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JAMES PERRY.

(clvi. 426).

JAMES PERRY

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was born in Aberdeen

on Oct. 30, 1756, and died in Brighton, Dec. 5, 1821, being buried at Wimbledon. OLD JOURNALIST will find a good account of him by W. P. Courtney in the 'D.N.B.' and also in Fox Bourne, but in neither case good enough, for Perry played such an important part in the development of journalism, making the Morning Chronicle a far fuller summary of news that The Times, that he deserves a monograph. But for lack of time, I have often thought of undertaking the task myself. In lieu of that, I have from time to time noted many items about his very active career in Scottish N. and Q. and Aberdeen Journal N. and Q., the indexes to which may be consulted. I also wrote an article on James Perry, our greatest [Aberdeen] bibliophile" to the Aberdeen University Review (July, 1923), apropos of the sale of his library (5,907 lots), during fourteen days beginning March 4, 1822, the whole fetching £7,401, as we learn from the interleaved copies of the catalogue in the British Museum. Professor Grierson made an attempt to place Perry in a speech (fully reprinted in the Aberdeen Free Press, Jan. 18, 1897), which he made to the Aberdeen branchs of the Institute of Journalists. I dealt with Perry's family origins and his descendants in 'The Gordons of Nethermuir' (privately printed Peterhead, 1915: pp. 32-35). I suggested there that his mother was a daughter of John Gordon, V. of Nethermuir, Aberdeenshire (died 1725). I think she was the sister of George Gordon, of "the Middle Temple (1680-1768). I dealt with "The Mystery of George Gordon, author" in 'N. and Q.' (11 Š. vii. 181). Further references to James Perry will also be found in the "Farington Diary" and in Henry Angelo's 'Reminiscences.'

JOHN MALCOLM BULLOCH.

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DICKY DICKINSON (clvi. 426). There is

an account of "Richard Dickinson, better known by the name of Dicky Dickinson," in 'Portraits, Memoirs, and Characters, of Remarkable Persons from the Revolution in 1688 to the End of the Reign of George II,' by James Caulfield, 1819, vol. ii., p. 59. This is accompanied by a full-length portrait, similar in some respects to that described in the query. Caulfield does not give the name of either the painter or engraver (this he rarely does). The plate paper is so tall that it has to be folded. In both the plate and the letterpress Dickinson is described "Governor of Scarborough Spa (or Spaw)," but later in the letterpress is a quotation from one of the portraits, in which he is said to be "commonly called King Dicky, Governour of the Privy Houses of Scarberow Spaw."

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I am inclined to think that the portrait given by Caulfield is that described by him (p. 61) as the best portrait engraved by G. Vertue, after a painting by H. Hysing, dated 1725.

Joseph Ames, in his 'Catalogue of English Heads, 1748, p. 56, describes two effigies in which his occupation appears as in Caulfield.

In Mark Noble's 'Biographical History of England,' 1806, vol. iii., p. 482, Dickinson is described as "master of amusement at Scarborough Spa." This I take to be a euphemism.

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According to Caulfield, Dickinson originally followed the double occupation of shoecleaner, and vender of gingerbread." saved money, built himself a house, and the houses of office. There were many portraits of him. Under the prints were frequently verses, not always very presentable. evidently a wag, a coarse one, I should suppose.

He was

ROBERT PIERPOINT.

An account of Richard Dickinson, better known by the name of Dicky Dickinson, will be found in Caulfield's 'Portraits, memoirs, and characters of remarkable persons, etc,' volume ii, 1819. Caulfield states that

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A good account of James Perry will be found in the 'D.N.B.,' and further particulars in Vol. ii. of F. Knight Hunt's 'The Fourth Estate: contributions towards a History of Newspapers, and of the Liberty of The Press, 1850. A biography of him also appears in The European Magazine (which he founded), together with an engraved portrait | occupation of shoe-cleaner and vendor of

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though he had every limb and member in common with other men; they were, however, so strangely contrived and put together, as to render him the universal object of admiration and laughter." He followed the double

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In the 'History of Scarborough,' by Joseph Brogden Baker (1882) there is an illustration of the eccentric character about whom MR. V. POLIAKOFF inquires. This picture differs somewhat from the one mentioned. Dicky is represented seated upon a large chest at a table on which are writing materials and a ledger. Near him is seated what appears to be a fox attached to the end of the chest by a chain. The chest and table are placed beneath a tree, and perched on a sort of fence nearby is a monkey. In the background is a representation of a spa. Beneath the picture there is a twig-like figure, on each side of which is written Richard Dickinson and above and below "His Mark."

The book mentioned provided some meagre information about the person delineated in the illustration. In 1700 the first spa house at Scarborough was built by Dicky Dickinson, the first governor, who rented the wells from the Corporation at a low rent, and built two houses for the convenience of the company, one for gentlemen and the other for ladies. The custom was to enter one's name in his book and pay 5s., which made the subscriber free of the spa. This governor was one of nature's freaks-most deformed in person but brilliant mentally, his wit being of a fine and keen order. He was known by many of the gentry of Great Britain, who delighted to converse with him though he had an impediment in his speech.

By some he was called a second Æsop, and it was written of him that

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on 8 Feb., 1738. Hinderwell states that the following lines were composed in his honour: Samos unenvied boasts her Æsop gone, And France may glory in her late Scarron, While England has a living Dickinson.

The Dickinsons appear to have been a Scarborough family, for the names of William and Plaxton Dickinson are found amongst the eighteenth century bailiffs of the town. At

an election for a member of Parliament in January, 1736, William Dickinson and Chr. Dickinson were voters.

An account of the earthquake at Scarborough on Dec. 29, 1737, was communicated in a letter from Maurice Johnson, Esq, jun., to C. Mortimer, M.D., F.R.S., on Jan. 7, 1737. A copy of this letter is given by Hinderwell and one part says but all Dic Dickinson's house-hold goods are lost, with a cellar well-stocked with wine and ale."

Spennymoor.

Dickey

H. ASKEW.

Farther

LONDON IN 1537 (clvi. 426). Inspection of Aggass's Map of London MDLX will answer the enquiry of W. H. On the north side of the river east of the Tower are a number of buildings comprised in St. Katherine's and Eastminster, and a little further north are two thoroughfares, Hogge Lane and The Barnes, leading to open country on the east. Immediately north of the Tower is a postern gate opening out to these districts and near it is the Minories Cross standing in open land, upon which clothes are spread out to dry and cows are grazing. north is the Spitel Field, where archery is practised and more animals are at grass. From St. Botolph's, Aldegate, travelling westward there are no buildings save Bedlam without Bishop Gate, where again washing is laid out and archers and also windmills are dotted about. Finsburie Fyeld is quite open country. Around St. Giles Crippelgate are a few houses with gardens attached, extending to Barbican Cross. Aldersgate opens out to a long country road leading to St. Albans, indicated by the Abbey in the distance. Clerken Well forms the north-east corner of the residential portions, between which and the Walls are Charterhouse and Schmyt Fyeld, upon which horseriders are cantering. Trees, gardens and cows fill up the open space north of Holbourne, and all west of Chancery Lane and the Temple is occupied by large houses and enclosed grounds. The villages of Charing and Westminster complete London outside the walls to the west. A corresponding length of the south bank of the river is covered by houses and grounds, more or less scattered over a narrow strip, among which are bear- and bull-bayting rings, stretching from Lambeth through St. Mary Overys to Battle Bridge opposite the Tower. The chief residential extra-mural district was that between Temple Bar and Westminster and also along Holbourne, when large mansions and palaces are shewn with ornamental gardens and numerous trees, with in some cases a separate outbuilding that may be stables. Members of City Companies, goldsmith bankers, merchants and apprentices resided within the Walls, while nobles and church dignitaries, including Bishops of several distant sees, inhabited the western outside mansions and palaces. The population did not exceed 150,000.

WALTER E. GAWTHORP.

The earliest map of London, if it may be called a map, for it is rather a picture, is dated 1550. It is to be seen in the Bodleian Library. A wide open space, dotted, I suppose, with "dead dogs" of the Fleet, though they are not represented in the picture, runs at right angles to the Thames, passing close to St. Sepulchre's Church, and to the west of

it churches and houses become less numerous. Fleet Street and the Strand are indicated, but the latter came to an end apparently at the church of St. Mary, due north of the Savoy. Buildings, more or less uninterrupted, bridge the Thames, connecting London with Westminster. Behind them are fields that are bounded by the horizon. On the east there is nothing beyond the river but Greenwich Palace; great ships are to be seen close to St. Catherine's dock. A wide stretch of open country separates Stepney from London. The general impression conveyed by the picture is that there was an abundance of verdure everywhere; merchants had their gabled, wooden houses with projecting stories and shady gardens in the city at the time of the Great Fire. T. PERCY ARMSTRONG.

ANIMALS (COW) ON TRIAL (clvi. 48, 217, 269, 341, 413). A cow on trialthis reminds me of a short tale of Nasreddin Khoja, the Turkish joker. The Yougoslav version of this tale, published in the anonymous collection 'Nasruddin-Hodza' (Mostar, 1928) runs as follows:-One day Nasreddin's cow, grazing on the pasture-ground, attacked cow of the Cadi, ripped up its belly and killed it. Nasreddin was very embarrassed, how to announce it to the Cadi. So he said to him:

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Cadi, your cow killed my cow. I will bring

the murderer, that you may punish it." But the Cadi replied: "Don't bring it, because for the cows there is no law."-" Oh! I made a mistake," said Nasreddin, “It was my cow, which killed yours."-" Ah," cried the Cadi, let me see what exactly the code-book tells." -"No," answered Nasreddin, if there is no law for your cow, there will also be no law for mine."

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A similar tale is printed also in Henry D. Barnham's collection 'Tales of Nasr-ed-din Khoja' (London, 1923) on p. 120, under the title Damages for the Loss of a Cow."

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BRADSHAW RAILWAY COMPANIONS (clvi. 351, 393, 414, 429, 447).--In a copy of Bradshaw's 'Railway Companion,' which I have, no date is given except that of the 1841. Mr. Pickering's copies of the 'Railyear way Time Table' are dated 10th Mo. 19, 1839. As a member of the Society of Friends, George Bradshaw observed the Quaker rule which prohibited the use of the usual names of the months because of their Pagan origin. It is interesting to note that, until May in the present year, the cover of Bradshaw's monthly Railway Guide' has continued to bear the number of the month, followed by the usual name in brackets-" 5th Mo. (May)." issue for the present month is the first that I have seen whereon the number of the month has been omitted. It is inscribed "June 1st to July 7th, 1929."

Monreith.

The

HERBERT MAXWELL.

THE PATTLE FAMILY (clvi. 387, 431, 450). I have been reading with interest the notices lately relating to the Pattle family, especially one written by my cousin, MRS. FREEMAN, née Wakefield. I have in my possession an impression of a seal, presumably cut for Jerningham Wakefield, only son of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, as it shews a quartering for Pattle. This is " -5 lozenges conjoined in fesse-" I do not know what arms, if any, the late Lord Somers bore for his wife, and it would interest me to know if any of your readers could throw light on these, and tell me if they were generally used by the Pattle family.

THOS. A. C. ATTWOOD, F.S.A.

COMMA IN ADDRESS:

DECIMAL

POINT (clvi. 442). -The scheme is presumably an orderly progression from the smaller to the larger area: person, house,

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street, district, post-town, county. The stages are naturally marked by commas, whether the house is indicated by a name or number. But what seems to me illogical and superfluous is the comma preceding the points of the compass.

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London S.W." is all one expression, FOLK-LORE SURVIVALS: CURES FOR

and should not be divided, for the insertion of a comma would make it appear that the part is greater than the whole, which (as Euclid would say) is absurd. It is strange, too, how few printers have a sense of proportion in their use of hyphens. An ex-Lord

Chancellor" is a Chancellor who has lost his peerage. What is meant is evidently an "exLord-Chancellor," the first hyphen requiring

the addition of a second to make the sense clear.

W. E. B.

The insertion of a comma after the number in an address is perfectly logical. The number is the description of the house and implies the word "number" thus:

A Bee, Esq.,
No. 42,

Any Street,
Anywhere.

COUGH (clvi. 368). The

Mr. H. E. Bacon, of Ferring Hill, Kelveest don, Essex, who sent me the original interesting communication (see clvi. 368) regarding the use at the present day of sheeps' melts as a cure for whooping-cough, now forwards the following additional information :

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I did not know at the time when I wrote

to you that after being tied to the feet of

the children affected with whooping-cough the melts had to be buried, the belief being that the ailment is buried with them. At a dinner last Thursday night I met a few butcher friends from Southend-on-Sea, who commented upon my letter and told me that the superstition with regard to the curative properties of melts is common in other parts of the country. One of them related how he had been called upon to kill a sheep specially to supply the melt in an urgent case."

J. FAIRFAX-BLAKEOROUGH. The late Dr. James Murie, of Leigh-onSea, recorded a belief held by the fishermen A. J. H. of that place that flounder's blood taken on

I have always understood that the inversion of the decimal point was to avoid confusion with the period.

As opposed to the usual English practice, in Italy the decimal point is indicated by a comma, e.g., twenty-eight decimal thirtyfive is written 28,35. I believe this is the general custom in most continental countries. Another Italian custom which is rather confusing to English eyes is to divide large numbers into groups of three figures by fullstops, e.g., one million is written and printed as 1.000.000, while in England commas are usually employed, e.g., 1,000,000.

A. R.

Will these facts help at all? (1) The comma after street numbers is of continental

European usage. It appears almost always to be omitted by the British and North Americans. In Germany, France and Spain the number is usually placed after the street name; in the British Empire, the U.S.A., and Italy, before it, although in Italy both ways are used, ours being very much the more common in recent times.

(2) In Italy at least among Continental countries, the period is used in numbers as we use the comma, ex. 1.234.567 = 1,234,567; the comma being used by the Italians to divide off another denomination of money

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a lump of sugar is a sure prophylactic and cure for whooping-cough." Also, that when pricked with a weever fish, its liver should immediately be taken out and put on the sore for a quarter of an hour. When long-lining, the first dog-fish caught used to have its throat cut with due solemnity, as a warning to others to dare to follow at their own peril.

W. P.

The following interesting case was reported in the Norwich Argus, May 30, 1885:

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An inquest was held at the White Horse Inn, Badingham, on Friday, before C. W. Chaston, Esq., relative to the death of Walter William Packard, aged eight months. The mother of deceased stated that he was healthy child up to a fortnight before his death, which took place on the 12th inst. He was then taken ill with whooping cough. She did not have medical attendance because she was too poor to pay for a doctor, and thought it would have been useless to apply to the relieving officer. She buried bread in the earth for 24 hours, and then took it up again and fed deceased with it, hoping from what her neighbours said, it might be the means of curing the child. Mr. E. Crickmore, surgeon, said he believed the death was a natural one, but that there was reasonable cause to think that he might have saved the life of the deceased had he been called in time. A

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NAPOLEON IN HADES : WIERTZ MUSEUM (clvi. 425). This picture, popularly known as "Napoleon in H-l," was painted by Antoine Joseph Wiertz (b. 1806, at Dinant; d. 1865, at Br Brussels a painter 1000, and sculptor, pupil of Herreyns and Van Brée. It may be seen in the Musée Wiertz, which is situated near the station du Luxembourg (entrance in the rue Vautier) Brussels. This museum and art-gallery was formerly the country residence and studio of that artist, and after his decease the house and its contents were purchased by the Belgian Government. It contains almost all the productions of this highly talented but eccentric artist (who in his lifetime was regarded by some of his contemporaries as insane), who would not be induced to dispose of his works.

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Wiertz is not such an unknown person that it is necessary to invoke the help of a Belgian to tell us all about him. The Wiertz museum

In the principal salon are seven large pictures, one whereof, 'The last Cannon,' is a very spirited painting. Among the smaller works, there are some very gruesome pictures, such as 'The Vision of a beheaded Man'; 'Hunger, Madness, and Crime'; The Resuscitation of a Man buried alive'; Le Soufflet (humiliation) d'une Dame Belge'; and the particular work mentioned by your correspondent. This shows one was very versatile, and the same man who

woman holding before Napoleon the mutilated arm of her slain son, another woman offers him a bowl of human blood, others appear to be shrieking at and cursing him, but amidst all this rage and frenzy, "with folded arms Napoleon stands."

The hatred of the artist for France and for all things French is shown in many of the works. One of the pictures depicts 'The Belgian Lion descending from the mound to avenge the wrongs of Europe'! Though this is a fine painting, yet, when one remembers the cowardly conduct of the Belgian troops at Waterloo, it is difficult to suppress a smile. An exceedingly interesting account of this exhibition appeared in the Christian World Magazine about 1872.

I visited the collection in 1875 and again in 1888. At that time an interesting catalogue (in French) of the exhibits, containing also a sketch of the author's life, was on sale in the Musée at the price of half-a-franc.

Some of the pictures are painted on the walls of the room in a kind of distemper invented by Wiertz himself. Visitors to Brussels should not fail to visit this collection. HENRI M. LÉON.

"Hades"

is open to everyone who visits Brussels. Wiertz was an eccentric artist of low birth, who died in 1865. He sought inspiration in the works of Rubens and Michael Angelo: he loved the colossal, and one or two of his early productions were so large that no room could be found in which to exhibit them. He painted a picture of such realistic horror that it is shown only to visitors who ask to see it, could also turn out the loveliest landscapes. The figures in the background of 'Napoleon in Hell' surely "Hell" is better than are, I imagine, infuriated mothers, who have lost their sons in war, and girls who have been deprived of their lovers. On more than one occasion, when Napoleon was riding through the poorer parts of Paris, towards the end of his career, he was greeted with cries of Ogre and possibly Wiertz intended to make some distant allusion to the extreme youth of the soldiers whom he sacrificed in his Leipzig campaign. Napoleon's disdain and the intense sadness of his look are magnificently rendered. By the way, is there any reason to suppose that Napoleon was cruel to prisoners of war? I know at least two instances to the contrary.

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T. PERCY ARMSTRONG.

THE GALLON MEASURE (clvi. 407, 466). -There are not six quart bottles in a gallon, though sometimes an ordinary bottle is described as a "quart bottle." Whitaker's Almanack, under 'Weights and Measures,'

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