NOTES AND QUERIES.
[128. 1. JAN. 1,1916.
The objects of the Society are stated in a further circular to be
"to diffuse throughout the kingdom as universally as possible, a knowledge of the great principles of Constitutional Freedom, particularly such as respect the election and duration of the representative body. With this view Constitutional Tracts, intended for the extension of this knowledge and to communicate it to persons of all ranks, are printed and distributed Gratis, at the expence of the Society. Essays and extracts from various authors, calculated to promote the same design, are also published under the direction of the Society, in several of the Newspapers: and it is the wish of the Society to extend this knowledge throughout every part of the United Kingdom, and to convince men of all ranks, that it is their interest, as well as their duty, to support a free constitution, and to maintain and assert those common rights, which are essential to the dignity and to the happiness of human nature.
"To procure short parliaments and a more equal representation of the people, are the primary objects of the attention of this Society, and they wish to disseminate that knowledge among their Countrymen, which may lead them to a general sense of the importance of these objects, and which may induce them to contend for their rights, as men, and as citizens, with ardour and with firmness.
"The communication of sound political knowledge to the people at large must be of great national advantage; as nothing but ignorance of their natural rights, or inattention to the consequence of these rights to their interest and happiness, can induce the majority of the inhabitants of any country to submit to any species of civil tyranny. Public Freedom is the source of natural dignity, and national felicity; and it is the duty of every friend to virtue and mankind to exert himself in the promotion of it."
The earliest meeting of the Society was held at the King's Arms Tavern, New Palace Yard, and later meetings at the Freemasons' Tavern (May 27, 1780), at New Inn Coffee-House (Feb. 15 and May 24, 1782), at Holyland's Coffee-House (Jan. 24, 1783), and at 11 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden (Oct. 29, 1784).
The only list of officials I can find is as follows:—
- Martin, James, Esq., President.
- Bridgen, Edward, Esq., Treasurer.
- Churchill, John, Esq., Vice-President.
- Shove, Alured Henry, Esq., Vice-President.
- Trecothick, James, Esq., Vice-President.
- Yeates, Thomas, Jun., Secretary.
The Society issued a quantity of leaflets, &c., under the general title of
"Tracts published and distributed gratis by the Society for Constitutional Information, with a design to convey to the minds of the people, a knowledge of their rights, principally those of representation." London, W. Richardson, 403 Strand, 1783, &c.
187 Piccadilly, W.
'THE VICAR OF BRAY' (US. xii. 453).
Bray folk, of whom I am one (for I was a
resident parishioner for thirty years, and
have still a small holding in the parish), have
always been taught that the original Vicar
of Bray was Simon Dillin (? Allen or Aleyn),
Canon of Windsor, d. 1565.
Gough, 'Berks,' 26, Steele's Collection, p. 21 (Bodleian), says : " This is he of whom ye Prouerb ' The Vicar of Bray still.' '
He was the twentieth vicar. I have not the date of his institution, but his predecessor was instituted 1522/3. The author of ' Hundred of Bray,' pub. 1861, confirms the statement about Col. Fuller, but gives no authority. It is not perhaps generally known that there was a Vicar of Bray who to a great extent coincides with the song. His tombstone is in the centre aisle of Bray Church, and the inscription is as follows : '
" Subter jacet Devoniensis Franciscus Carswell sacra3 Theologia? Doctor, Regibus Carolo 2do et Jacobo 2do Capellanus ; Ecclesiae de Remnam Rector. Hujus Bibrocensis Vicarius 42 annos. ^Etatis SU83 70. Obiit 24 Aug., 1709."
It may well be that, if the tradition of the song being written by an officer of Guards temp. George I. is founded on fact, this officer may have been a Bray man, who in recording the tradition had his own vicar in mind. G. H. PALMER.
In a List of Successions of Colonels tl ere occurs Francis Fuller, 29th Regt., Aug. 28, 1739. See 'Army List,' printed by J. Millan, the whole complete for 1773, p. 215. The regiment at that date would probably be known by the name of its colonel.
R. J. FYNMORE.
THOMAS GRIFFIN TARPLEY (US. xii. 482). On his son's matriculation at Christ Church, Oxon (Dec. 24, 1798, aged 17), Dr. Tarpley was given as "of the Isle of Jersey, armiger." He had married Catherine, fourth daughter of Kenneth, Lord Fortrose, eldest son of William Mackenzie, fifth Earl of Seaforth, attainted by Act of Parliament for his participation in the rebellion of 1715. The younger Tarpley, at Christ Church, was Student until 1816, B.A. 1802, M.A. 1805, Proctor 1813, and Vicar of Flower, Northants, 1815.
A. R. BAYLEY.
This family held Moratico in Virginia, and was connected with Griffin, John Tarpley in 1749 being an executor of Leroy Griffin's will.
Th. G. Tarpley must have reached England before 1783, as he married here in 1773 Miss
