12 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[20¢-S, No 1, Jan. 5. 756. 
we have a clue to that of the other; and I am not | 
without hope that we may, by this means, recover 
some knowledge, however small, of the lost lan- | 
guages of ancient Italy. ANoN. 
Maidment. —Can any light be thrown on the 
history of the unfortunate Mr. Maidment, the 
missionary, whose melancholy fate excited so much 
interest some time since. What was his Christian, 
name? Any information relative to him would 
be most acceptable. J. M. (2.) 
Lea's “ Eeclesiastical Registry of Treland.” —1 
have a copy of a 12mo. publication of 264 pages, 
entitled Zhe Present State of the Established 
Church, or Ecclesiastical Registry of Ireland, for 
the Year 1814. It purports to have been “ com- 
piled and arranged by Samuel Perey Lea, Gent.,” 
but on the title-page of my copy there is the fol- 
lowing statement in writing : 
“The whole of this little work was drawn up and com- 
posed by me, Patrick Lynch, for My. Lea, whose pro- 
perty it is.” 
How was this? and who was Patrick Lynch? 
The book has been long since superseded by Dr. 
Erek’s Ecclesiastical Register. ABHBA. 
Naphthaline. —I do not consume “midnight 
oil,” but [ write a great deal by gas-light, having 
gas in my study, and all over my house. It hap- 
pens several times in every year that my lights 
begin to diminish ‘in brillianey, the fish- tails col- 
lapse, it gets worse and worse every night, till at 
last, tired of these “‘ ineffectual fires,” I call for can- 
dles, and send for a gasfitter. He comes with many 
tools, and after putting out all my lights, and. per- 
fuming the house with carburetted hydrogen, sets 
all to rights again. My burners hiss -and war.as 
they were wont, and my friend tells me that the 
supply-pipe is choked with naphthaline. I gene- 
rally observe that this pleasant interruption of 
work and study occurs after a sharp frost. Can 
any of your scientific readers suggest a remedy? 
I do not doubt that it will be very acceptable to 
many others besides your constant reader, —when 
his gas will allow him to read. PuosPuinos. 
Custumary of the Abbey of Milton. —Hutchins, 
in his History of Dorset (vol. ii. p. 436., edition 
1774), mentions a certain Custumary of the Abbey 
of Milton, “ which was in the hands of the late 
Mr. John Bailey, rector of South Cadbury in 
Somersetshire.” Can any of your readers tell me 
what has become of it ? C. W. Bineuam. 
Steel Bells.— About six or eight years ago, some 
experiments were made on these bells for churches. 
Can any of your readers tell me how they suc- 
ceeded? and whether there is any manufactory of 
them at present in England‘? A.A. 
Poets’ Corner. 
Albert Durer’s Picture of “Melancholy.” — Can 
any one offer an explanation of the different em- 
blems in Albert Durer's celebrated picture “of 
“ Melancholy ”’? G.#. 
Clifford's Inn Dinner Custom. — At Clifford's 
Inn, there being no chaplain, the president «says, 
“Gentlemen, the usual grace, you know ;” and 
when dinner is over he takes three loaves, or rolls 
of bread,,and dashes them on the floor. They are 
twice returned to his hands, and as often thrown 
down again. Thus three times are they sent to 
the floor, silently, and with uniform vehemence. 
How has this custom originated, and what is its 
signification ? i. 
Portrait of Franklin. —In the European Maga- 
zine for April, 1783, may be found an engraved 
portrait of Franklin, “ from a painting in the pos- 
session of F. Schwediauer, M.D., in Newman 
Street.” Can any one tell me what has become 
of that painting ? Tia B. 
Philadelphia. 
Johnston, the Author of “ Chrysal.’—Sir Walter 
Scott, in his Life of Johnston, the author of Chrysal, 
says that, “although by birth an Irishman, John- 
ston was of the Annandale family.” What authority 
is there for this ? J. M. (2’) 
The Eucharist commonly called the Mass.— Has 
this title of the Mass been applied to the holy 
Eucharist in any document authoritatively issued 
since the first prayer-book of King Edward, and 
the first act of Uniformity ? H. 
Queen Elizabeth's Letter to Edmund Plowden.— 
Queen Elizabeth wrote a letter to Edmund Plow- 
den, the great lawyer of her reign, and who was 
called the oracle of the law, offering him the Lord 
High Chancellorship anda peerage, if he would 
conform to the established religion: valuing his 
faith more than honours and worldly advantages, 
the offer was respectfully declined. This letter 
was known to be in existence till a recent period 
(say seventy years at the utmost). All trace of 
the document is now lost. 1st. Could any of your 
readers give any information respecting this letter, 
as to its being in existence, or its whereabouts ; 
or where there would be a chance of finding it ?* 
2ndly. Is a transcript of the letter to be found, or 
known to be in existence, or any information to 
be gathered respecting its contents, beyond the 
simple facts mentioned ? Information respecting 
this letter of Queen Elizabeth is earnestly re- 
quested. FP. J.B. 
[* In 185], a correspondent in “N. & Q.” (iv. 319.) 
states, that “ Elizabeth’s autograph letter was until re- 
cently in the possession of 'the family.” An extract of 
Sir Edmund Plowden’s letter, in answer to that of the 
queen’s, is given in Sir Francis Plowden’s Reply to Sir 
Philip Musgrave, 8vo., 1806. — Ep.] 
