408 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 235. 



Handbook to Belgium.) The throne in which 

 the body was seated, the sarcophagus (of Parian 

 marble, the work of Roman or Greek artists, or- 

 namented with a fine bas-relief of the Rape of 

 Proserpine) in which the feet of the dead king 

 were placed, are still preserved in the cathedral, 

 where I saw them last year, together with some 

 portions of the robes, and some curious ancient 

 embroidery : these last are not usually exhibited to 

 strangers. W. Sparrow Simpson. 



"Carronade" (Vol. ix., p. 246.). — " The folk 

 story," as to the derivation of this word (if such a 

 comparatively modern invention deserves such an 

 epithet, for the Carron works, I believe, did not 

 exist a hundred years ago) is quite correct. This 

 gun is said to have been invented in Ireland by 

 General Melville ; but having been perfected at 

 Carron, it thence took its name. 



Landmann (no mean authority at the beginning 

 of this century), in his Questions and Answers on 

 Artillery, says : " The carronade takes its name 

 from being first made at Carron." 



H. T. Ellacombe. 



"Largesse" (Vol. v., p. 557.; Vol. ix., p. 209.). 

 — The use of this word is not confined to Essex 

 and Northamptonshire, but extends also to Norfolk. 

 It is met with in many parishes in the western 

 division of Norfolk : where, at the time of harvest, 

 afrer accompanying the last load of corn home 

 with the procession of the " Harvest Lady," it is 

 customary that the labourers on the several farms 

 should go round their respective parishes, and 

 collect various sums of money, under the name of 

 largesse, at the houses of the chief inhabitants, 

 whether lay or clerical. Few were to be met with 

 who refused this species of "black mail" thus 

 levied on them ; doubtless regarding it as one 

 out of many means of testifying their thankfulness 

 to the "Lord of the Harvest" for "filling their 

 mouth with good things," and giving them an 

 abundance of " corn and wine and oil." 2. 



This word is of common occurrence in Suffolk 

 during the shooting season, where sportsmen are 

 always greeted with it, for a donation, by the 

 labourers on the land where game is sought for. 



N. L. J. 



Precious Stones (Vol. viii., p. 539. ; Vol. ix., 

 pp. 37. 88. 284.). — As the titles of so many works 

 on this subject have been already given in your 

 pages, perhaps I may be of some service to your 

 correspondents in farther completing the list, and 

 referring them to the following in my own collec- 

 tion : 



On the Origin of Gems, by the Hon. Robert Boyle: 

 London, I2mo. 



The Mirror of Stones, in which the Nature, Gene- 

 ration, &c, of more than 200 Jewels, &c, are distinctly 



described by Camillus Leonardus, J2mo. : London, 

 1750. 



A Treatise on Diamonds and Pearls, by David 

 Jeffries, 2nd edit., 8vo. : London, 1751. [This work, 

 which was very scarce, has been recently reprinted by 

 E. Lumley for 6s.~\ 



Traite des Pierres precieuses et des Pierres fines, 

 par L. Dutens, 12mo. : London, Paris, and Florence. 

 [Reprinted, with additions, in " Les Gsuvres Meles de 

 Dutens:" Geneve, 8vo., 1784.] 



A Treatise on Diamonds and Precious Stones, by 

 John Mawe, 2nd edit. : London, 8vo., 1823. 



A Memoir of the Diamond, by John Murray, 

 F.S.A., &c, 12mo. : London, 1S31. 



Besides these may be consulted, the treatise of 

 Gemma, Delle Gemme pretiose, 2 vols. 4to., a 

 ponderous map of obsolete puerilities ; the Mine- 

 ralogie of M. de Bomare ; the Crystallographie of 

 M. Rome Delisle ; the essay of Wallerius, De 

 Lapidum Origine ; the learned researches of Berg- 

 man, Sur les Pierres precieuses, &c 



I may add, that a practical work on the nature 

 and value of precious stones, comprehending the 

 opinions and superstitions of the ancients respect- 

 ing them, together with an essay upon engraved 

 gems, an account of celebrated collections and spe- 

 cimens, &c, is much wanted, and would probably 

 be well received. William Bates. 



Birmingham. 



"A Pinch of Snuff" (Vol. vi., p. 431. ; Vol. vii., 

 p. 268.). — This work is correctly attributed to 

 Benson E. Hill, Esq. The companion volume, A 

 Paper of Tobacco, of which F. R. A. speaks in 

 just terms of commendation, was the production 

 of Mr. W. A. Chatto, the ingenious author of a 

 History of Playing Cards, &c. His son, Mr. 

 Thomas Chatto, from whom I received this in- 

 formation, is a bookseller, at No. 25. Museum 

 Street, Bloomsbury : where I hope his civility, 

 and anxiety to serve his visitors, will ensure the 

 success he merits. William Bates. 



Birmingham. 



Darwin on Steam (Vol. ix., p. 271.). — The 

 lines in question are not, cited quite correctly by 

 Uneda. They run as follows : 



" Soon shall thy arm, unconquer'd Steam, afar 

 Drag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car ; 

 Or on wide-waving wings expanded bear, 

 The flying-chariot through the fields of air." 



They occur in the First Part of the Botanic 

 Garden, p. 29., 2nd edit., 4 to., London, 1791. 



L. (1) 



[We are also indebted to J. K. R. W. and other cor- 

 respondents for similar replies.] 



Gale of Rent (Vol. viii., pp. 563. 655.). — The 

 word gale is used in the west of Philadelphia 

 in the sense of an instalment. Thus, if laud is 



