orks of any kind of green wood served equally well, but those
of dead wood had no effect. The experimentor had discovered water, in
several instances, in the same parish (Pennard), but was perfectly unaware
of his capability till he was requested by his landlord to try. The
operator had the reputation of a perfectly honest man, whose word might be
safely {624} trusted, and who was incapable of attempting to deceive any
one--as indeed appeared by his open and ingenuous manner and conversation
on this occasion. He was a farmer, and respected by all his neighbours. So
general is the conviction of the efficacy of the divining rod in
discovering both water and the ores of calamine or zinc all over the
Mendip, that the people are quite astonished when any doubt is expressed
about it. The late Dr. Hutton wrote against the pretension, as one of many
instances of deception founded upon gross ignorance and credulity; when a
lady of quality, who herself possessed the faculty, called upon him, and
gave him experimental proof, in the neighbourhood of Woolwich, that water
was discoverable by that means. This Dr. Hutton afterwards publicly
acknowledged.

"The above I suppose will suffice for your present purpose; I could,
however, say a great deal more, for I wrote a very long account many years
ago to our friend ----, of what I have now only briefly stated. That letter
was treated by certain scientific friends of his with contempt; but when I
afterwards saw poor Dr. Turner, he said he would go down to Somerset to see
it himself; but alas! he did not live to carry his intention into effect."

* * * * *

CHANGE OF MEANING IN PROVERBIAL EXPRESSIONS, ETC.

(Vol. viii., pp. 464, 465.)

Very hesitatingly I venture to express dissent from MR. KEIGHTLEY'S
ingenious suggestion of a change of meaning in the proverb "Tread on a worm
and it will turn." I support my dissent, however, by the following lines
from Shakspeare:

"Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting?
Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on;
And doves will peck in safe-guard of their brood."
Third Part of _King Henry VI._, Act II. Sc. 2.

King Henry says, Withhold revenge, dear God!

Clifford replies, The lion, the bear, the serpent, the smallest worm, and
doves, if injured, will make an effort at revenge or defence. It is clear
that Shakspeare uses the word _worm_ as meaning,