Grammars, &c. for Public Schools.—Would it not be desirable for some correspondents of "N. & Q." to furnish information respecting grammars, classics, and other works which have been written for the various public schools? Such information might be useful to book collectors; and would also serve to reflect credit on the schools whose learned masters have prepared such books. My contribution to the list is small: but I remember a valuable Greek grammar prepared by the Rev. —— Hook, formerly head master of the College School at Gloucester, for the use of that establishment; as also a peculiar English grammar prepared by the Rev. R.S. Skillern, master of St. Mary de Crypt School, in the same place, for the use of that school. I also possess a copy (1640) of the RomanÆ HistoriÆ Anthologia, for the use of Abingdon School, and Moses and Aaron, or the Rites and Customs of the Hebrews (1641), both by Thos. Godwin, though the latter was written after he ceased to be master of the schools.

P. H. Fisher.

Stroud.

"To captivate."—Moore, in his Journal, speaking of the Americans (January 9th, 1819), says:

"They sometimes, I see, use the word captivate thus: 'Five or six ships captivated,' 'Five or six ships captivated.'"

Originally, the words to captivate were synonymous with to capture, and the expression was used with reference to warlike operations. To captivate the affections was a secondary use of the phrase. The word is used in the original sense in many old English books. It is not used so now in the United States.

Uneda.

Philadelphia.

Bohn's Edition of Matthew of Westminster.—Under the year A.D. 782, the translator informs us that "Hirenes and his son Constantine became emperors." Such an emperor is not to be found in the annals of Constantinople. If Mr. Yonge, who shows elsewhere that he has read Gibbon, had referred to him on this occasion, he would probably have found that the Empress Irene, a name dear to the reverencers of images, was the person meant. The original Latin probably gives no clue to the sex; but still this empress, who is considered as a saint by her church, notwithstanding the deposition and blinding of her own son, was not a personage to be so easily forgotten.

J. S. Warden.

French Season Rhymes and Weather Rhymes.—

Ceyrep.

Curious Epitaph in Tillingham Church, Essex.—

Which has been thus ingeniously paraphrased by a friend of mine:

C. K. P.

Newport, Essex.