the reign of Edward IV. the exact form of these obsequies was
prescribed. Not only were the noblemen's own heralds there, but the king's
also; and not in tabards bearing the sovereign's, but the deceased's arms.

So preposterously fond of funeral rites were monarchs and their subjects,
that the obsequies of princes were observed by such sovereigns as were in
alliance with them, and in the same state as if the royal remains had been
conveyed from one Christian kingdom to another. Individuals had their
obsequies kept in various places where they had particular connexions.[3]

Is it too much then to presume that in the midst of all this pomp and
affectation of grief, the hatchment of the deceased nobleman would be
displayed as much, and continued as long, as possible by the widow? May we
not reasonably believe that these ladies would vie with each other in these
displays of the insignia of mourning, until, by usage, the lozenge-shaped
hatchment became the shield appropriated to the sex?

These hypotheses are not without some foundation; but if any of your
correspondents will enunciate another theory, I shall be glad to give it my
support if it is found to be more reasonable than the foregoing.

BROCTUNA.

Bury, Lancashire.

[Footnote 3: Noble.]

* * * * *

PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_Multiplication of Photographs._--In Vol. viii., p. 60. is a letter from
MR. JOHN STEWART of Pau suggesting certain modes of operating in producing
positive photographs, and which suggestions are apparently offered as
_novelties_, when, in fact, they have been for some considerable time in
practice by other manipulators. Of course, I do not suppose that they are
otherwise regarded by MR. STEWART than as novelties, who cannot be
acquainted with what is doing here; but it appears to me desirable to
discriminate between facts that are _absolutely_, and those that are
_relatively_ new.

Most of the transparent stereoscopic photographs sold in such numbers by
all our eminent opticians, _are actually produced_ in the way recommended
by MR. STEWART; and reduced copies of photographs, &c., have been produced
in almost every possible variety by DR. DIAMOND, and many others of our
most eminent photographers. Very early in the history of this science, the
idea was suggested by Mr. Fox Talbot himself, of taking views of a small
size, and enlarging them for multiplication; and, if I am rightly informed,
Mr. Ross