time of Henry
III., about the middle of the thirteenth century; and early in the
succeeding reign, 6th Edward I., 1278, it was known by the name of
Brasen Nose Hall, which peculiar name was undoubtedly owing, as the
same author observes, to the circumstance of a nose of brass affixed to
the gate. It is presumed, however, this conspicuous appendage of the
portal was not formed of the mixed metal, which the word now denotes,
but the genuine produce of the mine; as is the nose, or rather face, of
a lion or leopard still remaining at Stamford, which also gave name to
the edifice it adorned. And hence, when Henry VIII. debased the coin,
by an alloy of _copper_, it was a common remark or proverb, that
'Testons were gone to Oxford, to study in _Brasen_ Nose.'"]

_G. Downing_.--Can any one point out to me a biography of G. Downing, or at
least indicate a work where the dates of the birth and death of this
celebrated statesman may be found? He was English ambassador in the Hague
previous to and in the year 1664, and to him Downing Street in London owes
its name. A very speedy answer would be most welcome.--From the
_Navorscher_.

A. T. C.

[In Pepys's _Diary_, vol. i. p. 2. edit. 1848, occurs the following
notice of Sir George Downing:--"Wood has misled us in stating that Sir
George Downing was a son of Dr. Calibut Downing, the rector of Hackney.
He was beyond doubt the son of Emmanuel Downing, a London merchant, who
went to New England. It is not improbable that Emmanuel was a near
kinsman of Calibut; how related has not yet been discovered. Governor
Hutchinson, in his _History of Massachusetts_, gives the true account
of Downing's affiliation, which has been farther confirmed by Mr.
Savage, of Boston, from the public records of New England. Wood calls
Downing a sider with all times and changes; skilled in the common cant,
and a preacher occasionally. He was sent by Cromwell to Holland, as
resident there. About the Restoration, he espoused the King's cause,
and was knighted and elected M. P. for Morpeth, in 1661. Afterwards,
becoming Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner of the Customs, he
was in 1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley, in Cambridgeshire, and
was again sent ambassador to Holland. His grandson of the same name,
who died in 1749, was the founder of Downing College, Cambridge. The
title became e