mainder of his days."

Can any of your correspondents assign the _probable_ causes which led to
Dr. Dee's resignation?

T.T.W.

Burnley, Lancashire, Jan. 21. 1850. {217}

_Meaning of "Emerod," "Caredon."_--In the Lansd. MS., British Museum,
No. 70., there is a letter from Mr. Richard Champernowne to Sir Robert
Cecil, dated in 1592, referring to the discovery of some articles
pillaged from the Spanish carrack, which had then recently been captured
and taken into Dartmouth harbour. Amongst these articles is one thus
described:--"An Emerod, made in the form of a cross, three inches in
length at the least, and of great breadth."

In the same volume of MSS. (art. 61.) there is the description of a
dagger "with a hefte of white Caredon."

From the size of the cross described, "Emerod" can scarcely be read
"Emerald," as applied by us to one of the precious stones.

Is "white Caredon" white cornelian?

Can any of your numerous correspondents give me a note in answer to the
above queries?

D.

46. Parliament Street, Westminster, Jan. 25. 1850.

_Microscope, and Treatise upon it._--I am about to commence the study of
the microscope. I want to know where I can purchase the most perfect
instrument, and also the best Treatise upon it; this information will
indeed be valuable to me, as it would enable me to go at once to the
best sources without loss of time.

R.M. JONES.

Chelsea, Jan. 2. 1850.

_Old Auster Tenements._--"W.P.P." wishes to know the meaning of the
expression "Old Auster Tenements," by which certain lands in the parish
of North Curry, Somerset, are described in Deeds and Court Rolls.

* * * * *

REPLIES

THE FIELD OF FORTY FOOTSTEPS.

The fields behind Montague House were, from about the year 1680, until
towards the end of the last century, the scenes of robbery, murder, and
every species of depravity and wickedness of which the heart can think.
They appear to have been originally called the Long Fields, and
afterwards (about Strype's time) the Southampton Fields. These fields
remained waste and useless, with the exception of some nursery grounds
near the New Road to the north, and a piece of ground enclosed for the
Toxophilite Society, towards the northwest, near the back of Gower
Street. The remainder was the resort of depraved wretches, whose
amusements consisted chiefly in fighting pitched battles, and other
disorderly sport, especially on the Sabbath