Notes and Queries, Number 18, March 2, 1850

Notes and Queries, Number 18, March 2, 1850
Various

Various

Notes and Queries, Number 18, March 2, 1850

NOTES

UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF HORACE WALPOLE

I have the pleasure of inclosing to you (I believe) an unpublished letter of Horace Walpole's. It was found among the papers of the late William Parsons, one of the Della Cruscan poets. That it is genuine I have no doubt. The handwriting is precisely similar to a note sent with a copy of the Mysterious Mother to Mr. Parsons, in which Horace Walpole writes, "he is unwilling to part with a copy without protesting against his own want of judgment in selecting so disgusting a subject; the absurdity of which he believes makes many faults of which he is sensible in the execution overlooked." It is also guaranteed by its date,—"Paris, July 28. 1771." By reference to his correspondence with Sir H. Mann (vol. ii. p. 163.), we find a letter dated July 6, 1771, in which he writes, "I am not gone; I do go to-morrow;" and in his General Correspondence, vol. v. p. 303., writing to John Chute, his letter is dated from Amiens, July 9. 1771, beginning, "I am got no farther yet;" and he returned to Arlington Street, September 6. 1771, having arrived at Paris on the 10th of July, and quitted it on the 2nd of September. I notice the dates, as they indicate the rate of travelling in some degree at that period. The Query is, to whom was it addressed? There is nothing on the original to indicate the person. The letter is of no great importance, except as it shows that Walpole, under certain conditions of being, was more earnest and sincere than perhaps was in his nature, or was generally his wont.

    SPENCER HALL.

Athenæum, Feb. 25. 1850.

"Paris, July 28. 1771.

"Dear S'r.

"I have received no letter from my brother, and consequently have no answer to make to him. I shall only say that after entering into a solemn engagement with me, that we should dispose of the places alternately, I can scarce think him serious, when he tells you he has made an entirely new arrangement for ALL the places, expects I shoud concur in it; and after that, is so good as to promise he will dispose of no more without consulting me. If He is so absolutely master of all, my concurrence is not necessary, and I will give none. If he chuses to dispose of the places without me, That matter with others more important, must be regulated in another manner,—and it is time they shoud, when no agreement is kept with me, and I find objections made which, upon the fullest discussion and after allowance of the force of my arguments and right, had been given up twenty years ago.

"With regard to your letter, S'r, some parts of it are, I protest, totally unintelligible to me. Others, which I think I do understand, require a much fuller answer than I have time to give now, as the post goes out to-morrow morning. That answer will contain matter not at all fit for the Post, and which I am sure you woud not wish shoud be handled there; for which reason I shall defer it, till I can give my answer at length into your own hands. It will, I believe, surprize both you and my brother; and show how unkindly I have been treated after doing everything to accommodate both. As to the conditions which you say, S'r, you intend to exact from my brother, you will undoubtedly state them to him himself; and cannot expect I should meddle with them or be party to them. Neither you nor he can imagine that I am quite so tame an idiot as to enter into bonds for persons of his recommendation. If the office is his, he must be answerable for it, and for all the persons he employs in it. I protest against every thing that is not my own act—a consequence he perhaps did not foresee, when he chose, contrary to his agreement with me, to engross the whole disposition. I have always known clearly what is my own right and on what founded; and have acted strictly according to my right, and am ready to justify every step of my conduct. I have sufficiently shown my disposition to peace, and appeal to you yourself, S'r, and to my brother, whether either can charge me with the least encroachment beyond my right; and whether I have not acquiesced in every single step that either has desired of me. Your letter, S'r, and that you quote of my brother, have shown how necessary it is for me to take the measure I am determined to take. I would have done any thing to oblige either you or my brother, but I am not to be threatened out of my right in any shape. I know when it is proper to yield and when to take my stand. I refused to accept the place for my own life when it was offered to me: when I declined that, it is not probable that I would hold the place to the wrong of anybody else; it will and must be seen who claims any part or prerogatives of the place unjustly; my honour demands to have this ascertained, and I will add, that when I scorned a favour, I am not likely to be intimidated by a menace.

"I say all this coolly and deliberately, and my actions will be conformable. I do not forget my obligations to you, dear S'r, or to your dead brother, whose memory will ever be most dear to me. Unkind expressions shall not alter the affection I have for you and your family, nor am I so unreasonable, so unjust, or so absurd as not to approve your doing every thing you think right for your own interest and security and for those of your family. What I have to say hereafter will prove that these not only are but ever have been my sentiments. I shall then appeal to your own truth whether it is just in you to have used some expressions in your letter, but as I mean to act with the utmost circumspection and without a grain of resentment to anybody, I shall say no more till I have had full time to weigh every word I shall use, and every step I mean to take. In the meantime I am,

"Dear S'r,

"Yr obliged humble serv't,

"HOR. WALPOLE.

"P.S. My refusal of the patent for my life has shown what value I set upon it; but I will have justice, especially for my character, which no consideration upon earth shall prevent my seeking. It must and shall be known whether I enjoy the place to the wrong of any man living. You have my free consent, S'r, to show this letter to whom you please; I have nothing to conceal, and am ready to submit my conduct to the whole world."

LADY ARABELLA STUART

As a pendant to Mr. P. Cunningham's "New Facts about Lady Arabella Stuart" (No. 1. p. 10.). I send you a copy of Bishop James' Account and Quietus in respect of 300l., placed in his hands "for the expences of dyett and other chardges of the Ladye Arabella Seymour comytted to his safe kepinge." The original document is in my possession.

    ROBT. COLE. Feb. 11, 1850.

"The Accompte of the Lorde Byshopp of Durham for cccli, receaved for the chardge of the Ladye Arbella Seymour.

"The Declaration of the Accompte of the Reverende Father in God Will'm James Lorde Bysshoppe of Duresme for the some of Three hundreth poundes imprested to him out of the Receipte of the Kinges ma^ts Exchequer at Westmynster for the expences of dyett and other chardges of the Ladye Arbella Seymour comytted to his safe kepinge w^th an inteneon to have caryed into the Bysshoprycke of Duresme there to have remayned under his chardge duringe the Kynges ma^ts pleasure, viz^t betweene the xiiij^th of Marche 1610 in the viij^th year of his highnes raigne and the last daye of the same moneth as followeth.

"Readye money receaved, viz. of

"The Threasorer and vnder threr. of Th'exchequer in Mychas terme in the viijth yeare of the Kinges ma'ts raigne by t'handes of Thomas Wattson Esquire one of the Tell'rs for the chardges of himselfe and his servaunts in his yorney w'th the saide Ladye Arbella Seymour by pvie Seale dated the xiij of March 1610 and Lves of the Lordes of the Councell …cccli. whereof

"Expences of dyett and other chardges of the Ladye Arabella Seymour & others attendinge upon her, viz.

"Expences of dyett

"At Highgate for sixe dayes begonne the xvth daye of Marche 1610 and ended the xxjst of the same moneth on w'ch daye her Ladyshippe remoued to Barnett. xviijli. vs. lijd.

"At Barnett for xj^en dayes begonne the xxjst of Marche 1610 at Supper and ended the firste of Aprill 1611 at breakefaste beinge that daye remoued to Eastbarnett. lxxjli. vs. viijd.

"Chardges of y^e Stable, viz.

"Chardges of the Stable for the xvij dayes aboue-menconed, viz. at Highgate for vj dayes ixli. xvijs. xd. and at Barnett for xj dayes with vs. for dressinge one of the lytter horses xxviijli. xijs. xjd., in all the some of xxxviijli. xs. ixd.

"Lodginge and other necessaries, viz.

"Lodginge of some of the retinewe of the Lady Arbella and the sayde Lorde Bysshoppe, viz. Highgate xxs. and at Barnett viijs., in all xxviijs.

"Fyer lightes and other nessces with the lodginge of the saide Lorde Bysshoppe and some of his servauntes at Highgate and Barnett during the xvij dayes aforesaide. xjli. xjs.

"Rydinge and postinge chardges, viz. for posthorses from Lambeth to Highgate xxxiiijs. iiijd. and from thence to Barnett xxxiiijs. ixd. Mr. Beeston and others for there chardges three several tymes to Barnett from London and from Highgate xljs. iiijd. the servauntes of the Lorde Bysshoppe of Durham sent at several tymes in the Lordes of the Councell and for other busynesses concerning this servyce xlvs. vjd. and to Sr. James Crofes Knight for the chardges of himselfe his men and horses from Monday to Wednesday night attendinge at London for this service xlijs. vijd., in all ixli. xviijs. vjd.

"Rewardes to sondrye psons, viz. to messengers sent from the Courte duringe the stay of the Lorde Bysshoppe at Highgate and Barnett xxxixs. vjd. Dyverse psons whoe tooke paynes at those twoe places vijli. xijs., vjd., given in the Yune for glasses broken and in rewardes to the meaner servauntes at Barnett xxxs., given to such an attended about the posthorses vijs. vjd. and in rewarde to one of the Tellors Clerkes whoe told and delivered the cccli. and came to Durham House for the acquittance xxs., in all xijli., ixs. vjd.

"Money payde by the saide Lorde Bysshoppe pte of the cccli. by him receaved to Nicholas Paye gen. whoe hath for the same yelded his accompte to the Kinges ma'tie. cli..—cclxiijli. viijs. viijd.

"Aud soe remayneth the some of xxxvjli. xjs. iiijd.

"Whiche some the saide Lorde Bysshoppe of Durham hath payde into the Kinges m'ts receipte of Th'excheq'r the vij'th daye of Februarie in the nynth yere of his highnes raigne as by the tallie thereof remayninge may appeare. And soe here Quyte.

"EX p FRA GOFTON

"Auditorem."

THE NAME MARTEL

I must confess that the article in No. 6. p. 86., which deprived Charles Martel of his long-possessed distinction of "the hammerer" gave me but little satisfaction. It was one of those old associations that one does not like to have destroyed. I could not, however, contradict your correspondents; and remained that very uncomfortable person, "a man convinced against his will." On turning over my Ménagiana, yesterday, I stumbled upon the name "Martel," and, as the passage combines both your elements (being a good note, and producing a query) I beg leave to offer it to you.

"Dans le ll'me siècle les procès se faisaìent aux vassaux par leurs Pairs, c'est-à-dire, par leurs convassaux, et toute sorte de procès se font encore présentement en Angleterre à toutes sortes d'accusés par leurs Pairs, c'est-à-dire, par des personnes de leur même état et de leur même condition, à la réserve des Bourreaux et des Bouchers, qui, à cause de leur cruauté ne sont point juges. Géoffroi Martel, Comte d'Anjou, fit faire ainsi le procès à Guérin de Craon, qu'il avait fait foi et hommage de la Baronnie de Craon à Conan, duc de Bretange. Géoffroi fit assembler ses Barons, qui, selon l'ancienne forme observée en matière féodale, firent le procès à Guérin, son vassal, et le condamnèrent, quoiqu'il fùt absent.—Et il est à remarquer à ce propos, que le Pape Innocent III., qui favourisait Jean sans-Terre, parcequ'en 1213 il avait soûmis son royaume d'Angleterre au Saint Siége au devoir de mille marcs d'argent par an, ayant allegué aus Ambassadeurs de Philippe Auguste que Jean sans-Terre avait été condammé absent, et que les loix défendent de condamner les accusés sans les ouïr; ils lui réspondirent que l'usage du Royaume de France était de condamner les absents, aussi bien que les présents, lorqu'ils avaient été deuëment cités en jugement. Chez les Romains il n'était par permis de condamner les absents: Non licet civem inauditum damnare."

Now, Sir, this passage shows "Martel," as a name, like that of "sans-Terre," bestowed for some quality or circumstances attached to the bearer;—and I should like to ask your correspondents if they know how this Comte d'Anjou, became entitled to it? He appears, from the date, to be the same Geoffrey who is the ancestor of our Plantagenets, as the Comte d'Anjou, contemporary with William the Conqueror, was named Fulk. If it can be proved that this Count received this addition from his martial prowess, I shall be strongly tempted to return to my creed regarding Charles Martel.

    W. ROBSON.

QUERIES AS TO JUNIUS

Amongst the letters attributed to Junius, and, in the opinion of Dr. Good, most certainly his production, is one signed "ATTICUS," under date of the 19th Aug. 1768, which contains an allusion to the private affairs of the writer, by no means unimportant. It is as follows:—

"The greatest part of my property having been invested in the funds, I could not help paying some attention to rumours or events by which my fortune might be affected: yet I never lay in wait to take advantage of a sudden fluctuation, much less would I make myself a bubble to bulls and bears, or a dupe to the pernicious arts practised in the Alley. I thought a prudent man, who had any thing to lose, and really meant to do the best for himself and his family, ought to consider the state of things at large, of the prospect before him, and the probability of public events. A letter which appeared some days ago in the Public Advertizer revived many serious reflections of this sort in my mind, because it seemed to be written with candour and judgment. The effect of those reflections was, that I did not hesitate to alter the situation of my property.

"I owe my thanks to that writer that I am safely landed from a troubled ocean of fear and anxiety on which I think I will venture my fortune and my happiness again," &c. &c.

There is no reason to question the truth of these sentiments. The letter is believed to be the first which appeared signed "ATTICUS," and was written many months before the author became known as Junius, and before any necessity had arisen for the exercise of that habitual caution which he afterwards evinced in the mention of any circumstance at all likely to lead to his detection. Would it not, therefore, be worth while to ascertain the date of the letter in the Public Advertizer which influenced him, and then to search the names of the transferrors of stock between that time and the 19th August? Many of the contributors to the "Notes and Queries" have influence sufficient to obtain permission from the proper authority for such a search. It is observable, that as the amount transferred formed the greatest part of his property, it would be somewhat considerable, and might not be sold in the aggregate, but pass in various sums to several purchasers.