The "Ball at Brussels," June, 1815.—Historical Parallel of April, 1605.—

"The archduke received the English ambassador (Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford) with all honour and state; but whilest they were feasting and merry at Brusselles, Prince Maurice had an enterprize upon Antwerp, so that Spinola, Velasco, Van de Bergh, Busquoy, with many commanders, were forced to packe away speedily for the defence of the country."—Grimeston's History of the Netherlands, 1608, p. 1346.

W. M. R. E.

Drawing an Inference.—The following is an amusing instance of false inference, drawn through ignorance of the original. William Rae Wilson is the innocent offender, in his Travels in Egypt and the Holy Land (London, Longmans, 1824, 2nd edition). The author remarks (p. 105.):

"This I am inclined to believe was not the track which was taken by the Apostle Paul, when he went up to Jerusalem from the coast, as he appears to have travelled in some conveyance moved on wheels; for it is so far from being in any degree possible to draw one along, that, on the contrary, a great exertion is necessary for travellers to get forward their mules."

On referring to his authority for such an unapostolic mode of locomotion, we find (Acts xxi. 15.) these words:

"And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem."

"?et? d? t?? ???a? ta?ta? ?p?s?e?as?e??? ??ea???e? ??? ?e???sa??."

The word "carriages" conveyed to the mind of our traveller the idea of a "conveyance moved on wheels;" whereas our translators intended the term to signify anything carried. Professor Scholefield, in his Hints for an improved Translation of the New Testament, renders the passage, "We put up our baggage." In fact, carriage, luggage, and baggage may be termed synonymes; for carriage = that which is carried; luggage = that which is lugged; and baggage = that which is bagged. The word "carriage" is used in this sense, Judges xviii. 21., and again 1 Sam. xvii. 22.

R. Price.

Edmund Spenser.—The subjoined paragraph from The Times newspaper, the readers of "N. & Q." may perhaps wish to find in a less voluminous journal, but by biographers of Spenser more likely to be consulted.

"Edmund Spenser.—The literary world will be glad to learn that the locality of the illustrious author of The FaËry Queen has been ascertained. Mr. F. F. Spenser, of Halifax, in making some researches into the ancient residence of his own family, has been fortunate in identifying it with that of the great Elizabethan bard, and, we are informed, is about to lay the particulars before the public. The little rural village of Hurstwood, near Burnley, in Lancashire, is the honoured locality; and in the romantic Alpine scenery of that neighbourhood it is probable Spenser took refuge when he was driven by academical disappointments 'to his relations in the north of England.' The family of that great poet appear to have resided at Hurstwood about four hundred years, that is, from the early part of the reign of Edward II. to the year 1690."—The Times, Wednesday, June 16, 1841.

W. P.

The Mint, Southwark.—In the year 1723, an act was passed to relieve all those debtors under 50l., who had taken sanctuary there from their creditors. The following curious account of the exodus of these unfortunates, is given in the Weekly Journal of Saturday, July 20, 1723:

"On Tuesday last some thousands of the Minters went out of the Land of Bondage, alias The Mint, to be cleared at the Quarter Sessions at Guildford, according to the late Act of Parliament. The road was covered with them, insomuch that they looked like one of the Jewish tribes going out of Egypt: the cavalcade consisting of caravans, carts, and waggons, besides numbers on horses, asses, and on foot. The drawer of the two fighting-cocks was seen to lead an ass loaded with geneva, to support the spirits of the ladies upon the journey. 'Tis said, that several heathen Bailiffs lay in ambuscade in ditches upon the road, to surprise some of them, if possible, on their march, if they should straggle from the main body; but they proceeded with so much order and discipline, that they did not lose a man upon this expedition."

E. G. B.