28 in July, 1842, while excavating for making a sewer in 66 March last, No. XV. p. 19, and the Rev. Dr. Hume, of Liverpool, February, No. XIV. p. 10, are both in an unnecessary "fume" about what easily admits of explaSuppose," says T. M. "that I was in nation; if, indeed, the history of an old tobacco pipe required one. a hoaxing humour, and that no such Inn ever existed at "Now," continues our This really fine work of art was put up at 30 guineas, Fulham as the Golden Lion?" and, after a slight struggle, knocked down to Purnell Correspondent, "I may as well suppose that no such B. Purnell, Esq., of Stancombe Park, Dursley, Glouces-person ever existed as T. M., but to prove that such an tershire for 125. The Etruscan fictile vases sold for about Inn existed at Fulham as the Golden Lion, I send you as many shillings as forty years ago they would have a series of twelve sketches which were presented to me brought pounds, but the miscellaneous articles brought by Mr. Henry Warren, the President of the New Society extraordinarily high prices. Two Necklaces of common of Watercolour Painters, and which were made of and in Venetian beads (Lots 351 and 357) worth about half-a- it in April, 1836, previous to the old hostelrie being pulled You have my permission to engrave any crown each, were eagerly contended for, and the hammer down and replaced by a modern public house bearing the fell at £2. 6s. The second day's sale closed with a struggle for various gold Etruscan fibulæ and ornaments, which went at high prices, and it was understood in the room that an Etruscan gold necklace, with a head of Medusa attached, was bought in at no less a sum than £50. The third day's sale was less attractive. An exceedingly curious Lamp in bronze (Lot 470), of oval form, with four burners issuing from the sides, the handle formed of figures of grotesque animals, and stated to have been found near London Bridge, produced four guineas. There were a few (eight) illuminated Manuscripts, but none sold for extravagant prices. An Etruscan gold wreath, composed of masks and foliage worn round the helmet, from the Canino Collection (Lot 529) was secured by T. Crofton Croker, Esq., for £19. 10s. With the disposal of some Shaksperian relics this very miscellaneous sale closed, but they did not appear to be much coveted. There were some fine and many desirable specimens, with a few of very doubtful character, and some unquestionable forgeries. The Earl Cadogan, Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, Dr. Henderson, and other amateurs of Art and Archæology, seemed to watch the progress of the sale with considerable interest. N. THE GOLDEN LION, FULHAM, "should not," writes be confounded with G. W.'s Correspondent, T. C. C. the Golden Lion, the Brompton, exterior decoration of which was figured in Current Notes,' No. III. for March, 1851, p. 22, with a facetious reference to same name. one or two of these studies, and I have been assured Availing himself of this permission, G. W. has caused first to be engraved the Chimney Piece of the back room, ground floor, South side, and opposite the Chimney Piece, back room, first floor, as characteristic specimens of this curious old house. FORMATION OF THE UNION JACK. Esplanade, Sidmouth, March 27th, 1852. SIR,-The annexed may possibly be of use to H. M. in your "Current Notes" for March, but I am not able to refer to the work from which it is taken. Yours obediently, Mr. WILLIS. W. G. CLARKE. St. George's red cross on a white ground, and St. Andrew's white cross (diagonally) on a blue ground. In 1800, St. Patrick's red cross, on a white ground, was added. The flag should be constructed to shew the three crosses distinctly. Sir Charles Eastlake's speech at the Macready dinner." And it appears to G. W.'s SIR,-" H. M." of the March "Current Notes," Correspondent that T.M. in "Cur- P. 20, enquires "the formation of our British Union rent Notes" for Jack." To describe it in heraldic terms is as follows: Az. a cross saltire argent encalved gules; over all a common cross, the same as first. I believe there are no given rules as to its proportion. This appears to be the best, viz. the breadth three-fourths of the length. But the inclosed, forwarded to H. M., will suffice for all.* W. have disappeared this way. Let me, however, record one instance of honourable restitution. The effigy of an armed knight, of the Bacon family, (temp. Edw. I.) in Gorleston Church, Suffolk, engraved by Cotman, “in 1810 was gone, and supposed to be irretrievably lost; but at the sale of Mr. Craven Ord's curiosities, it was *H. M. will find the drawing so kindly forwarded purchased by John Gage, Esq., who, with correct feeling addressed to him at the Publisher's. G. W. THE UNION JACK AND MONUMENTAL BRASSES. 11, Montpelier Square, Brompton, March 28th, 1852. SIR,-Your Correspondent, H. M. will find a very curious history of the origin and formation of the Union Jack in Brayley's "Graphic Illustrator:" it is written by the late Sir Harris Nicolas, and the "absurd arrangement" of the National Flag elucidated by nine heraldic woodcuts. 66 and good taste, gave it back to the church, and Dawson MR. G. WILLIS. F. W. FAIRHOLT. Brasses from the following churches (among others) will be included in this series:- Barton, Boston, Buslingthorpe, Great Coates, Croft, Covenham, Grainthorpe, Gunby, Hainton, Irnham, South Kelsey, Linwood, South Ormsby, Spilsby, Tattershall, Wrangle, &c. The Rev. F. P. Lowe, Saltfleetby, Louth, is the Hon. Sec. of the Lincolnshire Architectural Society. But the work will not be issued till a sufficient number of subscribers, at £1 4s, or at about 6d per plate, has been obtained to ensure the Society against any loss. MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF LINCOLNSHIRE. The Lincolnshire Architectural Society propose to superintend the publication of the most interesting Perhaps you will permit me to embrace this oppor- Monumental Brasses of that County. The work to tunity of saying a few words on the abstraction of be comprised in 12 parts, containing about five plates Monumental Brasses from churches, which has attracted each; and published at intervals of two months: with the attention of some of your Correspondents lately; a small volume of descriptive letter-press at the close of one of whom throws the blame almost wholly on the the series. sectarian soldiers of Cromwell's time."* I am not desirous of defending these men, but I am desirous that modern Churchwardens should not screen their neglect by such an excuse. A slight research among our topographical works will prove, that a very large abstraction and destruction of such memorials has taken place in comparatively recent times. In the introduction to Cotman's "Brasses of Norfolk and Suffolk," he notes that "in 1800 the chancel of Ingham was completely swept of all its beautiful memorials of the Stapleton family. They were sold as old metal, and it was commonly reported by whom they were bought and sold; ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, AND THEIR WORKS. but nobody sought to recover them; neither minister Northampton, March 14th, 1852. nor churchwarden cared for any of these things." The SIR,-I am rather amused (see p. 12" Current beautiful brass (engraved in this same work) of Robert Notes" for February last) at the apparent strength of Attelath, Mayor of Lynn in 1374, was about forty years Architectural Science in the Midland Counties. There ago "given out of the church by the Churchwardens to are, it seems, four Societies, and in one year they a person who sold it for five shillings to a brass founder." publish almost one volume! If four Societies can only The collection of rubbings from Brasses made about the produce one "handsome octavo volume" in so long a same time and bequeathed to the British Museum by the period, I should suggest their dissolving themselves, and late Francis Douce, present several since destroyed. let some one active and competent member do the work. The Journal of the Archæological Association narrates The truth is, half of these Societies are merely archithe fact of several removed from a country church be-tectural Mrs. Harrises-talked about, but seldom or cause their rivets became loose, and "tripped up the old women who came to the fore seats in the aisle." I remember several instances of Brasses thus loosened, taken up and thrown in vestries or belfries, until they were sufficiently forgotten to be carried out and sold to the metal-founder. Some few Antiquaries have argued that they are better taken care of in their museums than thus exposed to destruction; and churchwardens being willing to get rid of the ugly old things," many 66 * See communication from "One of the Executors" of the late Sir Samuel R. Meyrick, printed in "Current Notes" for January last, p. 2. never seen. One liberal man, who would give a couple MR. WILLIS. ANTI-SOCIALIST. WIERX, THE ENGRAVER. April 2nd, 1852. SIR,-I shall be obliged by any reference you can give me, through your interesting columns, to the works and date of an old engraver, " H. Wierx," and oblige Yours, W. W. C. Mr. WILLIS. 66 an THE PILLAR PRINT OF OLIVER CROMWELL. DEAR SIR,-As this famous Portrait seems to be an TOKENS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. The notice of Tradesmen's tokens, inserted in the "Current Notes" of Feb. 25th, has attracted more the excellent work by Charles Pye, on the "Provincial The following passage from Thoresby, the Leeds histo- Seal." The passage is obscure, and does not sufficiently give unmerited contempt from some of our ablest antiquaries, The study of Tradesmen's tokens has met with such that it seems rash to attempt an apology for them; but any one who is well acquainted with them knows the from them, and if they continue to be slighted as they fund of amusement and instruction that may be derived have been, many specimens will be irretrievably lost to future antiquaries. A few further remarks on them may be interesting to your general readers. number of these tokens at less than 40,000, and I think After a careful calculation, I cannot estimate the that number less than the real quantity; from various correspondence with collectors, I always find that they have a large number different to mine. Mr. Akerman has described 2461 in his list of London Tokens only. The great loss to the public compelled the Government to put them down under the severest penalties: very large numbers may be picked out of a collection, which attention than I expected, as besides the letters pub-would require a dozen to weigh a modern halfpenny; lished in the Notes of March 25th, I have had direct communications from Andover and Downpatrick. In reply to the obliging letter of "K. L." Dublin, I beg to say, that I had seen the engraving of the Cork farthing in Mr. Lindsay's work, but as I did not sufficiently express my meaning, I will now explain what I meant by "the Commonwealth Arms," viz. that the two shields of Arms of England and Ireland were side by side, as shewn on the Token engraved in the "Notes," and cisely in the form they appear on the Coins of the Commonwealth, not separate as on the Cork farthing, one shield on the obverse, the other on the reverse side. They are all scarce: I do not know a single example of these Arms on an English token. Dr. Smith's Catalogue of Irish Tokens was unknown to me; I shall take the first opportunity to procure a copy. pre My chief object in writing the notice was to get any information concerning the Tokens of Scotland, whether there are any besides the Royal tokens. The Scotch tokens of the 18th Century, mentioned by your corre their paltry intrinsic value, no doubt, prompted many Amongst the different trades and professions which L A UNCHA The word "here" is ambiguous; I suppose "in Scot spondent "M. A. M." are well known, and engraved in land" is intended. Henry Laude, Newark, says, "Noe want where these are." The cruel sport of cock fighting is on the token of William Docker, of Leeds, drawer. Gateshead has a punning coat of arms-a goat's head: to the lovers of Heraldry there is a fund of amusement; besides the Arms of the Trading Companies of London, we have the Arms of Corporations, and families. Many of the Corporations issued their tokens: Wotton-under-Edge has, This farthing token will be owned by the Mayor and Aldermen." The Bristol Corporation farthing is of good size and execution: many different dies were used. It is an exceedingly common token, and remarkable, as being the only one issued in that important commercial town. Many names of towns appear on these tokens, which would puzzle a gazetteer to find out: two names occur to me at this moment, OZED and FAIREFAX. 66 SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERS. Gainsborough, March 15, 1852. SIR,-There has gone the round of the papers a paragraph, stating that though individuals of almost every nation appear as characters in one or other of Shakespeare's Plays, yet there never occurs an Irishman. I do not know whether this has been contradicted or not; but it is capable of contradiction, as a distinguished Prelate proved to me by taking down his volume of Shakespeare, containing the Play of Henry V. There in the 3rd Act, Scene 2nd, Fluellen, the Welchman, holds an animated and very characteristic conversation' with Capt. Macmorris, an Irishman. The original can be consulted. The Irish peculiarities are well hit off. So much for the charge of omission which has been brought against our great Bard, SIR, I have taken some little pains to find out S. S.'s quere ("Current Notes," Feb. p. 15), without further success than to presume (in the absence of a facsimile) that the "Orford" must be the Earl created 1742, there being a "Kendal" title then in existence : extinct 1743. Your correspondent can, without great difficulty, compare it with those mutilated documents, I should say, that have been so frequently dispersed at the various sales from the stock of Messrs. Upcott, Cole & Co., originally in the Exchequer State Paper Office, from whence no doubt it came. Yours, Mr. WILLIS. "MAGOG." MRS. BODDINGTON. 29th March, 1852. SIR,-Perhaps some of your readers will kindly afford me some information relative to Mrs. BoDDINGTON, authoress of The Gossip's Week, Reminiscences of the Rhine, Sketches of the Pyrenees, and a volume of Poems, published by Longman & Co. in 1839? Yours obediently, W. 66 THE ARCTIC SEARCHING EXPEDITION.-No less than twenty Flags have been presented to Captain Sir Edward Belcher, designed and embroidered by the fair fingers of his relatives and friends. Previous to the sailing of the Assistance," they were displayed on the quarter-deck of that ship, for the inspection of the distinguished visitors who repaired on board to take leave of this distinguished, gallant, and enterprising officer. The following list of their devices and mottoes may not be an uninteresting record : ORIENTALIS.-In type; must stand over. PILGRIM'S BADGE, Venice, 26th February, 1852.-Ditto. 1. Black pouncing eagle, white ground, scarlet border. AN ARTIST.-Doorway in Woking Church, Surrey, must, Motto, on scarlet ground, "SPEED TO THE RESCUE." 2. Golden lion, blue ground, scarlet border. enclosing, with motto in black, C. B. "WHILST I BREATHE, I HOPE." M. R. 3. Gold anchor, blue ground. Motto, E. M. 4. White bear, blue ground. Motto, "BEAR AND FORBEAR.' C. M. 64 HOPE ON-HOPE EVER." and will, be considered. R. B., New York, 19th March.-Received, and will be attended to. Literary and Scientific Obituary. ANDERSON, Rev. Christopher. Gaelic Scholar, "Annals of the English Bible," &c. Edinburgh. 18th Feb. Aged 70. 5. Spade, ice-saw, pickaxe, bright green ground. Motto, BROWN, Samuel, Captain Sir. Inventor of Chain Cables, on black scroll, 9. Green wreath, crimson ground. Motto, Bridges and Piers of Suspension. Vanbrugh Lodge, BUCHANAN, Alexander of Govan. Lyric Writer in Glas- "NONE BUT THE BRAVE DESERVE THE CROWN." I. W. GAY, Madame Sophie. Journalist. Paris. 4th March. 10. Gold lion, scarlet. Motto, on blue garter, DANGERS DO NOT DAUNT ME." 11. Fleet greyhound, blue ground. Motto, 66 SWIFT ON MY COURSE." Dramatic Critic. Paris. 27th February. RAUPACH, Ernest. Dramatic Writer. Berlin. 18th March. SEDDELER, M. Military Encyclopedia. St. Petersburgh. SHOBERL, Frederick, jun. Printer. 51, Rupert Street, 66 WEST, Jane, Mrs. Poetry and Novels. Little Bowden, WRIGHT, Andrew Biggs. History of Hexham, &c. |