_Portrait of Archbishop Williams_ (Vol. iii., p. 8.).--There is a portrait
of this prelate in the library of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, in
the Cloisters. The greater part of the archbishop's library was given to
this library, but only one volume of it seems to have been preserved. It is
of this library the remark is made in J. Beeverell, _Delices de la Grande
Bretagne_, p. 847., 12mo., 1707:
"Il se trouve dans le cloistre une bibliotheque _publique_, qui s'ouvre
soir et matin pendant les seances des Cours de Justice dans
Westminstre."
[mu].
_Sir Alexander Cumming_ (Vol. iii., p. 39.).--In answer to an inquiry
relative to Sir Alexander Cumming, of Culter, I may refer to the _Scottish
Journal_ (Menzies, Edin. 1848) _of Topography, Antiquities, Traditions,
&c._, vol. ii. p. 254., where an extract from a MS. autobiography of the
baronet is given. The work in which this occurs is little known; but, as a
repertory of much curious and interesting information, deserved a more
extensive circulation than it obtained. It stopped with the second volume,
and is now somewhat scarce, as the unsold copies were disposed of for waste
paper.
_Pater-noster Tackling_ (Vol. iii., p. 89.).--_Pater-noster
fishing-tackle_, so called in the shops, is used to catch fish (perch, for
instance) which take the bait at various distances between the surface and
the bottom of the water. Accordingly, hooks are attached to a line at given
intervals throughout its length, with leaden shots, likewise regularly
distributed, in order to sink it, and keep it extended perpendicularly in
the water.
This regularity of arrangement, and the resemblance of the shots to
_beads_, seems to have caused the contrivance to have been, somewhat
fancifully, likened to a _chaplet_ or _rosary_. In a rosary there is a bead
longer than the rest, for distinction's sake called the _Pater-noster_;
from whence that name applies to a rosary; and, therefore, to anything
likened to it; and, therefore, to the article of _fishing-tackle_ in
question.
The word _pater-noster_, i.e. _pater-noster-wise_, is an heraldic term
(_vide_ Ash's _Dictionary_), applied to _beads_ disposed in the form of a
cross.