" of Theodoric, King of France, who ascended
the throne A.D. 672--"in oratorio nostro super capella Domini Martini
... haec dibiret conjurare." In a second "Placitum," also quoted by
Ducange, of Childebert, King of France (_circa_ 695), the word _capella_
seems to mean a _sacred building_--"in oratorio suo seu capella Sancti
Marthini." And in a charter of Charles the Simple, _circ._ 900, the term
unquestionably occurs in this latter signification, disconnected from
St. Martin. Other illustrations may be seen in Ducange, who has bestowed
especial industry on the words _capa_ and _capella_.

With respect to the _legal_ definition of the modern _chapel_, I may
mention that, in stat. 7 & 8 Geo. IV. c. 29. s. 10., it signifies,
according to Mr. Stephens (_Eccl. Statutes_, p. 1357.), "a chapel where
the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England are performed, and
does not include the chapels of Dissenters." In stat. 7 & 8 Geo. IV. c.
30., we read, notwithstanding, of "any _chapel_ for the religious
worship of persons dissenting from the United Church of England and
Ireland."

C.H.
St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge.

_Chapels_ (No. 20. p. 333., and No. 23. p. 371.).--The opinion of the
"BARRISTER" that this term had come into use as a designation of
dissenting places of worship from no "idea of either assistance or
opposition to the Church of England," but only as a supposed means of
security to the property, is probably correct. Yet it is likely
different reasons may have had weight in different places.

However, he is mistaken in "believing that we must date the adoption of
that term from about" forty years ago. I am seventy-six years old, and I
can bear testimony, that from my infancy it was the term universally
employed in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and, I think
probable, in the more northern counties. In common speech, it was used
as the word of discrimination from the Methodist places of worship,
which bore the name of _Meeting-houses_, or, more generally, _Meetings_.
But within the period (forty years) assigned by your learned
correspondent, I think that I have observed the habit to have
extensively obtained of applying the term _Chapels_ to the latter class
of places.

I have abundant evidence of the general use of the term for dissenting
buildings, back to the seventeenth century. From my early life, I
remember the current opinion to have been that _Chapel_ was the word in
use north of the