amongst some trades. The
butchers' blue is the uniform of a guild. The quaint little head-dress of
the market women of Kingswood, Gloucestershire, is in fact the gipsy hat of
George II. Scarlet has been the colour of soldiers' uniform from the time
of the Lacedemonians. The blue of the army we derived from the Puritans; of
the navy from the colours of a mistress of George I.

TORRO.

_Curious Omen at Marriage_.--In Miss Benger's _Memoirs of Elizabeth, Queen
of Bohemia_, it is mentioned that,--

"It is by several writers observed that, towards the close of the
ceremony, _certain coruscations of joy_ appeared in Elizabeth's face,
which were afterwards supposed to be sinister presages of her
misfortunes."

In a note, Echard is alluded to as the authority for this singular
circumstance.

Can any of your readers explain _why_ such a _coruscation of joy_ upon a
wedding day should forebode evil? or whether any other instances are on
record of its so doing?

H. A. B.

_Ventriloquist Hoax_ (Vol. ii., p. 101.).--The following is extracted from
_Admirable Curiosities, Rarities, and Wonders in England, Scotland, and
Ireland, by R. B., Author of the History of the Wars of England, &c._,
Remarks of London, &c., 12mo., 1684, p. 137. It may serve as a pendant to
the ventriloquist hoax mentioned by C. H., Vol. ii., p. 101.:--

"I have a letter by me, saith Mr. Clark, dated July 7, 1606, written by
one Mr. Bovy to a minister in London, where he thus writes: 'Touching
news, you shall understand that Mr. Sherwood hath received a letter
from Mr. Arthur Hildersham, which containeth this following narrative:
that at Brampton, in the parish of Torksey, near Gainsborough in
Lincolnshire, an ash-tree shaketh both in the body and boughs thereof,
and there proceed from thence sighs and groans, like those of a man
troubled in his sleep, as if it felt some sensible torment. Many have
climbed to the top thereof, where they heard the groans more plainly
than they could below. One among the rest being a-top, spoke to the
tree; but presently came down much astonished, and lay grovelling on
the earth speechless for three hours, and then reviving said,
_Brampton, Brampton,_ thou art much bound to pray.' The author of this
news is one Mr. Vaughan, a minister who was there present and heard and
saw these passages, and told Mr. Hildersham of it. The Earl of Lincoln
cau