_The Owl is abroad, the Bat and the
Toad_, which one might suppose Weber to have imagined."

Is it not really the property of John Christopher Smith, the friend of
Handel? Amongst the few books of printed music in the _British Museum
Catalogue_ is _The Tempest, an Opera, composed by Mr. Smith_, in which is
the base song in question. On the other hand, I do not find it in Purcell's
_Tempest_. If, as I imagine, it belongs to Mr. Smith, it seems peculiarly
hard that the credit of the composition should be taken from him, to be
given to one who stands in no need of it.

A. R.

_Scandal against Queen Elizabeth._--The following note occurs in vol. iv.
p. 135. of Burton's _Parliamentary Diary_:--

"Osborn,--see his works (1673), p. 442,--says, 'Queen Elizabeth had a
son, bred in the state of Venice, and a daughter, I know not where or
when;' with other strange tales that went on her I neglect to insert,
as fitter for a romance than to mingle with so much truth and integrity
as I profess."

Is this rumour any where else alluded to? and if so, upon what foundation?

P. T.

_Letters of Horning._--What is the meaning of "letters of horning," a term
occasionally, though rarely, met with in documents drawn up by notaries?
And, _a propos_, why should "notaries public," with regard to the noun and
adjective, continue to place the cart before the horse?

MANLEIUS.

_Cromwell Poisoned._--At p. 516. vol. ii. of Burton's _Parliamentary Diary_
it is stated, in a note upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, that his body
exhibited certain appearances "owing to the disease of which the Protector
died, which, by the by, appeared to be that of poison." The words,
"Prestwich's MS." are attached to this note. Is there any other authority
for this statement?

P. T.

* * * * *

Replies.

COLLAR OF SS.

(Vol. ii., pp. 89. 194. 248. 280. 330. 362.)

The dispute about the Collar of SS., between MR. J. GOUGH NICHOLS and
ARMIGER, is, as Sir Lucius O'Trigger would say, "a mighty pretty quarrel as
it stands;" but I have seen no mention by either writer of "the red sindon"
for the chamber of Queen Philippa, "beaten throughout with the letter S in
gold leaf:" or the throne of Henry V. powdered with the letter S, in an
illuminated MS. of his time, in Bennet College Library, Cambridge. I fancy
there will be some difficulty in reconciling these two examples with the
theory of either of th