Chapter C: F. S

_Sawbridge and Knight's Numismatic Collections._--In Snelling's tract on _Pattern Pieces for English Gold and Silver Coins_ (1769), p. 45., it is stated, in the description of a gold Coin of Elizabeth, that it is "unique, formerly in the collection of Thomas Sawbridge, Esq., but at present in the collection of Thomas Knight, Esq., who purchased the whole cabinet."--Can any of your readers inform me who this Mr. Knight was, and whether his collection is still in existence; or if it was dispersed, when, and in what manner? I am not aware of any sale catalogue under his name.

J. B. B.

_"The spire whose silent finger points to heaven."_--I have met with, and sometimes quoted, this line. {10} Who is its author, and in what poem does it occur?

J. W. T.

Dewsbury.

_Lord Fairfax._--In the _Peerage of Scotland_ I find this entry:

"Fairfax, Baron, Charles Snowdon Fairfax, 1627, Baron Fairfax, of
Cameron; suc. his grandfather, Thomas, ninth baron, 1846. His lordship
resides at Woodburne, in Maryland, United States."

Fairfax is not a Scotch name. And I can find no trace of any person of that family taking a part in Scotch affairs. _Cameron_ is, I suppose, the parish of that name in the east of Fife.

I wish to ask, 1st. For what services, or under what circumstances, the barony was created?

2ndly. When did the family cease to possess land or other property in Scotland, if they ever held any?

3rdly. Is the present peer a citizen or subject of the United States? If so, is he known and addressed as _Lord_ Fairfax, or how?

4thly. Has he, or has any of his ancestors, since the recognition of the United States as a nation, ever used or applied for permission to exercise the functions of a peer of Scotland, _e.g._ in the election of representative peers?

5thly. If he be a subject of the United States, and have taken, expressly or by implication, the oath of citizenship (which pointedly renounces allegiance to our sovereign), how is it that his name is retained on the roll of a body whose first duty it is to guard the throne, and whose existence is a denial of the first proposition in the constitution of his country?

Perhaps UNEDA, W. W., or some other of your Philadelphia correspondents, will be good enough to notice the third of these Queries.

W. H. M.

_Tailless Cats._--A writer in the _New York Literary World_ of Feb. 7, 1852, makes mention of a breed of cats destitute of tails, which are found in the Isle of Man. Perhaps some generous Manx correspondent will say whether this is a fact or a Jonathan.

SHIRLEY HIBBERD.

_Saltcellar._--Can any of your readers gainsay that in saltcellar the cellar is a mere corruption of _salière_? A list of compound words of Saxon and French origin might be curious.

H. F. B.

_Arms and Motto granted to Col. William Carlos._--Can any reader of "N. & Q." give the _date_ of the grant of arms to Col. William Carlos (who assisted Charles II. to conceal himself in the "Royal Oak," after the battle of Worcester), and specify the exact terms of the grant?

[mu].

_Naval Atrocities._--In the article on "Wounds," in the _Encyc. Brit._, 4th edition, published 1810, the author, after mentioning the necessity of a surgeon's being cautious in pronouncing on the character of any wound, adds that "this is particularly necessary on board ship, where, as soon as any man is pronounced by the surgeon to be mortally wounded, he is forthwith, while still living and conscious, thrown overboard," or words to this effect, as I quote from memory. That such horrid barbarity was not practised in 1810, it is needless to say; and if it had been usual at any previous period, Smollett and other writers who have exposed with unsparing hand all the defects in the naval system of their day, would have scarcely left this unnoticed when they attack much slighter abuses. If such a thing ever occurred, even in the worst of times, it must have been an isolated case. I have not met elsewhere with any allusion to this passage, or the atrocity recorded in it, and would be glad of more information on the subject.

J. S. WARDEN.

_Turlehydes._--During the great famine in Ireland land in 1331, it is said that--

"The people in their distress met with an unexpected and providential
relief. For about the 24th June, a prodigious number of large sea fish,
called turlehydes, were brought into the bay of Dublin, and cast on
shore at the mouth of the river Dodder. They were from thirty to forty
feet long, and so bulky that two tall men placed one on each side of
the fish could not see one another."--_The History and Antiquities of
the City of Dublin from the Earliest Accounts_, by Walter Harris, 1766,
p. 265.

This account is compiled from several records of the time, some of which still exist. As the term _turlehydes_ is not known to Irish scholars, can any of the readers of "N. & Q." say what precise animal is meant by it, or give any derivation or reference for the term?

U. U.

Dublin.

_Foreign Orders--Queen of Bohemia._--It is well known that in some foreign Orders the decorations thereof are conferred upon ladies. Can any of your correspondents inform me whether the Order of the Annunciation of Sardinia, formerly the Order of the Ducal House of Savoy, at any time conferred its decorations upon ladies; and whether the Princess Elizabeth, afterwards Queen of Bohemia, ever had the decoration of any foreign order conferred upon her? In a portrait of her she is represented with a star or badge upon the upper part of the left arm.

S. E. G.

_Pickard Family._--Is the _Pickard_, or _Picard_, family, a branch of which is located in Yorkshire, of Norman origin? If so, who were the _first settlers_ in England; and also in what county are they most numerous?

ONE OF THE FAMILY.

Bradford.

{11}

_Irish Chieftains._--Some account of the following, _Historical Reminiscences of O'Byrnes, O'Tooles, O'Kavanaghs, and other Irish Chieftains_, privately printed, 1843, is requested by

JOHN MARTIN.

Woburn Abbey.

_General Braddock._--Can any of your readers furnish me with information relative to this officer? His disastrous expedition against Fort Du Quesne, and its details, are well known; but I should like to know something more of his previous history. Walpole gives an anecdote or two of him, and mentions that he had been Governor of Gibraltar. I think too he was of Irish extraction. Is there no portrait or engraving of Braddock in existence?

SERVIENS.

* * * * *

Minor Queries with Answers.

_Lawless Court, Rochford, Essex._--A most extraordinary custom exists, in a manor at Rochford, in the tenants holding under what is called the "Lawless Court." This court is held at midnight, by torch-light, in the centre of a field, on the first Friday after the 29th Sept., and is presided over by the steward of the manor, who, however, appoints a deputy to fulfil this part of his duty. The tenants of the manor are obliged to attend to answer to their names, when called upon, under pain of a heavy fine, or at all events have some one there to respond for them. All the proceedings are carried on in a whisper, no one speaking above that tone of voice; and the informations as to deaths, names, &c. are entered in a book by the president with a piece of charcoal. I may add, the business is not commenced until a cock has crowed three times, and as it is sometimes a difficult matter to get Chanticleer to do his duty, a man is employed to crow, whose fee therefor is 5s.

Now Morant, in his _History of Essex_, merely cursorily mentions this most singular custom, and has nothing as to its antiquity or origin; I should therefore feel much obliged for any information concerning it.

RUSSELL GOLE.

[The singular custom at Rochford is of uncertain origin: in old authors
it is spoken of as belonging to the manor of Rayleigh. The following
account of "The Lawless Court," at that place, is printed by Hearne
from the Dodsworth MSS. in the Bodleian, vol. cxxv.:--"The manor of
Raylie, in Essex, hath a custome court kept yearly, the Wednesday nexte
after Michael's day. The court is kept in the night, and without light,
but as the skye gives, att a little hill without the towne, called the
King's Hill, where the steward writes only with coals, and not with
inke. And many men and mannors of greate worth hold of the same, and do
suite unto this strange court, where the steward calls them with as low
a voice as possibly he may; giving no notice when he goes to the hill
to keepe the same court, and he that attends not is deepely amerced, if
the steward will. The title and entry of the same court is as
followeth, viz.:

'Curia de domino rege,
Dicta _sine lege_,
Tenta est ibidem,
Per ejusdem consuetudinem,
Ante ortum solis,
Luceat nisi polus,
Seneschallus solus,
Scribit nisi colis.
Clamat clam pro rege
In curia _sine lege_:
Et qui non cito venerit
Citius poenitebit:
Si venerit cum lumine
Errat in regimine.
Et dum sine lumine
Capti sunt in crimine,
Curia sine cura
Jurata de injuria
Tenta est die Mercuriæ
prox. post festum S. Michaelis.'"

Weever, who mentions this custom, says, that he was informed that "this
servile attendance was imposed, at the first, upon certaine tenants of
divers mannors hereabouts, for conspiring in this place, at such an
unseasonable time, to raise a commotion."]

_Motto on old Damask._--Can your correspondents furnish an explanation of the motto herewith sent? It is taken from some damask table napkins which were bought many years back at Brussels; not at a shop in the ordinary way, but privately, from the family to whom they belonged. I presume the larger characters, if put together, will indicate the date of the event, whatever that may be, which is referred to in the motto itself.

The motto is woven in the pattern of the damask, and consists of the following words in uncials, the letters of unequal size, as subjoined:

"SIGNUM PACIS DATUR LORICÆ."

the larger letters being IUMCIDULIC. If the U's are taken as two V's, and written thus X, it gives the date MDCCLXIII. Perhaps this can be explained.

H.

[The chronogram above, which means "The signal of peace is given to the
warrior," relates to the peace proclaimed between England and France in
the year 1763. This event is noticed in the _Annual Register_, and in
most of our popular histories. Keightley says, "The overtures of France
for peace were readily listened to; and both parties being in earnest,
the preliminaries were readily settled at Fontainebleau (Nov. 3rd). In
spite of the declamation of Mr. Pitt and his party, they were approved
of by large majorities in both Houses of Parliament, and a treaty was
finally signed in Paris, Feb. 18, 1763." The napkins were probably a
gift, on the occasion, to some public functionary. For the custom of
noting the date of a great event by chronograms, see "N. & Q.," Vol.
v., p. 585.]

{12}

_Explanation of the Word "Miser."_--Can any of your readers explain how and when _miser_ came to get the meaning of an avaricious hoarding man? In Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, II. l. 8., it is used in its nearly primary sense of "wretch:"

"Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble _miser's_ sake."

Again, _Faerie Queene_, II. 3. 8.:

"The _miser_ threw himself, as an offall,
Straight at his foot in base humility."

In Milton's _Comus_, which was written about fifty years after the first three books of the _Faerie Queene,_ the present signification of the word is complete:

"You may as well spread out the unsunn'd heaps
Of _miser's_ treasure by an outlaw's den,
And tell me it is safe, as bid one hope
Danger will sink on opportunity," &c.

J. D. GARDNER.

Bottisham.

[The modern restricted use of the word _miser_ is subsequent to
Shakspeare's time for in Part I. _King Henry VI._, Act V. Sc. 4.,

"Decrepit _miser_! base ignoble wretch!"

Steevens says has no relation to avarice, but simply means a
_miserable_ creature. So in the interlude of _Jacob and Esau_, 1568:

"But as for these _misers_ within my father's tent."

Again, in Lord Stirling's tragedy of _Croesus_, 1604:

"Or think'st thou me of judgement too remiss,
A _miser_ that in miserie remains."

Otway, however, in his _Orphan_, published in 1680, uses it for a
covetous person:

"Though she be dearer to my soul than rest
To weary pilgrims, or to _misers_ gold,
Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget thee."

So also does Pope:

"No silver saints by dying _misers_ given,
Here brib'd the rage of ill-requited heaven."

_"Acis and Galatea."_--Is there any good evidence in support of the commonly received opinion that the words to Handel's _Acis and Galatea_ were written by Gay? Hawkins merely states that they "are said to have been written by Mr. Gay." I have no copy of Burney at hand to refer to; but I find the same statement repeated by various other musical historians, without, however, any authority being given for it. The words in question are not to be found among the _Poems on several Occasions_, by Mr. John Gay, published in 1767 by Tonson and others. Have they ever been included in any collective edition of his works?

G. T.

Reading.

[In the musical catalogue of the British Museum, compiled by Thomas
Oliphant, Esq., it is stated that the words to _Acis and Galatea_ "are
said to be written, but apparently partly compiled, by John Gay." This
serenata is included among Gay's _Poems_ in Dr. Johnson's edition of
the _English Poets_, 1790, as well as in Chalmers's edition of 1810,
and in the complete edition of _British Poets_, Edinburgh, 1794.]

_Birm-bank._--The bank of a canal opposite to the towing-path is called the _birm-bank_. What is the derivation of this?

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.

[The word _birm_ seems to have the same meaning as berme (Fr. _berme_),
which, in Fortification, denotes a piece of ground of three, four, or
five feet in width, left between the rampart and the moat or foss,
designed to receive the ruins of the rampart, and prevent the earth
from filling the foss. Sometimes it is palisaded, and in Holland is
generally planted with quickset hedge.]

_General Thomas Gage._--This officer commanded at Boston at the breaking out of the Revolution, and served under General Braddock. Where can I find any details of the remainder of his history?

SERVIENS.

[An interesting biographical account of General Gage is given in the
_Georgian Æra_, vol. ii. p. 67.]

* * * * *

Replies.

RAPPING NO NOVELTY.

(Vol. viii., pp. 512. 632.)

The story referred to is certainly a very curious one, and I should like to know whether it is exactly as it was told by Baxter, especially as there seems to be reason for believing that De Foe (whom on other grounds one would not trust in such a matter) did not take it from the work which he quotes. Perhaps if you can find room for the statement, some correspondent would be so good as to state whether it has the sanction of Baxter:

"Mr. Baxter, in his _Historical Discourse of Apparitions_, writes thus:
'There is now in London an understanding, sober, pious man, oft one of
my hearers, who has an elder brother, a gentleman of considerable rank,
who having formerly seemed pious, of late years does often fall into
the sin of drunkenness; he often lodges long together here in his
brother's house, and whensoever he is drunk and has slept himself
sober, something knocks at his bed's head, as if one knocked on a
wainscot. When they remove his bed it follows him. Besides other loud
noises on other parts where he is, that all the house hears, they have
often watched him, and kept his hands lest he should do it himself. His
brother has often told it me, and brought his wife, a discreet woman,
to attest it, who avers moreover, that as she watched him, she has seen
his shoes under the bed taken up, and nothing visible to touch them.
They brought the man himself to me, and when we asked {13} him how he
dare sin again after such a warning, he had no excuse. But being
persons of quality, for some special reason of worldly interest I must
not name him.'"--De Foe's _Life of Duncan Campbell_, 2nd ed. p. 107.

After this story, De Foe says:

"Another relation of this kind was sent to Dr. Beaumont (whom I myself
personally knew, and which he has inserted in his account of genii, or
familiar spirits) in a letter by an ingenious and learned clergyman of
Wiltshire," &c.

But he does not say that the story which he has already quoted as from Baxter stands just as he has given it, and with a reference to Baxter, in Beaumont's _Historical, Physiological, and Theological Treatise of Spirits_, p. 182. Of course one does not attach any weight to De Foe's saying that he knew Dr. Beaumont "personally," but does anybody know anything of him? Nearly four years ago you inserted somewhat similar inquiry about this Duncan Campbell, but I believe it has not yet been answered.

S. R. MAITLAND.

* * * * *

OCCASIONAL FORMS OF PRAYER.

(Vol. viii., p. 535.)

From a volume of Forms of Prayer in the library of Sir Robert Taylor's Institution, I send you the following list, as supplementary to MR. LATHBURY'S. This volume forms part of a collection of books bequeathed to the University by the late Robert Finch, M.A., formerly of Baliol College:

A Form of Prayer for a General Fast, &c. 4to. London. 1762.

In both the Morning and Evening Services of this Form "A Prayer for the Reformed Churches" is included, which is omitted in all the subsequent Forms. This is a copy of it:

"_A Prayer for the Reformed Churches._

"O God, the Father of Mercies, we present our Supplications unto Thee,
more especially on behalf of our Reformed Brethren, whom, blessed be
Thy Name, Thou hast hitherto wonderfully supported. Make them perfect,
strengthen, 'stablish them: that they may stand fast in the Liberty
wherewith Christ hath made them free, and adorn the Doctrine of God our
Saviour in all things. Preserve the Tranquillity of those who at
present enjoy it: look down with compassion upon such as are persecuted
for Righteousness' sake, and plead Thy cause with the oppressors of Thy
people. Enlighten those who are in Darkness and Error; and give them
Repentance to the Acknowledgment of the Truth: that all the Ends of the
World may remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord; and we all
may become one Flock, under the great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls,
Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen."

Form, &c. Fast. 1776.

Form, &c. Fast. 1778.

Form, &c. Fast. 1780.

Form, &c. Fast. 1781.

Form, &c. Fast. 1782.

A Prayer to be used on Litany Days before the Litany, and on other days
immediately before the Prayer for all Conditions of Men, in all
Cathedral, Collegiate, and Parochial Churches and Chapels, &c., during
his Majesty's present Indisposition. 1788.

The following MS. note is inserted in the handwriting of Mr. Finch, father of the gentleman who bequeathed the collection:

"Mrs. Finch accompanied my Father (Rev. Dr. Finch, Rector of St.
Michael's, Cornhill) to the Cathedral, where he had a seat for himself
and his lady assigned him under the Dome, as Treasurer to the Society
for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the original patrons of the Charity
Schools. Mrs. F. was so fortunate as to obtain a seat in the choir, and
saw the procession from the choir gate. Myself and Robert saw the
cavalcade (which was extremely grand, and continued for the space of
more than three hours, both Houses of Parliament with their attendants
preceding their Majesties) from Mrs Townsend's house in Fleet
Street."--April 23, 1789.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the King's Recovery. 1789.

Form, &c. Fast. 1793.

Form, &c. Fast. 1795.

Form, &c. Fast. 1796.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for many signal and important
Victories. 1797.

Form, &c. Fast. 1798.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Victory of the Nile, &c. 1798.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Victory over the French Fleet,
Aug. 1. 1798.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the safe Delivery of H. R. H. the
Princess of Wales, and the birth of a Princess. 1796.

Form, &c. Fast. 1799.

Form, &c. Fast. 1800.

Form, &c. Fast. 1801.

Form and Thanksgiving for the Harvest. 1801.

Form and Thanksgiving for putting an End to the War. 1802.

Form, &c. Fast. 1803.

Form, &c. Fast. 1804.

Form, &c. Fast. 1805.

Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for Lord Nelson's Victory. 1805.

Form, &c. Fast. 1806.

Form, &c. Fast. 1807.

Form, &c. Fast. 1808.

Form, &c. Fast. 1809.

Form, &c. Fast. 1810.

Form, &c. Fast. 1812.

Form, &c. Thanksgiving for the Peace. 1814.

Form, &c. Thanksgiving for the Peace. 1816.

JOHN MACRAY.

Oxford.

* * * * *

{14}

CELTIC AND LATIN LANGUAGES.

(Vol. viii., p. 174.)

There was a Query some time ago upon this subject, but though it is one full of interest to all scholars, I have not observed any Notes worth mentioning in reply. The connexion between these two languages has only of late occupied the attention of philologers; but the more closely they are compared together, the more important and the more striking do the resemblances appear; and the remark of Arnold with regard to Greek literature applies equally to Latin, "that we seem now to have reached that point in our knowledge of the language, at which other languages of the same family must be more largely studied, before we can make a fresh step in advance." But this study, as regards the comparison of Celtic and Latin, is, in England at least, in a very infant state. Professor Newman, in his _Regal Rome_, has attention to the subject; but his induction does not appear sufficiently extensive to warrant any decisive conclusion respecting the position the Celtic holds as an element of the Latin. Pritchard's work upon the subject is satisfactory as far as it goes, but both these authors have chiefly confined themselves to a tabular view of Celtic and Latin words; but it is not _merely_ this we want. What is required is a critical examination into the comparative structure and formal development of the two languages, and this is a work still to be accomplished. The later numbers of Bopp's _Comparative Grammar_ are, I believe, devoted to this subject, but as they have not been translated, they must be confined to a limited circle of English readers, and I have not yet seen any reproduction of the views therein contained in the philological literature of England.

As the first step to considerations of this kind must be made from a large induction of words, I think, with your correspondent, that the pages of "N. & Q." might be made useful in supplying "links of connexion" to supply a groundwork for future comparison. I shall conclude by suggesting one or two "links" that I do not remember to have seen elsewhere.

1. Is the root of _felix_ to be found in the Irish _fail_, _fate_; the contraction of the dipththong _ai_ or _ê_ being analogous to that of _amaïmus_ into _amêmus_?

2. Is it not probable that _Avernus_, if not corrupted from [Greek: aornos], is related to _iffrin_, the Irish _inferi_? This derivation is at any rate more probable than that of Grotefend, who connects the word with [Greek: Acherôn].

3. Were the _Galli_, priests of Cybele, so called as being connected with fire-worship? and is the name at all connected with the Celtic _gal_, a flame? The word _Gallus_, a Gaul, is of course the same as the Irish _gal_, a stranger.

T. H. T.

* * * * *

GEOMETRICAL CURIOSITY.

(Vol. viii., p. 468.)

MR. INGLEBY'S question might easily be the foundation of a geometrical paper; but as this would not be a desirable contribution, I will endeavour to keep clear of technicalities, in pointing out how the process described may give something near to a circle, or may not.

When a paper figure, bent over a straight line in it, has the two parts perfectly fitting on each other, the figure is _symmetrical_ about that straight line, which may be called an _axis of symmetry_. Thus every diameter of a circle is an axis of symmetry: every regular oval has two axes of symmetry at right angles to each other: every regular polygon of an _odd_ number of sides has an axis joining each corner to the middle of the opposite sides: every regular polygon of an _even_ number of sides has axes joining opposite corners, and axes joining the middles of opposite sides.

When a piece of paper, of any form whatsoever, rectilinear or curvilinear, is doubled over any line in it, and when all the parts of either side which are not covered by the other are cut away, the unfolded figure will of course have the creased line for an axis of symmetry. If another line be now creased, and a fold made over it, and the process repeated, the second line becomes an axis of symmetry, and the first perhaps ceases to be one. If the process be then repeated on the first line, this last becomes an axis, and the other (probably) ceases to be an axis. If this process can be indefinitely continued, the cuttings must become smaller and smaller, for the following reason. Suppose, at the outset, the boundary point nearest to the intersection of the axes is distant from that intersection by, say four inches; it is clear that we cannot, after any number of cuttings, have a part of the boundary at less than four inches from the intersection. For there never is, after any cutting, any approach to the intersection except what there already was on the other side of the axis employed, before that cutting was made. If then the cuttings should go on for ever, or practically until the pieces to be cut off are too small, and _if this take place all round_, the figure last obtained will be a good representation of a circle of four inches radius. On the suppositions, we must be always cutting down, at all parts of the boundary; but it has been shown that we can never come nearer than by four inches to the intersection of the axes.

But it does not follow that the process _will_ go on for ever. We may come at last to a state in which both the creases are axes of symmetry at once; and then the process stops. If the paper had at first a curvilinear boundary, properly chosen, and if the axes were placed at the proper angle, it would happen that we should arrive at a {15} _regular_ curved polygon, having the two axes for axes of symmetry. The process would then stop.

I will, however, suppose that the original boundary is everywhere rectilinear. It is clear then that, after every cutting, the boundary is still rectilinear. If the creases be at right angles to one another, the ultimate figure may be an irregular polygon, having its four quarters alike, such as may be inscribed in an oval; or it may have its sides so many and so small, that the ultimate appearance shall be that of an oval. But if the creases be not at right angles, the ultimate figure is a perfectly regular polygon, such as can be inscribed in a circle; or its sides may be so many and so small that the ultimate appearance shall be that of a circle.

Suppose, as in MR. INGLEBY'S question, that the creases are not at right angles to each other; supposing the eye and the scissors _perfect_, the results will be as follows:

First, suppose the angle made by the creases to be what the mathematicians call _incommensurable_ with the whole revolution; that is, suppose that no repetition of the angle will produce an _exact_ number of revolutions. Then the cutting will go on for ever, and the result will perpetually approach a circle. It is easily shown that no figure whatsoever, except a circle, has two axes of symmetry which make an angle incommensurable with the whole revolution.

Secondly, suppose the angle of the creases commensurable with the revolution. Find out the smallest number of times which the angle must be repeated to give an exact number of revolutions. If that number be even, it is the number of sides of the ultimate polygon: if that number be odd, it is the half of the number of sides of the ultimate polygon.

Thus, the paper on which I write, the whole sheet being taken, and the creases made by joining opposite corners, happens to give the angle of the creases very close to three-fourteenths of a revolution; so that fourteen repetitions of the angle is the lowest number which give an exact number of revolutions; and a very few cuttings lead to a regular polygon of fourteen sides. But if four-seventeenths of a revolution had been taken for the angle of the creases, the ultimate polygon would have had thirty-four sides. In an angle taken at hazard the chances are that the number of ultimate sides will be large enough to present a circular appearance.

Any reader who chooses may amuse himself by trying results from three or more axes, whether all passing through one point or not.

A. DE MORGAN.

* * * * *

THE BLACK-GUARD.

(Vol. viii., p. 414.)

Some of your correspondents, SIR JAMES E. TENNENT especially, have been very learned on this subject, and all have thrown new light on what I consider a very curious inquiry. The following document I discovered some years ago in the Lord Steward's Offices. Your readers will see its value at once; but it may not be amiss to observe, that the name in its present application had its origin in the number of masterless boys hanging about the verge of the Court and other public places, palaces, coal-cellars, and palace stables; ready with links to light coaches and chairs, and conduct, and rob people on foot, through the dark streets of London; nay, to follow the Court in its progresses to Windsor and Newmarket. Pope's "link-boys vile" are the black-guard boys of the following Proclamation.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

At the Board of Green Cloth, in Windsor Castle, this 7th day of May, 1683.

Whereas of late a sort of vicious, idle, and masterless boyes and rogues, commonly called the Black-guard, with divers other lewd and loose fellowes, vagabonds, vagrants, and wandering men and women, do usually haunt and follow the Court, to the great dishonour of the same, and as Wee are informed have been the occasion of the late dismall fires that happened in the towns of Windsor and Newmarket, and have, and frequently do commit divers other misdemeanours and disorders in such places where they resort, to the prejudice of His Majesty's subjects, for the prevention of which evills and misdemeanours hereafter, Wee do hereby strictly charge and command all those so called the Black-guard as aforesaid, with all other loose, idle, masterless men, boyes, rogues, and wanderers, who have intruded themselves into His Majesty's Court or stables, that within the space of twenty-four houres next after the publishing of this order, they depart, upon pain of imprisonment, and such other punishments as by law are to be inflicted on them.

(Signed)
ORMOND.
H. BULKELEY.
H. BROUNCKER.
RICH. MASON.
STE. FOX.

* * * * *

THE CALVES' HEAD CLUB.

(Vol. viii., pp. 315. 480.)

The Calves' Head Club existed much earlier than the time when their doings were commemorated in the _Weekly Oracle_ (Vol. viii., p. 315.) of February 1, 1735, or depicted in the print of 1734 (Vol. viii., p. 480.). There is a pamphlet, {16} the second edition of which was published in small 4to., in 1703, entitled:

"The Secret History of the Calves' Head Club, or, the Republican
Unmasqu'd, wherein is fully shewn the Religion of the Calves-Head
Heroes in their Anniversary Thanksgiving Songs on the Thirtieth of
January, by their Anthems," &c. &c.

We are told in the latter part of the long title-page that the work was published "to demonstrate the restless, inplacable spirit of a certain party still among us," and certainly the statements therein, and more than all the anthems at the end, do show the bitterest hatred--so bitter, so intense and malignant, that we feel on reading it that there must be some exaggeration.

The author professes to have at first been of opinion "that the story was purely contrived on purpose to render the republicans more odious than they deserv'd." Whether he was convinced to the contrary by ocular demonstration he does not tell us, but gives us information he received from a gentleman--

"Who, about eight years ago, went out of meer curiosity to see their
Club, and has since furnish'd me with the following papers. I was
inform'd that it was kept in no fix'd house, but that they remov'd as
they saw convenient; that the place they met in when he was with 'em
was in a blind ally, about Morefields; that the company wholly
consisted of Independents and Anabaptists (I am glad for the honour of
the Presbyterians to set down this remark); that the famous Jerry
White, formerly Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, who no doubt on't came to
sanctify with his pious exhortations the Ribbaldry of the Day, said
Grace; that after the table-cloth was removed, the anniversary anthem,
as they impiously called it, was sung, and a calve's skull fill'd with
wine, or other liquor, and then a brimmer went about to the pious
memory of those worthy patriots that kill'd the tyrant, and deliver'd
their country from arbitrary sway; and lastly, a collection made for
the mercenary scribler, to which every man contributed according to his
zeal for the cause, or the ability of his purse.

"I have taken care to set down what the gentleman told me as faithfully
as my memory wou'd give me leave; and I am persuaded that some persons
that frequent the Black Boy in Newgate Street, as they knew the author
of the following lines so they knew this account of the Calves' Head
Club to be true."

The anthems for the years 1693, 1694, 1695, 1696, and 1697, are given; but they are too long and too stupidly blasphemous and indecent to quote here. They seem rather the satires of malignant cavaliers than the serious productions of any Puritan, however politically or theologically heretical.

EDWARD PEACOCK.

Bottesford Moors.

* * * * *

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_The Calotype Process._--I have made any first essay in the calotype process, following DR. DIAMOND'S directions given in "N. & Q.," and using Turner's paper, as recommended by him. My success has been quite as great as I could expect as a novice, and satisfies me that any defects are due to my own want of skill, and not to any fault in the directions given. I wish, however, to ask a question as to iodizing the paper. DR. DIAMOND says, lay the paper on the solution; then _immediately_ remove it, and lay on the dry side on blotting-paper, &c. Now I find, if I remove immediately, the whole sheet of paper curls up into a roll, and is quite unmanageable. I want to know, therefore, whether there is any objection to allowing the paper to remain on the iodizing solution until it lies flat on it, so that on removal it will not curl, and may be easily and conveniently laid on the dry side to pass the glass rod over it. As soon as the paper is floated on the solution (I speak of Turner's) it has a great tendency to curl, and takes some time before the expansion of both surfaces becoming equal allows it to lie quite flat on the liquid. May this operation be performed by the glass rod, without floating at all?

Photographers, like myself, at a distance from practical instruction, are so much obliged for plain and simple directions such as those given by DR. DIAMOND, which are the result of experience, that I am sure he will not mind being troubled with a few inquiries relative to them.