.

"_Goe, soule, the bodies guest_" (Vol. vii., p. 175.).--Your
correspondent is mistaken in thinking that his "additions" are a new
discovery. Both stanzas were printed, with slight variations from this
copy, by Sir H. Nicolas, at the end of his edition of Davison's
_Poetical Rhapsody_, 1826, pp. 413--415.; and both are mentioned by Mr.
Hannah, when he says (p. 103.):

"In E (the mark by which Mr. H. designates that copy in
Nicolas), one stanza is interpolated after line 36, and a
second at the end."

As I entirely agree with Sir H. Nicolas that the lines in question are
"a wanton interpolation," I think Mr. Hannah was perfectly justified
in contenting himself with this acknowledgment of their existence.

R.

_Bells versus Storms_ (Vol. vi., p. 508.).--While returning my
acknowledgments to your correspondents the REV. H. T. ELLACOMBE and W.
S. G., I would briefly refer to the subject again, which may be of
interest to some of our readers.

Dr. Fuller says:

"That bells are no effectual charm against lightning. The
frequent firing of abbey churches by lightning confuteth the
proud motto commonly written on the bells in their steeples,
wherein each intitled itself to a six-fold efficacy.

'Men's death I tell, by doleful knell,
Lightning and thunder, I break asunder,
On Sabbath all, to church I call,
The sleepy head, I raise from bed,
The winds so fierce, I do disperse,
Men's cruel rage, I do assuage.'"

"It has anciently been reported," observes Lord Bacon, "and is
still received, that extreme applauses and shouting of people
assembled in multitudes, have so rarefied and broken the air,
that birds flying over have fallen down, the air not being
able to support them; and it is believed by some that great
ringing of bells in populous cities hath chased away thunder,
and also dissipated pestilent air. All which may be also from
the concussion of the air, and not from the sound."

W. W.

Malta.

The following note in connexion with the baptism of bells may be
interesting, as it shows the manner of working, at that time.

{344}
Among the _Centum Gravamina_ offered to Pope Adrian in 1521 by the Princes
of Germany, as given in Herbert's _Henry VIII._, p. 139., this is the
51st:

"That suffragans used to baptize bels under pretence of
driving away divels and tempests