reted
by Kelham as "a wear"; and in old French, _gort_ or _gorz_ signifies
"_flot, gorgees, quantite_" (Roquefort). All these words, as well as
the Low Latin _gordus_ (Ducange), are doubtless to be deduced, with
_gurges, a gyrando_.

ALBERT WAY.

_Rococo_ (No. 20. p. 321.).--The _history_ of this word appears
to be involved in uncertainty. Some French authorities derive it
from "_rocaille_," rock-work, pebbles for a grotto, &c.; others
from "_Rocco_," an architect (whose existence, however, I cannot
trace), the author, it is to be supposed, {357} of the antiquated,
unfashionable, and false style which the word "Rococo" is employed
to designate. The _use_ of the word is said to have first arisen in
France towards the end of the reign of Louis XV. or the beginning
of that of Louis XVI., and it is now employed in the above senses,
not only in architecture, but in literature, fashion, and the arts
generally.

J.M.

Oxford, March 18.

_Rococo_.--This is one of those cant words, of no very definite,
and of merely conventional, meaning, for any thing said or done in
ignorance of the true propriety of the matter in question. "_C'est
du rococo_," it is mere stuff, or nonsense, or rather twaddle. It was
born on the stage, about ten years ago, at one of the minor theatres
at Paris, though probably borrowed from a wine-shop, and most likely
will have as brief an existence as our own late "flare-up," and such
ephemeral colloquialisms, or rather vulgarisms, that tickle the public
fancy for a day, till pushed from their stool by another.

X.

March 18. 1850.

_God tempers the Wind, &c._--The French proverb, "A brebis tondue
Dieu mesure le vent" (God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb), will
be found in Quitard's _Dictionnaire etymologique, historique et
anecdotique, des Proverbes, et des Locutions proverbiales de la
Langue francaise_, 8vo. Paris, 1842. Mons. Quitard adds the following
explanation of the proverb:--"Dieu proportionne a nos forces les
afflictions qu'il nous envoie." I have also found this proverb in
Furetiere's _Dictionnaire universal de tous les Mots francais_, &c. 4
vols. folio, La Haye, 1727.

J.M.

Oxford. March 18.

The proverb, "A brebis pres tondue, Dieu luy mesure le vent," is to
be found in Jan. Gruter. _Florileg. Ethico-polit. part. alt. proverb.
gallic._, p. 353. 8vo. Francof. 1611.

M.

Oxford.

_Guildhalls_ (No. 20. p. 320)--These were anciently the halls, or
places of meeti