nail remains in that tree. If they get tired of being sober, they will meet together and set off to draw the nail, literally pulling it out from the tree, after which they resume their drinking habits without violence to the conscientious feelings. "If I can speak" is an idiomatic expression very commonly used in corrccting some slip of the tongue; thus: "I went to see him last Tuesday-no, Wednesday, if I can speak." Jannock is oatmeal made into a kind of bread I should think it is almost, if not quite, a thing of the past; but it was evidently very much esteemed, for the word is used metaphorically to signify "the right thing" or any transaction which is straightforward or honest. It corresponds almost exactly in meaning to the French comme il faut. Thus: I had cut down some trees in a fence, and had promised the farmer that I would rail the gaps so as to prevent cattle getting in. Before this could be done, however, my tree-fellers went to the tenant and offered to "rid up" the roots for him-of course at his expense. Не refused their offer, and in telling me about it afterwards said, "I told them I thought it wasn't hardly 'jannock' for me to rid up the roots till my landlord had put up the fence." "Now, divide it fairly," would be expressed "come, be jannock." We have imported two words from our neighbours in the Principality, namely, "Dym Sassenach," which means, freely translated, "I don't understand English." These we use idiomatically, when we purposely misunderstand anything. For instance, if anyone were to turn a deaf ear to what was being said, the remark might very probably be made, "Oh, it's 'dym Sassenach,' with him;" or, if he would not take a hint it would again be "dym Sassenach" with him. (To be continued.)

MAKING SEA-WATER POTABLE. Some time ago Mr Thomas Kay, J.P., of Stockport, read a paper before one of the Manchester societies on the above subject, a report of which appeared in the Stockport Advertiser. What makes me refer to it here, the other day I was turning over one of the early volumes of the Annual Register, when I came across the following:

A METHOD OF MAKING SEA-WATER POTABLE. Sea-water becomes fresh by making it pass through marine plants. I took a glass vessel of an oblong form, and having partly filled it with sea-water, I put therein a proper quantity of the alga marina, or seaweed, the roots of some of which were naked, and quite clear of any foreign body; but to the rest were still adhering the pebbles that serve to support them in the sea. The vessel being then full I fitted to it a glass head, with its beak, to which I joined a receiver, without losing the joints. There distilled daily from these plants a small quantity of water, very fresh, very potable, and quite free from the ill-taste which water distilled by fire usually retains. This experiment

shows the easiest, surest, and most natural method of making sea-water fresh, a matter of such singular utility to navigators. I doubt not but we may find other plants, among those growing in the sea or on its shores, which may be more effectual to this experi ment, and which yield fresh water in greater quantity, as rock-samphire, the brassica marina, or kali-kind, the sea-lentile, &c. Some of these plants may be tried, by examining their growth either in sea-water, or earth sprinkled with it. And hence, in some measure, the conjecture may be very probable, that the real primitive water, which might have existed before animals and plants, is sea-water; and that fresh water is, for the most part, indebted for its origin to the vapours of plants, the respiration of animals, and the exhalation of the earth, attracted by the heat of the Z.

sun.

Replies.

THE WRIGHTS OF OFFERTON AND MOTTRAMST.-ANDREW.

In reply to your correspondent who seeks for information respecting this family, whose memorial is to be seen in the chancel of the Stockport Parish Church, I proffer the following particulars, taken from notes made at various times respecting them.

Derived originally from Nantwich, where the Wright family were settled early in the fifteenth century, they subsequently acquired by marriage or purchase property in different parts of the county. The Offerton estate was acquired by marriage, as will be seen from the following abstract from the pedigree, in 1582-3, by the marriage of Lawrence Wright, of Nantwich, with Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Ralph Wynnington, of Offerton. His son, Lawrence Wright, of Offerton, acquired the Mobberley estate by his marriage with Margaret, daughter of Robert Robinson, of Mobberley, about 1625, although they did not come into possession until 1676. The Lawrence Wright who then came into possession was grandson of the above-mentioned Lawrence. He would appear to be the first member of the family who served the office of High Sheriff of the county of Chester, being pricked for that office in 1701. He married, in 1677, Eleanor, daughter and co-heiress of the Rev. Samuel Shipton, B.D., rector of Alderley, and it is from him that the present head of the Wright family is derived.

Having briefly cleared the ground down to this date (1677), I now turn to that portion of the family respecting whom your correspondent appears to be in a quandary. Henry Wright, brother of the last-named Lawrence, who was born at Offerton, and who died there in 1711, aged 48, married Elizabeth, daughter of

William Bluck, of London. By her he had two sons, William and Henry, the latter of whom died in 1725, aged 26. In 1720 this William married Frances Alice, daughter of Randle Wilbraham, of Townend, and to whom were born seven children, all of whom are mentioned on the tablet in Stockport Parish Church.

The eldest son, Henry, was born in September, 1727, and died in March, 1728. His brother Randle, the second son, respecting whom the elegiacal lines are written, was born May 2, 1731, and died April 24, 1:53. It was for him, says Mr Heginbotham, that the hall at Mottram-St.-Andrew was built, the estate having been purchased by his father in 1738. The daughters all died young, only one, Frances, reaching her twentieth year, and all of them before their father, who died December 13, 1770.

Thus it was that the Offerton and Mottram estates descended to the Wrights of Mobberley by right of inheritance, Henry Offley Wright, the inheritor, being grandson of Lawrence Wright, of Mobberley and Offerton, and cousin and heir of the Randle Wright who died in his twenty-second year, as mentioned above. The following pedigree, as given in Ormerod, may help to render the above more intelligible ::-LAWRENCE WRIGHT, of Nantwich, married Mar., 1595. Died February, 1649; buried at Stockport.

ANNIE, daughter and coheiress of Ralph Wynnington, of Offerton. Died and was buried at Stockport in 1617.

LAW- THOMAS WRIGHT RENCE. of Nether Knuts- | WILLIAM. ford, rector of

Market Bosworth 1819, d. Nov. 1840, aged 84.

HENRY WRIGHT minister of St. Peter's, Stockport, 1816, d. 1864, aged 73.

MARY C. dau. of Thomas Adnutt, rector of Croft.

LAWRENCE MARIA

MARY J. A.

HILL.

THOMAS. LAWRENCE WILLIAM. MARY. CHARLES. JANE. FRANCIS.

JULIA JAMES FD'A STREET,

of Mottram, assumed name of Wright, b. 1827.

CATHERINE JULIA WRIGHT, sole issue.

Whilst on this subject of Cheshire families I have often thought what a rich field is here presented to the student of local history. In Ormerod's History of Cheshire is to be found complete pedigrees of many of them, and these would serve as a reliable basis to work upon for names and dates. Given these, there is scarcely a family therein referred to but which at some period or other afforded examples of those "chief of men" of whom the county of Chester is so proud, and justly so. Ormerod's History of Cheshire is a noble and magnificent work, but to the majority of readers it is inaccessible, seeing that it can only be found among the treasures of some private collection, with here and

Heginbotham's

there a set at the public libraries. Stockport and Earwaker's East Cheshire are also beautiful and trustworthy records of such portions of the county history as their titles indicate, but these, like Ormerod, only in a lesser degree, are equally as little known or appreciated by the public. If some reader or correspondent would take up the subject in the way indicated, it could not help but be a most valuable aid from an educational point of view, and would serve as a medium to scatter a few rays of the light that is therein hidden.

I shall be pleased to render what aid I can in this direction, and trust to see the subject taken up with spirit in Notes and Queries. A.D.G.

Manchester.

Queries.

A CURIOUS WELSH CUSTOM.-That the inhaitants of the Principality are a peculiar people goes without saying, and as such they possess many customs and traditions that are unintelligible to ordinary Englishmen. Here is one. It is in the shape of a printed circular, and is intended to be sent to friends and relatives of the bride and bridegroom :

WENALLT, LLANGFEITHO,

JANUARY 7th, 1876.

As I have entered the MATRIMONIAL STATE, I am encouraged by my friends to make a BIDDING on the occasion, at Ty'nlone, near Llangeitho, on Friday, the 21st day of January, 1876, when and where the favour of your good and agreeable company is most humbly solicited, and whatever donation you will be pleased to bestow will be

thankfully received and cheerfully repaid whenever called for on a similar occasion, by

Your most obedient servant,

EVAN DAVIES.

My father and sister desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned to me on the said day.

From the above it would appear that on the occasion of a marriage the relatives and friends of the contracting parties are not only asked to contribute towards the initial expenses of housekeeping, but are expected to do so. There is a kind of mutual understanding that what is contributed in this manner is looked upon more as a loan than a gift, the same to be repaid in money or in kind when an opportunity presents itself in the family of the giver, and which the above Evan Davies in the circular above quoted promises to do.

To many the concluding paragraph relating to the father and sister may require explanation. From it one is led to conclude that the father and sister in times past contributed to "biddings" on their own account, that the father, whom we are led to presume was a widower, did not again intend to enter the "matrimonial state," handed over his claims on the generosity of his friends to his son. But the case of the sister opens up a host of suppositions. Perhaps she was a confirmed old maid; perhaps she was not, but did not intend to marry; or perhaps she was prompted to the act by a love and regard that only a sister can show to a brother.

Not only, however, are these "biddings" confined to weddings, but are also called into requisition on the occasion of a death. In this way they performed much the same service to the bereaved as do the burial societies that exist in England. Perhaps son.e other could throw additional light on the subject. CAMBRO-BRITON.

Notes.

RECOLLECTIONS OF STOCKPORT SIXTY YEARS AGO.

In passing through the old principal thoroughfares of Stockport an observant pedestrian will notice a great similarity in the size and style of the better class of dwellings in these streets. He will observe that they are chiefly three stories in height and three windows in breadth. Many of these buildings are now shops, tell their own ages, and give the initials of their founders' names, either en

graved on a stone slab inserted in the front wall of the dwelling or inscribed on the top of the leaden pipes which carry off the rain from the roofs. Any one reading these inscriptions will see that these dwellings were mostly erected between the year 1715 and the year 1730. This suggests to my mind that Stockport was in a flourishing state about that time. There is no doubt that the silk trade had gained a firm footing in the town, and that some of these large dwellings were the residences of the master silk manufacturers. Judging from appearances, very few improvements were made in our streets and dwellings from the year 1730 to the

year 1823-nearly a hundred years. During that period the silk trade had almost died a natural death, and the cotton trade in its turn had gained a firm footing in the town. Many large cotton mills had been erected, and a few of the silk mills were converted into cotton mills.

In the year 1823 Mr Peter Marsland's colossal works in the Park were in full work manufacturing cotton, and turning it out in appearance equal to the finest Irish linen. One portion of the works was devoted to manufacturing black and blue woollen cloth, and at the above date Mr Peter Marsland was at the height of his popularity as a woollen cloth manufacturer. King George the Fourth was wearing a coat made from cloth manufactured at the celebrated Stockport Woollen Works. Mr John Cheetham, who was Mayor of Stockport in the year 1800, and who built the Green Bank House, on the Old-road, Heaton Norris, and resided there many years, owned and worked the large mill in Mersey-street near the Park Bridge. Mr Joseph Lane, who was Mayor of Stockport in the year 1816, had a large mill in Newbridge-lane, which he worked with the greatest regularity for a very long time. This mill was burned down. Stringer's mill in Newbridge-lane was in full work at this time. Mr Apellas Howard, who built the Sparth House in Stitch-lane (now the residence of Mr W. Wigglesworth), owned and worked the large mill in Howard-street, Portwood. Mr George Parrott, a very popular character in his day, also had his works in Howard-street. A large portion of Mr Knott's brewery, in the same street, had been let as a cotton mill, and was being worked by Mr George Smith, afterwards "mine host" of the Angel Inn, in the Market. Mr John Garside was carrying on the dual business of an ironfounder and cotton spinner. The foundry was at the entrance to Pool-lane, and the cotton mill was at the other end of the same lane. Only the site of this mill is to be seen now, the mill having been burned down. Mr Garside had built himself a large mansion in Brinnington, and he and his family were residing at it in 1823. This mansion was afterwards owned and occupied by the Howard family. Mr Henry Barlow owned and worked with great regularity the mill adjoining the Mill. stone publichouse, Portwood. This gentleman had also built himself a large dwelling in Bredbury, Highfield Hall. The Howard brothers, John (captain of the Stockport troop of the Cheshire Yeomanry Cavalry), William, and Cephas, were working their extensive cotton mill in Portwood

with success. Mr James Marshall, senior, had just erected the first portion of the Palmer Mills, in Portwood. This firm, afterwards Marshall and Sons, ultimately became the largest manufacturers of cotton in the kingdom. Mr Thomas Fernley, senior, who erected the Avenue House in Portwood, now the Gas Office, and resided there for a long period, had his numerous cotton spinning works in Portwood. He had six sons, namely, Thomas, Samuel, David, John, William, and Robert. Thomas commenced cotton manufacturing in the Wear Mills about the year 1823. At that time Samuel was spinning on a jenny for his father. David was serving his apprenticeship to Mr Cawley, draper, of this town. Robert attended Mr Brentnall's day school, in Portwood (now the Working Men's Club), and never followed any occupation afterwards; he lived and died a gentleman bachelor. Samuel afterwards kept a day school, in the neigh. bourhood of King-street West:

I will here relate an anecdote concerning this rather eccentric Samuel Fernley. Mr Fernley had for a neighbour an old pensioner, who had seen much service, and had been in many battles during the twenty-one years of the Peninsular war. This old veteran, who took great pleasure in relating his air-breadth escapes and exploits in battle, was always a welcome guest at Mr Samuel Fernley's house. Both he and the old soldier were of a social disposition. They had been spending a happy time of it on one occasion at Mr Fernley's until the small hours in the morning. The old soldier had been telling of his daring exploits, and meanwhile both partook freely of their accustomed potation, and both of them had got rather jolly. The old soldier had told many incredulous tales during this carousal, and his friend felt convinced that every lie was not true. Mr Fernley's and the old soldier's back door opened to the same yard, where there was an ashpit which had been recently emptied. In the wall surrounding this ashpit was an aperture wide enough for anyone to pass through where the ashes were emptied. soldier, in toddling towards his own home, toddled through the aperture, and fell into the ashpit. Mr Fernley was in the act of locking his back door, prior to going to bed, when he heard someone cry. ing in a sepulchral tone, “Help, help, help.” Never backward in defending the helpless, he went, candle in hand, to the place whence the cry proceeded. When there, he elevated his candle to get a glimpse of the interior, and inquired what was the matter below. The poor soldier, almost

The

breathless, said he was in such a fix as he never was in his life before. "I am in a hole and cannot get out." Then Mr Fernley addressed the old soldier in the following language: "What is that to thee, thou that has travelled east, west, north, and south; that has been with Wellington throughout his glorious campaign; that has been in the battles of Salamanca, Valmera, and Vittoria, and was a the siege of Badajos, both times, and at Roderigo and finished up at Waterloo. Thee, that has slain thy tens of thousands, and ever came off victorious, and cannot help thi self out of a hole like this? Tha may lie theer, and be hanged to thee. I shall not help thee out." Mr Fernley returned to his house and left the old soldier to get out of the ashpit as best he could.

It was in the year 1826 when I first saw Mr John Fernley. At that time he took a great interest in the welfare of the Wesleyan Sunday schools, and frequently came to Tiviot Dale Schools and delivered short addresses to the scholars, myself being one at the time. I never saw him after that. He went to reside in Manchester, and built a large cotton mill there, working it successfully until it was burned down about the year 1847. After this catastrophe he went to reside in Southport as a private gentleman. For generations to come the name of John Fernley will be revered by the people of Southport for his many munificent gifts to that town.

Mr William Fernley's name will be long remem. bered in Stockport. He was for many years a member of our town council, and gained the approbation of all the members of the council and the public in general for the straightforward and upright way he transacted his business. Mr William Fernley and Mr William Bradley owned and worked the Higher Hillgate cotton mill many years. Subsequently Mr Fernley went to reside at Southport, where he died a few years ago.

I intend to continue my recollections of the time of Mr Robert Hardy's mayoralty in my next paper.

Wilhelmina, of Anspach, by whom he had eight chil. dren, the eldest of whom, Frederick Lonis, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, was born in 1707, but who died in 1751, leaving a numerous family.

The accession of King George to the throne on the death of his father, June 11, brought with it no change of policy, for he retained his father's ministers in office, and Walpole continued for nearly fifteen years to be the moving power of Government. For this he was largely indebted to the influence of the queen, whose good will he had cultivated, and to whom he had a promised jointure of £100,000, providing he was retained in office. Consequently, when Parliament met on June 27, one of the first motions of that astute minister was to propose that the whole of the revenue of the Civil List, amounting to £830,000, should be allowed the king for life in place of the £700,000 settled on George I. The House contained but one man who had the courage to raise his voice in opposition. This was William Shippen, the member for Newton, and son of the rector of Stockport. Regardless of the fact that be had once suffered imprisonment for his want of loyalty to the House of Hanover, that staunch Jacobite, and one of Cheshire's "chief of men," declared that the Civil List of Queen Anne had amounted only to £500,000, and that the same sum had been twice voted during the late king's reign; that the highest sum granted to George I. was £700,000, and it had been hoped that considerable retrenchments would be made, especially in the items of journeys to Hanover. Not one voice, however, was raised to support him, and the whole £830,000 were voted, as well as the £100,000 to the queen, without remonstrance. Immediately after Parliament was dissolved (August 7, 1727).

The new Parliament met January 28, 1728, when Walpole found that he had 427 staunch supporters in the House. The representatives from Cheshire were :1 GEORGE II.

Met January 28, 1728. Dissolved April 18, 1734. CHESHIRE-Charles Cholmondeley, of Vale Royal, esq. Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, of Combermere, bart.

CHESTER Sir Richard Grosvenor, bart.
Thomas Grosvenor, esq.

This is the first time that the city of Chester was represented by two members of the Grosvenor family, both being the sons of Sir Thomas Grosvenor, Bart., who represented the city during the reigns of Charles II, James II., and William III. On the death of Sir Richard in June, 1732, he was succeeded in the representation by his younger brother RobertJanuary 24, 1733. CHESTER Robert Grosvenor.

Hugh Warburton, Esq, of Winnington, came out as a candidate in opposition, but he retiring, Richard Minley, Esq., of Lacie, near Chester, was nominated,