146
NOTES AND QUERIES. m s. m. FEB. 25, 1911.
Dilke are now to find a permanent home
there, in accordance with the wishes of
the lamented baronet. Hitherto, as we
know, they have been exhibited at the
Chelsea Public Library. It is anticipated
that the treasures of books, letters, and
manuscripts will find shelter at one of the
numerous libraries of Hampstead. The
Central Library in the Finchley Road has
been suggested. But it may be thought
more appropriate to choose the branch
in the Worsley Road as being nearest to
Keats' Grove (formerly John Street), with its
imperishable memories of the gifted poet.
CECIL CLARKE.
" SCAVENGER " AND " SCAVAGER." In a review of two sections of the 'N.E.D.' (ante, p. 98) it is said that " scavenger " is altered from " scavager " with intrusive n. I am not able to consult the ' N.E.D.,' but think it likely that this theory is based on Mr. Riley's statement that
" the City Scavagers, it appears, were originally public officers, whose duty it was to attend at the Hythes and Quays for the purpose of taking custom upon the Scavage (i.e., Showage) or open- ing out of imported goods. . . .These officers, no doubt, gave name to the ' Scavengers ' of the present day."
Dr. Round quotes this passage (from the introduction to the ' Liber Albus,' p. xli) in his * Commune of London,' and remarks that " no evidence whatever is adduced by Mr. Riley for his assertion that the * Sca- vagers ' originally performed the above duty or had anything to do with it " (pp. 256-7). Has any evidence for the " scavage " theory been discovered, and if so, where is it to be found ?
No doubt the 'N.E.D.' has given due weight to the important document "printed by Dr. Round (ibid., pp. 255-6), which proves that early in the thirteenth century the Scavengers were appointed to act as inspectors of the watch :
" Debent autem escavingores eligi qui singulis diebus a vigilia Nat[alis] domini usque ad diem epyphanie videant illos qui debent de nocte vigilare quod sint homines defensi biles et decenter
ad hoc armati Et si aliqua defalta in custodia
contigerit, escavingores debent illos 'inbreviare et ad primum hustingum vicecomitibus tradere." The document in question is assigned by Dr. Round to 1213. G. H. WHITE. *
St. Cross, Harleston, Norfolk.
[See Prof. Skeat's ' Etymological Dictionary,' Ed. 4, 1910.J
"FENELONS" OR "TAB SLIPPERS." Your reviewer in his very interesting notes on the ' N.E.D.' (ante, p. 99) writes, " Simple
things are not always easy to define,"
instancing " tab," a short strap or projecting
part, &c. It may not be known that " tab
slippers " are slippers made with a tongue
or flap reaching into the instep. They were
formerly known as " Fenelon slippers,"
called after the famous preacher, for what
reason I have never been able to find out.
Ladies used to be very partial to " tab
slippers" on account of the ease of " fitting-
on," but they seem now to have discarded
them in favour of bar shoes, with straps'
over the instep. Most gentlemen's slippers
still retain " the tab " or flap.
M. L. R. BRESLAR.
- N.E.D.' : MISSING WORDS IN ' Si
SIMPLE.' I have sought in vain for the following words in the section referred to : Silvate, Silvic (see Rennie's ' New Supple- ment to the Pharmacopoeias,' 1837 : " Silvates are formed by silvic acid like pinates ") ; Sikimin (see Greenish' s ' Materia Medica,' 1899, under ' Star Anise Fruit ' : " The poisonous constituent is the crys- talline principle sikimin"). C. C. B.
MARRIAGE ON 30 FEBRUARY. The note of the Jersey tombstone with the date of 31 April (see US. ii. 524) recalls a similar curiosity. In the registers of Kirkburton, Yorks, * in February, 1640/41, there were three children baptized on " the xxviijth " ; and the concluding entry is
George Beardsall and Martha Roberts marled the xxx th .
The next entry is a baptism on 7 March (' The Parish Registers of Kirkburton,' i. 234).
A. RHODES.
[For other instances of 30 February see 10 S. i. 166, 233 : vii. 146, 216 ; viii. 330.]
HERTFORDSHIRE MONUMENTAL INSCRIP- TIONS. I may state that another Hundred of Hertfordshire (see 11 S. i. 205) that of Broadwater is now completed, and the list of inscriptions in each parish has been transcribed, bound, and indexed. Inquiries will be freely answered if a stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed.
Typed indexes of the surnames in each Hundred have been presented to the British Museum Library. W. B. GERISH.
Bishop's Stortford.
MRS. BOOTH, ACTRESS. On 4 September, 1803, the Rev. Joseph Benson, a Methodist, preaching at Lambeth, " gave the congre- gation an interesting account of the con- version and happy death of Mrs. Booth, once a noted actress, of great comic powers
