lacke of light."
_The Assembly of Foules_, I. 85.

"_Lo giorno se n'andava, e l'aer bruno_
_Toglieva gli animai che sono in terra_
_Dalle fatiche loro._"--_Inf._ ii. 1.

"With that my hand in his he toke anon,
Of which I comfort caught, and went in fast."
_The Assembly of Foules_, I. 169.

"_E poiche la sua mano alla mia pose_
_Con lieto volto, ond' io mi confortai._"
_Inf._ iii. 19.

By the way, Chaucer commences _The Assembly of Foules_ with part of the
first aphorism of Hippocrates, "[Greek: Ho bios brachus he de techne
makre]" (but this, I suppose, had been noticed before):

"The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne."

Chaucer was forty years old, or upwards, in 1372, when he was sent as an
envoy to treat with the duke, citizens, and merchants of Genoa; and if, as
is probable, he had translated _Troilus and Creseide_ out of the "Lombarde
tonge" in his youth (according to the testimony of Lydgate), it is not
unreasonable to infer that his knowledge of Italian may have led to his
being chosen to fill that office. But, however this may be, abundant proof
has been adduced that Chaucer was familiarly acquainted with Italian.

I may briefly remark, in conclusion, that the dates and other circumstances
favour the supposed interview at Padua, between Fraunceis Petrark the
laureate poet, and Dan Chaucer,

"Floure of poets throughout all Bretaine."

J. M. B.

Tunbridge Wells.

* * * * *

THE REBELLION OF '45.--UNPUBLISHED LETTER.

Inverness, 16th Aprile, 1746.

Dear Sirs,

This day about twelve our army came up with the rebels, about a mile above
Lord President's house, in a muir called Drumrossie. They began the
engagement first, by firing from a battery of six guns they had erected
upon their right; but our cannon played so hott upon them, that they were
obliged soon to fly, by which means we gote possession of their artillery,
and so drove them before us for three miles of way. The cavalry gave them
closs chase to the town of Inverness: {520} upon which the French
ambassador (who is not well) sent out an officer, and a drum with him,
offering to surrender at discretion; to which the duke made answer, that
the French officers should be allowed to go about on their parole, and
nothing taken from them. Brigadier Stapleton is among them, and God knows
how many more officers; for we have not gote home to count them