518
NOTES AND QUERIES. t n s. i. J UKE 25, mo.
RICHARD GLYNN, PUBLISHER : BRITISH
INSTITUTION: AUTOGRAPH PORTFOLIO (11 S.
i. 429). On the site of the original Almack's,
afterwards Goosetree's Club, Alderman
Boy dell opened at No. 50, Pall Mall, his
Shakespeare Gallery. He intended to be-
queath the gallery to the nation, but was
forced, ruined as he was by his public spirit
in projecting it, to dispose of it by public
lottery on 28 January, 1805. In 1806 the
lease of the house for sixty-three years
was bought for 4,400Z. by several noblemen
and gentlemen, who established here, under
the auspices of George III., the British
Institution for the exhibition of the works
of living artists in the spring, and Old
Masters in the autumn. It was opened on
18 January, 1806. In 1868 the house was
pulled down by the Gymnastic Club. There
are some interesting reminiscences of the
Shakespeare Gallery and the British Institu-
tion in The Evening News of 7 February,
1910 ('Talks about Old London') by one
who signs himself ' M. R.' See also Wheat-
ley's 'Round about Piccadilly,' 1870, p.
352-4, where, however, no mention is made
of the ' Autograph Portfolio. 1
J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.
Wroxton Grange, Folkestone.
ANDREW HEARSEY (11 S. i. 428). In connexion with this family I seem to re- member an inquiry as to a member of it marrying into that of Lord Audley. Per- haps the following cutting from Gray's book catalogue may afford a clue :
" Court Kolls. Extracts from Court Rolls of Manor of Isleworthin Middlesex, 1751-1767. Parties interested, Gumley, Lockman, Crane, Thicknesse, Greenhill. Folio, manuscript, on 4 11. 7/6. 234." R. J. FYNMORE.
Sandgate.
MADDOCK FAMILY (11 S. i. 428). Much information about the Maddock family can bo obtained from the records of the Felt- makers' Guild of Dublin, which have recently bsen recovered, and are now deposited in the Public Record Office, Dublin.
H. S. GUINNESS.
Stillorgan, co. Dublin.
ANN OF SWANSEA (11 S. i. 422). The publication of Ann of Swansea's will led Mr. A. R. Way, Bookseller, Wind Street, Swansea, to show me a curious pack of cards which the owner had entrusted to him in the hope that he might be able to obtain a purchaser for it. It was found in an old desk which had belonged .to one of the "Misses E. and G. Jenkins," who kept a
Lending Library in Wind Street when
Swansea was a fashionable watering place.
These were friends of Mrs. Hatton, who left
her album to "Miss Ellen Jenkins....
as I know she will value it for my sake."-
The. cards are enclosed in what is apparently their original case. There are 52 of them, each 3| ins. long by 2 ins. broad. Half of them are pink and the other half blue. They are not numbered, but what we may regard as the first of the pink cards has the following :
EXORDIUM TO CUM^AN LEAVES.
By Ann of Swansea.
Within these mystic leaves is found The fate by which your life is bound ; Make while you may a thinking pause, The leaf perus'd, the veil withdraws, And at a glance will meet your gaze The joy or grief of future days. Forewarn'd, if now resolv'd you stand, Boldly stretch forth your vent'rous hand, The Sibyl leaf undaunted try, Prophetic of your destiny.
What may be regarded as the first of the blue cards has
THE INTENTION OF CUM^AN LEAVES.
Let not the Sibyl Leaves disclose
Ought to disturb your mind's repose ;
From sportive fancy they had birth,
Merely design'd to give you mirth.
But if from folly they restrain,
Awake and save one erring heart,
Then has the effort not been vain,
That try'd a moral to impart,
By pointing out that Vice brings certain woe.
While Virtue can alone content bestow.
Ann of Swansea.
There are no directions, but the cards were evidently intended for the amusement of a mixed party of young people. One blue card must have been dealt to each bachelor and one pink card to each spinster. On the card would be found a verse (pre- sumably by Ann of Swansea) indicating the recipient's fate in matrimony. I append two samples.
Conceited ! brainless ! dost thou dare To think that maiden, good and wise,
Wealthy, amiable, and fair, Will condescend to be thy prize ?
Marry thou shalt and Fate's decree
A brawling slattern gives to thee.
Thou art a vain Coquette, thy eyes Fly round in hopes to gain a prize, A husband, handsome, tall and bold, Well born, and rich. This leaf behold ! Thou hast with scorn rejected many, And now must be content with any ; A slovenly ill-temper'd sot, Depend upon 't shall be thy lot !
DAVID SALMON. Swansea.
