Notes and Queries, Number 06, December 8, 1849

Excerpt

A FEW WORDS OF EXPLANATION.

It was in no boastful or puffing spirit that, when thanking a correspondent in our last number for "his endeavour to enlarge our circulation," and requesting all our friends and correspondents "to follow PHILO'S example by bringing 'NOTES AND QUERIES' under the notice of such of their friends as take an interest in literary pursuits," we added "for it is obvious that they will extend the usefulness of our paper in proportion as they increase its circulation." We wished merely to state a plain obvious fact. Such must necessarily be the case, and our experience proves it to be so; for the number of Queries which have been solved in our columns, has gone on increasing in proportion to the gradual increase of our circulation;—a result which fully justifies that passage of our opening address which stated, "that we did not anticipate any holding back by those whose Notes were most worth having."

No sooner is information asked for through our medium, than a host of friendly pens are busied to supply it. From north, south, east, and west,—from quarters the most unlooked for, do we receive Notes and Illustrations of every subject which is mooted in our pages. Many of these replies, too, though subscribed only with an initial or a pseudonyme, we know to be furnished by scholars who have won the foremost rank in their respective branches of study. Such men manifest, by their willingness to afford information to those who need it, and their readiness to receive it from those who have it to bestow, the truthfulness of old Chaucer's portrait of the Scholar:—

"Ful gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche."

Nor do our columns exhibit the total result of our labours. Besides the information communicated to ourselves, some of our friends who inserted Queries under their own names, have received answers to them without our intervention.

In addition to those friends who promised us their assistance, we receive communications from quarters altogether unexpected. Our present number furnishes a striking instance of this, in the answer to Mr. Bruce's inquiry respecting the "Monmouth Ash," kindly communicated by the Earl of Shaftesbury, its distinguished owner.

We trust that each successive paper shows improvement in our arrangements, and proves also that our means of procuring answers to the Queries addressed to us are likewise increasing. In the belief that such is the case, we feel justified in repeating, even at the risk of being accused of putting in two words for ourselves under the semblance of one of our readers, "that it is obvious that our friends will extend the usefulness of our paper in proportion as they increase its circulation."

Letter from the Earl of Shaftesburg accompanying a short "History of Monmouth Close," formerly printed by his Lordship for the information of persons visiting that spot.

The whole of Woodlands now belongs to me. The greater part of it was bought by my late brother soon after he came of age.

I knew nothing of Monmouth Close till the year 1787, when I was shooting on Horton Heath; the gamekeeper advised me to try for game in the inclosures called Shag's Heath, and took me to see Monmouth Close and the famous ash tree there....