It is a desideratum in Campanalogical history, _when_ and by _whom_ the ingenious and beautiful Bell-wheel now in use was first introduced. In some retired villages, and indeed very generally in Dorsetshire, the _half wheel_ may still be found. Bells so hung and rung, are said to be with a "_Dead Rope_." The Bell can only be "_set_" one way, and changes could not be rung on the system now practised, viz. changing the position of each bell at every half pull.
The mention of this original sort of wheel may induce some of your readers to wend their way into the Bell-chambers in their neighbourhood, and, regardless of the filthy state in which most will be found when they get there, they will, perhaps, crawl under the bells (minding their heads), and hunt out and report if they meet with any clappers hung with Bawdricks and Busk Boards, obliging many others besides your scribbler.
SIR,--I have met in some collection of National papers with an account of the formation of our British Union Jack; but the book has altogether escaped my memory. Can you or your readers kindly name it, to yours, &c.
SIR,--All I can tell your correspondent, "A Young Print and Portrait Collector," in reply to his inquiry, p. 7, in your "Current Notes" for January, is, that I hope I may congratulate him on the possession of a very valuable and historically interesting engraving.
Horace Walpole mentions it as in "Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales," and describes it as "a large emblematic sheet print of Oliver Cromwell, whole-length, in armour, with variety of devices and mottoes."--_Proof._
Granger describes it thus: "Oliver Cromwell standing with a book in his hand betwixt two pillars; various emblems. Faithorne, sc. sh." And Granger adds: "I do not remember to have seen more than two proofs of this fine print. Mr. Walpole had one, and Mr. Gulston another. Mr. Bull has the original drawing. The face was altered to that of King William."
A manuscript note upon my interleaved copy of Granger, which you may remember I purchased of you, states that, "_Caulfield had not less than ten or twelve of this print, but in consequence of the size they were mostly damaged: Coram had a tolerable good one which he sold to Mr. Townley for thirty guineas._" Caulfield, who was a well known print dealer, says in his "Calcographiana," (1814), "The late Mr. Bull shewed me Faithorne's original drawing, from which he engraved the print, and a most brilliant proof impression; from him I also learnt the face was afterwards altered to that of William III., in which state, however, I never saw it." He describes the print as "Oliver Cromwell standing between two pillars, inscribed the 'EMBLEM OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS AS ALSO HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER HAPPINESS:' _large sheet_;" and values the print at no less a sum than £36. This was all very well for a dealer's valuation; however, if your correspondent will refer to the records of the Strawberry Hill Sale, he will find in the Sixth Day's Sale of the Prints, (18th June, 1842), that mentioned by Granger, Lot. "761. Oliver Cromwell, whole-length, in armour, standing between two columns, and otherwise surrounded by a variety of allegories and emblematic devices, entitled, THE EMBLEME OF ENGLAND'S DISTRACTIONS, AS ALSO OF HER ATTAINED AND FURTHER EXPECTED FREEDOME AND HAPPINESS: sheet, _extra rare_;" which Mr. Evans, (a dealer also), then secured for £7 15_s._ The discrepancies between the two Inscriptions appear to me to be worthy of remark, and if both have been correctly copied, with what has been stated respecting the appropriation of the head to William III., would shew that the plate had been altered more than once. The original plate is supposed to have been engraved by Faithorne, while a prisoner in London for his adherence to the cause of Charles I., and to have been so favourably received by the Parliamentary party, as to have occasioned his liberation; and the alteration of the head is attributed to his son, William Faithorne, who was an engraver also.