Aug. 11. 1855.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



115 



fiorures which the Romans used were of wax or 

 glass ; their common name was calculi or latrunculi. 

 The poets sometimes term them latrones, from 

 latro, a hired soldier ; and in this sense it should, 

 I think, be applied to chess, which gives the 

 chance and order of war so happily ; and this 

 idea is confirmed by Veda, who says : 



" War's harmless shape we sing, and boxen trains 

 Of youth, encountering on the cedar plains. 

 How two tall kings, by different armour known, 

 Traverse the field, and combat for renown." 



W.J. 



Eussell Institution. 



Poetical Tavern Signs : a Patriarchal Inn- 

 keeper (Vol. X., pp. 33. 329.). — At the King's 

 Head Inn, Stutton, near Ipswich, until very re- 

 cently there was a sign-board, inscribed on which 

 was the following courteous invitation, addressed 

 to wayworn travellers and others who were 

 passing by : 



" Good people stop, and pray walk in. 

 Here's foreign brandy, rum, and gin ; 

 And, what is more, good purl and ale 

 Are both sold here by old Nat Dale." 



These lines were written by one of the principal 

 farmers in the parish, occasionally in the habit of 

 calling at this ancient hostelry to " wet his weason 

 with liquors nice." Mr. Nathaniel Dale, the late 

 venerable and respected landlord, has just retired 

 from business ; he has attained to the ripe age 

 of eighty-four, eighty of which he passed under 

 the same roof, and is still in the enjoyment of a 

 green old age. 



" This old-fashioned Briton, who is hearty and hale. 

 Is a moderate drinker of good purl and ale ; 

 Which is better than all doctors' physic 'tis plain. 

 For he seldom knows what 'tis to feel ache or pain." 



From the year 1793 to 1843 he filled the eccle- 

 siastical office of parish clerk, with credit to 

 himself and satisfaction to the minister and 

 parishioners. On his first appointment to this 

 office his fixed salary was no more than thirty- 

 eight shillings a year, which was afterwards ad- 

 vanced to filty-two shillings, and never exceeded 

 that sum ; yet for this trifling remuneration he 

 efficiently and cheerfully fulfilled the duties of the 

 office. When his jubilee year as parish clerk 

 arrived he resigned that appointment, but he ob- 

 served not very long since that he felt as capable 

 of performing that duty now as he did formerly. 

 His jubilee year as parish clerk was celebrated in 

 1843, at a village festival convened for the pur- 

 pose ; and as a proof of the high estimation in 

 which he has always been held, a handsome silver 

 cup, value ten guineas, on which was engraved an 

 appropriate inscription, was presented to him on 

 the occasion. 



I may add, in conclusion, that he collected the 

 parish rates and taxes, and occasionally exercised 



No. 302.] 



the occupations of a hairdresser and basket- 

 maker. It being very unusual for any individual, 

 and particularly an innkeeper, to reside four- 

 score years in the same habitation, perhaps you 

 will spare a niche for this brief record of " good 

 old Nat Dale," now residing in this town. 



G. Blencowe. 

 Manningtree. 



On the sign of " The Baker and the Brewer," 

 in more than one street in Birmingham, is the 

 following quatrain : 



" The Baker says, ' I've the staff of life ; 

 And you're a silly elf 

 The Brewer replied, with artful pride, 

 • Why, this is life itself ! ' " 



H.M. 



^^ Struggles for Life" (Vol. xii., p. 9.) is not 

 only ascribed to the Rev. William Leask, as your 

 correspondent B. H. C. kindly informs you at 

 Vol. xii., p. 52. ; but it is also often mentioned as 

 being written by one or the other of the follow- 

 ing distinguished ministers, Thomas Binney and 

 Thomas T. Lynch. The publishers of the said 

 work decline giving the name of the author. My 

 own opinion is, that Leask did not write the book. 



D. N. a 



Stone Altars (Vol. xi., p. 426.).— When Strat- 

 ford-on-Avon Church was repaired a few years 

 ago, a stone altar was presented by a gentleman, 

 and placed in the chancel. 



I recently visited the church, and, having made 

 some remarks upon this altar, was informed by 

 the clerk that the Bishop of Worcester, at a visi- 

 tation held there, had spoken strongly against the 

 erection of stone altars. After his charge, some 

 one acquainted his lordship that such an altar had 

 recently been placed in that church, and explained 

 that the donor had been a great benefactor to the 

 sacred edifice, which circumstance induced his 

 lordship to allow the altar to remain. F. B. R. 



:^tsfcenane0tt^, 



NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC. 



That the name of Henry Lord Brougham is destined 

 hereafter to occupy a proud position in his country'* 

 annals, none can doubt. For which of his many and 

 varied gifts he will be best remembered may, however, 

 be matter of speculation. Those who have listened to liis 

 fervid eloquence, his masterly declamation, his withering 

 sarcasm, may claim that distinction for him as an orator. 

 Those again, who have watched year by year his Tin- 

 wearied endeavours to amend our civil, and to humanise 

 our criminal, code, by repealing arbitrary enactments and 

 obsolete statutes — now by giving the injured cheap 

 justice, now by securing for the accused a speedy trial — 

 may well argue that the name of Lord Brougham will be 

 best remembered in connexion with his labours in the 



