2><'i S. N» 74., May 30. '57.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



427 



peculiar tenure ? And next, whether they know 

 of any other tithe-free estates similarly circum- 

 stanced ? Or lastly, whether the auctioneer's re- 

 presentation is not mistaken in limiting the 

 exemption from the tithes to an occupier who is 

 also owner of the lands? 



I am not aware that the subject is noticed in 

 ]\[r. Larking's Knights Hospitallers in England, 

 lately published by the Camden Society, or in the 

 historical introduction to the work by the late 

 J. M. Kemble, Esq. S. I. W. 



Edmund Ironside : the Place of his Death. — 

 There are three accounts of the death of Edmund 

 Ironside, by the agency of Edric Streona. One 

 statement is, that he was killed at London, another 

 at Oxford, and a third at Brentford in Middlesex. 

 I believe that Henry of Huntingdon gives the 

 last named place. Is there any other authority 

 for the assertion ? or is it not very possible that 

 Brenteforde may have been a misreading of the 

 MSS. for Oxeneforde f Henrt T. Rilei. 



Passage from Bishop Berkeley. — Bishop Ber- 

 keley says : 



" The continual decrease of fluids, the sinking of hills, 

 and the diminution of planetary motions, afford so many 

 natural proofs which show this world had a beginning." 

 — Minute Philosopher, Dialogue vi. s. 23. 



What does this mean ? Does it refer to some 

 theory now exploded ? 



With regard to the supposed diminution of 

 planetary motions, I am aware of the hypothesis 

 of an ethereal resisting medium pervading space ; 

 but that of course cannot be alluded to, for it is 

 an inference drawn from comparatively recent 

 observations. J. W. Phillips. 



Haverfordwest. 



America and Caricatures. — The Americans do 

 not enjoy caricatures : they cannot relish their 

 point, or enter into their spirit. No publijpation 

 like the English Punch, or started with a view of 

 rivalling it, has succeeded ! And yet they show 

 considerable humour at times, and give evidence 

 of much originality. The holding up their public 

 men to ridicule, as is done in Punch, would not 

 be tolerated in New York or Washington. 



It is a national singularity. Is this aversion 

 from satires of this character a matter of idiosyn- 

 cracy with republics, or is it first shown by 

 America ? C. Roberts. 



New York, April 24, 1857. 



The Winter Family. — Information is desired 

 respecting the Winters, a Warwickshire family 

 concerned in the Gunpowder Plot. Where are 

 they settled ? R. E. Rann. 



Ministers^ Annuity Tax. — I observe, from the 

 newspapers, that Mr. Black, one of the respected 



members for this city, in his place In Parliament, 

 when referring to the ministers' money In Ireland, 

 stated, that in no other part of the United King- 

 dom, except in Edinburgh and Montrose (In each 

 of which towns there is an annuity tax, as it Is 

 called), was any similar tax known. Lord Pal- 

 merston is reported to have said in reply, that the 

 ministers' money In Ireland, and the annuity tax 

 in Edinburgh, stood on a perfectly different foot- 

 ing ; and I apprehend Mr. Black was misinformed 

 when he stated that no similar tax to that in 

 Edinburgh, for the support of the clergy, existed 

 anywhere else, except In Montrose, in any part of 

 Great Britain. A similar tax of 2*. 9d. in the 

 pound upon all houses and other buildings has 

 existed in the city of London (and now exists) 

 since the reign of Henry VIII. And I observe, 

 from a pamphlet of Dean Prideaux, published at 

 London in 1707, entitled Vindication of King 

 Charles's Award of 2s. in the Pound out of the 

 Rents of the Houses in Norwich, for the Support 

 of the Clergy, that a similar tax existed in that 

 city. Now I wish to know whether such tax still 

 exists in Norwich, and whether any of your cor- 

 respondents can inform me whether a similar tax 

 exists in any other town of England or Wales? In 

 Edinburgh the annuity tax is six per cent, on the 

 rental. S. M. 



Edinburgh. 



Gallon of Bread. — Is this measure for bread 

 common throughout England ? It prevails in 

 Wiltshire, but I do not remember to have heard 

 it used elsewhere. A. A. D. 



Kirhham Families. — Information is desired re- 

 specting the Kirkham families of Yorkshire and of 

 Lancashire, their arms, and if any earlier memento 

 of them is extant than the inscription In Howden 

 Church to the memory of Kirkham, Bishop of 

 Durham, who died August 4, 1260. To what 

 branch did this personage belong, and is any his- 

 tory of them to be found ? A. K. M. 



Charles II.^s Knights and Baronets. — Where 

 can I find a list, with some account, of the naval 

 and military officers upon whom the honour of 

 knighthood, or a baronetcy, was conferred by 

 King Charles II. ? Mercatob, A.B. 



" Life of Moliere:' — Wanted the titles of any 

 editions of the Life of Moliere that may have been 

 published, either In French or English. H. I. M. 



[A Life of Molifere will be found prefixed to the follow- 

 ing French editions of his Works : 6 vols. 4to., Paris, 

 1734, par M. de la Serre; 7 vols. 12mo., Londres, 1784, 

 par Voltaire; 8 vols. 12nio., Paris, 1799, par Voltaire; 

 6 vols. 8vo., Paris, 1813 ; 2 vols. imp. 8vo., Paris, par M, 



