bility is, that the especial building
called the tonne never was a prison at all; but that the prison,
from standing near or adjoining the tonne, took its name, the
tonne prison, in conformity with universal usage. It is equally
probable that the tonne was originally built for the purpose to
which it was ultimately applied; and that some delay arose in
its use from the difficulty experienced in the hydraulic part of
the undertaking, which was only overcome in 1401. The
universality of the punishment of "ducking" amongst our
ancestors is at least a circumstance in favour of the view taken
in the text.]

* * * * *

FOLK LORE.

_Midsummer Fires._--From your notice of Mr. Haslam's account of the
Beltein or Midsummer fires in Cornwall, I conclude you will give a place
to the following note. On St. John's eve last past, I happened to pass
the day at a house situate on an elevated tract in the county of
Kilkenny, Ireland; and I shall long remember the beauty of the sight,
when, as dusk closed in, fire after fire shot up its clear flame,
thickly studding the near plains and distant hills. The evening was calm
and still, and the mingled shouts and yells of the representatives of
the old fire-worshippers came with a very singular effect on the ear.
When a boy, I have often _passed through_ the fire myself on Midsummer
eve, and such is still the custom. The higher the flame, the more daring
the act is considered: hence there is a sort of emulation amongst the
unwitting perpetrators of this Pagan rite. In many places cattle are
driven through the fire; and this ceremony is firmly believed to have a
powerful effect in preserving them from various harms. I need not say,
that amongst the peasantry the fires are now lighted in honour of St
John.

X.Y.A.

Kilkenny.

* * * * *

MINOR NOTES.

_Borrowed Thoughts._--Mr. SINGER (Vol. i., p. 482.) points out the
French original from which Goldsmith borrowed his epigram beginning--

"Here lies poor Ned Purdon."

I find, in looking over Swift's works, a more literal version of this
than Goldsmith's:--

"Well then, poor G---- lies under ground,
So there's an end of honest Jack;
So little justice here he found,
'Tis ten to one he'll ne'er come back."

I should like to add two Queries:--Who was the Chevallier de Cailly (or
d'Aceilly), the author of the French epigra