A riddle by Cowper Made me swear like a trooper; But my anger, alas! was in vain ; For, remembering the bliss Of beauty's soft kiss, I now long for such riddles again. In 5 S. i. a similar correspondence will be found, and at p. 274 occurs the following: COWPER: TROOPER (5 S. i. 68, 135). My wife saw some years ago a letter from the poet Cowper to the late Mrs. Charlotte Smith, the poetess, in which he stated the pronunciation of his name was Cooper." That letter was in the possession of a lady in Leamington, who was niece to Mrs. Smith. JOSEPH FISHER. Waterford.] 66 ST. ANDREW's, SCOTLAND: PRE-REFORMATION SEAL.-I shall feel obliged if any reader can tell me (1) whether the Seal of the Bishop of St. Andrew's for the Archdiocese of St. Andrews, Scotland, was lost at the Reformation; or (2) whether it is still in existence; or (3) whether it was used during the early years of the Reformation, and when? HISTORICAL STUDENT. "THE ASHES."-May I appeal to the omniscience of 'N. & Q.' to tell me the exact derivation of the expression "The Ashes," used to mean the supremacy of Australia (comes first this time) or England in the Test International Cricket Matches. I have asked several people who are all greed that it means the championship but why "The Ashes"? ANXIOUS ENQUIRER. [The Intelligence Department of The Times informs us that the origin of the catch-phrase obout " bringing back the ashes" is to be found in The Sporting Life of 1882. In this year England was defeated at Kennington Oval by the Australians land the paper referred to published an In Memoriam,' the exact wording of remembered, to English cricket, which died at the Oval on Aug. 29, 1882. The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia."] which cannot be THE HONOURABLE MR.-In accordance with a suggestion made in the Montagu Chelmsford Joint Report on Indian reforms, the use of the courtesy designation “The Honourable Mr.' has been curtailed. Members of the Provincial Councils will no longer enjoy that distinction, for an official announcement states that "The Governor-General is pleased to permit the title Honourable to be borne during their term of office by the following officers in India: (1) Members of the Governor-General's Executive Council, (2) President of the Council of State, (3) President of the Legislative Assembly, (4) Chief Justice and Puisne Judges of the High Courts, (5) Members of Executive Councils and Ministers in Governors' Provinces, (6) Residents of the 1st Class, (7) Presidents of Legislative Councils in Governors' Provinces, (8) the Chief Judge and Judges of the Chief Court of Lower Burma and (9) Members of the Council of State." Hence arises my query. When did the "Mr." append itself to the title? I think I am correct in saying that when the title was first used in India there was no question of "Mr." When he arrived at the requisite attitude John Jones became The Hon. John Jones: nowadays he would be called The Hon. Mr. Jones. Why? The official regulation quoted above says the title is Honourable," and omits both "the" and "Mr." Ought we to speak of "Honourable Jones or "Honourable John Jones ? May I also be permitted to inquire when Provincial Governors in India first acquired the title "His Excellency"? There is an odd sequel, for the wife of a Governor is designated-by usage if not by official sanction from the Government of India 'Her Excellency." Yet I never heard of the wife of a Lieutenant-Governor, who is by right "His Honour," being called “Her Honour."! S. T. S. LIBRARIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. (12 S. viii. 8, 34, 54, 76.) THE average Public Library and Public Librarian are not at all equipped to answer genealogical problems. May I make a few suggestions as to what a library should acquire before beginning to qualify to fulfil such a function? It might then be found that to invest a locality with direct personal interests, via the study of genealogy, is the surest road to the attainment of whatever aims Public Libraries are generally supposed to possess. 1. Of course, copies of all the histories of the county in which the library is situate, of the County Visitation Pedigrees and of all local histories. 4. Complete copies of all the local Directories, and before then, of the local Subsidy Rolls, Land Tax Assessments, Hearth Tax Assessments, Muster Rolls, Recusant Rolls and complete copies of the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851. 5. Then abstracts of all the wills of people connected with the place, of the pleadings and depositions in lawsuits, and of every loose deed or document which exists amongst the millions in the Public Record Office, the Probate and Diocesan Registries and in private hands. These to be arranged simply in order of date and type-written. hand for ready reference, PUBLIC LIBRARIAN I think that, this working material at might begin to be in a position to answer genealogical enquiries. It might cost a few thousand pounds for any single parish to acquire such a collection, and take a few years to get together, and he himself would be all the better equipped with some years' experience of record searching outside his own library; but until both possess these qualifications he cannot expect inquirers to contribute for special searches much towards the library funds, for they will assuredly be disappointed at the result. 210 Strand, W.C.2. GEORGE SHERWOOD. There is a fine collection of Norfolk items at the Norwich Public Library (Mr. Stephens). And the Lowestoft Public Library (Miss K. Durrant) contains a good selection of bocks on the twin counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, together with the interesting MSS. of Mr. William BlythGerish, of Southtown, Great Yarmouth, relating to Norfolk Archæology and FolkW. J. CHAMBERS. lore. Clancarty, Regent Road, Lowestoft. County of Suffolk. The Ipswich Public Library contains a large collection of local books relating to Ipswich and the county generally. I believe the Suffolk Institute of Archæology at Bury St. Edmunds possesses a collection of books and MSS. The Public Library at Lowestoft also owns a gcod collection of local books, while as to those in private hands, Mr. Milner-Gibson-Cullum, D.L., Hardwick House, Bury St. Edmunds has a fine collection, and the library of Mr. F. A. Crisp at the Grove Park Press is a considerable one and rich in MSS., but now 3. Every original document, parchment, being dispersed. The collection of Mr. deed, &c., upon which it can lay hands, H. B. W. Wayman at Bloomsbury is rich properly calendared and indexed, so that in rare broadsides, Commonwealth quartos 2. Copies of the Parish Registers from beginning to end, of all the Manorial Court Rolls and of all the Monumental Inscriptions in all the churhes, churchyards and cemeteries in the parish or town that the library represents. COWPER: TROOPER (5 S. i. 68, 135). My wife saw some years ago a letter from the poet Cowper to the late Mrs. Charlotte Smith, the poetess, in which he stated the pronunciation of his name was 66 Cooper." That letter was in the possession of a lady in Leamington, who was niece to Mrs. Smith. JOSEPH FISHER. Waterford.] ST. ANDREW's, SCOTLAND: PRE-REFORMATION SEAL.-I shall feel obliged if any reader can tell me (1) whether the Seal of the Bishop of St. Andrew's for the Archdiocese of St. Andrews, Scotland, was lost at the Reformation; or (2) whether it is still in existence; or (3) whether it was used during the early years of the Reformation, and when? HISTORICAL STUDENT. THE HONOURABLE MR.-In accordance with a suggestion made in the Montagu Chelmsford Joint Report on Indian reforms, the use of the courtesy designation "The Honourable Mr." has been curtailed. Members of the Provincial Councils will no longer enjoy that distinction, for an offici. 1 announcement states that "The Governor-General is pleased to permit the title Honourable' to be borne during their term of office by the following officers in India : (1) Members of the Governor-General's Executive Council, (2) President of the Council of State, (3) President of the Legislative Assembly, (4) Chief Justice and Puisne Judges of the High Courts, (5) Members of Executive Councils and Ministers in Governors' Provinces, (6) Residents of the 1st Class, (7) Presidents of Legislative Councils in Governors' Provinces, (8) the Chief Judge and Judges of the Chief Court of Lower Burma and (9) Members of the Council of State.' Hence arises my query. When did the "Mr." append itself to the title? I think I am correct in saying that when the title was first used in India there was no question of "Mr." When he arrived at the requisite attitude John Jones became The Hon. John Jones nowadays he would be called The Hon. Mr. Jones. Why? The official regulation quoted above says the title is 'Honourable," and omits both "the" and "Mr." Ought we to speak of "Honourable Jones or "Honourable John Jones ? 66 LIBRARIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. (12 S. viii. 8, 34, 54, 76.) THE average Public Library and Public Librarian are not at all equipped to answer genealogical problems. May I make a few suggestions as to what a library should acquire before beginning to qualify to fulfil such a function? It might then be found that to invest a locality with direct personal interests, via the study of genealogy, is the surest road to the attainment of whatever aims Public Libraries are generally supposed to possess. 1. Of course, copies of all the histories of the county in which the library is situate, of the County Visitation Pedigrees and of all local histories. 4. Complete copies of all the local Directories, and before then, of the local Subsidy Rolls, Land Tax Assessments, Hearth Tax Assessments, Muster Rolls, Recusant Rolls and complete copies of the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851. 5. Then abstracts of all the wills of people connected with the place, of the pleadings and depositions in lawsuits, and of every loose deed or document which exists amongst the millions in the Public Record Office, the Probate and Diocesan Registries and in private hands. These to be arranged simply in order of date and type-written. hand for ready reference, PUBLIC LIBRARIAN I think that, this working material at might begin to be in a position to answer genealogical enquiries. It might cost a few thousand pounds for any single parish to acquire such a collection, and take a few years to get together, and he himself would be all the better equipped with some years' experience of record searching outside his own library; but until both possess these qualifications he cannot expect inquirers to contribute for special searches much towards the library funds, for they will assuredly be disappointed at the result. 210 Strand, W.C.2. GEORGE SHERWOOD. There is a fine collection of Norfolk items at the Norwich Public Library (Mr. Stephens). And the Lowestoft Public Library (Miss K. Durrant) contains a good selection of bocks on the twin counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, together with the interesting MSS. of Mr. William BlythGerish, of Southtown, Great Yarmouth, relating to Norfolk Archæology and Folklore. W. J. CHAMBERS. Clancarty, Regent Road, Lowestoft. The County of Suffolk. The Ipswich Public Library contains a large collection of local books relating to Ipswich and the county generally. I believe the Suffolk Institute of Archæology at Bury St. Edmunds possesses a collection of books and MSS. Public Library at Lowestoft also owns a gcod collection of local books, while as to those in private hands, Mr. Milner-Gibson-Cullum, D.L., Hardwick House, Bury St. Edmunds has a fine collection, and the library of Mr. F. A. Crisp at the Grove Park Press is a considerable one and rich in MSS., but now 3. Every original document, parchment, being dispersed. The collection of Mr. deed, &c., upon which it can lay hands, H. B. W. Wayman at Bloomsbury is rich properly calendared and indexed, so that in rare broadsides, Commonwealth quartos 2. Copies of the Parish Registers from beginning to end, of all the Manorial Court Rolls and of all the Monumental Inscriptions in all the churhes, churchyards and cemeteries in the parish or town that the library represents. No mention has yet been made of the collection of Lancashire books which will be found in the Chetham's Hospital Library, Manchester, and the Reference Library in that city. This county is so congested with towns of considerable size that most of them are content to specialize in the bibliography of their own district, and mention should be made of the collection of Liverpool literature in the Public Library there. Bolton has gathered together a big collection, and 'Bibliographia Boltoniensis, compiled by your correspondent Mr. Sparke, and published by the Manchester University Press, 1913, is a bibliography with biographical details of local authors from 1550 to 1912, and books printed and published in the town from 1785. It is a quarto publication of 206 pages, and would serve as an excellent model for anyone who contemplates such a compilation. Most of the Lancashire towns give special attention to the collection of local literature. ST. THOMAS'S DAY CUSTOM (12 S. viii. 50). My maternal grandmother, who came to live here before 1828, and died in 1854, used to give sixpence a piece to poor widows who called for it on St. Thomas's day, or had it sent to them. A writer in Hone's Every Day Book' vol. ii, p. 1627, calls it Doleing Day, and describes doles of wheat, flannel, loaves, and money, at Loose, Linton, and Barming, all near Maidstone, in 1825. Winterton, Lines. 66 J. T. F. In the mid-Victorian age, impecunious old women in Kesteven, used to go about begging, or, as they said, mumping on Dec. 21, which was popularly known as Mumping Day. I do not know why the festival was devoted to such an observance ; nearness to Christmas may have suggested the choice, and the fact that St. Thomas is commemorated on the shortest day of three hundred and sixty-five, may have conduced to the patience of donors. ST. SWITHIN. The custom of "going a Thomasing," as it is called, still survives in parts of Lincolnshire. In the Isle of Axholme, at any rate, it is not confined to widows, and I never heard of any division of the spoils. The old women go round in groups; at private houses they will, I suppose, usually have money given them, but at the shops they receive small-very small-doles of goods 66 66 a candle from a grocer or chandler, for instance. I have so frequently heard a St. Thomas's candle" asked for that I was once led to suppose it a relic of the Catholic custom of presenting a candle at the Saint's shrine, but I could never find any confirmation of this. A local newspaper had a paragraph on St. Thomas in December last, telling the story of his legendary adventures in India and connecting this custom with them. If struck me as a rather cheap way of building "mansions in the skies to give a few old people a candle apiece. C. C. B. Hone in his 'Every Day Book ' gives some information which may be useful to your correspondent. A custom at the village of Loose, near Maidstone, in 1825 is described of the poor receiving quantities of wheat, and widows a new flannel petticoat each; in addition donations in money are solicited, and it is " no uncommon thing for a family to get in this way six or seven shillings. A similar custom was prevalent (c. 1825) in Linton where the richer inhabitants gave their alms in the way they thought best. The custom was known as Doleing and the day was called Doleing-day. In some parts of the country the day is marked by a custom among poor persons of going a gooding that is to say (Chambers's 'Book of Days') calling at houses of richer neighbours and begging a supply either of money or provisions. It is also known as "Mumping (begging) day.' In Warwickshire the custom is known as going a corning, and here particularly corn was solicited. N. & Q.' for 1857 contains some further information, and also Hazlitt in 'Dictionary of Faiths and Folklore,' 1905, vol. i. On St. Thomas's Day, at Chipping, Lancashire, "Dole-sermons, are preached, and doles of money given to the poor of the parish. 66 66 66 ARCHIBALD SPARKE. 66 66 This is an ancient custom in several counties. In Kent it is called going agooding" and elsewhere a-Thomassin," or a mumping," when poor people beg for Sometimes in return for the charity bestowed a money or provisions for Christmas. sprig of holly or mistletoe was given. This custom and many others in most countries in Europe took place chiefly on St. Thomas's Eve (see Clement E. Miles's Christmas in Ritual and Tradition and authorities there quoted). H. HANNEN. West Farleigh. |