effect. Twenty years later, and not very long ago, a very respectable farmer's wife, in the parish of West Rainton, co. Durham, told me she had been exceedingly ill from erysipelas in her head and face, and the doctor (a very able one) had done her no good whatever. So she sent for a wise man to charm it, and he very soon took it away. I suggested that perhaps the complaint had run its course, or the doctor's remedies were beginning to take effect. "Oh, no," she said, "it is well known charming is the best thing for St. Anthony's fire." I believe she paid the quack very handJUL. BOYD. somely. Moor House, Durham. "THE DOG AND DUCK" (6th S. i. 313).-The site of this old tavern is now occupied by the Hospital of Bethlehem or Bedlam, in what was St. George's Fields, erected in 1812. The old stone sign of the house, a dog with a duck in his mouth, bearing date 1617, is let into the brick wall of the hospital garden, and is figured in Cassell's London, vi. 344. For some account of its former history see Larwood's History of Signboards, 1868, p. 196. The exact position of the house and the four adjoining ponds, where ducks were bred and slaughtered for " sport," is well shown in Rocque's map of London and its environs, 1744. From the date on the old stone sign it is plain that the tavern was an old one, and one of the forts erected by order of Parliament in 1642 was close to the "Dog and Duck" tavern ; but the house did not become notorious till about the year 1770. There is a small woodcut view of the tavern as it appeared in 1780 in Chambers's Book of Days, ii. 74. EDWARD SOLLY. CORPORATION MACES (6th S. i. 292).-MR. GOMME will find full descriptions of the maces of the London societies in the Catalogue of Antiquities exhibited at Ironmongers' Hall, London, 1869, pp. 339-49, and 629-31. F. G. S. RECTORS OF WORCESTER (6th S. i. 315).-J. S. will find a list of these worthies of the period he mentions in Nash's History of Worcestershire, vol. ii., appendix, p. cxlvi, &c. J. B. WILSON. Worcester. CASCACIRUELA (6th S. i. 336).-Proverbial, apparently. In Neumann and Baretti's Spanish Dictionary I find "Cascaciruelas, s.m., a mean, despicable fellow." NOMAD. THE ETYMOLOGY OF "PEDIGREE" (6th S. i. 309).-MR. WEDGWOOD'S suggestion is very welcome, and may be right. I only write to say that there is, perhaps, some evidence for the etymology from pied de grue in the O. French proverb à pied de grue, "in suspence, on doubtfull tearms; or, not wel, or but halfe, setled, like a crane that stands but upon one leg." Thus it is just conceivable that a pedigree was named from its doubtfulness, in derision. Or, if the right form be really pedigree (pied de grès), perhaps this proverb may at any rate account for its being turned into pied de grue. What we most want is more evidence. I had not noticed this proverb till now. WALTER W. SKEAT. THE DERIVATION AND MEANING OF CHRISTIAN NAMES (6th S. i. 195, 243).—I suspect Bridget is a diminutive of Bridge, for Bright. Beatrice is from beatus. Ferdinand is said to have been corrupted from Bertram, inverse of Rambert (renowned for strength). Raymond is from Ger. ram-mund (strong man). Last syllable in Beranger is doubtless a patronymic; first syllable may translate bear or man (see Wachter). R. S. CHARNOCK. Paris. FERNAN CABALLERO (6th S. i. 315, 339) had three husbands; the first was Capt. Plannells, the second was the Marquis von Arco Hermoso, and the third was Herr von Arrom. W. M. M. will find, in a book by Miss M. Betham Edwards, which will shortly be published by Messrs. Griffith & Farran, entitled Six Life Studies of Famous Women, a memoir of the justly famous Spanish novelist, containing many new and interesting facts. CHAS. WELSH. Jan. 1, 1742, he was brought up as a conveyancer, ISAAC REED (6th S. i. 237,304).-Born in London a profession he relinquished for literary pursuits, still retaining his chambers in Staple Inn, where he collected a large and curious library. In 1768 he published the poems of Lady Mary Wortley Montague; in 1773 he edited the Seatonian Prize poems; in 1780 he revised and enlarged Dodsley's Old Plays; in 1782 he published the Biographia Dramatica, in 2 vols.; in 1783 four volumes of humorous pieces, under the title of the Repository; and in 1785 an edition of Shakspere, in 10 vols., which he extended afterwards to twenty-one. For many years he was editor and one of the proprietors of the European Magazine. He died on Jan. 5, 1807, and was buried at Amwell. The sale of his books took up thirty-nine days, and realized 4,000l. WILLIAM PLATT. 115, Piccadilly. The following lines by an anonymous writer were intended to characterize his notes on Shakspeare : "Too pompous, labour'd, confident, refin'd, ED. MARSHALL. Boswell, in his Life of Johnson, refers to the assistance rendered by Isaac Reed in the Lives of the Poets, and speaks of him as my steady friend Mr. Isaac Reed, of Staple Inn, whose extensive and accurate knowledge of English literary history I do not express with exaggeration when I say it is wonderful; indeed, his labours have proved it to the world, and all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance can bear testimony to the frankness of his communications in private society." Several references are to be found in the Walpole correspondence, and it would seem that the first edition of the Biographia Dramatica was published in 1781. JOHN COLLINS FRANCIS. "THE ROSE OF DAWN" (6th S. i 296, 340) was etched by the Rev. St. John Tyrwhitt. There is another engraving, which makes a pair with it, called "The Brig of Dread." C. A. CARMALT JONES. Gentleman's Magazine, which will suffice for the name of the regicide, but what I more especially wish to enforce is this, that the person torn to pieces by horses in no wise answers to the description. The two lines referred to are attributed by some to Dr. Johnson, and are more in his antithetical style than in Goldsmith's more simple numbers; certainly Dr. Johnson had read the lines before publication, and I fancy so "learned a scholar could hardly have suffered three blunders to pass unchallenged in one line," Luke's (read George's) iron crown, and Damien's (read Damiens's) bed of steel (read wild horses). It was George Dosa of Hungary who was put to death in 1514 by a redhot iron crown; and as for Damiens, he was pulled piecemeal by wild horses, after being flayed and otherwise tortured. Hence I want to know if Dr. Johnson or Goldsmith did not refer to some other persons; for "Luke" Dosa was not put to death by E. COBHAM BREWER. P.S.-MR. RULE informs me that he has an edition of Goldsmith which has "Zeek's iron crown." In the Life of Dr. Johnson by Boswell the line is referred to, but I have not by me the History of Hungary to which he alludes. Damiens's torture, which lasted from morning to sunset, included tearing with iron pincers and alluded to the latter. When the sentence was Goldsmith may have breaking upon the wheel. read to the unhappy victim, he quietly replied, "The day will be very long, but it will come to an end at last." M. F. D. A WINGFIELD BRASS (6th S. i. 273). - My attention having been drawn to the remarks by A. J. M. on his discovery of this missing memorial, I at once applied to my learned friend the Honorary Secretary to the Essex Archæological Society, forwarding to him the copy of "N. & Q." containing the inscription upon the brass. Mr. King, in reply to my letter, says: "I knew the inscription the instant I saw it. I copied it, with the arms and another Saunders inscription, with all the rest of the inscriptions, in South Weald Church, Essex, on the 31st of August, 1852." No evidence can be clearer than this; and now that the brass has been identified, and the church from which it was abstracted made public, I trust it will soon be restored to its original position. Its present possessor must remember that he is in possession of property to which he can show no title. No rector, vicar, or other person had or has the power to sell or dispose of any monument DR. BREWER must quote from an imperfect from a church; and should a representative of the edition of The Traveller. In that before me, the family interested discover the recipient of this Aldine, I find "Damiens'," and there is a foot"little present," he may possibly find himself in note referring the reader to Anecdotes de la Cour an awkward predicament. The abstraction of this de France pendant la faveur de Mad. de Pompadour, brass does not in the least surprise me. It is all 1802, 8vo. p. 143, for a full account of the tortures of a piece with the outrageous and reckless un-inflicted on Damiens; also a reference to Horace checked doings of many of the clergy and churchwardens of bygone days in this and other counties. I remember seeing the peculiarly interesting fourteenth century military brass of Sir John Gifford doing duty as a shelf in a farmhouse. This brass, I am happy to say, has, through the intervention of the owner of the property, been replaced in its original position in Bowers Gifford Church. For the instruction of the authorities, and especially the present possessor of the Wingfield brass, I may add that it was abstracted from the north aisle. J. A. SPARVEL-BAYLY, F.S.A. Billericay, Essex. "DAMIEN'S BED OF STEEL" (6th S. i. 276, 306). -Thanks to MR. DOBSON for his reference to the Walpole's Memoirs of George II. for another INTRODUCTION OF COTTON INTO ENGLAND (6th S. i. 137, 320).-Your correspondent will find cotton referred to as one of the "commoditees imported into England in the beginning of the fifteenth century by the "Januays," in the Libel of English Policie, printed by the late Mr. T. Wright in his Political Poems and Songs (Rolls AUTHORS OF BOOKS WANTED (6th S. i. 196).— Tavern Anecdotes.-The following is the full title of this amusing little book: "Tavern Anecdotes and Reminiscences of the Origin of Signs, Clubs, Coffeehouses, Streets, City Companies, Wards, &c. Intended as a Lounge Book for Londoners and their Country Cousins. By One of the Old School. London, printed for William Cole, &c. 1825." Small 8vo., pp. 296. Besides the printed title-page the volume should contain a curious folding frontispiece, exhibiting humorous illustrations of twenty-two popular public-house signs. I have seen this attributed to one of the Cruikshanks in booksellers' catalogues, but the etching is certainly from the needle of W. Heath, by whom is also the vignette of "The Moon-Rakers on the engraved title-page. There is besides a well-engraved portrait on copper, "copied from the original of Johannes Eckstein," of Mr. Christopher Brown, Secretary to "the Free and Easy Counsellors under the Cauliflower," to whom the plate is dedicated by the artist. This latter-named worthy, I may add, had been the occasional assistant and confidential friend of Mr. Evans, the bookseller, of Paternoster Row, and had succeeded to the greater part of his fortune. He was also a manager in the house of Longmans, the publishers, and father of Mr. Thomas Brown, who subsequently became a partner in that well-known firm. I now come to speak of the authorship of the book. There is a queer, quackish, paste-and-scissors sort of compilation entitled, "Fifty Years' Recollections of an Old Bookseller. Consisting of Anecdotes, Characteristic Sketches, and Original Traits and Eccentricities of Authors, Artists, Actors, Books, Booksellers, and of the Periodical Press for the last Half Century, with Appropriate Selections; and an unlimited Retrospect, including some Extraordinary Circumstances relative to the Letters of Junius, and a Chain of Corroborative Evidence respecting their Author. Cork, printed by and for the Author, 67, South Mall, 1835." 8vo., pp. 200. There is no doubt that this volume was the production of William West, author, inter alia, of a History of Warwickshire (Birm., 1830, 8vo., pp. 800), and subsequently editor of the short-lived Aldine Magazine (Simpkin & Co., Dec., 1838-June, 1839). An obituary of him will be found in the Gentleman's Magazine for Aug., 1855, p. 214. Well, in his Fifty Years' Recollections, he reproduces the portrait of Mr. Christopher Brown, to which I have alluded, and accompanies it by the illustrative text from the Tavern Anecdotes, of which he speaks as "a late publication, in which gave a short sketch of this gentleman, accompanied by a portrait." I thus feel justified in ascribing this latter compilation, in part, if not in whole, to his gossiping pen. The Tavern Anecdotes has been recently reissued by Messrs. Tinsley (1875, 8vo., pp. 414) under the editorial care of Mr. Charles Hindley, now of No. 8, Booksellers' Row, Strand. The "get-up" of the reprint hand somer, according to modern taste, and it contains new matter. But still it will hardly be held to supersede the original edition, for we miss the etched frontispiece and portrait; the want of an index is not compensated for by the alphabetical arrangement of the matter, and we look in vain for the account of Mr. Christopher Brown, and I The Roman Breviary. Translated by John, Marquess of Bute, K.T. (Blackwood & Sons.) FOR this publication of the Roman Breviary in English, and in good sterling English, Lord Bute deserves well of his English-speaking fellow-countrymen. For the first time in their lives and in the lifetime of the Church in England, the opportunity is offered them of knowing what the Book of Common Prayer of the Western Church-the Choir Book as distinct from the Altar Book-really is. Englishmen are now placed in the same position with respect to the Breviary of Rome that the French were when Thierry published, at Paris in 1688, his Roman Breviary in four volumes or parts, viz., Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn-a system followed in France almost invariably after the time and book of Cardinal Noailles. Lord Bute, according to the Anglican custom of Sarum, divides his book into two parts, Winter and Summer, each with its Psalter, Propers of Season and Saint, its Commons, and Additional Services, the whole supplemented with "The Offices Peculiar to England" and "Ireland." Scotland is not provided with a Peculiar Proper, no doubt for a well-understood reason. That may perhaps be ere long provided, and the Tria juncta in uno effected. No English version has ever achieved, or even attempted, so much before. Divine Offices (a mixture of Breviary and Missal), Day Hours, Vesper Books, Psalters, Holy Weeks, Christmas Services, are all beside the markparts, not wholes-stones of Sion, not the Temple in its oneness and beauty. The only English book that occurs to us at the moment as at all a parallel to Lord Bute's translation is the Breviary compiled and translated by the learned and pious sisters of St. Margaret's Home, East Grinstead, for the use of themselves and their House. But that, admirably adapted as it was to its purpose at the time of its compilation, is too widely separated from Lord Bute's to be other than a distant parallel. A large tract-shall we say of debateable land?-lies between them, the one being intended for an English house, the other for the Roman-English world. The same holds good with regard to the beautiful fragment-alas! still a fragment in print-of a version made, many a year ago, for the gratification of English Churchmen. It, like that of the sisters of East Grinstead, is rooted and grounded, both in Psalter and other Scripture, on the accredited English Church versions of Holy Writ, and therefore stands in contrast with, rather than as bearing a resemblance to, the version of Lord Bute, which is made anew loyally, but rhythmically, from the Vulgate. And with great judgment Lord Bute's version is formed. Its execution, in this respect, is an important feature in the book. Between the wall of Authority on the one hand, and the open ground of taste and judg ment on the other, it moves onward with a stately march that becomes its straightforward purpose. This is no place for minutely criticizing, if criticism were needed. It is enough to say, that whoever wishes to know what the old service of Sarum, York, and Hereford was like, in quire, as distinguished from that of the altar, will find its likeness here. Identical in all points the services of Rome and Old England are not, but they are sufficiently alike to satisfy the curiosity and inform the mind. Michelangelo, Lionardo da Vinci, and Raphael. By Charles Clément. Translated by Louisa Corkran. With Illustrations. (Seeley, Jackson & Halliday.) The Great Artists.-Leonardo da Vinci. By Jean Paul Richter, Ph.D. With Illustrations. (Sampson Low & Co.) Ir was well said lately by Julian Klaczko, in one of his very interesting "Causeries Florentines" in the Revue des Deux Mondes, that Michael Angelo created for himself an empire, of which he was the emperor. For such, in truth, is the best mode in which we can represent to our selves the position of that Titanic genius, whose work in the Sixtine Chapel draws forth the awe-struck admiration of generation after generation of pilgrims to the Eternal City. It is not difficult to see that of the great triad whose praises he sings, Michael Angelo is M. Clément's favourite. Dr. Richter, on the other hand, undisturbed by the conflicting emotions roused by the contemporaneous treatment of such an immortal triad, writes of Leonardo in terms of the loftiest praise. We must confess, for ourselves, to being most attracted by that mystic perfume of the "sacred Umbrian land" which never quite left Raphael. The question is perhaps rather one of deciding between the relative claims of majesty and grace, and will always be settled differently by different minds. It is all the better for lovers of art that they should have varying judgments set before them by two such accomplished critics as Charles Clément and Dr. Richter. Both authors have been fortunate in their translators, a circumstance of no small importance to the comfort of English readers. We think Dr. Richter far too decided in his statement that a "rooted dislike" to Leonardo was cherished by Michael Angelo. And the story from the anonymous biographer by which he sup: ports this theory, at p. 75, seems to us quite unworthy of serious belief. M. Clément evidently does not share in any such view. We can only regret our inability to extract any of the passages we had marked in both volumes. But, as Leonardo himself perhaps sang,"Who cannot do as he desires, must do What lies within his power. And it does lie within our power to commend heartily to the art-loving public both Charles Clément's vivid story of the three great masters and Dr. Richter's careful analysis of the life and works of the author of the Cenacolo. A Study of Shakespeare. By Algernon Charles Swinburne. (Chatto & Windus). MR. SWINBURNE's Study of Shakespeare exhibits in numberless instances the highest critical faculty. It is one of the most suggestive and readable books in this branch of literature issued for a long time. It has the high merit of being usually in the right where the question is of differences of opinion, the higher merit of being able to expound the right and carry conviction, and the highest merit of being based wholly on poetic intuition or perception as opposed to mechanical analysis. No one who takes up this book will throw it down again unread or half read; it is too full of piercing insight, choice illustration, amusing invective, and small sweet resting nooks of the most perfect style. But, taken as a whole, the style is less finished and elegant than that of the Essays and Studies, and but little, if any, less faulty than that of the Note on Charlotte Brontë and Under the Microscope. Thus we are frequently annoyed by the negligent building up of page-long sentences, the em ployment of unnecessary adjectives, and a quite juvenile frowardness of personal attack. We cannot too much admire such passages of appreciation as that on the Bastard in King John, that on Cleopatra, or that on Iago. We feel it to be nearly, if not quite, certain that Shakespeare had something to do with Arden of Feverthe keen examination of the former would have been a sham and nothing to do with A Yorkshire Tragedy; but still more acceptable thing had it not been summed up in a sentence of twenty-three lines not free from obscurity. The division of Shakspeare's work into three periods, lyric and fantastic, comic and historic, and tragic and romantic, is a true conception, admirably planned and worked out; and, only subject to such deductions as we have been making, the book is a treasury of critical insight and wide-reaching knowledge, always ready to hand at the right moment. It the most Shakspearian book on Shakspeare which has been published for a great while. Notices to Correspondents. We must call special attention to the following notice: ON all communications should be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. H. G. T. E.-The two kings of Brentford are two characters in Buckingham's farce of The Rehearsal, perhaps intended for Charles II. and James, Duke of York, afterwards James II., or for Boabdelin and Abdalla, the two contending kings of Granada. See Adams's Dictionary of English Literature. R. A. B. A. (Hull).-Many thanks, but entirely out cf our line. F. (Colossus of Rhodes).-See Pliny, Strabo, and Polybius. S. M. (Eastbourne).-Humphrey Prideaux. Dean of Norwich, was born in 1648, and died Nov. 1, 1724. JOHN TAYLOR-Dr. Busby was born at Lutton, Northamptonshire. W. O. asks in what book he may find The Stroller's Story, by Coller. J. CURTIS.-Charles II. is said to have sportively knighted the loin of beef. A. BEAZELEY.-Nicholas Ponce, born 1746, died 1831. for "Pisselen" read Pisseleu. ERRATUM.-"Wordsworth's Prelude" (ante, p. 343) NOTICE. Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of Notes and Queries ""-Advertisements and Business Letters to "The Publisher"-at the Office, 20, Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print; and to this rule we can make no exception. LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1880. CONTENTS.- N° 19. NOTES:-Parliamentary Candidates in 1683, 369-The "Sixth Nobility" Roll of Arms, 370-Horsemonger Lane Gaol, 371-The Publication of Church Registers, 372-"Marked with Tau"-"Read and run "-Wood Dalling Registers, 373 "Antilles' The House of Commons Analyzed-Forged Antiques at Wilton House-"Smelling the hat"-Deeds Relating to co. Cork, 374. QUERIES:-"The Curious Maid "-F. D. Maurice-Queen Elizabeth a Lover of Dancing-A suppressed Gillray"Rodges-blast". The Finding of Moses"-Poems and Ballads Wanted- - "Like death on a morstick"-The Record," 375-Lorenzo de' Medici-William Pitt-Lincolnshire Use of "an"-Goldworth Family-Dershavin's "Ode to God"-Condemned Criminals and Royal Practice Cadwallader D. Colden-American Hymns-Iwarby or Ewardby, 376-"Not been born"-" School for Scandal"Authors Wanted, 377. REPLIES:-John Gilpin, 377-"The stupid party"-The Altar in the Pyx Chamber, Westminster Abbey, 379-John Phelps and Andrew Broughton-Valentine Family-The Literature of Pope and his Quarrels, 380-F. Willoughby The Courtenays and Ford Abbey-J. Smithson-The Bricklayers' Arms, Southwark, 331-Election Colours-Roger Bacon-The E. O. Table-" Whenever"-Tennyson's "Mari,"382-Anecdote of Byron-"Premises "—"Empt"Col. A. Goodwyn-Rev. J. Weatherly-Marriage Seasons, 383 -Etchings by Le Prince-The Sulky-Campbells of Lawers "Pick"-"The Woodbine""Lead, kindly light," 384"Damien's bed of steel"-Authorship of "Vestiges of Creation"-Anomalies in English Pronunciation, 385Houses of Jewish Converts at Oxford and London-"Aliri" -Book-plates-Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald-John Hunter, Surgeon, 1728-93-Authors Wanted, 386. NOTES ON BOOKS:-Masson's Life of John Milton"— ana, Herbert Spencer's "Ceremonial Institutions"-Butler's "Purgatory of Dante "-Salisbury's "Border County Worthies "-Matthews's "Theatres of Paris." Notices to Correspondents, &c. Rates. PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES IN 1688. The difficulties experienced by many English boroughs and shires, in olden days, in getting candidates of a more or less suitable character at Parliamentary elections, must have been something very serious. Even two hundred years ago those who pulled the wires that worked the mechanism of the constituencies must often have been at their wits' ends in the search for candidates who would be willing to face the expense and inconvenience of journeys to and from London, and of residence there, although the certainty of election may have been a pretty well foregone conclusion. The following original letters afford good illustrations of how the course of things went in those days in the search for a member. They also indicate that the net had to be spread rather widely, when they show a man, if we are to believe his statement, so shattered in health, and so deficient in either book learning or practical wisdom, as was Mr. Samuel Baker (the writer of letter No. I.), solicited to stand for the election at Bury St. Edmunds by the chief officer of its Corporation. The discovery of what Mr. Stafford, the Mayor, may have written to Mr. Baker to induce that gentleman to waive his scruples, is probably an insoluble problem, but letter No. II. shows Mr. Baker yielding to the Mayor's persuasive powers. Whether Mr. Baker went to the poll does not appear from the papers. The roll of Parliament for 1688-9 instructs us that Sir Robert Davers, Bart., and Sir Thomas Hervey, Knt. (ancestor of the Marquises of Bristol), were elected. Others, besides the latter and Mr. Baker, were solicited to stand, as your readers will see by letter No. III., from Sir Robert Bacon, Bart., of Redgrave, and letters Nos. IV. and V., from Mr. William Bridgeman. The latter gentleman appears to have been put to some expense in the matter. You have so many readers well informed in Suffolk antiquities, that this note may possibly elicit the fact or information whether the election of 1688 was a contested one, or whether Sir R. Davers and Sir T. Hervey, one or both of whom represented Bury St. Edmunds in several Parliaments between 1679 and 1701, walked over the course in 1688 without opposition? The letter No. VI. is added as it contains curious evidence of the anxiety of the Bury St. Edmunds Corporation to give proof at a critical time of their attachment to the Crown : I. "Mr. Mayor,-It was but last night I understood that my Letter to Mr. Jonathan Noble wrot on Thursday last week, had not been comunicated to you by him as I had desired him, both by word, and expressly in the Letter itself, wherein he dealt not so candidly with mee as he should have done, having pitched on this medium of applying myself to your Letter, I was wholly a Stranger and knew not how to suppose you to be with the Dissenters for the electing mee a Burgess. My wife also being in town on Thursday last did forbear though she was coming to wait on you, presuming you had seen my Letter and thought it uncivil to give you a second trouble on the same Errand. I therefore beg leave to offer you the sum of that Letter in fewer words hoping it may not be too late. friends as design mee an honour far above my Meritts, "Sir, I acknowledge myself very much obliged to such but I entreat you to consider the service is so much beyond my abilities in every respect as they will suffer a great disappointment in the undertaking. My bodily infirmities have for more than 20 years taken me off versation as to unfitt mee for publick busines in the from making inprovement of my time by reading or consmallest capacity, much more in so high a sphear of service and difficult juncture of affairs. Besides were I engaged my often infirmities render it next to impossoble to attend my duty in performance for as I am so weake ofttimes as my mind cannot bear the weight of my private Concerns if at all difficult without disordering my body, so I have contracted such a tendernes by long indisposition and confinement thereby as I can seldom stirr abroad or sitt in another House near the Winter Season but I take Cold which often causeth Gripings and from y Spleen sometimes to an high degree and of a Flux (my reigning distemper) attended with vapours week or longer continuance, in which time I am utterly disabled for action or sometimes for so much as Converse with a Friend in my Chamber as they continually with with mee last Tuesday night were satisfied of the truth, though they would not consult for my discharge. mee can attest and Mr. Dennis with the others who were "But I hope, Mr. Mayor, you will more compassionately |