Various

“ The following document I discovered some years ago in the Lord Steward's Offices. Your readers will see its value at once; but it may not be amiss to observe, that the name in its present application had its origin in the number of masterless boys hanging about the verge of the Court and other public places, palaces, coal-cellars, and palace stables; ready with links to light coaches and chairs, and conduct, and rob people on foot, through the dark streets of London; nay, to follow the Court in its progresses to Windsor and Newmarket. ”

“ But if four-seventeenths of a revolution had been taken for the angle of the creases, the ultimate polygon would have had thirty-four sides. In an angle taken at hazard the chances are that the number of ultimate sides will be large enough to present a circular appearance.
Any reader who chooses may amuse himself by trying results from three or more axes, whether all passing through one point or not. ”

“ We trust they will be pleased with this change, and receive it as a proof of our readiness to attend to every reasonable suggestion for the improve of "Notes and Queries." We can assure them that it is no less our desire to do so than our interest. ”

“ Lawless Court, Rochford, Essex.—A most extraordinary custom exists, in a manor at Rochford, in the tenants holding under what is called the "Lawless Court." This court is held at midnight, by torch-light, in the centre of a field, on the first Friday after the 29th Sept., and is presided over by the steward of the manor, who, however, appoints a deputy to fulfil this part of his duty. The tenants of the manor are obliged to attend to answer to their names, when called upon, under pain of a heavy fine, or at all events have some one there to respond for them. ”

“ If you have met with Books printed by Guttenberg, you have made a great discovery. I thought there had been none such in the world, and began to look upon Fust as the first Printer. I have seen the Bishop of Ely's Catholicon (now with us) , which, for aught I know, may have been printed by Guttenberg; for tho' it be printed at Ments, yet there is no name of the Printer, and the character is more rude than Fust's Tullie's Offices, whereof there are two Copies in 1465 and 1466, the first on vellum, the other on paper. ”

“ The Calotype Process.—I have made any first essay in the calotype process, following Dr. Diamond's directions given in "N. & Q.," and using Turner's paper, as recommended by him. My success has been quite as great as I could expect as a novice, and satisfies me that any defects are due to my own want of skill, and not to any fault in the directions given. ”

“ A second copy of the Latin version was formerly in the Cottonian collection (Vitellius E. vii.) , but no fragment of it has hitherto been recovered from the mass of burnt crusts and leaves left after the fire of 1731. I am happy, however, to add, that within the last few months, the manuscript marked Vitellius F. vii., containing a French translation of the Riwle, made in the fourteenth century (very closely agreeing with the vernacular text) , has been entirely restored, except that the top margins of the leaves have been burnt at each end of the volume. ”

“ In the curious and able article entitled "The Domestic Life of Edmund Burke," which appeared in the Athenæum of Dec. 10th and Dec. 17th (and to which I would direct the attention of such readers of "N. & Q." as have not yet seen it) , the writer observes:
"There is not in existence, as far as we know, or have a right to infer from the silence of the biographers, one single letter, paper, or document of any kind—except a mysterious fragment of one letter—relating to the domestic life of the Burkes, until long after Edmund Burke became an illustrious and public man ”

“ Photographic Society's Exhibition.—The Photographic Society opened their first Exhibition of {17}Photographs and Daguerreotypes at the Gallery of the Society of British Artists, in Suffolk Street, with a soirée on Tuesday evening last. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the rooms were crowded not only by members of the Society, but by many of the most distinguished literary and scientific men of the metropolis. The Queen and Prince Albert had, in the course of the morning, spent three hours in an examination of the collection ”

“ Dr. Routh, the President of Magdalen College, and after reading and making extracts from it [1] , I came to the same conclusion as Mr. Morton. It hardly admits, I think, of a doubt; for even without the internal evidence furnished by the Latin copy, the age of the manuscripts containing the Early English text at once set aside the supposition that Simon of Ghent (Bishop of Salisbury from 1297 to 1315) was the original author of the work. ”

“ Testimonials from the best Photographers and principal scientific men of the day, warrant the assertion, that hitherto no preparation has been discovered which produces uniformly such perfect pictures, combined with the greatest rapidity of action. ”

“ They proved to be those which once had covered and protected the grave of the good Archbishop Leighton, who passed the latter years of his life in that parish, and that of Sir Ellis Leighton, his brother. On inquiry, it appeared that their remains had been deposited within a small chapel on the south side of the chancel, the burial-place of the Lightmaker family, of Broadhurst, in the parish of Horsted. ”

“ The Surrey Archæological Society propose holding the Inaugural General Meeting of the Society in Southwark early in the month of February, and to exhibit upon the occasion a collection of such objects of antiquarian interest relating to Surrey as may be contributed for that purpose. Parties are invited to favour the Society with the loan of such objects. ”

“ Make them perfect, strengthen, 'stablish them: that they may stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, and adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Preserve the Tranquillity of those who at present enjoy it: look down with compassion upon such as are persecuted for Righteousness' sake, and plead Thy cause with the oppressors of Thy people. Enlighten those who are in Darkness and Error ”

“ And for children under five years of age, who have no dwelling, or cannot give an account of their parents, the parish where they are found are to provide for them; and for those which shall bee found lying under stalls, having no habitation or parents (from five to nine years old) , are to be sent to the Wardrobe House [2] , to be provided for by the corporation for the poore; and all above nine years of age are to be sent to Bridewel. ”

“ The court is kept in the night, and without light, but as the skye gives, att a little hill without the towne, called the King's Hill, where the steward writes only with coals, and not with inke. And many men and mannors of greate worth hold of the same, and do suite unto this strange court, where the steward calls them with as low a voice as possibly he may; giving no notice when he goes to the hill to keepe the same court, and he that attends not is deepely amerced, if the steward will. ”

“ Gantillon's inquiry for the above translation, I beg to state that it will be found appended to an octavo edition of Hodgson's poem of Lady Jane Grey.
In the same volume will be found, I believe (for I have not the work before me) , some of the modern Latin poetry respecting which Balliolensis inquiries. The justly admired translation of Edwin and Angelina, to which the latter refers, was by Hodgson's too early lost friend Lloyd. The splendid pentameter is slightly misquoted by Balliolensis. It is not—
"Poscimus in terris pauca, nec illa diù." ”

“ The anthems for the years 1693, 1694, 1695, 1696, and 1697, are given; but they are too long and too stupidly blasphemous and indecent to quote here. They seem rather the satires of malignant cavaliers than the serious productions of any Puritan, however politically or theologically heretical. ”

“ A green bag is now the badge of a cordwainer in this city.
.
Philadelphia.
Bust of Luther (Vol. viii., p. 335.) .—Mr. J. G. Fitch asks for information respecting a bust of Luther, with an inscription, on the wall of a house, in the Dom Platz at Frankfort on the Maine. I have learned, through a German acquaintance, who has resided the greater part of his life in that city, that the effigy was erected to commemorate the event of Luther's having, during a short stay in Frankfort, preached near that spot; and that the words surrounding the bust were his text on the occasion. ”

“ Perhaps if you can find room for the statement, some correspondent would be so good as to state whether it has the sanction of Baxter:
"Mr. Baxter, in his Historical Discourse of Apparitions, writes thus: 'There is now in London an understanding, sober, pious man, oft one of my hearers, who has an elder brother, a gentleman of considerable rank, who having formerly seemed pious, of late years does often fall into the sin of drunkenness ”

“ Wanley is more blamable, and does not here evince his usual critical accuracy, but (as remarked by Mr. Morton) he could only have looked at a few pages of the work. The real fact seems to be that Simon of Ghent made the abridged Latin version of the seven books of the Riwle now preserved in Magdalen College, and this supposition may well enough be reconciled with the words of Leland, who says of him,—
"Edidit inter cætera, libros septem de Vita Solitaria, {6}ad Virgines Tarentinas, Duriæ cultrices."—Comment., p. ”

“ This volume will be found equally useful to those who read the Church Service at home, as for those who use it at church, as the lessons and services for every day are distinctly marked, forming a very suitable book for a present. It is also kept by any respectable bookseller in a variety of elegant bindings.
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. Four Books. By THOMAS à KEMPIS. A New Edition, revised, handsomely printed in fcap. 8vo., with Vignettes and red floriated borders taken from the ancient MSS. Cloth, 5s. Also in antique calf binding, vermillion edges, 10s. 6d. ”

“ Morton's edition is printed. This copy is not complete, some leaves having been cut out in the sixth book, and the scribe leaves off at p. 420. of the printed edition.
It is very much to be wished that Mr. Morton would undertake the task of editing another volume of legends, homilies, and poems, of the same age as the Ancren Riwle, still existing in various manuscripts. One of the homilies, entitled "Sawles Warde," in the Bodley MS. 34., Cott. MS. Titus D. xviii., and Old Royal MS. 17A. xxvii., is very curious, and well deserves to be printed. ”

“ In quoting Brunet, I have used the fourth edition of the Manuel du libraire, 1842-4; in quoting Renouard, I refer to the avis prefixed to the Œuvres du comte Antoine Hamilton, 1812; in quoting Quérard, to La France littéraire, 1827-39. The other references are to sale catalogues. The titles of the books described, and the extracts, are given literatim, and, except as above noted, with the same accentuation and punctuation.
To revert to the question of a new edition: I should prefer the French text, for various reasons, to any English translation that could be made. ”

“ The work will extend at least to five volumes, or twenty parts, and, according to the present plan, will be completed in not less than five years. Any subscriber will be at liberty to withdraw his name, by giving notice to that effect within one month after the publication of any fourth part, or completed volume. Three hundred copies of Part I. have been printed, but the number of the future parts will be limited to those subscribed for within the next three months. ”

“ And to the end the said constables may not pretend ignorance, what to do with the several persons which they shal find offending the said laws, these are further to require them, that al aged or impotent persons who are not fit to work, be passed from constable to constable to the parish where they dwel ”

“ Instead of a fac-simile Engraving being given of that which is already an enigma to the tyro, the most striking and characteristic features of the Coin are dissected and placed by themselves, so that the eye soon becomes familiar with them.
A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE of Rare and Unedited Roman Coins, from the Earliest Period to the taking of Rome under Constantine Paleologos. 2 vols. 8vo., numerous Plates, 30s.
COINS OF THE ROMANS relating to Britain. 1 vol. 8vo. Second Edition, with an entirely new set of Plates, price 10s. 6d. ”

“ Now ready, price 10s. 6d., Second Edition, with material additions, INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT and EMIGRATION: being a TREATISE ON BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETIES, and on the General Principles of Land Investment, exemplified in the Cases of Freehold Land Societies, Building Companies, &c. With a Mathematical Appendix on Compound Interest and Life Assurance. ”

“ Burr, and Catherine Robert Barton. I find no mention of Colonel Noel Barton. The family of Ekins had been previously connected with that of Barton, Alexander Ekins, Rector of Barton Segrave, having married Jane Barton of Brigstock. The writer of this note will be obliged if J. W. J., or any correspondent of "N. & Q.," will inform him if anything is known respecting an ivory bust of Sir Isaac Newton, executed by Marchand or Marchant, which is said to have been an excellent likeness.
S. X.
[The ivory bust referred to by our correspondent is, we believe, in the British Museum.] ”