Wetheral is not far from the line of the Roman Wall, and only a few miles from Lanercost, where there is a quarry (used, in building the wall) where Roman legionaries have carved inscriptions, still existing. Probably the second word is sva, and not svm, and the meaning therefore "(carved by) a thankful person with his own hand." The fish is constantly used on early Christian tombs as a symbol of Christianity. It is hardly necessary to quote the well-known acrostic on the word ἰχθύς. The carver may have wished to record his gratitude for the Gospel, or (more likely) for escaping persecution. W. T.
Liverpool Museum: British Gallery (11 S. vii. 170).—The British Gallery was attached to the British Institution. This was established in 1805 on the north side of Pall Mall for the encouragement of native art. There were two summer exhibitions of pictures, &c., yearly, one for living artists and the other for Old Masters (on loan). The gallery was originally erected by Alderman Boydell for the exhibition of paintings for his edition of Shakespeare's works. John T. Page.
In all probability the British Gallery was a picture exhibition in Pall Mall, known as the Gallery of the British Institution, opened on 17 April, 1805, "for the encouragement and reward of the talents of British artists." In 1814 there was exhibited here a collection of over 200 paintings by Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Wilson; and in 1817 a display of Sir Joshua Reynolds's pictures was on view. The gallery was previously "known as the Shakespeare Gallery, having been erected by the late Alderman Boydell for the display of the pictures painted for his engraved illustrations of the works of our great bard."
See 'The Picture of London,' 1825. Wm. Norman.
Musgrave Family (11 S. vii. 169).—Certain members seem to have been somewhat prominent in Devonshire. Musgrave's Alley, in High Street, Exeter, formerly contained the old High School, founded and built there A.D. 1343 by Richard de Brayleigh, Dean of this city. The building was acquired afterwards by the Wesleyan body (in 1778), and used by them as a chapel. John Wesley preached there a year later. It was demolished in 1878. Some massively carved oak double doors (Jacobean), now in my own collection, are, I believe, all that is now preserved of it. A drawing of these doors is to be found in The Western Antiquary (Plymouth) for August, 1882.
In the same interesting publication (July, 1887) occurs a long article by William Munk, F.S.A., upon Samuel Musgrave, M.D., an accomplished scholar born at Washfield (Devon), 29 Sept., 1732, and educated at the Grammar School, Barnstaple, At Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he obtained his B.A. degree in 1753, and M.A. in 1756. In 1763 he took his M.D. at Leyden, and was elected physician to the Devon and Exeter Hospital in 1766. This position he resigned two years later, and whilst in practice afterwards at Plymouth published some remarkable political papers which created a great sensation, and which ultimately caused him to leave the West Country. He eventually settled in London, but in spite of his brilliant talents, he died there in poverty at a comparatively early age. As a Greek scholar he was acknowledged to have few superiors, and his MS. notes and collections relative to Euripides Were purchased by the University of Oxford for 200l.
A stone in St. George's burial-ground, Bloomsbury, bears the inscription:—
"Here lies the body of Samuel Musgrave, M.D., who departed this life, July 5th, 1780, in his 48th year."
J. Davy Breholt (11 S. vii. 169).—
"On Saturday last died at Greenwich John David Breholt, an eminent West India merchant, and a Director of the London Assurance Office."—Daily Post, 19 Oct., 1741.
"Died John David Breholt, merchant, at Greenwich, 17 Oct., 1741."—Gent. Mag., 1741, p. 554.
"Died Mrs. Felicia Breholt, at Greenwich, 12 August, 1761, aged 83."—Gent. Mag., 1761, p. 382.
Armorial: Stevenson (11 S. vii. 91, 138, 154).—I am obliged to your correspondents for their answers. I have another query to make. The Stevensons referred to formerly owned a place near Glasgow named Merry Banks. They then migrated to Oban some time in the seventeenth century. Of these Stevensons five generations have been connected with South America. Their favourite Christian names were George, John, Thomas, and, later, Louis.
Can any one give me the early descent of these Stevensons? How were they related to the Stevensons of Hermishiels? Was Louis Stevenson of that stock? Amicus.
