Queries.
NATIONAL PORTRAITS.—PORTRAIT OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, SON OF CHARLES I.
A cotemporary portrait of this prince, fourth son of Charles I., was in existence. He was represented with a fountain by him, probably in early age. He died, at the age of twenty, in 1660. Where is this painting now to be found, or is any engraving from it known? Granger describes an engraved portrait by Vaughan, representing the infant prince seated on a cushion; and a rare portrait of him by Lovell.
It would be very desirable to compile a descriptive catalogue of painted portraits, those especially preserved in the less accessible private collections in England. Such a manual, especially if illustrated with outline sketches or photographs, in order to render it available at a moderate cost, would be most useful, and supply, in some degree, the deficiency of any extensive public collection of national portraits, such as has been commenced in France, at the palace of Versailles.
Albert Way.
Reigate.
[Recognising as we do most fully the value of the idea thrown out by Mr. Way, that it would be desirable to compile a descriptive Catalogue of Painted Portraits, as the best substitute which we can have for an extensive public collection of such memorials of our Great and Good, we shall always be glad to record in the columns of "N. & Q." any notices of such pictures as may, from time to time, be forwarded to us for that purpose. The suggestion that Photography might be usefully employed in multiplying copies of such portraits, coming as it does from one whose skill as an artist rivals his learning as an antiquary, is the highest testimony which could be given to the value of an art which we have endeavoured to promote, from our conviction that its utility to the antiquary, the historian, and the man of letters, can scarcely be over-rated.]
BOSTON QUERIES.
I annex a prospectus of a second edition of my Collections for a History of the Borough of Boston and the Hundred of Skirbeck, in the County of Lincoln, which I am now employed upon in preparing for the press. As there may, and most probably will, arise many points upon which I may require assistance, I shall from time to time address (with your leave) inquiries for insertion in your