76 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2nd s. No 108., Jan. 23. '58. 



dozen of candles to give light on three nights at the 

 acting of tragedies and comedies, 25s. 8c?. 



" For a rope to hang the lamp in Hall, 12d. 



" For removing the organs out of Chapel into Hall for 

 the acting, 5s. 



" For repairs of the lamp in Hall, in colours, etc., 4s. ; 

 and for labour, 3s. id. 



" 1583. For payment for the erection of a stage in 

 Hall for the acting of Comedies, 31. 3s. lOd. 



" 1590. To two carpenters for making the theatre with 

 the Warden's leave, 13s. 6d." 



( W. of Wykeham, §-c., pp. 204. 429.) 



In 1695, Dryden's play of Cleomenes was re- 

 presented at Westminster School. (Mem. of 

 Westm.f p. 191.) With reference to Aut Disce, 

 etc., I may mention that at St. Paul's School, 

 probably, set up by Thicknesse, a Wykehamical 

 Head-master, is this inscription : '* Doce, aut 

 £>isce, aut Discede." 



Mackenzie Walcott, M.A. 



PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE : WHOSE PROPERTY IS 

 IT ? 



(2°d S. V. 47.) 



Your correspondent T. complains that a couple 

 of private letters written by him to a deceased 

 literary friend are about to be publicly exposed 

 for sale ; and he inquires whether there exists 

 any law to prevent so great a breach of propriety ? 



His only remedy is in petitioning the Court of 

 Chancery for an injunction to restrain the sales- 

 man or his agents, which, no doubt, the Court will 

 grant. 



The importance of T.'s Query cannot be over- 

 rated. Whilst laws have been multiplied beyond 

 number for the security of the first three great 

 estates of the realm, few or none (at least of a 

 protective character) have been enacted for that 

 numerous class which comprises the fourth, — 

 namely, the press. Hence the conflicting judg- 

 ments, or rather sentiments, of Lords Hardwicke 

 and Eldon. No refined distinctions between lite- 

 rary and artistic properties, arising from private 

 labour and skill, will be allowed either in equity or 

 civil law. The most recent case in point is that 

 of Prince Albert v. Strange. The facts are too 

 well known to need repetition here : suffice it to 

 say, therefore, that upon hearing the petition of 

 the Prince, the Court of Chancery not only re- 

 strained the defendant from publishing (and ex- 

 posing, of course, for sale) the etchings in dispute, 

 but also compelled him to make restitution of the 

 property which had passed into his hands. The 

 case was most elaborately argued, and occupied 

 the attention of the Court for several days. The 

 principles of equity by which the Vice-Chancellor 

 was guided in his judgment apply with equal 

 force (and doubtless will hereafter be applied, 



should the occasion demand it) to property of a 

 literary description. /8. 



[If our correspondent is right in his law, in what an 

 unpleasant position may the Trustees of the British Mu- 

 seum find themselves, if there is any truth in the report 

 that they have purchased the papers referred to in last 

 " N. & Q. ; " and which, after the manner in which the 

 subject is discussed in literary circles, there can now be no 

 impropriety in describing as the literary, official, and pri- 

 vate correspondence of the late Dr. Bliss, whose name we 

 regret to mention in connexion with such a business. 

 It is said, moreover, that this purchase has been made in 

 opposition to the report of the Head of the Manuscript 

 Department. 



What will the Trustees do with them? If it is morally 

 and legally wrong to expose confidential correspondence, 

 — and we understand some of this correspondence is of a 

 most confidential character, — how can a body of gentle- 

 men reconcile themselves to a step which publishes this 

 correspondence in the most effectual manner by laying it 

 before the hundreds of curious inquirers who visit the 

 Museum Reading Rooms ? We hope that if the Trustees 

 have made the false step of purchasing these letters, they 

 will make the only amends they can, by ordering them 

 to be locked up until all chances of annoyance or mischief 

 from their exposure shall have passed away.] 



B^pKeS tfl Miwav ^ntxit^. 



Seven Champions of Christendom (2"* S. iii. 

 267. 339.)— This Query was made in 1" S. i. 418., 

 and received the very same reply from the editor 

 which is given by L. at the last reference. If 

 " many curious particulars " and " some biblio- 

 graphical information " respecting Richard John- 

 son and the Seven Champions may be found in Mr. 

 Chappell's Preface, will some one who has access 

 to the work favour us with an extract? Dunlop, 

 I dare say, and Lowndes could assist in a reply to 

 this Query. 



At p. 459., among the notes on recent Book 

 Sales, which is a new and most welcome feature 

 of " N. & Q.," we find : 



" 513. R. Johnson's Famous History of the Seven 

 Champions of Christendom. Black Letter. 1608. The 

 earliest known edition. 7s." 



Let me add the following : — 



The Famous History of the Seven Champions of Christ- 

 endome : St. George of England, St. Dennis of France, 

 St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of 

 Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. 

 1675. B. 1. 4to. 2 vols in one vol. 



lb, 1680. B. 1. 4to. 



lb. By R. J. Three parts complete. 1705. 4to. 



The Renowned History of the Seven Champions of 

 Christendom and their Sons. Lond. 1824. 12mo. 



Kirke (J.). The Seven Champions of Cliristendomo 

 acted at the Cock-pit and at the Red-Bull in St. John's 

 Streete, with a generall liking. Lond. 1638. 4to. 



EiRIONNACH. 



[The following is the passage in Mr. Chappell's Pre- 

 face : " The Famous Historie q/^ the Seven Champions of 

 Cliristendom£ is the work by which Johnson is best 



