* * *

Minor Notes.

_Decomposed Cloth._--In Mr. Wright's valuable work on _The Celt, the Roman,
and the Saxon_, p. 308., is mentioned the discovery at York of a Roman
coffin, in which were distinctly visible "the colour, a rich purple," as
well as texture of the cloth with which the body it had contained had been
covered.

I should think that the colour observed was not that of the ancient dye,
but rather was caused by phosphate of iron, formed by the combination of
iron contained in the soil or water, with phosphoric acid, arising from the
decomposition of animal matter. It may often be observed in similar cases,
as about animal remains found in bogs, and about ancient leather articles
found in {439} excavations, especially when any iron is in contact with
them, or in the soles of shoes or sandals studded with nails.

W. C. TREVELYAN.

Wallington.

_First and Last._--There cannot be two words more different in meaning than
these, and yet they are both used to express the same sense! Of two authors
equally eminent, one shall write that a thing is of the _first_ and the
other of the _last_ importance, though each means the _greatest_ or
_utmost_. How is this? To me _first_ appears preferable, though _last_ may
be justifiable. Being on the subject of words, I am reminded of
_obnoxious_, which is applied in the strangest ways by different authors.
It is true that the Roman writers used _obnoxius_ in various senses; but it
does not seem so pliable or smooth in English. Generally it is held to
indicate _disagreeable_ or _inimical_, though our dictionaries do not admit
it to have either of those meanings!

A. B. C.

_Cucumber Time._--This term, which the working-tailors of England use to
denote that which their masters call "the flat season," has been imported
from a country which periodically sends many hundreds of its tailors to
seek employment in our metropolis. The German phrase is "Die saure Gurken
Zeit," or pickled gherkin time. A misunderstanding of the meaning of the
phrase may have given rise to the vulgar witticism, that tailors are
vegetarians, who "live on cucumber" while at play, and on "cabbage" while
at work.

N. W. S.

_MS. Sermons of the Eighteenth Century._--Having lately become possessed,
at the sale of an an old library, of some MS. Sermons by the Rev. J.
Harris, Rector of Abbotsbury, Dorset, from the year 1741 to 1763, I shall
be happy to place them in the hands of any desce