ten broad pieces, and a dozen bottles of the richest
Canary to support his drooping spirits. This, Dr Hudson (from whom I
received this story) was informed by Dr Radcliff himself."

9_th Dec._ 1705, p. 78.--"To show that the Dutchess of Marlborough
(commonly called _Queen Zarah_) has the ascendant over the queen. . . .
When prince George (who is lookt upon as a man of little spirit and
understanding) sollicited the queen, his wife, for a place for some
friend of his, Zarah, who happened to be by at that time, cryed out,
_Christ_! _madam_! _I am promised it before_!"

30_th Jan._ 1705-6.--"Mr Thwaits tells me that the dean of Christ Church
(Mr Aldrich) formerly drew up an epitome of heraldry for the use of some
young gentlemen under his care. . . . He says 'twas done very well, and
the best in its nature ever made."

26_th April_ 1705-6.--"Mr Grabe created D.D.; Dr Smalrich presented him
with a cap, and after that with a ring, signifying that the universitys
of Oxford and Francfurt were now joyned together, and become two sisters;
and that they might be the more firmly united together, as well in
learning as religion, he kissed Mr Grabe."

This is of interest as showing that the custom of giving rings at the
conferring of honorary degrees existed in England, as it does to this day
at Upsala.

The following extract illustrates what we should now consider great
license in the matter of smoking:

"When the bill for security of the church of England was read . . . Dr
Bull sate in the lobby of the house of lords all the while, smoking his
pipe."

31_st March_ 1708-9.--"We hear from Yeovill in Somersetshire by very good
hands of a woman covered with snow for at least a week. When found she
told them that she had layn very warm, and had slept most part of the
time."

A well-known case of the same sort is described in Gunning's
_Reminiscences_ (1854).

22_nd April_ 1711.--"There is a daily paper comes out called _The
Spectator_, written, as is supposed, by the same hand that writ the
_Tatler_, viz. Captain Steel. In one of the last of these papers is a
letter written from Oxon, at four o'clock in the morning, and subscribed
_Abraham Froth_. It ridicules our hebdomadal meetings. The _Abraham
Froth_ is designed for _Dr Arthur Charlett_, an empty, frothy man, and
indeed the letter personates him incomparably well, being written, as he
uses to do, upon great variety of things, and yet about nothing of
moment. Que