The Family of Jenkinson, Baronets of Hawkesbury and Earls of Liverpool.—I am about to compile a history of this family. I should be glad to get into communication with any persons who may be interested, or who may be able to give me information as to the whereabouts of pictures, papers, tombs, &c.
(Rev.) H. L. L. Denny.
3 Lincoln Street, Chelsea, S.W.
Author of Motto Wanted.—Who is the author of the following?
The beauty of the house is order;
The blessing of the house is contentment;
The glory of the house is hospitality.
E. W. P.
The King's Cock-Crower.—I have the following extract from some unknown source:—
"Among the ancient customs of this country one of matchless absurdity was continued even to so late a period as the reign of George the First. During Lent, an ancient officer of the crown, styled the King's Cock-Grower, crowed the hour each night within the precincts of the palace. On the Ash Wednesday after the Accession of the House of Hanover, as the Prince of Wales, afterwards George the Second, sat down to supper, this officer abruptly entered the apartment, and, in a voice resembling the shrill pipe of a cock, crowed 'Past ten o'clock.' The astonished prince, at first conceiving it to be a premeditated insult, rose to resent the affront; but upon the nature of the ceremony being explained to him, he was satisfied. Since that period this silly custom, which was introduced to remind the Court of their errors, by that clarion which called back Peter to repentance, has been discontinued."
What foundation is there for this curious narrative? Ernest H. H. Shorting.
Broseley.
[See the authorities cited at 10 S. iii. 312.]
A Smokers' Superstition.—What is the origin of the extremely common superstition against lighting three cigarettes with one match? Hundreds of times I have seen two cigarettes lit up, and then the match solemnly blown out lest it should light the third; but if there are four cigarettes to light there is no objection! Private Bradstow.
"Marksman."—I have a copy of a work on sport entitled 'The Dead Shot,' by Marksman, Longman & Co., 1861. Can any of your readers tell me who Marksman was? The last edition was published in 1882. I have consulted Halkett and Laing's 'Dictionary,' and also the British Museum Catalogue, but neither of them gives any information. S. O. Kenny.
Southey on Popery: Doubtful Reading.—Southey's letter, Feb. 21, 1801, to C. W. Wynn:—
"I hate and abhor [Popery] from the bottom of my soul, and the only antidote is poison……The monastic establishments in England ought to be dissolved; as for the priests, they will, for the most part, find their way into France; they who remain should not be suffered to recruit, and would soon die away in peace. I half fear a breach of the Union, perhaps another rebellion, in that wretched country."
Should "England"—so printed, however, in Southey's letters edited by his son; and now in the Oxford University Press selection, edited by Maurice H. Fitzgerald—be "Ireland"? W. F. P. Stockley.
University College, Cork.
Child's Story-Book Wanted.—In my childhood—probably about 1856—I read a child's book of which I forget the title and everything else, except that (1) the Napoleonic wars furnished the background; (2) the fact that Prussia was the staunch ally of England was strongly emphasized; (3) some children, Prussian and English, with whose fortunes the tale was chiefly concerned, were, with seniors, in a tilted cart on a dark night in mortal dread of the French soldiery whom they were endeavouring to evade.
I shall be much obliged if any of your readers can help me to the title, author, and publisher of the work. Darsani.
Rochard, Artist in Wax Portraits.—Is anything known of an artist of this name who executed miniature portraits in relief in coloured wax, and when the art was first practised? I possess a portrait of Robert Price, Esq., signed and dated "Rochard,. 1813."
Leonard C. Price.
Ewell, Surrey.
Illustrations J. C. Hotten's Edition of 'German Popular Stories.'—Is there any bibliographical record of these, or can any reader tell me whether these illustrations (known as the "Ruskin Grimm," 1848) are considered in any way remarkable?
I have a large-paper copy of this issue, the illustrations in which are described as proof impressions.
I should think that if the designs had been reproduced by lithography or by some other purely mechanical process, devoid of individuality, proof impressions would have been valueless. Are they the result of pure direct etching in the same sense as Cruikshank's own designs for the original issues of 1823-6 are? C. Horton.
