Notes and Queries

Works by Daniel Defoe Bell Inscriptions Vulcan
Dancy-Meaning of "Lun"- Origin of the Word" As-
monean -Monumental Brass -Boggarts - Sir T. Flimer
-Seal of Hawise, Lady of Cyveilioc-"Three Ladies
playing at Ball"-Old French Words-Hewes: Pitmye
Hildyard Motto-The Phrase "Dear me" - English

Wines, &c., 21.

Notes on Books, &c.

Notes.

A BUNDLE OF OLD NEWSPAPERS.

I have lately met with a small parcel of old
newspapers, in the shape of thirty numbers of the
Weekly Packet, for the year 1721. This paper
seems to be of uncommon occurrence, as I do not
find a single number in the Hope Collection at
Oxford, and it is seldom mentioned by writers on
the manners and customs of the last century.
This being granted, I have strung together a few
extracts from my bundle which may perhaps
amuse the readers of "N. & Q." for a passing
moment whilst resting from graver studies.
First of royalty. A paragraph carrying us back

to the Eternal City makes the following announce-

ment: -

Lewis-John Casimir-Silvestre. Each Cardinal gave 20

Pistoles to the Midwife, and every one of the ladies 10.

It is said the Pretender has declar'd the Midwife a

Countess."

"Rome, Jan. 4.-On the 31st a chapel was held, being
the first Vesper Service for the Feast of the Circumci-
sion, at which the sacred College were present: In the
midst of the Service, the Cardinals were summon'd to
attend at the Labour of the Princess Sobieski, who was
brought to Bed of a Son at twelve o'clock, in the presence
of 120 Persons: Cardinal Albani carry'd the Pope an
Account of the Matter, and thereupon the Artillery of
the Castle of St. Angelo were thrice discharg'd, and his
Holiness sent him back to the Pretender with a Note of
100,000 Crowns, having made him several valuable Pre-
sents a few days before; Cardinal Ottoboni presented the
Pretender with a rich Crimson Velvet Gown, embroider'd
and lin'd with Furs, which the Cardinal had been pre-
sented with from the Czar of Muscovy. The Bishop of
Segni perform'd the Baptismal Function in the Pre-
tender's Chapel; the child was nam'd Charles-Edward-

There is something so comical in the idea of the
members of the "sacred college" leaving their
religious duties to rush into the presence of a
suffering woman, upon an occasion like the pre-
sent, that we can hardly keep our countenance
whilst reading the paragraph. The young prince,
of course, was the Pretender of '45 celebrity.

By a singular coincidence the same paper, of
only a few weeks later, records another event of
a similar kind having considerable bearing upon
that just quoted:

"On Saturday the 15th Instant [April], a little after

seven o'clock in the Evening, her Royal Highness the Prin-

cess of Wales was happily deliver'd of a Prince at Leicester

House, there being then present in the Room his Royal

Highness the Prince of Wales, the Dutchesses of Dorset

and Shrewsbury, the Countesses of Pembroke, Grantham,

Cowper, and Bristol, Ladies of her Royal Highness's Bed-

chamber, the Countess of Picbourg, the Women of her

Royal Highness's Bed-chamber, Sir David Hamilton,

and Mrs. Crane, the Midwife, who laid her Royal High-

ness," &c.

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