liest instance of their being used to represent numerals?

A. H. C.

_Saying of Pascal._--In which of his works is Pascal's saying, "I have not
time to write more briefly," to be found; and what are the words in the
original?

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

_Irish Characters on the Stage._--Would any of the contributors to "N. &
Q." oblige me with this information? Who, or how many, of the old English
dramatists introduced Irishmen into their _dramatis personae_? Did Ben
Jonson? Shadwell did. What others?

PHILOBIBLION.

_Family of Milton's Widow._--Your correspondent CRANMORE, in his article on
the "Rev. John Paget" ("N. & Q.," Vol. v., p. 327.), writes thus: "Dr.
Nathan Paget was an intimate friend of Milton and cousin to the poet's
fourth (no doubt meaning his third) wife, Elizabeth Minshall, of whose
family descent, which appears to be rather obscure, I may at another time
communicate some particulars."

Now, as more than a year has elapsed since the article referred to appeared
in your valuable columns, without the subject of Elizabeth Minshall's
descent having been farther noticed, I hope your correspondent will pardon
my soliciting him to supply the information he possesses relative thereto,
which cannot fail proving interesting to every admirer of our great poet.

V. M.

_Table-moving._--Was not Bacon acquainted with this phenomenon? I find in
his _Sylva Sylvarum_, art. MOTION:

"Whenever a solid is pressed, there is an inward tumult of the parts
thereof, tending to deliver themselves from the compression: and this
is the _cause_ of all violent motion. It is very strange that this
motion has never been observed and inquired into; as being the most
common and chief origin of all mechanical operations.

"This motion operates first in a round by way of proof and trial, which
way to deliver itself, and then in progression where it finds the
deliverance easiest."

C. K. P.

Newport, Essex.

* * * * *

Minor Queries with Answers.

_Form of Petition, &c._--May I request the insertion of a Query, requesting
some of your readers to supply the _ellipsis_ in the form with which
petitions to Parliament are required to be closed, viz.: "And your
petitioners will ever pray, &c." To me, I confess, there appears to be
something like impiety in its use in its present unmeaning state. Would a
petition be rendered informal by any addition which would