Constantine, however, who had undertaken the charge of one of the city gates, unhappily received a wound in the arm; and, being obliged to retire from the scene of action, his soldiers were discouraged, forsook their stations, and fled after him, notwithstanding his earnest prayers to the contrary.  In their flight, they crowded so thickly together, that, while endeavouring to enter a passage, above eight hundred of them were pressed to death.  The ill-fated emperor likewise perished.  It is needless to describe what quickly ensued—­the infidels became masters of the fine city of Constantinople, whose inhabitants were all,—­except those who were reserved for lust,—­put to the sword, and the plunder, pursuant to a promise made previously by the sultan, was given up to the Turkish soldiers for three days together.

G.W.N.

* * * * *

GAME OF CHESS.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.)

Perceiving in No. 321 of the mirror a brief history of the game of chess, perhaps the following anecdote will not be found unacceptable to your readers:—­When the game of chess was first invented, the emperor of China sent for the inventor, and desired him to teach it him.  The emperor was so delighted with the game, that he told the inventor whatever he should demand should be given him as a remuneration for his discovery.  To which he replied, that if his majesty would but give him a grain of corn for the first square of the chess-board, and keep doubling it every check until he arrived at the end, he would be satisfied.  At first the emperor was astonished at what he thought the man’s modesty, and instantly ordered his request to be granted.

The following is the sum total of the number of grains of corn, and also the number of times they would reach round the world, which is 360 degrees, each degree being 69-1/2 miles:—­

18446743573783086315 grains.

3883401821 times round the world.

I perfectly agree with your correspondent that China has the preference of invention.

G.H.C.

* * * * *

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S VIRGINAL.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.)

On reading No. 336 of the mirror, I saw an account of an ancient musical instrument, the virginal, stating it to have been an instrument much in use in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.  That such was the case there can be no doubt, for the musical world can still furnish many compositions, written expressly for Queen Elizabeth, her majesty being considered a very good performer on the virginal.  But it is not generally known that the very identical instrument, the favourite property of that queen, is still in the possession of a Mr. Jonah Child, artist, of Dudley, Worcestershire.  It is a very fine-toned old instrument,