e them to sustain the fatigue of exportation. Previous,
therefore, to shipment (none being sold under four to five years of age), a
little _eau de vie_ (between the fiftieth and sixtieth part) is added, a
quantity in itself so small, that few would imagine it to be the cause of
the slight alcoholic taste which nearly all sherries possess.

In consequence of the high price of the delicious wines, numerous
imitations, or inferior sherries, are manufactured, and sold in immense
quantities. Of these the best are to be met with at the following places:
San Lucar, Porto, Santa Maria, and even Malaga itself. The spurious sherry
of the first-named place is consumed in larger quantities, especially in
France, than the genuine wine itself. One reason for this may be, that few
vessels go to take cargoes at Cadiz; whilst many are in the habit of doing
so to Malaga for dry fruits, and to Seville for the fine wool of
Estremadura. San Lucar is situated at the mouth of the Guadalquiver.

W. C.

* * * * *

RECENT CURIOSITIES OF LITERATURE.

(Vol. ix., p. 136.)

Mr. Thackeray's work, _The Newcomes_, would, if consulted by your
correspondent, furnish him with farther examples. For instance, Colonel
Newcome's Christian name is stated (pp. 27. 57.) to be Thomas: at p. 49. he
is designated Col. J. Newcome. The letter addressed to him (p. 27.) is
superscribed "Major Newcome," although at p. 25. he is styled "Colonel." At
p. 71. mention is made of "Mr. Shaloo, the great Irish patriot," who at
p. 74. becomes "Mr. Shaloony," and at p. 180. relapses into the dissyllabic
"Shaloo." Clive Newcome is represented (p. 184.) as admiring his youthful
mustachios, and Mr. Doyle has depicted him without whiskers: at p. 188.
Ethel, "after Mr. Clive's famous mustachios made their appearance, rallied
him," and "asked him if he was (were?) going into the army? She could not
understand how any but military men could wear mustachios." On this the
author remarks, three lines farther on: "If Clive had been in love with
her, no doubt he would have sacrificed even those beloved _whiskers_ for
the charmer."

At p. 111. the Rev. C. Honeyman is designated "A.M.," although previously
described a Master of Arts of Oxford, where the Masters are styled "M.A."
in contradistinction to the Masters of Arts in every other university.
Cambridge Masters frequently affix M.A. to their names, but I never heard
of an instance of an Oxonian signin