Oct. 13. 1855.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



295 



" Recollections of Sir William Waller " (Vol. xii., 

 p. 244.). — The edition of the Poetry of Anna 

 Matilda inquired for, is in my possession. 



" Not having," says the preface, " poetry enough to 

 form a volume, A. M. was persuaded to enrich it with 

 some curious prose, written in other times. The Fragment 

 subjoined to the poems is from tlie autograph of the 

 famous Sir William Waller, the manuscript of which has 

 been preserved in a family to which its editor is allied, 

 and who are pleased at an opportunity of making their 

 treasure public." 



From the long chace J. W. has had after this 

 book, he evidently prizes it ; I may, therefore, re- 

 quest his acceptance of my copy, through the kind 

 intercommunication of the Editor of " JST. & Q."* 



J.O. 



Marriages made in Heaven (Vol. xii., p. 195.). 

 — William Fkaseb, B.C.L., and all other ha- 

 chelors, are referred to Dr. Watts' beautiful poem 

 of the " Indian Philosopher " upon this subject, 

 inscribed to Mr. Henry fiendish, Aug. 29, 1705. 

 They may be found at p. 209. of his Lyric Poems, 

 4th edit., 1722, and will well repay perusal. 



E. D. 



Husband and Wife eating off the same Plate 

 (Vol. xii., p. 245.). — That this practice obtains 

 in our day, there can be no doubt. I have wit- 

 nessed it within the past ten or a dozen years, 

 and under circumstances which led me to believe 

 it common, if not habitual. 



In this instance, unquestionably conjugal af- 

 fection, and not rudeness of manners, was be- 

 tokened. The parties were poor, but decent and 

 careful ; and the plan was probably adopted in 

 order to save waste. John Scribe. 



Anonymous Plays (Vol. xii., p. 226.). — Of one 

 only of the plays referred to by R. J. can I fur- 

 nish the desired information. JEdmond, Orphan of 

 the Castle, a tragedy in five acts, founded on the 

 Old English Baron, a Gothic story, was published 

 anonymously in 1799, but was the production of 

 John Broster, F. S.A., a native, and whilome 

 Sheriff of Chester, of which city also his father 

 was mayor in 1791. In addition to this play, 

 Broster was the author of several Cheshire anti- 

 quarian works, among which may be mentioned, 

 an Account of the Siege of Chester, the Eaton 

 Tourist, Pedestrian Tour through North Wales, 

 and, in conjunction with his father, of the Chester 

 Guide, published originally in 1782, and a 

 Cheshire Biography, published in 1796. 



Broster's domicile at Chester was a "modern 

 antique" of his own creation, adorned with 

 carving of grotesque character. The house, 

 somewhat altered, still exists, notwithstanding the 



[* How shall we direct this volume? Another corre- 

 spondent, who has, however, been anticipated by the 

 kindness of J. 0., likewise offers a copy. 1 



No. 311.] ^ 



radical changes which have taken place in its 

 locality, and is now the first and last house to 

 and from the large railway station in Brook 

 Street. 



During the latter period of his earthly pil- 

 grimage, Broster resided in the Isle of Wight, 

 where he was professionally engaged on a dis- 

 covery of his own, for the cure of stammering and 

 other impediments of speech. There he died, 

 sometime in 1853, at Chester Lodge, Sandown 

 Bay, having previously deposited some of his 

 local literary gleanings, for the benefit of posterity, 

 in the Dean and Chapter Library of Chester. 



T. Hughes. 



Cliester. 



''The {Old) WeeKs Preparation" (Vol. xi., 

 p. 472.). — It may interest Mr. Eraser to know 

 that there are editions of this manual assigning it 

 on Ihe title-page to G. B., d. ». If the G. S., d. d., 

 upon others (quoted by Mr. Eraser) points to 

 Geo. Stanhope, this may indicate Dr. George 

 Bull, who was such a man as might have written 

 such a book. jMy edition, bearing the initials 

 G. B., is a chap one, printed by T. Norris, on 

 London Bridge. J. O. 



Times prohibiting Marriage (Vol. xi., p. 301., 

 &c.). — These were well known among the Greeks 

 and Romans (see Smith's Antiquities, art. Mar- 

 riage.). They also prevail among the Chinese, 

 and other nations, at the present day. B. H. C. 



NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC. 



Mr. Murray has introduced a new feature into the series 

 of beautifully printed and remarkably cheap volumes, 

 which he is issuing to the public under the title of Mur- 

 ray's British Classics. Judging from the list of intended 

 works as originally issued, it might have been supposed 

 that onlj' the older worthies of our literature were des- 

 tined to appear in this new and handsome form, and that 

 the collection would only include those authors whose 

 writings are,* so to say, public property. The issue for 

 the present month shows, however, that the series is to 

 take a wider range ; and in the first volume of this beau- 

 tiful library edition of Byron, we have proof that im- 

 portant modern works, of which the copj'right belongs to 

 Mr. Murra}', are destined to form parts of the series. It is 

 not necessary on the occasion of such an issue as this 

 of The Poetical Worhs of Lord Byron, a new edition, 

 in six volumes, to enter into a discussion of Byron's 

 merits. They are now, we suppose, as universally ad- 

 mitted, as his errors are, by all generous minds, forgiven 

 and forgotten. Neither is there much to be said about 

 this special edition — the beauty of its typography — the 

 good taste of its general getting up — for the series, of 

 which it forms a part, is now well known to all lovers of 

 handsome books. We may say, however, that it is not a 

 mere reprint, but one which seems to have been carefully 

 and judiciously superintended : witness the correction 

 of the much discussed line, — 



" Thy waters wasted them while they were free," 



