218
NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. v. MARCH 17, MOO.
the books give for the introduction of the
shaddock. Some of them he will find give
the "lens vague date" of about 1810.
ISAAC TAYLOR.
I fear PROF. SKEAT has forgotten his pre- vious question respecting this fruit, which appeared in 'N. & Q.,' 7 th S. vii. 228, and elicited a reply at p. 375 of the same volume.
EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road.
- CHARLOTTE TEMPLE : A TALE OF TRUTH '
(9 th S. v. 89). The author was Mrs. Susanna Rovvson, born in England, daughter of a naval officer named Haslet (I think). She lived in Massachusetts for years, and wrote several books, of which this is her best known. It was originally published in 1790, has several times been republished, and has been trans- lated into German. It may interest your readers to know that no grave in' the yard of Trinity Church here is more fre- quently asked for by visitors than that of the unfortunate young woman Charlotte Temple (she was only nineteen when she died). It is marked by a stone slab from which the lettering has disappeared, but the site is well known. Mrs. Rowson's bio- graphy, by Eli Nason, was published by Joel Munsell, Albany, N.Y., 1870, and includes the whole history of Charlotte Temple (whose real name was Stanley). The interest shown in her grave reminds me of Byron's lines on the tomb of Cecilia Metella. W. ABBATT
New York.
I have a copy with title-page as follows: Charlotte Temple | A Tale of Truth | By Mrs Rowson | London | Published by W. Murray | 1832! The grave and tombstone of Charlotte Temple lie in the graveyard of Old Trinity Church Broadway, New York. SMITH E. LANE. New York.
THE ANCIENT TIN TRADE OF BRITAIN (9 th S. iv. 516). Attention is respectfully directed to 6 th S. x. 261 ; and it is hoped that Messrs. Elton and Rhys will come to the rescue.
A. HALL.
"NOSTOC" (9 th S. v. 108). The word is recognized bv botanical books. Lindley (^Veg. Kingdom') assigns it to ord. i'i. Confervacese, subord. ii. Nostochea?, and describes common nostoc as "a trembling gelatinous plant that springs up suddenly after rain." The supposition that it is the residuum of a shooting star is old and widely diffused. Here is one mention of it in Jeremy Taylor's introduction to his Life of Christ': "It is the weakness of the organ, that makes us hold our hand between
the sun and us, and yet stand staring upon a
meteor or an inflamed jelly." I remember in
my Winchester days, sixty years back, finding
it on hills, and receiving this same account
of it from some young naturalist, not im-
probably Frank Buckland. C. B. MOUNT.
This is the fifth occasion on which in- formation has been requested on this subject. Reference to l N. & Q., ; I 8t S. xi., 2 nd S. i., 6 th S. xii., and 7 th S. i. will reveal some long articles on the superstition attending it, and references to scientific works treating on the plant. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.
71, Brecknock Road.
" MIDDLIN'" (9 th S. iv. 416, 495; v. 72). In Scotland "middlin'" signifies "fair," "pass- able," " indifferent," the depreciatory reference tending to prevail in the use of the term. A middlin' state of health is hardly satisfactory; a middlin' crop is one that might very well have been better; and a middlin' preacher will never have crowded pews. Scottish children have a game entitled " Cheap, Mid- dlin', Dear." It is played by two comrades, one of whom writes on his slate or on paper the three terms, placing under each three of the integral numbers in ascending order. Thus under " Middlin' " the figures are 4, 5, 6. The protagonist, opening the game, writes a digit somewhere below his heading, and covers it from the view of his opponent, whose curiosity he prompts with the remark, "I bought a horse at the fair last week." The querist then asks, "Cheap, Middlin', or Dear?" In response to the answer, it may be that the price was " middlin'," the tentative suggestion may be offered that the animal cost 5/. " No," will come the brisk rejoinder, "I paid only 4/." (and then the figure is revealed in corro- boration of the statement). When the result is thus the defender gains one point, and marks it up to his credit. The process is repeated till, perchance, a correct guess is made, and then the players change sides. The youths may become absorbed in this for a lengthened period, their interest being as intense as that of a couple of their seniors when practising the intellectual athletics incident to a game of chess or draughts.
THOMAS BAYNE.
This word is by no means " local," that is, confined to one locality, as it is in common use on Tyneside. I should say one would find it in most parts of England.
R. B-R.
" HORSE-GENTLER " = HORSE-BREAKER (9 th S. v. 104). The * N.E.D.' gives a quotation from Hissey's ' Tour in a Phaeton,' p. 140, but with-
