9*s.vi.sKrT.29,i9oo.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 257 "printing"; a doctor would perhaps say " chloroform "; the man in the street would as likely say the steam engine"; a soldier might say "gunpowder." If the question be altered to "What invention has had most influence on mankind ?" I think the answer would be the production of fire by artificial means. The day on which prehistoric man invented a method of producing fire was a turning-point in the history of the human species. Possibly he did not invent a process, but discovered one, for invention implies a process of reasoning which prehistoric man perhaps did not possess. Iron must have been used centuries before 140 B.C., if there be any accuracy in the comparative method as employed in prehistoric archaeology. See Lubbock s ' Prehistoric Times,' or Mr. Clodd's delightful 'Story of Primitive Man,' pub- lished by George Newnes at a shilling. W. E. WILSON. Hawick. H. J. B., in inquiring about the discovery of iron, seems to have forgotten that in Genesis iv. 22 Tubal Cain, who was seventh in descent from Adam, is spoken of as "an in- structor of every artificer in brass and iron." M. N. "HALF MOON "TAVERN: "THE MAYPOLE" (9th S. vi. 168).—A large collection of small prints and drawings in my possession relating to the trade signs or London does not include one of the " Half Moon" in Cheapside. One is, of course, not at liberty to assume from this that no such print is extant, but having neve^either seen or heard of one, I am disposed to'think that such is the case. No. 140, Cheapside, on the north side, next to Sadlers' Hall, stands on the site of this popular rendezvous for anniversary dinners. The battle of Culloden was celebrated here by a dinner given in honour of the Duke of Cumberland :— " Saturday next the 16 April being the anniversary of the Glorious Battle of Culloden, the Stars will assemble in the Moon at six in the evening. There- fore the choice spirits are desired to make their ajipearance, and to fill up the joy."—Ofneml Adrtr- fa«er, 1748. See also Gent. Ma;/., April, 1747. Elias Ashmole in his ' Diary' records that he presided at a dinner prepared at the charge of some newly accepted masons at the " Half Moon" in Cheapside: " I was the senior fellow among them, it being thirty-five years ago since I was admitted (Burn's ' Beaufoy Tokens,' No. 319). And at the " Half Moon " " the Society of College Youths " were accus- tomed to meet (1748, Banks Coll. of Admission Tickets, portfolios). It ceased to be a tavern in 1817, having for some time been known a the " New London Tavern." A fire destroyed the whole in 1821, when No. 140 was rebui t on its site. There was yet another Halt Moon" Tavern besides that in Alder.sga.te Street, not a hundred miles away, in Milk Street, which is mentioned by Taylor the Water Poet :— Well, John (quoth he), this hand I know is mine, But I, this day, do purpose to goe dine At the Half Moone in Milk Street, prithee come, And there we '11 drink and pay this petty sum. ' A Merry Gome-Twang,' p. 5. The maypole, with some small building attached, is delineated on the obverse of a distiller's token (1666, Burn's 'Beaufoy Tokens.' The collection itself is preserved in the City Museum). When last heard of the Strand maypole was being preserved at Wanstead Park, Essex—so Strype tells us— whither it was conveyed in 1718 in a timber carriage, so that it should perhaps still be possible to obtain a drawing or photograph of it. This secured, the details of its adorn- ment might be added from Cunninghams 'Story of Nell Gwyn,'corrected and enlarged from his original contribution to the Gentle- man's Magazine in 1851, where it is described as surmounted by a crown and vane, with the royal arms richly gilded. There is a very curious account of the re-erection or the maypole at the Restoration in a rare tract entitled 'The City's Loyalty Displayed, 4to., 1661. J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL. Wimbledon Park Road. The "Half Moon" Tavern was in Half Moon Alley, leading from Cheapside, and between Foster and Gutter Lanes. It could also be entered from Priest's Court, Foster Lane (now No. 5), and there was an entrance through the tavern to Gutter Lane. I have searched every printshop and library for this tavern. Its exact site is given and marked in Maitland's 'London. The tavern was never engraved, and the best authorities declare that it was never de- picted. All that remains of Half Moon Alley one can see from the head of the kitchen stairs in Sadlers' Hall. " Half Moon Tavern in Aldersgate Street is an entirel different building. An engraving of the maypole in the Strand can be seen in the large picture of the charity children in the Strand early in the last century. It is reproduced and exact location given in Bray ley's ' Londiniana,' p. 254, <fcc. The maypole stood at the west end of the present St. Mary le Strand. J. Ross ROBERTSON. Toronto, Canada.
