Samuel Hickson.
Lady Compton's Letter (Vol. ii., p. 424.).—Mr. C.H. Cooper inquires whether this letter appeared before 1839? Gifford gives an extract from it in Massinger's City Madam, Act II., where the daughters of Sir John Frugal make somewhat similar stipulations from their suitors. When speaking of this letter as "a modest and consolatory one," Gifford adds, "it is yet extant." The editor of a work entitled Relics of Literature (1823) gives it at length, with this reference, "Harleian MSS. 7003." The property of Lady Compton's father, Sir John Spencer, is stated variously from 300,000l. to 800,000l. In this case, riches brought with them their customary share of anxieties. Lysons, in his Environs of London, informs us that a plot was actually laid for carrying off the wealthy merchant from his house at Canonbury, by a pirate of Dunkirk, in the hope of obtaining a large ransom.
J.H.M.
Midwives licensed (Vol. ii., p. 408.).—I have a manuscript volume which belonged to Bishop Warburton, and apparently to other Bishops of Gloucester before him; containing, amongst other Pontificalia, in writing of various ages, a number of forms of licences, among which occurs "Licentia Obstetricis," whereby the bishop
"eandem A.B. ad exercendam Artem et Officium Obstetricis in et per totam Diocesin Gloucestrensem prædietam admisit et Literas Testimoniales superiade fieri decrevit."
There is no mention of charms or incantations in the licence, but the oath "de jure in hac parte requisito," is required to have been made. The form is of the same writing as several others which bear dates from 1709 to 1719. Below is a memorandum of the fees, amounting to 17s. 6d.
Thomas Kerslake.
Bristol.
Echo Song (Vol. ii., p. 441.).—Although I cannot supply Llyd Rhys Morgan with the name of the writer, I may refer him to D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, p. 257. (Moxon's edit. 1840), where he will find another Echo Song, by a certain Francis Cole, so similar to the one he quotes as to induce me to think that they either come from the same pen, or that the one is an imitation of the other.
Y.