God created us? Before Carlyle left, he led Mr. Escott to a corner of the veranda, and gave him a few words entirely to himself: "You may hear it said of me that I am cross-grained and disagreeable. Dinna believe it. Only let me have my own way exactly in everything, with all about me precisely what I wish, and a sunnier or pleasanter creature does not live. And now," he said, "that I have heard Towards the close of his reminiscences Mr. Escott reminds his readers that next year will witness the centenary of Blackwood. This will be in April, when, we feel sure, ' N. & Q.' will wish for it a second centenary. It seems only the other day when, on the 4th of February, 1899, we congratulated Maga on its thousandth number. Mr. Escott has given us a book full of pleasantreading; his descriptions of his friends are so vivid that they are truly word-portraits. Facing the title-page is an excellent likeness of the author. THE December number of The Fortnightly Review contains a dozen weighty articles upon as many aspects of war, government, and international relations. The names of Sir Frederick Pollock, Mr. R. Crozier Long; Mr. Archibald Hurd, Mr. Sidney Low, Mr. J. D. Whelpley, Mr. J. K. Kennedy, and Mr. Laurence Jerrold are both familiar to readers of this review, and wont to raise expectations justified by previous experience of their counsels. With them are those redoubtable anonymities, Auditor Tantum and Politicus; and between them all they have collected a great store of facts and wisdom, which, however, is not within our scope. Two articles only-and even these not exclusively-deal with subjects of which the interest is permanent and intrinsic, and not merely relative to the present situation. The first is a description, by Mr. W. F. Bailey and Jean V. Bates, of the Rumanian Danube. We have already enjoyed several of Mr. Bailey's sketches of scenes and peoples of the Near East and admired the combination in them of breadth and "go," with a vivid appreciation of detail and delicacy of choice in the words and phrases with which the pictures are touched in. This Rumanian Danube, save that perhaps it lingers a little, is as well done and charming as any. The second of the two articles is Mr. J. A. R. Marriott's study of The Troublesome Reign of King John,' as given us by Shakespeare. This is the second member of a series, which is certainly interesting and suggestive. SIR PHILIP MAGNUS, in the December Nineteenth Century, having some suggestions and reflections to make about education, has incorporated them in a study of Emerson's views on that subject. Emerson's limitations are well known and have often been pointed out, but, allowing for these and remembering he is a counsellor for the beginnings rather than the middles and ends of things, we certainly think that those who are engaged in the scheming of reconstruction might do worse than and renew their acquaintance with his sane hopeful individualism. This article has something to say about thinking, and something to say about manners: but Sir Philip does not quote the shrewd saying in which Emerson hits out a connexion between the two: "We are awkward for want of thought." Mr. H. M. Paull's paper on The Personal Element in Fiction' seems entirely to ignore the fact that fiction is primarily "storytelling." The intrusions of the writer's personality which he complains of are tantamount to an admission that reading is after all but a pis aller; the ideal unattainable-is actual speech. Miss Constance E. Maud gives a good account of Miss Agnes Weston's work-which would have been yet better if there had been no side-glances of reproach towards the authorities in such matters who have omitted to decorate Miss Weston, as they omitted to decorate Florence Nightingale. Petty Officer H. J. G. Merrin, R.N., gives a most spirited account of the first German raid on England-that on Lowestoft on Nov. 2, 1914. Sir Charles Waldstein contributes a thoughtful and well-informed paper on The Social Gulf between England and Germany,' in which he comes near to striking out a good definition-or, perhaps, we might call it sub-definition-of a gentleman as a man not naturally pre-occupied in his attitude towards his fellow-men." The other articles deal with current problems; we can but say that they are by writers of weight, and deserve, as they will probably receive, careful attention. No better number of The Cornhill than this for December has come into our hands. There is hardly a weak page in the whole of it. It begins with the second part of Flyleaves; or, Tales of a Flying Patrol -a narrative of fighting, a description of scenes, experiences and risks when flying, which is even better than the first part. The account of the last battle, in which the patrol came down in a burning machine only just in time, leaves the reader so breathless that it is only after reflection that he realizes how good it is, merely as a piece of vivid writing. Next in order comes a singular and most charming story, entitled Charalampia,' by Mr. John Meade Falkner -a story of the Christian East in the sixth century, which might be a Byzantine jewel. Sir Sidney Lee's paper on the Anzacs in London is not only entertaining, but calculated to set one musing. "What was he beheaded for?" asked one of them about Charles I.; and the question illustrates the Anzac's serene unconsciousness of history, so curiously combined with his pride of patriotism. The Children of Egypt' is a delightful study of the Egyptian peasant and minor official, pointed by quotations from letters and by the telling of yarns which, if we had not Mr. Weigall to vouch for them, would, some of them, seem too good to be true. Mr. Boyd Cable sketches for us The Old Contemptibles' again-this time In Rest.' A short and spirited hunting story-A Rogue Bison '-is contributed by Mr. Edwin L. Arnold. Mr. Bennet Copplestone has done a good and lively piece of work in How the Sydney met the Emden' and it is worth noting that it includes a chart of the running made by the two ships during the action, worked out together by Capt. Glossop and Capt. von Müller. Lieut. E. Hilton Young's poem Sunset at Sea' is stately and moving. Again, a good paper a thrilling subject vigorously handledis Mr. Lewis R. Freeman's The Passing of a Zeppelin.' Finally, we have a somewhat long drawn out but very sympathetic and human character-sketch called The White Hart,' from the pen of S. G. Tallentyre. Certainly a collection of good things on which the Editor is to be congratulated. · WE have to announce with very great regret the death of our valuable contributor, MR. WILLIAM H. PEET. An obituary notice will appear in our next issue. WE learn that our correspondent MR. A. L. HUMPHREYS is issuing immediately a work embodying material which he has been collecting for many years. This is A Handbook to County Bibliography-a bibliography of bibliographies. Besides well-known books it includes notes of items in the Transactions of local Archæological Societies, and in county manuscript collections; particulars concerning local typography and journalism, as well as ballads and chapbooks and the like. We note that a volume on Calendars and Indexes of Wills is promised later on. The Athenæum now appearing monthly, arrangements have been made whereby advertisements of posts vacant and wanted, which it is desired to publish weekly, may appear in the intervening weeks in N. & Q.' Medium of Intercommunication JAN 5 1917 UNIV. OF MICH MEN, FOR "When found, make a note of."-CAPTAIN CUTTLE. "] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1916.. { SAMUEL PEGGE'S 'HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF BEAUCHIEF ABBEY,' published about 1801 by Nichols.-Wanted to purchase a copy. Send particulars and price to ALFRED BULL, Bookseller, 35 Hart Street, W.C. DVERTISER wishes to PURCHASE a Seventeenth-Century Model of a British Ship of War.Box 423, Athenæum Press, 13 Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. GENTLEMAN of Antiquarian tastes, invalid or otherwise, will receive every possible care and attention in house of medical man living in Torquay.-Box 510, 11 Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. BOOKS-ALL OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS supplied, no matter on what subject. Acknowledged the world over as the most expert Bookfinders extant. Please state wants.BAKER'S Great Bookshop, 14-16 John Bright Street, Birmingham. THE AUTHOR'S HAIRLESS PAPER-PAD. (The LEADENHALL PRESS, Ltd., Publishers and Printers, 24-47 GARDEN ROW, ST. GEORGE'S ROAD, SOUTHWARK, 8.E.) Contains hairless paper, over which the pen slips with perfect freedom. 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This Index contains, in addition to the usual Index of Subjects, the Names and Pseudonyms of Writers, with a list of their Contributions. The number of constant Contributors exceeds eleven hundred. The Publishers reserve the right of increasing the price of the volume at any time. The number printed is limited, and the type has been distributed. Free by post, 108. 11d. J. EDWARD FRANCIS, Notes and Queries Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. |