1824, and the first iron vessel constructed on the Mersey was launched from this yard in 1829. She was a lighter." EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.

71, Brecknock Road, N.

ITALIAN WEDDING BOOKS, OR 66 PUBBLICAZIONI PER NOZZE."—It has long been a custom in Italy to celebrate a wedding by the publication of some rare or choice book for a limited circulation among the friends of the bride and bridegroom. I have bought some very interesting volumes, prettily printed and neatly bound, which are well worth keeping as books of permanent value. The custom seems to be still continued, for Il Bibliofilo for January, published at Bologna and ably edited by Comm. Carlo Lozzi, gives a review of no less than seven issued in 1881 and 1882. Birmingham.

ESTE.

Smith in 1692, according to Bromley's Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits, p. 231. Sir Cloudesley is here looking to the left (of the spectator), with a long flowing wig, lace cravat, cuirass, richly embroidered coat-sleeves and skirt, scarf tied round his waist, right hand resting on a terrestrial globe, bâton in left hand: three-quarterlength.

2. Painted by Dahl, engraved by J. T. Wedgwood early in the present century. Nearly full face, but looking slightly to left; wig flowing, but not so large as in No. 1, plain cravat, cloth coat and waistcoat with embroidered button-holes, baton in right hand, left hand touching sword: three-quarter-length. This picture is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital, having been transferred thither from Hampton Court by George IV. in 1824.

3. Painted by Dahl, engraved by B. Lens, and

"BOYCOTTING" ETYMOLOGICALLY CONSIDERED. Suppose that in the year 2082 the history of the origin of this word had been lost, and yet the word remained, and was used in its present meaning; I suppose that philologers would set themselves to discover the derivation of the word; they would naturally say the word presents no difficulty: it it evidently compounded of two common words, boy and cot. Some boy was shut up in a cottage, and no one allowed to visit or supply him with food, &c. Is it not quite possible that some words which now puzzle the learned may have a derivation of a similar character? Many now use the word burking who know nothing of the crimes of

Burke and Hare in 1829.

ing to right, flowing wig, plain small cravat, armour bust only.

Faber in 1723. Nearly full face, but looking 4. Painted by Dahl in 1702, engraved by John slightly to left; flowing wig, long plain cravat right hand resting on hip and holding the end of a with fringed ends, armour, right arm bent and cloak, left arm resting on a cannon, and left hand full-length in the original, is in the possession of holding a baton: three-quarter-length. This picture, Sir Cloudesley Shovell's descendant, the Earl of Romney, at the Mote, Maidstone, and there is a replica of it in the Guild Hall, Rochester, for which city Sir Cloudesley was member in four

Parliaments.

The query I would put is, Where are the original paintings of No. 1 and No. 3 now to be 5, Chesterfield Street, Mayfair, W.

found?

R. MARSHAM.

one

THE SIGN OF "THE INDIAN QUEEN."-This sign appears to be uncommon, the only instance mentioned in Hotten's History of Signboards (p. 432) being one at Boston. Lincolnshire, which was originally "The Three Kings" (of Cologne), and was then changed to "The Three Merry Devils," who were then amalgamated into very strangely dressed female called the Indian Queen." In the Stamford Mercury, February 24, I note that "The Indian Queen Beerhouse," at Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire, is to be let. Perhaps we may yet see "The Empress of India" as an inn sign, and a companion to the familiar "Queen's Head." Was "The Indian Queen" the sign of an inn before the time when the Princess Pocahontas achieved a fleeting popularity? She had nothing to do-as some have supposed-with "La Belle Sauvage" of Ludgate Hill; but it is possible that she may have been the original for "The Indian Queen." CUTHBERT BEDE.

THE BRITISH OAK.-When did the oak become a symbol of Britain? Most persons would reply at once It became so from the day on which Charles II. hid himself in the branches of one. This reply, which was given to me when a child, looks like truth, but is not so, for in Clement Walker's History of Independency, published in 1649, there is a highly curious engraving called "The Royall Oake of Brittayne." It represents Oliver Cromwell superintending the felling of an oak tree, from whose branches are suspended the royal arms, crown and sceptre, the Bible, Magna Charta, &c. Pigs are shown at the bottom feeding on the acorns. ANON.

TOMLINS'S NEW TOWN, PADDINGTON.-In the third edition of Horwood's Plan of London, published in 1813, a number of houses on the west side of the Edgeware Road, nearly opposite to George Street and Upper Berkeley Street, are described by the name of Tomlins's New Town. Can any one give me information about Tomlins? Was he a builder, and were these buildings merely temporary dwellings for his workmen? Timbs, in his Curiosities of London, does not mention Tomlins's New Town by name, though he does refer to the erection of a large number of temporary cottages in this district. G. F. R. B.

RAVENSCOURT PARK, HAMMERSMITH.-Will any of your readers give me any information as to the former holders and history of the property called Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith? It has an interesting history. I was lately told by an old inhabitant that he recollected in his younger days a deep moat surrounding the property.

ROBERT BUSHNELL.

PORTRAIT OF BISHOP SAMUEL SEABURY.-Is the name of the artist known, and is the portrait still in existence of this remarkable man-the first bishop of the American Church? He was consecrated at Aberdeen, in Scotland, Nov. 14, 1784, and died at New London, in America, in 1796. There is a fine engraving of him in the vestry of St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen, taken presumably from a painting, in which he is represented vested in the episcopal habit of rochet and chimere, and, contrary to the practice of bishops of that period, wearing his own hair. Cleveland Coxe, in his Christian Ballads, mentions that the mitre worn by him on state occasions is still preserved at Trinity

College, Hartford, U.S.A. The engraving gives a three-quarters-length figure, that of a fine-looking man, on whose manly, open countenance much firmness and energy are depicted, quite in accordance with the character recorded of Seabury. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

Mr. Parker's Account of Domestic Architecture in
FAWSLEY AND THE KNIGHTLY FAMILY. — In
England in the Fifteenth Century, under the head
I find the following reference to Fawsley:-
of the "Existing Remains in Northamptonshire,"

"A fine house of the time of Henry VII., with many alterations and additions, but in which the original plan has a good open timber-roof, with windows in the gables can be made out more perfectly than usual. The hall at both ends, which light it up well; also a large bay window, nearly an octagon, with a vault enriched with tracery, and a small room over it, so that on the exterior the bay window forms a sort of tower covered with panelling. The small upper room is said to have been used as a secret chamber, and had a printing press in it for printing political tracts in the time of the Civil Wars."

I shall be glad to know of any tracts issued from a private press at Fawsley during the time of the Civil Wars, or at any period other than that mentioned in Hargrave or Howell's State Trials, viz.:

"The Arraignment of Sir Richard Knightly and others in the Star Chamber, for maintaining seditious Persons, Books, and Libels: 31 Eliz., Feb. 31, A.D. 1588." (MS. in Caius Coll., Cambridge, Class A. 1090, 8, p. 206.) JOHN TAYLOR.

Northampton.

obliged to MR. GREENSTREET, or to any one else conversant with old charters, if he would give the correct meaning of ss. affixed to the Rotulus" mentioned ante, p. 143, and to similar documents. C. J. E.

"SS." AFFIXED TO A ROTULUS.-I should be

readers tell me whether there are any printed THE SOMERVILLE FAMILY.-Can any of your records of the Somerville family besides the Memorie of the Somervilles, of which I have by

me the edition of 1815? There was a discussion in "N. & Q." some years ago on the family history. In whose hands are the MSS. bearing on the W. S. L. S. family?

"BEDWARDINE."-There are two parishes in Worcester (St. John and St. Michael) "in Bedwardine." I should like to know the meaning of this term. VIGORN.

J. WALTERS, PAINTER.-I have in my possession two seascapes with men-of-war at anchor. They are both signed "J. Walters," and are without date. The painting is very fine, and apparently by an artist of no mean talent. I have been told that the artist was a native of Bristol, who flourished at the commencement of this cen

was an object of interest, certainly, and I will describe the nature of it. Having met with one of his works about forty-five years ago, when I was a boy of ten or eleven, I was very curious to see a man who had really written a book and had it printed; and as my father was in the habit of going to Alford on business, I persuaded him to take me with him more than once, that I might see a real live author. And this is what I saw a middle-sized, thin man, with a keen, intelligent face-a lame man who swung himself along very rapidly on his single crutch, and who lifted up his face and examined you as he passed with a piercing and scrutinizing glance; and poorly clad in fustian or some such stuff. He was a pauper, and lived on charity, as long as he could keep body and soul together in that way; but when he could not, then he went into the workhouse, and he died there. Many of his pieces are dated "Alford Workhouse." In the preface to a second book which he published, Poetics and Prosaics, 1835, he pathetically alludes to the "affiction, with the sick and the dying around him," amid which it had been written. He was poor and miserable, and lived in a vulgar, ignorant little town, full of poachers and smugglers, who brutally jeered and baited him because he was weak and helpless. And yet these barbarians had sense to see that, in some way or other, he was superior to them, so they sapiently concluded it was through satanic agency. It was currently reported that "Owd Bill Baitman 'ed seld 'is soul to tha Devil!" Poor fellow! It was easy to be seen he had made a very bad bargain of it. the summer months he used to lie about the fields, and under the hedges by the roadsides, for whole days together, frequently attempting to sell one of his books to passers-by or to beg a few coppers. The Alford boys were very much afraid of "the man who had sold himself to the Devil," and the sight of him was quite sufficient to make one or two run away in terror; but when there were more, like wolves in a pack, they grew bolder, and stoned him, and otherwise ill-treated him. They used to knock at the door of his queer little house or hut after dark. Of course, they always ran away as quickly as possible after such exploits. He wanted bread, and they heaved half-bricks at him. These amiable little pastimes afforded much amusement to the elders, who recall them with great delight. You cannot speak about him to-day to an average middle-class Alfordian without his face breaking into smiles at the pleasant recollection. "Owd Bill Baitman, tha chap what seld 'is sen to the Devil? Do I remember him? Why, in coorse I do! What fun tha boys hewst ta' ev we 'im!" Notwithstanding his satanic reputation and poverty, he found a woman, a few years before his death, daring and desperate enough to marry him-not the first woman who was not afraid of

In

the devil. is yet living.

She was many years the younger, and
Could not the

"squire, or the parson of the parish,
or the attorney,"

or a few benevolent people, have subscribed a few shillings a week to have kept the poor fellow out of the workhouse?-so fond as he was of the fresh air and of the sights and sounds of nature. There are many rich and well-to-do people round Alford. The first of Baitman's works is dedicated to the Honourable C. A. Pelham, and Poetics and Prosaics to the Right Honourable Earl Fitzwilliam.

The Poet Laureate appears to have been kind to him; for in a note he gratefully observes, “I have been favoured by Mr. A. Tennyson, of whom Lincolnshire may be justly proud, with Warton's History of English Poetry." And in the list of subscribers to his second book we find, "Alfred Tennyson, author of Poems chiefly Lyrical, Somersby Rectory"; "H. Selwood, Esq., Horncastle" (father of Alfred Tennyson's wife); "The Rev. T. H. Rawnsley, Halton Rectory" (a relative of the Poet Laureate's, and father of a well-known contributor to Macmillan's); "Miss Tonge," the lady who taught music at Somersby Rectory; and other friends of the family. I hope lovers of Tennyson will take note of this kindly interest in the poor boy's humble book. Other subscribers were J. Wilks, Esq., M.P.; J. Bowring, Esq., M.P.; J. S. Buckingham, Esq.; J. Montgomery, the poet; "Miss Priscilla Taylor," &c.

At the commencement of the book Baitman

"

proudly prints a short letter from Montgomery, in indeed, cleverly imagined and executed"; and so which he says, "The Apologue is pleasingly and, it is. The prose pieces are fair magazine articles, and show considerable ability. It is surprising such a man was not protected and provided for. He does not appear to have written a single set of "lines" to glorify any of the " Marsh squires or bucolic magnates of the neighbourhood-evidently if he could have seen how good and wise were the a very unwise man in his generation. Probably, people around him, they would then have discovered that he was a very clever fellow, and that they ought to be proud of him. The principal kindness he received was, when a child, his lameness and intelligence attracted the attention of a who kindly gave him a plain education. R. R. prosperous person, of the name of Mason, I think,

Boston, Lincolnshire.

I cannot find the Harpings of Lena in the London Catalogue of Books from 1814 to 1855, although another volume by the same authors, entitled Poetics and Prosaics, is in the catalogue of 1814 to 1846. In a conversation I had with Baitman some years ago, I understood him to say that he knew Lord Byron when in Italy, and also that he had translated for some publication of

Messrs. W. & R. Chambers William Tell, Silvio Pellico, &c. BRITO.

PAROCHIAL REGISTERS (6th S. v. 141).-Being at this moment one of those who suffer from the inaccessibility of these documents, I should like to add a few words to your correspondent's very important communication. What we want and must have is this-that these registers should not only be well kept, but be placed, as the State papers at the Public Record Office and the older wills in the Probate Registry now are, freely at the service of the literary public. Neither of these conditions can be said to exist at present. My experience quite confirms your correspondent's statement as to the courtesy of the clergy, if he restricts it to the country clergy; it is in London only that we have any difficulty in consulting parish registers for literary purposes without the payment of the full statutory fees, which in such searches are practically prohibitive. A few months ago I wrote to the incumbent (to whom I was not personally known) of one of the most important (from a genealogical point of view) of the London parishes, asking permission to search his registers for a purely literary purpose, and stating what that was. I was informed in reply that I must pay the usual search fees, which in this case would have amounted to between one and two pounds. I naturally declined to do so, and, after being told that "literary men, like others, should pay for their amusement," I received a qualified permission, grudgingly given, to search on payment of a reduced fee. The rights of the public as to making notes from parish registers for publication, or for any other purpose, are not sufficiently well known. There is a judicial decision on this point in the case of Steele v. Williams, reported in the Jurist, vol. xvii. p. 464, and referred to in "N. & Q.," 1st S. vii. 598. In the event of any obstruction on the part of persons having so-called vested interests this case may become very important. To print the parish registers of the whole country as they stand is a work too great for any society or number of societies, and is one that could only be taken up successfully by the Government. Extracts, again, are of very little use for genealogical purposes, for the very entry that is required may perhaps have been omitted. I believe, however, that a way out of this dilemma has been discovered by the Rev. W. D. Macray, M.A., F.S.A. In the Transactions of the North Oxfordshire Archæological Society* he has printed an index to the parish registers of Ducklington from 1550 to 1880.* The population of this parish is between six and seven hundred, and has probably neither increased nor decreased much during the last two centuries, yet this index contains only seventy pages octavo; and

[* Noticed in "N. & Q.," 6th S. iv. 459.]

Adams, Chas & Anne, Wm son of, 30 May, 1843.

Chas & Sarah, Eliz. dau. of, 13 July, 1856. Thomas & Mary, Eliz. dau. of, 30 Aug. 1829.” The burials are arranged in the same way, but as to the marriages the improvement I have indicated might be made. I had the pleasure of submitting this useful little work to the inspection of the fellows at a meeting of one of our London learned societies, and its utility was at once generally recognized.

It is on these lines that, in my opinion, a society may usefully be established, and I would suggest that a beginning should be made in London with a London and Suburban Index Society of Parish Registers, which may be carried on concurrently with the work of any number of local societies, uniformity of plan and of printing being provided for. If any of your readers who are interested in the subject will communicate with me, I shall be very glad to have any suggestions and to give further details. JOHN H. CHAPMAN, M.A., F.S.A. 19, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, W.C.

MR. CUTTS'S communication will, I hope, lead to some practical results, but I must confess that I see so many difficulties in the way that I am hardly sanguine of any great success. First there is the vast amount of matter to be dealt with, entailing a correspondingly large expenditure. Unless this is met by a Government grant I do not see how it is to be got over; and it must be borne in mind that the cost will be considerably enhanced from the fact that this class of literature has such a limited circulation. The second difficulty will be to secure the services of a sufficient number of gentlemen capable and willing to give their services gratuitously, so that, were the work to be proceeded with on a large scale, recourse must be had to paid skilled labour. There are, doubtless, in every county to be found a limited number who would gladly aid the movement by giving their services gratuitously; but, in the face of such a gigantic undertaking, it could not be expected that much progress would be made.

The suggestion to utilize the local press is worth considering, but here again the type and paper usually employed is hardly good enough for the work. I am aware that several country papers are now devoting a column to "Local Notes and Queries," in which extracts from parish registers not infrequently appear, but this is hardly to the point.

I do not apprehend that much difficulty would