314 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2ad S. N« 68., April 18. '57. 



of three, five, and ten guineas and upwards. I bought 

 one of these myself, and found it answer very well ; but 

 now comes the point which I would entreat persons who 

 are amusing themselves in this art, or whose friends or 

 children are doing so, to observe, — Among the chjmiicals 

 is a bottle labelled (as I know for a fact) only ♦ Fixing 

 solution.' Now, who is to know whether it is the cj'anide 

 or the hyposulphite ? In my case it was the cj'anide, and 

 it is so most generally. In the book of instructions the 

 proportions for making this solution are given, but with- 

 out the slightest mention of its poisonous qualities, and 

 without even mentioning the hyposulphite as a substitute. 

 There is also a book published by one of the first photo- 

 graphic establishments in London, in which this salt is 

 prescribed in two operations, — first in cleaning the plate, 

 and then, as before, in the fixing process; but in both 

 cases without any caution as to its use. It is absolutely 

 unnecessary in the cleaning, as ammonia will do equally 

 well. I will just mention what happened to myself, and 

 which proves the danger there is. In that very opera- 

 tion, viz. cleaning the plate, I cut my finger, I suppose 

 with the edge of the glass ; but did not perceive it till I 

 saw drops of blood on the cloth. Now, Sir, I would just 

 ask the gentlemen who publish that book what would 

 have happened had I been following their directions as to 

 cleaning plates ? 



" If what I have said may be the means of cautioning 

 persons from using (as is very generally done by ama- 

 teurs, especially ladies,) solutions without knowing what 

 they are, I trust you will not think your valuable space 

 wasted 



" I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant, 



« A. V. G.* 



" Sydenham, April 8." 



Clinch ofBarnet (2°'* S. ill. 69.)— According to 

 one of his own advertisements, this worthy " imi- 

 tated the horses, the huntsmen and a pack of 

 hounds, a sham doctor, an old woman, a drunken 

 man, the bells, the flute, the double curtell (or 

 bassoon), and the organ, — all with his own natural 

 voice, to the greatest perfection." He also claims 

 the merit of being " the only man that could ever 

 attain to so great an art." He performed at the 

 corner of Bartholomew Lane, behind the Royal 

 Exchange. His charge for admission was one 

 shilling each person. 



The dates of Clinch's birth and death are un- 

 known. Notices of him may be seen in A Pacquet 

 from Wills, 8vo., 1701 ; The Spectator, No. 532. ; 

 Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs 

 of London during the Eighteenth Century, 8vo., 

 2 vols., 1810 ; and George Daniel's Merrie Eng- 

 land in the Olden Time, 8vo., 2 vols., 1842. 



Edward F. Rimbault. 



[* This letter was replied to on the following day by 

 Mr. Long, of the well-known firm of Bland & Long, who 

 states it is " ridiculous " to believe that such ill effects 

 could result from this salt; but as Mr. Hardwick in his 

 Photographic Chemistry (3rd Edition) p. 377, speaks of 

 the cj'anide of potassium as " highly poisonous," and fur- 

 ther instances of its injurious effects have been given in 

 The Times, we adhere to our original intention of printing 

 the foregoing caution against its use.] 



Hollands: Geneva (2°* S. iii. 169.) — Though 

 unable to answer Old Tom's Query as to the first 

 mention of Hollands, I can furnish him with an 

 early allusion to Geneva. I have before me a 

 poem entitled, Geneva, a Poem addressed to the 

 Right Honourable Sir R . W . B?/ Alex- 

 ander Blunt, Distiller. London : Printed for T. 

 Payne in LoveWs Court, Paternoster Row. 8vo. 

 1729. Price Gd. 



The following lines form the opening : 



" Thy virtues, Geneva ! yet unsung 

 By ancient or by modern bard, the muse 

 In verse sublime shall celebrate. And thou 



W statesman most profound ! vouchsafe 



To lend a gracious ear ; for fame reports 

 That thou, with zeal assiduous, dost attempts 

 Superior to Gananj or Oiampaigne, 

 Geneva salutiferous to enhance ; 

 To rescue it from hand of porter vile. 

 And basket woman, and to the bouffet 

 Of lady delicate, and courtier grand. 

 Exalt it ; well from thee may it assume 

 The glorious modern name of royal Bob ! " 



Though " Brandy, cogniac, Jamaica Rum, and 

 costly Arrack " are alluded to, there is no mention 

 of Hollands in the poem, which is a Defence of 

 Geneva against Ale, — the Grand Jury of Middle- 

 sex having in their presentment (1728-9) com- 

 plained " of the great mischiefs which arise from 

 the number of shops or houses selling a liquor 

 called Geneva." Perhaps one more extract may 

 be worth giving, for the statement It contains, 

 namely, that Geneva was introduced by William 

 ni., and that " Martial William " drank Geneva : 

 "Great Nassau I 

 Immortal name ! Britain's deliverer 

 From Slavery, from wooden shoes and chains, 

 Dungeons and fire ! Attendants on the sway 

 Of tj'rant bigotted, and zeal accurst 

 Of holy butchers, prelates insolent. 

 Despotic and bloodthirsty ! He who did 

 Expiring Liberty revive ! Who wrought 

 Salvation wondrous ! Godlike hero ! He 

 It was, who to compleat our happiness. 

 With Liberty restor'd, Geneva introduc'd ! 

 O Britons ! my countrymen ! can j-ou 

 To glorious William now commence ingrates 

 And spurn his ashes? Can you vilify 

 The Sovereign Cordial he has pointed out. 

 Which by your own misconduct only can 

 Prove detrimental ? Martial William drank 

 Geneva, yet no age could ever boast 

 A braver prince than he. Within his breast 

 Glow'd every royal virtue ! Little sign 

 O Genius of malt liquor ! that Geneva 

 Debilitates the limbs, and health impairs. 

 And mind enervates. Men for learning fam'd 

 And Skill in medicine, prescrib'd it then 

 Frequent in Recipe : nor did it want 

 Success, to recommend its virtues vast 

 To late posterity." 



M. N. S. 



" Lorcha " (2"^ S. iii. 236.) — Since addressing 

 you on the word lorcha, I have obtained some 

 further light upon the subject. Referring a few 



