Chapter X: Y. Z. is informed that a compilation on the subject to which his Query

relates was published a few years since in Leeds by Henry Stooks Smith. Speaking from recollection, it appears to be a work of some research; but I cannot say how far it is to be relied on. It may, perhaps, be one of the unfortunate works which have already fallen under his censure.

J. B.

Prestwich.

_Suicide at Marseilles_ (Vol. vii., p. 180.).--In Montaigne's _Essays_ I find,--

"In former times there was kept, in our city of Marseilles, a poison
prepared out of hemlock, at the public charge, for those who had a mind
to hasten their end, having first, before the Six Hundred, which were
their Senate, given an account of the reasons and motives of their
design; and it was not otherwise lawful than by leave from the
magistrate, and upon just occasion, to do violence to themselves. The
same law was also in use in other places."--Book ii. chap. iii., at
end.

This, however, is not the original authority required by your correspondent.

In the earlier part of the same chapter, "Plutarch, _On the Virtuous Deeds of Women_," is referred to as the authority for the statement which Montaigne makes of

"The Milesian virgins, that by an insane compact hanged themselves, one
after another, until the magistrate took order in it, enacting, that
the bodies of such as should be found so hanged should be drawn by the
same halter, stark naked, through the city."

J. P.

Birmingham.

_Acts_, xv. 23. (Vol. vii., p. 204.).--From the notes to Tischendorf's _Greek Testament_, it appears that [Greek: kai hoi] is omitted by Griesbach ed. II. anno 1806, as well as by Lachman, on the authority of the four most ancient Greek MSS. distinguished as A, B, C, and D, confirmed by the versio Armenica, and so quoted by Athanasius, Irenæus, Pacian, and Vigilius. The MS. A is referred by Tischendorf to the latter half of the fifth century, and is the Alexandrian MS. in the British Museum. B is the Vatican codex of about the middle of the fourth century. C the codex Ephraemi Syri rescriptus at Paris, and is of the first half of the fifth century; and D is Beza's MS. at Cambridge, of about the middle of the sixth century. MR. SANSOM may find a very interesting letter upon this subject from Dr. Tregelles to Dr. Charles Wordsworth, the present Bishop of St. Andrew's, which was published _very recently_ in the _Scottish Ecclesiastical Journal_, and in which that learned critic defends the omission of the [Greek: kai hoi]. I regret that I cannot furnish him with the number of that Journal, but it was not more than three or four back.

I hope that MR. SANSOM will inform your readers of the ultimate result of his inquiries on this interesting subject.

P. H.

_Serpent's Tongue_ (Vol. vi., p. 340.).--The _Lingua Serpentina_ of old MSS., and the fossil now commonly termed a Shark's-tooth. In former days, few pilgrims returned from the East without bringing at least one of those curious stones. Being principally found in Malta, it was said they were the tongues of the vipers, which once infested that island, and which St. Paul had turned into stone. Considered to be antidotes, and possessed of talismanic qualities, they were set in cups, dishes, knife-handles, and other requisites for the table.

W. PINKERTON.

Ham.

_Croxton or Crostin of Lancashire_ (Vol. vii., p. 108.).--A full account of the parish of Croston (not Crostin), which was formerly very extensive, but is now divided into the six parishes of Croston, Chorley, Hesketh, Hoole, Rumford, and Tarleton, may be found in Baines's _Lancashire_, vol. iii. pp. 395. to 440. There does not appear to have been a family of Croston of any note, though the name is common in the county. In Burke's _Heraldic Dictionary_, I find three families named Croxton; the principal one being of Croxton in Cheshire, since temp. Hen. III. Their arms are--Sable, a lion rampant arg. debruised by a bend componée or and gu.

BROCTUNA.

Bury, Lancashire.

_Robert Dodsley_ (Vol. vii., p. 237.).--In the _Biographia Dramatica_ it is stated that "this author was born _near_ Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, _as it is supposed_;" and this supposition was, {317} not improbably, founded on the following lines, which occur in one of his poems, as Mansfield is situated in the forest of Sherwood:

"O native Sherwood! happy were thy Bard,
Might these, his rural notes, to future time,
Boast of tall groves, that nodding o'er thy plain,
Rose to their tuneful melody."

TYRO.

Dublin.

_Lord Goring_ (Vol. ii., pp. 22. 65.; Vol. vii., p. 143.).--In the order-books of the council of state, I find that William Killegrew was, on the 1st Oct., 1642, appointed lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of Colonel Goringh, _vice_ Thomas Hollis, deceased; and that, on the 26th March, 1647, he was named colonel of the same regiment, vice Colonel Goringh, resigned. That the last-mentioned colonel is _George_ Goringh we learn from the war-budget (Staat van Oorlog) of 1644, where the salaries of

Colonel George Goringh iij^c£
William Killegre, Lieutenant-Colonel lxxx£

are charged on the province of Holland. It nowhere appears from official reports that Lord Goring held a higher military rank than that of colonel in the Netherlands army. That he left England previous to 1645 is proved not only by the above, but also by his presence, as colonel in the service of Spain, at the siege of Breda in 1637. If he afterwards served in the Spanish army as lieutenant-general, what could have induced him at a later period to accept the rank of colonel in the army of the States?

--t.

In the _Irish Compendium, or Rudiments of Honour_, vol. iii. pp. 64, 65., 2nd ed.: London, 1727, we read that Lord Richard Boyle, born in 1566, married as second wife "Catharine, only daughter to Sir Jeffry Fenton; by her had five sons and seven daughters, of which the Lady Lettice was married to _George Lord Goring_."--V. D. N. _From the Navorscher._

_Chaplains to Noblemen_ (Vol. vii., p. 163.).--There is, in the Faculty Office in Doctors' Commons, an entry kept of the appointments of chaplains when brought to be registered. Under what authority the entry is made does not seem very clear. The register does not extend beyond the year 1730, though there may be amongst the records of the office in St. Paul's some earlier notices of similar appointments.

G.

_The Duke of Wellington Maréchal de France_ (Vol. vii., p. 283.).--The Duke of Wellington is indebted to the writer in the _Revue Britannique_ for his dukedom and bâton of France, and not to Garter King-at-Arms. No such titles were attributed to his Grace or proclaimed by Garter, as a reference to the official accounts in the _London Gazette_ will show. The Order of St. Esprit was the only French honour ascribed to him; that Order he received and frequently wore, the insignia of which were displayed, with his numerous other foreign honours, at the lying-in-state. Such being the case, Garter will not perhaps be expected to produce the diploma for either the title of _Duc de Brunoy_ or the rank of _Maréchal de France_.