[In the musical catalogue of the British Museum, compiled by Thomas
Oliphant, Esq., it is stated that the words to _Acis and Galatea_ "are
said to be written, but apparently partly compiled, by John Gay." This
serenata is included among Gay's _Poems_ in Dr. Johnson's edition of
the _English Poets_, 1790, as well as in Chalmers's edition of 1810,
and in the complete edition of _British Poets_, Edinburgh, 1794.]

_Birm-bank._--The bank of a canal opposite to the towing-path is called the
_birm-bank_. What is the derivation of this?

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.

[The word _birm_ seems to have the same meaning as berme (Fr. _berme_),
which, in Fortification, denotes a piece of ground of three, four, or
five feet in width, left between the rampart and the moat or foss,
designed to receive the ruins of the rampart, and prevent the earth
from filling the foss. Sometimes it is palisaded, and in Holland is
generally planted with quickset hedge.]

_General Thomas Gage._--This officer commanded at Boston at the breaking
out of the Revolution, and served under General Braddock. Where can I find
any details of the remainder of his history?

SERVIENS.

[An interesting biographical account of General Gage is given in the
_Georgian Aera_, vol. ii. p. 67.]

* * * * *

Replies.

RAPPING NO NOVELTY.

(Vol. viii., pp. 512. 632.)

The story referred to is certainly a very curious one, and I should like to
know whether it is exactly as it was told by Baxter, especially as there
seems to be reason for believing that De Foe (whom on other grounds one
would not trust in such a matter) did not take it from the work which he
quotes. Perhaps if you can find room for the statement, some correspondent
would be so good as to state whether it has the sanction of Baxter:

"Mr. Baxter, in his _Historical Discourse of Apparitions_, writes thus:
'There is now in London an understanding, sober, pious man, oft one of
my hearers, who has an elder brother, a gentleman of considerable rank,
who having formerly seemed pious, of late years does often fall into
the sin of drunkenness; he often lodges long together here in his
brother's house, and whensoever he is drunk and has slept himself
sober, something knocks at his bed's head, as if one knocked on a
wainscot. When they remove his bed it follows him. Besides other loud
noises o