the most
calamitous; 115 houses were burnt down, and the steeple of Allhallows
Chapel, with the school, were destroyed. The damage was estimated at
above 10,500l.]

_Michaelmas Goose._--The following little inconsistency in a
commonly-received tradition has led me, at the request of a large party of
well-read and literary friends, to request your solution of the difficulty
in an early Number of your paper.

It is currently reported, and nine men in ten will tell you, if you ask
them the reason why goose is always eaten on the 29th Sept., Michaelmas
Day, that Queen Elizabeth was eating goose when the news of the destruction
of the Invincible Armada was brought, and she immediately put down her
knife and fork, and said, "From this day forth let all British-born
subjects eat goose on this day."

Now in Creasy's _Battles_ it is stated that the Spanish fleet was destroyed
in the month of July. How could it then be the 29th of Sept. when the news
of its defeat reached her majesty? If any of your readers can solve this
seeming improbability be will greatly oblige

MICHAELMAS DAY.

[Although it may be difficult to show how it is that the custom of
eating goose has in this country been transferred to Michaelmas Day,
while on the Continent it is observed at Martinmas, from which practice
the goose is often called _St. Martin's bird_, it is very easy to prove
that there is no foundation for the tradition referred to by our
correspondent. For the following extract from Stow's _Annales_ (ed.
Howes), p. 749., will show that, so far from the news of the defeat of
the Armada not reaching Elizabeth until the 29th of September, public
thanksgivings for the victory had been offered on the 20th of the
preceding month:

"On the 20th of August, M. Nowell, Deane of Paules, preached at Paules
Crosse, in presence of the lord Maior and Aldermen, and the companies
in their best liveries, moving them to give laud and praise unto
Almightie God, for the great victorie by him given to our English
nation, by the overthrowe of the Spanish fleete."]

* * * * *

Replies.

PORTRAITS OF HOBBES AND LETTERS OF HOLLAR.

(Vol. viii., p. 221.)

Although I cannot answer the question of SIR WALTER TREVELYAN, the
following notices respecting the portraits of the Philosopher of Malmesbury
may not be unacceptable to him and to those who hold this d