Mildew in Books (Vol. ii., p. 103.).—­Your correspondent B. suggests that “any hints as to the cause or remedy of mildew in books will be most acceptable”.  I venture therefore an opinion that the cause is to be found in the defective bleaching and manufacture of the rags from which the paper is made and the careless or intentional admixture of linen with cotton rags.  The comparatively modern method of bleaching with oxymuriate of lime, or chlorine in substance, with the ad-libitum and unacknowledged admixture of gypsum (to give weight and firmness to the paper) are, I believe, the true causes of the defects in question, which are to be found more in modern books and prints than in those of an earlier date, and do not arise from damp, as the term “mildew” might seem to imply, although the same appearance no doubt arises from that cause alone in the older paper.  But paper made and bleached by the processes I have mentioned will become covered with brown spots, however dry it may be kept.

I have a folio edition of La Armeria Real de Madrid, printed at Paris, without date, but subsequently to 1838 by the preface.  The paper is very stout and fine, and was free from blemish when I purchased it three years ago, but at present it is covered with brown patches, and the beauty of the work destroyed, although it has been kept in a very dry room.

For such defects I should be equally delighted with B. to discover a remedy; but I fear that so long as our paper manufacturers study expedition and economy in preference to quality, the case is hopeless.  The ashes left after the combustion of a sheet of paper clearly indicate the amount of modern sophistication, and greatly exceed those of more ancient paper.  In fact, some paper may now be classed, with more propriety, among mineral than vegetable productions.  Mildew, arising from damp in old books, may be arrested, if not removed, by exposure to light, air, and a dry atmosphere.

HENRY WILKINSON.

The Carpenter’s Maggot (Vol. ii., p. 104.).—­The ancient tune known as the Carpenter’s Maggot, and until lately played at the annual dinner of the Livery of the Carpenters’ Company, may be found at p. 258. of the first volume of a rare work entitled The Dancing Master, sm. obl. 1721.  The same volume contains a choice assemblage of “Maggots”, i.e.  Barker’s Maggot, Cary’s Maggot, Draper’s Maggot, Hill’s Maggot, Huntington’s Maggot, M. Coppinger’s Maggot, &c.

The word Maggot, from the French Magot, means a whim, or a fancy.  The bird “magpie”, originally “maggoty-pie,” was so called on account of its whimsical drollery.  “A maggoty-pated fellow” is often used to imply a whimsical man.

I do not trace the word, as applied to a tune, earlier than the end of the seventeenth century.  Before that time, tunes of a similar description were termed Fancies.

If your correspondent F.T.P. wishes to have a copy of the tune from my volume, he is quite welcome.  I append my London address to this Reply, in order that he may favour me with a communication.