Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/421

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

10* s. in. MAY 6) iocs.] NOTES AND QUERIES.


345-


that Dollis Hill could not take the name as either being at or near the boundary of the parish or as low ground ; and as the name Dollis is also found in three forms in the adjoining parish of Hendon, in a position also at a distance from the boundary, the signifi- cation thus used elsewhere is quite unsuitable in this locality. The explanation seems to be suggested by a will recorded in the Com- missary Court of London in 1396, that will being of one Stephen Dolle, of Hendon (378 Courtney). Dollis Brook, Dole Street, and Dollis Farm are within a mile or so of Dollis Hill, but in the parish of Hendon. The name is rarely found in Middlesex, and cer- tainly died out in the fifteenth century at Hendon. Dollis Farm, Hendon, must not be confounded with Dollis Hill Farm, Willesden, although possibly both took their name from the same man. The earliest of the title-deeds of the former is dated 43 Elizabeth (1601), being the conveyance from Black well to Franklin (from whom it descended to the Kemps of Clitterhouse). The will of a William Black well, of London and Hendon, dated 1567 (P.C.C., 30 Lyon), mentions his two pieces of land at Hendon called " Dooles," being in the common field called Sheveshill. Roger Rippon was a witness to this. John Rippin, of Hendon, in 1575, dated his will from Doles Street, and left his land to his wife Mary. A year earlier John Kemp, of Hampstead, by his will (P.C.C., Martyn), left money to the churchwardens for the repair of the highway between Dolefield Green and Figg Lane. Dollis and Doles are used for the same place repeatedly.

FRED. HITCHIN-KEMP.

"SHICER" AND "SHICKER." In turning over the pages of ' Slang and its Analogues ' (a book which seems made for idle moments) I notice a curious confusion, s.v. skicer, between two words in no way related either in derivation or meaning. Shicer itself is of German origin, as explained in the sup- plement to Webster's 'Dictionary.' With this term, which is applied contemptuously to any worthless person, Messrs. Farmer and Henley have identified the totally different word shicke)' or shikkur, which is merely the Hebrew 12^, and has only the sense of "drunk." JAMES PLATT, Jun.

ST. MARK AND JUDAS. The baroque church of San Gregorio at Messina, conspicuous from its situation and remarkable for its cochleated spire, is entirely lined with inlaid marbles. The design is for the most part floral, flowing, and conventional ; but on the north and south walls of the chancel, about


in a line with a step of the high altar, one- finds a human ear and a business-like-looking knife. This, the custode says, represents the- ear of Judas and the instrument with which St. Mark deprived him of it. Mention of St. Peter and of Malchus is unavailing. Here we have something new about the Evangelist. ST. SWITHIN.

" HOOLIGAN." It is interesting to note the introduction of this word into the Russian and German languages. Our local (German) paper, quoting from the (Russian) Novaycm Vremya, speaks of the need for some measures to be taken against "die Hooligane " in the streets of St. Petersburg.

FRED. G. ACKERLEY.

Libau, Russia.

SHERIDAN'S 'CRITIC.' In his Catalogue for March, No. 130, Mr. Bertram Dobell adver- tises a copy of ' The Critic,' to which is sub- joined the following bibliographical note :

"Sheridan's ' Critic' is almost always imperfect, and almost always misrepresented as first edition. The printed half-title of this copy shows it to be the third edition, though without this half-title (which is almost always missing) this copy would present all the appearances of a hrst edition, having 98 pages, the leaf of advertisements, and engraved title, dated 1781."

By this important note, which merits pre- servation in a less ephemeral form than bookseller's catalogue, the collector may be warned not to purchase any copy of ' The Critic ' that purports to be a first edition, unless it also possesses the half-title. It may be noted that the half-title of the true first edition runs as under :

"The" | Critic: \ or, \A Tragedy Sehearsed. [ [Price One Shilling and Six-pence.]"

The title is between two lines, thickened in the middle. A copy with this half-title is excessively rare. W. F. PRIDEAUX.

POET LAUREATE READ AT THE HEAD OF THE TROOPS. If it be one, the fact recorded in 'The Pursuits of Literature' a satirical poem (anon., London, T. Becket, 1801) that in 1796 Pye's translation of Tyrtseus was read to our troops, must be unique in our annals. A note to the line

With Spartan Fye lull England to repose sets forth that these verses, " designed to produce animation throughout the kingdom, and among the militia in particular," were, on the advice of a board of general officers,, read aloud at Warley Common and at Barham. Downs (Canterbury) by the adjutants, at the head of five different regiments, at each camp. Although "much was expected," the result