Chapter C: Forbes

Temple.

_Chapel Sunday._--I had the pleasure of spending a Sunday in the course of the last summer in the neighbourhood of Keswick, among the delightful lake scenery of England. I there learned that in the village of Thornthwaite it was Chapel Sunday, and on inquiry I was told that there were a few other villages in the neighbourhood where there was also a Chapel Sunday. Upon this day it is the custom of young people to come from neighbouring places to attend worship at the village church or chapel, and the afternoon partakes of a merry-making character at the village inn. There appeared, as far as I could see, no excesses attending the anniversary, all being respectable in their conduct. Can any of your Cambrian readers inform me the origin of this anniversary?

PRESTONIENSIS.

_Proud Salopians._--I have never heard a satisfactory account of the origin of this title, given to persons belonging to my native county.

In the neighbourhood the following story is frequently related, but with what authority I cannot tell, viz. "That upon the king (Query which?) offering to make Shrewsbury a city, the inhabitants replied that they preferred its remaining the largest borough in England, rather than it should be the smallest city; their pride not allowing them to be small among the great."

If this history of the term be true, it would appear that the name should only be applied to _burgesses of Shrewsbury_.

SALOPIAN.

_George Miller, D.D._--In the year 1796, George Miller, subsequently the author of _Modern History Philosophically Illustrated_, and many other well-known works (of which a list appears in a recent Memoir), was appointed Donnelan Lecturer in Trinity College, Dublin; and delivered a course of sermons or lectures on "An Inquiry into the Causes that have impeded the further Progress of Christianity." I should be very glad indeed to know whether these Sermons have appeared in print; and if so, when and where published? I have not been able to procure a copy.

With regard to the Donnelan Lectureship, I may add, that a legacy of 1243l. was bequeathed to the College of Dublin by Mrs. Anne Donnelan, of the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in the county of Middlesex, spinster, "for the encouragement of religion, learning, and good manners." The particular mode of application was entrusted to the Provost and Senior Fellows; and accordingly, amongst other resolutions of the Board, passed Feb. 22, 1794, are to be found the following: "That a Divinity Lecture, to which shall be annexed a salary arising from the interest of 1200l., shall be established for ever, to be called Donnelan's Lecture;" and "That one moiety of the interest of the said 1200l. shall be paid to the Lecturer as soon as he shall have delivered the whole number [six] of the lectures; and the other moiety as soon as he shall have _published_ four of the said Lectures."

ABHBA. {528}

_Members of Parliament._--Pennant, in _The Journey from Chester to London_, p. 94., says:

"The ancient owners of Rudgley were of the same name with the town:
some of the family had the honour of being sheriffs of the county in
the reign of Edward III. _Another was knight of the shire in the same
period._"

Can any reader of "N. & Q." verify the _last portion_ of Pennant's statement?

J. W. S. R.

St. Ives, Hunts.

_Taret._--I have lately met with mention of a "small insect called the _Taret_." What may this be?

TYRO.

_Jeroboam of Claret, &c._--Could any of your correspondents inform me what a Jeroboam of Claret is, and from what it is derived: also a Magnum of Port?

WINEBIBBER.

_William Williams of Geneva._--In _Livre des Anglois, à Génève_, with a few biographical notes by J. S. Burn, Esq., pages 5, 6. 12, 13., mention is made of Guillaume--Will[=m] Will[=m]s, and Jane his wife,--Will[=m] Will[=m]s, a senior of the church there in 1555, 1556, 1557, 1558; and some of the years he was a godfather. I shall be glad to have some further account of such William Williams, or references to where to find such?

GLWYSIG.

_The First of April and "The Cap awry."_--Tom Moore, in his Diary, 1819, says:

"April 1st. Made Bessy turn her cap awry in honour of the day."

What was the origin of this custom? Was this the way a fool was supposed to show that his head was turned?

C. R.

Paternoster Row.

_Sir G. Browne, Bart._--Sir George Browne, Bart., of West Stafford, Berks, and Wickham, is said to have had nineteen children by his wife Eleanor Blount; and that three of those children were sons, killed in the service of Charles I.

Was either of those sons named Richard; and was any of them, and which, married? If so, where, and to whom?

NEWBURY.

_Bishop Butler._--Will any of our Roman Catholic friends tell us on what authority they assert that Bishop Butler, the author of _The Analogy_, died in their communion? That he was suspected of a tendency that way during his life is acknowledged by all, though the grounds, that of setting up a cross in his chapel, are confessedly unsatisfactory. But, besides this, it is alleged that he died with a Roman Catholic book of devotion in his hand, and that the last person in whose company he was seen was a priest of that persuasion. One would be glad to have this question sifted.