_The San Grail._--Can any one learned in ecclesiastical story say what are
the authorities for the story that King Arthur sent his knights through
many lands in quest of the _sacred vessel_ used by our Blessed Lord at His
"Last Supper," and explain why this chalice was called the "Holy Grail" or
"Grayle?" Tennyson has a short poem on the knightly search after it, called
"Sir Galahad." And in Spenser's _Faerie Queene_, book ii. cant. x. 53.,
allusion is made to the legend that "Joseph of Arimathy brought it to
Britain."

W. M. K.

_Meaning of "Slums."_--In Dr. Wiseman's _Appeal to the Reason and Good
Feeling of the English People_, we find the word "slums" made use of with
respect to the purlieus of Westminster Abbey. Warren, in a note of his
letter on "The Queen or the Pope?" asks "What are 'slums?' And where is the
word to be found explained? Is it Roman or Spanish? There is none such in
our language, at least used by gentlemen."

I would ask, may not the word be derived from _asylum_, seeing that the
precincts of abbeys, &c. used to be an asylum or place of refuge in ancient
times for robbers and murderers?

W. M. W.

Stokesley.

_Bartolus' "Learned Man Defended and Reformed."_--Can any one inform the
applicant in what modern author this excellent (and he believes rare) book
in his possession, translated from the Italian of Daniel Bartolus, G. J.,
by (Sir) Thomas Salusbury, 1660, is spoken of in terms of high approval?
The passage passed before him not long ago, but having _made no note_, he
is unable to recover it.--Query, Is it in Mr. Hallam's _Literary History_,
which he has not at hand?

U. Q.

_Odour from the Rainbow._--What English poet is it that embodies the idea
contained in the following passage of Bacon's _Sylva_? I had noted it on a
loose scrap of paper which I left in my copy of the _Sylva_, but have lost
it:--

"It hath been observed by the Ancients, that when a Raine Bow seemeth
to hang over or to touch, there breaketh forth a sweet smell. The cause
is, for that this happenth but in certain matters which have in
themselves some sweetnesse, which the Gentle Dew of the Raine Bow doth
draw forth. And the like doe soft showers; for they also make the
ground sweet. But none are so delicate as the Dew of the Raine Bow,
where it falleth. It may be also that the water itself hath some
sweetnesse: for the Raine Bow consisteth of a glomeration of small
drops which