252
NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. iv. SEPT. 23, 1911.
and other works by Horace Walpole, of
which a Catalogue was printed in 1813.
They consisted of thirty-six volumes, uni-
formly bound in red morocco.
W. F. PRIDEAUX.
" J'Y suis, J'Y BESTE " (11 S. iv. 44, 94, 155, 197). The engraving in which an English officer was represented as sent to interview MacMahon in the Malakoff, mentioned by F. A. W., must have been a mere work of imagination. The English could have had no reason for sending an officer, through all the confusion of the two attacks, to get an answer which might be falsified at any moment. MacMahon, in a letter given at p. 137 of M. le Comte Fleury's ' Societe du Second Empire ' (Albin Michel), describes how he was cheered by the English as he passed by them when he did leave the Malakoff, victorious. Writing apparently immediately after the event, he says of the assault, " On arrive enfin, je suis dans Malakoff et je m'y maintiens," which, as the editor says, is the famous phrase, become legendary. He certainly would have men- tioned such an extraordinary event as the visit of the English officer. If, as always then reported, the phrase was said in answer to an order to retire, he would hardly pub- lish it, as, practically, it was a reproach to Pelissier, the Commander-in-Chief.
It is worth while reminding this genera- tion that, instead of sending useless ques- tions, the English materially assisted the French to hold the Malakoff by sweeping the western slope of it up which the Russians were attacking, to try and retake the fort by guns from the Quarries.
R. PHIPPS, Colonel late R.A.
Many, many years ago I read or heard another explanation of the origin of the phrase. I report it without vouching for its accuracy.
After the storming of Fort Malakoff, MacMahon received a message from the Commander-in-Chief, Pelissier, stating that it would be advisable to evacuate the ruins of the fort, because it might have been under- mined by the Russians before leaving and the French troops might be blown up with the fort. MacMahon refused to do so, and said : " J'y suis, j'y reste." Nevertheless the engineers did their duty : electric wires were found, and immediately cut.
I see that the explanation given ante, pp. 197-8, as an answer to the English general Michael Biddulph, is included in the fifth edition of Fumagalli's ' Chi 1'ha detto ? ' Milan, 1909, No. 331.
But the real question is : To whom, and
in what circumstances, was the reply made ?
H. GAIDOZ. 22, Rue Servandoni, Paris (VP).
Tenniel's cartoon appeared in Punch for 3 November, 1877. It represents Mac- Mahon " stuck in the mud " of Legitim- ism, Bonapartism, and Clericalism, around which flows the tide of the " Republican majority." The Marshal with folded arms says, " J'y suis, j'y reste." In a later cartoon (29 December, 1877) he is being pulled out of the mud by France (the familiar female figure), leaving his monarchical and imperial- ist boots behind. The historic phrase is now modified to " Je n'y suis plus mais je reste." F. H. C.
Very shortly before the time at which this phrase is attributed to Marshal MacMahon a homely English equivalent was afforded in R. S. Surtees's sporting novel ' Handley Cross ; or, Mr. Jorrocks's Hunt,' the preface to which is dated October, 1854. In chap, xvi. Jorrocks writes in a letter: For where the M.F.H. dines he sleeps, and where the M.F.H. sleeps he breakfasts."
W. B. H.
SHAKESPEARES IN THE EIGHTEENTH CEN- TURY (11 S. iv. 146). The following cita- tion, which is interesting in respect of the association of the names of Shakespear and Hathaway, was issued at the instance of a proctor exercent in the Bishop of Glou- cester's Consistory Court in 1738, in a suit for the recovery of his fees in another cause, in which the Gloucestershire Shakespear had been unsuccessful.
The act-books of Gloucester Consistory Court show that Shakespear did not appear as cited, and was decreed to be in contempt and contumacious, and in pain thereof was excommunicated.
Sigillum Hen. Penrice Mil. LL.D. Cane. Gloucest.
Sir Henry Penrice Knight Doctor of Laws Vicar General in Spirituals of the Right Reverend Father in God Martin by divine permission Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Gloucester and of his Epis- copal Consistory Official principal lawfully con- stituted To Henry Williams and Richard Hathaway our Sworn Apparitors Greeting We Command and require Yee that Yee or one of you do Cite or Cause to be Cited William Shakespear of the parish of Wotton underedge in the Diocese of Gloucester Yeoman that he do appear before Us or our lawfull Surrogate or other competent Judge in this behalf e in the parish Church of Dursley in the Diocess of Gloucester upon Tuesday the Seventh Day of November instant at ten of the Clock in the fore- noon there to answer to Richard Elly of the City of Gloucester Gentleman one of the Proctors of the Consistory Court for the said Diocese of Gloucester
