is curious, as it would seem to intimate that Lord Bacon was one of the
personages introduced in that very extraordinary production of the
Rabelaisian school.

I have frequently heard the word employed by the country people in the
markets of Geneva.

J. B. D.

_Lachrymatories_ (Vol. ii., pp. 326. 448.).--In illustration of the
question as to the _probable_ use of those small vases so commonly found in
sepulchral monuments, I extract the following from _Wayfaring Sketches
among the Greeks and Turks_. 2d edit. Introduction, pp. 6, 7. London:
Chapman, 1849.

"The poorest of the sepulchres is certain to contain (in Greece) at
least a few of these beautiful vases, the lachrymatories, &c.

* * * * *

When found in the graves of females, their form would generally seem to
indicate that they had been used for containing scents, and other
requisites of the toilet; in one that was found not long since, there
was a preparation evidently (?) of rouge or some such paint for the
face, &c., _the mark left by the pressure of two fingers of a small
hand was distinctly visible_ (?)."

To me, ignorant as I am of antiquarian matters, this sounds very curious;
and I send it you in case you may find it worthy of insertion, as
provocative of discussion, and with the utilitarian idea that _I_ may gain
some information on the subject.

C. D. HAMONT.

Greenock, Jan. 16. 1851.

_Scandal against Queen Elizabeth_ (Vol. iii., p. 11.).--An intercepted
letter, apparently from a popish priest, preserved among the Venetian
correspondence in the State Paper Office, gives the following account of
the death-bed of the Queen; which, as illustrative of the observations of
your correspondent CUDYN GYWN, may not be uninteresting:--

"London, 9 Martii, 1603.

"About 10 dayes synce dyed the Countess of Notingham. The Queene loved
the Countess very much, and hath seemed to take her death very
heavelye, remayning euer synce in a deepe melancholye, w^{th} conceipte
of her own death, and complayneth of many infirmyties, sodainlye to
haue ouertaken her, as impost[=u]mecon in her head, aches in her bones,
and continuall cold in her legges, besides notable decay in iudgem^t
and memory, insomuch as she cannot attend to any discourses of
governm^t and state, _but delighteth to heare some of the 100 merry
tales, and such like, and to such is uery attentiue;_ at other ty