G. TR.
Quinces.—In an old family memorandum-book, I find the following curious entry:
"Sept. 15. 1725. My Father Mr. —— —— brought my mother home to my grandfather's house, and the wedding dinner was kept there on Monday, Sept. 20., with all the family, and Mr. —— and Mr. —— and his wife were present.
"In the Evening my Honoured Grandfather gave all his Children a serious admonition to live in Love and Charity ... and afterwards gave his wife a present of some Quinces, and to his sister ——, and every Son and Daughter, Son in Law and Daughter in Law, Five Guineas each."
The last-named gift consisted of gold five-guinea pieces of Charles II. and James II., some of which have been preserved in the family. The part of the record, however, which appears to me worthy of note, is that which concerns the quinces, which brings to one's mind the ancient Greek custom that the bridegroom and bride should eat a quince together, as a part of the wedding ceremonies. (See Potter's Grecian Antiquities.)
Can any of your readers furnish any additional information on this curious point?
H.G.T.
ELIZABETH WALKER.—SHAKSPEARE.
I have before me a reprint (Blackwell, Sheffield, 1829) of The Holy Life of Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, late Wife of A. Walker, D.D., Rector of Fyfield, in Essex, originally published by her husband in 1690. It is a beautiful record of that sweet, simple, and earnest piety which characterised many of the professors of religion in the seventeenth century. It is not, however, the general character of the book, however excellent, but an incidental allusion in the first section of it, that suggests this communication. The good woman above named, and who was born in London in 1623, says, in her Diary:
"My dear father was John Sadler, a very eminent citizen. He was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, where his ancestors lived. My grandfather had a good estate in and about the town. He was of a free and noble spirit, which somewhat outreached his estate, but was not given to any debauchery that I ever heard of. My father's mother was a very wise, pious, and good woman, and lived and died a good Christian. My father had no brother, but three sisters who were all eminently wise and good women, especially his youngest sister."