MISCELLANIES.

Tale of a Tub.—It is generally supposed that the title of Swift's Tale of a Tub was a jest originally levelled at the Puritan pulpit. It probably had served a more ancient purpose. In Bale's Comedye concerning Three Laws, compiled in 1538, Infidelitas says:

J.O.W.H.

A GENIUS.

(From the German of Claudius.)

Dedications (No. 17. p. 259.).—In Villaneuva's Dedication to the Duke of Medinaceli of his Origen Epocas y Progressos del Teatro Español (Madrid, 1802, sm. 4to.), the enumeration of the names, titles, and offices of his patron occupies three entire pages, and five lines of a fourth.

F.C.B.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

The Percy Society have just issued a reprint of a black letter tract, entitled "A manifest Detection of the most Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play," which exhibits a curious picture of the tricks in vogue amongst the gamesters of the sixteenth century, and, as the Editor very justly observes, "comprises fuller explanations of terms used by Shakspeare and other old dramatists than are to be found in the notes of the commentators. The mysteries of gowrds and fullams, high men and low men, stumbling-blocks to many intelligent readers of the works of the Stratford Poet, are here satisfactorily revealed."

Whatever hope the projectors of the approaching Exhibition of Works of Ancient and Mediæval Art entertained of forming such a collection of objects as might deserve the attention of the public generally, and accomplish the great end in view, have been more than realised. Thanks to the liberality with which the possessors of works of early art of this description, from the most distinguished personages of the realm, have placed their stores at the disposal of the committee, the very novel exhibition which will open to the public on Thursday next, will be as remarkable for its intrinsic beauty, as for its instructive and suggestive character.

We need scarcely remind lovers of fine editions of first class books that Messrs. Sotheby commence the sale of the first portion of the extensive stock of Messrs. Payne and Foss, of Pall Mall, on Monday next.

We have received from Mr. Straker, of 3. Adelaide Street, his Catalogue of English and Foreign Theology, arranged according to subject, and with an Alphabetical Index of Authors: and also Parts I. and II. of his Monthly Catalogues of Ancient and modern Theological Literature. Mr. Lilly, who has removed to No. 7. Pall Mall, has also forwarded Nos. 1. and 2. of his Catalogues of Rare, Curious, and Useful Books. Mr. Miller, of 43. Chandos Street, has just issued No. 3. for 1850 of his Catalogue of Books, Old and New: and Mr. Quarritch (of 16. Castle Street, Leicester Square) No. 14. Catalogue of Oriental and Foreign Books: and, though not least deserving of mention (by us, at all events, as he has the good taste to announce on his Catalogue "Notes and Queries SOLD"), Mr. Nield, of 46. Burlington Arcade has just issued No. 2. for 1850, in which are some Marprelate and Magical Books worth looking after.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

E. VEE. "When Greeks join Greeks," &c. is a line by NAT. LEE. See No. 14. p. 211.

K.D.B. The following—"In Flesh-monger-street, Siward the moneyer (renders) to the King 15d. and to William de Chesney houseroom, salt and water"—is a literal translation. Correspondents must be careful not to omit letters or contractions in extracts from original records. It would in this case have been difficult correctly to render "monet" without a contraction; and "Flemangerstret," as our correspondent wrote it, might have been changed into "Fell-monger-," instead of "Flesh-monger-street." The service of "house-room, salt, and water," seems a singular one; it was, of course, a kind of entertainment, or a contribution to entertainment. If the Liber Winton contains no other notice of similar services, "H.D.K." will find the subject illustrated, though not the particular tenure, at pp. 260-267. of the first volume of Sir H. Ellis's Introduction to the Great Domesday.

Rue Strewed before Prisoners at the Bar of the Old Bailey. This custom originated in the fear of infection, at a period when Judges, &c. were liable to fall victims to gaol fever.

Erratum. No. 19. p. 307. col. 2., for "Plautorum Abbreviatis" read "Placitorum Abbreviatio."

Just published, price 5s.

AN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF CUMNOR PLACE, BERKS, with Biographical Notices of the LADY AMY DUDLEY and of ANTHONY FORSTER, Esq., sometime M.P. for Abingdon; followed by some Remarks on the Statements in Sir Walter Scott's Kenilworth; and a Brief History of the Parish of Cumnor and its Antiquities. By ALFRED DURLING BARTLETT, of Abingdon.

Oxford and London: JOHN HENRY PARKER.

Just published, a New Edition, revised and much enlarged, of the

HISTORY OF ENGLAND from the first Invasion of the Romans, to the Accession of William and Mary, in the Year 1688. By the Rev. Dr. LINGARD. Handsomely printed in Ten large octavo Volumes, price Six Pounds, cloth lettered, and enriched with a Likeness of the Author, engraved in the best style, from a Portrait taken last year by Mr. Skaile.

London: C. DOLMAN, 61. New Bond Street.

Now ready, 1 vol. 8vo, with etched Frontispiece, by Webnert, and Eight Engravings, price 15s.

SABRINAE COROLLA: a Volume of Classical Translations with original Compositions contributed by Gentlemen educated at Shrewsbury School.

Among the Contributors are the Head Masters of Shrewsbury, Stamford, Repton, Uppingham, and Birmingham Schools; Andrew Lawson, Esq. late M.P.; the Rev. R. Shilleto, Cambridge; the Rev. T.S. Evans, Rugby; J. Riddell, Esq., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford; the Rev. E.M. Cope, H.J. Hodgson, Esq., H.A.J. Munro, Esq., W.G. Clark, Esq., Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge, and many other distinguished Scholars from both Universities.

The Work is edited by three of the principal Contributors.

London: GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street.

In 8vo., 12s. 6d.; royal 8vo., 18s.

ORIGINES PATRICIÆ, or a Deduction of European Titles of Nobility and Dignified Offices, from their Primitive Sources. By R.T. HAMPSON.

In 2 vols. 8vo., with Illuminated Fac-simile Engravings of Anglo-Saxon Kalendars. Price 32s.

MEDII ÆVI KALENDARIUM; or Dates, Charters and Customs of the Middle Ages, with Kalendars from the Tenth to the Fifteenth Century; and an alphabetical Digest of Obsolete Names of Days, forming a Glossary of the Dates and Ecclesiastical Observances of the Middle Ages. By R.T. HAMPSON.

FAC-SIMILE UNDER SEAL.

On a Sheet, 22 Inches by 30. Price 7s. 6d.

MAGNA CHARTA SUB SIGILLO REGIS JOHANNIS, An. Dom. M.CC.XV.

London: Henry Kent CAUSTON, at the Printing Offices, Nag's Head Court, Gracechurch Street.

Twenty Day's Sale of the First Portion of the valuable and extensive Stock of Books of Messrs. Payne and Foss.

MESSRS. S. LEIGH SOTHEBY and Co., Auctioneers of Literary Property and Works illustrative of the Fine Arts, will sell at their House, 3. Wellington Street, Strand, on Monday, March 18th, 1850, and Nine following Days, and on Monday, April 8th, and Nine following days, at One o'Clock precisely, the First Portion of the extensive and valuable STOCK of BOOKS of Messrs. Payne and Foss, retiring from Business: comprising interesting Publications in the Infancy of Printing, first and best Editions of the Classics, Productions of the Aldine Press, Theology and best Editions of the Fathers, French and Italian Books, Voyages and Travels, fine Books of Prints, English History and Miscellaneous Literature. Many of the Books are on Large Paper, and in Morocco and Russia bindings. To be viewed Two Days prior, and Catalogues had.

In 1 vol. royal 4to., with 18 Plates. Price 1l. 1s.

THE DODO AND ITS KINDRED, or the History of the Dodo, the SOLITAIRE, and other extinct Birds of the Mascarene Islands. By H.E. STRICKLAND, M.A., and A.G. MELVILLE, M.D. For reviews of this work see Blackwood's Magazine, Jan., 1849; Athenæum, Feb. 10., 1849; Westminster Review, April, 1849; Silliman's American Journal, Jan., 1849; Revue Zoologique, Oct., 1848; Zeitung für Zoologie, May 20, 1849, &c.

London: REEVE, BENHAM, and REEVE, King William Street, Strand.

VALUABLE QUARTO CLASSICS, in good condition and at reduced prices—Æliani Varia Historia, Gr. et Lat., Gronovil, vellum, 10s.; Æschylus, Gr. et Lat. Butleri, 4 vols., new, cloth, 2l. 2s.; Aurelius Victor, Aratzenii, calf, gilt, 8s. 6d.; Ausonius, Delphini, calf, gilt, 10s. 6d.; large paper, rare, 15s.; Demosthenes et Æschines, Gr. et Lat., Taylori, 2 vols., calf, neat, 10s.; Euripides, Gr. et Lat., Beckii, 3 vols., russia, extra, 1l. 15s.; Homerus, Gr. et Lat., Barnnessil, 2 vols., calf, neat, 15s.; Horatius, edidit Combe, 2 vols., calf, gilt, 1l. 5s. russia, extra, 1l. 15s.; Lucanus, Oudenorpil, 2 vols., calf, neat, 12s. 6d.; Lucanus, Burmanni, calf, neat, 10s. 6d.; Lucretius, edidit Keats, calf, extra, 6s., russia, extra, large paper, 10s.; Maximum Tyrius, Gr. et Lat., Marklandi et Davisit, calf, gilt, 10s.; Minuciux Felix, Ouzelii, vellum, 5s.; Phædrus Hoogstratani, calf, gilt, plates, scarce, 12s.; Plautus, Delphini, 2 vols., calf, neat, 18s., vellum, fine copy, 1l. 5s.; Plinii Historia Naturalis, Delphini, 6 vols., calf, neat, 1l. 5s.; Plinii Epistolæ, Cortii et Longolii, vellum, 12s.; Plinii Panegyricus, Schwarzli, sewed, 6s., russia, 12s.; Propertius, Brouckhusii, 1727, calf, gilt, or vellum, 6s.; Quintillanus, Burmanoi, 4 vols., calf, neat, 1l. 1s.; Quintus Curtius, Snakenburgii, 2 vols., calf, neat, 12s., calf, gilt, 15s.; Sallustius, Havercampi, 2 vols., calf, gilt, 1l. 4s.; Suetonius, Pitisci, 2 vols., calf, gilt, 15s.; Terentius, Delphini, calf, neat, 7s.; Thucydides, Gr. et Lat., Gottleberi et Dukeri, 2 vols., russia, 14s.; Tibullus, Brouckhusii, calf, gilt, or vellum, 5s.; Vilgilius, Masavicii, 2 vols., calf, neat, 10s. 6d.—A Catalogue, containing upwards of 2000 Articles, including Translations, Commentaries, Lexicons, &c., will be sent on receipt of two postage stamps.

R. SAYWELL, 193. High Holborn, opposite New Oxford Street.

The highly-interesting Collection of Autograph Letters of George Linnecar, Esq., of Liverpool; a Picture by Hogarth; various articles formerly in the possession of John Evelyn, &c.

PUTTICK AND SIMPSON, Auctioneers of Literary Property, will SELL by AUCTION, at their Great Room, 191. Piccadilly, on TUESDAY, March 19, and following day, the very select and interesting collection of AUTOGRAPH LETTERS of GEORGE LINNECAR, Esq., of Liverpool. The greater part of this collection has been selected from the extraordinary assemblage of letters formed by the late William Upcott, Esq., and consists mainly of interesting letters of English literary characters from the time of Alexander Pope to the present period. A volume of unpublished poems in the autograph of James Thompson, some miscellanies from the collection of John Evelyn, including his well-known drinking cup; a plaster cast from Thorwaldsen's bust of Byron (only two taken), a picture by Hogarth, miniature of Voltaire by Sir J. Reynolds, &c.

May be viewed the day before the sale. Catalogues will be sent on application.