ertainly make it felony without benefit of clergy to quote a
passage without giving a plain reference.

L.S.

* * * * *

MINOR QUERIES

_Pope's Translations of Horace._--In a pamphlet against Pope,
entitled, _A True Character of Mr. Pope and his Writings_, by
the author of _The Critical History of England_, written in
May, 1716, and printed in that year, Pope is reproached with having
just published a "libellous," "impudent," and "execrable"
_Imitation of Horace_. Twenty years later such a reproach would
be very intelligible; but can any one favour me with a reference to
any _Imitation of Horace_, published by Pope prior to 1716, of
which any such complaint could be made?

C.

_Etymology of "Havior."_--Can any of your readers inform me
what is the etymology of the word _Havior_, by which all
park-keepers denote an emasculated male deer, affording good venison
between the buck and doe season?

Never having seen the word written or printed, I am guided, in
attempting to spell it, by the usual pronunciation.

BRAYBROOKE

Audley End, Feb. 2.

_Arabic Numerals_.--In the _Archaeological Journal_ (vol.
vi. p. 291.), it is stated that the earliest "example of the use of
Arabic numerals in any work connected with building" is the date
1445, on the tower of Heathfield Church, Sussex, though "they were
common in MSS. after 1320, and in astronomical Tracts as early as
1290." As it is probable that not a few instances of the employment
of the Arabic numeral characters of an earlier date than that at
Heathfield are to be met with in different parts of the country,
will you permit me to make use of your paper to inquire whether any
such are known to any of your readers, and if they will be so
obliging as to communicate their knowledge through the medium of
your columns? As the subject is one of considerable interest, it
would be desirable that _any_ date belonging to the fifteenth
or the early part of the sixteenth century should be made known, and
registered in your valuable publication.

Permit me also to ask, in connection with this subject, for
references to any works or treatises supplying information on the
history of the Arabic numerals, their origin, and their introduction
into Europe. I am already acquainted with Astle, _On Writing_,
Wallis's _Algebra, Nouveau Traite de Diplomatique_, the
_Huctiana_, Pegge's _Life of Grostete_, and the
_Philosophical Transactions_; but