seldom seen even in China. One of these specimens has five rows of rings, making one hundred and one in all; from which they are called hundredringed vases, the one hundred and first being sometimes put underneath.

The same collection contained some very curious tow-hoos. They appear to have been used for an ancient pastime of the imperial court:

"Placed between two well-matched parties standing equidistant from it, the object was to hurl reed-lances with such precision that they should pass through one or other of the cylinders, which are so arranged that an equal share is presented to either side."

A drum of the Han dynasty (No. 534), c. A.D. 226, is a work of great rarity. Choo-ko, a celebrated Chinese general, is said to have introduced these drums from Southern Asia. They are so rare that the Se-tsing-koo-keen, or great art encyclopædia, names the cities where those known are preserved. JOHN PIGGOT, Jun.

DOUGLAS FAMILY.—I shall be glad to receive information of the birth-place and parentage of "Captain Francis Douglas of Newcastle-on-Tyne," born near 1740; married at St. Margaret's, Rochester, Kent, October 3, 1763, to Sarah Clark; and dead before 1822. He may have been related to Henry Douglas, surgeon in the Royal Navy on half-pay, who, in the year 1751, was killed in a scuffle in an inn at Newcastle kept by one David Shield. Perhaps some Newcastle Douglas can assist me? W. H. COTTELL. Brixton, S.W.

SIR EDMONDSBURY GODFREY.-Hume, Macaulay, Rose, and Cunningham call the knight Edmondsbury, Timbs calls him Edmundberry, but the knight calls himself Edmund Berry in two deeds, dated in 1674 and 1676, connected with the title to a freehold house in Blue Cross Street in the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, which title is now professionally before me.

SO

Cunningham mentions that a person named Berry was one of his supposed murderers: perhaps, after all, he fell a victim to a family

feud.

26, Old Burlington Street.

JOHN PIKE.

IRISH POPLIN MANUFACTURE.-As it is well known that the still celebrated silk manufacture of Dublin, known as poplin or tabinet, was introduced by the Huguenot refugees who fled from France at the period of the Edict of Nantes, and who settled principally in that part of Dublin known as the Earl of Meath's Liberty," it would be a matter of great interest if any Dublin friend could inform me if names of French origin can be traced among the poor operatives who still carry on silk weaving in the ruinous and now almost desolate streets of the "liberty."

Some thirty years ago my duties having led me to visit many poor houses in the "liberty," I found

in many cases the silk weavers at work on the most rich and expensive tabinet fabrics in dwellings worse than any of our Spitalfields' hovels, and hardly fit for human habitations. H. H.

Portsmouth.

MEDALLIC.I have a brass medal found at Maldon in Essex. Each side shows a different obverse is bearded, head surmounted by a crown half-length figure with full face. That on the with three long points; a sword on its right points upward, one on the left downward. An inscription in Lombardic character runs round it thus: "COSMCQPM.:AMDXPOLA.:.." Above is an open pointed arch for the ribbon, with a human figure on each side leaning against it, the heads having a coronet of three balls, the dress coming up to the neck like a smock. The figure on the reverse has no beard; head bare, unless some vandykes above it are intended for a covering; dress, a frock without any opening in front, and expanding downwards like a bell or crinoline. A sword on each side pointing downwards; inscription runs: "IOII.: MOAMEDISEPADRPMX.:.," with similar supporters of the arch. There is no date, unless that which looks like 1011 is one. any of your readers suggest when it was struck?

Can

on what occasion? and in commemoration of whom? J. S. E. H.

Birmingham.

THE NORE LIGHT.-Is there any coloured print of the light at the Nore that would do to bind up with Boydell's Thames, and make a better termination of the book? I have a dim recollection of having seen in the Royal Academy, or somewhere, a painting of the kind I allude to. Boydell's views are taken generally from an elevation and from the land. His pictures are views of the Thames? Is there any similar book where the pictures are taken on the Thames ?

EDW. S. WILSON.

THE BLACK LAIRD OF ORMISTON.-I should be

obliged if some of your correspondents would kindly give me the pedigree of the Black Laird of Ormiston, or Hob Ormiston of that ilk; he was tried and executed for the murder of Darnley. Patten gives an account of those East Border chiefs who did forced homage to the Duke of Somerset on Sept. 24, 1547, namely, the Lairds of Cersford, Hunthill, Huntly, Ormiston, and others. Of gentlemen he enumerates Robert Carr, Robert Ormiston of Emerden, and others. Dalyell's Fragments, p. 87, says the Black Laird is called the cousin of this Earl of Bothwell, by whom he was appointed commander of 1000 men to guard Queen Mary when ill of fever at Jedburgh. His banner was a field argent with three red pelicans feeding their young. Motto, "Mea gloria fides."

Patten in

PELICAN.

MR. PASTON OF ST. KITTS.-Can any of your readers state what was the Christian name of the Mr. Paston said to have been outlawed for killing his antagonist in a duel at St. Kitts about the early part of the eighteenth century? What other name did he assume, and whom did he marry? and who was the man who fell in the duel, and where can the record of the circumstances be found? BAYONETTE.

JOSEPH PLANTA.-Information wanted on the pedigree and family of Mr. Joseph Planta, who was M.P. for Hastings from 1826 to 1831.

C. A. FEDERER.

[The Right Hon. Joseph Planta, late M.P. for Hastings, was the son of Joseph Planta, Esq., principal librarian of the British Museum, who died Dec. 3, 1827. The latter was born in the Grisons in Switzerland, Feb. 21, 1744, being descended from a noble family in that country. His father, the Rev. Andrew Planta, resided in England from the year 1752, as minister of the German Reformed Church in London. The Right Hon. Joseph Planta died on April 5, 1847, leaving his entire property to his wife.]

ST. EDITH, OR EDITHA.-Wanted, the names of any English churches dedicated to the AngloSaxon virgin saint, Edith.

H. N. R.

[There are two-virgin saints of this name honoured in the calendar on the 15th of September; one was the sister, the other the daughter of King Edgar. There is also another of this name, St. Edith the queen, daughter of Edward the Elder, and wife of Sithricke, Danish King of Northumbria. There are twenty-one churches dedicated in this name in England, eight of which are in Lincolnshire and three in Warwickshire: it is now impossible to assign them to their respective saints; probably the majority, if not all these churches, are named after Editha of Wilton nunnery, celebrated for her learning, her beauty, and her sanctity.-Consult The Calendar of the Anglican Church, ed. 1851, p. 226.]

SCARLETT.-Who was Philip Scarlett, who died in 1623? I am disposed to think that he was related to Scarletts of London, or who, at any rate, subsequently settled there, &c. L. A.

SUNDRY QUERIES.-Would you kindly solicit answers to the following questions?

1. Who was the Attorney-General in the ministry of Lord Grenville (sometimes denominated "All the Talents") which lasted from 1806-1807? I find that Lord Erskine was Chancellor, and Sir Samuel Romilly was the SolicitorGeneral, but I have been unable to find out who was the Attorney-General.

2. Would you kindly furnish me with a list of the Irish Chancellors from July 1846, when Sir Edward Sugden resigned at the downfall of Sir Robert Peel's ministry?

3. In a list of the Deans of Canterbury which I have in my possession I find that Dr. S. G. Andrewes was appointed in 1809. The next name on my list is that of Dr. Wm. Rowe Lyall, who was appointed in 1845. Would you kindly supply

me with the names and dates of the deans who succeeded Dr. Andrewes and preceded Dr. Lyall? 4. In my list of the Deans of York, the last name on my list is Dr. Richard Osbaldeston, who was appointed in 1728. Could you kindly supply me with the names and dates of their successors? 5. Could you tell me where I could get a list of the Deans of Lincoln ? HENRY JACKSON.

291, Oldham Road, Manchester.

"LADY SUSSEX, THAT WYSE MARRIED.”—This sentence occurs in a letter under date of June 23, 1559. (Cal. Domestic State Papers, temp. Eliz. iii. 9.) Which Lady Sussex married Wyse? Was it Anne Calthrop, the divorced wife of Earl Henry? HERMENTRUDE.

SWIMMING.-At an old book-stall I picked up a copy of a work on swimming by J. Frost, published in 1816. Is anything known of the author, and have any other works been published on the art of swimming? A. W.

[One of our correspondents, under the nom de guerre of Olphar Hamst, Esq., has published "A Bibliographical List of Works on Swimming," in A Few Words on Swim

ming, 1868, 8vo. (John Russell Smith.) Frost's work is noticed, but nothing is known of the author except that he combined the business of chimney surveyor with that of swimming master at Nottingham. His work was reprinted at New York in 1818.]

THE TOWERS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.-Who

designed and executed them? The question is thus put, as they are usually attributed to Sir Christopher Wren. As I think there are doubts on the subject, I submit the following notes. Cunningham (Handbook to London) merely observes, as do most writers, "the western towers erected from the designs of Sir C. Wren." My note-book suggests that their lower portions were executed 1713-22, under the directions of that talented architect; and that the upper portions were, after his death in 1723, entrusted to Nicholas Hawksmoor, who then directed the works of the abbey up to 1735. The towers are said not to have been completed until 1745. In a biographical notice of Hawksmoor it is stated:

"After the death of Sir C. Wren in 1723, he was appointed Surveyor-general of Westminster Abbey, and continued the building of the two western towers (intended to have had spires 140 feet high); and completed the works in 1735. W. Dickenson being Surveyor until Jan. 20, 1725, when he was succeeded by John James."

This latter architect (James) drew "the northwest prospect of Westminster Abbey, with the spire designed by Wren," which was engraved by Fourdrinier; and by Toms for Maitland's History of London, 1756.

The division in style, of that which may be considered to have been executed under Wren's direction and that executed under Hawksmoor's, is clearly distinguishable at about half way up the towers. As towers they may be considered

to have originated from Wren's design, but their execution was left to the directions of the inferior hands of the surveyors under and after him. Wren's Gothic work, in outline and feeling, is, I think, not so bad as is generally considered. The detail, however, may not be worthy of commendation; yet he knew more about it, perhaps, than any other architect or amateur of his day.

W. P. UMBRELLAS.-Can you or any of your correspondents tell me where I could get hold of the two following books?

J. S. Duncan, London, 1801.

Hints to Bearers of Walking-sticks, Umbrellas, &c. Essai Historique Anecdotique sur le Parapluie, &c. Par René Marie Cazal. Paris, 1844.

They are not in the British Museum Catalogue. I should also be much obliged for the names of any book giving information about umbrellas and their manufacture. X. Y. Z.

[Has our correspondent consulted about twenty articles on the history of Umbrellas in "N. & Q."? See the General Indexes to the First, Second, and Third Series.]

"VITA BEATI BENEDICTI IN VETERI LEGE FIGURATA." This is the title of a manuscript of the fifteenth century, containing seventy-two large miniatures painted by John of Stavelot, monk of the abbey of St. Laurence at Liege, sold at Brussels on November 20, 1860, to an Englishman for 2250 francs. Any information as to its present possessor will be most welcome.

W. H. JAMES WEALE.

Replies.

ROHAIS, COUNTESS OF LINCOLN.

(4th S. viii. 61.)

I feel bound to acknowledge the appearance of the important suggestion made by TEWARS on this lady, because I believe that he is aware that I was the author of what he is pleased to term "the elaborate article on the Earldom of Lincoln in the first volume of The Topographer and Genealogist," as I was also of another memoir on the same subject which appeared with my name in the Lincoln volume of the Archeological Institute. The suggestion now advanced by TEWARS is that the Countess Rohais was a daughter of Richard FitzGilbert of Clare by Adeliza the sister of Ranulf (de Gernons) Earl of Chester; in which case she was really that earl's niece (neptis), as the chronicler John of Hexham describes her to have been. I may say at once that I am quite disposed to agree in this suggestion of TEWARS, for the reasons he has so well advanced, notwithstanding that the name of Rohais has not otherwise occurred among the children of Richard FitzGilbert-his only daughter mentioned by Dug

dale being Alicia, the wife of Cadwallader ap Griffith, Prince of North Wales.

But I am further inclined to coincide with TEWARS from the interesting armorial evidence to which he has also adverted, though not quite accurately. He says of the Countess Rohais that "her hereditary arms were five chevrons." The truth is that one of her seals, inscribed SIGILLVM ROHESIE COMITISSE LINCOLIE, and engraved to accompany both my memoirs to which I have referred, is covered as to its whole surface (not on a shield) with a chevronny pattern; and this, gests, may certainly be regarded as hereditary, for supposing her birth to have been as TEWARS sugit corresponds with anterior evidence of the device of Clare. The seal of (her presumed uncle)" Earl Gilbert Fitz-Gilbert of Pembroke" (as he is designated in its legend) is engraved in Sir Edward Bysshe's notes to Upton's De Studio Militari (1654), p. 89, and must be familiar to all who are interested in antiquities of this class. On one side he appears in the usual equestrian attitude, brandishing a huge sword; on the other he is marching on foot, as if to cast from his right hand a long javelin-in apparent accordance with his surname of Strongbow. But on either side he holds a shield, which, shown only in profile, is not incontestably chevronny, but was interpreted to be so by Sir Edward Bysshe; and here I must be allowed to cite the very probable theory given for the origin of the chevron by Mr. Planché, who has done so much towards placing the investigation of armorial antiquities on a rational basis:

"But what was the origin of the figure itself? Fortunately the seal of a Clare-the family to which most of our English nobility and gentry are indebted for their chevrons-enables me to answer the question: it is that of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, in the reign of King Stephen, and therefore of the period which immediately preceded the bearing of hereditary coat-armour. Instead of the three chevrons, so well known as the coat of Clare, we find the long kite-shaped shield of the earl divided into thirteen equal stripes or bands, angular top of the shield (a very marked peculiarity of which running upwards parallel to the line formed by the the shield of that period), on the dexter or right-hand side presented to us, descended, I naturally infer, with the shape of the shield on the sinister or left-hand side; and that such was the opinion of Bysshe is evident, as plenum habuit," considering them what is termed chehe blasons the arms, in Latin, thus: "scutum capreolis vronny-that is, composed of as many chevrons as could be put, of that breadth, into the field. Now it certainly appears to me evident that this shield was only strongly banded according to its form, the bands being painted and gilt alternately, and that their reduction to the number of three, in conformity with a prevailing fashion, produced the coat of arms which we see on the seals of the later Clares-viz. Or, three chevrons gules." Planché's Pursuivant of Arms, p. 47.

It will be observed that TEWARS is unauthorised when he speaks of five chevrons. The arms of Clare, so frequent in their occurrence, were three

chevrons; but with regard to the first earl's seal it is remarkable that if, instead of counting every stripe or band with Mr. Planché, we count the alternate bands, considering them to be placed upon a field, we then find they are seven in number, and that is also the number of the chevronels on the seal of the Countess Rohais. Thus the

latter, though not actually presenting a shield of arms, repeats the same device, and affords strong presumptive evidence-all the more interesting from its early date in the infancy of armorial insignia-that Rohais was really a Clare; and at the same time it confirms the conclusion of Sir Edward Bysshe and Planché that the apparent bars on Earl Gilbert's shield were, when viewed in front, identical with chevronels.

With respect to the Earldom of Lincoln itself, in the reign of Stephen, TEWARS states that "All authorities agree that the Earldom of Lincoln was held after the death of the Countess Lucy by her two sons William de Roumare and Ranulf Earl of Chester, as coparceners." My own words

were

"From the several facts in the descent of the Earldom stated hereafter, it appears that King Stephen, after the death of Countess Lucia, granted investiture of the dignity to her two sons by her several husbands, as coparceners. Though no actual record of this event is preserved, still William of Malmesbury seems to allude to it, when he says that the King had added to the honours of both brothers."-Topographer and Genealogist, i. 17. On my revision of the matter, made for the Archæological Institute, I thought there was scarcely sufficient proof of this position, and I therefore no longer maintained it. It is still not improbable; but I am not aware that it has been distinctly asserted by any previous writer, nor has it been supported by my successors Mr. Courthope in his Historic Peerage (1857), or Sir Bernard Burke in his Dormant and Extinct Peerage (1866). Of other "authorities" I remain uninformed. May I hope that TEWARS will be induced to develope further his views on this subject, on which it would seem we have still something

to learn.

66

JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS.

MÉMOIRES DE CASANOVA."

(4th S. vii. 326, 480.)

MR. J. B. DITCHFIELD differs very widely from most French critics in his estimate of the authenticity and historical value of these Mémoires. "Il est bien certain," writes the editor of the new edition of Les Superchéries dévoilées, “ que Casanova n'est pas l'auteur de ces mémoires, mais à qui faut-il les attribuer?" M. Paul Lacroix, than whom no one is more competent to form a correct opinion on the point, thus writes in a note to the Dutacq Catalogue, p. 60:

* Quoted in Les Superchéries.

"J'ai cherché à découvrir le véritable auteur de ces mémoires si amusants, si spirituels et si curieux, qui ne lequel était incapable d'écrire en Français et surtout de sont pas et ne peuvent être de Jacques de Casanova, composer un ouvrage de cette espèce; car s'il était assez instruit, il n'entendait rien à un œuvre d'imagination et de style. Il est certain cependant que ce fameux chevalier d'industrie avait laissé des notes et même des mémoires originaux, mais ces manuscrits étaient certainement

indignes de voir le jour, et il fallut un habile homme pour les mettre en œuvre. Cet habile homme fut, nous en avons la certitude morale, Stendhal, ou plutôt Beyle, dont l'esprit, le caractère, les idées et le style se retrouvent à chaque page dans les mémoires imprimés."

It should, however, be added that M. Beaumont (from whose interesting article in the Biographie universelle MR. DITCHFIELD's note appears to be taken) entertains no doubt of the authenticity of the Mémoires, and speaks of their historical value in the same terms as MR. DITCHFIELD.

Some time after the death of Casanova the Mémoires fell into the hands of Messrs. Brockhaus, the publishers of Leipsic, who, in 1822, published an abridged translation in German by G. von Schutz, and this was retranslated into French by M. Aubert de Vitry, and published in fourteen volumes 12mo in 1825-1829. Upon this work beginning to appear, Brockhaus decided to publish the original text in full, and eight volumes appeared at Leipsic from 1826 to 1832, when the censorship appears to have stopped the further publication, and the remaining four volumes were not published until later at Brussels.

An

The narrative of his imprisonment in and escape from the state prisons of Venice is one of the most interesting of prison narratives, and is probably the only portion of the Mémoires of any length which could be quoted without offence. account of his imprisonment and escape is contained in a recent number of the Cornhill Magazine, but it loses much of its interest from the mode in which it is there given. A translation of this narrative, preserving all the spirit and life of the original, appeared in English nearly fifty years since in the pages of the London Magazine (in or about 1822), and was subsequently reprinted in some other work. R. C. CHRISTIE.

GRAIN: LUMB. (4th S. viii. 46.)