Pope Felix and Pope Gregory.—­“E.M.B.” (No. 26. p. 415.) inquires who was “Pope Felix,” whom AElfric called the “fifth father” of S. Gregory the Great?  This is a much disputed question, and a great deal depends upon the meaning to be attached to the unsatisfactory expression “atavus,” used by Pope Gregory himself, in Evangel.  Hom. xxxviii.  Sec. 15., and found also in the dialogues commonly attributed to him. (Lib. iv. cap. xvi.) Your correspondent may consult Beda, Hist.  Eccl.  Gen. Anglor., lib. ii. cap. 1., with the note by Mr. Stevenson, who supposes that Pope Felix III. was alluded to by his “venerable” author:  This is the opinion of Bollandus (ad 25 Feb.), as well as of Cardinal Baronius; (Annall. ad an. 581; et Martyrol.  Rom. die Feb. 25.  Conf.  De Aste, in Martyrolog.  Disceptat., p. 96.; Beneventi, 1716); but Joannes Diaconus (S.  Greg.  Vit. lib. i. cap. i.) employs these decisive terms, “quartus Felix, sedis Apostolicae Pontifex.”  It is of course possible to translate “atavus meus” merely “my ancestor;” and this will leave the relationship sufficiently undefined.

R.G.

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Love’s last Shift (No. 24. p. 383).—­“The Duchess of Bolton (natural daughter of the Duke of Monmouth) used to divert George I. by affecting to make blunders.  Once when she had been at the play of Love’s last Shift, she called it ’La derniere chemise de l’amour.’”—­Walpoliana, xxx.

C.

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Quem Deus vult perdere (No. 22, p. 351., and No. 26, p. 421.).—­“C.J.R.” having pointed out a presumed imitation of this thought, it may not be impertinent to observe, that Dryden also has adopted the sentiment in the following lines:—­

  “For those whom God to ruin has designed,
  He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind.”

Hind and Panther, part 3.

G.S.  FABER.

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Dayrolles (No. 23. p. 373).—­The following information is appended to a description of the Dayrolles Correspondence, in 21 folio vols. in the Catalogue of Mr. Upcott’s Collection, sold by Messrs. Evans a few years ago:—­

Note copied from the Catalogue of Manuscripts, &c., belonging to the late Mr. Upcott.

“James Dayrolles was resident at the Hague from 1717 to his death, 2nd January, 1739.

“Solomon Dayrolles, his nephew, commenced his diplomatic career under James, first Earl of Waldegrave, when that nobleman was ambassador at Vienna.  He was godson of Philip, the distinguished Earl of Chesterfield, and was sworn a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to George II., 27th Feb. 1740, in the room of Sir Philip Parker, long deceased, and on the accession of George III. was again appointed, 5th February, 1761.