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Alley certainly derived its name from a sign of the " Black Dog," as stated in ' London and its Environs,' 1761. Could there have been two taverns in such close proximity, there- fore ? or did the alley derive its name from the historic old resort in King Street 1 Pepys, in his 'Diary,' under the date 10 October, 1666, the fast-day for the Great Fire, notes that he " went with Sir W. Batten to West- minster, to the parish church, St. Margarets, where were the parliament men, and Stilling- fleet in the pulpit ; so full, no standing there, so he and I eat herrings at the Dog Tavern." Black Dog Alley, in College Street, Westmin- ster, is described in Elrnes's * Topographical Dictionary ' as ** the third turning on the left from No. 18, Abingdon Street, the corner of Bowling Street."

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &c. Lean's Collectanea: Collections of Vincent Stucltey

Lean. (Bristol, Arrowsmith.) IN four volumes or virtually in five, since what is called the second volume is in two parts, sepa- rately bound we have here one of the most important contributions ever made to the class of studies it is our special aim to further. Readers of Lean, whose contributions were dated not seldom from the Windham Club, and showed a store of erudition concerning folk-lore and superstitions, proverbial phrases, archaic and forgotten words, and most things that are out of fashion and obso- lete. During a long life of cultivated leisure, of which a considerable portion was spent in travel, often on foot, Mr. Lean preserved carefully whatever he heard or read concerning local sayings or customs. His collection he bequeathed to the British Museum, to which he also left 50.000/. for the rearrangement and improvement of the Reading Room. Both bequests were accepted by the authorities. With a view of rendering them more easily accessible to the student, the MSS. have, by the permission of the executors and of the Trustees, been published under the care of Mr. T. W. Williams, whose editorial labours have been confined to arrange- ment, the expansion of references, and the supply- ing of an exemplary index.
 * N. & Q.' are familiar with the signature of V. S.

A collection such as now given to the world is, in its line, unparalleled except in our own columns. Of how much use these have been to Mr. Lean is shown in the fact that a large slice of the fourth volume consists of contributions to 'N. & Q.,' re- printed, by permission, from our columns, together with our comments upon the death of our corre- spondent. Mr. Lean's articles began in the Third Series and extended to the close of the Eighth, the last appearing at 8 th 8. xii. 135. A formidable list of authorities is also supplied. If ever there was a book that merited the title assigned to the two apocryphal treatises of Smalgruenius, ' De Omni- bus Rebus et quibusdam aliis,' it is this. A mere list of subjects occupies more than a hundred pages

n double columns. Little attempt at arrangement 8 obvious, though efforts have been made to faci- litate the use of the books by filling out references,. many of which remain obscure. Some of them must have been intended as helps to memory, and cannot easily be solved by anybody except the original copier. Attempts at a species of classification are often begun and as often abandoned, and the only safe way to reach the stores is to use freely the index. Take, for instance, at a venture, a subject such as burial, with the face downwards or other- wise. We find references to JtfeZTiMMMjl, Paul Lacroix's ' Le Moyen Age,' Tylor's ' Primitive Cul- ture,' Bede, Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' and 'The Master of Oxford's Catechism.' Had we an inter- leaved copy, a most desirable possession, we would add, from 'Festus,' the injunction that the man who will not fight for his country shall be buried with his face downward, "looking to Hell." We might quote from the volumes endlessly. Much of the folk-lore is, of course, familiar. Every one knows the superstition that a pig in swimming' against the tide cuts its own throat. Who, how- ever, knows the kindred belief, given in N ash's ' Unfortunate Traveller,' that " the hog dieth pre- sently if he lose an eye " or that " the habitual use- of rice as a diet causes blindness " ? A remarkably wide range of reading is displayed. Early writers, those especially of Tudor and Stuart times, are con- tinually used, as are French, Italian, and German authors of the same date. Many of our own con- tributors are frequently quoted, as Mr. Edward Peacock and Dr. Smytne Palmer. We have not attempted to give a just idea of the work, since the- task is not to be essayed. Each volume and every page contains matter of interest. With or without acknowledgment, books are sure to be drawn from, its inexhaustible pages. To the studious anti- quary it is invaluable, indispensable, and every scholar will be thankful to possess it. We know not if the study of the contents is more pleasurable- or useful. In its way it stands alone, a book to be dipped into or read with equal delight. We might almost say that the possessor of these volumes need never have a dull moment. Of course additions might be made. It may interest our readers and advantage students to know that * N. & Q.' is indi- cated by the simple initial N., as " ' When quality meet compliments pass,' N., VIII. ix. 452." Apart from other claims on admiration and affection, it is in all bibliographical respects delightful, a book to gladden the neart of a connoisseur. A portrait and a book-plate of Mr. Lean are given, as well as some facsimiles of his very neat writing.

England in the Mediterranean, 1603-1713. By

Julian S. Corbett. 2 vols. (Longmans & Co.) THESE two interesting and important volumes con- stitute a continuation of the ' Drake and the Tudor Navy ' and ' The Successors of Drake ' of the same author. If they form less stimulating reading than their predecessors, it is because the period of adventure was, in a sense, over, and because kings in the days of the Stuarts had no such subjects, and ! subjects no such kings, as in the days of Queen Bess. i his greatest captain at the bidding of Spain ; j Charles I., too embroiled in difficulties to be able to ! preserve his own kingdom or life ; and Charles II. and James II., veritable pensioners on France, the naval power of England was little likely to be fostered, and though abundant deeds of heroism.
 * With monarchs such as James I., slaying abjectly