In the
historical plays, _lawful_ king, _lawful_ progeny, _lawful_ heir, _lawful_
magistrate, _lawful_ earth, _lawful_ sword, &c., may be found. These
suggestions, like the pinch of sand thrown on the old woman's cow, if they
do no good, will, I trust, do no harm.

ROBERT RAWLINSON.

_Shakspeare._--A German writer, Professor Hilgers, of Aix-la-Chapelle,
published in 1852 a pamphlet, in which he endeavoured to prove that many
passages in Shakspeare, which were originally written in verse, have been
"degraded" into prose, and quotes several passages from the plays {53} in
support of his thesis. Professor Hilgers says that emendation of the text,
by means of such a mode of correction as would restore the corrupted verses
to their original form, has hitherto been almost entirely neglected by
commentators, or else employed by them with very little ability and
success. I have not seen the Professor's Treatise, and only write from a
short notice which I have just perused of it in a German review; but, if
what Professor H. states be correct, the subject appears to deserve more
particular attention from the writers in the "N. & Q.," who have devoted
their ingenuity and research to the illustration of Shakspeare. In the hope
of attracting them to "fresh fields and pastures new," in which to recreate
themselves, and to instruct and delight the world-wide readers of the great
dramatist, I venture to solicit attention to Professor Hilger's pamphlet
and its subject. In this I only echo the German reviewer's language, who
most highly praises the Professor's acuteness, and the value of his
strictures, and promises to return to them at greater length in a future
number of the periodical in which he writes.

JOHN MACRAY.

Oxford.

* * * * *

UNPUBLISHED LETTER.

I have thought that the following old letter, from a retired lawyer of the
seventeenth century to his future son-in-law, might not be altogether
uninteresting to your readers, as referring to the value of land and money
at the period when it was written.

C. W. B.

July y^e 16^{th}, (16)95.

S^r,

Since you are pleased to demand my opinion concerning your intended
purchase, I shall give you it as well as I can upon so short a warning.
You say, if lett, you suppose it was worth a 130l. per ann[=u]. I
cannot tell by your letter whether the mills, lett at 20l. per ann[=u],
are a part of y^e 130l.: if it be,