ome English writer (Lady Morgan, I believe) has defined it
"mental lukewarmness:" but, if it be true, as La-Motte Houdart says, that--

"L'ennui naquit un jour de l'uniformite."

the above definition would seem to indicate rather the cause of _ennui_
than _ennui_ itself.

HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia.

_Bankruptcy Records._--Where can I search for evidence of a bankruptcy,
probably about 1654? The Chief Registrar's indices do not go back nearly so
far.

J. K.

_Golden Bees._--Napoleon I. and II. are said to have had their imperial
robes embroidered with golden bees, as claiming official descent from
Carolus Magnus. Query, what is the authority for this heraldic distinction,
said to have been assumed by Charlemagne?

JAMES GRAVES.

Kilkenny.

_The Grindstone Oak._--Can any of your topographical correspondents state
what is the earliest mention made of an oak tree well known in this part of
the country, and the destruction of which by fire, on the 5th of November,
1849, was the subject of regret to all who had seen or heard of it? It was
called the _Grindstone Oak_, and had been a denizen of the forest of Alice
Holt, as many suppose, since the days of the Confessor. It measured
thirty-four feet in circumference, at the height of seven feet from the
ground; and is mentioned by Gilbert White, in his _History of Selborne_, as
"the great oak in the Holt, which is deemed by Mr. Marsham to be the
biggest in this island."

L. L. L.

Near Selborne, Hants.

_Hogarth._--About the year 1746, Mr. Hogarth painted a portrait of himself
and wife: he afterwards cut the canvass through, and presented the half
containing his own portrait to a gentleman in Yorkshire.

If any of your numerous readers are in possession of any portrait of Mr.
Hogarth, about three feet in length, and one foot eight inches wide, or are
aware of the existence of such a portrait, they will confer a favour by
addressing a line to

J. PHILLIPS,
5. Torrington Place, London.

_Adamsons of Perth._--Can any of your Scottish correspondents inform me
what relationship existed between Patrick Adamson, titular Archbishop of
St. Andrew's, and the two learned brothers, Henry Adamson, author of the
_Muses' Threnodie_, and John Adamson, principal of the college at
Edinburgh, and editor of the _Muses' Welcome_; and whether any existing
family claims to be descended from them? They were all born at Perth. Henry
and John were the sons of James Adamson, a m