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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. n. DEC. 3, 190*.

possible that an examination of these MSS. may throw some light on the exact date of the documents, but I do not think it is likely. N"or is it at all probable that the editor "deliberately and of malice prepense" omitted to mention the date. I have seen the Drum- mond MS. which is one of the authorities for the preamble of the * Oustuma Portuum,' and there is no word (not even "&c.") between "millesimo" and "facta." The Drummond MS. is now in H.M. Register House, Edin- burgh. J. B. P.

" HONEST BROKER" (10 th S. ii. 369). I take it that Prince Bismarck, who used the expression " eines ehrlichen Maklers " (of an honest broker) in the Reichstag, 19 Feb- ruary, 1878 (see my new volume, 'Famous Sayings and their Authors/ p. 197), was not referring to any one in particular (and certainly not to himself) by the term, but rather employed it in a way similar to our allusion to "an honest lawyer." At all events, no doubt a report of the speech could easily be referred to, and so settle the point. My idea may be wrong.

EDWARD LATHAM.

In the section on 'Germany' in the 'Annual Register' for 1878, p. [288], an account is given of a speech of Bismarck in 1878, relating to the then intended Congress on the Eastern Question. In this speech (I quote the 'Register') " Germany, the Prince said, ^had no wish to act as arbiter in the pending conflict. All her ambition was confined to the modest task of a broker who settled a bargain between different parties."

J. GARNET.

The passage from the speech in which Bismarck used the phrase "ehrlicher Mak- ler" is reproduced in Biichmann's ' Gefliigelte Worte.' G. KRUEGER.

Berlin.

CORKS (10 th S. ii. 347, 391). In connexion with this subject it may be worth noting that cork pool was a favourite game at the universities, and probably elsewhere, in the seventies. Later variations of this are black and snooker pool.

Another very popular game with children of a certain age is to place a cork on the centre spot of a billiard table, with a coin upon it usually a halfpenny which, start- ing from baulk, they have to knock over with a billiard ball, rolled by hand, after nrst striking the bottom cushion. When one of the party has accomplished this, two cushions have to be struck (the bottom always nrst), then three, then four, and so on de nouo.

It is a capital amusement, necessitating con- siderable skill, especially with three cushions. In practice I have found that, as might be anticipated, children will continue the game- just so long as their elders care to provide the necessary incentive. It is really a varia- tion of thejeu de bouchon.

HOLCOMBE INGLEBY. Sedgeford Hall, Norfolk.

"RAVISON": " SCRIVELLOES " (10 th S. iL 227, 292). It is said, though I am unable to- get confirmation or denial, that the Portu- guese for bcrivelloe is escrevelho. Screvelios, given on p. 227 as an old English form of the word, certainly suggests a Portuguese source, and with e short before the I would be a very good English attempt to pronounce the Portuguese word.

In Constancio's dictionary, seventh edition, I find :

" Escaravelha, s.f. v. Caravelha."

"Caravelha, s.m. (corrupgao do Lat. 'clavicula/ dim. de ' clavis,' chave), pega de pao, marfim, ou metal em que se enrolao as cordas de instrumentos de musica, e que serve de as apertar ou afrouxar ; pe^a com que os bombeiros tapao o ouvido dos morteiros, cavilha."

Escaravelho is the scarabeus. Cavilha is a wooden nail, an iron pin, peg, bolt. All these Portuguese words suggest a horn or peg, so, whatever may be the original ortho- graphy, escrevelho (if there be such a word) appears to be another form of escaravelho, Scrivelloes is in German escrevellen. I cannot find scrivelloe in the ' Anglo-Indian Glossary ' (' Hobson- Jobson '), but there can be little doubt of its derivation from the Portuguese.

R. W. B.

While thanking DR. FORSHAW for his reply to my query, may I be allowed to point out wherein it fails to satisfy me ?

"Ravison," so far as I have observed, is never applied to linseed, or to linseed oil, but only to rape oil or rape seed (see, for instance, under ' Home Markets ' in the Times of 14 November).

Since the term can be applied to rape seed, as well as to rape oil, it can scarcely mean " half-boiled oil " of any description.

" Spot " is, I think, merely commercial slang for goods ready for delivery or on the spot.

'TRACTS FOR THE TIMES' (10 th S. ii. 347, 398). Possibly a more accessible source of information is the invaluable * Whitaker's Almanack.' The index at the end of the current volume assures me that there was an article on the ' Tracts ' in the issue for 1883, pp. 440-2. I cannot lay my hand on my