Chapter 4 Bowmer.

[Decandolle assigns an antiquity of fourteen and a half centuries to this remarkable yew. See a valuable article on the "Age of Trees" in our fourth volume, p. 401.]

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Replies.

THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN 1753.

(Vol. viii., p. 364.)

As no reply has yet been given to the Query of Inquirendo as to who was C. M., who described in the Scots Magazine, vol. xv. p. 73., as long since as 1753, the electric telegraph, and as the article itself is one of great interest in the history of an invention which is justly considered one of the greatest wonders of our own times, I send a transcript of it, by way of satisfying the natural curiosity of many readers who may not have an opportunity of consulting it in the magazine in which it originally appeared, and also because the doing so may stimulate farther inquiry, and lead to the discovery of its ingenious writer, C. M. of Renfrew.

"Renfrew, February 1, 1753.

"Sir,

"It is well known to all who are conversant in electrical experiments, that the electric power may be propagated along a small wire, from one place to another, without being sensibly abated by the length of its progress. Let, then, a set of wires, equal in number to the letters of the alphabet, be extended horizontally between too given places, parallel to one another, and each of them about an inch distant from that next to it. At every twenty yards' end let them be fixed in glass, or jeweller's cement, to some firm body, both to prevent them from touching the earth, or any other non-electric, and from breaking by their own gravity. Let the electric gun-barrel be placed at right angles with the extremities of the wires, and about an inch below them; also let the wires be fixed in a solid piece of glass at six inches from the end; and let that part of them which reaches from the glass to the machine have sufficient spring and stiffness to recover its situation after having been brought in contact with the barrel. Close by the supporting glass let a ball be suspended from every wire, and about a sixth or an eighth of an inch below the ball place the letters of an alphabet, marked on bits of paper, or any other substance that may be light enough to rise to the electrified ball, and at the same time let it be so contrived that each of them may reassume its proper place when dropt. All things constructed as above, and the minute previously fixed, I begin the conversation with my distant friend in this manner:-Having set the electrical machine a-going, as in ordinary experiments, suppose I am to pronounce the word sir; with a piece of glass, or any other electric per se, I strike the wire s, so as to bring it in contact with the barrel, then i, then r, all in the same way; and my correspondent, almost in the same instant, observes these several characters rise in order to the electrified balls at his end of the wires. Thus I spell away as long as I think fit, and my correspondent, for the sake of memory, writes the characters as they rise, and may join or read them afterwards as often as he inclines. Upon a signal given, or from desire, I stop the machine, and taking up the pen, in my turn I write down whatever my friend at the other end strikes out.

"If anybody should think this way tiresome, let him, instead of the balls, suspend a range of bells from the roof, equal in number to the letters of the alphabet, gradually decreasing in size from the bell a to z; and from the horizontal wires let there be another set reaching to the several bells; one, viz., from the horizontal wire a to the bell a, another from the horizontal wire b to the bell b, &c. Then let him who begins the discourse bring the wires in contact with the barrel, as before, and the electric spark, breaking on bells of different size, will inform his correspondent by the sound what wires have been touched. And thus, by some practice, they may come to understand the language of the chimes in whole words, without being put to the trouble of noting down every letter.

"The same thing may be otherwise effected. Let the balls be suspended over the characters, as before, but instead of bringing the ends of the horizontal wires in contact with the barrel, let a second set reach from the electrificator, so as to be in contact with the horizontal ones; and let it be so contrived, at the same time, that any of them may be removed from its corresponding horizontal by the slightest touch, and may bring itself again into contact when left at liberty. This may be done by the help of a small spring and slider, or twenty other methods which the least ingenuity will discover. In this way the characters will always adhere to the balls, excepting when any of the secondaries is removed from contact with its horizontal; and then the letter at the other end of the horizontal will immediately drop from its ball. But I mention this only by way of variety.

"Some may perhaps think that, although the electric fire has not been observed to diminish sensibly in its progress through any length of wire that has been tried hitherto; yet, as that has never exceeded some thirty or forty yards, it may be reasonably supposed, that in a far greater length it would be remarkably diminished, and probably would be entirely strained off in a few miles by the surrounding air. To prevent this objection, and save longer argument, lay over the wires, from one end to the other, with a thin coat of jeweller's cement. This may be done for a trifle of additional expense; and as it is an electric per se, will effectually secure any part of the fire from mixing with the atmosphere.

"I am, &c.,

"C. M."

Surely among the numerous readers of "N. & Q." some one will be found to tell us who C. M. was.

J. Y.

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FACTITIOUS PEDIGREES: DIXON OF BERSTON.

(Vol. ix., p. 221.)

The inquiry of Mr. R. W. Dixon is one that I feel should not remain unanswered; and a few circumstances that I can detail will be sufficient to prove that his brother Mr. J. H. Dixon only exercised a just discretion in rejecting the information offered by William Sidney Spence.

On 4th March, 1848 (a few months, therefore, earlier than the letter which has been quoted), a communication was forwarded to me by Mr. Spence so similar, as to warrant the supposition that a set form was kept on hand to be copied in different applications with such variations as each case might demand, though even then a discrepancy has crept in that would render the evidence suspicious.

The first paragraph is the same, except that Mr. Spence states he was engaged by the "widow of Sir John Cotgreave," instead of the "sister."

In the second the pedigree is said to be the "work of Randle Holme, 1672, from documents by William Camden," instead of the work of "the great Camden." Monsons, of course, are substituted instead of Dixons. Four generations from Sir John Monson temp. Edward III., instead of five generations from Ralph Dixon temp. Henry VI. And this Sir John is slain fighting under Lord Audley at the battle of Poictiers, 1356, as a counterpart to Ralph Dixon, slain at the battle of Wakefield, 1460.

The third paragraph is word for word the same, except that, to be consistent with the descents, four shields with sixteen quarterings are offered instead of five shields with twelve.

Lady Cotgreave is to vouch for the authenticity instead of Miss Cotgreave.

The quarterings promised in the next paragraph are only partially the same, and the conclusion merely differs in wording by the substitution of the names of "Sir John Monson" and "his mother Elinor, daughter and coheir of Sir John Sutton, de Sutton and Congleton," in place of "Ralph Dixon and his mother Maude, daughter and coheiress of Sir Ralph Fitz Hugh," &c.

I acknowledge that from the first I did not believe a word of this ingenious tale; in fact I was rather an unfortunate subject for Mr. Spence's purpose, having for years made the early history of my family my especial study; but having a friend resident at Birkenhead (a clergyman), I applied to him out of curiosity to find out something of my informant, who at least had shown some ingenuity. The answer was by no means in favour of Mr. Spence; and one fact was decidedly ascertained, that he neither lived nor was known in Priory Place, whence his letters were dated. I answered his letter, declining to give the remuneration of five pounds which he had asked; and on taxing him with the falsity of his residence, he said he had his letters left there for convenience.

Mr. Dixon must now himself judge of the credit to be placed on the informant. As for the information in my own case, it bore internal proofs of being worthless; and if such a pedigree as is described should exist, I feel assured it is not the work of Camden, but more probably of a cotemporary, of rather discreditable notoriety among genealogists, of the name of Dakyns.

Monson.

Gatton Park.

I can give no information on the Dixon family, but having some years ago received a letter from the same Mr. Spence, with an account of my own family, every word of which is not only entirely without authority, but a gross invention opposed to the facts, I thought Mr. Dixon might like to know that Mr. Spence founds the romance in question on a "Pedigree of Cotgreave de Hargrave, the work of the celebrated Randle Holme, anno 1672, from documents compiled by that learned antiquary William Camden, in the year 1598," evidently the same veracious authority with that mentioned in the letter to Mr. Dixon.

Ev. Ph. Shirley.

Eatington Park, Stratford-on-Avon.

The following note will, I think, satisfy your correspondent R. W. Dixon that the letter of William Sidney Spence which you inserted for him was an imposture, and that Mr. J. H. Dixon was not without reason in rejecting the information offered.

A friend of mine, assuming descent from "a good old" family of the same name, which he was unable to prove, received, about the same time as Mr. Dixon did, a communication from Mr. William Sidney Spence to precisely the same effect, and having no cautious brother to consult, readily took the bait, and paid some pounds for a specious pedigree, setting forth his "distinguished progenitors," with their armorial bearings, &c., purporting to be authenticated as a true copy of one in Miss Cotgreave's possession under that lady's own hand. The information so received being subsequently submitted to a genealogical friend, some doubt was excited of its genuineness in proving too much; and an inquiry, which I made through a correspondent in Cheshire, tending to confirm this suspicion, a reference was had to Miss Cotgreave herself, when it turned out that the whole was an ingenious fabrication. Mr. Spence was then dead, and my friend, whose name I do not mention, as the subject is rather a sore one, was obliged to be content with the practical experience he had bought.

The probability is, that whenever Mr. Spence read in Burke's Landed Gentry that Mr. A. or Mr. B., in preference to being considered as the founder of a new family, supposed himself, or wished to be supposed by others, to be descended from an old stock of the same name, he kindly offered to supply the desired information, and was ready to execute a pedigree to order.

G. A. C.

[The Editor has been informed by a person on whose accuracy he can rely, that a lady who received a letter from Mr. Spence offering certain information respecting his family taken from the Cotgreave pedigree, and who imprudently sent money for the same, got nothing but the most absurd rubbish in return, and having been induced to make inquiries into the subject, was fully satisfied that the whole thing was a fraud.]

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LICENCES TO CRENELLATE.

(Vol. ix., p. 220.)

The subjoined list of names and places will supply Mr. Parker with the counties of all the places named in his inquiry, except two in which I suspect some error. If farther references to authorities are desired, they will be given with pleasure in reply to a private application, but would crowd your pages inconveniently.

1. Cokefield for Melton-Cokefeud for Moulton, Suffolk.

2. Grisnak for Molun-Query this?

3. Langeton for Newton in Makerfield.-L. for Newton Hall or Castle, the head of the Palatine Barony of Newton, in Lancashire.

4. Esselynton for Esselynton-E. in Northumberland.

5. Trussel for Cubleston-C. in Staffordshire.

6. De la Beche for De la Beche-De la Beche Castle. Aldworth, Berks.

7. The same for Beaumes-Beaumys Castle, Shinfield, Berks.

8. Cobham for Pringham-P. alias Sterborough Castle, Surrey.

9. The same for Orkesdene-O. in Kent.

10. "Burghchier" for Stanstede-Bourchier for Stansted, Essex.

11. Dalham for "Credonio"-"Fortalicium in loco de Crodonio." Printed Cal. Rot. Pat. p. 143.

12. Lengleys for Heyheved-Highhead Castle, in Cumberland.

13. Aeton for Chevelyngham-Heton for Chillingham, Northumberland.

Geo. O.

Sedbury Park, Chepstow.

There can, I think, be little doubt that Stansstede, in Mr. J. H. Parker's list, is Stanstead Hall, near Halstead in Essex. I have never seen Stanstead Hall, but about a month since I was in company with the late occupant; from whom I learned, in casual conversations, that it was an ancient house, with moat and fortifications. In addition to this I may state, that there are monuments in the old church (St. Andrew) of Halstead to some of the Bourchier family. These facts, taken together, seem to fix the locality with sufficient precision. One of the monuments just referred to is a brass, commemorating Sir Bartholomew Bourchier and his two wives; which, when I copied it in 1847, was under the flooring of a pew in the south aisle. He died May 8, 1409; and was previously the possessor of Stanstead Hall: so I learn from my own MS. Catalogue of brass rubbings in my collection, but I am not able to give any better reference to authenticate the statement.

W. Sparrow Simpson.

Heyheved, mentioned in Mr. Parker's list, is Highhead Castle in Cumberland. In the reign of Edward II. it was a peel house (pelum de Heyheved) possessed by Harcla, Earl of Carlisle. In modern times it became the property of a family named Richmond, one of whom erected the present house, after a plan by Inigo Jones. But he died before it was finished, leaving co-heirs, who quarrelled about the partition of the estate, and actually put a hedge through the centre of the house. Eventually one-half came into the hands of Lord Brougham, who is understood to have purchased the other, and will probably restore the whole.

K.

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NEWSPAPER FOLK LORE.

(Vol. vi., pp. 221. 338. 466.; Vol. ix., pp. 29. 84.)

It may be instructive to collate the four stories recorded in the above references, and compare them with a case that was brought before Mr. Jardine at Bow Street Police Court; and which was reported in The Times for February 22, 1854. Let the following extract suffice: it is descriptive of the operations of extracting a worm from the body of one Harriet Gunton, by a female quack of the name of Jane Browning:

"I laid myself on the bed as she desired, and she told Mrs. Jones to hold my mouth to prevent my breathing. Mrs. Jones held me from behind, and nearly suffocated me. She kept me down, while the prisoner tried to get the worms out of my body with her hands. This lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and caused me dreadful pain. The prisoner told me that one of the worms had bit her finger, and slipped away again, and she could not get at it. She tried a second time, and said the worm had bit her again. I then begged her to leave off, if she could not succeed in getting it away; for I believed I should die under the operation. She tried a third time, and said she had broken two skins of it, which would prevent it getting up my body. ... She then put her hand under the clothes. I felt something touch me like a cloth, and she drew away her hand; throwing something into the pan, which sounded with a heavy splash. She said she had been trying at it all night, and had got it away at last."

Mr. Robert Biggs, the medical attendant, pronounced the "reptile" to be a fine conger eel, which he believed had often done duty in the same way.