essed by the statute made by
the Queen's most noble father.... [Excepting however] noblemen and such
known gentlemen, which were without spot or doubt of evil behaviour, if
they carried dags or pistolets about them in their journeys, openly, at
their saddle bows," &c.

Here the _dag_ or _pistolet_ seems to answer to our "revolvers," and the
_pistol_ to our larger horse-pistol.

H. C. K.

---- Rectory, Hereford.

_Passage of Thucydides on the Greek Factions_ (Vol. viii., p. 44.).--If L.,
or any of your readers, will take the trouble to compare the passage
quoted, and the one referred to by him, in the following translation of
Smith, with Sir A. Alison's supposititious quotation[7] (Vol. vii., p.
594.), they will find that my inquiry is still unanswered. The passage
quoted by L. in Greek is, according to Smith:

"Prudent consideration, to be specious cowardice; modesty, the disguise
of effeminacy; and being wise in everything, to be good for nothing."

The passage not quoted, but referred to by L., is:

"He who succeeded in a roguish scheme was wise; and he who suspected
such practices in others was still a more able genius."--Vol. i. book
iii. p. 281. 4to.: London, 1753.

In this "counterfeit presentment of two brothers," L. may discern a family
likeness; but my inquiry was for the identical passage, "sword and poniard"
included.

If L. desires to find Greek authority for the general sentiment only, I
would refer him to passages, equally to Sir A. Alison's purpose, in
_Thucydides_, iii. 83., viii. 89.; _Herodotus_, iii. 81.; Plato's
_Republic_, viii. 11., and Aristotle's _Politics_, v. 6. 9. I beg to thank
L. for his attempt, although unsuccessful.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Birmingham.

[Footnote 7: _Europe_, vol. ix. p. 397., 12mo.]

_The earliest Mention of the Word "Party"_ (Vol. vii., p. 247.).--In a
choice volume, printed by "Ihon Day, dwelling over Aldersgate, beneath St.
Martines," 1568, I find the word occurring thus:

"The _party_ must in any place see to himselfe, and seeke to wipe theyr
noses by a shorte aunswere."--_A Discovery and playne Declaration of
the Holy Inquisition of Spayne_, fol. 10.

Permit me to attach a Query to this. Am I right in considering the
above-mentioned book as rare? I do so on the assumption that "Ihon Day" is
_the_ Day of black-letter rarity.

R. C. WARDE.

Kidderminster.

{138}

_Creole_ (Vol. vii., p. 381.).--It is cu