Sternberg.

Jewish Custom.—In a recently published music-novel of some merit, called Charles Auchester, occurs the following:

"'I shall treat him as my son, because he will indeed be my music-child, and no more indebted to me than I am to music, or than we all are to Jehovah.' 'Sir, you are certainly a Jew, if you say Jehovah; I was quite sure of it before, and I am so pleased.'"

There is a great error as to custom here, for the Jews never attempt to pronounce the "four-lettered" Name, and in reading and speaking always use instead Adonai or Elohim. And even converted Jews retain for the most part the same habit. The writer of Charles Auchester can only defend himself by the example of the writer of

Ivanhoe, who has made the same oversight; and a still more glaring one besides in making Isaac the Jew wish his daughter had been called Benoni, i.e. the son of sorrow. The vowel letters of Jehovah are merely those of Adonai, inserted by the Massorites; but this is another subject.

W. Fraser.

Tor-Mohun.

Lachlan Macleane.—This individual, whose claim to the authorship of Junius has been lately revived, was in Philadelphia ninety-five years ago, and his name figures there in the accounts of the overseers of the poor, under date of November 9, 1758:

"By cash received of James Coultass, late sheriff, being a fine paid by Laughlane M‘Clain for kissing of Osborn's wife (after his commissions and writing bond were deducted)

£24 : 5 : 0"

This was in Pennsylvania currency; but it was an expensive kiss even in that, being (besides the commissions and sheriff's charge for writing the bond) equivalent to sixty-four dollars and fifty cents of our present currency.

M. E.

Philadelphia.

German Tree.—The following extract concerning this accessory to Christmas, which is now so popular, may perhaps be interesting at the present season. It is taken from the Loseley Manuscripts, edited by A. J. Kempe, F.S.A., 1836, p. 75. note.

"We remember a German of the household of the late Queen Caroline, making what he termed a Christmas tree for a juvenile party at that festive season. The tree was a branch of some evergreen fastened on a board. Its boughs bent under the weight of gilt oranges, almonds, &c.; and under it was a neat model of a farm-house, surrounded by figures of animals, &c., and all due accompaniments. The forming Christmas trees is, we believe, a common custom in Germany: evidently a remain of the pageants constructed at that season in ancient days."

Is this the first notice of a German tree in England? The adjunct of the farm-house seems now to be dispensed with in this country.

Zeus.

The late Duke.—The following curious coincidence, which lately appeared in the Meath Herald, deserves transplanting to the literary museum of "N. & Q.":

"From the fact of the Mornington family having been so connected by property, &c. with the parish of Trim, in which town the late Duke spent so many of his early days, and commenced his career in life by being elected, when scarcely twenty-one years of age, to represent the old borough of Trim, the following coincidence is worth relating. On the news of the death of the Duke reaching Trim, the Very Rev. Dean Butler caused the chime of bells to be rung in respect to his memory; and the large bell, which was considered one of the finest and sweetest in Ireland, hardly had tolled a second time for the occasion when it suddenly broke, became mute, and ceased to send forth its notes. Whether this was to be attributed to neglect of the ringer, or regret for the great man of the age, it is hard to say; but, very odd as it may appear to be, on examining the bell, it was found to be cast by Edmund Blood, 1769, the very year the Duke was born. Thus this fine bell commenced its career with the birth of the Duke, and ceased to sound at his death. The parish of Trim is now getting the bell recast, and the old metal is to be seen at Mr. Hodges, Abbey Street, Dublin."

J. Yeowell.

Queries.

THE STORY OF CRISPIN AND CRISPIANUS.

A Recitation for the 25th of October, and other Convivial Meetings of Shoemakers.