Baltimore, U. S. A.
Minor Queries.
313. "The Don," a Poem.
—This is an old work illustrative of the local antiquities, ancient families, castles, &c., on the banks of the Don, in Aberdeenshire. It is said to have been written during the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell by a Mr. Forbes of Brux, in the immediate neighbourhood. One of the ablest of our local antiquaries states, that he has never been able to satisfy himself of the existence of any edition of that poem earlier than that of the quarto one of 1742, which seems to have been reprinted from an edition of the year 1655; but is so thoroughly redolent of the spirit of a later age, that it is not possible to believe it to have been written in the seventeenth century. All subsequent editions (and they have been numerous) have reference to an edition of 1655. In 1655, it is said to have been originally written by a Mr. Forbes of Brux, as before stated, and published the same year, with a few historical notes, and reprinted in 1674; and again in 1742, with little or no alteration, and continued in that state until 1796; when Mr. Charles Dawson, schoolmaster of Kemnay, added a few more notes, and offered it to the public as his own composition in a small 12mo. pamphlet!!! price 4d.; which met with such encouragement, that a second edition appeared in 1798, with more copious notes, price 6d. An enlarged edition in 8vo. was published in Edinburgh in 1814. In 1819, Mr. Peter Buchan of Peterhead, the editor of Scottish Ballads, Gleanings of Scarce Old Ballads, &c. &c., published an edition, price 6d., which sold well; and in 1849, another edition was printed at the Hattonian Press, Fintray, Aberdeenshire, by John Cumming. I should be glad to hear if any of your correspondents have seen an edition of 1655 or 1674?
STONEHAVEN.
314. John Lord Frescheville.
—It is stated in the printed notices of this individual, with whom expired, in 1682, the barony of Frescheville of Stavely, co. Derb., that he was engaged, on the side of the king, at the battle of Edge Hill. I have no reason to doubt the truth of the statement: but I should like to know whether his name occurs in any of the contemporary accounts of the fight at that place, or rather Keynton; or whether he is anywhere mentioned in the royal musters. I think a correspondent of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" indicated an acquaintance with some local information relative to this affair, and the persons engaged in it.
D.
315. Meaning of "Pallant."
—While staying in the neighbourhood of a small country town in the south of England, I was requested to drive a friend to call on an acquaintance who lived in The Pallant in the said town. The word being an uncommon one, we naturally conversed on its probable derivation and meaning, but without arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. I have since seen it used in a number of Dickens' Household Words, where the scene of a ghost story is laid in an old house, or street (I forget which), called The Pallant. What is its true signification?