Descendants of John of Gaunt, Noses of (Vol. vii., p. 96.).—Allow me to repeat my Query as to E. D.'s remark: he says, to be dark-complexioned and black-haired "is the family badge of the Herberts quite as much as the unmistakeable nose in the descendants of John of Gaunt." I hope E. D. will not continue silent, for I am very curious to know his meaning.
Y. S. M.
"Put" (Vol. vii., p. 271.).—I am surprised at the silence of your Irish readers in reference to the pronunciation of this word. I certainly never yet heard it pronounced like "but" amongst educated men in Ireland, and I am both a native of this country and resident here the greater part of my life. The Prince Consort's name I have
occasionally heard, both in England and Ireland, pronounced as if the first letter was an O—"Olbert"—and that by people who ought to know better.
Y. S. M.
"Caricature; a Canterbury Tale" (Vol. ix., p. 351.).—The inquiry of H. as to the meaning of a "Caricature," which he describes (though I doubt if he be correct as to all the personages), appears to me to point to a transaction in the history of the celebrated "Coalition Ministry" of Lord North and Fox; in which—
"Burke being Paymaster of the Forces, committed one or two imprudent acts: among them, the restoration of Powel and Bembridge, two defaulting subordinates in his office, to their situations. His friends of the ministry were hardly tasked to bring him through these scrapes; and, to use the language of Wraxall's Memoirs, 'Fox warned the Paymaster of the Forces, as he valued his office, not to involve his friends in any similar dilemma during the remainder of the Session.'"
A. B. R.
Belmont.