id="was_added1"/>List of Notes and Queries volumes and pages

CALAMITIES OF AUTHORS.

In "N. & Q." of the 17th of this month a correspondent, under the signature of A SMALL AUTHOR, pointed out, with much humour, and good humour, the manner in which he had been applied to and induced to part with certain "theological tomes" to some mysterious but most "influential" critic. Since that article appeared we have received information, which shows that the practice complained of is one which is being carried on to a considerable extent; and we therefore think we shall be doing some service, both to authors and publishers, by reprinting in our columns the following correspondence between Messrs. Butterworth and Sir J. E. Eardley Wilmot on the subject.

(Copies.)

Fleet Street, January 2nd, 1852.

Dear Sir,—Authors with whom we have transactions, as well as ourselves, have recently been frequently applied to for publications "for the purpose of review in the daily, and other journals," by a person signing himself "JOHN B. EARDLEY WILMOT;" and as we happen to know, in an instance that has just occurred, we have been directed by one of our authors to send his works to the individual making application for the same under the impression that you were the party who did so, we write therefore in the first instance, as we have our doubts on the subject, to inquire if we are correct in presuming it is yourself who proffer the services of a reviewer, as in such case we shall be happy in sending the publications applied for, to be noticed accordingly. In the event of the letter alluded to (and which we send for your inspection) not having emanated from you, we beg you will further oblige us by stating if you know anything of the party who signs his name in a manner so similar to yourself.

Waiting your reply,

We are, dear Sir,
Yours very respectfully,
(Signed) H. BUTTERWORTH & CO.

To Sir J. E. Eardley Wilmot, Bart,
Barrister at Law, King's Bench Walk, Temple.

Sessions, Warwick, January 5th, 1852.

Dear Sirs,—I have the honour of acknowledging your letter of the 2nd inst., which has been forwarded to me here.

I have already on more than one occasion been applied to, to know if I am the individual who signs himself "J. B. EARDLEY WILMOT," and who it seems is in the habit of writing to publishers, to ask for copies of new works, for the alleged purpose of getting them reviewed. Not three weeks ago I found on my table at my chambers in the Temple three very expensive books, which had been sent to me by Messrs. Longman & Co., supposing that I had offered to review them. I am very glad of the opportunity your letter affords me of stating that the individual who thus signs himself and I myself are totally different persons; I have no connection or influence whatever with any literary journal, nor have I ever been a writer in any, and I need scarcely assure you I have never asked any publisher in my life for a copy of any new work in the manner adopted by the individual to whom you allude.

I may as well add, that there is no member of my family whose initials are J. B. Eardley Wilmot, nor is there, to the best of my knowledge, any family in England, except my own, which combines the two surnames of Eardley Wilmot. I must therefore presume that the signature of J. B. Eardley Wilmot is entirely a fictitious one, and adopted for sinister purposes.

I beg to express my acknowledgments to you, for enabling me to set myself right with the literary world, more especially as I have lately brought out a little work of my own on a subject entirely professional.

I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) J. E. EARDLEY WILMOT.

To Messrs. Butterworth,
Law Booksellers and Publishers,
Fleet Street, London.

We will but add one small fact. An author who had been applied to by another influential reviewer, the Rev. A. B. Clerk, directed his publisher to forward a copy of his book by post to the place specified. The publisher sent it by rail. The consequence was that the reverend reviewer complained that the book had not reached him: while the railway people returned it because no such person could be found in the place at which he professed to reside.

Notes.

PORTRAITS OF WOLFE.

As the readers of "N. & Q." seem to take an interest in everything connected with the celebrated and heroic Wolfe, I may mention that my family possess two small paintings of that distinguished general, but by whom painted is unknown, though they are supposed to have been executed by some officer present with him at the taking of Quebec. A description of them may not be unacceptable to your readers. One represents Wolfe in the act of tying a handkerchief round his wrist, after he had been wounded at the commencement of the battle on the Heights of Abraham; and, from its unfinished appearance, seems to have been but a première pensée of the artist,—Wolfe's figure being the only one finished. The other represents him leaning on a soldier, just after receiving the fatal ball which deprived him of life, and his country of one of her greatest heroes. The family tradition connected with both these paintings is that they were painted immediately after his death by one of his aide-de-camps, or by an officer in the forces under his command. On the panels of the latter painting is the following inscription, some of the words being partially effaced:

"This painting represents the death of my [here the words are effaced, but, as far as I can make them out, they are] friend General Wolfe, who fell on the Heights of Abraham on [nearly effaced][the 13th day of September] 1759, before he could rejoice in the victory gained that day over the French."

"H. C." or "G." are the initials attached to this inscription, and under it are written, in old-fashioned style, and in old paper, pasted to the panels, the following lines, which I transcribe, as I have never seen them elsewhere: