Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 3.djvu/94

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NOTES AND QUERIES.


[9 th S. III. FEB. 4, '99.


1823, but it was absolutely impossible to find these two or three years.

2. Two pamphlets of Hoene Wronski in French, entitled : (1) ' Extrait du Memoire de M. Hoene Wronski sur la Theorie Mathema- tique de la Terre/published by the Astronomer Royal, John Pond, as it seems with the autho- rization of the Royal Society, between May and July, 1821 (London); (2) 'Nouveaux Ex- traits du Memoire de M. Hoene Wronski et de son Appendice, principalernent sur la Theorie des Fluides (Equilibrium in Fluids),' published by the same in November, 1821 (London).

These two pamphlets were printed in a limited number of copies, and had been sent privately to all the learned men in England. My friend Dr. Gait, assistant to Lord Kelvin, and Mr. Dyson, of the Royal Observatory, advised me to address myself to you, asking you to be kind enough to make the necessary inquiries in your journal, in order to furnish the missing pamphlets and papers, or to procure any information where they can be found. All the official and public sources are exhausted. I rely only upon you, hoping you may be able, through your paper, to render me this great service, which con- cerns a most important scientific question.

I should be also most grateful if you would give me, if possible, any information about the eventual heirs of John Pond, Astronomer Royal in the years 1820-23, as in the papers left by him there is probably to be found a lengthy correspondence of great scientific value between him and the philosopher mentioned. ZENON PRZESMYCKI.

16, Rue de la Grande Chaumiere, Paris.

ADDISON'S 'ROSAMOND.' I should be glad to know if a song beginning "Was ever nymph like Rosamond?" occurs in the above. HELEN TOYNBEE.

Dorney Wood, Burnham, Bucks.

" FLUCING."

" Dick-pot, a brown earthenware pot sometimes pierced with holes, filled with bright coal or wood embers, used by old women and lace makers to put under their petticoats to keep the feet and legs warm when seated at work, which is termed fluting." Baker, ' Glossary of Northamptonshire Words ' (1854), p. 179.

What is the etymology of fluting ?

A. L. MAYHEW.

Oxford.

"A FLURCH OF STRAWBERRIES." This is

said to be a term for plenty of strawberries. It is registered in the Cheshire glossaries, and also appears as a North-Country expres- sion in Ray, Kennett, Bailey, and Grose. Can


any of your readers tell me whether the expression is still in use in Cheshire or else- where? A. L. MAYHEW. Oxford.

AUTHOR WANTED. "The Amicable Quixote ; or, the Enthusiasm of Friendship. In four volumes. London : Printed for J. Walter, Charing - Cross. M.DCC.LXXXVIII." Small 8vo. H. S. A.

MUSE PLOTS. A terrier of the parish of Westbourne on the extreme western edge of West Sussex, of the year 1664, now in the Bishop's Registry at Chichester, refers again and again to " muse plots," an expression to the meaning of which I can find no clue. It is manifestly used as a well-understood term, and it is suggested that the plots thus desig- nated were not of large size. Here are some quotations :

"The tith of wheat, barley, oates, pease, fetches or beanes growing in the Muse plotts hereafter mentioned belongeth to the Vicar of Westborne."

"All tithes whatsoever of the Muse Plotts fol- lowing and litle Plots of Ground hereafter menconed bee they sown with corne or not doe solely belong to the said vicar of Westborne, Imprimis the muse Plott lying at Quearne haven in Townsend ground

conteyning neere an acre of ground and enclosed

by a Hedge." [Then follow the descriptions of half a dozen small plots, none exceeding an acre, several only a quarter of an acre.]

"Muse Plotts and other little Plotts at Arme-

tage, Imprimis one Plott Item, a muse Plott

conteyning neere half an acre," &c.

"Muse Plotts and other litle plotts at Innlands," &c.

"Muse Plotts and other litle Plotts at Woodman- cote Imprimis one Muse Plott belonging to Novice Land called Novice Paddocke."

"Item, a Muse Plott belonging to Francis Cam- pion's Land which said Plott is called rucle garden conteyning about half an acre."

JOHN H. MEE. Holywell House, Oxford.

'THE GOLDEN STAIRCASE.' Can you tell me what is the story or legend illustrated in Burne- Jones's ' Golden Staircase ' 1 J. T.

OGILVIE : GRANT. Rev. John Ogilvie, who died in New York City, 26 November, 1774, in his fifty -first year, was said to have been an uncle of the late Rear- Admiral Sir Richard Grant, of London, who died in 1859. Can any of your readers tell me their ancestry 1

W. 0.0.

MUSTARD MOTTO. A story is told in Dr. Brewer's 'Phrase and Fable' of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, granting to the town of Dijon, noted for its mustard, armorial bearings with the motto "Moult me tarde " (multum ardeo, I ardently desire).