nlearned mind it would seem to
contain allusion to the insult which Charles II. and his government were
supposed to submit to from Louis XIV.; to be, in fact, a sort of metallic
HB.

Some friend, I forget who, pronounced the workmanship Dutch, which would, I
think, favour the above theory. The figures are in bold and prominent
relief, but to a certain degree rounded by wear, having been evidently
carried in the pocket for a considerable time.

G. W. W.

_Matthew's Mediterranean Passage._--I should be thankful for any
information as to where the following work could be seen, and also
respecting the nature of its contents.

"Somerset.--Matthew's Mediterranean Passage by water from London to
Bristol, &c., and from Lynne to Yarmouthe. Very rare, 4to. 1670."

The above is quoted from Thos. Thorpe's Cat., part iii., 1832, p. 169., no.
7473.

MERCURII.

_Inscription on an Oak Board._--I have an old oak board, on which are
carved the following lines in raised capital letters of an antique form,
with lozenges between the words:--

"IF . YOV . WOVLD . KNOW . MY . NAME .
OR . WHO . I . WAS . THAT . DID . THE . SAME .
LOKE . IN . GENESIS . WHERE . HEE . DOO . INDIGHT."

{241}

The letters are two inches long, and a quarter of an inch high from the
sunken face of the board, which is four feet long by ten inches wide. It
has a raised rim or border round the inscription; which proves that it had
not contained more lines than as above. It was found at Hereford, in a
county which still abounds in timbered houses, and it had been lately used
as a weather-board. The legend was submitted to the late Sir Samuel Meyrick
of Goderich Court; who was of opinion, that it had formerly been over the
chimney-piece or porch of some dwelling-house, and is a riddle involving
the builder's or founder's name. If any of your readers can suggest the age
and original use of this board, or explain the name concealed in the lines,
it will oblige

P. H. F.

_Expressions in Milton._--Allow me to ask some correspondent to give the
meaning of the following expressions from the prose works of Milton:--

"A toothless satire is as improper as a toothed sleck stone, and as
bullish."

"A toothed sleck stone," I take to mean a "jagged whetstone," very unfit
for its purpose; but what is the force of the term "as bullish?"

Again:

"I do not intend this hot seasons to _bid you the base_, through the
wide and dusty champ