* * * * *

ORIGIN OF THE WORD SMECTYMNUUS.

(For the Mirror.)

This was a cant term that made some figure in the time of the Civil War, and during the Interregnum.  It was formed of the initial letters of the names of five eminent Presbyterian ministers of that time, viz.  Stephen Marshall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, and William Spenstow; who, together, wrote a book against Episcopacy, in the year 1641, whence they and their retainers were called Smectymnuans.  They wore handkerchiefs about their necks for a note of distinction (as the officers of the parliament-army then did) which afterwards degenerated into cravats.

P.T.W.

* * * * *

CIVIC FEAST IN 1506.

(For the Mirror.)

In the court room of Salters’ Hall there appears, framed and glazed, the following “Bill of fare for fifty people of the Company of Salters, A.D. 1506.”

s. d. 
Thirty-six chickens                 4  5
One swan and four geese             7  0
Nine rabbits                        1  4
Two rumps of beef tails             0  2
Six quails                          1  6
Two oz. of pepper                   0  2
Two oz. of cloves and mace          0  4
One and a half oz. of saffron       0  6
Eight lbs. of sugar                 0  8
Two lbs. of raisins                 0  4
One lb. of dates                    0  4
One and a half lb. of comfits       0  2
Half a hundred eggs                 0  2-1/2
Four gallons of curds               0  4
One ditto gooseberries              0  2
Bread for the company               1  1
One kilderkin of ale                2  3
Herbs                               1  0
Two dishes of butter                0  4
Four breasts of veal                1  5
Brawn                               0  6
Quarter load of coals               0  4
Faggots                             0  2
Three and a half gallons of
Gascoigne wine                    2  4
One bottle of Muscovadine           0  8
Cherries and tarts                  0  8
Verjuice and vinegar                0  2
Paid the cook                       3  4
Perfume                             0  2
One bushel and a half of meal       0  8
Water                               0  3
Garnishing the vessels              0  3
-------------
Total of feast for 50 people   L1  13  2-1/2
-------------

CURIOS.

* * * * *

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

* * * * *

VIDOCQ. (Concluded.)

We have a vulgar book called Frauds of London laid open, and Vidocq’s fourth volume will serve for Paris, since he defines the nomenclature—­nay the very craft of thieves with great minuteness:  thus—­