Various

“ My knowledge of the people in Italy enables me to affirm, with the most perfect certainty, that not only the peasantry very generally, but many persons much above that rank, do, to all intents and purposes, and in the fullest sense of the word, worship the Madonna, and believe that there are several separate and wholly distinct persons of that name. ”

“ The only question then which I think can fairly arise, is, whether a person in Cranmer's position could voluntarily endure that amount of mutilation by fire which many others have accidentally suffered? This may be matter of opinion, but I have no doubt, and I suppose no truly Christian philosopher will have any, that the man who has faith to "give his body to be burned," and to endure heroically such a form of martyrdom, would be quite able to do what is attributed to Cranmer, and to Hooper too, "high medical authority" to the contrary notwithstanding. ”

“ In a previous communication, fighting under the shield of a great authority, I attempted to prove that the effigies of the mediæval tombs presented the semblance of death—death in grandeur, mortality as the populace were accustomed to behold it, paraded in sad procession through the streets, and dignified in their temples. The character of the costume bears additional testimony to their supposed origin, and strongly warrants this conclusion. ”

“ We first washed the paper with a solution of nitrate of silver, fifteen grains to the ounce, going over the surface in all directions with a camel-hair brush. As soon as the fluid ceased to run, the paper was rapidly dried before the fire, and then immersed in a solution of iodide of potassium, 500 grains to the pint of water. We used to draw it through the solution frequently by the corners, and then let it lie till the yellow tint was visible at the back. ”

“ The extraordinary notion of the clergyman, mentioned by the Rev. S. Adams, is certainly erroneous in law. I can only suppose it originated from some case in which the severance of the deceased's right hand was regarded by the jury as a proof that he did not kill himself. Except in certain special cases, none but parishioners are entitled to burial in a parochial burying-place at all.
Advocatus.
Paintings of our Saviour (Vol. ix., p. 270.) .—Your correspondent J. P. may hear of something to his advantage by visiting the church of Santa Prassede (Saint Praxedes?) ”

“ I have proved to my own satisfaction that the papers will not bear exposure in a bag of single thickness, without browning over immediately the developing fluid is applied.
With regard to the using of thin collodion, as recommended by Mr. Hardwick in the last Number of the Photographic Journal, I am satisfied it is the only plan of producing thoroughly good positives; and I have been in the habit of thinning down collodion in the same manner for a long time, finding that I produced much better pictures with about half the time of exposure necessary for a thick collodion. ”

“ As to the epithet of "Colonel," used by the drummer, that term is always used in conversation when addressing a lieutenant-colonel, or even a brevet lieutenant-colonel, and its use only proves, therefore, that the officer in command of the parade held a higher rank than major. After Culloden, the 4th regiment moved to the Highlands, and in 1747 returned to Stirling. In 1749 General Barrell died, and the colonelcy of the regiment was given to Lieut.-Colonel Rich, whom I suspect to be the officer alluded to in the caricature. ”

“ William, his grandson, was unfortunately engaged in the affair of Preston in 1715, when his estate became forfeited to the crown, and he afterwards confined himself to private life. He married a daughter of the Lord Viscount Preston above mentioned, one of the co-heiresses of the estate at Nunnington, and was in consequence buried in the family vault in 1743, aged sixty-five. For other particulars of the family of Widdrington, see Camden's Britannia. ”

“ In Vol. v., p. 121. of "N. & Q.," there is an interesting note on this subject by Sir J. Emerson Tennent, which he concludes by observing that "it would be an object of curious inquiry, if your correspondents could ascertain whether this (the superstitious veneration of the Irish people for such stones) be the last remnant of pillar worship now remaining in Europe." I am able to assure him that it is not. The province of Brittany, in France, is thickly studded with stone pillars, and the history and manners of its people teem with interesting and very curious traces of the worship of them. ”

“ Working in the same direction as your correspondent who has caused this invasion of your space, I cannot resist the opportunity of protesting against the use of "opened up" and "opened out," as applied to the developments of national enterprise and industry. These expressions, common to many, and frequently to be read in the "leading journal," stand a fair chance of becoming established vulgarisms. ”

“ The question, however, if gone into, would become a subtle one, turning on another, as to what is to be deemed worship. And we all know that the tendency of unspiritual minds to idolatry has led the priesthood of Rome to institute verbal distinctions on this point, which open the door to very much that a plain unbiassed man must deem rank polytheism. ”

“ I have long thought that the habit of smoking, I do not say tobacco, but some other herb, is of much greater antiquity than is generally supposed. Tobacco appears to have been introduced amongst us about 1586 by Captain R. Greenfield and Sir Francis Drake (vide Brand's Popular Antiquities) ; but I have seen pipe-bowls of English manufacture, which had been found beneath the encaustic pavement of Buildwas Abbey in Shropshire, which gives a much earlier date to the practice of smoking something. ”

“ Many of these notions still so prevalent in the remoter districts of that remote province, seem to point to nearly obliterated indications of a connexion between these "peulvans" or pillar-stones, and the zodiacal forms of worship, which the Druids are known to have, more or less exoterically, practised. Thus it is believed in many localities that a "menhir" in the neighbourhood turns on its axis at midnight. ”

“ Ligonier's regiment is now the glorious 48th regiment, of Albuera fame.
At the battle of Culloden Barrell's regiment gained the greatest reputation imaginable; the battle was so desperate that the soldiers' bayonets were stained with blood to the muzzles of their muskets; there was scarce an officer or soldier of the regiment, and of that part of Munro's (now 37th regiment) which engaged the rebels, that did not kill one or two men each with their bayonets. (Particulars of the Battle, published 1746.) Now it will be remembered that your correspondent E. H., Vol. ”

“ Among other versions of the Scripture may be mentioned the first edition of the New Testament, by Tyndale. The Library is also rich in early English theology, history, and particularly so in the poetry of the Elizabethan period, including many of the rarest volumes that have occurred for sale in the Heber, Jolley, Utterson, and other collections. Also the first four folio editions of the Works of Shakspeare, the copy of the first edition being from the library of John Wilks, Esq., the finest copy ever sold by public auction. ”

“ We sincerely trust that a work so obviously useful, and which has been so carefully compiled, will meet with such encouragement as will justify Mr. Darling in very speedily going to press with the second and not less important division—that in which, by an alphabetical arrangement of subjects, a ready reference may be made to books, treatises, sermons, and dissertations on nearly all heads of divinity, theological controversy, or ecclesiastical inquiry. ”

“ Burial Service Tradition (Vol. ix., p. 451.) .—The only cases in which a clergyman is legally justified in refusing to read the entire service over the body of a parishioner or other person admitted to burial in the parochial cemetery, are the three which are mentioned in the preliminary rubric, which, as expounded by the highest authorities, are as follows: 1. In case the person died without admission to the universal church by Christian baptism. ”

“ In using nitrate of potash and sulphuric acid, with a certain quantity of water as given, I have invariably found that on adding the cotton to the mixture it became completely dissolved, and the mass began to effervesce violently, throwing off dense volumes of deep red fumes, and the whole appearing of a similar colour. ”

“ It appears to us impossible to produce instruments of the same size possessing a richer and finer tone, more elastic touch, or more equal temperament, while the elegance of their construction renders them a handsome ornament for the library, boudoir, or drawing-room. ”

“ The subjects of this disquisition are not lounging in disrespectful supplication, nor wrapt in sleep enjoying pious dreams, nor stretched on a bed of mortal sickness: but the soul, having winged its way from sin and suffering, has left its tenement with the beams of hope yet lingering on the face, and the holy hands still refusing to relax their final effort. ”

“ Your correspondent H. B. C. doubts the possibility of the story about Cranmer's hand, and says that "if a furnace were so constructed that a man might hold his hand in the flame without burning his body, the shock to the nervous system would deprive him of all command over muscular action before the skin could be entirely consumed. ”

“ Widdrington Family (Vol. ix., p. 375.) .—The church of Nunnington, near Helmsly, in the North {551}Riding of Yorkshire, contains two handsome marble monuments of Lords Preston and Widdrington. The old hall at Nunnington, now occupied by a farmer, was once the seat of Viscount Preston, and afterwards of Lord Widdrington. William, Lord Widdrington, who is said to be descended from the brave Witherington, celebrated in Chevy Chace for having fought upon his stumps, was of the very noble and ancient family of the Widdringtons of Widdrington Castle, in the county of Northumberland ”

“ BEETHAM'S CAPILLARY FLUID is acknowledged to be the most effectual article for Restoring the Hair in Baldness, strengthening when weak and fine, effectually preventing falling or turning grey, and for restoring its natural colour without the use of dye. The rich glossy appearance it imparts is the admiration of every person. ”

“ G. S. Cundell, of Finsbury Circus, diluted the sensitive wash with water, instead of floating the paper. Amateurs date their success from the time Mr. Cundell published this simple modification of the original process.
"Mr. William Hunt, of Yarmouth, was my first friend and instructor in the art; and if there be any merit in the pictures I did before I knew you, the credit is due to him entirely.
"The first paper we tried was Whatman's ivory post, very thick and hard, and yet it gave good negatives. ”

“ I am descended from a first cousin of the Archdeacon, and could furnish R. E. C., if I knew his address, with farther particulars respecting the Edens of Newcastle.
E. H. A.
Dates of Maps (Vol. ix., p. 396.) .—I think the answer to Mr. Warden's very just complaint respecting maps not being dated is easily accounted for, much more easily, I fear, than reformed. The last published map is considered the most exact and useful; it, therefore, is the interest of the map-seller to sell off all of the old ones that he can ”

“ My impression therefore is, that in a mixed company of civilians, &c., no officer is entitled to take rank higher than the civil title incorporated in his commission would imply, apart from his grade in the service to which he belongs. ”