2 S. IX. JULY 23. 1921.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 77
according to Stows authority, is 1176. It represents the City arms in the centre, with the cap of maintenance over. On the right hand side is the arms of the Borough of Southwark, and on the left is represented the monogram of the original architect of the bridge, Peter, a Priest, of St. Mary Cole church.' William Knight.
The date of this may be inferred to be between 1826 and 1828 when he made some interesting discoveries on the construction of the old bridge during its demolition, which he subsequently communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, vide 'Archæologii,' XXIII., 1831. Knight later lived at Canonbury-place, and his interesting library was sold by Messrs. Sotheby, Aug. 2, 1847, and five following days.
As relics neither of the snuff-boxes is of great interest now, as early this year an arch of the northern extremity of the old bridge was re-discovered and the measured drawings and photograph, taken prior to its re-burial, will no doubt be published elsewhere. Aleck Abrahams.
"Poor Uncle Ned" (12 S. viii. 36, 93).—As your correspondents seem still in doubt as to the words of this old song, I send herewith the version found in the latest book of Negro Minstrel Melodies in Boston.
The first two verses I recognize as the same which were sung here sixty-five years ago. Charles E. Stratton.
70, State Street, Boston, U.S.A.
Uncle Ned.
(By S. C. Foster.).
I.
D'ere was an old Nigga,
Dey called him Uncle Ned,
He's dead long ago, long ago
He had no wool on the top of his head
De place where de wool ought to grow.
Chorus.
Den lay down de shubble an de hoe,
Hang up de fiddle an de bow;
No more hard work for poor old Ned,
He's gone where the good niggers go.
II.
His fingers were long like de cane in de brake,
He had no eyes for to see
He had no teeth for to eat de corn cake,
So he had to let the corn cake be.
Chorus.
III.
When old Ned die Massa take it mighty hard,
De tears run down like de rain,
Old Missis turn pale an she gets berry old,
Cayse she nebber see old Ned again.
Chorus.
Bomenteek (12 S. viii. 510 ; ix. 38).
Beaumont egg was frequently mentioned in the course of the inquiry as to the Tay Bridge disaster. This "egg" is a substance well known in the iron moulding trade. The principal ingredient in the mixture is made up of iron or steel filings, and is used for stopping up and concealing the air holes which may arise in the course "of a casting. A.
Flag Flown on Armistace Day (12 S. i-viii. 510; ix. 37). The Merchant Adventurers of York still use the arms which Mr. Gawthorpe describes in his first paragraph, but I do not know the tinctures. "Barry nebulée" should, I think, be ondée: I suppose that part of the blazon has reference to the restless waves the adventurers had to brave. I had a fancy that the roses in the bearing were the emblem of York, and that the lions were, so to speak, a sample of those in the city arms. Dr. Maud Sellers, who is at this time devoting her life and learning to disentangling the history of the York Adventurers and who may be found at the Merchants' Hall, Fossgate, would, I feel sure, be able to give Mr. Gawthorpe (and others information that they might I desire. St. Swithin.
CURRY FAVOUR (12 S. viii., 512). Dr.
I Cobham Brewer in his ' Dictionary of Phrase
I and Fable ' has the following concerning this
I phrase: "The French courir, to hunt
j after, to seek, as courir une charge, courir
un benefice, to sue for a living ; courir les
| tables, to go a spunging." Similarly, courir les faveurs, to sue for, court, or seek favours. . WALE. COCKNEY PRONUNCIATION (12 S. ix. 17, 54). As to the substitution of " i " for "a" (e.g., lidy for lady), I think that the change can be traced to Essex. I spent four years in Essex in the mid-fifties, thirty miles from London, having up to that time lived in the West or South, but never in London- I remember during a walk asking a cottage matron whose was yonder house on the hill, to which question she promptly made answer : " Oh ! that's Mr. Mison's." This rendering of the name of Mr. Mason was new to me, but, as above stated, I am not able to compare it with the Cockney pronunciation of that time, with which I had no acquaintance. K. S.
