nnecessary to
point out the numerous instances in which such changes as that from _pily_
to _lipy_ take place _per metathesem_.

Now, an interesting subject of investigation, supposing the coincidence
above noticed not to be an accidental one, would be to trace the links of
connexion between these words; and in this, some of your German readers may
be enabled to afford valuable aid.

As an illustration of the same article being in use in widely distant
localities, I may mention that on returning to England from a voyage to
China, I brought with me a Chinese _abacus_ or _swanpan_, the instrument in
general use among the Chinese for performing the ordinary computations of
addition, subtraction, &c., thinking it a grand article of curiosity,
particularly in a remote seaport town on the east coast, with which to
astonish the natives. But what was my chagrin when I was informed by an
honest Baltic skipper, that to him, at least the instrument was no rarity
at all; that he had seen them used hundreds of times for the same purposes
at various ports in the Baltic; and that, moreover, he had one of them in
his home at that very time, which he forthwith produced.

J. SH.

Bombay.

_Sitting during the Lessons_ (Vol. ii., p. 246.).--The rubric directing the
people to stand while the Gospel is read in the Communion service, was
first inserted in the Scotch Common Prayer Book, A. D. 1637. The ancient
and more reverential practice of standing whenever any portion of God's
word is read, had not fallen into entire disuse as late as 1686, as will
appear from the following extract from _The Life of Bishop Wilson_, by
Cruttwell, prefixed to the folio edition of his works. It occurs (p. 4.)
under certain heads of advice given to that holy bishop, at the time he was
ordained deacon, by his much-esteemed friend, Archdeacon Hewetson:--

"Never to miss the church's public devotions twice a day, when
unavoidable business, or want of health, or of a church (as in
travelling), does not hinder. In church to behave himself also very
reverently; nor ever turn his back upon the altar in service time, nor
on the minister, when it can be avoided; _to stand at the lessons and
epistle as well as at the gospel_, and especially when a psalm is sung:
to bow reverently at the name of Jesus whenever it is mentioned in any
of the church's offices; to turn towards the east when the Gloria Patri
and the creeds are rehears