imaun, of Muscat; one ameer, of Cabul; one bey, of Tunis; and lastly; one director, of Nicaragua.

W. W.

Malta.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.—The immense loss sustained by France in all her great interests, as affecting her civil and religious liberties, her commerce, trade, arts, sciences, not to speak of the unutterable anguish inflicted upon hundred of thousands of individuals (among whom were the writer's maternal ancestors,—their name, Courage), by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, has lately called into action the pens of some industrious and talented men of letters, among whom M. Weiss is one of the most meritorious. His interesting work, I observe, is about to receive an English dress. In the shape of a Note through your medium, in order that the translator may avail himself of information which, possibly, may not have reached him, it should be known that Mr. William Jones, one of the highly respected and accomplished employés of the British Museum, has written a letter to the Journal des Débats (inserted in its number of Nov. 30, and signed with his name), containing farther information of a painfully-absorbing nature, from documents in the Museum, respecting the dragonnades, and the sufferings and persecutions of a French pastor.

John Macray.

Oxford.

Queries.

DERIVATION OF SILO.

Can you or any of your correspondents inform me what is the derivation of the word silo?

For many years after the colony of New South Wales was founded, it was almost wholly dependent upon the mother country for such supplies of grain, &c. as were necessary for the life and health of its inhabitants; and, consequently, store ships were regularly despatched from our shores to Sydney.

It happened however that, in consequence of wrecks and other disasters, the colonists were, on more than one occasion, reduced to the greatest distress, and starvation almost began to stare them in the face. Under these circumstances, one of the early governors of Sydney, to prevent the recurrence of famine, gathered a large supply of corn and deposited it in granaries which he had excavated out of the solid rock at the head of the bay, near the mouth of the Paramatta River. These were termed silos or siloes: they were hermetically sealed up, and from time to time the old corn was exchanged for new.

The supply of corn in these remarkable storehouses is still kept up; nor as late as the time of my departure from those colonies last year, did I hear of any intention of discontinuing this old custom.

Now the termination of this word in o marks it as Spanish; and accordingly, on reference to Baretti's dictionary of that language, I find the word "Silo, a subterraneous granary." But, Sir, this discovery only raises another question, and one which I wish much to see solved. A Spanish substantive must be for the most part the name of something existing at some time or other in Spain.

When, therefore, did such granaries exist in Spain, in what part of the country, and under what circumstances?

Augustus Strong.

Walcot Rectory, Bath.

Minor Queries.

Handwriting.—I should be much obliged if any of your correspondents could inform me (and that soon) whether there be published, in English, French, German, or Spanish (though it is most desired in English), a manual giving a standard alphabet for the various kinds of writing now in use, viz. English hand, engrossing, Italian, German text, &c., with directions for teaching the same; in fact, a sort of writing-master's key: and if so, what is its title, and where it can be procured.

A friend believes to have seen such a work advertised in The Athenæum (probably three or four years ago), but has no recollection of the name.

E. B.

Rev. Joshua Brooks.—Can any of your numerous readers inform me as to the early history of the late Rev. Joshua Brooks, who was for many years chaplain of the Collegiate Church, Manchester, and who died in 1821?

C. (1.)

"New Universal Magazine."—I wish to know the time of the commencement and termination of the The New Universal Magazine, or Lady's Polite Instructor.

A few volumes are in the British Museum. Vol. vi. is for July 1754 to January 1755.

D.

Francis Browne.—Anthony Browne, first Viscount Montague, married, secondly, Magdalen, daughter of Lord Dacre of Gillesland, from whom descended (amongst others) Sir Henry Browne of Kiddington. This Sir Henry married twice: his second wife was Mary Anne, daughter of Sir P. Hungate; by her he had issue Sir Peter Browne, who died of wounds at Naseby. Sir Peter married Margaret, daughter of Sir Henry Knollys, and had two sons, Henry and Francis. Did this Francis Browne ever marry? and if so, whom, and when, and where?

Newburiensis.

Advent Hymn.—Why is this hymn not included amongst those at the end of the Book of Common Prayer?

Might it not be added to those already given for the other festivals of the Church, &c.? It

would be an advantage in those churches where the Prayer Book Psalms are used, and might avoid the necessity of having separate Psalm and Hymn Books; a custom much to be objected to, differing as they do in different churches, as well as preventing strangers from taking part in them.

Willo.

Milton's Correspondence.—Has any English translation of Milton's Latin familiar Correspondence been published; and if so, when and by whom?

Cranston.

"Begging the Question."—Will any correspondent explain this phrase, and give its origin?

Carnatic.

Passage of Cicero.—I lately met with a writer of some deep learning and research, who, amongst other topics, entered into the subject of musical inflection by orators, &c. Now, unfortunately, the title and preface of the book is absent without leave, nor is there any heading to it, so I can do no more than say, the author refers to a passage in these words:

"Cicero declares that only three tones or variations of sound, or interval, were used in speaking in his time; whereas now our preachers, orators, and elocutionists take in a range of eight at least."

Will some indulgent reader of "N. & Q." tell me where such a passage occurs?

Semi-Tone.

Minor Queries with Answers.

Goldsmith's "Haunch of Venison."—What is the name in this poem beginning with H, which Goldsmith makes to rhyme with "beef?" The metre requires it to be a monosyllable, but there is no name that I have ever heard of that would answer in this place. Is the H a mistake for K, which would give a well-known Irish name?

J. S. Warden.