2 MARCH 1918, Page 13

BRETONS IN LIVERPOOL.

ITO THE EDITOR OF TEE " SPECTATOR.")

SIR,—Between Seaforth and Liverpool, along the north bank of the Mersey, lies the meet valuable chain of docks in the world, and in the course of wanderings through the byways of busy Bootle memories of the past rise up at every corner. Haddock Street would no doubt strike the passer-by as a fitting name for a seaport locality, but, as a matter of fact, the street was named after one John Haddock, a prosperous shipowner, who amassed a fortune in the West Indies trade and bequeathed £20,000 to a fund for desti- tute mariners. Juniper Street, Spice Street, Lotus Alley, Dun- garee Street, and Lamar Lane seem to fit in well with their surroundings. The inevitable Lovers' Lane is, alas! in close proximity to Press-gang Alley, which reminds us that the nature of farewells varies. The derivation of Kermadec Street would puzzle most people, but Mr. W. H. Patterson in his History of Liverpool tells us that the crew of a Breton fishing-boat, probably from Paimpol, landed in 1856 and founded a small colony; I have not been able to find the street in my wanderings, but it would be interesting to know if any of the descendants of the Paimpol fishermen still exist. Perhaps some of your readers could en- lighten me further on the topic.—I am, Sir, &c.,