When the French devastated the neighbourhood of Xeres in 1809, they destroyed many of the vineyards, and for a time put the winegrowers to great shifts. One house in particular was obliged to have recourse chiefly to the mountain grape for the support of its trade, and for the first time manufactured it without admixture into wine. Very few butts of this produce would stand, and by far the greater portion was treated with brandy to make it saleable.
The small quantity that resisted the acetous fermentation, turned out to be very different in flavour to the ordinary sherry wine, and it was sent over to this country under the name of Amontillado sherry, from the circumstance of the grape having been grown on the mountains.
The genuine wine is very delicate, with a peculiar flavour, slightly aromatic rather than nutty; and answers admirably to the improved taste of the present age.
Patonce.
"Mairdil" (Vol. ix., p. 233.).—I have heard the word "maddle" often used in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in exactly the same sense as the word mairdil, as mentioned by Mr. Stephens. And in this part the work-people would use the word "muddle" in a similar sense.
J. L. Sisson.
Separation of the Sexes in Church (Vol. ii., p. 94.).—In many churches in Lower Brittany I observed that the women occupied the nave exclusively, the men placing themselves in the aisles.
I speak, of course, of Roman Catholic churches; but I believe that in the Protestant congregations in France, the rule of the separation of the sexes has always been observed.
In the island of Guernsey it has been usual, although the custom is now beginning to be broken through, for the men to communicate before the women. As the Presbyterian discipline was introduced into that island from France and Geneva, and prevailed there from the time of the Reformation until the Restoration of Charles II., it is probable that this usage is a remnant of the rule by which the sexes were separated during divine service.
Edgar Macculloch.