cknowledged fact, that an old man's memory is generally good of events of
years past and gone: and as an octogenarian I am not afraid to state that,
from the discussions on the subject, I feel myself perfectly correct as to
the main point of my observations (Vol. viii., p. 2.), viz. the error
committed in the limitation of the ultimate reversion of the estate; but as
to the secondary point to which MR. WARDEN alludes, I may perhaps be in
error in placing it on the settlement of the son, inasmuch as the effect
would be the same if it occurred in the settlement of the father; and MR.
WARDEN'S observations leave an inference that the mistake may have there
occurred; as, in such case, if the error had been discovered,--and by any
altercation the son had refused to correct the mistake, which he could and
ought to have consented to, after the failure of his own issue,--this
alone, between two hasty tempers, would have been sufficient cause of
quarrel, without reference to the question of marrying an own cousin, which
is often very justly objectionable.

WM. S. HESLEDEN.

_Wapple, or Whapple-way_ (Vol. ix., p. 125.).--This name is common in the
south, and means a bridle-way, or road in which carriages cannot pass. In
Sussex these ways are usually short cuts through fields and woods, from one
road or place to another. (See Halliwell's _Dictionary_, and Cooper's
_Sussex Glossary_.) The derivation is not given by either writer.

D.

In Manning's _Surrey_, I find not any mention of this term; but apprehend
it to be a corruption of the Norman-French, _vert plain_, "a green road or
alley:" which, as our Saxon ancestors pronounced the _v_ as a _w_, easily
slides into _war plain_ or _warple_. (See Du Cange, _Supp._, _in voce_
"Plain.")

C. H.

_The Ducking-stool_ (Vol. viii., p.315.).--As late as the year 1824, a
woman was convicted of being a common scold in the Court of Quarter
Sessions of Philadelphia County, and sentenced "to be placed in a certain
instrument of correction called a cucking or ducking-stool," and plunged
three times into the water; but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, upon the
removal of the case by writ of error, decided that this punishment was
obsolete, and contrary to the spirit of the age.

Our fathers held the ducking-stool in higher respect, as appears from the
following presentments of the grand juries of Philadelphia, the originals
of which have been lately discovered. In January, 1717, they say (