504
NOTES AND QUERIES.
[9 th S. I. JUNE 25, 98.
faculty of sympathetic expression which
raises the work of the translator from
mechanical labour to the plane of literature
and of poetry. WILLIAM E. A. AXON.
Moss Side, Manchester.
THE FIRST HORSE-RACES IN PRUSSIA. At a time like the present, when the minds of so large a number of our countrymen from the highest to the lowest are unfortunately engrossed in the all-absorbing pursuit of the so-called "sport" of horse-racing and its demoralizing sine qua non, betting, it will be of particular interest to many to have from the original MS. journal (now in my posses- sion) of the travels in Germany of an unnamed Englishman, in 1829, the following account of the earliest horse-races in Prussia :
" Wednesday 17 June. Assisted at the first horse races in Prussia, an amusement which will be of great use to the Country in improving the breed of horses, whatever may be the effect upon morals.
" The Course is about 8 [apparently altered to 2] miles from Berlin near the road to Potsdam upon a sort of down which is of a sandy hard soil, and not much turf : to avoid the heat of the summers day 9 oclock was fixed for the hour of starting, and tens of thousands were assembled to witness the first deeds of their Country's racing establishment. The King [and the] Empress of Russia honored the meeting with their presence and about 10 other princes took an active part in preparing for the Start. But it was more like the preparation for a battle than a horse race, Fie[l]d marschals [sic] covered with starps [?=stars] [and] Aides de Camps [.s?'r] were galloping giving orders and bringing intelligence. The Jockeys properly dressed were weighd in an English Machine, mounted at the Summons from the Bell, paraded out before the royal stand [" before the spectators " added above the line] towards the starting post. Candidly the Cattle did not display what in England would be held high breeding or much blood the best looked like one of our light half breds.
" Six started for the prize the winner to be sold for 300 Fredericks d'or distance 10,000 ft. 3,333 yds. If mile englis[h] which was run in 6 minutes, and won very easily by (ronaldo), the others came up far behind, only two started for the second heat which was as easily won by the same horse. His Majesty presented the Jockey with 10 Fred. d'or.
" The second race was of a novel description, and most fitted for England but not yet introduced. Across the course were 4 leaping bars (hindemisse) about 3s ft. high in the space of an English Mile, and about 50 yards from winning Post a deep ditch. 4 horses started but only two cleared the first bar the others bolted, the winner cleared them all in very good style, the second in leaping the 3[rd ] and 4[th] fell both times throwing the rider, who came in about 3 minutes behind the winner.
" Almost no betting. The whole was over by 11 o'clock. There was another day but one satisfied my curiosity. This novelty is patronized by his Majesty and Court and will get into favour, and fashion, and in time the horses will improve, and Sport increase."
The idea of our steeplechases appears to
have been derived from the kind of race
mentioned as the " second " on the occasion
above referred to. W. I. 11. V.
THE VICTORY or CAMPERDOWN. Many years ago I was with a friend on a road near to the eastern bank of the Trent, in the northern part of Lincolnshire, when my companion pointed out to me an inscription on the end of a small farmhouse or perhaps cottage which ran
In the year ninety-seven the fact is such, Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch.
Who the patriot was who took this means of commemorating the victory of Camperdown I never ascertained, neither am I sure in what parish the house stood ; but I think it was either in Flixborough or Burton-Stather.
CORNUB.
PRINTERS' MARKS. Mr. W. Koberts, in his entertaining and instructive book entitled 'Printers' Marks,' mentions a device (the Papal arms and an eagle encircled with the motto " Post tenebras lux "), and adds that it is used exclusively in this country by Rowland Hill. This is not quite correct, as James Roberts issued a quarto edition of ' Mid- summer Night's Dream,' printed in 1600, bearing the same device. MAURICE JONAS.
THE LILY OF WALES. Describing the figure of fSt. David on a frontal recently pre- sented to the cathedral of that saint, the Church Times, 3 June, remarked :
" Behind the figure is a pale-green velvet curtain powdered with the 'leek, which is the 'Lily of Wales,' and which, it is said, he introduced."
It would be interesting to know how long the leek has had so honourable a name, and what ground there is for the statement that St. David introduced it into Wales.
JAMES HOOPER. Norwich.
WARMING-PAN. In a Worcestershire cot- tage the other day I saw an old brass warm- ing-pan, the lid whereof was circumscribed in large capital letters with this inscription :
LOVE AND LIVE IN PEACE.
Most likely a wedding present. This makes an addition to the list in ' N. & Q.,' 1 st S. iii. 84, 115, 290, 522 ; 4 th S. iv. 470 ; 5* S. viii. 66.
SHAKSPEARE AND THE SEA. It has been said that Shakspeare was a traveller and went to Italy ; but I believe that he never saw the sea. He was a keen and true observer of all the nature within his ken. But his descriptions of the sea are pre-
