s kind ever
published. London, Printed by J.P. and are sold by John Playford, near
the Temple-Church, 1685, small oblong."

I have every reason to believe, from considerable researches, that no
earlier copy can be found in print.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

MINOR NOTES.

_Omission of the Words DEI GRATIA from the new Florin._

Ruding, in his _Annals of the Coinage_, iv. 9., furnishes a precedent
for the omission of the words DEI GRATIA from the coinage, in the case
of the Irish half-pence and farthings coined at the Tower in 1736-7. And
he supplies, also, a precedent for the dissatisfaction with which their
omission from the new florin has been received, in the shape of two
epigrams written at that time, for which he is indebted (as what writer
upon any point of English literature and history is not) to Sylvanus
Urban. The first (from the _Gentlemen's Magazine_ for June, 1837) is as
follows:--

"No Christian kings that I can find,
However match'd or odd,
Excepting ours have ever coin'd
Without the _grace of God_.

"By this acknowledgment they show
The mighty King of Kings,
As him from whom their riches flow,
From whom their grandeur springs.

"Come, then, Urania, aid my pen,
The latent cause assign,--
All other kings are mortal men,
But GEORGE, 'tis plain, 's divine."

The next month produced this address:--

_To the Author of the Epigram on the new Irish Halfpence._

"While you behold th' imperfect coin
Receiv'd without the _grace of God_,
All honest men with you must join,
And even Britons think it odd.

The _grace of God_ was well left out,
And I applaud the politician;
For when an evil's done, no doubt,
'Tis not by _God's grace_, but permission."

_Grace's Card, the Six of Hearts._

As a note to the communications which have lately amused your readers,
respecting the nine of diamonds, and the curse of Scotland, allow me to
remind you of another card which has a peculiar name, the origin of
which is better ascertained.

At the Revolution of 1688, one of the family of Grace, of Courtstown in
Ireland, raised and equipped a regiment of foot and a troop of horse, at
his own expense, for the service of King James, whom he further assisted
with money and plate, amounting, it is said, to 14,000_l_. He was
tempted with splendid promises of royal favour, to join the party of
King William. A written