90
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. i. JAN. 29, me.
be grateful, therefore, if, without committing themselves at this moment to a definite promise of support, any of the descendants of John Cameron will let me know whether they approve of the idea of the publication of the book.
I may add that by far the most interesting matter contained in it is derived from documents in my possession, and the information contained therein is not otherwise available, while a great deal of the material reproduced has been gathered from the musty volumes of Scottish records, the back files of Worcester newspapers, &c. I have even gone as far afield as the University Library of Leyden, Holland, for some of my information. Much that has been scattered during the past generations among various descendants of John Cameron is now for the first time brought together and rescued from almost certain oblivion.
I hope to illustrate the book with portraits of the past and present members of the family.
Only one member of my family has seen my manuscript, and his verdict is that "it is of absorbing interest."
I shall be greatly obliged not only for replies to this letter (which may be sent direct), but also for the names and addresses of any relations to whom I can send copies of it; this request applies especially to the descendants of the Keith-Cameron and Raitt-Cameron marriages. I shall also be grateful for copies of any old family letters and for information about any family portraits or other relics of past days.
George H. Cameron
(Archdeacon of Johannesburg)
5 Loch Avenue, Parktown West,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Can any of your readers kindly state when
vicious circle " first acquired this mean-
ng ? I have traced it back to 1839 (Sir
ienry Holland, ' Medical Notes and Reflec-
ions,' p. 100), but there are probably
earlier references.
JAMIESON B. HURRY, M.D. Westfield, Reading.
GEORGE INN, BOROUGH. I am seeking all references relating to the history of the George Inn in the Borough other than the conjectural ones associated with the name of Dickens. Can any reader of * N. & Q.' help me in the matter ? B. W. MATZ.
REBELLION AT ETON. I lately read an account of a rebellion at Eton which had been caused by the indignation of certain boys at having their misdeeds reported by their *' Dames." The injury lay in the words italicized. Can any one supply me with the reference ? HARROVIAN.
AUTHOR OF QUOTATION WANTED. It is stated that President Abraham Lincoln's favourite poem was one commencing :
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? In what author are the verses in question to be found ? CYRIL.
[In William Knox's 'Songs of Israel,' 1824. The poem in which they occur is entitled ' Mortality.' Bartlett, ' Familiar Quotations,' states that Abra- ham Lincoln was very fond of repeating the lines.]
RICHARD WILSON. In ' Records of my Life,' ii. 357, John Taylor says that Richard Wilson, " for some reason generally styled Dick Wilson," was an early friend of the great Lord Eldon. Which of the numerous Richard Wilsons w^as this particular gentle- man ? He flourished at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Who was he, and when did he die ? HORACE BLEACKLEY.
"THE vicious CIRCLE. " The expression
" vicious [circle " usually denotes a logical
fallacy in which a proposition is used to
prove a conclusion, and is afterwards
proved by the same conclusion which it
was used to establish.
But in pathology and in sociology " vicious circle " has acquired a different meaning, and denotes the process by which a primary disorder provokes a reaction which aggravates the said disorder.
Strange to say, no dictionary English, French, or German alludes to " vicious circle " as used in this sense, although the process in question possesses great import- ance, and is accountable for a vast amount of social disorder, disease, and death.
' OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEFENCE OF
GREAT BRITAIN.' Detailed particulars are
asked for about ' Observations on the Defence
of Great Britain and its Principal Dock-
yards,' by James Glenie, F.R.S., published
in 1807. The book is not in the British
Museum Library, nor have I been able to
find a copy in other public libraries.
J. H. LESLIE, Major R.A.
(Retired list).
AUSTRALIAN FLOWERS AND BIRDS. It is often said, but, I believe, untruly, that Australian flowers do not smell, and that Australian birds do not sing. Where can precise information on these points be obtained ? ALFRED S. E. ACKERMANN.
