Chapter C: Bowmer

[Decandolle assigns an antiquity of fourteen and a half centuries to
this remarkable yew. See a valuable article on the "Age of Trees" in
our fourth volume, p. 401.]

* * * * *

Replies.

THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN 1753.

(Vol. viii., p. 364.)

As no reply has yet been given to the Query of INQUIRENDO as to who was C. M., who described in the _Scots Magazine_, vol. xv. p. 73., as long since as 1753, the electric telegraph, and as the article itself is one of great interest in the history of an invention which is justly considered one of the greatest wonders of our own times, I send a transcript of it, by way of satisfying the natural curiosity of many readers who may not have an opportunity of consulting it in the magazine in which it originally appeared, and also because the doing so may stimulate farther inquiry, and lead to the discovery of its ingenious writer, C. M. of Renfrew.

"Renfrew, February 1, 1753.

"Sir,

"It is well known to all who are conversant in electrical experiments,
that the electric power may be propagated along a small wire, from one
place to another, without being sensibly abated by the length of its
progress. Let, then, a set of wires, equal in number to the letters of
the alphabet, be extended horizontally between too given places,
parallel to one another, and each of them about an inch distant from
that next to it. At every twenty yards' end let them be fixed in glass,
or jeweller's cement, to some firm body, both to prevent them from
touching the earth, or any other non-electric, and from breaking by
their own gravity. Let the electric gun-barrel be placed at right
angles with the extremities of the wires, and about an inch below them;
also let the wires be fixed in a solid piece of glass at six inches
from the end; and let that part of them which reaches from the glass to
the machine have sufficient spring and stiffness to recover its
situation after having been brought in contact with the barrel. Close
by the supporting glass let a ball be suspended from every wire, and
about a sixth or an eighth of an inch below the ball place the letters
of an alphabet, marked on bits of paper, or any other substance that
may be light enough to rise to the electrified ball, and at the same
time let it be so contrived that each of them may reassume its proper
place when dropt. All things constructed as above, and the minute
previously fixed, I begin the conversation with my distant friend in
this manner:--Having set the electrical machine a-going, as in ordinary
experiments, suppose I am to pronounce the word _sir_; with a piece of
glass, or any other _electric per se_, I strike the wire _s_, so as to
bring it in contact with the barrel, then _i_, then _r_, all in the
same way; and my correspondent, almost in the same instant, observes
these several characters rise in order to the electrified balls at his
end of the wires. Thus I spell away as long as I think fit, and my
correspondent, for the sake of memory, writes the characters as they
rise, and may join or read them afterwards as often as he inclines.
Upon a signal given, or from desire, I stop the machine, and taking up
the pen, in my turn I write down whatever my friend at the other end
strikes out.

"If anybody should think this way tiresome, let him, instead of the
balls, suspend a range of bells from the roof, equal in number to the
letters of the alphabet, gradually decreasing in size from the bell _a_
to _z_; and from the horizontal wires let there be another set reaching
to the several bells; one, viz., from the horizontal wire _a_ to the
bell _a_, another from the horizontal wire _b_ to the bell _b_, &c.
Then let him who begins the discourse bring the wires in contact with
the barrel, as before, and the electric spark, breaking on bells of
different size, will inform his correspondent by the sound what wires
have been touched. And thus, by some practice, they may come to
understand the language of the chimes in whole words, without being put
to the trouble of noting down every letter.

"The same thing may be otherwise effected. Let the balls be suspended
over the characters, as before, but instead of bringing the ends of the
horizontal wires in contact with the barrel, let a second set reach
from the electrificator, so as to be in contact with the horizontal
ones; and let it be so contrived, at the same time, that any of them
may be removed from its corresponding horizontal by the slightest
touch, and may bring itself again into contact when left at liberty.
This may be done by the help of a small spring and slider, or twenty
other methods which the least ingenuity will discover. In this way the
characters will always adhere to the balls, excepting when any of the
secondaries is removed from contact with its horizontal; and then the
letter at the other end of the horizontal will immediately drop from
its ball. But I mention this only by way of variety.

"Some may perhaps think that, although the electric fire has not been
observed to diminish sensibly in its progress through any length of
wire that has been tried hitherto; yet, as that has never exceeded some
thirty or forty yards, it may be reasonably supposed, that in a far
greater length it would be remarkably diminished, and probably would be
entirely strained off in a few miles by the surrounding air. To prevent
this objection, and save longer argument, lay over the wires, from one
end to the other, with a thin coat of jeweller's cement. This may be
done for a trifle of additional expense; and as it is an electric _per
se_, will effectually secure any part of the fire from mixing with the
atmosphere.

"I am, &c.,
"C. M."

Surely among the numerous readers of "N. & Q." some one will be found to tell us who C. M. was.

J. Y.

{275}

* * * * *

FACTITIOUS PEDIGREES: DIXON OF BERSTON.

(Vol. ix., p. 221.)

The inquiry of MR. R. W. DIXON is one that I feel should not remain unanswered; and a few circumstances that I can detail will be sufficient to prove that his brother Mr. J. H. Dixon only exercised a just discretion in rejecting the information offered by William Sidney Spence.

On 4th March, 1848 (a few months, therefore, earlier than the letter which has been quoted), a communication was forwarded to me by Mr. Spence so similar, as to warrant the supposition that a set form was kept on hand to be copied in different applications with such variations as each case might demand, though even then a discrepancy has crept in that would render the evidence suspicious.

The first paragraph is the same, except that Mr. Spence states he was engaged by the "_widow_ of Sir John Cotgreave," instead of the "_sister_."

In the second the pedigree is said to be the "work of Randle Holme, 1672, from documents by William Camden," instead of the work of "the great Camden." Monsons, of course, are substituted instead of Dixons. Four generations from Sir John Monson temp. Edward III., instead of five generations from Ralph Dixon temp. Henry VI. And this Sir John is slain fighting under Lord Audley at the battle of Poictiers, 1356, as a counterpart to Ralph Dixon, slain at the battle of Wakefield, 1460.

The third paragraph is word for word the same, except that, to be consistent with the descents, four shields with sixteen quarterings are offered instead of five shields with twelve.

Lady Cotgreave is to vouch for the authenticity instead of Miss Cotgreave.

The quarterings promised in the next paragraph are only partially the same, and the conclusion merely differs in wording by the substitution of the names of "Sir John Monson" and "his mother Elinor, daughter and coheir of Sir John Sutton, de Sutton and Congleton," in place of "Ralph Dixon and his mother Maude, daughter and coheiress of Sir Ralph Fitz Hugh," &c.

I acknowledge that from the first I did not believe a word of this ingenious tale; in fact I was rather an unfortunate subject for Mr. Spence's purpose, having for years made the early history of my family my especial study; but having a friend resident at Birkenhead (a clergyman), I applied to him out of curiosity to find out something of my informant, who at least had shown some ingenuity. The answer was by no means in favour of Mr. Spence; and one fact was decidedly ascertained, that he neither lived nor was known in Priory Place, whence his letters were dated. I answered his letter, declining to give the remuneration of five pounds which he had asked; and on taxing him with the falsity of his residence, he said he had his letters left there for convenience.

MR. DIXON must now himself judge of the credit to be placed on the informant. As for the information in my own case, it bore internal proofs of being worthless; and if such a pedigree as is described should exist, I feel assured it is not the work of Camden, but more probably of a cotemporary, of rather discreditable notoriety among genealogists, of the name of Dakyns.

MONSON.

Gatton Park.

I can give no information on the Dixon family, but having some years ago received a letter from the same Mr. Spence, with an account of my own family, every word of which is not only entirely without authority, but a gross invention opposed to the facts, I thought MR. DIXON might like to know that Mr. Spence founds the romance in question on a "Pedigree of Cotgreave de Hargrave, the work of the celebrated Randle Holme, anno 1672, from documents compiled by that learned antiquary William Camden, in the year 1598," evidently the same veracious authority with that mentioned in the letter to MR. DIXON.

EV. PH. SHIRLEY.

Eatington Park, Stratford-on-Avon.

The following note will, I think, satisfy your correspondent R. W. DIXON that the letter of William Sidney Spence which you inserted for him was an imposture, and that Mr. J. H. Dixon was not without reason in rejecting the information offered.

A friend of mine, assuming descent from "a good old" family of the same name, which he was unable to prove, received, about the same time as MR. DIXON did, a communication from Mr. William Sidney Spence to precisely the same effect, and having no cautious brother to consult, readily took the bait, and paid some pounds for a specious pedigree, setting forth his "distinguished progenitors," with their armorial bearings, &c., purporting to be authenticated as a true copy of one in Miss Cotgreave's possession under that lady's own hand. The information so received being subsequently submitted to a genealogical friend, some doubt was excited of its genuineness in proving too much; and an inquiry, which I made through a correspondent in Cheshire, tending to confirm this suspicion, a reference was had to Miss Cotgreave herself, when it turned out that the whole was an ingenious fabrication. Mr. Spence was then dead, and my friend, whose name I do not mention, as the subject is rather a sore one, was obliged to be content with the practical experience he had bought.

The probability is, that whenever Mr. Spence read in Burke's _Landed Gentry_ that Mr. A. or {276} Mr. B., in preference to being considered as the founder of a new family, supposed himself, or wished to be supposed by others, to be descended from an old stock of the same name, he kindly offered to supply the desired information, and was ready to execute a pedigree to order.

G. A. C.

[The Editor has been informed by a person on whose accuracy he can
rely, that a lady who received a letter from Mr. Spence offering
certain information respecting his family taken from the Cotgreave
pedigree, and who imprudently sent money for the same, got nothing but
the most absurd rubbish in return, and having been induced to make
inquiries into the subject, was fully satisfied that the whole thing
was a fraud.]

* * * * *

LICENCES TO CRENELLATE.

(Vol. ix., p. 220.)

The subjoined list of names and places will supply MR. PARKER with the _counties_ of all the places named in his inquiry, except two in which I suspect some error. If farther references to authorities are desired, they will be given with pleasure in reply to a private application, but would crowd your pages inconveniently.

1. Cokefield for Melton--Cokefeud for Moulton, Suffolk.

2. Grisnak for Molun--Query this?

3. Langeton for Newton in Makerfield.--L. for Newton Hall or Castle,
the head of the Palatine Barony of Newton, in Lancashire.

4. Esselynton for Esselynton--E. in Northumberland.

5. Trussel for Cubleston--C. in Staffordshire.

6. De la Beche for De la Beche--De la Beche Castle. Aldworth, Berks.

7. The same for Beaumes--Beaumys Castle, Shinfield, Berks.

8. Cobham for Pringham--P. _alias_ Sterborough Castle, Surrey.

9. The same for Orkesdene--O. in Kent.

10. "Burghchier" for Stanstede--Bourchier for Stansted, Essex.

11. Dalham for "Credonio"--"Fortalicium in loco _de_ Crodonio." Printed
Cal. Rot. Pat. p. 143.

12. Lengleys for Heyheved--Highhead Castle, in Cumberland.

13. _A_eton for Chevelyngham--_H_eton for Chillingham, Northumberland.

GEO. O.

Sedbury Park, Chepstow.

There can, I think, be little doubt that _Stansstede_, in MR. J. H. PARKER'S list, is Stanstead Hall, near Halstead in Essex. I have never seen Stanstead Hall, but about a month since I was in company with the late occupant; from whom I learned, in casual conversations, that it was an ancient house, with moat and fortifications. In addition to this I may state, that there are monuments in the old church (St. Andrew) of Halstead to some of the Bourchier family. These facts, taken together, seem to fix the locality with sufficient precision. One of the monuments just referred to is a brass, commemorating Sir Bartholomew Bourchier and his two wives; which, when I copied it in 1847, was under the flooring of a pew in the south aisle. He died May 8, 1409; and was previously the possessor of Stanstead Hall: so I learn from my own MS. Catalogue of brass rubbings in my collection, but I am not able to give any better reference to authenticate the statement.

W. SPARROW SIMPSON.

_Heyheved_, mentioned in MR. PARKER'S list, is _Highhead Castle_ in Cumberland. In the reign of Edward II. it was a _peel house_ (pelum de Heyheved) possessed by Harcla, Earl of Carlisle. In modern times it became the property of a family named Richmond, one of whom erected the present house, after a plan by Inigo Jones. But he died before it was finished, leaving co-heirs, who quarrelled about the partition of the estate, and actually put a hedge through the centre of the house. Eventually one-half came into the hands of Lord Brougham, who is understood to have purchased the other, and will probably restore the whole.

K.

* * * * *

NEWSPAPER FOLK LORE.

(Vol. vi., pp. 221. 338. 466.; Vol. ix., pp. 29. 84.)

It may be instructive to collate the four stories recorded in the above references, and compare them with a case that was brought before Mr. Jardine at Bow Street Police Court; and which was reported in _The Times_ for February 22, 1854. Let the following extract suffice: it is descriptive of the operations of extracting a worm from the body of one Harriet Gunton, by a female quack of the name of Jane Browning:

"I laid myself on the bed as she desired, and she told Mrs. Jones to
hold my mouth to prevent my breathing. Mrs. Jones held me from behind,
and nearly suffocated me. She kept me down, while the prisoner tried to
get the worms out of my body with her hands. This lasted for about a
quarter of an hour, and caused me dreadful pain. The prisoner told me
that one of the worms had bit her finger, and slipped away again, and
she could not get at it. She tried a second time, and said the worm had
bit her again. I then begged her to leave off, if she could not succeed
in getting it away; for I believed I should die under the operation.
She tried a third time, and said she had broken two skins of it, which
would prevent it getting up my body. ... She then put her hand under
the clothes. I felt something touch me like a cloth, and she drew away
her hand; throwing something into the pan, which sounded {277} with a
heavy splash. She said she had been trying at it all night, and had got
it away at last."

Mr. Robert Biggs, the medical attendant, pronounced the "reptile" to be a fine conger eel, which he believed had often done duty in the same way.