ometimes used in sense closely akin to that of the
adjective. Thus in "Behave yourself gradely," it means "properly,
decently." But (2.) most frequently it is precisely equivalent to "very;"
as in the expressions "A gradely fine day," "a gradely good man"--which
last is a term of praise by no means applicable to the mere gradely man,
or, as such a one is most commonly described, a "gradely sort of man."

Though one might have preferred a Saxon origin for it, yet in default of
such it seems most natural to connect it with the Latin _gradus_,
especially as the word _grade_, from which it is immediately formed, has a
handy English look about it, that would soon naturalise it amongst us.
_Gradely_ {335} then would mean "orderly, regular, according to degree."

The difference in intensity of meaning between the adjective and the adverb
seems analogous to that between the adjectives proper, _regular_, &c., and
the same words when used in the vulgar way as adverbs.

G.P.

[Footnote 3: Dictionary of Provincialisms.]

[Footnote 4: Dictionary of Provincial Words.]

* * * * *

PASCAL AND HIS EDITOR BOSSUT.

(Vol. ii., p. 278.)

Although I am not afraid of the fate with which that unfortunate monk met,
of whom it is said,--

"Pro solo puncto caruit Martinus Asello,"

yet a blunder is a sad thing, especially when the person who is supposed to
commit it attempts to correct others.

Now the printer of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" has introduced, in my short
remark on Pascal, the _very error_ which has led the author of the article
in the _British Quarterly Review_, as well as many others, to mistake the
Bishop of Meaux for the editor of Pascal's works. Once more, that
unfortunate editor is BOSSUT, not BOSSUET; and if it may appear to some
that the difference of one letter in a name is not of much consequence, yet
it is from an error as trifling as this that people of my acquaintance
confound Madame de Stael with Madame de Staal-Delauney, in spite of
chronology and common sense. Again, by the leave of the _Christian
Remembrancer_ (vol. xiii. no. 55.), the elegant and accomplished scholar to
whom we owe the only complete text of Pascal's thoughts, is M. Faugere, not
Fougere. All these are minutiae; but the chapter of minutiae is an important
one in literary history.

Another remarkable question which I feel a wish to touch upon before
closing this communication, is that of _impromptus_. Your co