  "Chintz Gowns."—Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1768:
Can any other instances be given? "Noctes AmbrosianÆ."—Can any one inform me why the celebrated "Noctes AmbrosianÆ" of Blackwood's Magazine has never been printed in a separate form in this country (I understand it has been so in America)? I should think few republications would meet with a larger sale. B. Simmons.—Will you permit me to ask for a little information respecting B. Simmons? I believe he was born in the county of Cork: for he has sung, in most bewitching strains, his return to his native home on the banks of the Funcheon. He was the writer of that great poem on the "Disinterment of Napoleon," which appeared in Blackwood some years ago. He was a regular What manner of man was he; young or old, married or single? Any information respecting such a child of genius and of song must be interesting to those who have ever read a line of his wondrous poems. To what other periodicals did he contribute? Green Stockings.—Is the custom of sending a pair of green stockings to the eldest unmarried daughter of a family, upon the occasion of the marriage of a younger sister, of English, Irish, or Scottish origin? Nicholas Kieten.—In the thirteenth century, "there was a giant in Holland named Nicholas Kieten, whose size was so prodigious, that he carried men under his arms like little children. His shoe was so large, that four men together could put their feet in it. Children were too terrified to look him in the face, and fled from his presence." So says our author; but he does not give the dimensions of Kieten. May not such a real giant, in the thirteenth century, have laid the foundation of the fabulous stories of giants that have for so many years been the favourite romances of the nursery? Kieten appears to be the type of the giants of our modern pantomimes. Will he serve as a key, to disclose the origin of these marvellous stories and captivating absurdities? Warwickshire Badge.—Will you permit me to ask, through your journal, if any of your readers can inform me whether the proper Warwickshire badge is "the antelope" or "the bear and ragged staff?" The former is borne by the 6th regiment of the line, they being the Royal First Warwickshire. The latter is borne by the 36th regiment of militia, they being the First Warwickshire. This latter badge is also borne by the retainers of the Earls of Warwick and Leicester; which latter county would seem to lay as much claim to the bear and ragged staff as Warwick does. The county cannot well have both, or either; this makes me think that the bear and ragged staff is not a county badge, but pertains more properly to the Earl of Warwick. Armorial.—Will any correspondent oblige me with the names to the following coats: 1. Arg., three hares (or conies) gu. 2. Arg., on a bend engrailed vert, between two bucks' heads cabossed sable, attired or, three besants; a canton erminois. 3. Quarterly, per fesse indented sable and or. 4. Per pale sable and or, a cheveron between three escallop shells, all counterchanged. 5. Gu., a lion rampant arg. Glover's Ordinary of Arms would, I think, answer the above Query; and if any of your numerous readers, who possess that valuable work, would refer to it in this case, they would be conferring a favour on your constant subscriber, Would any correspondent help me to the solution of the following case?—A. was the last and only representative of an ancient family; he left at his decease, some years ago, a daughter and heiress who married B. Can the issue of B. (having no arms of their own) legally use the arms, quarterings, crest, and motto of A., without a license from the Heralds' College? Lord Brougham and Horne Tooke.—In Lord Brougham's Statesmen of the Time of George III., he says of Mr. Horne Tooke:
Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." say on what occasion Tooke maintained this strange doctrine, or where his Lordship obtained his information that Tooke did maintain it? Bloomsbury. Rileys of Forest Hill.—Can any of your correspondents inform me relative to the arms and motto of the Rileys of (Forest Hill) Windsor, Berks, their descent, &c.? Fish "Lavidian."—In some ancient acts of parliament mention is made of a fish called "lavidian," and from the regulations made concerning it, it appears to have been of such small size as to be capable of being caught in the meshes of an ordinary net. But I cannot find that this name is contained in any of the books of natural history, written by such authors as Gesner or Rondeletius. Is it at this time a common name anywhere? Or can any of your readers assist in determining the species? "Poeta nascitur, non fit."—Can any of your correspondents inform me who is the author of the well-known saying—
I have more than once seen it quoted as from Horace, but I have never been able to find it in any classical author whose works I have examined. Cicero expresses a similar sentiment in his oration for the poet Archias, cap. viii.:
Boston, U.S.A. John Wesley and the Duke of Wellington.—It has always been understood that the property bequeathed to the Colleys, who in consequence took the surname of Wesley, afterwards altered to Wellesley, was offered to and declined by the father of John Wesley, who would not allow his son to accept the condition, a residence in Ireland, and the being adopted by the legatee. Has there been a relationship ever proved between the founder of the Methodists and the victor of Waterloo? Haviland—Can any of your Plymouth correspondents give any information, as tombs, in memory of persons of the name of Haviland, Havilland, or De Havilland, existing in the churches of that place, of a date prior to A.D. 1688? Mention is made of such tombs as existing in a letter of that date in my possession. Also, in what chronicle or history of the Conquest of England, mention is made of a Sieur de Havilland, as having accompanied Duke William from Normandy on that occasion? Byron.—Will you kindly inform me, through the medium of your "N. & Q.," whence the line "All went merry as a marriage bell" (in Byron's Childe Harold) is derived? "Rutabaga."—What is the etymology of the word rutabaga? I have heard one solution of it, but wish to ascertain whether there is any other. The word is extensively used in the United States for Swedish turnips or "Swedes." A Medal.—A family in this city possesses a silver medal granted to Joseph Swift, a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, by the University of Oxford or of Cambridge, of which the following is a description. It is about two inches in diameter; on the face are the head and bust of Queen Anne in profile, with an inscription setting forth her royal title, and on the reverse a full-length figure of Britannia, with ships sailing and men ploughing in the background, and this motto, "Compositis venerantur Annis." The date is MDCCXIII. An explanation of the object of the medal is desired. Philadelphia. The Black Cap.—Can any of your antiquarian legal readers inform me of the origin of the custom of the judges putting on a black cap when pronouncing sentence of death upon a criminal? I can find no illustration of this peculiar custom in Blackstone, Stephens, or other constitutional writers. The Aboriginal Britons.—A friend of mine wants some information as to the history, condition, manners, &c. of the Britons, prior to the arrival of the Romans. What work, accessible to ordinary readers, supplies the best compendium of what is known on this subject? The fullest account of which I have, just now, any recollection, is contained in Milton's History of England, included in an edition of Milton's Prose Works, three vols. folio, Amsterdam, 1694. Is Milton's History a work of any merit or authority? Halifax. |
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