ractice is almost universal. But fancy names are
generally used as first names: _e. g._ John Randolph, Peyton, Jefferson,
Fairfax, Carter, &c. A fine old body-servant of Col. Willis was called
"Burgundy," _shortened_ into "Uncle Gundy." So that "Milton," in the case
mentioned, may have been merely the homage paid to genius by some
enthusiastic admirer of that poet.

J. BALCH.

Philadelphia.

_Heraldic_ (Vol. ix., p. 271.).--On the brass of Robert Arthur, St. Mary's,
Chartham, Kent, are two shields bearing a fess engrailed between three
trefoils slipped: which may probably be the same as that about which LOCCAN
inquires, though I am unable to tell the colours. There are two other
shields bearing, Two bars with a bordure. The inscription is as follows:

"Hic iacet d[=n]s Robertus Arthur quondam Rector isti' Eccli[=e] qui
obiit xxviii^o die marcii A^o d[=n]i Mill[=o] CCCC^oLIIII^o. Cui'
a[=i]e ppiciet' de' Am[=e]."

F. G.

_Solar Annual Eclipse of 1263_ (Vol. viii., p. 441.).--Mr. Tytler, in the
first volume of his _History of Scotland_, mentions that this eclipse,
which occurred about 2 P.M. on Sunday, August 5, 1263, has been found by
calculation to have been actually central and annular to Ronaldsvoe, in the
Orkneys, where the Norwegian fleet was then lying: a fine example, as he
justly adds, "of the clear and certain light reflected by the exact
sciences on history." S. asks, is this eclipse mentioned by any other
writer? As connected with the Norwegian expedition, it would seem not; but
Matthew of Westminster (vol. ii. p. 408., Bohn's edit.) mentions it having
been seen in England, although he places it erroneously on the 6th of the
month.

J. S. WARDEN.

_Brissot de Warville_ (Vol. ix., p. 335.).--Brissot's _Memoires_ is a very
common book in the original, and has gone through several editions. The
passage quoted by N. J. A. was only an impudent excuse for an impudent
assumption. Brissot, in his early ambition, wished to pass himself off as a
gentleman, and called himself _Brissot de Warville_, as Danton did D'Anton,
and Robespierre de Robespierre; but when these worthies were endeavouring
to send _M. de Warville_ to the scaffold as an aristocrat, he invented this
fable of his father's having some landed property at _Ouarville en Beauce_
(not Beance), and that he was called, according to the custom of the
country, from this place, where, it seems, he was put out to nurse. When
the dread of the g