Can any of your learned Hebraists elucidate the passage in Gen. iv. 7., which called forth the following remarks from Bishop Sandford?

"As yet I cannot abandon the literal interpretation of the words ??????? ?????? ??????, and I am much surprised that, in all the criticism bestowed on this verse by Davison and the authors whom he quotes, nothing is said of the word ??????. I do not know of any place in Holy Scripture where this word is used figuratively, and unless this can be shown, there is no supporting so strong a metaphor as the advocates of the figurative meaning of the passage contend for. Davison takes no notice of the remainder of the verse.... Now the words are remarkable; they are the same as those in which the Lord declares the subjection of Eve to her husband, Gen. iii. 16. I have always thought this passage (Gen. iv. 7.) to allude to Abel; and to promise to Cain the continuance of the priority of primogeniture, if he were reconciled to God."—Remains of Bishop Sandford, vol. i. p.135.

With respect to the word ??????, the literal interpretation of which is a door, entrance, or gate, Archbishop Magee renders the passage thus: "A sin-offering lieth before or at the door," the word ????? implying to crouch or lie down as an animal; thereby alluding to the sacrifice which was appointed for the remission of sins, and was typical of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who was to be slain for the sin of the world. The whole verse would thus stand, according to Archbishop Magee's interpretation:

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not have the excellency or pre-eminence? and if thou doest not well, a sin-offering lieth before the door [i.e. is prepared, or at hand, for thee]; and unto thee shall be his subjection, and thou shalt rule over him [i.e. over Abel]."

Luther's translation is at variance with this:

"Wenn du fromm bist, so bist du angenehm, bist du aber nicht fromm, so ruhet die SÜnde vor der ThÜr. Aber lass du ihr nicht ihren Willen, sondern herrsche Über sie."

In the margin of Luther's Bible is a reference in this verse to Rom. vi. 12., plainly showing that he considered it as an admonition to Cain to struggle against sin, lest it should gain the dominion over him.

Bishop Sandford farther observes:

"I think that neither Davison nor the other commentators have completely examined Gen. iv. 7. in all its expressions and bearings. I am surprised at Magee's omitting the argument from St. Paul's declaration, that by his p?e?????s?a Abel obtained witness that he was righteous.... I must repeat my wish to have the word ?????? well examined."

A. B. C.

P.S.—Dr. Glocester Ridley (quoted by Bishop Van Mildert, in the notes to his Boyle Lectures) takes the view afterwards adopted by Archbishop Magee, as to the meaning of the passage. (See The Christian Passover, in four sermons on the Lord's Supper, by Glocester Ridley, 1742, p.14.)

ROLAND THE BRAVE.

Can any of your readers and correspondents, versed in "legendary lore," reconcile the two different tales of which "Roland the Brave" is the hero? The one related in Mrs. Hemans's beautiful ballad describes him as reported dead, and that his fair one too rashly took the veil in "Nonnenwerder's cloister pale," just before his return. The story proceeds to tell how in grief her lover sought the battle-field, and finally fell, with other brave companions, at Roncesvalles.

I have been surprised, when perusing Dr. Forbes's highly amusing narrative of his holiday in Switzerland (pp. 28-9.), to find that he identifies Roland with the hero of Schiller's beautiful ballad, who rejoiced in the unromantic appellation of Ritter Toggenburg. That unhappy lover, according to the poet, being rejected by his fair one, who could only bestow on him a sister's affection, sought the Holy Land in despair, and tried to forget his grief; but returning again to breathe the same air with his beloved, and finding her already a professed nun, built himself a hut, whence he could see her at her convent window. Here he watched day by day, as the poet beautifully says; and here he was found, dead, "still in the attitude of the watcher."

Was this Ritter Toggenburg, the hero of Schiller's ballad, the nephew of Charlemagne, Roland, who fell at Roncesvalles? Is not Dr. Forbes in error in ascribing the Ritter's fate to Roland? Are they not two distinct persons? Or is Mrs. Hemans wrong in her version of the story? I only quote from memory:

I shall be glad to have a clear idea of the true Roland and his story.

X. Y. Z.

CLAY TOBACCO-PIPES.

An amusing treatise might be written on the variations in shape of the common tobacco-pipe since its first introduction into the country. Hundreds of specimens of old pipe-heads might soon be procured, and especially in the neighbourhood of London, where the same ground has been tilled for gardening purposes perhaps some hundreds of years, and has received fresh supplies year after year from the ash-bin and dust-heap. I have about a dozen in my possession, which probably belong to various periods from the beginning of the seventeenth to the end of the eighteenth century. The dearness of tobacco in the early times of its use is evinced by the smallness of the bowls, for many of them would hold at most not half a thimbleful of tobacco; while the shank, where it joins the bowl, is nearly double the thickness of that in use at the present day. If I recollect aright, the pipe as represented in Hogarth seems but little larger in the bowl than that in use a century before; the shape being in both the same, very much like that of a barrel. The sides of the bowl seem formerly to have been made of double or treble the thickness of those now in use. This will account for the good preservation in which they may be found after having been in the ground one or two centuries. The clay tobacco-pipe probably attained its present size and slimness, and (very nearly) its present shape, about the beginning of this century. I am well aware that, by many, all this will be esteemed as "in tenui labor," but, for my part, I look upon no reminiscences of the past, however humble, as deserving to be slighted or consigned to oblivion. Even the humble tobacco-pipe may be made the vehicle of some interesting information. Will any of your correspondents favour your other readers with some farther information on this subject?

Henry T. Riley.