NOTES ann QUERIES: | 
A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION 
FOR 
LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC. 
« When found, make a note of.” — Carrain Currier 
No. 1.] 
SatTurDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1849. 
Price Threepence. 
Stamped Edition 4d. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
| Tue nature and design of the present work 
have been so fully stated in the Prospectus, 
and are indeed so far explained by its very 
Title, that it is unnecessary to occupy any 
great portion of its first number with details 
on the subject. We are under no temptation 
to fill its columns with an account of what we 
hope future numbers will be. Indeed, we 
would rather give a specimen than a de- 
scription ; and only regret that, from the wide 
range of subjects which it is intended to 
embrace, and the correspondence and contri- 
butions of various kinds which we are led to 
expect, even this can only be done gradually. 
A few words of introduction and’ explanation 
may, however, be allowed; and, indeed, ought 
to be prefixed, that we may be understood by 
those readers who have not seen our Pro- 
spectus. 
“WHEN FOUND, MAKE A NOTE OF,” is 
a most admirable rule ; and if the excellent 
Captain had never uttered another word, he 
might have passed for a profound philosopher. 
| It is a rule which should shine in gilt letters 
on the gingerbread of youth, and the specta- 
cle-case of age. Every man who reads with 
any view beyond mere pastime, knows the 
value of it. Every one, more or less, acts 
| upon it. Every one regrets and suffers who 
neglects it. There is some trouble in it, to be 
sure; but in what good thing is there not? 
and what trouble does it save! Nay, what 
mischief! Half the lies that are current 
in the world owe their origin to a misplaced 
confidence in memory, rather than to inten- 
tional falsehood. We have never known more 
than one man who could deliberately and con- 
scientiously say that his memory had never 
deceived him; and he (when he saw that he 
had excited the surprise of his hearers, espe- 
cially those who knew how many years he had 
spent in the management of important com- | 
mercial affairs) used to add, —because he had __ 
never trusted it; but had uniformly written 
down what he was anxious to remember. 
But, on the other hand, it cannot be denied 
that reading and writing men, of moderate 
industry, who act on this rule for any con- 
siderable length of time, will accumulate a | 
good deal of matter in various forms, shapes, 
and sizes—some more, some less legible and 
intelligible—some unposted in old pocket 
books—some on whole or half sheets, or mere 
scraps of paper, and backs of letters — some, 
lost sight of and forgotten, stuffing out old 
portfolios, or getting smoky edges in bundles 
tied up with faded tape. ‘There are, we are 
quite sure, countless boxes and drawers, and 
pigeon-holes of such things, which want look- 
ing over, and would well repay the trouble. 
THIRD EDITION. = 
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