210
NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. vi. SEPT. u, 1912.
FINGER-PRINTS. In ' Dactylography ; or,
the Study of Finger-Prints' ("Twentieth
Century Science Series"), reference is made
to a passage in Ainsworth's ' Jack Sheppard,'
published, I believe, in 1839. It is said that
"one Van Galgebrook, a Dutch conjuror, therein
foretells Jack's bad end : ' From a black mole
under the child's right ear, shaped like a coffin
and a deep line just above the middle of the left thumb, meeting round about in the form of a noose.'"
The author of ' Dactylography ' adds : " It would be interesting to know how Ains worth happened upon the suggestion." Can any of your readers throw any light on the matter ? Purkinje at Breslau had in 1823 written a brief thesis which de- scribes finger furrows, but his essay can hardly be said to have been published in any effective sense. But two copies are known to exist, and indeed this little Latin work only recently became known even to the learned. Was Purkinje hinted at as the " Dutch conjuror," or, if not, what other source of information was open to Ainsworth in 1839 ? RUGA.
PLAY FOUNDED ON THE EXPLOITS OF
TEKELI. In chap, xxxix. of Sorrow's ' Romany Rye ' (1857) one of the inter- locutors states that he has " seen a play acted, founded on the exploits of Tekeli," the famous Hungarian hero and pretender or " rebel " in the seventeenth century. Who was the author, and what was the title of the play? L. L. K.
THE QUEEN OF TAHITI'S FEATHER ROBE. Early in the nineteenth century the then Queen of Tahiti presented a robe made of yellow and a few red feathers to a Scotch- man. This robe is not in the British Museum nor at South Kensington, and I should be glad if any of your readers could give any information as to where it is to be found. I trust it has not been destroyed, as it is the only cloak of the kind in existence, and is said to have been used in religious cere- monies ; there is a tradition as to its value amongst the natives of Tahiti till the present time. I trust this query may reach the notice of some one who can give me information as to the existence or history of this unique garment.
GEO. WAKEFIELD PIM.
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
COPES OF WILTS. Particulars of any portraits or books by or about this family will greatly oblige. They may be sent to me direct. C, KING.
12, Ellacombe Terrace, Torquay.
RALPH BOUCHER OR BOURCHIER, GENT.,
M.P. for Petersfield circa 1576-83. was
returned at a by-election. I should be
glad to know something about him. He is
sometimes thought to be Ralph Bourchier
of Staffordshire and Benningborough, Yorks,
who was knighted in 1584. But that gentle-
man sat for Ne wcas tie- under- Ly me through-
out the Parliament of 1572-83.
W. D. PINK.
VANE AND CROMWELL. (See 11 S. v. 128.) A little time ago I asked if any of your readers could kindly suggest an explana- tion of the pet-names of " Heron " and " Fountain " which Vane and Cromwell used for each other. I got no reply. Yet as tall and gawky persons have often been compared to herons, and been nicknamed after that bird, may it not be that that was the reason why the sobriquet in question was applied to Vane ? Can the name " Fountain " have been applied to Cromwell in allusion to the fact of his having tears at ready command (fons lacrimarum) ?
JOHN WILLCOCK.
Lerwick.
DEWHURST BILSBORROW OF DALBY HOUSE. I shall be obliged if any one can give me information regarding this gentleman. He was recommended as a candidate for Free- masonry in Lodge St. David, Edinburgh, No. 36, by Sir Walter Scott. I have been unable to find any reference to him in Scott's writings or in Lockhart's ' Life.' The follow- ing is the record given in the minute-book of the lodge:
" Emergency. Tuesday, 23 March, 1802. At the desire of Walter Scott, Esq., Advocate, a meeting of a few of the Brethren was called to be present at the entry of a Gentleman from England, Dewhui'st Bilsborrow of Dalby House. He was in common form duly admitted apprentice, passed Fellow Craft and raised to the degree of Master Mason. At the entry of this Brother a good deal of new apparatus was procured, which added very much to the solemnity of the occasion." A. M. MACKAY, P.M.
ARMS OF THE LORD MAYOR. Can any one tell me at what date it became necessary for the Lord Mayors of London and the Sheriffs to show their right to bear arms or take out new ones ? I am told the rule is a recent one. S. T.
THACKERAY'S ' ESSAY ON CONSTANTINE GUYS.' Where was this published ? Baude- laire refers to it as having appeared in a periodical. It is not to be found in Thacke- ray's complete works. 1 should be glad of replies direct. ALICE SCHMIDT.
Temperance Hotel, opposite British Museum.
