The Spectator 1860

[Lezapping]

I am stuck in the following and am seeking some added clues/hints to jog the brain, please!

1a: S????
4a: ?N?N?????
9a:????I?E???
12a: ?E?????
15a: ????V
24a: L??? ( LEAH ? )
27a: ??????E ( Thought this could be an anagram of doc +deer)
38a: ????G
39a: ?E????????

8d: ?????A??
10d: ORVILLE WRIGHT?
17d: ?NT?M?
18?E??E?
19d?N?????
26d: TI??E??

Any hints/clues will be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance. By the way, I got 22a quite early and "nearest" seemed to be the closest answer though I found the meaning to be somewhat contrived!

[Mampara]

Hi lezapping did you see my 'numbers' hint on the other post?

1a Another word for boss is Stud
4a Your first N is wrong
9a Your 5th letter is wrong. Think headgear for commando
12a Abbreviation of Clergy + lake = dream
15a Your V is wrong
24a Yes
27a Anagram Rusa +doc
38a Your G is wrong ...anag O dear
39a Lebensraum

[Mampara]

Down clues

8 Ma (mother) + not out at sea
10 Anagram of the men's names = Title deed for example
17 Your M is wrong
18 Think Mercedes
26 anag Tees (pegs) Off (out)


Good luck K

[BigMac]

1a A synonym for boss + a symbol for an unknown
4a Your first 'A' is incorrect
9a Your I is incorrect; you need a dielectword meaning to weep + Berne and it's an anagram
12a You need an abbreviation for a clergyman + the name of a lake
15a still working on it
24a Correct
27a still working on it
38a still working on it
39a anagram of mensurable
8d still working on it
10d Don't think so - the second letter is an E
17d Your M is incorrect - it's a pun
18d still working on it
19d You need a couple of points of the compass leading into an archaic word for an arch
26d You need a word for cancelled (think sports matches) inside a word for pegs (think golf) to give the nickname of a football team that plays at Goodison Park

[Lezapping]

Thanks, all, for the helpful hints/clues. I still have a few to solve and only wish I could fathom the title! Mampara, I did not see your numbers hint and would be happy to get it! I did see Kayakamina's advice, though, about not confusing the title numbers 23 & 56 which do not mean what they say...Was your number hint the same thing? Any help in this area will be greatly appreciated as always. Many thanks!

[kayakamina]

lezapping the 2nd & 3rd letters in each unclued word are the same as the 5th & 6th!

Therefore 23 = 56 .....i.e 31d hORrOR...29d dREaRE

[Lezapping]

Many thanks, Kayakamina, for coming to the rescue! I have seen the light...They all fit into place...29d is the same as 3d? ( Strange!)

I have just 3 more to complete this one...

35a : FAKER ?
40a: ?R(E)?N?S??E

36d: K?S?

Thanks especially for 23=56! I would never have imagined it!
Cheers!

[Tichfield]

3d is not the same as 29d. There is another word that fits the pattern - 29 d is BREARE. You should never have two answwers that are the same.

35a FLEER - a word with two meanings.

40 a TENNESSEE

36d ERSE (the odd letters of Beardsley).

[Tichfield]

Sorry. In 36d it's the even letters you want. The clue says the odd letters are lost.

[Lezapping]

Thanks,Tichfield, for saving me from a very grave gaffe, indeed! I had mixed up my B and D for 3d and 29d...How careless of me! And I had 36d but was not sure of it and 40a makes sense and now looks so obvious! Many thanks again for helping me to finish this one! It was an eye opener!