128. II. OfeT. 7, 1916.]
NOTES AND QUERIES.
281
LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 19VJ.
CONTENTS. No. 41.
NOTES : Contraband Two Hundred Years Ago, 281 English Army List of 1740, 282 Gray : a Book of Squibs, 285 -Bibliography of Irish Counties and Towns, 286 Americanisms? 287 Casaubon on Baskish " Fare thou well "-Joseph Wolff : Letter, 288.
QUERIES : National Flags Rev. Richard Bathbone Friends of Ignatius Sancho Risby ' Frederetta Romney ' Farmers' Sayings, 289 "Mr. Davis," Friend of Mrs. Siddons Authors of Quotations Wanted, 290 Fleming Family Author of Poem Wanted Reference Wanted Dog Smith John Stretton's " dauncinge schoole " Sandford Family, 291.
REPLIES : First English Provincial Newspaper Foreign Graves of British Authors, 292" Doctrine of Signa- tures "Moving Pictures Mrs. Griffith on Shakespeare's Dramas The French and Frogs, 293 Ibbetson or Ibberson Horse-Chestnut, 294 " Jobey " of Eton- Prebendary David Durell Rome and Moscow W. Robinson, LL.D. Sir John Maynard The Dick Whit- tington "Great-cousin" " L'homme sensuel moyen," 295 Rev. Ward Maule "Panis amicitire symbolum " Authors Wanted Sir W. Ogle: Sarah Stewkeley Tinsel Pictures, 296 Unidentified M.P.s Navy Legends, 297 Caldecott Epitaph on a Pork Butcher" Quite all right," 293" Blue Pencil " " Coals to Newcastle," 299.
NOTES ON BOOKS: 'The Races of Ireland and Scot- land' Reviews and Magazines.
Notices to Correspondents.
CONTRABAND TWO HUNDRED
YEARS AGO.
THE letter printed below was written by John Fleetwood, British Consul at Naples by patent. Xotes on his ancestry and descendants will be found at 10 S. v. 48, 403-5 ; 11 S. vi. 331-3 ; xii. 321-2.
He was a partner in Peers & Fleetwood,- merchants, his partner being John Peers (under age), eldest son of Sir Charles Peers, a strong Whig, who wat Lord Mayor of London in 1715. The partnership was for three years from arrival in Naples ; the firm's capital was 4,0001. Part of John Fleet- wood's capital was borrowed from his uncle, Samuel Pargiter.* Two-thirds of the profits were to be taken by John Fleetwood, and one-third by John Peers. John Fleet \v><>d arrived in Naples about Oct. 15, 1708. The partnership was renewed, and in July- August, 1715, Thomas Withers, ah apprentice to John Fleetwood, was made a partner,
- This led to Chancery proceedings, Fleetwood
v. Bird in 1726, and Fleetwood i: Pargiter in 1739. The latter is referred to at 11 S. xii. 322.
each taking one-third of the profits. Withers
died in 1716 ; the surviving partners each
took a half share of the profits until Septem-
ber, 1720. Sir Charles Peers was John
Fleet wood's factor or agent in London.
John Peers returned to London about 1714,
but continued a partner, being John
Fleetwood's factor for his own private trade.
A Chancery suit was instituted in May, 1723,
by Fleetwood against his partner, who, he
alleged, owed him 6,0001.
In 1708 John Fleetwood was part owner (with Thomas Ridge and Thomas Mis.-in^ of Portsmouth, and Joseph Boitt and Thomas Blakely of London, merchants) of the Ambuscade, Capt. William Thompson, with the intent to send her as a privateer to the Mediterranean against the French. This venture led to another Chancery suit, Fleetwood v. Ridge, in 1739, the plaintiff being John Fleetwood jun. who had become sole executor to his father's will.
John Fleetwood the elder returned to London in 1721, and died Nov. 12, 1725.
Admiral Sir John Norris (see ' D.N.B.'), to whom the letter is addressed, was of the family of Norris of Speke, co. Lancaster. Margaret, second daughter of Sir William Norris of Speke, K.B., temp. James I., married Edward Fleetwood of Penwortham (Chetham Society, O.S., Ixxxv. 220).
Our ancestors had the same difficulties to contend w r ith in regard to contraband as we are now experiencing. The same cunning was displayed by the enemy, while the same endeavour was made by us to treat the property of bona fide neutrals fairly.
(British Museum, Addl. MS. 28153, fol. 161.) Naples y e 7 th August 1710.
SIR, I have not had y e hon r of a line from y but -hope shall not be long w th ou' it w 1 ' 1 ' I ardently Covet Y" is to advise y that y e diligence Cap' Brice und r y* Direction of M r Plowman, bro' in here some dayes Since a Venetian Ship Cap' Mellickick bound from Venice to Messina w !)l Iron, Nails, Steel, & oth r goods Esteem'd contra- band, there she took in 60 bales of Silk &c for Liv & Genoa w ch on Examinacon find to be for Sicilian ace* notw th stand f< y* Cunning y* laders & Neutral Capt 8 have in make* bills of lade* in form for Genovese & Venetians & florentines & indeed it is w th some difficulty a man comes to find out y* truth for y e Cap' he resolutely conspired to Conceal their Effects however in y" Ship y 1 ' Cap' has been found a lyar 3 or 4 times on oath and bills of lade" & lett w ch they should have sent v Rome they have unluckily Sent by y Ship by w l ' h means [one] may very reasonably suspect y e rest is managed y e same way
I called a Consolate w ch has found y e Ship guilty for Carry* Countraband goods to an Enemys country & for w ta laden att Messina have given
