Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/402

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330


NOTES AND QUERIES. 12 s. vn. OCT. 23, 1920.


diuerse men's Houses in Thames Street, New Pish Street, and Grasse Street, vp vnto the North-west corner of Leadenhall the highest ground of the citie of London, &c."

This identification is almost synonymous with the top of Cornhill.

ALECK ABRAHAMS.

" HUN "The term "Hun" was often used by English journalists and authors during the late war to denote "barbarian," and was only adopted by French writers after it had become common in England. A French poet, Jean Pons Viennet, however, was the first to use the term in a similar sense as far back as 1842, and it appears as follows in his unsuccessful tragedy, 'Arbo- gaste ' :

Es-tu Goth, Wisigoth, Ostrogoth, Welche, Edun ? Car tu dois etre un d'eux si tu n'es pas un Hun.

This was the signal for loud laughter in all parts of the house on its production at the Comedie-Francaise, and the unfortunate Viennet afterwards confessed " J'etais fou de douleur. " ANDREW DE TERNANT.

36 Somerleyton Road, Brixton, S.W.


(t ratios.

We must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that answers may be sent to them direct.

THE STEEPEST MACADAMISED ROAD IN EUROPE. The Rampede la Donzelle, near Geneva, is generally quoted as holding this distinction. It begins with a gradient of 28 per cent., or 1 in 3, and near the top it reaches a maximum of 31 per cent., or 1 in 3. Though this road may boast of its


sorts of liquors, and of different subjects." It is unlikely they were invented at Batter- It is possible they are mentioned in thd Hall Marks and Duty Act of 12 Geo. II. c. 23 (1739) and of earlier dates, to which I havs not access. It is information, ante 1753, that is sought for, and I shall be grateful for any that will throw light on a subject of interest to collectors. J. C. I

GAINSBOROUGH'S PICTURE OF THE MALL.-^- When Samuel Kilderbee's Collection wis sold at Christie's in 1829, the description In the catalogue of that famous picture, 'Tie Mall, St. James's Park,' was followed by a note. "See Gentleman's Magazine, 1786/' Presumably this refers to an article on tie picture, but I have searched The Gentle- man's Magazine in vain for anything aboiit "The Mall," and think the compiler of Christie's catalogue must have mentioned the wrong journal. Can any one inform i^e where the article is to be found ? L. M. \

CHARTULARIES. I should be extreme^- obliged if from the many correspondents c N. & Q. ' I could learn whether any or al of the chartularies or similar records of th following abbeys, priories or convents, &c., have been printed or where the MSS. exist v: Beaulieu, Bridgwater Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Hartland, Hayes, Merton Montacute, Plympton, Rewley, Tavistock, Tewkesbury, Newenham, Sion, Windsor (Canons of). Where can I get information as to the present location of the Records of Fonevrault, St. Sergius and Bacchus of Angiers and Mont St. Michel Abbeys.

These monastic bodies held something like a sixth of the advowsons of Cornwall between


steepness, it has to sing small as regards its I them, and their records must hold a con- - ^ < - i - ' siderable amount of historical material of

Motor trials held over I ^ eat Cornish interest, especially in regard to an easy victory for I feudal families, place-names, saints legends


length for it only attains the very moderate length of 340 yards, it lately resulted in

engine over gradient Perhaps some reader of ' N. & Q. ' will oblige with information as to which are the steepest macadamised roads in England, Scotland, and Ireland respec- tively. CHARLES MENMUIR, M.A. 25 Garscube Lane, Glasgow.

BOTTLE TICKETS OR WINE LABELS. I am


and the names of rectors and vicars, &c. A bibliography of existing Monastic Records is badly needed.

J. HAMBLEY ROWE, M.B.

THE SURNAME PUTTICK. I should be glad to know the derivation of this name, with its variants Pidduck, Puddock, Pittuck,


endeavouring to trace the first appearance of & c . The termination appears to be a


these (now) curios. The earliest 'reference I have is the auctioneer's advertisement of the sale of the effects of Mr. Janssen, proprietor of the Battersea enamels factory, which reads "bottle tickets with chains for all


diminutive, but the stem baffles me, though no doubt some of your readers may know. Is the whole name known in any of its forms as a place-name ? M. A. ELLIS.

41 Wellington Street, W.C.2.