H. G. D.
Parochial Libraries (Vol. vi., pp. 432. 559.).—An ancient parochial library existed some seven or eight and twenty years ago at Gillingham in Dorsetshire. I was for a short period at that time the locum tenens of the then rector of Gillingham; but at this distance of time remember scarcely more than that the books were kept in a small room devoted to the purpose in the rectory house, and were probably above two hundred in number.
Cokely.
St. Botulph (Vol. vii., p. 84.).—The life of St. Botulph, contained in the Harleian MS. No. 3097., is by Fulcard, a monk of Thorney, as appears by the dedication. It is the same as that printed by Capgrave, who omits the dedication. Fulcard wrote the lives of certain other saints buried at Thorney (Torhtred and Tancred). The dedication does not belong exclusively to the life of Botulph, but forms the introduction to all three lives. It was for this reason, I suppose, that Capgrave (or rather John of Tynemouth, from whom he borrowed) omitted it.
C. W. G.
Turner's Picture of Eltham Palace (Vol. vii., p. 90.).—J. H. A. mentions a picture of "King John's Palace at Eltham, by the late Mr. Turner." Could he inform me what has now become of that picture, and also whether it was rated among that celebrated artist's best works or not?
A. W. S.
"Mémoires d'un Homme d'Etat" (Vol. vi., pp. 412. 588.).—There seems to be sufficient reason for believing in the disavowal of Prince Hardenberg being the author, made by his friend and agent Privy-Counsellor Schoell, to whom the prince, at his death, had confided his genuine Mémoires. M. Schoell thought the best care would be taken of them by placing them under the official safeguard of the Prussian minister; and his decision was, that they were not to be published till after the lapse of fifty years from the prince's death, which took place in 1822. Copies, however, of the original Mémoires had been surreptitiously taken before their seclusion from the public eye; and from these copies, important and extensive extracts are said to have been undoubtedly made, and form part of the printed Mémoires. In editing them, several well-known literary men were employed; among whom are enumerated, Alphonse de Beauchamp, A. Schubart, and Count A. F. D'Allonville. A Mons. Montveran (the author, I believe, of a work on English jurisprudence) announced, some years ago, a publication, in which he promised to disclose the original sources of the Mémoires and the compilers' names; but, so far as I can discover, M. Montveran has never redeemed his promise.
J. M.
Oxford.