Notes and Queries, Number 53, November 2, 1850 | Page 7

the _Westminster Journal_, Dec. 4. 1742, is a letter subscribed "Ralph Courtevil, _Organ-blower_, Essayist, and Historiographer." This person was the organist of St. James's Church, Piccadilly, and the author of the _Gazetteer_, a paper written in defence of Sir Robert Walpole's administration. By the writers on the opposite side he was stigmatized with the name of "Court-evil."
At the present time, as I am given to understand, the organist of St. Andrew's Church, Holborn, is styled in the vestry-books, the "_organ-blower_."
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
"_Singular" and "Unique_."--The word _singular_, originally applied to that of which there is no other, gradually came to mean extraordinary only, and "rather singular," "very singular indeed," and such like phrases, ceased to shock the ear. To supply the vacancy occasioned by this corruption, the word unique was introduced; which, I am horror-struck to see, is beginning to follow its predecessor. The Vauxhall bills lately declared Vauxhall to be the "most unique place of amusement in the world." Can anything be done to check this ill-fated word in its career? and, if not, what must we look to for a successor?
M.
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QUERIES.
EARLY POETRY, ETC., FIVE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL QUERIES RESPECTING.
1. Who was the author of--
"A Poeme on the King's most excellent maiesties happy progress into Scotland and much desired returne. May, 1685. Imprinted at London, MDCXXXIII." {375}
It consists of ten leaves, exclusive of title-page, and is signed with the initials J.R. No copy has been traced in any public or private library.
2. How many leaves does _Nich. Breton's Fantastiques_ contain? I have a copy, apparently of a more recent date than the one alluded to in "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. i., p. 410.), wanting the title, and probably introductory leaf; the text, however, is quite complete. Where can a perfect copy be found?
3. There is in my possession a poetical collection, of which I can find no trace in any library public or private. It is dedicated to "Edmond Lord Sheffield, Lord President of his Maiesties Council established in the north parts," and the following is a copy of the title-page:--
"Northerne Poems congratulating the King's Maiesties most happy and peaceable entrance to the crowne of England.
'Sorrowe was ouer night But joy came in the morning.'
'Ser��, quamvis seri��, Sat cito, si sat ben��.'
'These come too late, though they import they love, Nay, soone enough, if good enough they prove.'
Printed at London by John Windet for Edmund Weaver, and are to be solde at the Great North doore of Paules, 1604. Small 4to."
Four leaves not numbered, and twenty-two pages numbered.
4. Can any account be given of a sort of autobiography by an individual whom Lord Orford sneers at in his _Anecdotes of Painting_; it is entitled:
"A Manifestation by Sir Balthazar Gerbier, K't. Job. xiii., ver. 18.; 'Behold now, I have ordered my cause, I know that I shall bee justified.' London, Printed for the author, 1651." 12mo. 36 leaves and title.
This very singular production does not appear to have been published, and I cannot trace it in any catalogue. It gives the author's descent, which is noble, and contains many interesting personal details of Sir Balthazar, which cannot be found elsewhere.
5. In the _Bibliographer's Manual_, by Lowndes, there occurs this entry: "Life and death of Major Clancie, the grandest cheat in this age," 1680, and the full catalogue of the Hon. Mr. Nassau is referred to. Can any of your readers state where a copy of this production may be found? A brief account of Clancie is contained in the _Memoirs of Gamesters and Sharpers_, by Theophilus Lucas. He wrote, or there was written, under this name, various other works not noticed by Lowndes. Can any information be given as to the assumed or real author of these works?
Lowndes also mentions _Clancie's Cheats, or the Life and Death of Major Clancie_, 1687. Where can access to this work be obtained?
J. MT.
Edinburgh.
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MINOR QUERIES.
_History of Newspapers._--
"The materials for a satisfactory history of newspapers, lie scattered in facts known one to this person, and one to that. If each London or provincial journalist, each reader, and each critic, who has an anecdote and a date, would give it publicity, some future volume might be prepared from the combined supply, much more complete than any to be fairly expected from a comparatively unaided writer who ventures upon an almost untrodden ground."
The foregoing extract from the interesting volumes recently published by Mr. Knight Hunt, under the unpretending title of _The Fourth Estate: Contributions towards a History of Newspapers, and of the Liberty of the Press_, has been very kindly recommended to our attention by The Examiner. We gladly avail ourselves of the suggestion, and shall be pleased to record in our columns any facts of the nature referred to by Mr. Hunt.
_Steele's Burial-place._--Sir Richard Steele died in the house now the