Notes and Queries for Frederica

Category: Miscellaneous 
Quote Category Chapter Notes Queries
Metropolis miscellaneous 1 nickname for London  
ebony and ormolu pier tables miscellaneous 2 ormolu is an imitation gold made of an alloy of copper and tin; often used for decorative embellishments to furniture  
Upper House miscellaneous 2 House of Lords  
mortification of the flesh miscellaneous 2   Biblical reference? What book, chapter, verse?
snuff miscellaneous 4 inhaleable tobacco Is snuff still taken today?
herd of cows in Green Park miscellaneous 5    
disimburse miscellaneous 5   is this a real word?
magistrate miscellaneous 6   Who were magistrates during the Regency and what did they do?
the Room miscellaneous 6 gathering/dining place for servants belowstairs  
Wards in Chancery miscellaneous 7 Legal reference What was Chancery?
professorial class miscellaneous 6   meaning?
tambour-frame miscellaneous 7   relation to tambourine? Were they made from discarded embroidery hoops?
quadrille miscellaneous 7 Dancing reference: Webster's: "A square dance of French origin, consisting of several figures, performed by four couples" More detailed description of dance?
waltz miscellaneous 7 Dancing reference   
vouchers for Almack's miscellaneous 11 One needed to purchase a subscription before one could get tickets. The membership fee around the beginning of the nineteenth century was 10 shillings. This gave the bearer a three month membership during the season with a supper once a week for 12 weeks. This was during the season from March to Early June. A male subscription was transferrable, but a female subscription could only be used for her.  
Grand Strut miscellaneous 12 society promenade in Hyde Park  
knotting a fringe miscellaneous 14   crocheting?
Botticelli's Birth of Venus miscellaneous 14 Art reference; famous painting by Florentine Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510). Sir Mark Lyneham, Charis' admirer from afar, says "one is tempted to fancy that in another incarnation she (Charis) must have sat for him when he painted his Birth of Venus."  
rusticated miscellaneous 15 Academic reference: sent away from Oxford; suspended  
Watch-house miscellaneous 15 Legal reference Any history on the Watch?
passing Responsions miscellaneous 16 Academic reference: Responsions are the first of the three Academic exams that students at Oxford must pass for their BA.  
mandarins miscellaneous 18    
post-road miscellaneous 20 road upon which posting houses lay; main road  
coloured wafers miscellaneous 21 Dictionary definition: "a small adhesive disk, as of paper, dried paste, gelatin, etc., used as a seal on letters, documents, etc." what did a wafer look like? Was it ever made of wax?
special licence miscellaneous 27    

Last Updated on 7/29/99
By Lisa Borden
Email: lborden@pacbell.net