pretend to translate. The
Geography, as far as Britain is concerned, is said to be in Dr. Henry's
_History of Great Britain_, 1788. Some works in harmonics appear in
lists as translations or close imitations of Ptolemy, as John Keeble's,
1785, Francis Styles, _Phil. Trans_. vol. li. Various dissertations on
minor pieces exist: but there is no English translation of the
_Almagest_, &c., though it exists in French (see Smith's _Biograph.
Dict_. art. PTOLEMY). If an English reader wants to know Ptolemy's
astronomical methods and hypotheses, nothing will suit him better than
Narrien's _History of Astronomy_.

M.

_Accuracy of References_.--In connection with the article on
"Misquotations," in No. 3. p.38., will you impress upon your
correspondents the necessity of exact references? It is rather hard
when, after a long search, a sought reference has been obtained, to find
that the reference itself is, on examination, incorrect. To illustrate
my position: at p. 23., in an article relating to Judge Skipwyth, and at
p. 42., in an article relating to the Lions in the Tower, references to
certain "pp." of the Issue Rolls of the Exchequer. Now if any person
with these references were to search the Issue Rolls, he would be much
surprised to find that the Rolls are rolls, and not books, and that
"pp." is not the correct reference. The fact is that neither of your
correspondents are quoting from the Rolls themselves, but from a volume,
published in 1835, under the direction of the Comptroller General of the
Exchequer, by Mr. F. Devon, called _Issue Roll of Thomas de Brantingham,
Bishop of Exeter, Lord High Treasurer of England_, &c. 44 Edward III.

And while on the subject, permit me to remark, with reference to the
article on the Domestic Expenses of Queen Elizabeth (page 41.), that
there are plenty of such documents in existence, and that the only test
of their value and authenticity is a reference to where they may be
found, which is wanting in the article in question.

J.E.

_A Peal of Bells_.--In No. 8 of your interesting and valuable journal, I
find a query, from the REV. A. GATTY, relative to a peal of bells. Now
the science of bell-ringing being purely English, we can expect to find
the explanation sought for, only in English authors. Dr. Johnson says
peal means a "succession of sounds;" and in this way it is used by many
old writer, thus:--

"A peal shall rouse their sleep."--MILTON.

And again Addison:--

"Oh