Novels in 'Northanger Abbey': Miss Scott (II S. vii. 238).—This lady, who wrote 'The Necromancer,' was author of a play called 'The Old Oak Chest.' This, to judge from the number of juvenile theatrical publishers who issued "characters and scenes" in it, was a very popular play.
W. West, the "juvenile theatrical publisher," issued a set of characters and scenes in 1817; of this I have the artist's original drawings for the characters, as well as the prints. This set he afterwards redated 1824. He also issued different sets in 1827, 1828, and 1829. J. H. Jameson also issued a set in 1817.
Then a different set was published by M(artin) & M(atthew) Skelt (in 1834?). Of the Skelts' issue I have the book of the play, but not that of any of the other issues, though no doubt books were published. The text was altered ad libitum by the different publishers.
T. H. Lacy published the book of the play (in 1850?), and that is probably authentic.
I believe Miss Scott also wrote other plays, but I find only Lacy's edition of 'The Old Oak Chest' under 'Scott (—), Miss,' in the National Library Catalogue. I do not know of any biographical notice. Some particulars would be Welcome. Ralph Thomas.
Almshouses near the Strand (11 S. vii. 130, 236).—Referring to Mr. Aleck Abrahams's reply, I would wish, for the sake of accuracy, to point out that there was no chapel in New Inn. Possibly he mistook the hall for a chapel. Moreover, I lived in chambers there for several months in 1868, and was familiar with the place thenceforward until the end came, and I must confess that it never occurred to me that New Inn—or Thanet Place either—had any resemblance whatever to a set of almshouses. However, that is a matter of opinion. Alan Stewart.
There is really no further information to be obtained from Diprose's 'Some Account of the Parish of Saint Clement Danes' (1868) beyond a copy of the following lines inscribed on the front of the almshouses:—
{{fine block|"These almshouses were repaired at the expense of the parish in the year 1850; William Webb Ellis, M.A., Rector; David Spencer, Robert Makin Bates, Churchwardens; William Nex, Joseph Little, Charles Colwill, Robert Child, Overseers." John T. Page.
The Inquisition in Fiction and Drama (11 S. vii. 10, 57, 73, 116, 214).—The following contain some references to the Inquisition: 'St. Leon' (Godwin), 'The Princess of Viarna' (Picton), 'The Last Book' (W. H. G. Kingston), 'Valdar the Oft-Born' (George Griffith). J. Abdagh.
40, Richmond Road, Drumcondra, Dublin.
'The Fifth Trumpet,' referred to by N. R., ante, p. 57, does not deal with the Inquisition, but with the Council of Constance in the second decade of the fifteenth century.
The real characters introduced include John XXIII., Martin V., Sigismund, D'Ailly, and Cardinal Tommaso Brancaccio (Rinaldo Brancaccio, who had been given a red hat some years earlier, also assisted at the Council). The hero, emulous of the fate of Huss, does his best to deserve the stake, but narrowly escapes the halter, from which the Cardinal, the evil genius of the story, delivers him, to obtain the favours of a lady who is in love with the condemned. The novel exhibits the venality and profligacy of the Church at its worst, and there are no half-tones.
To the "Inquisition in Drama" must be added the recent dramatization of 'Westward Ho'—the Inquisition scene, in deference to British prejudice, introducing Inquisitors whose features are masked by hideous cowls drawn right over the face, leaving only apertures for the eyes. This— the time-honoured dress of the ruthless Inquisitor in Protestant fiction—appears unsupported by any credible evidence. Eric R. Watson.
Dominick: Norleigh (11 S. vii. 251).—Burke's 'General Armory' (1884 ed.) gives for "Norley," co. Devon: Argent, a chevron between three roses gules. S. A. Grundy-Newman.
Walsall.
A pedigree of the Norleigh family will be found in vol. vi. of the publications of the Harleian Society (p. 200), and also in the 'Visitations of Devon,' by J. L. Vivian (p. 584). William Gilbert.
35, Broad Street Avenue, E.C.
"Killing the calf in high style "(11 S. vii. 270).—In the Glossary of Raine's 'Priory of Finchale' (Surtees Soc), p. ccccxli, there is a note on this subject which states that in The Newcastle Chronicle of 2 Dec, 1775, there was an obituary notice of a local character, Joney Davey, aged 95,
