e Prince became King, he
dined here, and remarked to Lord Sidmouth that his portrait had been
omitted, and hinted that it ought to be restored. This, however, was
evaded, and the copy remains in its original state."--Vol. i. pp. 18, 19.]

* * * * *

Minor Queries.

_Helmets._--What is the antiquity of the practice of placing helmets over
the shields of armorial bearings; and what are the varieties of helmets in
regard to the rank or degree of persons?

S. N.

_The Nursrow._--What is the origin of the word _Nursrow_, a name applied by
Plott, in his _History of Staffordshire_, to the shrew mouse, and by the
common people in Cheshire at the present day to the field-mouse; or rather,
perhaps, indiscriminately to field and shrew mice?

N. R.

_City Bellmen._--When were city bellmen first established? By whom
appointed? What were their duties? What and how were they paid? What have
been their employment and duties down to the present day?

CRITO.

{539}

_Pope's Elegy on an Unfortunate Lady._--In the new editions of Pope's
_Works_, in course of publication, edited by Mr. Carruthers, Inverness, it
is conjectured that the poet threw "ideal circumstances" into his most
pathetic and melodious elegy, and "when he came to publish his letters, put
wrong initials, as in other instances, to conceal the real names" (Pope's
_Poet. Works_, Ingram, Cook, and Co., vol. ii. p. 184.). The initials are
Mrs. W., niece of Lady A. I have always thought that a clue might be
obtained to the name of this lady, by following up the hints in Pope's
printed correspondence. Mrs. or Miss W. is mentioned or alluded to by
Craggs and Pope, in connexion with the characters in the _Rape of the
Lock_. One suggests the other. Inquiry should be directed to the families
of Fernor of Tusmore, Lord Petre, and Sir George Brown. But I have heard a
tradition in a Catholic family in the north of England that the lady was a
Blount; probably one of the Blounts of Soddington, or of some one of the
numerous branches of that ancient family.

AN INQUIRER.

_"Too wise to err, too good to be unkind."_--In what author may this
passage be found?

"Too wise to err, too good to be unkind."

E. P. H.

Clapham.

_Passage in the "Christian Year."_--In the beautiful lines on Confirmation
in this work, the following verse occurs:

"Steady and pure as stars that beam
In middle heaven, all mist above,
Seen deepest in the f