406
NOTES AND QUERIES. [n s. i. MAY 21, 1910.
This evidently was the gate discovered in 1807 (Bayley and Britton's 'Westminster,' p. 444); it had then been built into the "Mitre" and "Horn" Taverns, and heavy compensation was paid on the whole being swept away by the Act 46 Geo. III. c. 89 for the improvement of the neighbourhood (see Report and Memorial of the Commissioners, printed 12 May, 1808, p. 35).
The Chapter House is familiar as a place of storage for these papers; it was evidently at this date that the presses and gallery were provided at the estimated cost of 250l.
Seeking for further accommodation, their Lordships went to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul,
"and, having survey'd several upper-rooms and apartments, conceive that an upper room on the south-side of the said Cathedral, over the isle on the left hand of the south door, which is near the Heralds' office, is a very convenient place for that purpose."
Is this the present Library?
Two references to previous depositories are of interest. None of the decrees of the Star Court were to be found: "the last notice of them that cou'd be got was that they were in a house in St. Bartholomew's Close, London."
Mr. Saunderson, Deputy Usher of the Rolls, gave evidence that a great quantity of rolls and papers had "appear'd to view upon pulling down the old houses of the Master of the Rolls."
The Report also deals with the "Embezle- ment of papers"; but this may perhaps be the subject of a note at some other time. ALECK ABRAHAMS.
" DEMERIT ": ITS Two SENSES. This word enjoys, with a few others, the distinc- tion of having been used in two senses contrary to each other merit or deserving, and demerit (as it always signifies now) or ill-deserving. Prof. Skeat quotes Shake- speare as using it in both senses ; thus in
- Macbeth, 1 IV. iii. (Macduff) :
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls. And in ' Coriolanus,'- 1. i. (Sicinius Velutus) :
Opinion that so sticks on Marcius shall
Of his demerits rob Cominius.
The ' N.E.D.' gives as the earliest un- doubted use of the word in its good sense a, quotation from Patten's ' Expedicion into Scotland of the most woorthely fortunate Prince Edward, Duke of Somerset ' (which he seems to have accompanied), 1548, in which he says in the Preface : " What thanks then .... for these his notable demerits ought our Protector to receive of his ? "
The last use of the word in that sense
appears to have been by Matthew Carter,
' Honor '. Redivivus,' published in 1655 :
' ' The first atchiever in any Stock whatever
was a new man ennobled for some demerit."
Dryden in his ' Fables l (published in
1700), amongst those translated from Ovid's
' Metamorphoses,* ' Meleager and Atalanta,'
uses the word strictly in the modern way :
Mine is the merit, the demerit thine.
The convenience of the antithesis per- haps led to the abandonment of " demerit " in the good sense, which might have pro- duced ambiguity. W. T. LYNN.
Blackheath.
WE must request correspondents desiring in-
formation on family matters of only private interest
to affix their names and addresses to the?^eries,
in order that answers may be sent to them direct.
TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. I am in quest
of toasts and sentiments, convivial, humorous,
patriotic, &c., in German, French, Italian,
Spanish, and Scandinavian. Can any of
your readers tell me of any collections of
toasts in these languages ?
CHARLES WELSH.
917, Delaware Street, Scran ton, Pa.
LARGE-PAPER COPIES OF BOOKS. Can any one say when the printing of extra copies of a book on paper larger (and finer) than that of the ordinary issue was begun ? What are the earliest examples ?
W. J. C.
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES. I wish to know what Regimental Histories contain lists of officers from the formation of the respective regiments. These lists are of great value for genealogical purposes. Please reply direct. (Rev.) H. B. SWANZY.
Ivy Lodge, Newry, co. Down.
" ARABIS " : ",THLASPI.' ? Passing lately by a florist's in Lewisham, I noticed some plants misnamed " Arabus. n Why was "Arabis' 1 so called ? 'The Century Dic- tionary l says from dpa/3k, because the more important species came from Arabia, have seen a similar derivation in botanical dictionaries. But the ' N.E.D.' says: ' ' Med. L. Arabis, so named prob. from growing on sandy or stony places.' 2 Does this mean that Arabic is typical of such places, and that Arabis is equivalent to "arabis locis " ? The earliest use the
