Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 126, March 27, 1852: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. V, Number 126, March 27, 1852: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
Rickson survived Wolfe eleven years, and I possess the key of the tomb
in which his remains repose in Restalrig churchyard, near Edinburgh. A
fine miniature of him in his antique regimentals also exists; and it is
interesting to contemplate the lineaments of a countenance so familiar
to Wolfe, and of a man to whom the latter seems to have communicated his
inmost thoughts. There are passages in the letters indicative of this to
a degree, that I felt bound in honour not to disclose. Rickson died a
lieutenant-colonel in 1770. His antique military chest remained in
possession of relatives in Scotland almost forgotten, till about three
years ago curiosity prompted the examination of a mass of old papers,
covered with dust, lying at the bottom of it. A number of curious
documents have thus been brought to light, including a file of letters
to Rickson from the Duke of Queensbury (under whose auspices he
constructed the military roads in Gallowayshire) and other distinguished
personages of the last century, but best of all twelve invaluable
letters from the lamented Wolfe, tied up by themselves, probably by
Rickson, as memorials of his bosom friend who fell in the arms of
victory. It was, as already said, among these old papers that the
fragment of the letter above quoted was also found lately, on a more
careful inspection of the antique chest in which they lay. I was so much
struck with the noble sentiments expressed by Wolfe in the letters, that
I ventured to write a short sketch of him from very imperfect materials,
which appeared, along with the letters themselves, _ad longam_, in
Tait's _Edinburgh Magazine_ for December, 1849. Had I been aware of some
of the facts which have since been contributed to the "N. & Q.," I would
have modified certain passages in the narrative. All I aimed at,
however, was merely to elucidate the letters which accident placed in my
custody. But I now earnestly invite some competent writer to rescue
Wolfe's history from the undeserved neglect and obscurity in which it is
at present shrouded. I shall cheerfully allow any such party access to
the whole letters, under proper guards for their safety, and my address
has been left with the Editor accordingly.
Ȝ.
Glasgow.
EARL OF CHEPSTOW.
(Vol. v., pp. 126. 204. 261.)
The seeming difficulty regarded in these communications arises from
Hooker's unauthorised translation of "Comes Strigulensis" into "Earl of
Chepsto_ne_," and in a phrase of ancient parlance appearing a Title of
Dignity. The error does not exist in the original work, as Giraldus
wrote "Dermutius Morchardi filius, Lagenensium Princeps, _Ricardo Comiti
Strigulensi, Gilleberti Comitis filio_, S."--Camden's _Anglica_, &c., p.
767.
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