Query: What is the derivation of the family name "Cobham?"
G. R. L.
Play-bills.—Will any of your correspondents inform me in what year play-bills were first introduced; and at what period the year was added to the day of the month and week, which only is attached to the early bills?
J. N. G. G.
Sir Edward Grymes, Bart.—A correspondent in a recent number of the Naval and Military Gazette, asks who was Sir Edward Grymes, Bart., whose appointment appeared in the War Office Gazette of December 10, 1776, as surgeon's mate to the garrison at Minorca, when the baronetcy came into the family, when he died, and whether a gentleman of the same rank has ever, before or since that period, served in a similar situation in the English army?
I have transferred these Queries to the columns of "N. & Q.," supposing that they might be answered by some of its correspondents.
W. W.
Malta.
Smollett's Strap.—In "N. & Q.," Vol. iii., p. 123., is an extract from the Examiner, March 26, 1809, relating to Hugh Hewson, who is there mentioned as being "no less a personage than the identical Hugh Strap."
Mr. Faulkner, in his History of Chelsea, vol. i. p. 171., states that Mr. W. Lewis, of Lombard Street, Chelsea, was the original of this character. He established himself in Chelsea by Smollett's advice, and died there about 1785. Faulkner states that he resided with his widow for seven years, and thus having opportunities of being acquainted with the facts, I am inclined to give his account the preference. Now that these different accounts are brought forward, some reader of "N. & Q." may be enabled with certainty to fix who was the identical.