re
three years ago, and, although sometimes associated with spirit-rappings,
has more frequently served for amusement. On this connexion it may be
proper to say that Professor Faraday's theory of unconscious muscular force
meets with no concurrence among those who know anything about the subject
in this country. It is notorious that large tables have been moved
frequently by five or six persons, whose fingers merely touched them,
although upon each was seated a stout man, weighing a hundred and fifty or
sixty pounds: neither involuntary nor voluntary muscular force could have
effected _that_ physical movement, when there was no other _purchase_ on
the table than that which could be gained by a pressure of the tips of the
fingers.

[Old English W].

Philadelphia.

_Passage of Thucydides on the Greek Factions_ (Vol. vii., p. 594.; Vol.
viii., pp. 44. 137.).--My attempt to find the passage attributed by Sir A.
Alison to Thucydides in the real Thucydides was unsuccessful for the best
of reasons, viz. that it does not exist there. He has probably borrowed it
from some modern author, who, as it appears to me, has given a loose
paraphrase of the words which I cited from _Thucyd._ III. 82., and has
expanded the thought in a manner not uncommon with some writers, by adding
the expression about the "sword and poniard." Some other misquotations of
Sir A. Alison from the classical writers may be seen in the _Edinburgh
Review_ for April last, No. CXCVIII. p. 275.

L.

_Origin of "Clipper" as applied to Vessels_ (Vol. viii., p. 100.).--For
many years the fleetest sailing vessels built in the United States were
{399} constructed at Baltimore. They were very sharp, long, low; and their
masts were inclined at a much greater angle than usual with those in other
vessels. Fast sailing pilot boats and schooners were thus rigged; and in
the last war with England, privateers of the Baltimore build were
universally famed for their swiftness and superior sailing qualities. "A
Baltimore clipper" became the expression among shipbuilders for a vessel of
peculiar make; in the construction of which, fleetness was considered of
more importance than a carrying capacity. When the attention of naval
architects was directed to the construction of swift sailing ships, they
were compelled to adopt the clipper shape. Hence the title "Clipper Ship,"
which has now extended from America to England.

[Old English W].

Philadelphia.

_Passage in Tenny