9*8. IX. MARCH 15, 1902.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
207
The point is an interesting one, although
there is small likelihood now that it will over-
be definitely settled ; but of one thing we
are assured on the best critical authority, that
it was an Englishman and not a German who
composed the tune, and that the Prussians
have borrowed it from us, not we from them.
It seems almost a pity that the Kaiser
William II., universal genius as he is, does
not himself invent a national anthem for the
use of his own people, so that the English
and the German airs might for the future be
separate and distinct. PERCY CLARK.
[' God save the King ' was discussed at great length in 8 th S. x., xi., xii.]
WE must request correspondents desiring infor-
mation on family matters of only private interest
to affix their names and addresses to their queries,
in order that the answers maybe addressed to them
direct.
DEFOE AT TOOTING. An obstinate local tradition asserts that Daniel Defoe was living at Tooting-Graveney about the year 1688, and that he was active in the formation of the first Nonconformist congregation there. Mr. Thomas Wright and the other biographers of Defoe accept the story, but, apparently, on grounds of tradition alone. Morden's ' History of Tooting - Graveney ' (1897) contains unqualified statements to the effect that neither in the parish records nor elsewhere is there any evidence of Defoe's residence or his association with the Noncon- formist meeting, and that the house (Tooting Hall) which was thought to have been Defoe's was, in fact, built a century later, and used as the parish workhouse. Is any evidence of the tradition accessible 1 S. K. R.
PRECEPTORY OF DINMORE. I shall be grateful for information of any history or records of this ancient religious establish- ment in Herefordshire, the grant for which was made to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John by Richard I. Lord Coningsby's 'Marden' and Duncumb's 'Herefordshire' give only meagre information. I cannot find any reference in Dugdale.
ARTHUR GROVES.
Alperton Park, Wembley.
HIGH STREET, OXFORD. No. 90, High Street, adjoins the western wall of Barry's new buildings at University College on the south side of the street, and, standing upon land which belongs to Christ Church as the successor to Oseney Abbey, apparently
occupies the site of Broad gates Hall in
St. Mary's parish. Wood mentions this
hall as a special abode of illuminators.
Two large panelled rooms form the width of
the second and third stories, respectively,
of the present frontage, which immediately
faces the gateway-tower of All Souls'. The
upper room, the walls of which are entirely
panelled in wood, stained white, is divided
into an eastern and a western portion by
folding-doors. The plaster ceiling is divided
into compartments oy beams, but only the
plaster upon the beams is now decorated
with patterns once probably coloured or
gilt. The western fireplace has an elaborate
carving above it of the temptation of Eve.
The figures of Adam and Eve Jacobean, I
suppose, in date almost stand out in the
round from the panelling at their backs.
The subject of the eastern chimney-piece is
Abraham's sacrifice, and is in two compart-
ments. The figures contained therein are
quainter in design than those of Adam and
Eve, but are not carved in nearly such bold
relief. On the left appears the procession to
the place of sacrifice : Isaac first with the
laden ass; secondly, accompanying his father.
A scroll attached to Isaac's mouth asking
"Where is the Lam" is answered by one
issuing from Abraham's, saying " God wil
provide." On the right Abraham's sword is
arrested in act to strike by the angel, who
cries "Abraham, Abraham" ; while the ram
is shown caught in a thicket. Below the
figures appear the following verses. On
the left :
Behold the father of the faithful seede.
Was heere approued : to be sound in deede.
For being warnd of God : to sacrifice.
His sonne Isaack : most pretious in his eyes.
Forthwith obedient was at his command.
And slayes his sonne had not God stayd his hand.
On the right :
The antitipe of Christ : was he in this. For God His only Sonn : did slay for his [?]. And if Christ crucifid : thou desirst to see. This to a Christian : crucifix may be.
Not for to worship : as intent.
But only for thy chambers ornament.
Do these lines occur elsewhere in this con- nexion, and what is the missing word in the penultimate line ? A. R. BAYLEY.
CARLYLE AND SCRIPTURE. Encouraged by the fully satisfactory reply of my friend W. S. S. to the query ' Carlyle on Symbols ' (ante, p. 27), I would broach another question as to the writing of the same philosopher, even though in doing so I expose my igno- rance. There are two books which in Eng- land perpetually offer themselves to proverb,
