390 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[2nd S. No 20., May 17. 756 
successor in business, his son-in-law, and a suitable 
match for his only child. 
are related (too lengthy for “N. & Q.”) of the 
mode which Nicolas took in his broken English 
to bring round his intentions. The young man 
was in all points deserving, and she, comely and 
virtuous, was equally so. Their affections, as may 
be expected, soon became mutual, ending in mar- 
riage, from which sprung a race of worthy de- 
scendants. The last who bore the name, Robert 
Hall, of Milholm, died a few years since, aged 
eighty-two, a gentleman whose qualifications in 
the Greek language, and in mathematical science, 
were extensive, and who has left relating to Gre- 
cian learning some valuable manuscripts. In his 
fine manly personal form might be traced linea- 
ments of his Gallic origin, and in good qualities of 
heart none could excel him. 
The mill of Milholm, near the ruined towers of 
the ancient castle of Cathcart, in the midst of the 
loveliest scenery, with its busy water-wheel still 
turns out its supplies of writing paper for the 
lieges, and no doubt contributed its share in fur- 
nishing the material that helped on the Revolution 
of 1688, in those busy days of political correspon- 
dence in many quarters, so well illustrated by 
Mr. Macaulay. G.N. 
Minor Notes. 
Paris Newspapers in 1856.—The daily poli- 
tical newspapers published in Paris are eleven in 
number, and are thus classed, according to the 
numbers printed: —Za Presse, Le Siécle, Le 
Constitutionnel, Le Moniteur universel, Le Pays, 
La Patrie, Le Journal des Débuts, L’ Univers, 
LT’ Assemblée Nationale, L’ Union, and La Gazette 
de France. The number printed of the Presse, 
the Siécle, and the Constitutionnel, exceeds that of 
all the other journals together. J.S. Harry. 
Paris. 
An English Bull. — Theodore Hook, in his ex- 
cellent novel of Maxwell (vol. iii. ch. xi.), says : 
“Tt is lucky that men and women are not gifted with 
prescience, unless indeed the gift were universally accom- 
panied by the power and means of avoiding the conse- 
quences, which such an instinctive perception would so 
fearfully exhibit.” 
Consequences which will be avoided will never 
occur, and therefore can never be foreseen. 
UneEpa: 
Philadelphia. 
Etymology of “ Bard.” —I have seen this 
word derived from bar,a fury. Ishall feel obliged 
to any of your correspondents who would favour 
me with its correct etymology. May I be allowed 
to avail myself of this opportunity of correcting 
an error of the press which occurs in an article 
| on “Silly Goose” (2%. i. 246.), in which the 
Some curious anecdotes | 
Anglicised Latin ansers is corrupted into answers ; 
a correction of which I should not complain, if it 
did not involve an implied grievance on the part 
of the writer, who, so far from wishing to in- 
sinuate a want of accommodation in the columns 
of “N. & Q.,” has to express his obligations for 
much editorial indulgence. ater in the same 
article (in allusion to the “ Gaulish “ surprise’’), 
for capital should be read capitol. FE. Paimxorr. 
Country Bills. — Country bills occasionally 
furnish curious specimens of “the sublime art” 
by which thought is conveyed. A gentleman in 
Devonshire received this account from the village 
carpenter : 
wear Bi 
“ A wood barrow 
A wooden do - - - - 0 6 
A wooden barrow 
A wood do - - - =) Aa? 
It signified there was @charge of sixpence for a 
wooden barrow which would not do, and of four 
shillings for a wooden barrow which would do. 
A gentleman staying at Beddgelert in Wales 
received this account : 
“1855. Gents. 
Bettadoes 
Abls_ - 
Begn - 
Fluar - 
4 Loofs ot gecs 
Egs - - OY 
The articles were potatoes, apples, bacon, flour, 
loaves or oat cakes, egos. Gents was the compli- 
mentary title by which the stranger and his 
family were addressed. 
A wash@fwoman in the village of Offwell, in 
Devonshire, prefers the hieroglyphic to the 
phonetic method. She writes her bill in this 
way: 
wuss 
te.47 es 
ie 070 os 
Lesa] et Vet Bi el 
' Lhy *S Ucat ooet fia ! 
Ll — Il cell coll ell Od 
DMDoonon 
OOorr1 
This bill, sent in to a clergyman lately staying in 
the village, indicated she had a claim on him to 
the amount of two shillings and ninepence. 
ANoN. 
Port Wine. — Ihave made the following cutting 
from the papers, which may be worth recording 
an <* ON 8c) vi 
“ Extraordinary Price for Port Wines. — A wine mer- 
chant of this city informs us that at a sale the other day 
at Leicester of some port wine from the cellar of the late 
Dr. Nedham, of that placé, some old port realised from 
101s. to 136s. a dozen; and on Friday, at the sale at 
Lichfield of the property of the banking firm of Palmer 
and Greene, which lately broke, some port fetched the 
enormous sum of 14/. a dozen.” — Lincolnshire Times. 
A few weeks ago,“at a sale in Mr. Nesbitt’s sale- 
room, Hanover Street, some port wine fetched one 
pound a bottle. It was a wine merchant who 
purchased it for his own trade, and of course ex- 
e 
