may be of value. The connexion through the Galbraiths with the Douglases is new. Sir William Douglas is probably the grandfather of the "good" Sir James, the companion in arms of Bruce. ANGLO-SCOTUS. THE DUNCHURCH FIRS (5th S. vii. 389.)-Allow me to correct the query of JABEZ, in which, doubtless from having but a slight knowledge of these trees, he has fallen into error. The avenue commenced at Knightlow Stone, at the top of Knightlow Hill (see Dugdale, Hist. Warwickshire, for a curious custom observed at this stone on Martinmas morning), with elm trees, which continued without interruption to within a few yards of where the Bourton and Rugby road crosses the London road, nearly two and a half miles from Knightlow Hill. Then commence the firs, which continue to Dunchurch village. After passing the "town,” as it is called by the residents, the elms again commence, and continue to the foot of a hill, perhaps half a mile altogether of trees, thus making the whole avenue, including the village of Dunchurch, five miles in length originally. This grand avenue is now shorn of much of its glory. From Knightlow Hill to the Frog Hall, three quarters of a mile, there are only a few trees, a small cluster of six or seven at Knightlow Hill, and one here and there beside the road. They were originally on the waste, which is now converted into gardens for a mile from Knightlow Hill, and the possessors naturally dislike the trees, as they take the goodness out of the ground, and spare no exertions to loosen their roots, that the every day, from and to London, besides stage waggons and other traffic. From a little before the Bourton road, just by the Dirt House, the firs commence, and at the corner of the Bourton road stands what was the Blue Boar. Hereabout, local tradition states, the Guy Faux conspirators were captured. Passing by the once Blue Boar, through the toll-gate, the firs continue with little interruption to Dunchurch; after passing the village the elms again form a pleasing avenue down a short hill of about half a mile, where they cease. I have inquired many times about these trees, who planted them, &c., but without success. They are of a good age, most of them being hollow; thousands of starlings and many jackdaws build in them every year. An old man, who had lived in Stretton over eighty years, assured me he could remember them from a boy being as large as they now are. They grow on the waste; the Duke of Buccleuch is the lord of the manor. When a tree blows down, the steward's men at once take possession of it, but I am sorry to say, with the exception of a few near Dunchurch, they do not replant; and from the decayed state of the trees, and the havoc played by the westerly gales, to which in places they are very much exposed, in a few years they will be no more. J. HENRY. Devonshire Street, W.C. The occasion of these trees being planted was a time of great agricultural distress, when the then Duke of Buccleuch, wishing to give employment to his tenantry and dependents, caused the planting of this, I believe, the longest avenue in the country. He wished the avenue to have been continued up to London through the estates of all the intermediate landowners, but they not seeing it in the same light as the duke, it was stopped at the confines of his estate. THOS. CROSFIELD. Liverpool. first gale may bring them down. At about a quarter of a mile from Knightlow Hill, at the corner of the lane leading to Stretton-on-Dunsmore, stands what was the Black Dog, celebrated as a posting house, and where the "quality" stopped; further, at the corner of the Roman Fossway, stands Frog Hall, which once provided more than THE TITLE OF "ESQUIRE" (5th S. vii. 348, 511.) one hundred beds, and was a house where drovers-MIDDLE TEMPLAR asks, "Why does H. say that and travellers stayed; this house has ceased to be barristers are Esquires in consequence of being in licensed only a few years. Further on towards the sovereign commission' (whatever that may London stands a little white house, which was the mean)?" For "the sovereign commission" it is White Lion, and it is here, a distance of a mile obvious he should read "the sovereign's comfrom Knightlow Hill, that the avenue now com- mission." It was a printer's error. MIDDLE mences. There are, however, a few fine trees still TEMPLAR should surely know that the status of standing opposite the Frog. From the White a barrister is not complete through his mere call Lion nearly to the Bourton and Rugby road, a to the Bar by the benchers of his inn of court. distance of about a mile and three quarters, the A barrister has to take the oath of allegiance, avenue is perfect, except a tree here and there and sign the roll of Her Majesty's Commission, blown out, and the branches meet overhead, in common with lord-lieutenants of counties, forming in summer one of the most delightful deputy-lieutenants, and all magistrates. It is views I have ever seen. In the hottest summer this, I conceive, which places barristers in Her day there is always a cool breeze under the trees, Majesty's Commission, entitles them to the title and one may sit there for hours without any per- of Esquire, and qualifies them, at once, to be made son passing, so deserted is this once busy road, on magistrates in any county in which they have which twenty-six coaches at one time travelled residence, and are duly qualified in other respects to act. I hold that barristers by this act do receive "direct commission and authority from the sovereign," and if any practising barrister has omitted taking the oath and signing the roll, his right of pleading at the Bar might, I apprehend, be challenged. I suppose MIDDLE TEMPLAR, if a barrister, duly took the oath and signed the roll at Westminster. I did when I was called to the Bar by the hon. society of which he describes himself as being a member. I am still of opinion that it was considered of yore that some property qualification, coupled perhaps with some family qualification, did confer the title. None of your correspondents have applied themselves to the Roman Catholic or Nonconformist view of the question. H. Blackstone, himself a barrister, gives to barristers the title of Esquire, but in this instance omits to give the authority of the Earl Marshal's Court or the Heralds' College to support his view. The title of barrister-at-law may, in common with that of doctor in our universities, be superior to the title of Esquire, but MIDDLE TEMPLAR has yet to show that a chapter of the Heralds' College will admit that the title of barrister-at-law carries with it the title of Esquire. I believe that the title of barrister-at-law does not even confer the title of gentleman by office, because no student is admitted to an inn of court unless he produce a formal certificate that he is a gentleman. However, I understand that a certificate to that effect, easily obtained from two barristers, is now accepted instead of an authoritative certificate from the Heralds' College. No such certificate is required at the Law Institution, because the title of gentleman is conveyed with the office conferred. J. LLEWELYN CURTIS. A BOOK PRINTED AT HOLYROOD HOUSE (2nd S. ix. 263, 328.)—I had hoped when the subject of these royal Popish presses at Holyrood and London was started we should have heard more about them and their productions, and only now take it up again to add another to the Scots catalogue: "The Catholic Scripturist; or, the Plea of the Roman Catholics. Showing the Scriptures to hold the Roman Faith in above Forty of the chief Controversies now under debate. The third edition. By Jos. Mumford, Priest of the Society of Jesus. Holy-Rood-House: Printed by Jas. Watson, Printer to His Most Excellent Majesty's Royal Family and Household, 1687. Permissu Superiorum." 12mo. pp. 464. It does not appear that the Popish press got a footing in any of the royal demesnes in England, but the Jesuits found a ready tool in Henry Hills, whose game was spoilt by honest John Evelyn's attitude towards the invaders of the prerogative, when he refused to sanction the seal of his office in favour of a licence to this pervert for the printing and importing of illegal works. Of books Clearly indicating, by a new species of "Permissu superiorum," that it had been previously printed in London, under a political superiority aiding and abetting the priests in this attempt to pave the way in high places for the Pope. Among others of Hills's printing was this: "A Catechism for the Curats, composed by a Decree of the Council of Trent, and published by Command of Pius V." 1684. This now before me was another: "The Spirit of Christianity. London: Printed by H. Hills, printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, for his Houshold and Chappels." 12mo. 1686. This is a work by Rapin, the Jesuit, and "done into English," says an old MS. annotator, “by a Presbyter of the Church of England," who does not hesitate to sign the dedication "To the King” "Walter Kirkham Blount," which brings me to my object of asking where anything can be found about this proselytizing priest. The name of Blount was common at the period, but I don't trace this example of it elsewhere. J. O. COUNT DE LA LIPPE (5th S. vii. 449.)-Ernest William Frederick, Count de la Lippe, was given a commission in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards by George II. in July, 1742, and left the English service in the following year. Was he not a great army organizer and the teacher of Scharnhorst? HENRY F. PONSONBY. JOHN DYER (5th S. vii. 380.)-With reference to the editorial notice to CHAN. ISL. I may remark that a memoir of Dyer's life appeared in the Universal Magazine for April, 1793, accompanied with the fictitious portrait. The writer winds up his article by saying: and The Fleece] a poetical imagination, perfectly ori"In all these [i.e. Grongar Hill, The Ruins of Rome, ginal; a natural simplicity, connected with the truly sublime, and often productive of it; and the warmest sentiments of benevolence and virtue, have been universally observed and admired." John Scott, Esq., in his Critical Essays on some of the Poems of several English Poets, published in 1785, pointed out the beauties of Dyer's poems in two essays on Grongar Hill and The Ruins of Rome. The reader will find the earlier version of Grongar Hill in "Miscellaneous Poems and Translations by several Hands, published by Richard Savage, son of the late Earl Rivers," published in 1726. The Rev. Robert Aris Willmott did good service to Dyer's memory in his edition of the Poetical Works of Mark Akenside and John Dyer, published in 1855, when for the first time the only genuine portrait of Dyer was presented to his admirers, taken from the oil painting in the possession of his lineal representative, Mr. W. Hylton Dyer Longstaffe, of Gateshead, who likewise contributed charming extracts from Dyer's sermons, variations in the poems, and other interesting particulars from the Dyer MSS., of which Mr. Longstaffe is the proud possessor. same as the Phoenician. MR. MACCARTHY's hint It may possibly interest CHAN. ISL. to know that the Rev. A. B. Grosart, of Park View, BlackTAYLOR'S "WORDS AND PLACES" (5th S. vii. burn, who has done much in rescuing from neglect 405.)-I have often been struck with the ignorance literary talent, has issued a prospectus of a new of the working classes in England of the names of edition of Dyer's works, by which it is hoped due the rivers and places in their own neighbourhood, justice will now be done to Dyer's poetical skill but I certainly was not prepared for such a degree and artistic efforts. It is stated in the prospectus: of density as is indicated in MR. GOMME'S note. "The lineal representative of John Dyer (W. H. Dyer There are two rivers run into the town where I Longstaffe, Esq.), having requested Mr. Grosart to pre- live, which join together within the boundaries. pare a collective edition of his poems, including Grongar | Although well known, giving their names to their Hill, The Ruins of Rome, The Fleece, and minor pieces respective valleys, I question very much whether in verse and prose, has put into his hands the entire MSS. one in twenty of the workpeople, who owe their daily and family papers, whereby for the first time a critical text can be prepared and an adequate memoir. Words- bread to their waters, would be able to give them worth's high estimate of Dyer is exemplified in the any other name than the generic one of "t'dyke.” above quotation [Wordsworth's Prose Works, vol. ii. In Scotland a very different state of things obtains; pp. 196-71-one of various distinct verdicts-and it must even the little children seem to know all their be conceded that it is more than time justice were done local names, and especially of the rivers. This is to so true a poet and so many-sided a genius. There will be a (steel) portrait from an original painting and referred to by Sir Walter Scott in Rob Roy, other important illustrations, with (it is hoped) auto- chapter xxvii., where the following passage occurs: types of examples of his paintings, drawings, &c., the impression to be limited as in the private issue of Wordsworth's Works. The works and memoir will form one considerable volume, its subscription price 25s. 6d. Those who wish to receive the book will please sign and return the subjoined order form to Mr. Grosart.' "That's the Forth,' said the Baillie, with an air of reverence which I have observed the Scotch usually pay to their distinguished rivers. The Clyde, the Tweed, the Forth, the Spey, are usually named by those who dwell on their banks with a sort of respect and pride, and I have known duels occasioned by any word of disparagement." Huddersfield. G. W. TOMLINSON. DR. JOHNSON AND MRS. HANNAH MORE (5th S. vii. 485.)-In my edition of Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson, under 1778, I find what follows, and which seems to confirm Lord Macaulay's iteration of Croker's statement. Boswell says this: "Talking of Miss Hannah More, a literary lady, he (Dr. J.) said: 'I was obliged to speak to Miss Reynolds, to let her (Hannah More, I suppose) know that I desired she would not flatter me so much.' Somebody now observed she flatters Garrick. Johnson: She is in the right to flatter Garrick. She is in the right for two reasons; first, because she has the world with her, who have been praising Garrick these thirty years; and, secondly, because she is rewarded for it by Garrick. Why should she flatter me! I can do nothing for her. Let her carry her praise to a better market.' Unless we discredit Boswell's record, to whom, if not to Hannah More, can the above relate? Johnson's allusion to Garrick strengthens the supposition that she was the lady he had in his "mind's eye," as it is recorded how deeply she regretted the death of Garrick, who had been her generous and disinterested friend for many years, and to whom she owed her introduction to the most eminent literary society. I cannot, however, think that Dr. Johnson's term "empty-headed could have been applied to so intellectual a literary character as Hannah More, and once an especial favourite with Dr. Johnson; besides, unquestionably, she was in London, not at Bath, at the time the ill-natured sarcasm was uttered, 1776. Boswell, anent the explosion, says, "He was, indeed, a stern critic upon characters and manners." Perhaps a hypercritic. FREDK. RULE. HOLT FAMILY (5th S. vii. 410.)-Colston Hall, in Badingham, co. Suffolk, belonged to Rowland Holt in 1764; also the lordship and patronage of Burgate, co. Suffolk. The manor of Mellis St. John belonged to Rowland Holt likewise. Sir John Holt, an eminent barrister and Lord Chief Justice of King's Bench, was born at Thame, in Oxfordshire, in 1642, and afterwards settled at Redgrave, co. Suffolk. Rowland Holt held the chief manor in Thorndon, Suffolk. An earlier family, John Holte of St. Edmund's Bury, held messuages and lands in Horsecroft, co. Suffolk, previously to 1566. Rowland Holt held also the lordship of the parish of Wangford, co. Suffolk, in 1764. The arms of the Holt family are-Argent, on a bend wavy sable, three fleur-de-lis of the first. Romford. C. GOLDING. SPEKE FAMILY (5th S. vii. 428.)-It does not appear to be known to your correspondent that the family of Speke has been resident in the county of Somerset for many hundred years, and that the manor of Dowlish Wake has been theirs ever since the fourteenth century. The senior branch of the family terminated in an heir female, wife of the celebrated Lord North. The present Mr. Speke, of Jordans, is the heir male of this ancient stock. The fancy of immigration from Holland appears to be rather prevalent in this part of Somersetshire. I bave heard of a person of some authority who was in the habit of stating that the ancestor of a family little, if at all, less ancient than the Spekes-the Standerwicks of Broadway-had come over with William III., whereas, if he had gone no further than the churchyard of that parish, he would have found evidence that would have carried him a century or more further back than 1688. HERMAN NAYLOR. The tradition in Somersetshire "that the name and family of Speke are of Dutch origin, and came into that county with William III.," as stated by H., has no foundation in fact. The family of Speke, originally written Le Espek, were possessed of the manors of Wemworthy and Brampton, in the county of Devon, in the time of Henry II. They came into Somersetshire about the early part of the fifteenth century, on their marriage with Alice, cousin and heiress of Sir John Beauchamp, and with her acquired the manors of Whitelackington, Atherstone, and Ashill in that county. Quarr, I. W. JAMES HORSEY. H. will find a mass of information respecting the family of Speke of Jordans in Burke's History of the Commoners, 1838, vol. iv. pp. 536-539. HIRONDELLE. WENTWORTH, GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA (5th S. vii. 389.)-If MR. HANCOCK could give the "TEMORN" (5th S. vii. 426; viii. 18.)-I beg to Christian name of the Wentworth who was gover-assure J. T. F. that temorn should be written as I nor of Jamaica circa 1690, it might not be difficult to tell from which branch of the family he sprung. I think, however, that the Barons Arundel of Trerice, whose family name was not Wentworth but Arundel, had no connexion with the Wentworth family before 1722, when the fourth and wrote it, and as it is here printed, and not otherwise. It is quite true that the word is really to-morn; but on the Yorkshire coast, and (so far as I know) in the North and East Ridings generally, the preposition to is pronounced te. Before the definite article, indeed, it is even shortened into i, as thus: "Doocks? Wa han 'em all te buy; wa gans ti t' market for 'em." A. J. M. "LILT" (5th S. vii. 428.)-I cannot give the origin of the word, but I think something will be found if JABEZ can refer to Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary. Halliwell gives it as a Northern word, signifying to jerk, spring, or do anything quickly. Webster gives it as to do anything with dexterity or quickness, as to fly or leap, and calls it proverbial English. He gives a second meaning, to sing or play cheerfully, and quotes Tennyson "With scraps of thundered epic lilted out." But we want more than this to get firm hold of the word. C. A. WARD. Mayfair. "LILLI-BURLERO" (5th S. vii. 428.)-In the note to Sterne's Tristram Shandy, vol. i. ch. xxi., on my Uncle Toby's whistling half-a-dozen bars of Lillibullero, the origin of the ballad is accounted for, and it is stated that those words and " Bullena-lah" are said to have been the watchwords used among the Irish Papists in their massacre of the Protestants in 1641. To the note is appended the burden of the song set to music. And see "The Lord Mayor's Show," 3rd S. xii. 516. GEORGE WHITE. derived by Halliwell from an Anglo-Saxon word signifying burden. Query, if it comes from the fodder (undoubtedly Anglo-Saxon), of which a man carries a burden to his cattle? W. G. A fodder, or fother, of lead is quite a different word from fodder food. It is properly eight pigs, or 1,600 lbs., but in the passage quoted by M. P. is probably used rather indefinitely. Nor is it always applied to lead. I remember Longfellow says, in the Golden Legend:— "A benison rest on the bishop who sends Such a fudder of wine as this to his friends." I fear M. P. has forgotten his "tables." I used to have to remember "a fother of lead" when I was a child. C. F. S. WARREN, M.A. Bexhill. AN ORDER FOR A MEDIEVAL BRASS (5th S. vii. 486.)-"Ymaginibus jmmobus(?)." I venture to suggest "immobilibus." C. F. S. WARREN, M.A. Bexhill. “Luck Money" (5th S. vii. 488.) — Apropos of this subject, I send you the accompanying paragraph, taken from the Bristol Times and Mirror of June 23, which is somewhat explanatory of your correspondent's query : "DISPUTE OVER AN OLD MARKET CUSTOM.-It seems it has been, almost from time out of mind, a custom of the large Wiltshire corn markets-and especially Salisbury, Warminster, and, we believe, Devizes-for the farmers to throw back to the dealers or buyers one shilling on every ten sacks of wheat and every ten quarters of barley. People curious in such local antiquities think it arose from the fact that formerly the dealers met the farmers at their places of resort or ordinaries, when the market was over, and paid them for the grain, when the farmer returned the shilling, which was then and there spent in refreshments. Since railways have come into operation, however, the farmers, availing themselves of the locomotive facilities of the age, return home without attending ordinaries. At any rate, they have, within the last few weeks, met and resolved to discontinue that ancient practice, which they think is more honoured in the breach than the obser vance. The dealers, on the other hand, to whom this drawback' amounts in the course of the year to some thing considerable (we have heard as much as five and six hundred pounds to one firm in twelve months), have 'resolved,' with equal decision, not to buy from farmers who will not throw back the shilling, and the mutual determination may bring matters very soon to a deadlock. But it is likely after all to be a mere question sidered by the agriculturist, in all transactions, in the of commerce, the shilling drawback being probably conprice of the corn. And not by the agriculturist only, but by the dealer also, who will equally take the absence of the allowance into account when fixing his rate of payment for wheat and barley. But it is supposed that the custom originally tended to make the Wiltshire markets popular with buyers, and that it is very bad policy for the farmers to object to what is an imshilling thrown back were universally done away with, position rather in appearance than reality. If the it is said it would make a difference against one of the |