Eldon Street, Sheffield.
Notation by Coalwhippers (Vol. iv., p. 21.).
—The notation used by coalwhippers, &c., mentioned by I. J. C., is, after all, I expect, but a part of a system which was probably the origin of the Roman notation. The first four strokes or units were cut diagonally by the fifth, and taking the first and last of these strokes we readily obtain V, or the Roman five; but as the natural systems of arithmetic are decimal, from the number of fingers, it is most probable that the tens were thus marked off, or by a stroke drawn across the last unit thus X, whence we obtain the Roman ten: these tens were repeated up to a hundred, or the second class of tens, which were probably connected by two parallel lines top and bottom [C];, which would be the sign of the second class of tens, or hundreds; this became afterwards rounded into C: the third class of tens, or thousands, was represented by four strokes M, and these symbols served by abbreviation for some intermediate numbers; thus X divided became V, or 5, the half of 10; then L, half of [C], represented 50, half of 100; and M becoming rounded thus (M); was frequently expressed in this manner CIƆ; and this became abbreviated into D, 500, half of CIƆ or 1000: and thus, by variously combining these six symbols (though all derived from the one straight stroke), numbers to a very high amount could be expressed.
THOS. LAWRENCE.
Ashby de la Zouch.
Statue of Charles II. (Vol. iv., p. 40.).
—The following passage is from Hughson's History of London, vol. ii. p. 521.:
"Among the adherents and sufferers in the cause of Charles II. was Sir Robert Viner, alderman of London. After the Restoration the worthy alderman, willing to show his loyalty and prudence, raised in this place [i. e. the Stock's Market] the statue above mentioned. The figure had been carved originally for John Sobieski, king of Poland, but by some accident was left upon the workman's hands. Finding the work ready carved to his hands, Sir Robert thought that, with some alteration, what was intended for a king of Poland might suit the monarch of Great Britain; he therefore converted the Polander into an Englishman, and the Turk underneath his horse into Oliver Cromwell; the turban on the last figure being an undeniable proof of the truth attached to the story. The compliment was so ridiculous and absurd, that no one who beheld it could avoid reflecting on the taste of those who had set it up; but as its history developed the farce improved, and what was before esteemed contemptible, proved in the end entertaining. The poor mutilated figure stood neglected some years since among the rubbish in the purlieus of Guildhall; and in 1779, it was bestowed by the common council on Robert Viner, Esq., who removed it to grace his country seat."
The earliest engraving of "the King at the Stock's Market" may be seen in Thomas Delaune's Present State of London, 12mo. 1681.