Notes, ArchdRological and RisioricaL 811 



London, The standard has been very carefully compared with the standard 

 yard No. 2174, verified by the Board of Trade Standards Department, 

 February 11th, 1891, for the use of the County of Wilts, and the length 

 of the Malmesbury yard, which is between the two shorter pillars, is, not- 

 withstanding its extreme antiquity and the amount of usage it has under- 

 gone, now at the present day within "OOSin., or one two-hundredth part of 

 an inch of the said standard 2174. By order in Council made the 4th day 

 of February, 1879, the amount of error allowed on a standard yard was one 

 hundredth part of an inch. The Malmesbury standard, with its two 

 Hundred and thirty-nine years' service, shows now only half the amount of 

 error in excess which is allowed. The subdivisions of the standard are not 

 authentic, but have been marked on roughly with a coarse file by some too 

 enterprising custodian, and must not be taken as in any way representing 

 measure of length. The round brass rod yard in the lid of the case is an 

 esa«t yard, and by placing it between the pillars on the Malmesbury 

 standard no appreciable difference can be observed between the length of the 

 two. The length between the two end pillars of the Malmesbury standard 

 is forty-five inches or five-quarters of a yard, being the old English or cloth 

 ell of the period, a measure which is now obsolete, and of which there is 

 now no legal standard measure of length. As a curiosity, and as a means 

 of showing how inappreciable is the difference of length in the standard 

 yards of 1654 and 1893 the standard of the Borough of Malmesbury is un- 

 doubtedly an instrument of value, and too much care cannot be taken in 

 preserving it. 



"1 am, Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, yours respectfully, 

 "James Wabd, 

 "County Inspector of Weights and Measures." 



(Re-printed from local paper.) 



" The Christmas Boys/' or " Mummers/' 



As used and spoken at Potterne between the years 1875 and 1890. 



(Enter Fathes Cheistmas.) 



"Here comes I, old Father Christmas, 

 Christmas or Christmas not 



I hope old Father Christmas will never be forgot. 

 Roast beef, plum pudding, and minced pies, 



Who do like that better'n thee and IP [sing; 



A jug of your Christmas ale will make us merry, whistle, dance and 

 Money in our pockets is a very fine thing. 

 Room ! Room ! ladies and gentlemen, let Ring George come in ! 



{Enter Kino Geoege.) 



Here comes I, King George, 



King George, the man of courage bold. 



With my sword and spear in my hand I won three crowns of gold. 



