Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/451

12 s. ix. NOV. 5, i92i.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 369 I had reserved a certain number of Pieces, of which I had printed a limited number in octavo, intending to form a selection of the best of my Dramatic Works, in six volumes. Abandoning this resolution, and having no means of circu- lating the octavo copies I had printed, I wish to sell the copy and acting right of these Pieces to some respectable Dramaftist], and I can think of none better than your own. There are about ten of them, of the major part of which, no copy has ever been sold, as of some of them the title page, and preface have never been printed the following is a list of them : The Heart of London Adelphi. Tarnation Strange Strand. Kiss and The Rose Victoria, &c. How to take up a Bill Do. Bringing Home the Bride Adelphi. Sam Weller Strand. Birthday Dinner Victoria, &c. Nicholas Nickleby Strand. The Winterbottoms Strand. And The Tobit's Dog Strand. Of all these you could have printed copies to compose from, with the exception of Nicholas Nickleby this reprint would save much trouble and expense. I have never sold a dozen copies of any one of them, with the exception of Sam Weller, and of this I sold about nine hundred, so my octavo copies would not interfere. Now my Dear Daniels, if you will take pity upon a poor blind, undone devil of a Dramatist, and use your good offices with Cumberland, to make me a bid for the copy and acting right of these Pieces, and I am not at all exorbitant in my expectations, you might possibly be the means of my regaining a portion of my sight and that one good action, would absolve you from all the dramatic and other sins, you have ever com- mitted you can have no idea my good fellow of the disheartening disadvantages, and de- pressing [influence] of having to combat, blind, with i want and illness. God send you never may have an idea it is terrible 1 I have been forced to give up housekeeping after twenty years, and retreat here. If I had known your exact direction I should have sent you by the Parcel Delivery Company, copies of the Pieces, I have enumerated above, from which you may be able to form a correct judgement but if you feel inclined, as I am sure you will, to do me a good turn in this matter, you will send me word by what means I may convey them to you, and what likelihood there is of our doing business together. I send to you in preference to making a direct application to Cumberland, knowing there is nothing like a mutual friend on these occasions. Waiting your reply Believe me My dear Daniels Very truly yours W. MONCRIEFF. George Daniels, Esq., &c., &c., &c. I fear it must be inferred the appeal failed, as the plays listed are not included in the series published by Cumberland. ALECK ABRAHAMS. A MODEST EPITAPH OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, The eighteenth century was not noted for the modesty of its epitaphs the virtues and graces of the deceased are usually dwelt on with no sparing hand. In New Alresford Church the tablet I saw on the south wall arrested my attention by its modest reticence. It may be worth recording in ' N. & Q.' : In expectations Diei supremi, prope jacet Johannes Lake, Natus 7s, 6, 1690 Denatus 7s, 21, 1759 Qualis erat Dies iste indicabit. W. COURTHOPE FORMAN. A BEETHOVEN PIANO. A clipping from a Hungarian paper, now some months old, states that last December the Archduke Joseph presented to the Hungarian National Academy of Music in Budapest a piano which had been given by the Archduke's family to Beethoven, but after the death of the composer had found its way to the mansion at Martonvasar and back into the Archduke's possession. L. L. K. uertetf. We must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that answers may be sent to them direct. " FLURDEGLAITJR." What sort of flower or vegetable is a flurdeglaiur ? It occurs in the Chartulary of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin; Calendar of State Papers, vol. i., p. 166: "Transcrip- tion Carte Radulpi de Sancto Fagano," which at the end is sealed with his own seal, " Sigillum Radulfi de Sain Fagan, et est rotundum- sigillum habens in medio flurdeglaiur" and is dated in the month of May A.D. 1312. ' Cassell's French Dictionary ' gives gla'ieul, n. m. (bot.), gladiole, sword-grass, corn-flag, iris, &c. ; des marais ; gladwin iris, yellow water-flag. C. S. F. F. TOM MOSTYN. Where and when was this gifted artist born ? ANEURIN WILLIAMS. Menai View, North Road, Carnarvon.