Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/24

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NOTES AND QUERIES. tn 8. vi. JUA G, 1912.


of James I. as it is at the present day, and its origin is probably hidden in the darkness of antiquity. It may be mentioned that even in Hungarian which lias no known generic connexion with any other European tongue the saying " Mennel tobb, annal jobb " (literally, " The more the better "), is of daily occurrence.

ARTHUR NEWTON.

CASANOVA AND CARLYLE (11 S. v. 428). In case the desired reference be not found, it may be worth while pointing out that in 1833 (' Count Cagliostro,' Flight First, eleventh paragraph from the beginning) Carlyle wrote :

"The present inquirer. .. .has read Books in various languages and jargons ; feared not to soil his fingers, hunting through ancient dusty Magazines, to sicken his heart in any labyrinth of iniquity and imbecility ; nay lie had not grudged to dive even into the infectious ' Meinoircs de Casanova,' for a hint or two, coxild he have found that work, which, however, most British Librarians make a point of denying that they possess."

L. R. M. STRACHAN.

Heidelberg.

ROBERT ROLLO GILLESPIE AT VELLORE (US. iii. 348, 397, 437, 472). An anonymous memoir, but known to be from the pen of Major Wm. Thorne, was " printed for T. Egerton, at the Military Library, White- hall," in 1816, 8vo, pp. 256.

A comprehensive biographical sketch, containing much new material, appeared in The Northern Whig (Belfast) for 18 April, 1906, from the pen of Dr. J. S. Crone (editor of The Irish Book Lover) of Kensal Lodge, Harrow Road, London, N.W.

There is a statue of the great Ulster soldier at his native place, Comber, co. Down, in addition to the monument in St. Paul's Cathedral referred to by the REV. E. L. H. TEW. WILLIAM MACARTHUR.

Dublin.

APPARENT DEATH (11 S. v. 428). Most books on medical jurisprudence (or forensic medicine) contain chapters on this subject, more especially the older editions or earlier works dealing with this branch of medical study, e.g., that written by J. S. Forsyth, surgeon, in 1829 (see chaps, xii.-xix., a long historical account with many illustrative cases) ; Dr. Michael Ryan's ' Manual,' 2nd ed.. published in 1836, pp. 485-500; and Dr. Ogston's ' Lectures,' published in 187-8, chap, xxv., in which he explains the probable causes of many popular tales of interment alive.


In his book ' Dead Leaves and Living Seeds ' the Rev. Harry Jones relates many things about the cholera epidemic of 1866 in St. George's-in-the-East. He thinks that in the first panic some people must have been buried alive, and gives two instances of the revival of presumed dead persons, one of whom was being removed by the mortuary cart for burial ; this was a woman who subse- quently had four more children.

In 1910 there died at Bicester John Hudson, who in 1832, when cholera carried off sixty-four persons there, was placed in his coffin for burial; but just before the funeral his grandmother, taking a last look at him, fancied she noticed a slight move- ment. He was removed from the coffin, and recovered.

Madame Nathalie, who died in November, 1885, in Paris, aged 70, narrowly escaped premature inhumation in 1836. She was playing in the fairy ballet ' La Fille de 1'Air,' when she fell down in a swoon, was believed to be dead, and was placed in her coffin. The first blow of the undertaker's hammer roused her, and in a few days she was back at the Folies Dramatiques.

In syncopal ague there is a condition of suspended animation so long in duration that the patient runs a risk of burial alive. Cases are referred to by Dr. Fagge and Prof. Trousseau in their lectures.

WILLIAM BRADBROOK.

Bletchley.

" SLEEVELESS ERRAND " (US. v. 445). In connexion with the reference to a glove being, in Spanish, an emblem of a gratuity, it is worthy of note that at the Speech Day of Christ's Hospital a white glove is handed round the audience by the Grecians to collect gratuities to form a purse for those boys proceeding to the Universities, and that on Saturday, 8 June, the custom was, according to ancient usage, followed at Hor- sham at the prize-giving. It would be interesting to know when this ancient custom started at the old City of London School, and why the receptacle for the dona- tions should always have been a white glove.

J. HARRIS STONE. Oxford and Cambridge Club.

The adjective occurs in Chaucer, ' The Testament of Love,' bk. ii., " sleeveless wordes " ; inFairefax, 'Godfrey of Boulogne,' bk. vi. s. 89, " sleeveless errand " ; in Bishop Hall, bk. iv. sat. i., " sleeveless rhymes, tale " ; in Lyly, ' Euphues, Anat. of Wit,' p. 114, "sleeveless excuse"; in Milton, " sleeveless reason." Todd explains