quis, but the family with which our correspondent "J. BS."
states himself to be "connected;" and we hope J. BS. will, in justice
both to himself and to Queen Elizabeth, adopt the course suggested in
the following communication. We believe the warmest admirers of that
great Queen cannot better vindicate her character than by making a
strict inquiry into the grounds for the scandals, which, as has been
already shown (_ante_, No. 62. p. 11.), were so industriously
circulated against her.]

{226}

J. BS. says papers are "said to exist in the family which prove the
statement." As it is one of _scandal_ against a female, and that female a
great sovereign, should he not ascertain the fact of the existence of any
such paper, before supporting the scandal, and not leave a _tradition_ to
be supported by another tradition, when a little trouble might show whether
any papers exist, and when found what their value may be.

Q. G.

* * * * *

THE MISTLETOE ON THE OAK.

(Vol. ii., pp. 163. 214.; Vol. iii., p. 192.)

From having been a diligent searcher for the mistletoe on the oak, I may be
allowed to make a few remarks upon the question. Is it ever found now on
other trees? Now, it not only occurs abundantly on other trees, but it is
exceedingly rare on the oak. This may be gathered from the following list,
in which numbers have been used to express comparative frequency, as near
as my observations enable me to form a judgment:--

_On Native Trees._

Apple (various sorts) 25
Poplar (mostly the black) 20
Whitethorn 10
Lime 4
Maple 3
Willow 2
OAK 1

_On Foreign Trees._

Sycamore 1
Robinia 1

From this it would appear that notwithstanding the BRITISH OAK grows
everywhere, it is at present only favoured by the companionship of the
mistletoe in equal ratio with two comparatively recently introduced trees.
Indeed such objection does this parasite manifest to the brave old tree,
even in his