,"

and everybody thinks he knows from whence it is taken. Which of your
readers can verify it?

E.V.

_Table-Book._--Can any of your readers refer me to a museum containing a
specimen of an ancient _table-book_? Douce had one, which was in Mr.
Rodd's catalogue, but now sold; and Hone also possessed one. These two,
and another in the hands of a friend of mine, are the only specimens I
have heard of; but they are not quite as old or as genuine as one could
wish.

J.O. HALLIWELL.

_Origin of the name "Polly."_--Will you allow me to ask how persons of
my name came to be called _Polly_?

MARY.

_Tomlinson, of Southwingfield, Derbyshire._--The parochial register of
the parish of Southwingfield, in the county of Derby, contains, among
its earliest entries (A.D. 1586), the name Tomlinson, as then resident
therein. The family, to the present time, continues to reside within the
parish, as respectable yeomen, and has thence extended itself to many of
the neighbouring parishes, as well as to more distinct localities.
Blore's _History of Southwingfield_ makes no mention of such a family
connected with the parish, as tenants or otherwise; nor does it appear
that there is at present any family of Tomlinson bearing arms that can
have been derived from any of the ancient lords of Wingfield. The wills
at Lichfield, to whose registry Southwingfield belongs, are in a very
dilapidated and unsatisfactory state, at the time immediately preceding
the commencement of the Southwingfield parochial register. Probably some
genealogist will be enabled to offer a suggestion as to the means which
are available for tracing the genealogy of this fanily prior to the year
1586.

_The Phrase "To have a Button in the Room," and "Sally."_--I have again
been reading that most amusing book, _The Lives of the Norths_. At p. 88
of vol. i. (edit. 1826) there is a passage which has always puzzled me.
Speaking of some law proceedings in which the Lady Dacres was concerned,
Roger North says:--

"And herein she served herself another way, for her adversary
defamed her for swearing and unswearing, and it was not amiss to
_have a button in the room_."

At p. 92. (_post_) there is another strange expression:-- {216}

"The horse, when he found himself clear of pursuers, stopped his
course by degrees, and went with his rider (fast asleep upon his
back) into a pond to drink, and there sat his lordship upon the
'_sally_.'