without supposing
that they were mere vehicles of knowledge, not intended to meet the eye or
the understanding on the first inspection or perusal;" in short, that all
the phrases, characters, and incidents are merely allusions to the
appearances of the moon! a representation of which, and of Shakspearian
characters, &c., bearing supposed resemblance to its lights and shadows,
form the staple of the illustrations. I collect from passages in these
volumes, that the first was devoted to a similar illustration of Hudibras.
The whole affair seems to afford indications of insanity. In the
_Biographical Dictionary of Living Authors_, 8vo., Lond. 1816, I find that
in 1802 he was returned to Parliament by the borough of Saltash, in
Cornwall: and from the same authority it also appears that, in addition to
the works above noticed, he was the author of _A Guide to the Knowledge of
the Ancients_, 1803, and _A letter to Mr. Whitbread on two Bills pending in
Parliament_, 8vo. 1807.

J. F. M.

{62} _The Hippopotamus._--_The Scotch Kilt._--I was on the point of
addressing a Minor Query to you, when No. 33. arrived, and therein I saw a
Major Query from L. (p.36.), which prompts an immediate answer. He asks,
"Has there been a live hippopotamus in Europe since the reign of Commodus?"
To be sure there has, and Capitolinus would have set him right. A goodly
assemblage of animals of all sorts was collected by Gordianus Pius, but
used by the elder Philip, for the celebration of the secular games on the
1000th anniversary of the building of Rome, or A.D. 248. Among them were 32
elephants, 10 tigers, 10 elks, 60 lions, 30 leopards, 10 hyaenas, 1
hippopotamus, 1 rhinoceros, 40 wild horses, 20 wild asses, and 10 giraffes,
with a vast quantity of deer, goats, antelopes, and other beasts. "And," it
is added in Captain Smyth's Roman Catalogue, "still further to increase the
public _hilarity_, 2000 gladiators were matched in mortal affray."

The portrait of the hippopotamus exhibited on that splendid occasion is
well represented upon the large brass medals of Otacilia Severa, Philip's
wife, and on those of their son, Philip Junior. That of Otacilia is
described at length in Captain Smyth's work.

Now for my Minor Query. Can you, Sir, or any of your intelligent
correspondents, oblige me by saying who introduced the kilt into Scotland
and when? However it may wound local prejudice, I fear our northern
brethren will find its use to be much more rece