Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 7.djvu/243

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

IIS. VII. Mar.22, 1913.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 235 Wetheral is not far from the line of the Roman Wall, and only a few miles from Lanercost, where there is a quarry (used in building the wall) where Roman legionaries have carved inscriptions, still existing. Probably the second word is sva, and not svm, and the meaning therefore " (carved by) a thankful person with his own hand." The fish is constantly used on early Christian tombs as a symbol of Christianity. It is hardly necessary to quote the well-known acrostic on the word lydvs. The carver may have wished to record his gratitude for the Gospel, or (more likely) for escaping perse- cution. W. T. Liverpool Museum : British Gallery (11 S. vii. 170).—The British Gallery was attached to the British Institution. This was established in 1805 on the north side of Pall Mall for the encouragement of native art. There were two summer exhibitions of pictures, &c, yearly, one for living artists and the other for Old Masters (on loan). The gallery was originally erected by Alderman Boydell for the exhibition of paintings for his edition of Shakespeare's works. John T. Page. Long Itchington, Warwickshire. In all probability the British Gallery was a picture exhibition in Pall Mall, known as the Gallery of the British Institution, opened on 17 April, 1805, " for the encourage- ment and reward of the talents of British artists. In 1814 there was exhibited here a collection of over 200 paintings by Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Wilson; and in 1817 a display of Sir Joshua Reynolds's pictures was on view. The gallcrv was previously "known as the Shakespeare Gallery, having been erected by the late Alderman Boydell for the display of the pictures painted for his engraved illustra- tions of the works of our great bard." See ' The Picture of London.' 1825. Wm. Norman. Musorave Family (11 S. vii. 169).— Certain members seem to have been some- what prominent in Devonshire. Musgrave's Alley, in High Street, Exeter, formerly con- tained the old High School, founded and built there a.d. 1343 by Richard de Bray- leigh. Dean of this city. The building was acquired afterwards by the Wesleyan body (in 1778), and used by them as a chapel. John Wesley preached there a year later. It was demolished in 1878. Some massively carved oak double doors (Jacobean), now in my own collection, are, I believe, all that is now preserved of it. A drawing of these doors is to be found in The Western Anti- quary (Plymouth) for August, 1882. In the same interesting publication (July, 1887) occurs a long article by William Munk, F.S.A., upon Samuel Musgrave, M.D., an accomplished scholar born at Washfield (Devon), 29 Sept., 1732, and educated at the Grammar School, Barnstaple. At Corpus Christi College, Oxford, he obtained his B.A. degree in 1753, and M.A. in 1756. In 1763 he took his M.D. at Leyden, and was elected physician to the Devon and Exeter Hospital in 1766. This position he resigned two years later, and whilst in practice after- wards at Plymouth published some remark- able political papers which created a great sensation, and which ultimately caused him to leave the West Country. He eventually settled in London, but in spite of his brilliant talents, he died there in poverty at a com- paratively early age. As a Greek scholar he was acknowledged to have few superiors, and his MS. notes and collections relative to Euripides Were purchased by the Uni- versity of Oxford for 2001. A stone in St. George's burial-ground, Bloomsbury, bears the inscription :— "Here lies the body of Samuel Musgrave, M.D., who departed this life, July 5th, 1780, in his 48th year." Harry Hems. Fair Park, Exeter. J. Davy Breholt (11 S. vii. 169).— "On Saturday last died at Greenwich John David Breholt, an eminent West India nieronant, and a Director of the London Assuranoe Office."— Daili/ Post, 19 Oct, 1741. "Died John David Breholt, merchant, at Green- wich, 17 Oct., 1741."— Gent. Mag, 1741, p. 554. " Died Mrs. Felicia Breholt, at Greenwich, 12 August, 1761, aged 83."—Gent. Mag., 1761, p. 382. A. L. Humphreys. 187, Piccadilly, W. Armorial: Stevenson (11 S. vii. 91, 138, 154).—I am obliged to your corre- spondents for their answers. I have another query to make. The Stevensons referred to formerly owned a place near Glasgow named Merry Banks. They then migrated to Oban some time in the seventeenth century. Of these Stevensons five gene- rations have been connected with South America. Their favourite Christian names were George, John, Thomas, and, later, Louis. Can any one give me the early descent of these Stevensons ? How were they related to the Stevensons of Hermishiels ? Was Louis Stevenson of that stock ? Amicus.