11-The Annual British Loss at Sea. J. B.It is estimated that the average annual loss of vessels is 600, the number of lives, 1560, and the average value two millions and a half of pounds sterling.

12-Why Icebergs are generally Circular. W.There are two reasons why these masses of ice are generally circular. 1. They increase in bulk circularly; and 2. The projecting parts are broken off by concussion.

13-Pauper Lunatics. C. B.-The number of lunatics and idiots chargeable in England is about 16,000, and in Wales about 1200. It is estimated that there are about 18,000 lunatics and idiots, in addition to the number given before, belonging to 372 places not in union with parishes, and of this number the lunatics and idiots are in nearly equal proportion.

14-Wall Fruit. H. T.-It is highly necessary that the buds on the wall fruit trees, which were expanding before the late frost, should be carefully picked, else the year's crop will be totally lost, as it is only those which were late in appearing that have escaped, and these, when left in contact with those that were injured, are speedily contaminated.

15-Marriage trees. F. W.-The custom of planting a tree by every new married couple in the churchyard of the parish, is not an English custom. It was formerly kept up in the parish of Varallo Pombio, in the Tyrol, and as the trees used were generally of the pine kind, a beautiful grove of pines shades the churchyard. We cannot say whether the custom is still kept up; but believe that it has fallen into disuse.

16-Mezzotint. D. W.-The inventor of this art was Louis Von Siegen, a lieutenant-colonel in the service of the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel. Prince Rupert learned the art from Siegen, and brought it to England when he came over a second time in the suite of Charles II. Sir Christopher Wren exhibited some prints, executed by himself, before Royal Society in 1662, but he cannot be consa ed as the inventor of the art.

17-Hair Powder. H. W. T.-Hair powder was used by the Greeks (see p. 230 § 70); but it is supposed to have been introduced into Europe in 1614, by some ballad-singers whitening their heads at the fair of St. Germains, to cause mirth. We find Taylor mentioning the practice, which appeared to have been common with our ancestors, for he says,

"Some every day do powder so their hair, That they like ghosts or millers do appear."

In 1655, it became a military fashion.

18-Flax. B.-The flax (linum perenne), is an annual plant. The best seed comes from Riga and Holland. Its uses are various; it is employed in the manufacture of the most delicate French and Irish cambrics, and of the coarsest sail-cloth and tarpaulin; of the most beautiful laces from Lisle and Valenciennes, and of the heavier sacking and towelling. The folds of snowy lawn that deck a bishop's arms, and the stout storm-sail, that rides out the fiercest gale, are both the produce of the same plant.

19-Getting out of Debt. I. T.-It is very easy for you to get into debt, but not so easy to get out of it. No man can borrow himself out of debt; he must economise, and work to do so, -not borrow money to repay with interest. He must make more money, spend less than he did before,-rising early, and working late, so as to economise time as well as money. Do this, avoid money-lenders, and drink water, and you will have the satisfaction of soon freeing yourself from the millstone of debt that hangs about your neck.

20-Services well Paid. L. T.-It does not always happen that those who do much work get well paid; on the contrary, we frequently find that those who do the least are generally well remunerated. It is said that Henry VIII. gave the revenues of a monastery to a gentleman for having moved his chair from before a fire which was too warm for him, and from which he was too lazy to move himself. To a lady who had made a particular pudding for him he gave a large tract of very valuable abbey lands.

21-The Value of Labour. H.-The iron of which the balance wheel of a watch is formed is valued at something less than a farthing; this produces an ounce of steel, worth 41-2 pence, which is drawn into 3,250 yards of steel wire, and represents in the market £13. 3s. ; but still another process of hardening this originally a farthing's worth of iron, renders it workable into 7,650 balance springs, which will realize, at the common price of 2s. 6d. each, £746 5s., the effect of labour alone. Thus the mere labour bestowed upon one farthing's worth of iron, gives it the value of £950 5s., which is 75,680 times its original value.

22-Registry of Deaths. J. T.-Information of the death, must be given by some person present at the death, or in attendance during the last illness, or (in case such persons cannot attend), the occupier of the house in which it occurred, to the registrar of the district within five days after the death; and the following particulars within eight days after the date of the death-The Christian and surname of the

party deceased; age, day of death, residence, rank, profession, trade or calling, and the cause of death, or a medical certificate, when it can be procured. No fee is required for making such entries in the registry book.

23-Management of Carpets. H. P.-Previous to laying down a carpet, cover the joints of the floor with stripes of brown paper; this will prevent the dust from rising between the boards. Take up your carpets frequently, and have them shaken and afterwards drawn along the surface of a lawn or meadow, to remove the dust. If a carpet is kept down too long the dust passes through it, and assists to wear it out by grinding the under surface. If you want to clean a carpet well, put one-third of a bullock's gall into a pint of water, and scrub the carpet with it, after it is nailed down; if the carpet is not nailed down it will shrink. If you are not particular about the pattern of your carpet, or, in fact, more disposed to study its durability than ornamentation, choose one with small figures in it, because the two webs are closer interwoven than in the large patterned carpets.

24-Toasts after Dinner. J. B.-(East Cowes). The fashion of giving toasts after dinner has, we are happy to say, been discontinued by all well bred persons. At public dinners it is still continued, but then the toasts usually consist of "The Army and Navy," "The Mayor and Town Council," &c., and the healths of illustrious visitors or statesmen. We never hear a person called upon to give a toast or sentiment; and it is fortunate that the custom has fallen into disuse, otherwise we might hear some such toast as that of the poor pedlar, who, being pressed for one, gave the following, "Here is a health to poverty; it sticks to a man when all his friends desert him." One of the best we remember to have heard given, was the following: "The fair sex: there's a ruddy half to the peach, a mellow half to the pear, a sunny half to the globe, but a better half to man."

25-Sugar from Indian Corn. W. P.-It is true that sugar has been made from Indian corn, and it is one of the wonders of chemistry, that are daily brougth before our notice. By boiling the corn with a powerful acid, we obtain a sweet substance. The patent for its manufacture was granted in 1850. The process consists in mixing 25 bushels of cornmeal with 150 gallons of water, at a temperature of 175 degrees, and to this is added 25 pounds of vitriol, to which, after stirring well, 50 more gallons of water are added, and the whole run into a boiler, when the contents are boiled by high pressure steam. The boiling is continued until, by the trial of a little iodine with a portion of

the mixture in a saucer, it does not turn blue which shows the operation to be complete. Chalk is then added to neutralize any of the free sulphuric acid, when the whole liquor above the sediment at the bottom is run off and concentrated to crystallise.

26- The First Striking Clock. R. H.-In "Warton's Dissertation on the Introduction of Learning into England" is the following description of the first striking clock. "In the time of Alfred the Great, the Persians imported into Europe a machine which presented the first rudiments of a striking clock. It was brought as a present to Charlemagne, from Abdallah, king of Persia, by two monks of Jerusalem, in the year 800. Among other presents, says Eginhart, was a horologe of brass, wonderfully constructed by some mechanical artifice, in which the course of the twelve hours, ad clepsydram vertebatur, with as many little brazen balls, which, at the close of each hour, dropped down on a sort of bells underneath, and sounded the end of the hour. There were also twelve figures of horsemen, who, when the twelve hours were completed, issued out at twelve windows, which till then stood open, and returning again, shut the windows after them. It is to be remembered that Eginhart was an eyewitness of what is here described; and that he was an abbot, a skilful architect, and very learned in the sciences."

27-Hidage. J. A.-Hidage was a royal aid or tribute, raised in such a proportion on every bide of land. William the Conqueror imposed a hidage of six shillings upon every hide; William Rufus, four shillings; and King Henry 1. three shillings. When the lord paid hidage to the king, the tenants paid a proportion to the lord of the manor. When the Danes landed at Sandwich, King Ethelred raised the hidage, so that every 310 hides of land found an armed ship, and every eight hides found a "jack and saddle." The hide of land, or plough-land, was as much as one plough could cultivate in a year, -for the quantity was never expressly determined; some fix it at 60, others 80, and some again at 100 acres. One hide of land, at Chesterton, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Henry II., contained 64 acres; and in the 35th of Henry III., the yearly value of a hide of land, at Blechesdon, in Oxfordshire, was forty shillings. Bede calls it Familiam,- implying by it that it was as much as would maintain a family. The distribution of England, by hides of land, is very ancient, as we find mention made of it in the laws of King Ina (cap. 14); and Henry L., to marry his daughter, had three shillings from every hide of land.

28-Origin of the word "Torr." M. E.-It is most probably derived from the Saxon, which signifies a mount; but it may be derived from the Latin turris. The word is applied to mounts or high rocks; for example, we have Hays Torr (originally High Torr), Laugh Torr, Wild Torr, and many others in Devonshire.

29-Origin of By Ilook or by Crook." J.S.Our correspondent will observe that we were indebted to our contemporary, Notes and Queries, for the information (see p. 195, vol ii. New Series); but we present him with another solution of the term. It is said that Strongbow, on entering Waterford Harbour, observed a castle on one shore, and a church on the other; inquiring what they were, he was told it was the Castle of Hook, and the Church of Crook. "Then," said he, "we must enter and take the town by Hook or by Crook." Hence, it is said, the proverb to this day.

30-Philosophy of Eating. S. J. M.-There is a philosophy in everything, and you are wrong to imagine that your medical attendant philosophises too much upon your diet. If persons live upon too low a diet, it makes them apathetic, the body becomes weak, and oftentimes he intellect. If the diet is too high, disease may be engendered, or aggravated, and it frequently gives impetuosity of passions and temper, and tinges the character with severity or cruelty. A diet devoid of sufficient stimulus, is apt to give a gloominess to the individual, and tendency to melancholy and general despondency. By stimulus we do not mean fermented liquors, but animal food.

31-Qualifications of a Cook. J. R. C-In addition to having a perfect knowledge of the art of cooking-which is a desideratum few servants possess-she should also know how to choose provisions, and have a general idea of their value. She should be exceedingly attentive to cleanliness in her person, and the utensils necessary for her culinary operations; active, good-tempered, not too hasty, and always careful of the meat and other articles entrusted to her, so as not to waste them, or give them away without permission. As she is responsible for the manner in which the cooking is executed, she should always do it herself, or inspect the person employed to do so for her.

32-The Bowyer Bible. R. G.—It is so called because the illustrations were collected and arranged by the late Mr. Bowyer. Since his death it has been submitted to the public by Mrs. Parkes, who established a lottery of 4,000 guineas, the Bible forming the chief prize. A member of one of the city houses drew the lucky ticket, and it was re-purchased of him by

Mrs. Parkes, who again established another lottery of 4,000 guineas, and the person who drew the prize ticket consigned the Bible to Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, the auctioneers of Piccadilly, from whom it was purchased by Mr. Willis, the bookseller of Covent-garden for £405. It is the most extensively illustrated book that has ever been formed, having cost Mr. Bowyer upwards of £3,000.

33-Effects of Ivy on Trees. G. B.-You are not the only person that imagines ivy kills the trees it clings to; it is a common prejudice. If it rooted itself, as most persons suppose, in their bark, and fed on their juices, it might merit the accusation of a destroyer; but it derives its nourishment wholly from the ground, where it is rooted; while the tendrils or holdfasts attached to the bark of the trees are not its roots, but only used to enable it to climb. The prejudice may have arisen from its generally climbing up a dead or dying tree, and so far from injuring the trees, it has been found that when the ivy has been removed from them, the cold of the ensuing winter has destroyed. them. It therefore appears to be a wise provision of Nature to clothe the trees.

34-Disinfecting Lamp. C. C.-The following simple and economical apparatus is the best we are acquainted with for purifying rooms where any unpleasant effluvia prevail. Any person

can fit up the lamp, and as it is an agreeable method of overcoming bad odours in a sick room, we have no doubt it will be generally adopted. Take one of any of the various kinds of glass lamps-for burning camphine, for example-and fill it with chloric ether, and light the wick. In a few minutes the object will be accomplished. In dissecting-rooms, in the damp, deep vaults where vegetables are sometimes stored, or where drains allow the escape of offensive gases, in outbuildings, and, in short, in any spot where it is desirable to purify the atmosphere, burn one of these lamps. One tube, charged with a wick, is quite sufficient.

35-How to convert the French Prices of Corn into English Denominations. D. M.-The method given by Mr. Tate, who is no mean authority in matters of commercial calculation, is as follows:-" Assuming the par of exchange to be 25 francs per pound sterling, if 228 shillings be multiplied by the number of the francs in the price per hectolitre, and the product be divided by 100, or the two lower figures be cut off, the result will be the number of shillings per imperial quarter. Thus, a recent quotation for the price of wheat being 25 francs per hectolitre, 228s. multiplied by 25, equals 57:00, giving 57s. for the equivalent price per imperial

quarter. It may be serviceable further to mention, that a variation of 1 franc per hectolitre is about equal to that of 2s. 3d. per imperial quarter."

36-Blisters.

C. R.-Blisters should never remain on a child longer than sufficient to produce slight blistering; and while on, should be examined carefully every half hour. When the desired effect has been produced, the surface should be dressed with spermaceti ointment, spread on calico or linen cloth. You acted very unwisely in applying a blister to so young a child, without asking the advice of a medical man; and hence the consequent destruction of the parts over which it was applied. The cause of the sloughing or destruction of the parts, was occasioned by your having kept the blister on too long, under the impression that it had not risen sufficiently. A piece of "Markwick's Spongio-piline," dipped in warm water, or a light bread and milk poultice applied to the irritated surface, would soon have raised a blister The speediest method of raising a blister, and generally the safest and readiest, is by means of boiling water, or passing a stick of lunar caustic (nitrate of silver), over the part, having previously dipped it in water.

37-Domestic Economy. J. A. - Domestic economy should always be practised by persons with limited or fluctuating incomes. Extravagant parents must expect to have extravagant children, and when masters and mistresses do not economise, they can scarcely expect the servants to do so. Remember that there is a vast difference between economy and stinginess. Prudent persons generally set aside threetwentieths of their yearly income for contingencies; six-twentieths for household expenses; three-twentieths for servants and amusement; four-twentieths for the education of children, personal expenses, &c.; and four-twentieths for rent, wear and tear of furniture, insurance, &c. For example, suppose that your income be £400 a year, you may expend £120 on food, and £60 on servants, &c.; £80 on family and self, and the same sum for rent, &c.; while you reserve £60 for an accumulating fund. If your income is fluctuating, set aside six-twentieths of it, for a reserve fund, and divide the rest of your income afterwards.

38-Travelling Companions. R. L.-We quite agree with you that "it is exceedingly annoying to travel with an inquisitive person, who wishes to know where you are going, where you came from, and puts a variety of very rude, questions about your private affairs;" but it is also very unpleasant to travel with people who adopt the extreme course, and never speak

from the time they get into the railway carriage until they arrive at the end of their journey. A story is related of two persons who were travelling in a railway car in America, the one being very inquisitive, and the other very reserved. The former, by way of beginning a conversation, said "Are you a bachelor?" To which the other replied, drily, "No, I'm not.” "You are a married man?" continued he. "No, I'm not." "Then you must be a widower?" "No, I'm not." Here there was a short pause; but the undaunted querist returned to the charge, observing, "If you are neither, nor a married man, nor a widower, what in the world can you be?" "If you must know," said the other, "I am a divorced man!"

39-The Empire of Queen Victoria. P. B-The British possessions are very great, and we should occupy more space in the bare enumeration of their names than the whole of our Appendix; therefore, it would be impossible to reply even to your first question. However, as you desire to possess some information regarding the extent of our Most Gracious Majesty's Empire, we cannot answer your request better than by the following extract from "Finche's Boundaries of Empires." "The Queen of England is now sovereign over one continent, a hundred peninsulas, five hundred promontories, a thousand lakes, two thousand rivers, and ten thousand islands. She waves her hand, and five hundred, thousand warriors march to battle to conquer or die. She bends her head, and at the signal a thousand ships of war, and a hundred thousand sailors perform her bidding on the ocean. She walks upon the earth, and one hundred and twenty millions of human beings feel the slightest pressure of her foot. Come, all ye conquerors, and kneel before the Queen of England, and acknowledge the superior extent of her dependent provinces, her subjugated kingdoms, and her vanquished empires. The Assyrian empire was not so wealthy. The Roman empire was not so populous. Persian empire was not so extensive. Arabian empire was not so powerful. The Carthaginian empire was not so much dreaded. The Spanish empire was not so widely diffused. We have overrun a greater extent of country than Attila, that scourge of God, ever ruled! We have subdued more empires and dethroned more kings than Alexander of Macedon! We have conquered more nations than Napoleon in the plenitude of his power ever subdued! We have acquired a larger extent of territory than Tamerlane the Tartar ever spurred his horse's hoof across." This is indeed a proud boast and should stimulate us to good actions.

The

The

40-Origin of the Name of Lambeth. S. W.Some etymologists derive the name from Lamb and hyd, or, hythe, a haven; others from Lam, dirt, and hyd. It has been spelt in various ways; the first way of writing it was Lambehith, and it has also been written Lambee, Lamedk, and Lamhith, Lambeth and Lambyth.

41-Cliffs (in Music.) C. S.-You are mistaken, a cliff is always placed on a line, and never on a space. Cliffs or clefs are marks placed at the beginning of a stave or piece of music, to show the tone or key in which it is to be performed. There are three kinds of cliffs:-1st, the F, used for the bass, and baritono; 2nd, the C, for the tenor, alto, and soprano; and 3rd, the G, for the treble.

42-Difference of Days. H. B.-There is a vast difference in the length of days. A sidereal day is the real and invariable period of the diurnal rotation of the earth on its axis, and contains 23 hours, 56 minutes, 3.5 seconds of mean solar time; the lunar day is 24 hours, 48 minutes; and the solar day, which is the mean apparent time of one revolution of the earth on its axis, is 24 hours.

43-Love of Dress. P. R.-There is an old proverb which saith, "Fine feathers make fine birds;" remember this, and do not try to copy the parrot, whose incessant chatter does not compensate for the gaiety of his plumage. Remember that the little soul that converses no higher than the looking-glass and a fantastic dress, may help to make up the show of the world, but must not be reckoned among the Mational inhabitants of it.

44-Vermin in Birds. J. M.-It is a very frequent complaint, and therefore you need not be alarmed. We advise you to pay great attention to the cleanliness of their cages, give them plenty of water to wash in, and adopt the following method of getting rid of the vermin. Pour a few drops of turpentine upon some pieces of flannel, then catch the bird and wrap a piece around the body so as to leave the head exposed. In about five minutes replace it by another piece, and continue this treatment until all the vermin are destroyed.

45-Flannel Shirts. J. V.-You are mistaken, flannel has not been in general use until within the last sixty years. It was first used in Boston, as a dress next the skin, by Lord Percy's regiment, which was encamped on the common, in October, 1774. There was hardly flannel enough then in the whole town for that one regiment. Some time after, Lord Percy began with flannel shirting. Sir Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford), published a pamphlet in America, assuming to have discovered

the utility of this practice. He might, perhaps, have suggested the use of it to Lord Percy.

46-Substitute for Cod Liver Oil. S. B.-Many persons have complained of the nauseous flavour of the oil, and their inability to take it. We recommend you to adopt Dr. Ure's plan of eating the cod livers, which require to be prepared in a particular manner to prevent the loss of oil during the process of cooking. "The livers should be immersed entire in boiling water, to which a sufficient quantity of salt has been added, to raise the boiling point to about 220° Fahr. The sudden application of this high temperature coagulates the albumen of the liver, and prevents the escape of the oil. When the liver is cut, the oil exudes, and mashed potato may be used as a vehicle."

47-Jackdaws. L. W.-These birds may be easily tamed, and taught to say several words or even sentences. They can be reared from the nest, and should be fed upon the crumbs of white bread soaked in cold water, and squeezed dry, and boiling milk added to it afterwards. Now and then you should give them a little raw meat chopped fine. The old birds will eat anything, and are very fond of picking a raw beef bone; they also enjoy a boiled potato. You should keep one wing cut for several months, and then pull out the feathers of the wing so as to let others grow. If the bird you have is reared from the nest, there will not be any occasion to adopt this plan.

48-Scandal. F. S.-The evil you complain of is one of long standing, and one that will, we fear, never be eradicated. It is one of the misfortunes of small towns that at the table of some houses scandal is a standing dish, and calumny stalks abroad with perfect indifference. Some people seem to derive a pleasure in inflicting mischief, and in the aspersion of the character of others; even the memory of the dead, like the reputation of the living, is not safe from the evil-disposed who stalk from house to house feasting themselves upon the misery they have caused. Your only course is not to listen to any such tales, and you will then not only discourage the scandalous gossips, but avoid hearing any remarks about yourself.

49-Value of Truth. M. P. C.-We advise you never to trust the person again; at any rate, always be careful how you rely upon his word, for it would have been a serious thing for you, if the falsehood had not been detected. A liar is a most despicable being. Apollonius said, "It was for slaves to lie, and for freemen to speak truth." Some eastern nations had a law that whoever was three times justly convicted of speaking falsehood, should, upon pain of in