2nd s. NO 48., Nov. 29. '56.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



433 



and a night to accomplish, may now be completed 

 in about three hours. In the year 1814, being 

 then a student at Oxford, accompanied by my 

 sister, who was going to pay a visit to some 

 friends in London, we left Shropshire in January, 

 intending to pass a couple of days on our way with 

 some friends at Edgbaston, near Birmingham. 

 The weather was exceedingly cold, and during 

 our stay at Edgbaston* the memorable fall of 

 snow took place which blocked up all the roads 

 between Birmingliam and London, the drifts 

 about Dunchurch being twenty-four feet deep, 

 and all travelling and communication was com- 

 pletely at an end.' It was fortunate for us, under 

 these circumstances, that we were so comfortably 

 housed, without the expense and discomfort of 

 remaining at an inn during that inclement season. 

 For several days did I come down to Birmingham 

 every morning to inquire into the state of the 

 roads, and when the travelling was likely to be 

 resumed, — but all to no purpose. I was extremely 

 anxious to get to my journey's end, not only be- 

 cause Term had commenced, and I was fearful of 

 losing its benefit, but also because I was preparing 

 for my examination for the degree of B. A., which 

 was shortly to come on. Notwithstanding, how- 

 ever, the labour that was employed in clearing the 

 roads, the drifts were so deep, and had so com- 

 pletely choked up the way, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of Long Compton, and from there 

 to Chapel House in Oxfordshire, that several days 

 elapsed before a way was cut through. At last 

 tidings came that the road was clear, and that the 

 coaches would commence running again. We 

 left Birmingham in one of the first that went, con- 

 taining six inside, including, besides my sister and 

 myself, an elderly benevolent-looking gentleman, 

 a young man, and two females. With great diffi- 

 culty we got to Stratford-upon-Avon, twenty-two 

 miles, the first day, and had to stay there at an 

 inn all night. The second day we started early, 

 and in going along — the track that was cut 

 through the drift being only wide enough for one 

 coach — we met the Shrewsbury and Holyhead 

 mail, the first coach which had left London, and 

 which diverging a little on one side to accommo- 

 date us, was thrown over into the drift, and we 



* I was in the habit of staying at Edgbaston on my 

 way to and from Oxford, and another late discussion in 

 «N. & Q." (" Wager of Battel," 2°d s. ii. 241.) reminds 

 me tliat I happened to be stopping there on the very day 

 that Mary Ashford was murdered by Abel Thornton. A 

 few friends had been invited to meet me, and we were 

 waited upon by a nice-looking young woman, a sister of 

 Mary Ashford ; and I well recollect our being cautioned 

 not to allude to the shocking occurrence which had taken 

 place — the lady of the house wishing to postpone the com- 

 munication of the event till the company had left, fearing 

 the effect it might have upon her sister, and being anxious 

 to break it to her in the kindest and best manner she was 

 able. 



all had to turn out and help to raise the coach 

 again, being nearly buried ourselves in the snow. 

 This was a work of some labour and time before 

 it was accomplished. As we approached Long 

 Compton the drifts were still heavier, and near to 

 Cliapel House, the road itself being so much below 

 the land on each side, the snow had completely 

 filled it up ; and as the more easy plan of getting 

 along, the hedges which divided the fields had been 

 levelled, the ditches filled up, and for nearly seven 

 miles the coach pursued its slow progress over the 

 furrows of the corn fields, and in one place 

 through a farm-yard. Having been once nearly 

 overturned ourselves, which caused another long 

 stoppage, wet with our exertions in the snow, 

 tired and benumbed with cold, we arrived in Ox- 

 ford about five o'clock on the evening of the 

 second day. My sister was exceedingly distressed 

 at parting with me there, and also at not having 

 been able to communicate with her friends in 

 London, who were expecting her arrival ; and I 

 felt uncomfortable at being obliged to leave her 

 with the prospect of travelling all night in such 

 an inclement season among entire strangers. 

 Having been assured, however, by the elderly 

 gentleman, with whose kindness and attention we 

 had been much pleased, that he would not leave 

 her, whatever hour they might arrive in London, 

 till he had safely deposited her with her friends, I 

 became more reconciled. She arrived early on 

 the morning of the third day before daylight, 

 without any more perils, and having knocked up 

 her friends, the gentleman fulfilled his promise by 

 safely leaving her with them ; and on taking his 

 departure, only begged in return that she would 

 favour him with a call during her stay in London, 

 as he had become deeply interested about her, 

 from her great resemblance to a dear and favour- 

 ite daughter whom he had lately lost. It is 

 hardly necessary to add that the visit was gladly 

 paid. 



The reader will remember tliat it was during 

 this time in the same year, 1814, that the Thames 

 was frozen over, and the great fair held on the 

 ice, and that so severe a winter had not been 

 known for forty years. The snow plough was first 

 used on this occasion. T. C. 



"candide" and "the quarterly review." 



(2"'i S. il. 349.) 



I have the edition of Candide mentioned by 

 your correspondent, published in 1759, where the 

 passage referred to stands thus : 



" Quel est done, disaient les cinq Rois, ce simple par- 

 ticulier qui est en ^tat de donner cent fois autant que 

 chacun de nous et qui le donne." 



I have also a translation published by C. Cooke, 



